Of course, the one exception is Chad Peters (aka, our ver own, Dale).
Dale, thanks for the refreshing article:
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Mini-Notes: Parcells Actually Talks Football
Chad Peters
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
May 5, 2006 9:39 PM
IRVING, Texas - Bill Parcells was relieved to talk about the draft Friday.
In fact, he almost seemed downright giddy after bouncing off Terrell Owens-related questions for the majority of his hour-long press conference to kick off the opening of the Cowboys' three-day rookie mini-camp here at Valley Ranch.
"I'd like to talk about it if somebody wants to," quipped Parcells, who didn't hold a draft-day press conference for the first time in his tenure with the Cowboys. "I'm relieved to talk about it."
And what Parcells revealed provides some insight into why the Cowboys chose who they did in last weekend's draft, which netted them Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter and Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasano in the top two rounds.
The Cowboys considered several players in the first round, Parcells said, but decided on Carpenter because he was the best pure linebacker left on the board. And though the Cowboys already had two-time Pro Bowler Jason Witten nestled at tight end, drafting Fasano provides them an opportunity to build upon their two tight-end offensive set - so much so that it now appears to have become the staple of their offense.
As for the later rounds, Parcells said grabbing Grambling defensive end Jason Hatcher "didn't take long" given his size-speed ratio - having been timed in the 4.7 range in the 40 at 6-foot-6, 290 pounds - and that LSU wide receiver Skyler Green should make an immediate impact in the return game.
That is, if he sheds a few pounds first.
"Right now, he's too fat," said Parcells of the 5-foot-9, 197-pound Green. "I'm not kidding. Way too fat."
While Green may have to start watching his diet, the Cowboys are planning on having acquired a healthy serving of talent on Draft Day - starting at the top with Carpenter.
Parcells said he liked Carpenter's football background - which spreads to his father, Rob, whom Parcells coached from 1981-to-1985 while with the New York Giants - but that there was more to Carpenter that caught Parcells' eye.
"I like the player as an athlete," Parcells said. "He's a real pure linebacker. You could see him do everything you wanted to see. There were a couple of other guys we really liked as well, so it wasn't like we wouldn't consider someone else."
And Fasano, who Parcells described as being similar to Witten, gives the Cowboys another threat on offense.
"It's easier for the teams on defense to match up on the third wide receiver in most cases," Parcells said. "But these good tight ends that are coming along now . . . that is a different matchup problem for the defenses."
Parcells seems to plan on Green providing similar problems for opponents, saying he wants to get him involved in more than just the return game - despite drafting him, as he did with David Meggett in New York, principally as a return man.
"The problem with guys like this is you try to find them other plays you can use them on," Parcells said. "That's something I'm going to try to work on a little bit in camp, to give him a little bit more of a prospect of playing more than just as a returner."
Ready For Some Football?
The football field became the renewed focus Friday at Valley Ranch, the helmets strapping back on with the Cowboys opening their three-day rookie mini-camp.
While many fresh faces were prevalent among the 39 players in attendance, 11 returning first-year players also suited up - including receiver Jamaica Rector, tight end Tony Curtis and running back Keylon Kincade.
The Cowboys are also working out a group of 10 players over the weekend, including SMU linebacker D.D. Lee and South Carolina running back Demetrius Summers. Summers got a lot of snaps Friday, while Lee also started on the right foot with an interception in the seven-on-seven drill.
Also practicing were the Cowboys' eight draft picks - led by headliners Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Fasano - and 10 rookie free-agent signings.
Contractually Speaking
Having not addressed the local media since the conclusion of the 2005 season, Friday also marked the first opportunity for Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells to address his new contract extension - a two-year extension lasting through the 2007 season.
Parcells said he didn't want to be perceived as a lame-duck coach working during the final year of his contract, adding the extension helps the team as it provides some assurance that he will be here for a while.
How long does Parcells consider a while, though?
"When you can't fight the battles everyday of what this job entails," Parcells said, "then you need to sack up your bats and go home. When that day comes, when I don't have that juice . . . I'm done."
The Right Tackle
While the Cowboys didn't address their offensive line concerns high in the draft, don't forget about Jason Fabini - the nine-year veteran and former New York Jet - signed to a free-agent contract this off-season.
"I don't think Fabini would give up 15 sacks if I put him in there and turned him around backwards," said Parcells, poking fun at the problems the Cowboys endured along the right side of the line last season.
Parcells also said Rob Petitti, who started 16 games at right tackle as a rookie, should be much improved due his superior conditioning as compared to this point last season, and that Marc Colombo - the former Chicago first-round pick - has shown a strong work ethic in recovering physically from some of the health problems that ultimately led to his release in Chicago.
Ireland In View
Parcells spoke of Jeff Ireland in endearing terms Friday, praising his hunger, passion and thirst for knowledge.
And Parcells said if there is one thing he could give Ireland, it would be his eyes - allowing the Cowboys' second-year scouting director to see players and prototypes as he does.
"He wants to know what I know," Parcells said. "I'd want (him) to know what they see."
Short Shots
Parcells said he liked the Cowboys' chances of improving in the field-goal department, where the team struggled with a 20-of-28 mark last season. "That would be the understatement of the press conference," he joked. Cowboys new kicker Mike Vanderjagt has missed on a total of seven kicks in the last three seasons . . . Parcells said he has watched all but two of quarterback Drew Henson's NFL Europe games with the Rhein Fire. Parcells said Henson has made improvement, but qualified the assessment by saying he doesn't know the field or weather conditions overseas . . . Chris Palmer, hired by the Cowboys as their new quarterbacks coach, was brought aboard in part because of the relationship he has with Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe, Parcells said. Palmer worked as Bledsoe's quarterbacks coach in New England in 1996.
And all the collumns they're writing today are about TO and how Parcells said he is on-board. 
