The problem is not a lack of leadership-ability, it’s a lack of accountability...

[AMERICAS_FAN]

The problem is not a lack of leadership-ability, it’s a lack of accountability; and there is a HUE difference!

I understand that the Cowboys could use more accountability on the part of coaches and players, but I do NOT buy into “the Cowboys lack leadership” argument, because the implication underlying it is that there are no leaders on this team.

That's BS. This team has plenty of leaders; what it needs is the best of them to lead better - up to the best of their abilities. For example, it’s not about Romo becoming a leader; he already is, but he needs to step up and lead better. The same goes with other players like TO, Witten, Ware, etc., and even the top coaches. The leadership skill and ability IS there, it just needs to be further cultivated, and not allowed to be underachieved. That’s why what this team needs precisely is more accountability and that only. The leadership is already there and it can help tease "improved accountability" out.

I also find if funny how all of these media people, and supposed football people, including former players, are all coming out of the woodwork now to say how this team can't win because they have no leaders among the coach and player rosters. Really, then why were the same people singing the team’s praises in the offseason about how they would win the Super Bowl? If they truly are “experts” shouldn’t they have known better, and instead of singing praises say “I know they’re being favored, but I’m not convinced because leadership is lacking on the team”?

So which is it – did these experts not say things like this because they were mistaken about the leadership that exists -- which then directly questions their expertise – or did they see the lack of leadership but brushed it aside – which would make them quite hypocritical to now say how leadership is so important when before it was not mentioned as an “ingredient” necessary for the Cowboys’ forecasted winning.

I just find it funny how these peoples’ hindsight is so 20-20 now on the issue of leadership, but their foresight is as blind as bat. Well, today’s hindsight is tomorrow’s foresight, so if all these so called experts and insiders now believe that this team lacks leaders, then I think we can all rest assured that they’re missing the mark about that, once again.

So that gives me hope for 2009 because I do see the leadership ability on this team, and with the right dose of accountability – where leaders stand up and lead to their abilities – then I think these 2009 Cowboys will be just fine. It’s not a question if IF they have it in them, but WILL they bring it out. And so our top-dog players and coaches need to step up in that regard. Which is why I believe that the only basis Jerry Jones should be using in deciding if these key players/coaches should be kept or released is one that examines if these leaders are becoming committed to leading to their abilities or not. If they are then Jerry Jones should invite them back; and only otherwise should he let then go.

It really is this simple! JMHO

 

[CIWhitefish]

You've touched on a subtlety that is right on I believe. The whole team has been painted with this wide brush. No leaders, me guys, whatever. The truth is players can only do so much amoung themselves when there is no accountability to authority. That is the problem.

 

[jwhardin]

The only thing that team leaders (players) can try to do is get you fired up or push you to do better. They can't punish you for not doing what you're suppose to, that up to coaches, GMs, etc. As i always told the NCOs under me, you don't argue with those under you, you don't have to shout or scream. They do what they're told or get punished, it's that simple. The players on the team either do what they're told or get punished. No big deal

 

[DallasEast]

You've touched on a subtlety that is right on I believe. The whole team has been painted with this wide brush. No leaders, me guys, whatever. The truth is players can only do so much amoung themselves when there is no accountability to authority. That is the problem.

 

[superpunk]

Hard to hold your teammates accountable when you're not sure administration has your back. Well said.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

The only thing that team leaders (players) can try to do is get you fired up or push you to do better. They can't punish you for not doing what you're suppose to, that up to coaches, GMs, etc. As i always told the NCOs under me, you don't argue with those under you, you don't have to shout or scream. They do what they're told or get punished, it's that simple. The players on the team either do what they're told or get punished. No big deal

Not true, Irvin held his teammates accountable all the time. But even Irvin, and other players, would walk off the ledge from time to time, and so there was then Jimmy Johnson there to step right in and fill the void.

In fact Jimmy Johnson's famous prediction of "we will win the ballgame and you can put it in three inch headlines" was not said because he was confident; Johnson admited he said it because he thought the team was too "tight" and he feared they were growing unfocused. So the quote was an attempt to hold them accountable, and players who have spoken about the incident since admit how well it worked.

So the point is that players need to hold themselves and each other accountable, but coaches also need to do that, and be orchestrators for the players in that regard.

 

[MONT17]

window dressing at its best!

 

[ddh33]

You've touched on a subtlety that is right on I believe. The whole team has been painted with this wide brush. No leaders, me guys, whatever. The truth is players can only do so much amoung themselves when there is no accountability to authority. That is the problem.

Co-signed.

 

[BAT]

Great thread title. Hit the nail squarely on the head.


But the fallacy to that statement is: the BEST leaders hold everyone accountable, starting with themselves.


There is no such leader on the team now.



There are "leaders" who talk it, but do not walk it.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Great thread title. Hit the nail squarely on the head.

But the fallacy to that statement is: the BEST leaders hold everyone accountable, starting with themselves.

There is no such leader on the team now.

There are "leaders" who talk it, but do not walk it.

Part of the reason I started this thread is becaise there has been so much debate lately about whrther Dallas should bring in Ray Lewis to add "instant leadership". The point of this thread is that that is NOT what's needed. To think Lewis is going to walk into a nw locker room and have n\people who hardly know him now answer to him is rediculous. The leadership ability is already there within this roster; the accountability that comes with it has to come from within.