TLH: The Dallas Cowboys Media Coverage Is Sensational

[Hostile]

http://thelandryhat.com/2013/08/24/dallas-cowboys-media-coverage-is-sensational/

You know, there are times when I just don’t know what to think about the media who attend the Dallas Cowboys Press Conferences. I’ve had some interaction with almost all of them at one time or another. I think most of them are good people, and a couple of them are very good writers. They seem to be way too focused on pretending they are Sherlock Holmes or Perez Hilton.

On Wednesday Twitter exploded with “news” that Doug Free, the starting Right Tackle, was moved inside to Right Guard, and Jermey Parnell was in at RT. I put the word news in quotation marks because to me this wasn’t a big deal at all. My first thought was, “Hey Parnell is back.” I consider that a good thing. One of the first comments I read on Twitter was, “This shows you what the Cowboys actually think about David Arkin.” No it doesn’t. It shows you that due to injuries they are trying different things during practices.

Jason Garrett basically ratified this at his Press Conference the same day Free lined up at Guard. The first five questions, predictably, were about Free at Guard. In fact, the very first question he answered should have put the thought to rest. He specifically mentioned the need to shuffle due to injuries. Each time he patiently explained that they were reading too much into it, and that it was largely due to needing enough bodies to get practice reps in, and Parnell some time back at RT. Was this sufficient information for them? Of course not. There was finally a question about some other topic, and then a 6th one about Free.

 

[Fredd]

So Free is the guard now

 

[AsthmaField]

So true. I wish the media would ask questions that I actually want to know the answer to.

 

[Hostile]

So Free is the guard now

They are going to play the best 5 guys they can. If that means Parnell and Free on the field at the same time, yes. I don't blame them for trying this, but it isn't what they are going to do once Leary is back.

 

[jobberone]

There is just no way to know who is going to start vs the Giants and that's not going to tell us definitely that's the starting five the rest of the year. There's always injuries and dings causing players to shuffle around. I've never been on a football team that wasn't constantly shuffling players on a weekly basis due to long and short term injuries.

Right now you have:

LT Smith
LG Bernie...Leary projected starter
C Fred
RG Free....Bernie projected starter
RT Parnell...Free projected to start

As I said in another thread I don't care who starts as long as they can do the job.

The good news is it appears we have on game day:

Tackles....Free, Parnell, Smith
Guards.....Leary, Bernie, Free, (Arkin +/-), Fred
Center......Fred, Costa

That's seven to nine to take to the game which is fine.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Are the folks who cover the Cowboys stuck in a rut? In a word, yes.

I love the use of the word 'folks' instead of 'reporters'.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Have any of you watched ur tape from last year? I remember JP being an upgrade to Frees play. Best 5 starts opening game. I don't care about which spot. Best player that gives best chance to win.

 

[Fredd]

They are going to play the best 5 guys they can. If that means Parnell and Free on the field at the same time, yes. I don't blame them for trying this, but it isn't what they are going to do once Leary is back.

sorry, I was just trying to be "funny" (thus, the smiley)....I am SO tired of people not getting it that this is pre-season (not you)...you try things, you want to put the best unit out there...some times, you have to experiment....but, people, especially in the media need to sell their stories and thus, if Free plays guard in practice, it becomes a story in Dallas...most other teams would not have this type of reaction....love our media and some fans....

 

[Hostile]

sorry, I was just trying to be "funny" (thus, the smiley)....I am SO tired of people not getting it that this is pre-season (not you)...you try things, you want to put the best unit out there...some times, you have to experiment....but, people, especially in the media need to sell their stories and thus, if Free plays guard in practice, it becomes a story in Dallas...most other teams would not have this type of reaction....love our media and some fans....

I was explaining for the up in arms crowd, not you. Sorry.

 

[viman96]

Speaking of the media. Calvin Watkins whining tonight after the game.

"Apparently Romo gave interview to Cowboys PR at halftime and thought he didn't have to speak with reporters afterward."

 

[pansophy]

http://thelandryhat.com/2013/08/24/dallas-cowboys-media-coverage-is-sensational/

You know, there are times when I just don’t know what to think about the media who attend the Dallas Cowboys Press Conferences. I’ve had some interaction with almost all of them at one time or another. I think most of them are good people, and a couple of them are very good writers. They seem to be way too focused on pretending they are Sherlock Holmes or Perez Hilton.

On Wednesday Twitter exploded with “news” that Doug Free, the starting Right Tackle, was moved inside to Right Guard, and Jermey Parnell was in at RT. I put the word news in quotation marks because to me this wasn’t a big deal at all. My first thought was, “Hey Parnell is back.” I consider that a good thing. One of the first comments I read on Twitter was, “This shows you what the Cowboys actually think about David Arkin.” No it doesn’t. It shows you that due to injuries they are trying different things during practices.

Jason Garrett basically ratified this at his Press Conference the same day Free lined up at Guard. The first five questions, predictably, were about Free at Guard. In fact, the very first question he answered should have put the thought to rest. He specifically mentioned the need to shuffle due to injuries. Each time he patiently explained that they were reading too much into it, and that it was largely due to needing enough bodies to get practice reps in, and Parnell some time back at RT. Was this sufficient information for them? Of course not. There was finally a question about some other topic, and then a 6th one about Free.

When one says that they want to get the best 5 on field and you resort to moving your starting RT to guard, that means Arkin isn't close to one of the best 5.

 

[Hostile]

When one says that they want to get the best 5 on field and you resort to moving your starting RT to guard, that means Arkin isn't close to one of the best 5.

I didn't say he was in the best 5.

 

[pansophy]

I didn't say he was in the best 5.

You stated that moving Free to guard doesn't say anything about Arkin. You don't move a tackle to guard if think anything of your backup guards.

 

[Hostile]

You stated that moving Free to guard doesn't say anything about Arkin. You don't move a tackle to guard if think anything of your backup guards.

If they were moving Parnell inside to start I might agree with you. The only thing this says to me is that Free is one of the their best 5.

 

[Reality]

If they were moving Parnell inside to start I might agree with you. The only thing this says to me is that Free is one of the their best 5.

I'm not ready to jump on the Free-at-guard bandwagon yet because he's been quite bad the last couple of years, but it does seem like what you said is true. It does appear that they consider him one of their best 5 OL guys or at worst, best 6.

 

[hutch1254]

I agree with the way the original post looked at the situation with Free at guard. However, the media writing or reporting it that way would probably generate significantly less hits of a website/blog and less newspapers bought vs. writing about the situation in a negative light. Writing and reporting in the negative about America's team or trying to generate a "circus like atmosphere" via reporting technique draws more attention. People like the trainwreck style story instead of showing the steps Dallas is taking to try and be proactive and fix something.

It is unfortunate that some have tailored their reporting into that style instead of taking an unpopular approach. I especially like the link to the sight that said Free moving to guard was a flop after 3 plays or whatever that was.

 

[Hostile]

I agree with the way the original post looked at the situation with Free at guard. However, the media writing or reporting it that way would probably generate significantly less hits of a website/blog and less newspapers bought vs. writing about the situation in a negative light. Writing and reporting in the negative about America's team or trying to generate a "circus like atmosphere" via reporting technique draws more attention. People like the trainwreck style story instead of showing the steps Dallas is taking to try and be proactive and fix something.

It is unfortunate that some have tailored their reporting into that style instead of taking an unpopular approach. I especially like the link to the sight that said Free moving to guard was a flop after 3 plays or whatever that was.

Amen.