Vela: Cowboys Coach "Emasculated?" Like He Cares

[khiladi]

"because coaches give out information when they talk, they answer questionsplayers just fly off at the mouth" Your not answering the question. What binds a coach to answer to the media during the Senior Bowl?

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Now Wade can act like the dummy he really is.

Jerra is doing everything he can to make the Clown Wade Phillips succeed, bless his heart, but Wade is like an idiot savant on defense. that's his thing, nothing more.
clearly, Wade is the worst HC in the America and he's the HC of America's Team.

 

[superpunk]

Wade could have silenced all of this by making it seem like the gag was self-imposed, or that Wade imposed it on his coaches, etc. But when it comes to public relations, leadership type stuff, I don't think Wade has a clue. It probably doesn't matter, but if Wade was a little more media-savvy he could save himself alot of aggravation.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

That isn't the point. The point is that if Jones would not get away with doing this to many coaches, save Phillips.

It just speaks to how powerless and sad he is and how little control he has over anything. I don't know why we bother with even referring to him as the head coach. He's the defensive coordinator. We aren't even trying to pretend otherwise.

Absolutely, if Wade was a strong coach, he would have complete control of his staff, including placing a gag order on them. He would control his press confrences and what and how he answered the questions asked. The media asks these "gotcha" questions because he allows them, and falls for them.


This is the only NFL team with no Head Coach. We have two highly paid Coordinators, taking care of their side of the ball, ruled by the owner. Show another NFL team with that structure?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Wade could have silenced all of this by making it seem like the gag was self-imposed, or that Wade imposed it on his coaches, etc. But when it comes to public relations, leadership type stuff, I don't think Wade has a clue. It probably doesn't matter, but if Wade was a little more media-savvy he could save himself alot of aggravation.

No doubt Wade's not media-savvy, but the way Jerry's been beating his chest lately, I'm sure he'd have soon made it very clear to everyone that this was his doing anyway.

 

[Alexander]

No doubt Wade's not media-savvy, but the way Jerry's been beating his chest lately, I'm sure he'd have soon made it very clear to everyone that this was his doing anyway.

I am still trying to view Jones' recent chest thumping as anything but sad lately.

Everyone already knew he was in charge. In fact, one of the things that isn't helping him right now is that he's actually taking credit for this nauseating mess.

 

[DallasEast]

Wade could have silenced all of this by making it seem like the gag was self-imposed, or that Wade imposed it on his coaches, etc. But when it comes to public relations, leadership type stuff, I don't think Wade has a clue. It probably doesn't matter, but if Wade was a little more media-savvy he could save himself alot of aggravation.

That is my point also. As I stated before, the action (e.g. the gag order) itself is a great move on the franchise's part. It's just poorly executed. In my opinion, Jerry Jones should privately take full credit for the idea, but not publicly.

As with any team, the final say on personnel issues belongs in the hands of the general manager and/or owner. However, the preception of who initiates personnel changes should always be held exclusively by the head coach. That perception fortifies the image that whatever the head coach does is being back by the GM or owner.

That is not the perception which is being promoted. Not only has Jones' action been fairly or unfairly preceived and critiqued by the media and fans. It has and will be evaluated by the players themselves. The precedent which Jones is making is that any team's issues will be solved by the general manager and by the GM alone.

This type of action circumvents the 'accepted' football hierarchy of any team, which is:

Top level: General Manager/Owner
Next level: Head Coach
Second level: Assistant coaches
Bottom level: Players

In effect, Jones is cutting out the middle layers of the pecking order. Certainly, it can be argued that there hasn't been a dramatic change, but it is a change which can undermine a head coach's authority over his players. That's a potential danger which I feel cannot be ignored.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

"because coaches give out information when they talk, they answer questionsplayers just fly off at the mouth" Your not answering the question. What binds a coach to answer to the media during the Senior Bowl?

nothing but their own free will

and Wade can't even exhibit that

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't know why we bother with even referring to him as the head coach. He's the defensive coordinator. We aren't even trying to pretend otherwise.

 

[Alexander]

In my opinion, Jerry Jones should privately take full credit for the idea, but not publicly.

And we all know he has a very hard time taking full credit privately.

But in his mind, he already knows the deal and does not see the harm.

He has had an emasculated head coach from day one and does not see the issue with it. He's operated for most of his tenure that way: a powerless head coach who is basically a glorified coordinator with him right at the forefront. He used to be coy with Campo but isn't even bothering to carry out the disguise. If that's what he wants to do, fine. But the sad part is that he's never been successful doing that. He thinks he was with Switzer, and we all know that's far from the case.

He tends to think the fact he will take a ton of criticism as a badge of courage, but he's not doing himself or his franchise any favors by pursuing that business model. He might be a "stand up guy" but when you stand up and take barrage after barrage, it is only a matter of time when you question how intelligent that strategy is. It is like a boxer who can take a shot but doesn't know when to quit. Then once he's in a vegetative state, the valor isn't nearly as profound and the effect is spoiled.

No owner and no GM is perfect. But when they have absolute power every mistake is magnified, every error in judgment is something that everyone knows was unchecked. He might find that admireable. But it does not make any sense and he's sadly only one of two of his kind that do it. The other is a running joke these days and he's headed down that very same path.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Show another NFL team with that structure?

Raiders come close.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Raiders come close.

I said in another thread, if Jerry's friendship with Jimmy Johnson didn't cause him to hire Jimmy

Jerry would be just another Al Davis

a circus-master of a once proud franchise whose glory years were decades ago

 

[Clove]

We need a gag order on the entire team for the entire year, then the media would clean up their BS and have more respect for the players and coaches.

 

[jterrell]

That isn't the point. The point is that if Jones would not get away with doing this to many coaches, save Phillips.

It just speaks to how powerless and sad he is and how little control he has over anything. I don't know why we bother with even referring to him as the head coach. He's the defensive coordinator. We aren't even trying to pretend otherwise.

That's just not true and again goes back to how silly people are.

Coaches will do whatever the contract says provided they keep getting paid.

If they have better offers they will take them but it often comes down to money not principles.

Dan Reeves admitted himself he'd sell seats in the stadium, he'd advise in any area of the team, he didn't care. He just didn't want to be told he had to be on the premises year round. And he didn't want to be paid like a consultant.

It is about money.

And it is completely illogical to believe Wade feels this gag order is a bad thing. Almost every coach that has ever moved up to Head Coach say the part they enjoy least is losing but the second thing out of their mouth is media duties. BP is one of the biggest media attention seekers there is in pro coaching but even he distanced himself all off-season. He'd take off to Saratoga Springs or wherever and leave Jerry as team spokesman. One of the things we were so relieved at when he left was how much more info we were going to it. And we did... because of Jerry. Jerry asked the coaches to be available all the time and to sell the brand non-stop. This is a move in the right direction. A move all these vet coaches would agree with.

The thing I like best about Wade is he isn't so insecure he can't handle criticism. He gets annoyed as anyone would but he isn't in the business to change perceptions of him.

 

[wileedog]

BP is one of the biggest media attention seekers there is in pro coaching but even he distanced himself all off-season. He'd take off to Saratoga Springs or wherever and leave Jerry as team spokesman.

But that is by choice.

I can't imagine Jerry putting a gag order on him and Bill just smiling and saying "Sorry boys, can't talk, against the rules." Call it pride, ego whatever there is simply no way Parcells would wilingly be muzzled like that, whether he actually wanted to talk to the media or not. He knows full well the effect this has with the players and the perception of him as the team's leader.

Wade doesn't get that, never has, never will. Its his primary failing as a head coach, he doesn't understand that respect fosters leadership, not giving players pass after pass and more days off. Good X's and O's guy, bad leader.

One of the things we were so relieved at when he left was how much more info we were going to it. And we did... because of Jerry. Jerry asked the coaches to be available all the time and to sell the brand non-stop. This is a move in the right direction. A move all these vet coaches would agree with.

I don't know why anyone should be happy that Jerry Jones enjoys running the Cowboys as a media sideshow. And take whatever you want from this current gag order, which strangely has no bearing on the players or his own ability to yap into any microphone within 5 feet of them, but it in no way is designed to have Cowboys appear in the media *less*. Quite the opposite.

If the head coach wants to gag his team that is his perogative and not a bad thing. An owner telling the HC he is not allowed to speak until he says so, and that all information will be released to the media by him because he is the "only one with the full picture" is doing his coach a huge disservice, and making him look like a puppet to the players. Well, more of one in this case.

The thing I like best about Wade is he isn't so insecure he can't handle criticism. He gets annoyed as anyone would but he isn't in the business to change perceptions of him.

When you have a bag of excuses as large as the new stadium, its pretty easy.

13-3 baby!

 

[jterrell]

But that is by choice.

I can't imagine Jerry putting a gag order on him and Bill just smiling and saying "Sorry boys, can't talk, against the rules." Call it pride, ego whatever there is simply no way Parcells would wilingly be muzzled like that, whether he actually wanted to talk to the media or not. He knows full well the effect this has with the players and the perception of him as the team's leader.

Wade doesn't get that, never has, never will. Its his primary failing as a head coach, he doesn't understand that respect fosters leadership, not giving players pass after pass and more days off. Good X's and O's guy, bad leader.



I don't know why anyone should be happy that Jerry Jones enjoys running the Cowboys as a media sideshow. And take whatever you want from this current gag order, which strangely has no bearing on the players or his own ability to yap into any microphone within 5 feet of them, but it in no way is designed to have Cowboys appear in the media *less*. Quite the opposite.

If the head coach wants to gag his team that is his perogative and not a bad thing. An owner telling the HC he is not allowed to speak until he says so, and that all information will be released to the media by him because he is the "only one with the full picture" is doing his coach a huge disservice, and making him look like a puppet to the players. Well, more of one in this case.



When you have a bag of excuses as large as the new stadium, its pretty easy.

13-3 baby!

How many playoff wins did we get under that great leader Bill Parcells?

See, ultimately that is the issue.

Wade has had 2 years here. He went 13-3 in year one then failed to win a playoff game when we lose in round 2 to the eventual Super Bowl Champions by 4 points in a game where we out-gained the Giants by a 100 yards.

Then we had one meltdown year were we went 9-7 faced a nasty schedule and lost 1 game to a non-playoff team. Of the other 6 games we lost 2 were to Super Bowl participants.

So we can sit here crying about what Wade has done all day but he hasn't had the time BP did here and he hasn't lost a bunch of games we should have won. He has to take the blame for the egg we laid in Philly, true. That's 1 surefire game in 2 years he has to shoulder. But every coach in Cowboys history has laid an egg in Philly at some point.

I personally could care less about a bunch of nimrods perception of things. Because reality will ultimately interject itself.

 

[Doomsday101]

How many playoff wins did we get under that great leader Bill Parcells?

See, ultimately that is the issue.

Wade has had 2 years here. He went 13-3 in year one then failed to win a playoff game when we lose in round 2 to the eventual Super Bowl Champions by 4 points in a game where we out-gained the Giants by a 100 yards.

Then we had one meltdown year were we went 9-7 faced a nasty schedule and lost 1 game to a non-playoff team. Of the other 6 games we lost 2 were to Super Bowl participants.

So we can sit here crying about what Wade has done all day but he hasn't had the time BP did here and he hasn't lost a bunch of games we should have won. He has to take the blame for the egg we laid in Philly, true. That's 1 surefire game in 2 years he has to shoulder. But every coach in Cowboys history has laid an egg in Philly at some point.

I personally could care less about a bunch of nimrods perception of things. Because reality will ultimately interject itself.

I agree. I think Wade like any coach should be given at the least 3 years then determine if he should be retained or not. I would say this about Wade I would say this for any coach hired by any franchise.

 

[ethiostar]

How many playoff wins did we get under that great leader Bill Parcells?

See, ultimately that is the issue.

Wade has had 2 years here. He went 13-3 in year one then failed to win a playoff game when we lose in round 2 to the eventual Super Bowl Champions by 4 points in a game where we out-gained the Giants by a 100 yards.

Then we had one meltdown year were we went 9-7 faced a nasty schedule and lost 1 game to a non-playoff team. Of the other 6 games we lost 2 were to Super Bowl participants.

So we can sit here crying about what Wade has done all day but he hasn't had the time BP did here and he hasn't lost a bunch of games we should have won. He has to take the blame for the egg we laid in Philly, true. That's 1 surefire game in 2 years he has to shoulder. But every coach in Cowboys history has laid an egg in Philly at some point.

I personally could care less about a bunch of nimrods perception of things. Because reality will ultimately interject itself.

That is a very good perspective, IMO.

 

[wileedog]

How many playoff wins did we get under that great leader Bill Parcells?

See, ultimately that is the issue.

No its not the issue. Let's not get into a red herring Wade vs. Parcells debate where you compare Parcells taking over a franchise in complete disarray and turning it around to Wade taking over a playoff-ready team and say "Look, Wade has a better record in less time!" Its a bogus argument that no one should take seriously, and has nothing to do with the way Wade has lost this team.

You think Romo call his own 4th down play on Parcells? You think TO gets away with berating Garretson in public? Or even Romo doing it? You think a ridiculous gag order is even *necessary* with Parcells here instead of Coach Softy?

Stupid apples to oranges record comparisons don't mask the fact that the players could care less about Wade, and if he tries to get "tough" with them this year they will laugh at him, or worse rebel. What's he going to do, fine them $100?

Wade has had 2 years here. He went 13-3 in year one then failed to win a playoff game when we lose in round 2 to the eventual Super Bowl Champions by 4 points in a game where we out-gained the Giants by a 100 yards.

Then we had one meltdown year were we went 9-7 faced a nasty schedule and lost 1 game to a non-playoff team. Of the other 6 games we lost 2 were to Super Bowl participants.

No wonder you like Wade, you are both excuse machines. I bet you thought the "Bye Week is like a win" thing was pretty clever.

And again, not the point. For all intents and purposes Wade is not even the head coach of this team anymore, he is the defensive coordinator now who happens to have a bigger office. Jerry has made that quite clear that he is the only one with "the full picture".

So we can sit here crying about what Wade has done all day but he hasn't had the time BP did here and he hasn't lost a bunch of games we should have won.

Are you kidding me? We lost 2 straight down the stretch we should have won. What team gives up back to 70 yard TD runs to mediocre RBs within 2 minutes to lose a game that costs them a playoffs?

"But Wileedog, they were playoff teams."

Yeah, well maybe we shouldn't have had our collective butts handed to us by the stinking Rams then.

This entire SEASON was about not coming close to what we were "supposed to do." How can you write that off as "Wade hasn't been here long enough?"

I personally could care less about a bunch of nimrods perception of things. Because reality will ultimately interject itself.

I got a feeling its coming hard at a certain set of nimrods for sure, because if this team gets out of the gate slowly this year its going to implode. And there is no one in that locker room - certainly not the coach - that can stop it.

 

[adbutcher]

How many playoff wins did we get under that great leader Bill Parcells?

See, ultimately that is the issue.

Wade has had 2 years here. He went 13-3 in year one then failed to win a playoff game when we lose in round 2 to the eventual Super Bowl Champions by 4 points in a game where we out-gained the Giants by a 100 yards.

Then we had one meltdown year were we went 9-7 faced a nasty schedule and lost 1 game to a non-playoff team. Of the other 6 games we lost 2 were to Super Bowl participants.

So we can sit here crying about what Wade has done all day but he hasn't had the time BP did here and he hasn't lost a bunch of games we should have won. He has to take the blame for the egg we laid in Philly, true. That's 1 surefire game in 2 years he has to shoulder. But every coach in Cowboys history has laid an egg in Philly at some point.

I personally could care less about a bunch of nimrods perception of things. Because reality will ultimately interject itself.

Excellent post and excellent point.