Couple of things stood out:
First, Parcells was not there due to prior committments. Yeah, right. He and Jerry reached this decision the way they do all their decisions, no kidding. The Dallas media is not gonna play along. They asked tough questions and challenged his and Rosenhaus' claims that all would be well this time because he's happy to be here. TO looked a little stunned by the bluntness of the questions, and the way they challenged his delusional answers. When directly asked just what it is TO claims to have learned in the last year his ultimate answer was he's always been a good teamate - just ask anyone. To which one media member commented so you haven't learned anything then. Rosenhaus had to jump in a few times bellowing his drivel and even Jones started backtracking his earlier risk comments to try to diffuse a testier media than I think they expected.
Rosenhaus insists 7 teams who shall remain nameless were in hot persuit - this was not TO's only option and the Cowboys really stepped up. What that translates to is they may have given him a deal without all the incentive based loopholes as a show of faith.
NFL Network scroll says it's a 3 year deal. This deal was basically all done by phone primarily by Jerry's kid who acts as GM. No face to face until Jerry picked him up in the Lear Jet (where according to Rosenhaus they (that's Jerry and TO hold the Tuna) poignantly and almost physically bonded
(we need a barf smilie).
Jerry's attitude seems to be we won Superbowls in Dallas with a-holes, as did Tuna in NY, so why should this be any different? He referenced how Tuna is so good dealing with these misunderstood players while maintaining chemistry - even mentioning Antonio Bryant!
I must have been asleep when that worked. Well, Jerry, in Dallas and for Tuna 20 years ago and today as Rich Eisen keeps reminding me on the NFL Network it's an NFL world and we're livin' in it - and everybody knows everybody's dirty little club house secrets within minutes.
TO hasn't talked to Drew yet. I doubt anyone affiliated with the Cowboys has. But TO is looking forward to working out with Drew. I hope he enjoys spending time in Walla Walla - maybe they can go hunting and fishing together (sans ammo and hooks though). Can't you just see how these two will click? This will be the ultimate test of Mac and Drew's parenting philosophy.
By the time the regular season started last year, Tuna looked so little like the guy who coached here. It seemed as if, contrary to what he had convinced himself, as he realized Drew handn't basically changed a lick beyond aging and absorbing more hits he began to look like a coach playing out the string. Jerry had to gove him a one year extension just to keep him from bolting in his usual never finish a contract scenario. I don't think this Parcells can do half what the 80's and 90's version could. It's a young mans game and the players have more money and outlets and less fear than ever before.
This could almost be painful to watch except for the arrogance on so many sides.
