Jerry tells Cowboys' coaches not to talk

According to the Star-Telegram, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has issued a gag order for all Dallas Cowboys coaches.

It's common for a head coach to be the voice of the team, such as Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, and not allow their assistants to talk to the media. But it's uncommon for the head coach of a team to not be allowed to talk to the media.

Arriving at his hotel in Indy Thursday for this weekend's NFL Scouting Combine, Phillips wouldn't talk to the media.

“Can’t,” he said. “Against the rules.”

Everything that Jones does undermines Phillips' authority and his ability to keep the team under control. It looks like the only thing that will be different for the 2009 Cowboys is that they will play in a different stadium.

Jerry vague about T.O.'s future

Today Jerry Jones was vague when talking about Terrell Owens' status for the 2009 season.

"You and I both know that the one [player] you're asking about all the time, if I gave you the answer that you want to hear, then you would have already had it," Jones said. "So the fact you don't have it ought to tell you something."

As Tim Colishaw of the Dallas Morning News points out, should you expect Jones and the Cowboys to take a $9.6 million salary-cap hit to part ways with his best WR?

No.

While hindsight is 20-20 (and I didn't think it was a good idea at the time), Jones shouldn't have given T.O. a 3-year contract extension last off-season. If he hadn't, T.O.'s contract would have been up. At least, the franchise would be making their decision solely based on whether or not T.O. is a good fit.

But let's face it - T.O.'s going to be back in '09.

Ray Lewis says Cowboys need "one general"

Unless the Baltimore Ravens assign the franchise tag to LB Ray Lewis (or sign him before February 27th), Lewis will become an unrestricted free agent.

Teammate Terrell Suggs suggested that he, Lewis and Bart Scott (who are all scheduled to become free agents) give Baltimore a "hometown discount." And Ravens' owner Steve Bisciotti has said that he thought Lewis might take less.

However, the best person to speak for Ray Lewis is Ray Lewis.

"I don't play less," Lewis told the NFL Network in Hawaii, where he will play in the Pro Bowl. "If you don't play less, you don't take less. That's just life."

If Lewis doesn't stay in Baltimore, where has played for 13 seasons, he said he considers the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets as attractive places to play.

Lewis says the Cowboys need "one general" that should be a player not a coach. Ain't that the truth!

"I don't see all of that outside stuff that they're talking about what goes on in Dallas," Lewis said. "I see Dallas as a great opportunity. It's always been America's Team. It's just a great place to play football."

"I can definitely play with T.O," Lewis said. "I think T.O. is a great, great person. I just love him. I love his work ethic. I love everything about him. So, playing with T.O. is easy."

If there is one player that command the respect of the locker room, it is a fierce competitor like Ray Lewis. Despite his age (34), Lewis is worth the money it takes to get a real leader into a franchise that is completely devoid of leadership.

Terry Glenn busted

Former Cowboys WR Terry Glenn was arrested at the Extended Stay Deluxe Hotel in Irving on January 25th. He was charged with public intoxication and possession of marijuana under two ounces.

"I guess he was going up and down the halls," [Irving Police spokesman David] Tull said.

Glenn caught 208 passes for 3,337 yards in his 4 seasons with the Cowboys. He played in the NFL since 1996.

Roy Williams says Lions practiced harder

Cowboys WR Roy Williams says that the Lions practiced harder than the Cowboys. That's pretty easy to believe.

"The practices in Detroit are a lot more difficult than they are in Dallas," Williams said. "Rod Marinelli had us moving at a faster tempo. The receivers were blocking downfield after every run and every catch, no matter who ran the ball or who caught the ball..."

"I tried to do it when I first got here, but none of the guys were catching on, so I felt like an idiot running out there by myself," Williams said. "So I quit doing it, but I'm going to start that back up come the off-season work. If people come with me, fine. If they don't, I'm going to get my work in. It's my time to be a leader on this football team."

The one thing you kept hearing as the Lions kept losing was that their guys didn't give up. That's commendable, but they just don't have enough talent to compete.

On the other hand, the Cowboys have a ton of talent. But they (in general) always seemed unfocused and lacked the heart.

Although it would be better if Williams did his talking to the team and in the locker room instead of in/to the media, I hope the 'Boys follow his lead on the field. (Although I won't be holding my breathe.)

Learning from T.O., Williams threw the OC and QB under the proverbial bus. But I happen to agree with him.

"If the coordinator wanted to get the ball to me, he could. And the same thing with the quarterback," Williams said. "I just do my part, beat the guy and put it on film and show the coordinator that I can run routes and win in this league. Unfortunately, that didn't happen this year. Hopefully, it can happen next year."

The Cowboys gave up a lot for Williams. I still don't understand why they didn't try to get Williams more involved in the passing game.