George learns the ropes with Cowboys

Talk about the AFC, NFC, the NFL Draft, College Football... anything football that has no Washington Football Team relevance.
Post Reply
gambit187
Hog
Posts: 1513
youtube meble na wymiar Warszawa
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2003 2:23 pm
Location: Washington

George learns the ropes with Cowboys

Post by gambit187 »

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football ... move_x.htm



George learns the ropes with Cowboys

By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY
OXNARD, Calif. — Getting married, changing jobs and moving to a new city are among the most stressful life-altering events. Eddie George, a newlywed breaking into a new backfield with the Dallas Cowboys, is in no position to argue.

"I'm taking on that triangle, all in one big lump," George says, sitting on the back of a golf cart before heading to dinner earlier this week. "And we're expecting a child, too."

Free agent moves and salary-cap cuts are part of the deal in the NFL, a league that sometimes-brusque Cowboys coach Bill Parcells calls a "replacement business." Yet for some players, signature types who underscore the identity of a franchise as George did while playing eight years for the Tennessee Titans, it doesn't always seem right.

Sure, George could have remained in Tennessee — and his former coach, Jeff Fisher, sounded sincere in lauding the running back's heart and soul on the day of his release. But money talks, too, in a business where the next play could always be a player's last. The Titans wanted George to cut his base salary this season from $4.25 million to $1.5 million.

"If they wanted to get something done, there are certain ways to restructure," George says. "I could see it coming a couple of years ago. I was being used less. The philosophy changed from a run-oriented scheme to a passing offense. I mentally prepared myself for what was coming next."

George, who married Tamara Johnson of the R&B group SWV on June 20, insists the uncertainty didn't dampen the mood during the couple's 12-day honeymoon to Italy and France. But he returned in limbo.

"It's just the uncertainty," he says. "You wake up every day wondering what was going to happen."

When neither side budged, the Titans showed George the door July 21 — less than 10 days before the team opened training camp.

George, 30, was unemployed for less than 48 hours. Dallas signed him to a one-year deal with a $1.54 million signing bonus and $660,000 base salary. If he posts 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns, George can collect another $3 million in incentives.

"I'm at peace," he says. "Regardless of what happens here, I don't have to second-guess myself."

The matchup has the potential for football bliss. Parcells has a history of finding veteran runners to depend on, and his run-heavy philosophy has never wavered. Three teams had more rushes than Dallas' 515 last season, and the Cowboys were one of five NFL teams to call more running plays than passes.

George, meanwhile, has never missed a game. His streak of 128 consecutive starts ranks second all-time among running backs, after Walter Payton's streak of 170 games.

The Cowboys, who also used their top pick, a second-round choice, on Notre Dame's quick-bursting Julius Jones, hope they've upgraded after their glaring problem of gaining tough inside yards was exposed. Last year's inconsistent starter, Troy Hambrick, was released in March.

Still, George is dogged by others' doubts. He averaged 3.3 yards a rush last season, continuing a decline since a career-high 4.1-yard mark in 1999. And since posting career bests for rushes (403) and yards (1,509) in 2000, George has rushed for an average of 1,045 yards in three seasons.

"All this bull, whatever they've got to say about me, all that will be answered," George says in an agitated tone. "I feel fresh, but people want to look at yards per carry. I don't give a damn about it. It went from what, 3.9 to 3.6? Find out why it went down."

In George's defense, changes at Tennessee the last few years included moves on the offensive line, including Bruce Matthews' retirement, a switch at fullback as power-blocker Lorenzo Neal departed and the evolution of a Steve McNair-powered passing game.

Change, however, is part of the game. On the first day at camp, that hit home when George was in a locker room, there was no McNair and he was surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces.

On the field, it seemed weird, too. The first few days of camp, George says, it felt like he was a rookie again, so much so that he occasionally lined up in the wrong spot. And his new position coach and offensive coordinator, Maurice Carthon, joins Parcells in hammering away at the vet on fundamentals.

George says he's received some coaching tips in camp that he hasn't heard since his rookie year. Parcells has been harping on him about running north-south through the hole. Carthon has been weighing in about careless positioning of the football.

"He's swinging the ball while he's running," Carthon says. "He probably didn't do that as a rookie, but now that he's become a good player, he's swinging it. So I'm going to get him back to the basics."

Carthon says there's no doubt George has a lot of football left but he's impressed by something else: "He can take criticism. That's what you like from a star player who's been in the league."

George says he's not motivated by the opportunity to let his play stick it to the Titans and his detractors.

"I'm playing to win a Super Bowl," he says. "I've trained hard. I want to see all that hard work pay off."

Can he visualize playing against the Titans in the Super Bowl?

"It is what it is," George says. "I wish them well. It's nothing against my teammates or the coaching staff. It was more or less the business side of things.

"I grew up with a lot of those guys. Samari Rolle was in my wedding. Keith Bulluck, I watched him grow into an awesome player. Steve developed into the quarterback he is. Zach Pillar, Brad Hopkins, those are my boys.

"But if we see them in the Super Bowl, I'm going to give it to them. But I don't necessarily care about that particular ending. I just want to win. And I want to win now."
" I know you gonna let me shine and get mine" Young Buck of G-Unit
Justice Hog
Pursuer of Justice
Pursuer of Justice
Posts: 5809
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2003 8:38 pm
Location: Newark, Delaware

Post by Justice Hog »

Gambit. Dude. I know this is an "Around the League" forum which calls for miscellaneous posts about different teams.....but I could really care less about all of these "info." posts of your on the Cowboys. If I wanted to read such dribble about a team that I hate, I'd go in search of it.

Man.

Thanks for the effort anyway.....but pick a better subject matter, okay?

The only Dallas Cowboy related stuff I want to see from you is information on their cheerleaders, okay? \:D/
Fran Farren
"Justice Hog"

Newark, DE

“God didn't give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving and controlled.” 2 Timothy 1:7
gambit187
Hog
Posts: 1513
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2003 2:23 pm
Location: Washington

Post by gambit187 »

Justice Hog wrote:Gambit. Dude. I know this is an "Around the League" forum which calls for miscellaneous posts about different teams.....but I could really care less about all of these "info." posts of your on the Cowboys. If I wanted to read such dribble about a team that I hate, I'd go in search of it.

Man.

Thanks for the effort anyway.....but pick a better subject matter, okay?

The only Dallas Cowboy related stuff I want to see from you is information on their cheerleaders, okay? \:D/




Monkey
" I know you gonna let me shine and get mine" Young Buck of G-Unit
Justice Hog
Pursuer of Justice
Pursuer of Justice
Posts: 5809
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2003 8:38 pm
Location: Newark, Delaware

Post by Justice Hog »

:moon: :thump: :lowblow:

so there!

ROTFALMAO [God! Sometimes I crack myself up!]
Fran Farren
"Justice Hog"

Newark, DE

“God didn't give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving and controlled.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Post Reply