Akin Ayodele; status uncertain

by Dave Halprin on Apr 2, 2008 11:40 PM CDT in Dallas Cowboys News

If you’re Akin Ayodele, this can’t be what you want to hear from the owner.

"Anybody we have who’s in our preseason program and who we played with last year and who we’ve got back and who is on our roster right now, certainly they have a good chance to be involved [next season]," Jones said. "But that doesn’t in any way imply that we won’t be working our roster and doing some things different on the roster, which gives rise to, ‘Well, can you say for sure that Akin is going to be your starter next year,’ and I can’t." (ed - emphasis added)

When management is talking about changes on the roster and your name comes up in that explanation, it's not good.

What’s up with the local writers? Charean Williams at the Star-T:

The Cowboys are still talking to Kennard McGuire, the agent for safety Ken Hamlin, about a long-term contract. That deal is close.

Todd Archer at the DMN:

Hamlin's agent, Kennard McGuire, spoke with the Cowboys on Tuesday, but the sides are not close to an agreement on a long-term deal.

I give. I’ll just patiently wait and see if something happens.

Don Banks takes some shots at Wade Phillips.

Phillips drew a lot of heat late last season and after the playoff loss, and deservedly so. He seemed a bit tone deaf when it came to his team and its less-than-rousing head of momentum heading into the playoffs, and he seemed to make excuses for its underachievement afterward, trying to cling to the ridiculous notion that earning a first-round bye equated to winning their first playoff game.
And after listening to him Wednesday, I'm still not sure Phillips gets it. He was back making the same basic points that won him some derision after the loss to the Giants.

I have to agree to an extent with Banks, I hate the way Wade talks about the end of last year. Getting a bye in the playoffs is not the same as winning a playoff game. And 13-3 really doesn't mean a whole lot after losing in the first round.

Ocho Cinco is losing it.

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Comments

Phillips should drink more coffee...

in the cold of December and January. Perhaps that is the time of the year that the team needs more motivation to look past its talent.

Mean it with passion when you say "How bout them Cowboys!"; don't say it with a wry smile like your shadowing Jimmy.

That #38 sure can hit!

by Aaron Novinger on Apr 3, 2008 10:56 AM CDT reply actions

And Ayodele seems like such a cool guy

when I see him in interviews. Texas guy. Too bad if he leaves but I know Wade and Jerry want a playmaker at every LB position. Ayodele is steady, but I see more fire from James and Burnett. These guys need to blast people -- not just be there to take em down.

That #38 sure can hit!

by Aaron Novinger on Apr 3, 2008 11:00 AM CDT reply actions

I'm not ready to bash Wade just yet

He has his style of motivating the players, which starts with a positive spin on things. Sugar-coating the end of last season might not be what the media or fans want to hear, but I'm not convinced it is a bad strategy when it comes to the players. They're professionals, they know how to be hard on themselves, they also hear it from every fan, friend and family member... if that is not motivation to improve, I don't know what is.

Wade isn't piling on... he's putting a positive spin on it. That's his style. Parcells would be saying "we are who we are..." Everybody wanted a change of pace, and now, in only a year, the new style is old?

We came up against a Giants defense that had a career run. We didn't respond. One game and you're out. I wish the result had been different, but drawing sweeping conclusions seems too easy.

Also... on the Ocho Cinco... I saw the interview and I don't know what all the fuss is about. Seems it was just another disgruntled player. If the tables were turned, and it was TO saying similar things, I imagine the spin would be different.

Cowboys and Tar Heels

by DalaiLuke on Apr 3, 2008 11:15 AM CDT reply actions

You're right

I wouldn't want anybody else (including Jason Garrett) coaching the Cowboys right now than Wade. His style is a perfect fit and I gotta give props to the Giants for what they accomplished -- even though I hate them, but not as much as the Patriots.
What I need to remember this coming season is that Wade's approach to the game is schematically based around his team's talent, which he has a ton of. He's not gonna kick em in the ass or tape other team's practices; he's gonna figure out where and when to blitz with what player.

That #38 sure can hit!

by Aaron Novinger on Apr 3, 2008 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions