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And with that response, coach Bill Parcells fell silent. He seemed to be deciding how forthright to be about whether his perception of what the Cowboys are capable of has changed because of their 4-1 start. Or maybe he wasn't quite sure himself.
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His face scrunched. His smile twisted. Finally, 11 seconds later, he answered.
"I talked to the team a lot about staying power. You never find out if
you have that until you are beaten down a few times. When the roller coaster
is going, a lot of people could hop on that, but ... " Parcells said, pausing
again.
He never finished. Another question came flying in. His attention had been diverted.
NFL Tickets
What Parcells seemed to be trying to say was what Cowboys players say he has
been saying to them all morning and had said after Sunday's 23-21 victory against
Philadelphia and had been saying since they upset the Giants in Week 2.
His message: "Do not confuse a good start with a good team."
"Do not confuse a win with winners."
"Do not confuse playing well in September with playing into January."
The players are hearing him. NFL Tickets
"He is right. We're too young or too inexperienced to think playoffs,"
safety Darren Woodson said. "I cannot believe I even just said the 'P'
word."
He smiled ever so slightly as that single, concise consonant passed from his
lips.
Because while Woodson insists the "P" word is not on his mind, the
simple fact it is on his mind enough for him to say it is not on his mind is
pretty exciting. It has not even been in the general vicinity in recent seasons.
The only "P" word for those teams was "please" as in "please
don't let us finish 5-11 again."
So, as you can imagine, a 4-1 start made the playoffs a hot topic Monday at
Valley Ranch.
"You are not getting me to eat the cheese," running back Troy Hambrick
said.
"No, no and no," safety Roy Williams said. NFL Tickets
"I'm not saying it. I'm not ready to say it," owner Jerry Jones said.
The only person who came anywhere close to admitting to being even slightly
charged by the 4-1 start was tight end Dan Campbell. And he simply said playing
has been fun. So why is nobody enjoying this more?
"I think probably the biggest thing is having the head coach we have,"
Campbell said. "It's pretty hard to get too excited about it because he
is going to shoot you down." NFL Tickets
Parcells is what they call in the business a comma-but guy.
Nice pass Quincy, but ...
Way to beat Philly guys, but ...
Awesome start to 2003 'Boys, but ...
You get the picture. Good is not good enough, which might be the best indication
of just how good Parcells thinks these Cowboys can be. That and Jones talking
about "if there was a trade out there that can help this team, we would
do it." Apparently, building is sooo training camp. Winning now is very
now.
Parcells said in training camp the only thing he expected from the Cowboys was
to play to their potential. He said it again Monday. The inevitable question
always follows. What exactly is the Cowboys' potential? Parcells always said
he didn't know. He said it again Monday. But he is getting a better idea, and
it is not likely to be the same answer he would have given in August.
Not that he was admitting anything Monday.
"We'll see down the road where we are," Parcells said. "I'm not
under any illusions about this."
Nor does he let the players be.
He has broken the season down into quarters. After the first quarter, he gave
them a report on how he thought they were doing. NFL Tickets
And while he praised where they ranked in turnovers and their record, wide receiver
Antonio Bryant said Parcells also had a laundry list of things they needed to
improve on if the "P" word was going to be anything more than a pipe
dream.
Not that Parcells plans on using the "P" word. Now or ever.
"I have another word for [playoffs]," Parcells said.
Which is what?
"Well, I'll let you know when it is appropriate," Parcells said. "If
it ever is."
Which would be when?
"Thanksgiving," Parcells said.
Looking ahead
Bill Parcells wouldn't say the word "playoffs" at Monday's news conference.
But that doesn't stop staff writer Jennifer Floyd Engel from assessing the remaining
schedule of the 4-1 Cowboys, who could be on that postseason path.
W: OCT. 19 AT DETROIT Chalk it up. Not only are the Lions 1-4, but the Cowboys
owe them one.
W: NOV. 2 WASHINGTON Chalk it up. The old streak is dead, just in time for Parcells
& Co. to start a new one.
W: NOV. 27 MIAMI Winnable, not guaranteed. The Dolphins don't stick forks in
teams, leaving Miami good yet beatable.