San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Giants OC Garrett returns to take on Cowboys.
Bland as ever, ex-Dallas coach facing team that still has his stamp on it
Jason Garrett finally opened up about his departure fromDallas.
The man owner Jerry Jones believed would be his Tom Landry, the chosen one who had been part of the organization as a player or coach for three decades, divulged his innermost feelings about being replaced by Mike McCarthy.
Garrett shared his emotions from earlier this year when he walked out of The Star for the last time as the Cowboys head coach. He spoke of the intoxicating highs and exasperating lows in his nine-plus seasons presiding over the team.
He spoke of the relationships he formed and the intense feelings that will surface when he returns to AT&T Stadium this afternoon as the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants.
Yeah, just kidding. None of that took place.
Garrett did speak to reporters earlier this week. But he was as purposely bland and vexingly guarded as he was during his tenure as head coach.
In the interest of fairness, Garrett likely would disagree with this assessment. His take:
He was disciplined and on message.
“The biggest thing we’re all focused on is what we can do to help the New York Giants play as well as we can play,” Garrett said. “That’s what we’re focused on as players, coaches. Many people around the league, you have history in another place, you know people on other teams.
“I obviously spent a lot of time in Dallas. I was very grateful for my experience there, all the players I was fortunate to coach and the guys I was fortunate to coach with, everyone in that organization, and really the people of Dallas. They were amazing tome.”
Neither Garrett nor his successor have gotten off to stirring starts. The teams have a combined record of 1-7 entering this contest.
But let’s face it. More was expected of the Cowboys. Much more.
The Giants after losing Saquon Barkley? Notmuch.
The Cowboys’ 1-3 start doesn’t provide the backdrop for McCarthy to keep reporters and fans laughing. He won’t have an HBO comedy special anytime soon.
But the former Green Bay Packers coach has come to the conclusion that the BBD approach — Boring By Design — he employed earlier in his coaching career isn’t the best method.
“I’m trying to be as charismatic as hell with you, as you can tell,” he told reporters a few days ago.
McCarthy’s actions also show the respect he has for what Garrett left him.
“I’ve always appreciated the way Jason coached the quarterback,” McCarthy said. “As far as the culture and what was in place here before, I really go back tomy early interviews.
“Anytime there’s a change, if you have the opportunity to take one or two paths, you can torch the earth and start over on everything, or you can try to incorporate the things you can fromthe past culture into your culture.
“I’ve obviously taken the second approach.”
Ezekiel Elliott is thankful for his time under Garrett and knows what the coachmeant to his career. But picking up a division win and starting to dig out of this 1-3 hole is the priority.
“We’ve got to go win a football game,” Elliott said. “I love coach Garrett. But right now, I’ve got to
focus on our guys.
“I can’t letmy attention stray.” The same goes for quarterback Dak Prescott. This isn’t a reunion.
It’s a game the Cowboys can’t afford to lose.
”I’ll never forget all of the many practices in OTAs (organized team activities) and minicamp of him continuing to get on me and put inmy head, ‘Get back and get away from center, get away from center.’ To all of our games, throwing after practice, which everybody got to witness.
“Nothing but respect for coach Garrett. It will be great to see him. But this is about getting a win.”
And what will the day be for Garrett?
“It was a great time inmy life,” Garrett said of his time with the Cowboys organization. “I’m forever appreciative of that, forever grateful of that.
“But I’m excited about the opportunity and trying to help this team get better.”
The more things change, the more they stay the same.