[Murphy3]

Parcells' preparation paying off for Cowboys

By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
September 17, 2003

AP - Sep 16, 5:55 pm EDT



IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Before Bill Parcells began teaching the Dallas Cowboys how to react to obscure game situations, he told them a story about his tenure with the New England Patriots.

His first season there, Parcells prepared the Pats for the same scenarios. It wasn't until late in the season before they found themselves in one -- and they knew exactly what to do, pulling out a rare win and earning more faith in their new leader.

The Cowboys needed only two games.

As Monday night turned into Tuesday morning, Dallas pulled out a 35-32 overtime victory against the New York Giants in part by staying cool under pressure.

Given one play from their 40 with 11 seconds left, Quincy Carter completed a sideline pass to Antonio Bryant for 26 yards. Billy Cundiff then nailed a career-best 52-yard field goal to tie it at the end of regulation. He hit a 25-yarder in overtime for the victory, Parcells' first with the Cowboys.

``It's really ironic that I've been trying to emphasize these situations and a game so early in the season will come down to one of those very situations that we've spent a lot of time on,'' Parcells said Tuesday.

The in-game circumstances were remarkable enough. Dallas surprisingly led by 13 points at halftime and by 15 in the fourth quarter before falling behind 32-29.



Pulling out the victory on the road, against a division rival, on a Monday night, in a hostile environment -- one that happens to have been Parcells' home stadium for 11 of his previous 15 seasons as a head coach -- and with dozens of his former players there ... well, it was enough to almost make Parcells choke up.

Saying he didn't want to be too sentimental, Parcells made it clear how much it meant to him that Lawrence Taylor, O.J. Anderson, Mark Bavaro and several other players he led to two Super Bowls with the Giants stopped by the visiting locker room after the game.

``That's really why I coach, for that,'' Parcells said. ``When you see those kids you had and they're 45, 46 years old now and they're coming and hugging you, saying, `Hey, go do your work. Get your job done,' it means a lot to you. It makes you feel special.''

The emotions were broken when he got to the team bus, clicked on his cell phone and listened to about eight messages. All were congratulatory, though most aren't fit for print.

``Friendly obscene,'' he described them, adding they were hilarious.

Later Monday, Bob Knight called to praise a rookie for a heady play during crunch time. When Carolina offensive coordinator Dan Henning phoned, the former Parcells assistant skipped hello and went straight to the Xs and Os behind the pass to Bryant.

``He just called the play the way we call it in the huddle,'' Parcells said.

Players were off Tuesday and won't practice Wednesday. They'll meet, though, and they're sure to hear about more negatives than positives, such as blowing a lead for a second straight game, with the defense getting pushed around in both. And the fact Cundiff was used so much means the offense was stopped short on too many drives.

Parcells also said there were about five players who ``didn't show up,'' and he plans to meet with each of them.

``We've got some things we've got to get fixed this week,'' Parcells said. ``Because if we don't get it fixed, we're going to have a lot of trouble.''

Parcells said it's too early to know whether this game will prove to be a turning point. Still, the timing is good as Dallas has a bye this weekend, which means more time to savor the victory.

``It's a lot easier to talk to your team in a critical way when the sensitivity level is lower, which it is now, because no one is responsible for losing,'' he said. ``You can talk more frankly and more adamantly and more candidly without worry of offending people. ... Coming off a good win enhances your ability to make those points without finger-pointing.''