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Cowboys players reflect on Jason Garrett’s tenure: ‘He believed in his players with his entire heart’
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FRISCO — There was little telling last season which Cowboys team would show up in a given week, the one that went 8-0 when leading at halftime and 8-0 when scoring at least 30 points, or the one that finished 0-8 when trailing at halftime and 0-8 when scoring fewer than 30.
This inconsistency brought an ironic end to coach Jason Garrett’s tenure.
It directly countered, players say, his best quality.
As the team’s performance wavered wildly in 2019, Garrett did not. He remained consistent with his message to players. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones officially parted ways with Garrett on Sunday, announcing the long-awaited decision not to extend his expiring contract.
Beginning with an interim role in 2010, Garrett served as Cowboys head coach for nine-plus seasons. On Dec. 29, Dallas (8-8) finished one game short of its fourth playoff berth during that period.
Safety Jeff Heath has been with the franchise since entering the NFL in 2013.
“I think he’s just a very consistent guy,” Heath said. “He led us through the ups and downs of the season, and he’s just the same guy. I can honestly say I think he really cares about the players, and that’s rare. He’s a very selfless guy. He’s treated me great. It seems like every situation he’s handled the right way. … A lot of admiration for him, a lot of respect for him. Just very appreciative of how he’s treated me and how he’s coached the team.”
Said rookie linebacker Luke Gifford: “He was very consistent with his message. I think a lot of guys can appreciate that, just consistency out of whatever you’re doing. That’s kind of what you look for. I know there’s a lot of guys who come from a lot of places where things aren’t always consistent. I liked that. He kept the same message, which was big. I liked him a lot. He’s a guy you wanted to go out there and play hard for, and I know the rest of the guys felt like that, too.”
He spent seven seasons on the 53-man roster as a backup while part of two Super Bowl champion teams. In 2007, after two seasons as the Miami Dolphins' quarterbacks coach, he rejoined the Cowboys as offensive coordinator.
Linebacker Sean Lee, a 2010 second-round pick, saw as a rookie Garrett’s transition from coordinator to head coach.
“He put his heart and soul into coaching,” Lee said last Monday. “He believed in his players with his entire heart. Forced us to be better than we could be in a lot of situations. Made me believe that I could come back from a lot of injuries: my knee, my toe, from my neck injury. A guy who inspired me and really made me a better football player than I thought I could be. So, from my standpoint, an unbelievable football coach, an unbelievable guy, a guy that I love.”
Aware of rampant speculation and reports, players expected Garrett not to return.
This resolution widely was considered a foregone conclusion, although it was expected well before Sunday. The Cowboys are known to have interviewed Marvin Lewis on Friday and Mike McCarthy on Saturday and Sunday before delivering this final word to Garrett. It’s not clear why the team waited until after the McCarthy interview, although that is believed to have gone well.
“I love him to death, honestly,” Lewis said of Garrett. “He’s the one that brought me in and believed in me. He let me play as soon as I got here. He believed in me. I’ve only got the utmost respect for him.”
Cowboys players reflect on Jason Garrett’s tenure: ‘He believed in his players with his entire heart’
FRISCO — There was little telling last season which Cowboys team would show up in a given week, the one that went 8-0 when leading at halftime and 8-0 when scoring at least 30 points, or the one that finished 0-8 when trailing at halftime and 0-8 when scoring fewer than 30.
This inconsistency brought an ironic end to coach Jason Garrett’s tenure.
It directly countered, players say, his best quality.
As the team’s performance wavered wildly in 2019, Garrett did not. He remained consistent with his message to players. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones officially parted ways with Garrett on Sunday, announcing the long-awaited decision not to extend his expiring contract.
Beginning with an interim role in 2010, Garrett served as Cowboys head coach for nine-plus seasons. On Dec. 29, Dallas (8-8) finished one game short of its fourth playoff berth during that period.
Safety Jeff Heath has been with the franchise since entering the NFL in 2013.
“I think he’s just a very consistent guy,” Heath said. “He led us through the ups and downs of the season, and he’s just the same guy. I can honestly say I think he really cares about the players, and that’s rare. He’s a very selfless guy. He’s treated me great. It seems like every situation he’s handled the right way. … A lot of admiration for him, a lot of respect for him. Just very appreciative of how he’s treated me and how he’s coached the team.”
Said rookie linebacker Luke Gifford: “He was very consistent with his message. I think a lot of guys can appreciate that, just consistency out of whatever you’re doing. That’s kind of what you look for. I know there’s a lot of guys who come from a lot of places where things aren’t always consistent. I liked that. He kept the same message, which was big. I liked him a lot. He’s a guy you wanted to go out there and play hard for, and I know the rest of the guys felt like that, too.”
Garrett, 53, first joined the organization as a practice-squad quarterback in 1992.After coming from a place where I was labeled as a “practice squad player” Coach Garret told me I was the right guy for the team and is what this team is all about & that they needed me. For that I’m forever grateful. Thanks Coach. pic.twitter.com/bgi7iyjDdz
— Antwaun Woods Sr. (@AntwaunWoods_) January 5, 2020
He spent seven seasons on the 53-man roster as a backup while part of two Super Bowl champion teams. In 2007, after two seasons as the Miami Dolphins' quarterbacks coach, he rejoined the Cowboys as offensive coordinator.
Linebacker Sean Lee, a 2010 second-round pick, saw as a rookie Garrett’s transition from coordinator to head coach.
“He put his heart and soul into coaching,” Lee said last Monday. “He believed in his players with his entire heart. Forced us to be better than we could be in a lot of situations. Made me believe that I could come back from a lot of injuries: my knee, my toe, from my neck injury. A guy who inspired me and really made me a better football player than I thought I could be. So, from my standpoint, an unbelievable football coach, an unbelievable guy, a guy that I love.”
Aware of rampant speculation and reports, players expected Garrett not to return.
This resolution widely was considered a foregone conclusion, although it was expected well before Sunday. The Cowboys are known to have interviewed Marvin Lewis on Friday and Mike McCarthy on Saturday and Sunday before delivering this final word to Garrett. It’s not clear why the team waited until after the McCarthy interview, although that is believed to have gone well.
Dallas drafted cornerback Jourdan Lewis with a third round pick in 2017 out of Michigan.
“I love him to death, honestly,” Lewis said of Garrett. “He’s the one that brought me in and believed in me. He let me play as soon as I got here. He believed in me. I’ve only got the utmost respect for him.”
that was my first thought
