Gailey "tainted" by Dallas firing after 2 seasons?

[jcblanco22]

The Dallas media actually provided him plenty of support in the wake of his dismissal. For those who want some perspective on what might have really gone on behind the scenes, and why his firing a decade ago from his only other HC gig in the NFL does not mean he's doomed for failure, read on:

 

Aikman Bears Part Of The Blame

 

Wednesday, January 12, 2000

 

Aikman bears part of blame

By Jim Reeves

Knight Ridder Newspapers

 

IRVING, Texas — Jerry Jones came up with a horribly ludicrous reason for firing head coach Chan Gailey yesterday — the devil made him do it.

 

A devil, if you read Jones' rather broad hints, named Troy Aikman.

 

At a hurriedly called news conference to confirm what everyone knew 48 hours ago, the Cowboys' owner did everything but unfurl an Aikman poster and use a pointer to blame Gailey's demise on his quarterback and other players who either couldn't or wouldn't adjust to the head coach's offensive system.

 

Misdirection play or not, it was another shameful chapter for an organization that has had far too many such moments over the past five years.

 

It was a football decision, Jones stressed, but if the boys from the forensic lab had been present, I suspect they would have found that the knife in Gailey's back bore many fingerprints.

 

Were Aikman's there? Not intentionally, I'm sure — that's just not Aikman's style — but it was clear that Jones had talked to his quarterback and other key players and assistant coaches before making this decision.

 

Everything Jones has said since the Cowboys' tepid season ended with that 27-10 thrashing by the Vikings Sunday in Minnesota has absolved the players from all blame. What a ridiculous farce.

 

“I decided that the energy and the compromise that it would take for Chan to go the direction that would best fit our personnel,” Jones said in his typical oratory excess and double-speak, “and the decision and the compromise and the willingness of a lot of our personnel to go in the direction Chan wanted to go, we'd burn up more energy and we'd spend more of our resources than we had to spare.”

 

Translation: The players weren't going to change or accept Gailey's offensive philosophy, so the head coach had to go.

 

“This decision was not done because of our personnel's wish that we make a change at head coach,” Jones said, realizing that he'd already made it abundantly clear that that's exactly what happened. “It was not done because of Chan's total unwillingness to step up and continue to work at this thing.

 

“I had to make a decision ... that the energy that we spend building this team for next year wouldn't be spent trying to come to an agreement as to what we were going to do philosophically offensively. That we would go in a direction that everybody from the get-go was on the same page.”

 

It never seemed to occur to Jones that if he, as owner and general manager, would make a commitment to Gailey then perhaps the players would, too. Or that if they didn't, then perhaps they should be the ones to go.

 

Instead, the coach was fired, which will apparently please a majority of the fans who have been clamoring for his scalp, forgetting perhaps, that another couple of field goals by Richie Cunningham, or another pass or two caught by inept receivers might have turned this into a decent, if unremarkable, 10-6 season.

 

Players who could never be counted on to make a third-and-1 play will wake up today, yawn, and head to the golf course with the knowledge that their owner and GM doesn't hold them one iota responsible for their incompetence.

 

Gailey pays the price for all of them, including gross misjudgements and mistakes made by Jones as owner and GM (anyone remember Patrick Jeffers?).

 

As for wasting energy getting on the same page, won't that be exactly what this team will be doing as it adjusts to its fourth head coach in the past seven years?

 

Gailey, who only a year ago was being praised for his strong disciplinary presence and an offense that finished eighth in the league and carried the Cowboys to the NFC East championship, remained loyal to the end, refusing to point fingers at his players in return.

 

“I can't say they undermined me,” Gailey said. “I think they said what they believed,” when Jones asked.

 

“They were open for change here. The environment was right for that,” Gailey added. “When you come and take over a veteran team that's had a great deal of success, they believe very strongly in what they're doing. Unless you do a supreme job of winning them over immediately, it's always in the back of their minds the idea that there might be another way to do it.

 

“I think that probably was the case and why everybody wasn't on the same page at all times.”

 

The first hint that the owner-GM wasn't on the same page with the head coach came yesterday, when Gailey learned that he was being fired. There was no scenario offered in which he might remain as head coach, Gailey said. Jones never asked if he would make changes in his philosophy or even add an offensive coordinator.

 

“Was there enough upside and positives if you took away some of what he believes in?” Jones asked rhetorically. “How much of that can you whittle away without whittling away Chan Gailey from the standpoint of what he is as a football coach?

 

“How much do you want to take away from maximizing the unique skills of certain players that we have on this team? How much do you want to compromise that?”

 

In the end, Jones decided he would do what he has always done: protect his overpaid, underachieving star players and give them what they wanted.

 

Maybe the devil did make him do it, after all. Or a lot of devils.

[jcblanco22]

Gailey Not Given Fair Chance By Cowboys

 

Thursday, January 13, 2000

 

Gailey not given a fair chance by Cowboys

By Clarence E; Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

 

FORT WORTH, Texas — Two days ago, a bloodied but unbowed Chan Gailey relinquished the reigns of the Cowboys coaching job saying he wished he had a better chance to succeed.

 

Yesterday, Gailey cleaned out his office at the Cowboys Valley Ranch training complex knowing full well he never had a chance to be Chan the Man, as owner Jerry Jones so aptly put it when he hired him roughly 688 days ago.

 

Gailey never did have a chance, not even from the beginning.

 

When Jones shocked the football world with his Feb. 12, 1998, announcement that Gailey would be the man to lead his downtrodden team back to prominence, he bypassed more high-profile names such as George Seifert, Terry Donahue and Sherm Lewis.

 

Jones said he took a chance on the unknown Gailey because he felt the team needed a radical change.

 

“I thought we could take that risk and hit a home run,” Jones said. “I thought a fresh approach just might be the ticket. The players tried their hearts out.”

 

At the end, Jones said talked about how Gailey's offensive philosophy didn't mesh with the talents of his star players (read quarterback Troy Aikman) and that a change was necessary to get everybody on the same page.

 

It's almost laughable that Gailey was fired for the same reason he was hired — because his offensive philosophy was different than the one that took the Cowboys to Super Bowl titles in 1992, 1993 and 1995.

 

Times they are a changing? How about the more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

And actually, the only person who tried to change and eventually did change was Gailey — Aikman and Co. were resistant from beginning.

 

The Cowboys' future Hall of Fame quarterback never missed an opportunity to tell all who would listen that he never thought anything was wrong with the old offense.

 

A couple of assistant coaches acknowledged yesterday that over the course of Gailey's two-year tenure, he continually modified his offense to look more and more like the old offense.

 

It began last year as Gailey changed his running game from being primarily based on a zone-blocking scheme back to the old man-to-man blocking strategy that running back Emmitt Smith stated best fit the skills of him and the Cowboys' gargantuan offensive line.

 

This season, Gailey acquiesced to Aikman's wails about the passing game. So out went Gailey's philosophy on pass routes and route depths. In came Aikman's philosophy based on his experience with the old offense under Norv Turner and Ernie Zampese.

 

Did the changes prompted by Smith and Aikman work? There's no question about that. Smith responded in 1999 with his best season since 1995 and has silenced critics who claimed he was over the hill.

 

The reintroduction of the slant pass and the adjusted routes certainly played a role in Jason Tucker's emergence late in the season.

 

But so what. That doesn't mean Gailey's offense wouldn't have worked if had gotten the full support from his players.

 

Consider the Cowboys' hierarchy at the end, Jones controlled the front office, Dave Campo controlled the defense and Aikman controlled the offense.

 

Nobody's confusing Gailey with legendary offensive masterminds Don Coryell and Bill Walsh. And there's no question that his play calling left a lot to be desired. And his handling of receiver Michael Irvin was wrong.

 

However, before getting the rug yanked from under him, shouldn't Gailey have gotten a chance to do the job like he wanted to do the job — like he was hired to do the job?

 

Gailey leaves here knowing that his first head coaching job was compromised by disloyal subjects.

 

Gailey, however, will coach again. His belief and faith in his offense remain unconquered. He could wind up as offensive coordinator in Atlanta or maybe back in Pittsburgh, considering that he might be the only coach who can revive Kordell Stewart's career as a quarterback.

 

And it all might be for the best.

 

Was Gailey's offense suitable for the skills Aikman and Co.? Maybe not. Probably not.

 

But could it be that we never got a chance to find out?

 

That's certainly what Gailey's thinking as he looks in the rear-view mirror.

 

© 2000, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Visit the Star-Telegram on the World Wide Web: www.star-telegram.com.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

[jcblanco22]

Gailey Convenient Scapegoat for Jones

 

Jan. 12, 2000

Gailey convenient scapegoat for Jones

 

 

By NICK GHOLSON

Scripps Howard News Service

 

Is Chan Gailey a good coach? I think so, but Jerry Jones didn't ask me. He fired Gailey as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday.

 

When football teams stink, like the Cowboys did for much of this past season, the owner is going to so looking for the skunk. More often than not, he never gets past the office of the head coach.

 

They make easy and convenient fall guys.

 

But if Jones really went skunk-searching, he just might have to exterminate half of his roster. Troy boy might have to go. Ditto for Deion.

Though Jones dug deep in his pockets to pay millions out, all he bought was an 8-8 team. That's how I predicted the Cowboys to finish this year.

 

They were an 8-8 team with 8-8 talent. It was evident all through training camp. Some people just didn't want to see that or admit it.

 

The Cowboys and their Silver Star Network present a false picture of this football team. There are just too many writers and announcers bought and paid for by the team who keep talking about roses when all that exist are thorns. If you actually thought this team was a Super Bowl contender, then you were deceived.

 

And if you blame this season on Gailey, well, you're just not seeing the whole picture.

 

Troy Aikman is as much to blame for it as Chan Gailey. But when Troy whined, Jerry listened. Who are you going to fire, your $80 million quarterback or you $600,000 coach? Goodbye, Chan. You never threw an interception or dropped the ball or jumped before the snap count. But somebody has to pay for these sins. You were just convenient.

 

Professional athletes, especially the so-called superstars, are never held accountable for losing. Surely, it must be someone else's fault. After all, Troy has three Super Bowl rings. Deion is going to the Pro Bowl.

 

My opinion is if these players had done their job, Gailey would still have his.

 

But they didn't, and the coach is gone.

 

Was Chan Gailey a good coach? I say “yes,” but I also understand that a lot of you will argue that.

 

But one thing you can't argue: Chan Gailey was a good man.

 

In the business of professional sports, being a “good man” doesn't mean much. Coaches aren't judged by how well they quote John 3:16. Owners would rather see 16-3.

 

Jerry Jones has bent over backwards to make sure Leon Lett keeps his job; yet, it only took two years for Chan Gailey to lose his.

Isn't ironic how the headlines on Tuesday morning told us that the Mavericks are interested in bringing Dennis Rodman to Dallas, and now today we see that the Cowboys are telling Chan to leave town.

 

Good guys do finish last.

 

(Nick Gholson is sports editor of The Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas.)

[Ray]

It is interesting that they were 6-10 before Gailey got there and then 5-11 for three years after he left. They went to the playoffs both years he was there and that leads me to believe he is actually a good coach.

[Thurman#1]

Interesting finds. Thanks.

[Mr. WEO]

Did Aikman/the Devil get him fired from KC?

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

It is interesting that they were 6-10 before Gailey got there and then 5-11 for three years after he left. They went to the playoffs both years he was there and that leads me to believe he is actually a good coach.

 

 

it's also interesting to note that while he took over aikman and co in dallas, he's taking over a sloppy, mistake prone, injury riddled offense in buffalo. i loved the part about discipline in article one, our players need that adjustment. i realize having a revolving door of players at key positions makes that difficult and to a certain extent understandable, but it's a fact nonetheless.

 

the quotes attributed to jerry jones in the first article were hysterical, almost jauron-like. let's use 200 words strung together awkwardly to make a point.

[jcblanco22]

Did Aikman/the Devil get him fired from KC?

 

I think Haley and Gailey simply had too many differences between them. I guess Haley didn't take into account the lemonade Gailey had made the year before with Tyler Thigpen as his QB, or that simply wasn't good enough for him. Seems to me that until Jamaal Charles was finally given an opportunity by Haley late in the season, his team's 2009 offense with Matt Cassel was significantly behind what the 2008 squad had accomplished with Thigpen at the helm and Gailey calling the plays.

 

Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star seemed to concur:

 

Gailey Will Get It Done In Buffalo

 

 

Gailey will get it done in Buffalo

 

Turns out Todd Haley did Chan Gailey a favor by running him out of Kansas City last summer.

 

That way, Gailey didn't have the stain of the Chiefs lethargic 2009 offense on his record when the Bills came looking for a new head coach.

 

Gailey was one of the most underappreciated coaches to have come through Arrowhead Stadium over the years. That was true at the time he was hired and certainly stayed that way to the end of his one regular season in Kansas City. The job he did with Tyler Thigpen and an otherwise mediocre cast of offensive players was truly remarkable, though that fact was lost in an otherwise miserable 2-14 season.

 

The Bills have been a disfunctional organization since their Super Bowl years. But if that changes and Gailey gets some help from the front office, he will succeed as Buffalo's head coach.

 

It won't be easy for him. The Bills have no quarterback to build around and there's the T.O. problem. The run defense is also horrendous (just a couple yards better than the Chiefs).

 

After what he did in that season with the Chiefs, it wouldn't be wise to count him out.

[Mr. WEO]

I think Haley and Gailey simply had too many differences between them. I guess Haley didn't take into account the lemonade Gailey had made the year before with Tyler Thigpen as his QB, or that simply wasn't good enough for him. Seems to me that until Jamaal Charles was finally given an opportunity by Haley late in the season, his team's 2009 offense with Matt Cassel was significantly behind what the 2008 squad had accomplished with Thigpen at the helm and Gailey calling the plays.

 

Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star seemed to concur:

 

Gailey Will Get It Done In Buffalo

 

 

Gailey will get it done in Buffalo

 

Turns out Todd Haley did Chan Gailey a favor by running him out of Kansas City last summer.

 

That way, Gailey didn't have the stain of the Chiefs lethargic 2009 offense on his record when the Bills came looking for a new head coach.

 

Gailey was one of the most underappreciated coaches to have come through Arrowhead Stadium over the years. That was true at the time he was hired and certainly stayed that way to the end of his one regular season in Kansas City. The job he did with Tyler Thigpen and an otherwise mediocre cast of offensive players was truly remarkable, though that fact was lost in an otherwise miserable 2-14 season.

 

The Bills have been a disfunctional organization since their Super Bowl years. But if that changes and Gailey gets some help from the front office, he will succeed as Buffalo's head coach.

 

It won't be easy for him. The Bills have no quarterback to build around and there's the T.O. problem. The run defense is also horrendous (just a couple yards better than the Chiefs).

 

After what he did in that season with the Chiefs, it wouldn't be wise to count him out.

 

The Chiefs offense in 2008 was no better (and worse in points scored) than the Bills under Schonert (who had to work with TE and JPL).

[Joe Fergy]

Did Aikman/the Devil get him fired from KC?

 

Bill Belichick got fired from Cleveland he sucks too......

[eball]

Did Aikman/the Devil get him fired from KC?

And you, sir, win the "missing the point" award for this thread. Congratulations!

[Big Turk]

Did Aikman/the Devil get him fired from KC?

 

No, a team that would have likely lost to most good college teams that year did...

 

Jones himself admits that he was not fair in his firing of Gailey and it was the biggest regret in his life, not just football. He said he learned that you just can't keep changing people and made it seem like the lesson he learned from that is why Phillips is still his coach...

 

Gailey might not be a great coach, but he is not a bad one like Dick Jauron was either. He does have a winning record. I don't think he will do as well as we all would like here, but I think he will do better than a lot of people expect...

[thewildrabbit]

No, a team that would have likely lost to most good college teams that year did...

 

Jones himself admits that he was not fair in his firing of Gailey and it was the biggest regret in his life, not just football. He said he learned that you just can't keep changing people and made it seem like the lesson he learned from that is why Phillips is still his coach...

Gailey might not be a great coach, but he is not a bad one like Dick Jauron was either. He does have a winning record. I don't think he will do as well as we all would like here, but I think he will do better than a lot of people expect...

Very true, I'd read about this several times. You can't give a head coach a solid chance to prove himself after only two years,simply not fair.

 

I think Bills fans need to give Gailey 3 years to install his offensive scheme and the players he wants to run it and then judge him after that.