High noon: Campo's firing expected today - 12/30/2002 - Dallas Cowboys News Conf @ 12:30 Central

The Dallas Morning News ^ | December 30, 2002 | By RICHARD DURRETT / Dallas Web Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

High noon: Campo's firing expected today

12/30/2002

By RICHARD DURRETT / Dallas Web Staff

IRVING -- Monday at 12:30 p.m. should mark the official end to the Dave Campo era of the Dallas Cowboys.

The team has called a news conference at Valley Ranch where they are expected to announce the firing of Campo.

Campo, the fifth coach in Cowboys history, finished his third consecutive 5-11 campaign with a 20-14 loss to Washington on Sunday, ending the Cowboys' streak of 10 consecutive wins against the Redskins.

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	Video: Cynthia Vega reports

Jones hasn't named a successor to Campo yet, but former Giants, Patriots and Jets coach Bill Parcells is considered the frontrunner. Jones and Parcells have met twice in recent weeks, including Friday, when they talked for six hours.

Campo was named coach prior to the 2000 season after Jones fired Chan Gailey, now the head coach at Georgia Tech. Campo had spent the previous 11 seasons as an assistant coach with the Cowboys and was the defensive coordinator for the 1995 team that won Super Bowl XXX.

Campo's first team started the year 3-4, but lost seven of its next nine games to finish 5-11 and fourth in the NFC East. The Cowboys did beat Washington twice that season and Emmitt Smith topped 15,000 career yards. Before the 2001 season began, Campo dealt with questions at quarterback. Troy Aikman announced his retirement after 12 seasons with the Cowboys and Dallas drafted quarterback Quincy Carter from Georgia in the second round. Jones brought in veteran quarterback Tony Banks, but cut him just before the season started in favor of Carter.

The Cowboys started the 2001 campaign with an 0-4 record and never found much success. The team had two four-game losing streaks and finished 5-11 for the second consecutive season.

Campo, Jones and the Cowboys players had high expectations heading into the 2002 season. The Cowboys signed free-agent defensive end La'Roi Glover from New Orleans and had, according to draft experts, a solid draft. The Cowboys got safety Roy Williams in the first round and offensive lineman Andre Gurode and wide receiver Antonio Bryant in the second round.

The Cowboys started 3-3, but faded quickly. Carter was benched after seven games in favor of Chad Hutchinson, who had never thrown an NFL pass. The offensive line suffered injuries in training camp and never got on track. Plus, several of the Cowboys' losses were attributed to controversial Campo decisions.

For Campo, one of the few bright spots from the 2002 season came in October when Smith broke Walter Payton's NFL record for career rushing yards against Seattle at Texas Stadium.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/123002dnspocowconference.3f0dc0a0.html

[MeekOneGOP]

Well, guys, it's been nice knowing ya !

[CougarGA7]

The question now is: How many draft picks will Tampa Bay get if Parcells is hired?

[lavrenti]

Yeah, they'll hire Parcells and draft the beloved Boy Simms in the second round (considering they'll lose a first round to the Tampa Bay Thugs).

Dennis Green is also available, another piece of work that'll guarantee Bengal-like numbers for the Jerry Jones circus.

[Corporate Law]

There are reports as many as six head coaches will be fired today. Parcells has the catbird's seat in all this, essentially being able to write his ticket wherever he wants, though I doubt he will go to Dallas and work under Jones.

[MeekOneGOP]

For Campo, one of the few bright spots from the 2002 season came in October when Smith broke Walter Payton's NFL record for career rushing yards against Seattle at Texas Stadium.

Yep, that's about it. I'd say that it's Jerry Jones that's doing the lousy job. Why did he fire Jimmy Johnson in the first place? It's been one mistake after the next. Sell, Jerry, and to a Texan !

It's always about ME !!

[mhking]

"Tuna watch?"

[discostu]

So long Dave, I'm sure you'll find a job as defensive co-odinator in short order, and for a better owner too. I'm really hoping Jerry picks up Tuna, I hate them both and having them in the same town would make my life easier. The best part will be 3 years later when Tuna blows town and convinces half the staff to quit too leaving Dallas in worse shape than when he got there. Hopefully 3 crapy years in Dallas will end his bid for the Hall. He's not a Hall of Fame coach, he's not innovative, he's not that good, and his attitude is bad for football. but Jerry deserves him.

[csvset]

Is Emmett holding his nose?

"Dang coach, you're stinking up the joint."

[CougarGA7]

Dick LeBeau (Bengals) and Tom Coughlin (Jaguars) have already been fired today.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the comments folks. See #5....

[bigfootbob]

It's hard for me to believe Parcell's would coach for the megalomaniac Jerry Jones. That must be one hell of a contract. It won't last, what staff does Parcell's have left? They're all head coaches now.

[MeekOneGOP]

Is Emmett holding his nose?

"Dang coach, you're stinking up the joint."

ROFL ! I saw that too...

[discostu]

Anybody got a rumor mill list? We know Coughlin is gone from Jax, that was announced last night. Here's my suspect list but these are just my opinion: The Lions need a house cleaning (they should fire EVERYBODY, even the people running consessions, Mr. Randy-ratio shouldn't be long for this world (lets force 40% of our offense to a guy that admitted he doesn't work every down, brilliant plan!), the Bengals need to fire the owners, Martz may be toast in St. Louis (from Superbowl to toilet with almost no personal changes means the coach ran out of tricks). Guess that's 6 with Campo.

[KC_Conspirator]

Jerry Jones is the problem in Dallas. He's turned that team into crap, startign wityh his foolish personnel decisions. First and foremost is how he forced Campo to play Quincy Carter, who was an absolutely terrible QB. Then he did everything to force Emmitt, who is still the best player on that lousy team, to give up time to a below average RB.

[MeekOneGOP]

[CougarGA7]

Martz wont be gone from St.Louis. He lost two key offensive linemen to free agency during the offseason and got the wild idea that he could fill from within. Hopefully, he has learned a valuable lesson from that. With out the O-line being as strong, the quarterback didn't have as much time to throw, and Marshall didn't have the holes to run through that he usually had.

[Tall_Texan]

Since Jerry Jones: Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, next head coach (14 years).

Before Jerry Jones: ONE head coach (28 years).

[MeekOneGOP]

I hear ya, my FRiend. I hear ya. See #5....

[TightSqueeze]

He's not a Hall of Fame coach, he's not innovative, he's not that good, and his attitude is bad for football.

You know nothing, the Jets are still reaping the rewards from the Tuna's short stay, and just how many Super Bowl rings do you possess? Chump.

[B.O. Plenty]

Dang....I don't know how the world will survive! Dave Campo fired!...now the whole world is in big chicken fat trouble! Dave Campo fired....what a tragedy!

I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight for worrying......

[xJones]

Parcells has the catbird's seat in all this, essentially being able to write his ticket wherever he wants, though I doubt he will go to Dallas and work under Jones.

The other Goober from Arkansas only did good when Jimmy Johnson did that terrific draft exchange with the Vikings. It was terrible for the Vikings but the Cowboys lived off of it until nearly all the players retired for various reasons (cough). But Johnson had a large ego and nobody could be allowed to competete with the Goober's ego, so he was fired right after a SuperBowl. Jones then announced that "500 coaches could take this team to the next SuperBowl." He found the 501st one, Barry Switzer and didn't make the next Superbowl. They did win the year after, but it's been downhill ever since. Parcells is a respected man and wouldn't be subserviant to Jerry Jones. He'd be a fool if he took the position without complete written agreements of authority.

Palpatine, Jerry Jones looks like you with the black hood off.

[lavrenti]

I believe it, if only for the fact that if the Cowboys do not win again soon, Jerry may lose the team.

Even a megalomaniac sometimes knows the value of a buck when it slaps you in the face.

As for staff, there are a number of able assistants, college head coaches and veteran players with an eye for the sideline who would jump at the chance to work for Bill.

[mhking]

According to what I've heard, Tuna and Dennis Green have both been courted by Jerry Jones for the Dallas job. In Cincinnati, the commissioner has actually demanded that Bagels president Mike Brown to hire a general manager and stop trying to run the team (into the ground) himself.

Notre Dame coach Ty Willingham is on the record as saying that he is not interested in an NFL job - my guess is that he wants a national championship or three under his belt.

Mike Holmgren may be on the way out up in Seattle, but everyone involved up there is keeping pretty mum about it. If Holmgren stays, look for him to give up his general manager's reins as well.

[MeekOneGOP]

Cowboys Officially Dismiss Campo

Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 30, 2002, 12:30 p.m. (CST)

IRVING, Texas - The speculation came to an end here on Monday.

After three seasons as head coach of the Cowboys, Dave Campo has been dismissed, announced Monday by owner Jerry Jones at a mid-day press conference at Valley Ranch.

Campo suffered through his third consecutive 5-11 season this year, the season ending with Sunday's 20-14 loss to the Redskins, which left his three-year head coaching record at 15-33.

Campo held an emotional 30-minute meeting with the team Monday morning, then met with his coaching staff as Jones then met for a few minutes with the team before holding a press conference.

"That was a tough way to finish the season," Campo said following the first loss to Washington since 1997, leaving his winning percentage at .312, the lowest of the four previous Cowboys head coaches. "We're not real pleased to lose the last four ballgames. I'm just disappointed in the season we had."

While Jones did not immediately name a replacement, the Cowboys owner and general manager has already spoken with coaching candidate Bill Parcells on at least two occasions in the last two weeks. Sources around Valley Ranch say Parcells could even be hired as early as Tuesday and likely at least by Thursday.

Jones has also spoken to former Vikings head coach Dennis Green last week about possibly of becoming the next head coach. However, Parcells remains the leading candidate for the job, and it appears the two already have hammered out the essential details to sign a contract. Sources say Parcells could sign a deal worth $3-$4 million a year, which would be the most Jones has ever paid a Cowboys head coach since buying the team in 1989.

As for Campo, who still had two years remaining on his contract, his 14 seasons working with the Cowboys has come to an end.

One of the final coaches brought over by Jimmy Johnson from the University of Miami, Campo started out his NFL coaching career as a defensive assistant in 1989. He quickly moved up to secondary coach before assuming the defensive coordinator role in 1995 season. After five solid years leading the defense, Campo was promoted to head coach following the firing of Chan Gailey.

"I've seen Dave grow like I have," said Emmitt Smith, who might be saying his farewells to the Cowboys in a few weeks as well. "I've seen him go from secondary coach, to defensive coordinator, to head coach. And he's been effective at all levels, except for head coach. But I don't think it's a reflection on him as a head coach. Lots of things didn't go right for us and things Dave has no control of."

In his first season, Campo had to watch Troy Aikman, Joey Galloway and Rocket Ismail miss a combined 28 games, while the defense was the worst in the league against the rush, allowing three separate 200-yard rushers throughout the season.

The defense improved dramatically in 2001, but the offense regressed just as much. The Cowboys started four different quarterbacks, including rookie Quincy Carter for eight games. The Cowboys ranked last in the league in passing offense. The Cowboys also had to play with more than $24 million missing from their salary cap because of "dead money" shelled out to former players no longer on the roster.

And then this season, which was supposed to be the start of the turnaround, the Cowboys appeared to have enough talent to make a playoff push. Instead, the offense never got on untracked under Carter's guidance, and really wasn't much better under rookie Chad Hutchinson, who started the final nine games. The offensive line suffered an unbelievable amount of injuries early, headlined by Larry Allen finishing just one game all season and ending up on injured reserve following ankle surgery. The defense anchored the team all season, but still didn't get enough pressure on the quarterback, finishing with just 24 sacks.

"We had known, because we had such a young team, that we would struggle some early on," Jones said. "But we would start to see positive signs as the year went on. But it's real disappointing that we're not seeing those right now."

Jones has said all season that continued progress would be the determining factor in evaluating Campo and the remainder of the coaching staff after the season.

However, the Cowboys lost their final four games, allowing a total of 115 points in the span. Everything seemed to unravel in the final seven minutes of the San Francisco game, when the Cowboys lost a 10-point lead and the game to end a two-game winning streak, and unfortunately for Campo, begin a four-game losing streak.

The Cowboys have several assistant coaches still under contract for at least one more season, including offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and special teams coach Joe Avezzano.

There has been speculation Jones already has spoken to Parcells about retaining Zimmer, along with Avezzano and quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson, all of whom have at least two more years on their contracts.

[sean327]

The Cowboys wouldn't be the one giving the Buc's compensation for hiring Parcells, it would come from the league. Thus the Cowboys would not be giving up a 1st round pick to hire the Tuna. Any movement on the QB issue would likely be signing Jake Plummer as a free agent. Parcells loves the guy and he is a proven NFL QB. Sims is an over rated choker.(see the last 2 OU UT games!)

[bigfootbob]

"Mike Holmgren may be on the way out up in Seattle, but everyone involved up there is keeping pretty mum about it. If Holmgren stays, look for him to give up his general manager's reins as well."

My personal wish would be Holmgen stays as coach and the Seahawks hire Ron Wolf as General Manager.

[af_vet_rr]

Jones might as well quit pretending and get rid of all of the coaches and management and save the money since he wants to do it all himself. He apparently attended the George Steinbrenner School of Killing Off Dynasties in the 1970s .

It's amusing to watch a team owner like Jones get involved in every little thing and watch it all crumble down around him while across town you have such a contrast in Mark Cuban and the Mavericks

For a good contrast/comparison/info about Cuban and Jones, even though it's Slate: Mark Cuban and meddling with a pro team the right way

[discostu]

I'd buy that except they've done so well with the substitute QB. I think Martz has become a one dimensional coach and can only break out of his rut when forced to think differently. Notice Marshall got a lot more carries after Warner got hurt. I think Martz started believing his own press during the playoff run last year, that's never a good thing.

[ewing]

Tuna Time!

[Corporate Law]

The league supposedly told him to hire a GM and he is rumored to be promoting his daughter (a.k.a. Pumpkin) to be GM. The story is that Paul Brown told his family to never relinquish control of the team after what happened to him in Cleveland but Mikey and his family own something close to 90% of the Bungles so there is no chance of that happening even with a strong GM. I am just happy that the Browns made the playoffs in their fourth season because Al Lerner had the intelligence to hire Carmen Policy and Dwight Clark to run the team, a move Mike Brown is incapable of making. I say this not as a Browns fan (Colts fan) but as someone who lives in Cincinnati and is outraged at the embarassment Mike Brown brings upon this city with his woeful team.

[Skooz]

Now if KC will fire inept D coordinator Greg Robinson, all will be well in football land.

[discostu]

Oooh you're such a big man, hurling insults from behind a false name, I feel completely reprimanded. Now what "rewards" did the Jets get from Tuna? A completely gutted coaching staff? A second rate QB who's benching finally got the team winning? the loss of a bunch of draft picks that finally pushed the Pats over the top (after they purged the overrated QB Tuna loved)? A complete lack of playoff appearances until the final vestiges of Tuna were perged from the starting lineup? Go ahead, name ONE thing Tuna put in place that's still there and has helped them get this far. Tuna is a second rate coach with a giant ego and nothing much to recommend him. How many rings does he have? How many appearances to get them? How many seasons to get those appearances? Playoff win-loss record? Overall win-loss record? Defensive innovations? Offensive innovations? Special teams innovations (I'm getting desperate here)? Players he helped excel beyond their expectations? Anything to earn him his reputation?

Tuna is a guy that takes a different flight than his team coming home from the Superbowl so he can violate his contract and get a job with a different team. He's a guy that makes it known he doesn't want to be with that team anymore on the flight TO the Superbowl, then wonders why his team puts up a lackluster effort. Scum. He's a symbol of everything that's wrong with the game today. He's Randy Moss with a coaches whistle. And 3 losing years at Dallas will show the world the truth.

[CougarGA7]

Dont read too much into that. Here's some of the things that were at work there.

Running the ball more when your starting quarterback gets hurt is pretty standard.

Warners hand wasn't right even at the begining of the season. His passes used to have a real tight spin to them. From Game 1 he was throwing wobblers. I think there was something wrong there from the begining.

I'm not trying to take anything away from Bulger. I watched all of those first 5 games he started. (I was even at the St Louis at Arizona game) He did a great job, but if you look at those games one thing that comes out is that 1. They very well could have lost any one of those games. (San Diego actually should have won) and 2. The defense turned in good performances (and big plays) in those games.

[discostu]

Green could do pretty well, I know it's popular to bash him but look at what the team has done without him. Getting a GM won't help the bungles, the problem is that Brown is cheap not that he's incompitent. This is the guy that didn't but the team new towels in 2000 because he just couldn't "justify" the expense.

I think Spurrier's belly flop (and man was that fun to watch) has scared college coaches. There are a lot of differences between the college game and the pros and success in one has very little relation to the other.

I think Mike Holmgren is still a solid coach, my problem is with him as a GM, he's got no eye for talent and seems to pick players as a GM for a completely different style than he coaches. Notice how the Hawks have finished each season pretty well, but they suck so bad to start there's no recovering the season. I called that the adjustment time, it's the time it takes Mike Holmgren the coach to figure out how to win with the lousy roster Mike Holmgren the GM keeps saddling him with ;-) If they get a good GM in there the NFC West is theirs for the taking.

[discostu]

My problem with Martz is that even when everybody in the western world knew that Warner's hand had problems he was still calling a pass heavy offense. It's one thing to switch to an untested RB when your starting QB gets hurt and finding out you've had a great RB sitting under your nose. It's another thing to have one of the best RBs in the game and prefering to give the ball to a QB having problems. When you've got Faulk lining up in the back field there's no reason not to run 25 to 30 times a game, especially if your QB is nursing an injury and could probably benefit from less preasure. Just gotta look at the final minutes of yesterday's Pats-Phins game to see what forgetting about hall of fame RBs does for you (what was Wonstadt thinking? he should worry about getting fired just for that posession). One of the things that's made the Rams passing game so deadly is that defenses still have to worry about Faulk busting one for 20 yards, unless the coach isn't giving him the ball. Martz needs to forget about this "greatest show on turf" crap and get back to football.

[blackie]

"My personal wish would be Holmgen stays as coach and the Seahawks hire Ron Wolf as General Manager."

Holmgren will stay ... I don't know about a general manager ... Wolf is a good one, though.

[CougarGA7]

I agree with you there. Martz system naturally calls for a pass happy offense. I think he could do himself a favor even if he just implemented a few less North-South passing plays, just throw in a few more runs and short quick-hit passes. Kind of integrating a little bit of West-Coast offense into his system.

[bigfootbob]

Wolf and Holmgren have history. I just hope Holmgren's ego doesn't interfere with his common sense. Wolf's available and Paul Allen has deep pockets.

[discostu]

They don't even need much of an offensive line because Faulk has the speed to run outside. Actually the worse your O-line is the more west-coast you should go, because it focuses on 3-5-7 passing there's no time to get to the QB; the whole point of that offense is to get the ball out of the QB's hands before he gets killed (and to draw a lot of cheap pass interference calls which are almost as good as completions). Although in the modern era you've got to watch out for zone blitzes which are pretty much designed to get interceptions on dump off passes to TE's and RB's (zone blitz wasn't around in the heyday of west-coast).

[mlo]

Cowboys?

Are they still in the NFL?

[CougarGA7]

You always need a good offensive line. Even with a back like Faulk. If the O-line is real bad, defenses can use the Linebackers to cover the corners not to mention using the Middle Linebacker as a spy. Look at the Bears. Last year they had what I feel was the best O-line in the league. They had a great year even with mediocre people at the skills positions. This year, they lost Brockmeyer to FA and then were riddled with O-line injuries. And they looked terrible.

[sinkspur]

Jean-Jacques Taylor, beat writer covering the Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News, just announced on KTCK ("The Ticket"), that Parcells has agreed to a four year, $18 million deal that will be announced tomorrow morning.

Parcells is coming to Dallas!

[blackie]

Yeah, Allen has $$ look at the $$ he spends on that gang of tall prima donnas, wearing baggy shorts, called the Portland Trail Blazers ... sigh ...

[discostu]

You always want a good o-line, if you've got the weapons you can live without one, but life gets easier with one. The Bears lost just about everybody to injury, there were a few games where they didn't actual suit up the maximum allowed because they didn't have the warm bodies. Poor bastards.

[blackie]

"Parcells is coming to Dallas!"

How do feel about that, Sink?

[discostu]

That's funny, a 4 year contract. Has he ever worked for one team more than 3 years? Well this pretty much insures Dallas will suck for at least 5 more years (Parcells plus Parcells hangover when he guts the team on his way out the door), WOOHOO!

[CougarGA7]

If I was a coach, that would be a top priority. Most of the work is done in the trenches. The two most important positions, IMHO, is the Offensive and Defensive Lines. A good O-line will make an average QB/RB and make him into a good QB/RB and it will make a good QB/RB into a Superstar.

[CougarGA7]

This is going to be interesting to watch. These two egos should make for good comedy.

[bigfootbob]

That's a horse of a different color. The NBA has been $h!t since Larry Bird retired. And what's up with all the tatooed Black players? We've always had white dummies marking up their bodies, but it was rare with Blacks prior to Dennis Rodham, (SIC on purpose!!!).

[sinkspur]

Parcells has won everywhere he's been. That's what Cowboy fandom is hungry for.

Jones, by hiring him, has just admitted that the last nine years were a mistake. Jones hired coaches nobody wanted before they got here, and nobody wanted after they left. There wasn't a disciplinarian in the bunch, and they were all scared to death of Jones..

Parcells is like Jimmy Johnson, in that he requires dedication to the game: weight work will be mandatory in the off season, nobody's gonna be missing spring quarterback camp, and there won't be players accumulating fines or getting their names in the papers for off-field antics. In addition, he's not afraid of any owner, and has the leverage to walk if he gets screwed around.

We'll see just how involved Parcells gets in drafting. I don't know how much of a personnel guy he is, but he's gotten some superior performance out of mediocre players like a Phil Simms.