Garrett Channeling Carroll Would Be Music to Cowboys' Ears

Having hosted the Cowboys’ head coach’s radio show for a couple of years and knowing the man for three decades, I can almost guarantee that Jason Garrett doesn’t know Rick Ross.

Perhaps it’s time for an introduction.

Not to the rotund, bearded rapper, mind you. But to his music.

Because while Garrett’s Cowboys have toiled away with a business-like approach and Groundhog Day results the last three seasons, the Seattle Seahawks just dominated an NFL season and won a Super Bowl by allowing football to be a joyous game. To be fun. And, yes, to be played – and practiced - by players and their own, unique soundtrack.

Garrett is no-nonsense. His players wears coats and ties to road games. He prefers Springsteen. There isn’t music at his practices or monkeying around in the back of his bus.

Pete Carroll is an annoying, arrogant, gum-chomping coach. But maybe it’s time for Garrett to let his red hair down and relax his style, if not his standards.

Because while Garrett’s Cowboys seem to punch the time clock and turn their sport into a business with emotionless inefficiency, Carroll’s Seahawks appear to frolic on the field like 3rd-graders turned loose at recess. The urgency, the energy and, yes, the results between the teams are barely recognizable. I know having one of the league’s best quarterbacks and the reincarnation of the ’85 Bears on defense helps, but you can’t argue with the success extracted by Carroll’s rah-rah enthusiasm.

During Super Bowl week the Seahawks practiced to the back beats of Bad Meets Evil, 2 Chainz, Ludacris, Tupac and Ross.

I’m not suggesting the Cowboys can merely hit shuffle on the iPod and magically transform Tony Romo into Russell Wilson and Jeff Heath into Kam Chancellor. But a change of music. A change of culture. An injection of fun.

It works for Carroll and the Seahawks.

And although it challenges Garrett’s DNA, it couldn’t hurt the Cowboys.

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us