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Title: Just call Ferguson a "Parcells guy" Post by: DolFan619 on July 18, 2008, 12:09:02 am http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/SPORTS/807170325
Just call Ferguson a "Parcells guy" BY CARL KOTALA FLORIDA TODAY Entering his 11th NFL season, Jason Ferguson has come to be known for many things. At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, he's a prototypical space-eating 3-4 defensive nose tackle. He's also a locker room leader, and an excellent mentor for younger players. But when Ferguson's name comes up in association with the three stops he has made in his career, there is usually another kind of moniker attached to him. Jason Ferguson . . . is a Bill Parcells guy. "That's my dude," Ferguson grinned. Drafted in the seventh round by Parcells, who was coaching the New York Jets in 1977, Ferguson played seven seasons there. When Parcells needed help shoring up the defensive line in Dallas, he signed Ferguson as an unrestricted free agent in 2005. And three years later, when Parcells became the Dolphins executive vice president of football operations, one of the first moves he made was to acquire Ferguson in a trade from the Cowboys. Heck, when Parcells finally does retire -- for good -- he'll probably try to work a deal with his neighbor just so Ferguson can live next door. "It's a relationship we've built over the years," Ferguson said. "He knows what I can bring to the table. I respect what he's done, and he respects what I've done in the league. More than anything, he's always saying he's proud of me. And I'm always like, 'What are you talking about, man? Stop this. What, you want a hug?' "But we're good people. We're good friends." Maybe so, but that's not why Ferguson will be putting on a Miami Dolphins uniform this season. Parcells didn't bring him here just because the two have had a good relationship over the years. Ferguson is here because he can still stuff the middle of an offensive line, freeing up the linebackers to make tackles, and because he is just the kind of leader the Dolphins were looking for. "He's good in the meeting room, and he's good with the younger players," Dolphins defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said. "They watch him. I can tell them (something) . . . but when he goes out and does it, it just speeds up the learning curve." Miami's second-year center, Samson Satele, is also learning a few things from Ferguson in practice. And aside from Satele himself, no one can appreciate that more than new head coach Tony Sparano, who was the Cowboys offensive line coach when Ferguson was there. "In Dallas, we were a big, strong line, and those people would come off the practice field and say, 'Tony that guy is hard to move. He's hard to move,' " Sparano recalled. "I think that's a compliment to Jason." So is this: As well as Ferguson and Parcells get along, the Dolphins would not have brought the veteran defensive lineman to South Florida if the head coach didn't approve. "I know Bill got me here, but I wouldn't be here if Tony didn't like me," Ferguson said. "We competed against Tony for three years. Tony knows what to expect from me also. I think that was the main thing me and Tony talked about, was 'Hey, I know Bill wanted you here, but believe me, if I didn't want you here, you wouldn't be here.' I think that was a big thing for him to say." Ferguson is hardly the only former Cowboy on the Dolphins roster. Safety Keith Davis; cornerback Nathan Jones; linebacker Akin Ayodele and tight end Anthony Fasano all called Dallas home last season. The familiarity brings a comfort in one sense, but at the same time, there is a feeling of purpose. They were brought to Miami for a reason -- and not just because Parcells, general manager Jeff Ireland (also from Dallas) and Sparano want to re-name the team the South Beach Cowboys. "I heard that when I came here and I was like, 'OK, whatever,' " Ferguson said. "But I think a lot of those guys on the Dolphins, they've been waiting for somebody to come here and show a presence, show you how to win and lose. I think that's what we're trying to learn right now." For anyone trying to learn about the dynamic Parcells has -- or had -- with his players when he was coaching, Ferguson would be the guy to go to. "Our relationship is football and beyond," he said. "We don't just always talk about football. He's always talking about my life after football -- 'How's your money? . . . Here, take these pills. They'll get your blood pressure down.' "One thing about Bill, if you haven't already noticed, he's got a story for every (situation). There's always been a guy who's been through something he's told you about. 'Oh, I had a guy who sprained his ankle 105 times . . . broke it in three places . . . and he played the next Sunday.' Yeah, sure he did. "But the one thing I always respected was he's always been real with me, be it good or bad. If there's something he likes, or something he sees you doing wrong, he's going to tell you. There's no beating around the bush. It's all the way down the middle. I believe in that more than anything." Title: Re: Just call Ferguson a "Parcells guy" Post by: YoFuggedaboutit on July 18, 2008, 07:24:44 am Parcells was coaching the Jets in 1977? I thought he was at FSU then.
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