http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/062508dnspotaylorcol.20cae5e.htmlWhether the Dallas Cowboys finally end their ridiculously long drought without a playoff win won't have anything to do with talent.
The Cowboys return all of the league-record 13 players they sent to last season's Pro Bowl, and they added two first-round draft picks and one of the league's best young cornerbacks, so talent isn't going to be an issue.
Managing the egos on this team will be the biggest challenge for mild-mannered coach Wade Phillips.
He must keep them focused and disciplined enough to fulfill their potential. It's a difficult task for a collection of players who have never dealt with the expectations and scrutiny they will face this season.
Don't scoff.
Jerry Jones has assembled a roster full of highly paid players who could fill multiple trophy cases with their individual awards, but for the Cowboys to actually win a playoff game for the first time since 1996, several players must subjugate their egos.
That's easy to say, especially when you're winning, but much harder to do, especially when you hit one of those rough spots that are part of every 16-game season.
None of this should come as a surprise if you've paid attention to the quotes coming out of the club's Valley Ranch training complex the last couple of months.
Roy Williams must put his ego aside when he's replaced in passing situations by Anthony Henry. And Henry must do the same when Adam Jones eventually replaces him at right cornerback.
Adam Jones' mission is to keep his ample ego in check so his teammates accept and respect him while they get to know him.
Greg Ellis must understand that Anthony Spencer, a first-round pick last season, should get significant playing time this season. Fewer plays will actually make Ellis a better player at the end of the season, when the Cowboys usually fall apart.
The same goes for Bradie James, who wants badly to be a Pro Bowl player. If so, he's probably going to have to get it done being a two-down player. That's hard to accept for a player who fancies himself versatile enough to play the run or the pass.
Don't overlook Terence Newman, who made his first Pro Bowl last season. He has to accept the praise Adam Jones receives and the inevitable comparisons between the players.
Then there are guys like Chris Canty and Ken Hamlin, who have yet to receive the coveted long-term deals they want. Will they put their personal issues aside for the good of the team, or will they be undisciplined in an attempt to improve their numbers and increase their stock?
If you don't think unchecked egos can hurt a team, then look no further than Terry Glenn.
He didn't participate in any practices this off-season because he didn't want to sign a waiver that would've paid him $500,000 if he re-injured his right knee and was placed on injured reserve. The waiver also prevented him from filing a grievance.
For me, it's easy to see why Glenn is frustrated, but the reality is he has zero leverage in this situation.
He should've signed the waiver, played and earned the $1.7 million he was scheduled to earn. However, his ego wouldn't let him sign the waiver. Now, he's frustrated the organization, and the Cowboys are prepared to move on without him. That's fine, but Sam Hurd and Miles Austin aren't better than Glenn.
When we're discussing ego, you can never overlook the importance of keeping T.O. happy, which can be a full-time job. Jason Garrett did a wonderful job last season, and he'll need to do it again, because an unhappy or frustrated T.O. can be a disaster.
Finally, Garrett, Phillips and Jerry need to keep an eye on Tony Romo to make sure his ego remains in check, because he's already become the celebrity quarterback Bill Parcells never wanted him to become.
Can you name another quarterback who has sent out a press release regarding his girlfriend? I didn't think so.
Even Tom Brady doesn't do that.
