Bill Listening To Bill

. . . OK, get ready, here it comes, the rest of his conversation with himself. 

"Well, Parcells you can't let that happen again," Parcells told Parcells heading into this year. "Don't let that happen again. Even if you see the ability to make plays, be judicious in the choice." 

Make sense? See, Parcells isn't sitting here fretting over Drew Bledsoe at quarterback, and he's not saying he's going to run the ball 40 times a game come hell or high water. And he's not worried that he can't stretch the field with Glenn in the passing game or that he's limited because he has two Thirtysomethings starting at wide receiver. 

He's just saying he can't get greedy because he has a live arm again in the pocket or because he has regained those lost weapons of a year ago. He's saying the Cowboys must control games with their offense, and while the defense should be improved, do not totally bank on the defense bailing them out of bad situations. 

And with Julius Jones backed by Marion Barber and possibly even Anthony Thomas and Tyson Thompson, the Cowboys have the firepower to run the ball at least 30 times a game. They should have the ability to cut down on those minus runs. And by being a little more "judicious" with his choices, he can also cut down on the sacks and interceptions. 

That's all he's saying. 

So don't make the mistake of thinking Parcells wants Bledsoe on a leash. That's not the case. You put Quincy Carter on a leash. But you don't put a Testaverde or Bledsoe on a leash. Come on, that would be like buying a vintage Jag and just leaving it in the garage. Leave the jalopy in the garage. 

Parcells will finish by telling you, "Now don't confuse that with being conservative because that's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about being smart, and being more efficient and being more deliberate." 

He is not - repeat - he is not saying Bledsoe will be his "bus driver." Again, Carters are bus drivers, not Bledsoes. This guy can throw the ball, and knows where to throw the ball. But he doesn't just need Bledsoe to win games. 

He needs bunch of hands in this offensive kitchen. 

"So I'd just say I probably tried to force things a little bit too much than the first year when we played much more within a certain structure," is what he said. 

"But we just absolutely have to improve our team in many areas . . . I just feel like, this was a retrospective view, certainly, there would have been a better way to go. It might not have been ecstatically pleasing but it probably would have turned out a little better if I had done it." 

Whoa . . . man, glad Bill got all that off his chest.   

MICK SHOTS