Landry’s Plans Are to Straighten Out Cowboys

Tough times demand dramatic action, and that is what’s happening out at Valley Ranch these days with the ongoing soap opera called the Dallas Cowboys.

Team President Tex Schramm is buttering up season-ticket holders by sending them an exclusive preview of off-season planning with Coach Tom Landry.

Landry, meanwhile, has notified offensive coordinator Paul Hackett that only one person will be calling plays in 1988.

His initials are T.L., and old T.L. is still going to supervise the defense, too.

Landry took three weeks of vacation to recharge his energy and now is back with his sleeves rolled up. Training camp begins July 10, and should be one of the most intense in Cowboys’ history.

Cowboys’ veterans met recently for a three-day minicamp, and team spokesman Doug Todd said its theme was “Blueprint for Victory.” It could very well be the beginning of the most important off-season in the Cowboys’ 28-year history.

“We are close to being the playoff team you are accustomed to watching at Texas Stadium,” Schramm wrote ticket holders. “One thing I promise you is this: The Cowboys will make Texas Stadium a very special place to be in 1988.”

The Cowboys were 7-8 and actually tied for second place in the NFC Eastern Division behind the Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins by winning their last two games, knocking both St. Louis and the Rams out of the playoffs.

But by Dallas standards, it was a dismal year, starting with Mike Sherrard’s frightening broken leg and ending with owner Bum Bright lashing out at Landry’s coaching ability.

“Ridiculous” was the word Bright used for the play-calling.

To this day, Bright has yet to praise former Texas Longhorn Landry, saying that if the coach is OK with Schramm then he’s OK with Bright.

Nevertheless, there are still major problems out at Valley Ranch, where once the biggest headaches were drought and Comanches. Front-office personnel haven’t received a raise since 1986, when the Cowboys began missing the NFL playoffs.

Morale is not exactly soaring like a hot air balloon over a prairie thunderstorm.

Running back Tony Dorsett is moping around, using the Cowboys’ workout facilities but hoping for a trade so he won’t have to be there much longer.

“I’m getting ready for football,” he says. “I’m a football player.”

But don’t be shocked if T.D. is still around to spend his twilight years on the bench behind Herschel Walker. Dorsett carries a heavy price tag, although the Cowboys might get to ditch him on draft day.

If you want to hear about a real gung-ho Dallas Cowboy, then try Danny Noonan.

He may even be a harder worker than Randy White, to whom he is being compared. Noonan, the 1987 first-round draft choice, may very well replace White as a starter.

“Randy may have to become a spot player on the outside as a stand-up rusher because of perpetual neck problems,” Landry says.

Landry says flat-out that “the right tackle spot will proably by handled by Noonan. He’s stronger than anybody I’ve seen on the line of scrimmage since Bob Lilly.”

Stronger than White, the Cowboys’ bench press king?

Good gravy.

And speaking of gravy, there’s offensive guard Nate Newton, all 360 pounds of him. Newton shocked the coaches by waddling into camp 60 pounds over his playing weight in December.

“It’s disgraceful,” was the way Schramm put it. “How could he do that to himself?”

“I thought half our offensive line was in camp, but it was just Nate,” quipped Landry.

Newton said he ballooned by visiting friends at dinner time in Florida. Newton, by the way, got one of those free dining cards for appearing on a radio show last year. The tab at a Dallas restaurant ran over $1,500.

Don’t be surprised if Newton is fined should he report to training camp a pound over 310.

Meanwhile, free safety Mike Downs, a free agent, is unhappy with his contract and could find himself without a silver and blue uniform. He claims backup Victor Scott will make more money.

Quarterback Danny White appears committed to another season as his injured wrist gets better, but Steve Pelluer will get every chance to prove he’s the starter.

Nobody save kicker Roger Ruzek has a secure job on the 1988 Cowboys. Cowboy bashing in the 1980s has replaced Cowboy boasting in the 1970s. Schramm and Landry are tired of taking their lumps.