Here's what a no nonsense General Manager does. He calls Cowboys outsider linebacker, and former first-round selection, Anthony Spencer into his office, shuts the door, stares intently and for what seems like an eternity into the players eyes, takes a huge and exasperating deep breath, and slides a piece of paper across the GM's desk so that the player clearly knows there is an issue at hand.
The paper in question is a photocopy of an article/blog compiled by ESPN's newly-named NFC East Blogger, Dan Graziano. The worded-recollection shared with the player would read:
"You can't mail days in in this league," Spencer told me in a phone interview Thursday. "And I definitely found I was doing that last year."
This is a surprising admission from an NFL player to a writer -- the kind that startles a shrewd interviewer into scrapping his next couple of planned questions and following up. So, for the sake of you, my dear blog followers, that is exactly what I did.
Spencer told me he was reviewing game tapes from last season and spotting mistakes he'd made that didn't make any sense to him. In the pass rush, he'd take the wrong angle or attack the line at the wrong spot -- little detail things he knows not to do but was doing anyway. So he decided to investigate further, and he dug up some practice tapes. What he saw there was a guy wearing his uniform but not always working very hard on those little detail things in practice.
"So this year, definitely been focusing more in practice," Spencer said. "That's been my big thing, and I think it's going to make a big difference." 
He "thinks" it's going to make a difference this year? Red flag. Red flag. Red flag. Don't think, KNOW!!
If the player didn't offer any type of immediate response upon completion of the direct quotes and review, then the prudent GM would venture forward with, "Interesting, did you actually say those things, Anthony?" Depending on the response and quick analysis of how the 2011 practices and preseason games have transpired, one of two actions would have been REQUIRED from the GM. An open, palm-up hand could have been extended in conjunction with the directive, "You owe me and this organization, so why don't you just cut me a check for your 2010 embezzled earnings," or a wadded-up version 
of this little number should have been tossed to recipient with this little message, "You're done."
If Defensive Coordinator, Rob Ryan, as an inkling of doubt regarding #93's playing abilities, or more importantly, dedication to the game, then he need look no further than a champing-at-the-bit Victor Butler. Butler's preseason and Training Camp have been nothing short of stellar. This being the case, coupled with the outrageous admission above, should have team captains, defensive teammates, Defensive Coordinator, Head Coach, Jason Garrett, and the aforementioned GM, Jerry Jones, whispering sweet reminders on just how short Anthony Spencer's leash remains. There is absolutely NO call or need for a player who is willing to freely-admit such short-comings. Regardless of Draft position. Now, not only is Spencer's work ethic in question, so is his judgment and decision-making. In the ultra-competitive NFL, why in the world would you publicly-admit this indictment? Not real smart. Not smart, at all.
Many, to include local media, seem to want to applaud the admission and honesty. Why? To tolerate a total disregard for and adherence to company policies? How would that hold up in Corporate America with a 10%+ unemployment rate? Simply, it wouldn't!! Want to send a message, a REAL message, to your troops? Spencer should have been bounced on his "admitted lazy" rear end days prior to the departure of the team charter for NYC and 9/11. Do you think that move would have resonated throughout the ranks? Wasn't the Bradie James insinuation "entitlement?" Where there's smoke, there's fire. Time to snuff out the smoldering flame-fanners.
If the organizational brain trust didn't have the brass kahonies to make such a bold and brazen move, then all eyes and backing should turn to a player who could easily become the Cowboys' Player of the Year. If Victor Butler didn't somehow smile and salivate upon hearing the Spencer admission, then it raises another concern/question, however, based on his desire to see more playing time, the Cowboys' Faithful can only hope #57 uses this to his full advantage and leaves Anthony Spencer either in his wake or thirsting to prove himself all over again. At the very least, the Cowboys should have demoted Spencer in favor of Butler, but once again, opportunity missed!! And this, again, raises the multi-decade concern of just how much power and say the Head Coach has within this organization. Unfortunately, these combustible questions never seem to get asked in the press/media rooms of Valley Ranch. Until things start running like an air-tight ship, expect the Wrath of Mediocrity to reign supreme in the Land of the Blue Star.
Go Victor Butler...the door is open!!
