By Christine Stewart
NFL.com
Linebacker Bradie James was so excited to be wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey, he didn’t notice there was something missing on his helmet.
It was only after a minicamp workout that James, Dallas’ fourth-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, found out from a reporter the team’s rookies wore a plain silver helmet without the blue star that has come to symbolize “America’s Team.”
It’s only one of the many changes new head coach Bill Parcells has implemented — rookies have to earn their stars. Even though James initially wasn’t “aware” of the challenge, he’s definitely looking forward to it.
“It’s a starting point,” James said. “This is a gradual process. You have to focus on the process and I think that’s what Coach Parcells is implementing. Success doesn’t come overnight. A lot of us were the best players in college. Now we’ve gone from heroes to zeroes.”
Parcells made sure to remind the players of that right from the outset. James said he had previously spoken with the coach in an informal setting, but at the team’s rookie orientation, Parcells didn’t waste any time letting the newest Cowboys know just where they stood in the NFL.
“He basically told us, ‘You don’t know anything, so don’t act like you know anything … be humble,’ ” James said.
James is hunting for an apartment near the Cowboys’ training facility at Valley Ranch. Why so close to all the action? According to James, Parcells made it clear at the first meeting — fines will be levied for being late to anything.
“I need to be within walking distance,” James said with a laugh.
But Parcells’ reputation as a tough, no-nonsense type of coach is a style James embraces.
“I would call it getting everyone disciplined,” he said. “With discipline comes dedication, and rules are just a part of the game. Without rules, we’d have a society of chaos, so we’ve got to have rules.”
Discipline and dedication are two things that seem to come naturally to James. He’s also a very bright student, one of only six players in Division I-A to be named a National Scholar-Athlete by the National Football Foundation. He’s currently finishing up classes at Louisiana State, and will graduate May 23 with a degree in criminology.
On the field, the speedy James started for three seasons on LSU’s defense, showing versatility and leadership in the process. He first played weakside outside linebacker before moving to the middle for his senior season, when he was named team captain and the Tigers defense earned the moniker “Bradie’s Gang.” James also set the school’s single-season record with 154 tackles last year, and his 418 total career tackles rank second in school history.
The Cowboys were happy to see James available on the board when it was their turn to pick in the fourth round, so they snatched the 6-foot-2, 242-pounder with the 103rd overall selection. James was thrilled about going to the team he rooted for growing up.
“Dallas is the team I wanted to go to,” he said. “It’s like fulfilling a childhood dream to play for America’s Team, and that’s the opportunity I have.”
James has already bonded with some of the other rookies. During minicamp, he roomed with the team’s top overall pick, cornerback Terence Newman. James and third-round pick Jason Witten, a tight end out of Tennessee, share the same agent and have traded some fun jabs over their playing days in the Southeastern Conference.
“I told him, ‘We won the one that counted. I won the ring. What do you have?’ ” James said with a chuckle, referencing LSU’s 31-20 victory against Tennessee in the 2001 SEC Championship Game.
James realizes linebacker is one position where the Cowboys aren’t lacking. But he desperately wants to learn from seasoned players like Dexter Coakley, Dat Nguyen, Al Singleton and Jamal Brooks.
“My goals in the offseason are to become as strong as I possibly can, and to learn as much as I can from the guys that are in front of me because we have some good guys playing linebacker,” he said. “I just want to learn as much as I can from them and contribute as much as I can on the field, whether it’s special teams or other areas, and hopefully earn my star.”
There’s been lots of speculation James’ speed will get him time on special teams almost immediately. Owner Jerry Jones has also said he expects James will back up the veteran Coakley at weakside linebacker and could be used in nickel packages. No matter what the capacity, James just wants to contribute in any way he can.
“I just want to be on the field,” he said. “If I have to be the holder for the field-goal kicker, I’ll do it. I want to do as much as I can by being on the field.”
It’s that kind of attitude that will earn James his star sooner rather than later.