Pursuit of Horton didn't bother Dave Campo

[Bonecrusher#31]

Pursuit of Horton didn't bother Dave Campo

February, 17, 2011


By Tim MacMahon
IRVING, Texas -- Dave Campo did not consider the Cowboys’ pursuit of Ray Horton an insult.

Campo would have moved to an unspecified role if the Cowboys could have hired Horton after the Super Bowl to coach the secondary. However, it became a moot point when Horton, who had been the Steelers’ secondary coach, accepted Arizona’s offer to become the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator.

Campo, who coached Horton during his four seasons as a Cowboys safety, never felt like his job security was in question. He just wasn’t sure what his role would be.

And Campo, the former Cowboys head coach with more than two decades of NFL experience, gave no indication that he was offended that Jason Garrett considered hiring another secondary coach. Campo said his preference was always to remain in an on-field coaching position, but he appreciated Garrett’s honesty with him about the interest in Horton.

“I knew I was going to be part of the staff regardless of what,” Campo said. “Jason made it very clear to me right from the beginning that he wanted to get some new ideas and some new things in, which I think he’s done a great job of with the guys he’s added to the staff.

“I did not know exactly what my role was going to be, but he made it clear to me that he wanted me to be here and to be part of it and to help him. That’s all I really care about at this point in my career.”

 

[Midswat]

No pride.

Reminds me of the scene in There's Something About Mary when Ben Stillers character asks that girl to the prom, and she responds that she's hoping to get asked by someone else, but if that falls through, then maybe.

 

[sbk92]

Cowboys' Campo never felt snubbed: I didn’t need to know the title

By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News


IRVING — Dave Campo didn’t feel he was left to twist in the wind as the Cowboys dragged their heels and discussed other candidates for his job.

The reason goes back to a conversation he had with head coach Jason Garrett six weeks ago.

“Jason, the day he was hired, came to me and told me that he didn’t know what my role was going to be, but he told me I would be on the staff and that he wanted me to be here,” Campo said.

“To me, that was all I really needed to hear. I didn’t need to know the title.”

The title won’t change. Campo will be the team’s secondary coach. He will continue to split duties with Brett Maxie as he has since his return to the organization in 2008.

Campo’s role on Garrett’s coaching staff was not determined until last week. The prolonged process illustrates the level of dissatisfaction in the performance of the Cowboys secondary in 2010 and the serious flirtation the club had with other candidates.

Campo understood.

“It is what have you done for me lately,” said Campo, who first came to the Cowboys in 1989 and has served as defensive coordinator and head coach. “We didn’t play well. We need to play better.”

That’s why there was talk that new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan would bring secondary coach Jerome Henderson with him from Cleveland . It’s why the club waited until after the Super Bowl to talk to Ray Horton.

Only after Horton accepted an offer to become Arizona’s defensive coordinator was Campo’s role on this staff cemented.

“I love Ray,” Campo said. “He played for me. That wasn’t going to be an issue no matter what. Now, how it was going to be split up and what exactly was going to happen, we didn’t know. But we were going forward with everyone here.

“The great thing about Jason was he wanted to explore ways to get a few different ideas in here. He wanted Rob to be very comfortable in who was going to be on the staff with him.

“I think that’s worked itself out really well. I feel very comfortable with him [Ryan] , and I think he feels the same way with me.”