Sources: Cowboys late for games, meetings

05:36 AM ET 01.20 | Multiple sources close to the Cowboys paint a picture of turmoil inside the locker room far greater than originally thought, and the organization is determined to solve the problems. Sources say there were many issues this season that call into question team discipline, commitment and accountability. One of the key off-season disciplinary issues the team must address is tardiness. The team charter left late for road games five times this season because players were late to the airport according to three sources. The total represented more than half of the eight regular season away games. Sources declined to name the late players. The Philadelphia trip was delayed by more than an hour. The punishments left little incentive for promptness. Fines for being late or missing meetings and injury treatment sessions were far lower under Wade Phillips than they were under former coach Bill Parcells. Under Parcells, players were fined $5,000 for being late to meetings, and as much as $12,000 for missing an injury treatment session. This season, players were fined $100 for being late to meetings or missing a treatment. Terrell Owens was a repeat offender in being late for team meetings, sources said. With the Cowboys needing to defeat Philadelphia to reach the playoffs in the season finale, Owens was late for a Dec. 23 meeting, citing traffic problems two days before Christmas. Owens declined comment on his tardiness. Meetings would sometimes start 10 to 15 minutes later than scheduled, those sources said. Phillips may not be completely to blame for the smaller fines. A source said Phillips asked Jerry Jones to raise the fine total but was rebuffed by the owner.

Dallas Morning News