Head coach Jason Garrett’s daily press conferences are usually monotonous and boring, but not today’s. While praising the play of defensive lineman Zach Minter, a first-year player who has only been with the team for 5 days, Garrett revealed that he’s given Minter a new nickname: “Flounder” from the movie ‘Animal House’.
Now that’s some funny stuff, especially if you’re old enough to remember that movie. And especially if you’ve sat through four years of Garrett’s normally less-than-humorous press conferences.
Okay, maybe Minter does look a bit like the character. I think it’s also a reference to the way Minter moves on the field. After all, Minter is 297 pounds, but only 6’ 1” tall. Frankly, he’s nearly as round as he is tall. Come to think of it, if it were based on looks alone, maybe Garrett should have nicknamed Minter “Blutarsky” because he’s also shaped like Jim Belushi’s character.
But the fact that anyone, especially the head coach, is talking about Minter is a great thing for this young defensive lineman. He’s gone from an afterthought to a topic of conversation thanks to a standout performance in Saturday night’s preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Minter had been with the team only 2 days when he got thrown into a game. His teammates didn’t even know his name, but Garrett said players were coming up to him during the game and saying “Don’t take #79 out of the game” because Minter was playing so well. Garrett then pointed out, “They didn’t even know who in the he(ck) he was.”
A story like Zach Minter is the reason I love preseason games in the NFL. There’s always a story of an underdog who rises to the occasion and makes a name for himself (even if it happens to be ‘Flounder’…at least for the time being). This year’s underdog could very well be Minter.
After Garrett revealed Minter’s nickname to the media, it was time for player interviews. These are held in the open locker room. Reporters were waiting next to Minter’s locker for an interview. Honestly, we didn’t know what he looked like without a helmet/jersey. But a guy, who does look a bit like ‘Flounder’, came to the locker…so everyone turned on the cameras and microphones and started talking to the newcomer.
Minter admits he’s never seen ‘Animal House’. Not a surprise, he was born in 1990…12 years after the movie debuted in 1978. Garrett is 48 years old, so the Jim Belushi comedy is right in his wheelhouse. Minter did know enough about the movie, however, to point out that he and ‘Flounder’ have different shades of skin color.
Here’s the bottom line: whether you call him ‘Minter’ or ‘Flounder’ or ‘#79’ or just plain ‘Zach’, at least he’s making a positive impression. The defensive line has been hit hard by injury. On Tuesday morning, Minter was practicing with the first teamers because starters Henry Melton (groin injury) and Terrell McClain (sprained ankle) were unable to work.
Because there have been so many injuries, the Cowboys have been signing ‘free agents’ (players without contracts) off the street. Minter was one of those guys; he had played parts of the last two seasons with the Bengals and Bears, but got cut by both those teams.
Now Minter has a new chance. So far he’s taken advantage thanks to the two sacks last Saturday night. If he plays well again in the upcoming preseason game at Miami this weekend, he could make the team. No more floundering as a free agent if he makes the roster. And, if he plays well, Cowboys fans will quickly learn his real name. As for the ‘Flounder’ nickname, I’m afraid that’s going to stick with him among coaches & teammates.
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