The Example of Randy Galloway - The Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones, The Media & Sobriety

Well, the Dallas Cowboys are winners for the first time in this 2014 season! And the spirits are already flowing!

We've got the Cowboys Defense talking as if they're the second coming of Doomsday I & II, as well as Jimmy Johnson's top-ranked version of the 90's, all in one unit.

Then you've got the media, including all the so called professionals who should know better, leading the charge, practically agreeing with everything the Cowboys players are saying. Objective, unbiased reporting and analysis anyone?

Well, I say the media is leading the charge. Actually, that's not quite the case. The media is really following the inebriating trail of Jerry Jones. His 200 proof, vintage, smooth sipping Koolaid, aged all of 24 hours, has found a comfortable home among this close-knit group known as Jerryholics Anonymous. They trail Jones like the faithful all-in-one Bartender-Brewery Magnet he has become, afraid that too many hours without Jerry's special brew will lead them into the vast world of sanity most others experience on a daily basis. God Forbid!

Before we proceed any further, let's perform a Public Service Identification for all forced to suffer their personal space invaded by such second hand dribble this contingent of snared drunkards conspire to peddle as inspired journalism. We start with that bastion of Cowboys' informational integrity from Dallascowboys.com led by ole timer Mickey Spagnola. At one time a professional sports journalist beyond reproach among the likes of Randy Galloway, Frank Luksa and Blackie Sherrod, he now spends his time supporting all things Jerry & the Cowboys by offering the most incredible litany of excuses worthy of the most hardened Jerryholic, then accepting payment from Jerry's ever increasing vault of cash. Journalistic objectivity? Not that would be noticed!

After that comes the DallasCowboys.com underlings such as Nick Eatman, Bryan Broaddus, Rowan Kavner, David Helman, Derek Eagleton, Ed Cahill and Shannon Gross. They are simply paid patsy's of Jerry's and slovenly regurgitate the official utterances from the distillery at Valley Ranch, acting as human breathalyzers for the public to determine the specific level of inebriation being offered for consumption. Accurate reporting? About as much as you could expect from staff drunkards!

Next up are the local Newspaper Journalists, Columnists and Cowboys beat writers. They include, Rick Gosselin, Tim Cowlishaw, David Moore, Kevin Sherington, Jerry Fraley, Barry Horn, Gil LeBreton, Mac Engel, Clarence Hill Jr., Charean Williams and Drew Davison. This group includes some notable personalities known for their NFL expertise as well as concise reporting and analysis. But it seems that tenure has seen many imbibing for so long that Cirrhosis of the Reporter has set in. Too much of Jerry's Brew for too long has seen their Journalistic Liver unable to adequately process the impurities of Jerry's World. This condition finds them tender and unwilling to take in anything not offered through journalistic feeding tubes. Consistent Substance? Nah. Just public pablum!

Next up are the Local and National Television Network Affiliate anchors and analysts along with Local and National Radio Talk Show hosts. This highly visible and audible group may be the most hardened members of JA simply because they employ the most widely consumed broadcast mediums which, not only provide broad avenues for the high ratings Jerry covets, but also instant inebriation for the masses. Jerry readily admits that he monitors the media more than anyone else. What good Brewmaster wouldn't keep tabs on the public response, as well as the entire spectrum of transportation options available to directly deliver that special Brew the public craves. And deliver Jerry Brew they do!

This group is too numerous to mention them all, so I will limit this list to the Television and Cable Networks. ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, ESPN1, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, CNN, FOX SPORTS1, NFL NETWORK, CBS SPORTS NETWORK, NBC SPORTS NETWORK, etc.

All of the above tend to form a very loyal, cohesive group, and at best, exist as incestuous parasites, living off of each other with Jerry's Boot Leg Brew providing the common sustenance while inbreeding genetically ingrained cohorts for Jerry's Recovery group. While a few abide on the fringes, offering opinion and analysis that borders on viable, the overall tendency is to remain true to the brand of Brew Jerry provides while offering an obtuse viewpoint for entertainment purposes only. The entertainment drama Jerry readily provides generally trumps hard cold facts, especially if those facts disagree with Jerry's official viewpoint in any way.

Such is the state of stupor the Jerryholic Media currently finds itself in. One Cowboys win has them staggering over each other to report the return of Jerry's 'Boys and their vaunted Defense. One mediocre win and the Cowboys are Super Bowl bound!

Of course, I must mention the one personality to escape this fellowship of Jerry's. Yes, Randy Galloway is the only one able to grab his cigars, nag betting lines, bottle of Jose Cuervo and find the nearest retirement exit. Battered and scarred from Jerry's repeated attempts to convert him to his select group of Brew Master assistants, Randy has faithfully executed his duties without succumbing to the enticements of perpetual inebriation. Randy has performed the journalistic equivalent of Drinking Responsibly by ending a long career as a faithful soldier should, finishing the battle, but on his terms, not Jerry's.

And what do we attribute as the key to Randy's success and survival? Was he just too smart? C'mon, Randy would be the first to nix that idea. Good looking? I think Randy has spoken many time over the years about that issue!  Was he too tough for Jerry? Nah! He's not the combative type!

Randy Galloway has been one thing that Jerry Jones has not consistently been over the years. The word is "sober."

And sobriety, devoid of any of Jerry's flowing spirits, resides in reality, which is where the Cowboys and the rest of the media need to return to as quickly as possible!

Here's to sobriety!

Hatin' Tony Romo - The Captain Speaks!

For all you Romo Haters, listen to the words of Captain America, +Roger Staubach. He just might know a thing or two about playing the game of Football in the NFL at the highest level.

You might want to listen to his latest thoughts in this video.

A Decade of Infamy – The Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones & Destruction

Jerry Jones does not like losing!

 The current malaise of the Dallas Cowboys is constantly being chronicled by journalistic types across a broad spectrum of media. Whether a blog post or a tweet or, imagine this, a legitimate product consisting of professional content and integrity, the daily machinations of General Manager Jerry Jones is under the watchful magnifying eye of lovers and haters alike.

Jerry Jones has his own decade of infamy.

And like the infamous bombing of Peal Harbor more than 60 years ago, the Cowboys have finished their own decade of infamy, though not from the expected sources of exterior enmity. No, this extended residence in the cellar of the NFC East was the result of a direct barrage of an Owner who exuberantly exercised his official duties as General Manager as if he were the incarnation of every Cowboys enemy in history. Misguided drafts, star crazed, misfit free agents and Coaching intervention of various types have all combined to leave the Cowboys of the 21^st Century professionally shell-shocked and with their worst decade in history.

How did this happen? Well, the details are in the forthcoming book by Ryan Bush entitled, Decade of Futility – How the Leadershipof Jerry Jones turned Americas Team into a 21st Century Debacle andresulted in the Worst Decade in Dallas Cowboys History. It is due for publication this Spring and will be available in the United States and Europe through Amazon.

For more information, please visit Decade of Futility – byRyan Bush. You are encouraged to leave your e-mail address to receive immediate notification of publication.You are also invited to take part in the conversation at the Decade of Futility Blog.

Dallas Cowboys Open Home Schedule With Sloppy 16-10 Win Over Tampa Bay

by Ryan Bush

Hey, it’s only fair to give credit where credit is due.  And, for once, the Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager nailed it perfectly.  Arlington was, in fact, the sight of spectacular and improbable happenings on this second afternoon in autumn.  An attraction was in plain sight for all to see at Cowboys Stadium.  Yes, everything was bigger – and dumber – in Texas.

Jay Novacek was there.  Randy White.  So were 80,000 other fans.  If only the Cowboys didn’t have to show up the afternoon would have gone by without a single hitch.

The starred ones were out and about Sunday, ready to prove to the football world that last week was an absolute aberration.  Don’t trust them to inform you of what, because there were too many similarities that surely had many in attendance making early dinner reservations.

Jason Witten was dropping passes.  Tony Romo spent four quarters in life-preservation mode.  And Dallas receivers were running enough dysfunctional pass patterns to make Romo wish for the return of Roy Williams.

Just maybe the Cowboys didn’t realize that there was an actual game to be played.  It is, after all, quite possible in these parts.

Elaboration pertaining to in-game matchups was minimal this week.  Everybody was too busy talking about kneel-downs to concern themselves with worrying about Ronde Barber, Vincent Jackson, or anyone else on the Tampa Bay roster.

Oh, and the owner was busy trying to conceive of a magical way to attract fans to Arlington’s glass-plated mosque for a Dallas-Tampa Bay home opener that held little local appeal.  Who really cares about banners from two decades before anyway?  The magic from those years departed from Valley Ranch in a windstorm the minute Jerry up and kicked Jimmy out of his trophy-lined office.

The last time Tampa Bay was in town for a home-opener was in 2001 at the dawning of the infamous Quincy Carter era.  I guess Jerry’s busy trying to usher in a new era of his own.  Oh, well.  Just the latest operation of futility around here.  What’s one more?

And speaking of futility, how about pegging these 2012 Cowboys.  Love’em one week, spit on ‘em the next.  What should the proper attitude be this week by Dallas’ world-famous reception committee?  It surely won’t be as forgiving as today’s.

Let’s give a shout out to the home faithful who stuck it out through three hours of perplexing miscues.  It would have been understandable had they walked out.  Especially after such a familiar start.

For the second consecutive week, Dallas received the game’s opening kickoff only to turn the ball over.  In Seattle it was Felix Jones offering up a fumble as an offering – no surprise registered here – and this time it was Tony Romo celebrating an early Christmas with an early interception to former Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib.  Tampa Bay used that early gift to move 29 yards and go ahead 7-0 on a Josh Freeman touchdown pass.

But if there were any concerns of a impending re-run from last week when Seattle used an early score as impetus to run away with the game, those were as wasted as all those high-flyin’ pre-game predictions.

Romo didn’t throw for 500 yards like Eli Manning did against these same Bucs a week ago.  His 283 doesn’t even come close.  But he was able to move the offense, blessed with a short field after a Sean Lee interception, in position for a Demarco Murray touchdown run to tie the score.  Murray finished the day with just 38 yards on 18 carries.

Romo, meanwhile, was dealing with his own set of problems.  When it wasn’t his receivers running ill-advised patterns, it was his offensive line breaking down in their protections, leaving Romo primed and ready for a Texas-sized beating.  Romo was hit from every angle throughout the course of the game, resulting in two second-half fumbles that did nothing but keep the score close.

The Dallas defense completely shut down Tampa’s passing game, holding Freeman to just 110 yards through the air on ten completions, about half of those yards coming in the final two minutes.

As much as team officials try to shrug off Dallas’ 13-11 record inside the palatial Cowboys Stadium, it’s evident that the Cowboys possess anything but a home-field advantage.  Some might say they don’t have any advantage, but that’s beside the point.  Today was a day of homecoming, a day to salute the raising of five banners commemorating championships from so long ago.  While we’re at it, let’s honor Jason Garrett’s team for walking with Lady Luck in a game that each team seemed content to give away.

It wasn’t pretty, but they got the job done at the end of the day.  There was a blocked punt that wasn’t, and a fumble return for touchdown called back, even when replays showed that it shouldn’t have been.

It was a game the Cowboys could not afford to lose.  But enthusiasm should be tempered by realizing that it was a victory with as much meaning going forward as Jerry’s overdone banner raising.

This mess is going on two weeks running, and needs to be cleaned up in a hurry.  Otherwise, it could be another seventeen years before the next banner is hoisted.

Dallas Cowboys Blowout Loss To Seattle Not Indicative Of Direction Of Team

by Ryan Bush

Let’s be proactive about all this and agree that the Dallas Cowboys were mentally deficient in nearly every conceivable category Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.  Blocked punts, dropped passes, ill-timed penalties, and a gutless front-seven at crunch time… Those are all earmarks of any local junior high squad and provide the classic example of why so many refuse to consider the Cowboys as professional material.  Too often, they fail to resemble it.

Blocked Punt

So the big ‘Boys from Big D’ had their heads in the clouds after a statement win over the Giants, is that it?  Well, there are worse reasons to lose a football game.  Like, say, having your head served up on a platter.  Which was not the reality of Sunday’s 27-7 loss.

As many opportunities as Dallas made the most of during the opener in East Rutherford, they threw just as many away eleven days later. It was ugly in the extreme, as has been noted by the media since then, but in no way is an indication that this team is just another head-case that maximizes its potential by merely flirting with a postseason berth.

To compare this debacle to last season’s 34-7 loss at Philadelphia is doing Andy Reid and the Eagles a great injustice.  The Eagles team of a year ago was simply better than the Cowboys, no room for argument allowed. 

Such was not the case Sunday, even though the Cowboys’ superiority was never allowed to be evident.  It’s only fair to give Seattle credit for the victory, but there are a boatload of Cowboys that are deserving of a wholehearted assist.

1 of 4 Dropped Passes by Jason Witten

 When has Jason Witten ever dropped one pass in a game, let alone four?  And why couldn’t Dan Connor block the man right in front of him?  And why can’t Felix Jones hold onto the ball?  Dez Bryant let one pass from Tony Romo slip through his hands, as did Miles Austin.

Leave it to Cow-lovers to ignore the long list of football offenders above and fault the defense completely for this loss.  This is a classic example of why the majority of Cowboy fans are considered eccentric nerds.

It’s easy to blame Rob Ryan for a conservative game plan that failed to apply consistent pressure on rookie quarterback Russell Wilson.  But lack of a pass rush wasn’t the primary reason Dallas failed to produce a turnover.  The scoreboard, in fact, was.

By falling behind 10-0 and never recovering, the Cowboys never forced Seattle to divert from their run-first game plan they started the game with.  With at least one leg up on the competition from the game’s outset, the Seahawks head coach was able to ride the legs of Marshawn Lynch until the Dallas defense finally flopped down dead in the final quarter.

Arms weren't enough to tackle Lynch

Part of that can be attributed to fatigue, an understandable factor when considering Seattle controlled the ball for more that 20 minutes in the second half.  Yet a more perplexing problem was a lack of discipline by multiple players that allowed Lynch to gain extra yardage on several occasions.

The Dallas defense was playing without Pro Bowl nose tackle Jay Ratliff in the middle, and it’s a credit to Garrett and Ryan for not overblowing his absence as an excuse.  Lynch’s 100-yard outburst in the second-half had little, if nothing, to do with any inadequacies of replacement Josh Brent. The Cowboys were either out of position defensively, or simply failed to wrap the ball-carrier up.  There were too many attempted arm-tackles and inconsequential big hits, two notorious no-no’s against a powerful runner such as Lynch.

No, it wasn’t the ideal performance against an inferior opponent on the road, but it wasn’t nearly as ground-shaking as it appeared to some.  The Cowboys can play fundamentally sound football.  We all saw that against the Giants.  

There will be a come-back-to-fundamentals cry from Camp Cowboy this week, and with the humiliation of Sunday’s loss haunting them every step of the way, it’s safe to say next week’s game against Tampa Bay will introduce a refocused Cowboys team to their host of distraught admirers.

Self-Destructive Mistakes Cost Dallas Cowboys Big In 27-7 Loss

  by Ryan Bush

The self-destructive impulses of the Dallas Cowboys were out in full force Sunday afternoon at Seattle’s sunny sea of green and blue.  As has been the case of late, Felix Jones was the leader of a pack of clowns that contained more than just the usual suspects.

It was Jones’ fumble of the opening kickoff that set the tone for Jason Garrett’s squad, from which started a 27-7 west coast avalanche that promised no cover for any Cowboys player or coach this week.

There are no scapegoats from this debacle. From Jerry the Wipemaster himself, to Garrett the head coach, all the way down to the team laundry boy.  They’re all guilty…excepting quarterback Tony Romo.

The Cowboys had an unusual eleven-day gap between their season-opening victory at the Meadowlands and Sunday’s game against the Seahawks.  And all they could show for the extra time was a rotten egg that smelled far worse than Seattle’s latest chicken-fried version of a home jersey.

There were an inordinate amount of dropped passes, too many special teams gaffes, and an over-abundance of alligator-arm tackles of Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch in the second-half.  All in all, it was just the kind of performance that the officials union so desperately needed.  Not even the questionable calls of the replacement referees could affect the outcome of this one.

From the very outset, the Cowboys were bound and determined to go down the toilet, and just as anxious to prove they needed no help from the second-team zebras sharing the field.  In that vein, an otherwise forgettable afternoon in balmy Seattle can be considered a success.  Better hang that on the wall, because that’s the only trophy of achievement Dallas walked away with from this showing.

Any advantage Seattle held in the defense and special teams departments were supposed to be nullified by Dallas’ edge at the quarterback position.  Even on the road in a loud stadium, the Cowboys were the logical favorites to take this one. 

Nothing nullifies a home-field advantage quite like a rookie quarterback.  They miss blitz assignments, throw into coverage, or anything that gives the defense an opportunity to turn the tide of the game.

As it turns out, both quarterbacks had little to do with the outcome.  The rookie Russell Wilson admittedly played composed for only his second NFL start, completing 15 of 20 passes for 151 yards.  It also should be noted that Rob Ryan’s defense applied minimal pressure on him.

Rookie QB Russell Wilson was Steady

On the other sideline, Romo did have one blemish on his stat-sheet, a first-quarter interception deep in Seattle territory.  But a failing support system around him rendered his mistake inconsequential.  Romo was good when his teammates allowed him to be, which, unfortunately, wasn’t very often.

Kevin Ogletree makes the tackle after a Romo Interception

 Felix Jones’ fumble on the opening kickoff set up a quick Seattle field goal of 21 yards.  That was followed by a Chris Jones blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown, giving the home team a 10-0 advantage with less than five minutes gone.

Felix Jones Fumble

 When Romo connected with Miles Austin for a 26-yard scoring play in the second quarter to draw within three, it appeared the Cowboys were about to seize control of the game.  But a gutless defense and a myriad of drops from an unlikely source helped stall the comeback.

Miles Austin TD

 Perennial Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten is still not one-hundred percent recovered from a preseason spleen injury, as his career-worst four drops attest to.  Two of his drops were especially costly.  One came on third-down that set up a punting situation and another occurred after he got behind the defense in the first-half and had a good chance of scoring.

Jason Witten - 4 dropped passes

 Equally as mind-boggling was the performance of a new-look no-gut defense.  A week after manning-up against a notoriously tough Giants team, the Dallas defense laid down like a beaten dog in the second-half, allowing Wilson to control the game with handoffs and short, underneath passes.  Two consecutive second-half drives by the Seattle offense spanned 20 plays, totaling 178 yards, and turned a 13-7 score into a 27-7 rout.

Any hopes of a miracle comeback were then thwarted by personal foul and substitution penalties on the same drive, which allowed the Seahawks to virtually run the clock out.

It will be a long week at Valley Ranch, as players long to get the taste of this tail-whipping out of their swollen and bloodied mouths.

The Dallas Cowboys are Picked to Lose to the Seattle Seahawks?

 

Someone please tell me why the consensus around the Country is that the Cowboys are going to lose to the lowly Seahawks? It makes no sense whatsoever.

Head Coach Pete Carroll

You definitely can't point to the powerhouse program Pete Carroll has assembled in the Great Northwest. They definitely have a strong defensive unit. But that's supposed to be enough to derail the focused offense of Tony Romo & Co.? Remember, they just dispatched the reigning Super Bowl Champions?

Tony Romo & Co

The Seattle Offense, no more than average, is being led by a Rookie? And that's supposed to be enough to stop the revamped Cowboys Secondary who just prevented Eli Manning from working his 4th quarter magic? And Demarcus Ware? And the inside linebacker duo of Carter and Lee?

Dallas Defense Led by Demarcu Ware

There are times where the pundits seem to have their heads in the clouds. Maybe it's just insider information overload. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, hoping Romo experiences another disaster moment in his return visit the home of the slippery ball.

Whatever it is, the Cowboys should win this game. The one thing that they've exhibited under Head Coach Jason Garrett is focus while playing on the road. I expect them to do the same today! Now, if we could just get Jerry to focus properly!

Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Affecting Team Chemistry With Tony Romo Contract Talks

Jerry Jones is at it again!

by Ryan Bush

Just when the Valley Ranch soldiers were beginning to look like a disciplined unit…Poof!

It’s always something around here.  Or, in this case, a certain someone.

Why is it that some people simply can’t leave well enough alone?

Here’s the skinny: All was well at the little Ranch on the prairie…Valley Ranch, that is. And then the General Manager showed up with his checkbook.

Yes, that General Manager.

The Owner himself.

Some other time, Jerry.  Please.  Don’t mess with the team chemistry this time around.

Gotta hand it to Jason Garrett.  His 2012 Dallas Cowboys have looked focused and been all business from the time they convened for training camp out in the California wine country.  And after a yeoman-like win over New York, the ‘Boys went back home to prepare for another road battle, this time against Seattle.  No pomp.  No circumstance.  Just business.  That’s the way it should be.

 

Give credit to Garrett for this positive development.  In a league where a team often takes on the personality of their head coach, it should be a comfort for fans to have someone like Garrett leading America’s Team at this point in time.  Garrett has been on Super Bowl teams before, and knows how to handle success.  More importantly for a first-time head coach employed with the task of cleaning up from Wade Phillips’ headfirst dive into the NFL furnace, he was there firsthand when the Dallas dynasty of the ‘90s fell apart from the top down.  He knows the trademarks of a puppet, Barry Switzer, when faced with one, and was determined not be the next in a long line of Jerry’s Puppets that earned an inauspicious exit down the Valley Ranch garbage shoot.

The media tires of his straightforward press conferences laced with what are perceived to be worn-out cliché’s.  But at least his steady demeanor is rubbing off on the right people. By each and every early indication, this year’s Cowboys appeared to be taking on some of that personality.  That’s big news after so many seasons of emotionally-charged collapses.

 

And then the rumor began swirling this week that Jerry Jones was negotiating with Tony Romo’s agent about a contract extension. Why now, Jerry?  Why not wait till later, huh?  After all, it isn’t like Romo’s contract expires at the end of this season.  This isn’t the fabled “contract year” Romo’s laboring under.

 

Ah, it’s been a good seven, eight, nine days (however long it has been since Dallas last played a football game) for the Cowboys genial owner.  His $2.1 billion empire goes into New York with an underpaid, underweight offensive line and takes down the mighty Giants by the strong arm of Romo.  Brilliant!

Then, a few days later, the invention of JerryWipes hits the market, Jones’ new pet eyeglass cleaner that can also be used to wipe clean so many other things not worth mentioning.  Believe me, the appearance of Jones’ personal portfolio has been greatly improved with this stroke of genius.  Brilliant again!

But what’s a perfect week without a little splurge?  What better way to let the world know that the Cowboys are “back” than by throwing a few wads of cash around the parking lot?  Especially at your big-name, big-smile quarterback.

So goes the thought process of Jerry Jones.  As much as he likes to say it, winning isn’t happiness to him.  If it was, the almighty dollar wouldn’t get mixed up in the equation so often.

And he would have known better than to broach the wormy subject of contract extension with the captain and savior of his franchise.  Nothing is more of a distraction for a player or a team than to have a contract hanging over the franchise quarterback.

Garrett has worked eighteen long months to rid the locker room of any, and all, distractions.  Bespeaking of his character, Garrett loathes distractions.  That’s why Marion Barber and Leonard Davis are gone, and why he’s given the Mike Jenkins and Felix Jones situations such kid glove treatment.  That’s why he is a one-day-at-a-time-while-going-forward type of guy.

 

The Cowboys were only beginning to reap the rewards of Garrett’s philosophy when Jones walked around the corner wearing newly-shined eyeglasses and waving cash under Romo’s nose. It’s the last thing the doctor would have ordered for the second week of this season.  This isn’t time for handouts.  It’s time to prepare to go on the road to one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL.  It’s time to try to win back-to-back road games for the first time in nearly three years.  It’s time to try and get a leg-up within the NFC East, not to mention the entire conference.

Yes, Jerry, Romo is a special player, but his bank account isn’t really suffering at the current date. Remember, it wasn’t even five years ago you gave him that $67 million deal.  The only thing Romo needs concern himself with for the next five months is reading blitzes, throwing touchdown passes, and the welfare of wife Candice and baby boy at home.  That’s it.

 

Romo is confident with this offensive cast, he’s happy at home.  No need to mess that all up with worries of financial security when his playing days are done.  Because, let’s face it, in all probability this will be Romo’s final contract as an NFL player.

Garrett and the Cowboys don’t need Romo preoccupied with a full season in front of him, nor do they need him, even subconsciously, resting on his laurels with his future set in stone.  Should Romo relax, then it’s safe to say it’s only a matter of games before the evidence starts to reveal that the rest of the locker room has followed his example.  This is too important a season for everyone involved for that to happen. 

So, Jerry, shall we wait on the compensation act?  The probabilities of it turning out for the good are next to none, if even that good.

Fining Dallas Cowboys Left Tackle Tyron Smith For Horse-Collar Might Be Overdoing It For NFL

Tyron Smith's Horsecollar Tackle

Leave it to the NFL front-office to throw a bucket of cold water on a hero.  And just why did they have to pick on this guy?  Surely, out of fifteen other games over the weekend there was some other available offender to soak.

Perhaps you heard the news that came over the wire earlier this week.  Tyron Smith, the Dallas Cowboys’ No. 1 pick from last year’s draft and latest experiment at left tackle, was docked $15,000 by the league for his horse collar tackle of Giants linebacker Michael Boley.

Now, let’s give the NFL at least a smidgen of credit here.  When they set out to make a point about rules and regulations, they do just that.  Ask the New Orleans Saints. But isn’t it going way past the point of fairness to apply the sponge to a player’s pocketbook who was just doing his job?

It must be admitted that Smith was doing anything but blocking on this play, to acknowledge the technical fine print in Smith’s contract, so he was obviously out of his comfort zone.  Smith was, instead, running downfield with all the speed that one could expect out of a 300+ lb NFL lineman, trying to cut off the streaking Boley before the Giants linebacker reached the end zone.

Tyron Smith in hot pursuit!

Unlike the rest of his teammates, Smith caught up to the ballcarrier inside the five-yard line and took Boley out of bounds with a semi-flying, half-lunging tackle that drew a flag because he took the defender to the ground by the back of his shoulder pads.  For a  psychologically fragile team like the Cowboys have proven to be at MetLife Stadium in recent visits, Smith’s flag-inducing takedown could be considered a game-saver.

Were Boley to have scored then, all chaos ensues.  Romo goes pick-happy again, the defense caves-in and the Cowboys lose by two-dozen or more.  But he didn’t, and the Dallas defense walks off the field three plays later strutting and chest-bumping after an unlikely goal-line stand.  

It’s not often a team finds inspiration in giving up three points, but this was one of those times.

Which brings us back to Smith.  So he committed a horse-collar.  And what does that mean these days?  Every horse-collar is a personal-foul in the game, and a fifteen-yard walk-off, yes, but not every one is subject to a monetary fine by Park Avenue constituents. 

An Offseason Of What-ifs For Dallas Cowboys Can Finally Be Silenced Against Giants

 A perpetual game of what-ifs has been played around the Dallas Cowboys’ team complex since last January’s season-ending loss to the Giants in Week 17.  It’s to be expected when you lose a firm grasp on the division in one meeting, and then watch someone else steal it right out from under your nose during the next.  What if Tony Romo’s hand hadn’t been swollen like a purple pumpkin from contact with a helmet a week earlier?  What if Demarco Murray had been in the backfield instead of on the sideline with a broken ankle?  What if Dan Bailey’s kick that would have forced overtime three weeks previously at Cowboys Stadium had gone through the uprights, rather than off the hand of Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul?  What if the Cowboys had won the NFC East instead of the Big Blue G-Men?  The suppositions go on and on…

The Cowboys entered that month of all months, December, with a 7-4 record, but collapsed down the stretch, finishing with an 8-8 mark.  There was no season-ending celebration, no playoffs.  Instead, the Cowboys got to recline in a tub of ice while the Giants marched through the NFC Playoffs and all the way to a Super Bowl championship.

The Cowboys’ entire off-season program of free-agent signings, the draft, and mini-camps, has been geared to beat the Giants, winners of five of the last six meetings in the series.  Cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne join safety Barry Church for what is expected to be a much better secondary than the one Eli Manning torched at will twice in the season’s final months. 

These three pieces, among others, have the Cowboys feeling confident of their chances this time around.  You can hear it in their voices, see it in their walk.  The Cowboys know the challenge ahead, yet realize the opportunity.  The Giants are the champions, but are not invincible.  Last year’s down-to-the-wire contest in Arlington that ended on a blocked field-goal proves that.

And here we are, eight months later, on the other side of training camp, preseason and final cutdowns, with the Giants directly ahead.  It’s time to put an end to this game of what-ifs, and could’ve-would’ve-should’ves.  The Cowboys say they want the crown for themselves.  Well, now is the time to go and take the first major step in winning it.

Cowboys Buckle Down Late, Avoid Upset

The final score on Sunday at Texas Stadium read, Cowboys 31, Bengals 22.

Yes, the Cowboys ran their record to 4-1, but had few positives to show for it, in another up and down performance. Tony Romo completed 14 of 23 passes for 176 yards, but was also responsible for two turnovers. Terrell Owens, who spent the days leading up to the game clamoring for the ball to come his way more often, caught only two passes.

But, unlike the college game, the NFL doesn’t require you to be pretty, just so long as you bag a win. And, if nothing else, that’s what the Cowboys did.

Coming off a loss to the Washington Redskins, the Dallas offense looked focused as they staked their defense to an early 17-0 lead. Linebacker Greg Ellis intercepted Carson Palmer on the first play from scrimmage and returned it to the 17 yard line. The interception was the team’s first since Dec.22 of last year against Carolina, a span of 6 games. The good field position, led to a Nick Folk 30 yard field goal.

On their next possession, the Cowboys were faced with a 4th down & 4 from the Cincy 33, when rookie running back Felix Jones took a handoff and went around right end untouched for the first touchdown of the game. "It was a sweep play, I had some great blocks out there," Jones said. "(Marc) Colombo made a great block for me and opened it up." The carry was Jones' first since two weeks previous against Green Bay, having gone the whole game against Washington without a single touch. "I was very anxious, I'm a football player and I want to have the ball in my hands," said Jones, who could possibly win the Rookie Of The Week award for the third time this season. "But I'm also patient. I wait for my opportunities and once I get that opportunity I maximize it."The score was Jones’ fourth in five games. Jones would finish the game with 9 rushes for a whopping 96 yards. He also caught one pass for 7 yards. "(Jones) plays well and when he gets the ball in his hands, he makes good plays," tight end Jason Witten said.
After another Bengals punt, Romo guided the offense 80 yards in 10 plays, and found tight end Jason Witten in the back of the end zone from 4 yards out to end the drive, and up the lead to 17-0.

The game’s momentum changed in an instant, when Frostee Rucker stripped Romo of the ball and Cincinnati recovered with 1:42 left in the half. A 15 yard facemask penalty on Marion Barber put the ball on the Cowboys 29 yard line. A Shayne Graham field goal a few plays later cut the lead to 17-6, and left the Texas Stadium faithful grumbling as the half came to a close.

After Romo and Co. opened the third quarter with a three-and-out, Carson Palmer directed an 11 play 72 yard drive that ended when he found T.J. Houshmandzadeh for an 18 yard score.
Later in the quarter, Romo lofted a pass toward Witten across the middle, but it was intercepted by Keith Rivers and returned 39 yards. "You would love to never have a turnover, but I think that's unrealistic and there's stuff we will work on," said Romo, who's interception upped his streak of consecutive games with at least one interception to eight. "I will try not to do certain mistakes again." Four plays later, Graham shaved the deficit to one, 17-16. Graham’s ensuing onside-kick caught the Cowboys off guard, and the road team grabbed not only the ball, but, seemingly, complete control of the game.

But then...Maybe it was just another example of why the Bengals were owners of a winless record, or possibly Dallas’ “vaunted” defense flexed it’s muscle and decided to put a stop to it all. After the first two plays netted 15 yards, Chris Henry took a handoff and ran to the left side where he was hit by defensive tackle Tank Johnson and fumbled the ball. Anthony Spencer recovered for Dallas. "Every time you tackle somebody, you're trying to force a fumble," Johnson said. I just went for the ball and it came out."

Two plays later, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis could only watch, as Terrell Owens streaked into the end zone for a 57 yard score and a 24-16 Cowboys advantage. In less than a minute, the Cowboys had gone from appearing like they were about to officially blow a 17 point lead, to having an eight point cushion. "Great play by Tank to cause the fumble," linebacker Zach Thomas said. Though Johnson was pleased with that particular play, he wasn't pleased with his overall performance. "I'm just not all the way healthy and I pride myself on being physical, so anytime you can't be physical it's hard to do what you want to do," said Johnson, who has been battling an ankle sprain the past couple of weeks.

Owens' reception was his second and final one of the day, and ended a very tumultuous week for the often out-spoken wideout, who was under the radar for his comments about wanting the ball more often. Other than that long touchdown, Owens was a non-factor, his other catch netting a modest 10 yards. "I've just been dealing with a lot of stuff and this was a great team win," said an emotional Owens, who also became the eighth player in NFL history to record 900 career receptions. "We fought hard to get back in this ballgame and there has been a lot of criticism that I have taken all week and it's more about getting my faith and giving God all the glory he gave more today. "It was frustrating out there, but I just stuck with it. I am more about being No. 81. It's more about a star being on my helmet. God put me in a situation to let everybody know I am a man of God no matter what criticism I may take or people point at me."

And as is his norm, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defended his star wideout, yet still managed to give a "woe is me" shot in there about himself. "I don't know that I've been around a guy who's gotten more negative criticism than me.

"He's a great player and made an exceptional play. Catching a ball on a slant and then taking it on a slant was an exceptional play. I saw him wanting more. He didn't have the attitude like he'd done his part. He had a competitive attitude and look in his face."

To his credit, Palmer, who was obviously less than 100% due to an elbow injury suffered two games previously against the Giants, found Houshmandzadeh for a 10 yard score, capping a 7 play 37 yard drive. His two-point-conversion pass intended for tight end Ben Utecht was broken up by safety Keith Davis to keep Dallas in front 24-22.

"Keith Davis made a big play for us," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said of Davis, who was starting in the place of injured safety Patrick Watkins. "He's our third safety. He's a smart player. He knew what was coming and made a really good play."

After the kickoff, the Cowboys moved 65 yards in 10 plays, when they were faced with a 3rd & 11 at the 15 yard line. On the play, which may turn out to be one of the most critical plays of the season, Romo’s pass went through the hands of wide receiver Miles Austin and deflected directly to receiver Patrick Crayton in the end zone for a touchdown, and a 31-22 Dallas lead. The catch was Crayton’s only of the game and, not only clinched the victory but also, allowed Dallas to keep pace with Washington (4-1) and the New York Giants (4-0) in the tough NFC East.

"I was really happy for our guys because in close games and games that come right down to the end you need playmakers and you need people to come through," Phillips said. "I thought we did that."

Briefs

Chad Johnson, who told members of the media that he would score a touchdown and then kiss the Cowboys star, had a quiet day, finishing with 4 receptions for 43 yards.......Marion Barber carried 23 times for 84 yards, a week removed from carrying only 8 times for 26 yards.......Cornerback Terence Newman was inactive for the game, and for some reason I haven't been able to find out why. Hum. Do I smell a rat?...........The Cowboys defense held the duo of Chris Perry and Cedric Benson to 61 yards rushing on 23 carries, less than 3 yards per carry.......Cowboys fullback Deon Anderson was active for the first time since injuring his knee during the team's win over Philadelphia in Week 2. He finished the game with 1 carry for 3 yards....... For the first time since returning from injury in Week 2, Miles Austin did not record a catch.

Meeting Expectations: The Dallas Cowboys Future

The Dallas Cowboys have put the pressure on themselves. Forget the expectations of everyone else. The players know how good they are. They know they let one get away last season against the Giants. And they aren't afraid to voice their expectations for this season. They actually expect to meet all expectations.

But they are well aware that they must proceed one game at a time. Peeking is not allowed. Focusing your attention elsewhere tends to get you steamrolled. So one game at a time. Win one game at a time, that is. Even realizing that they could lose on any given Sunday, they still expect to win every game.

After all, the future is now.

Dallas Cowboys: Super Bowl Bound

Jerry Jones cringes at such titles or similar prognostications for his beloved Dallas Cowboys. He hates them. He hates them because he has made this same type of announcement before only to have the team fall flat on the face, their losing face. And Jerry doesn't like to lose face.

So, he's content to let others go out on a limb and speak for him what is obvious to all, the Cowboys are good, very good. And if not for one mediocre quarter of football against the Giants, your heroes could be wearing a Super Bowl ring.

But, alas, such memories are painful to bear. We are left, instead, to perform the work that the fear residing within Jerry Jones will not allow him to. Predict the glory to come, this year, not next year.

At least we will never have to acknowledge that we let our fear get the best of us, regardless of the outcome. True Texans possess that certain quality. Jerry should take note. After the Super Bowl, of course!

Marion Barber The Starter

The refrain has been heard since last year. And it's not likely to disappear as long as Julius Jones remains a Dallas Cowboy. "Marion Barber should be the starter!" And everyone uses the playoff game against the New York Giants as proof.

Upon closer examination, I think Marion's performance against the Giants proves just the opposite. True, he did gain more than 100 yards in the first half. But the second half was a different story. He didn't gain all that much. Why? Because he was worn out. He didn't have that same aggessiveness in the second half. And if you were watching closely, you could tell he was simply tired.

There is a reason for this. It's his agressive running style. He doesn't look to avoid contact. He, instead, looks to initiate it. And in the first half, he had ample contact with many Giants defenders. Believe me, alot of energy is expended by making contact and then dragging multiple would be tacklers several yards every other play. And it showed in the latter stages of the Giants game. It seems that Bill Parcells had a method to his madness of using Barber late in the game and in short yardage situations. Would that Wade Phillips had not changed that methodology for such an important game. It could have made a huge difference late in the game.

This is not to say that Marion Barber is not a good running back. He is. But as long as his running style remains the same and lacks the speed of a top tier back, he needs another back to share the load. Is that back to be Julius Jones? It could be, but I don't know.

I think that question will be answered by the market more than anything. I don't think the Cowboys want to get rid of Jones, but I'm not sure they really want him to stay, either, especially if they have to pay too much. If the Cowboys draft a back in the first couple of rounds, I believe Jones is gone. If they don't, however, they might be content to at least attempt to sign Jones and keep Tyson Thompson as the third running back. If they decide to not sign Jones for whatever reason, they might be willing to give Tyson Thompson the shot at taking the load off of Barber.

But whoever the other back is next year, just ask yourself this question about the Giants game. Would you have rather seen Barber gain 100 yards in the first half or the second half?

That's what I thought!!!

Who Is Mickey Spagnola? Should Jerry Jones Trade Him?

All Things Cowboys would like to offer a heartfelt thanks to Mickey Spagnola of DallasCowboys.com for not so prominently mentioning this obsure and "lame" blog in his latest column, A Bigger Fish To Fry. Such notoriety is completely unexpected at this juncture of our online sports enterprise. Unexpected, but not unwelcome. Once again, our thanks to Mickey.

With that said, I'd like to give our readers a hint as to who Mickey Spagnola really is. Having never personally met him, I only know him through his writing about the Dallas Cowboys. This reaches back to his days working for The Dallas Times Herald, having to endure the journalistic blossoming of Skip Bayless. (He referred to the passes of Danny White as "quacking ducks") Fortunately, Mickey had the positive professional influence of an august group of accomplished writers including scattershooting Blackie Sherrod and reserved Frank Luksa. He also worked along side of Randy Galloway, who may be considered accomplished but not quite august. (Randy understands!) This circus atmosphere prepared him for working for Jerry Jones, DallasCowboys.com and The Silver Star Network, where he has worked along side of Babe Laufenburg as a Preseason Game Analyst.

To put it concisely, Mickey Spagnola is the consumate professional. He knows his stuff, especially his Cowboys stuff. He is always prepared and never caught off guard, in spite of those around him. His tenure within the varied ranks of modern sports journalism speaks for itself. He exhibits a measured realism in his analysis of the Cowboys, a realism which stops short of tabloid hype. ( Of course, Dale Hansen might have provided the ultimate primer on journalistc no-nos while working for Jerry Jones.) This attribute is a treasured commodity in the midst of the ever present selfishness of journalists attempting to draw attention to themselves. For this reason alone, Mickey stands out simply because he's not trying to.

Because of this immense value of Mickey to the operations of Jerry Jones, I can't help but wonder if it's feasable to trade him for someone (maybe more than one "someone") with a little more flash. After all, Jerry likes flash. And flash brings attention. And attention brings cash flow! And cash flow makes Jerry smile. And Jerry likes to smile. And when Jerry smiles he looks for more flash.............. So maybe Mickey should be shipped off to ESPN, ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX for ..............Who?.......a loud mouth?..........a non stop motor mouth?...........a handsome camera presence?.........a nationally recognized and respected sports personality? I ask you, "Exacty who would that be?" After all, do these entities want to trade their contracted personnel? For the most part, no. They would tell you that they are currently satisfied with their arrangements and the stature of Mickey would upset that desired equilibrium.

So, as much as Mickey would add immense value to these other national operations, they can't afford to give up what they already possess. And Jerry will not ship him off unless it significantly enhances the weight of his back pocket. And Jerry doesn't keep anyone, I repeat, anyone, unless he really likes their performance and they add to his bottom line. And believe me, Mickey has done exactly that over the years.

That's why he's staying right where he is. Nope, the trade's not going to happen. I don't care what you may have read or heard on some legitimate web site, the great Mickey Spagnola stays put. He's too valuable and should be recognized as such, something even lame blog writers can do!

Why The Cowboys Season Ended Early

If you want to discuss the reason or reasons for the Cowboys season ending far sooner than anybody expected, it's really rather simple. As much as anyone would like to point fingers at Jessica or point a finger at Jerry for taking a payoff, the stark truth is that the Cowboys did not play good enough to win.

Admit it! If the Cowboys had played good enough to win, they would have won. And the fact is that the Cowboys were not playing their best ball at the end of the season and it carried on into the Playoffs. As much as they felt they needed the rest from the bye week, maybe they needed the reps of real game action to work themselves back into early and mid season form.

So, because they didn't, the Giants took advantage and played just well enough to win. Please understand that I'm not saying that the Giants were the better team. They simply played well enough to defeat the Cowboys on this particular day. Dallas is obviously the better team. After all, they've proven this point by taking two of three this season. And that trend would have continued. Needless to say, the Playoffs are different.......and the Giants are in the Super Bowl.

But does anyone really think that the Giants are the better team?

Do the Green Bay Packers believe that?

The fact is that the Cowboys weren't good enough when they needed to be.

And for this season, that's final!

Cowboys Trade Talk ....Roy Williams For Chad Johnson. Why Not?

by Ryan Bush

FACT; With Terrell Owens at age 34, the Dallas Cowboys need to start looking for another go-to receiver.

FACT; Mike Zimmer has just been hired as defensive coordinator for the Cincinati Bengals.

POSSIBILITY?.... Dallas should offer a trade of Roy Williams and a 2nd round pick for Chad Johnson. Zimmer (who was the defensive coordinator in Dallas from 2000-2006) might like to get a big time player on the defensive side of the ball in Cincy, for a change.
It would make sense for both teams, considering that Zimmer is familiar with Williams and already has two solid corners and likes to blitz the safety, whereas, Dallas has gone away from Williams' strength, which is playing close to the line of scrimmage, stuffing the run and harassing the quarterback.

The Cowboys have no use for Williams in their style of play and Johnson might have worn out his welcome in Cincinati.

And plus, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones always wants another flashy playmaker like “Ocho Cinco”.
So why not?

Jason Garrett Stays...What's the Fuss??????

Jason Garrett has decided to stay in Big D! That news seems to be a welcome relief for many fans. That news also seems to have gone against conventional Sports Writers Wisdom regarding the future of Garrett. Most were expecting a departure from the hallowed halls of Valley Ranch to a loftier head coaching perch elsewhere.

Personally, I never understood the train of thought regarding such an expected move. Since Jason was hired by Jerry Jones (before the hiring of Wade Phillips), I've said that Jason Garrett would be the Cowboys Head Coach sooner or later. Jerry has always liked Jason and his coaching faculties, especially since they were groomed at the feet of another man on Jerry's past Super Bowl payroll, Jason's father, Jim. Wade simply was the right man at the right time for Jerry to allow Jason to grow into the job.

Now that Jason is making almost as much as Wade Phillips and has also been handed the title of Assistant Head Coach, people are now speculating how long it will take for the next move upward to happen. That probably depends on Wade!