Last
season I have developed a love-hate relationship with the Dallas Cowboys. I
have been a fan of this thing since I was in elementary school. I was a fan
during the 5-11 years. I was a fan when Parcells came in. I was a fan when the
franchise discovered Tony Romo.
The
Cowboys have discovered new ways to crush their fan's hopes for a sixth Super
Bowl championship over the last 6 years. In the 2006 Wild Card Playoffs there
was this:
Looking
back, it wasn't as bad as what would happen over the next few seasons.
In
January 2008 I was in Virginia Beach, VA with my cousin and we watched Tony
Romo's desperation heave against the Giants get intercepted. It was the first
time that an NFC 1-seed lost since the playoffs expanded to its current 12-team
format established in 1990.
Later
that calendar year and after my return to civilian life I was at a bar in
Bedford, TX watching the Eagles curb stomp the Cowboys into oblivion in a
"win and you're in" type game.
Dallas
won the NFC East in 2009, but ended by getting trounced by the Vikings in
Minnesota.
I
wrote this after the Giants loss in 2010 where Tony Romo had to be carted off
the field due to a season-ending injury. I was acknowledging that the Cowboys
2010 season was over.
In
2011, the Cowboys were again victimized by the Giants. The first one was
squandering a 12-point fourth quarter lead and Tony Romo overthrowing Miles
Austin... well, you know how that ended, it's on YouTube. Then in the season finale
against the Giants, they delivered the curb stomp as the Giants made the
playoffs.... and you know the rest of the story with Eli Manning hoisting the
Lombardi Trophy in Indianapolis.
In
2012, Dallas needed to win the season finale to continue their season. After
Dallas pulled within three in the fourth quarter, I posted
this to Facebook:
After punt return plus penalty, Cowboys
score TD and get the two-pointer to pull within three.
But I get this feeling I've seen this
movie before...
Oh...
how right I was.
So
how will this season turn out if you are a fan of the Cowboys?
Despite
the contract extension of quarterback Tony Romo and linebacker Sean Lee and all
the talk about the retooled offensive line and how wide receiver Dez Bryant
will have a MONSTER year at wide receiver and how that the play calling
responsibilities are no long being handled by head coach Jason Garrett but
instead by Bill Callahan and how Monte Kiffen is bringing the Tampa 2 defensive
scheme to the Cowboys and (channeling Yul Brener from The King and I) et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.....
I'm
not buying it.
Yes,
Romo got a contract extension For those saying that Jerry Jones should have
let Romo go, let's go through the list of quarterbacks from when Troy Aikman
last played in 2000 to when Tony Romo showed up in 2006:
Randall
Cunningham
Yes,
THAT Randall Cunningham.
Anthony
Wright
Yes,
THAT
Anthony Wright who tossed for 4 TDs in a 44-41 win over the Matt Hasselbeck
led Seahawks in 2003.
Quincy
Carter
Yes,
NFL Network's #1 All Time
Draft Bust Ryan Leaf. The 2001
Thanksgiving Day starter for Dallas was RYAN LEAF.
Chad
Hutchinson
Drew
Henson
If
you wish to relive that list of draft busts, backups, and over-the-hillers,
then go root for the Browns.
Yes,
Romo throws interceptions at THE WORST POSSIBLE TIMES IN GAMES. Here is thing
though: He doesn't play offensive line, they have to block. He doesn't play
wide receiver; they need to fight for the ball when he throws it. He doesn't
tackle because he doesn't play on defense. And he no longer plays on special
teams after than gaffe in Seattle back in 2006 Playoffs.
BUT...
in the NFL it is about "What Have You Done For Me Lately." Someone is
going to get the pink slip if the Cowboys have another 8-8 season. I don't
think it will be Romo because Jerry Jones has invested a lot of money into this
thing. To those that say "Owner Jones should blow this whole thing up",
need I remind you of the 5-11 years and how God AWFUL those teams were. THEY
LOST TO THE FREAKIN' HOUSTON TEXANS IN THEIR FIRST EVER GAME IN 2002!! I was in
boot camp and I didn't believe that until I got a letter in the mail from my
dad's sister with the NFL scores.
In
the back of his mind, head coach Jason Garrett has to know that if he doesn't
get this team to the playoffs it is very likely that he will be in the NFL
unemployment line in January 2014.
But
you know what... MAYBE the Cowboys will get off to decent start and then come Thanksgiving
after they beat the Raiders into oblivion, they will be at 7-5... maybe 8-4...
hell let's say 9-3 with 4 games left to play and they are in the month of
December. Their final four games: at Bears, Packers, at Redskins, and season
finale at home against the Eagles. 11 wins would not only win the NFC East, but
might get them a much needed bye week. The defense is playing well under Kiffen's
scheme. Tony Romo isn't throwing those game killer interceptions. There is some
appearance of a running game as the offensive line is playing well together.
They look like a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
The
Cowboys are capable of winning 11 games.
But I get this feeling I've seen this
movie before...
We've
bought into the hype, but we've seen how this ends.
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