A true stud is needed in the offensive line's interior.

The front of the Dallas pocket has to be strong and stable to ensure continuity with the time line of current Dallas skill players. That is very important.

Ideally, a dominant center is added, and in my view, a need for another and very strong guard. Kyle Kosier appears to have enetered an injury point in his own career, and the shelf life of both Derrick Dockery and Montrae Holland has to be questioned at the very least.

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How fast a return to action?

I think the dominant logic, is you get a person as completely healthy as soon as you can. That is both economical and efficient in design.

There is pride by players once they become Dallas Cowboy players. This is probably one reason...as their dignity and handling is on a professional level.

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I sense the numbness that has hit the entire Cowboys Nation, and even the media.

Stabs at humor are sometimes failing in times as this, but as to a 'Romo' humor, he was caught thinking that his head is used strictly for keeping his ears apart.

At other times, his wit has had a place...but I think that he fell somewhat victim to his own personal attachments, and lost sight of what drives this Cowboys machine...a plan that was brought to the game by his own coaches.

He allowed his own zone of comfort to color how he saw challenge and what was his own choice of alternatives. It's true, that he rides out preferences. That was forged into his consciousness when he replaced Bledsoe and had to deal with a TO.

Well, there was an attitude that we'll just do it our own way, come hell or high water, and that has burned the team, as an applied focus is lost. It's not all a sandlott you go out here, Jason, and I'll hit you there.

But here, hey, even Mike Ditka can come up with a golden nugget when frustrations and calamity surrounds a single event...that is, you are never a loser, UNTIL you quit trying. And to his credit, neither Tony Romo or the Dallas Cowboys have given up.

Oh, it would be easy to pin point indicators that created failure. Just being obvious here, when an opponent scores 17 points in the 4th quarter, and your own team scores Zilch...that could be the reason for a loss.

One could remain self-destructive and dwell on self-abuse, and target facts such as 27-3, and then going 3-31 in less than a half. Or Tony Romo pushed RYAN LEAF over as the all time worst play by a Dallas quarterback to lose a game.

But even with a sense of great dispair, one still has to fix what is broken. One interception, to Witten, wait, there were TWO interceptions thrown to Jason Witten. But both were badly delivered by Tony himself. The gaf was in the actual delivery of the football. When that is off, then focus by Tony is the culprit.

Here, being injured, could have as much to do with the misfiring on those plays, as anything. Just getting healthy again might solve that...but one thing is for sure, remaining futile in emotion won't cure that ill.

Having enough talent, I would say, is not the problem. Focus of Tony could be part of it although, as this sort of thing has raised it's head for a few years now. But to Tony's credit, he IS working on that...as is the team.

Then on the Robinson pass play that was intercepted. Hey, that was a tight type route that has to be cut extremely accross to be successful. Robinson was being shaped by necessity into the role of a starter. Overall, he did a very good job...but he is new in the organization as well as responding with the team in such circumstances. He had a tremendous day on the field, but he will adjust even more with time and interacting as well. At least when Miles Austin returns, there should then be a trio of dependable wide receivers to be utilized.

That is a point on positional considerations. And then, some of the success by Detroit in the passing game late, could also be tracked back to a trail leading to the secondary. Woulder if the third player in the depth chart at safety could have anything to do with late game success and scoring? I bet that it did...just saying.

But as to keeping things in proper perspective, let's just take a quick look and analyze what actually happened. That is a disappointing loss. But the loss was by a sum of four points and to a team that had a sprinter's start at the beginning of this very season. The other loss was by a sum of what? Three points in the opening game, against a team who played in two consecutive AFC Championship games.

This Cowboy team is coming together in a new way. The view to overall direction should not be lost despite the disappointment, no matter what the exact cause was in a single game. The war is not lost at this point.

In early season projections, it was one of a growing team, not a powerhouse, at least yet. There are things that are tempting and pluses with this team. The team's defense at least looks to be contributing to an overall game completeness.

Before this game against the Lions, I saw a book end problem around the bye week. That bye week still being very important, and that is in getting a large group of players heathly and able to contribute to the entire team's picture. But that should show that there is something being left off the table right now, as to an overall view, even with a recent disapppointment.

The game against New England, will be an emotional trap as well. It will be before the entire team strength has been put together for the first time, and allowed to flex some to see the dynamics that can and should be brought onto the carpet.

But these two games should be seen as the top end comparisons for potential in these boys. And at least this fan, has done his 24 hours of crying in my beer and moving on...as will this team.

This isn't an attempt at a rah - rah speech, or a drama filled search for pie in the sky. But if one is fully honest, there was also a lot being added to a positive picture as well. Put together two to three consecutive wins, and former tears of frustration will be quickly forgotten. But the team does have to gain some credability and not on a week on and week off basis. That goes to the credability that this team holds for itself.

Two losses, as predicted in early projections, doesn't kill this team's chances to end up in the thick of things. The team does have to establish consistency to stick out an entire game and develop team ability to change and fight out an entire contest. Dez Bryant has to be used for an entire game's length. Miles Austin is needed back.

Tony Romo is a good quarterback. Using a scorched earth policy in his description won't change the need for this team to keep on evolving and proving out it's own strengths. There are many things here, and all games being won or loss in a margin of three to four points, indicates it's not just a matter of team talent level...but execution.

Most team failures do not boil down to play selections by coaches, but to team executions by the players. That is where this team is here and now...not top of the pack, but as to potential, not near the bottom. Not even if a particular loss is poignantly iritating to all of our taste. Hey, that was a bad batch of stew. But a new batch is being cooked up as we move on, and in life, one has to adjust for the ups and down. This was a gut kick. No one enjoys that, but as with a boxer...hey, there's another day, and yes, another match-up coming up. It's time to take the blame, leave it in the past...and get ready to take it to another boxer in the ring. That is the nature of sport. And we are fans of that.....it is what it is, but labels of dispair won't change the ability to respond. It won't take five games to see whether Tony Romo will lead the way through this or not. To change him at this point, just isn't in the picture. Correcting the specifics of the problems is as applicable to Philadelphia as it is to the Cowboys.

There are still plenty of acts to this drama filled play, and they have yet to come to the stage. But that is such of the life in the NFL. And this team is well into this race, and with chance to approach the backside with opportunity to make it's own move before the backstretch.

This is the Dallas Cowboys, and even if they have tasted the Franchise's lows in historical places, it also has the metal of Franchise to reach to top regions as well. I'm betting on the later, myself.


Now, I know, I could have just refrained and stated:

'Sometimes embarrassment (as the Aggies know) is the best coaching.'

But to throw a complete game, pride has to come to the table, and not just guilt.

As to Tony Romo, he's our quarterback, and I believe in him...to quote Rex Ryan.

Boy, Troy, you sure stereotyped 'ol Tony Romo...

Actually, Troy, your comparative skills aren't very good here...as the base for the NFL type of learning curve was warped under Wade Phillips. Under Bill Parcells, who first warned Tony Romo, to stay away from the party side of the famedom, there was no such inhibitions for the team while UNDER Wade Phillips.

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America's Team?

The storyline for change and reasons for a variety of coaches has been scrambled. People are still attempting to put on blinders and to just strike out at Jerry Jones.

There were two distinct periods of coaching following the end of the Dynasty Period, 1992-1995, for Dallas.

The first period included the decline of the actual group of players who created a five year dominant period in the NFL. That was the total run of it, and those players....five years!

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To Gurode or not...

There's a ton of discussion on topic already, but...

Strictly for the recalcitrant and proven hard learners:

1. The character of this team started THREE off seasons ago - and under the direction of JERRY JONES. The team decided upon functional character aspects that would or would NOT be tolerated on the field and IN THE LOCKERROOM. That was the cutting of Roy Williams, Greg Ellis, Tank Johnson, Pac Man Jones, TO...and then the team departed with Flozell Adams.

Next, Jerry had to make a decision as to head of the coaching staff, when the team turned **** up with the group of former All Pro's that were holding starting positions as well as huge cap amounts hostage.

At the start of the NFL year this season, the Cowboys then released money cows, with little production, in the form of Marion Barber, Roy Williams II, Leonard Davis, as well as Marc Colombo.

This again, was a JOINT decision, involving both Jerry Jones, the GM, and Jason Garrett, the new head coach.

But it is now very evident, and facts presented now mute, that Jason Garrett is at the helm of this Cowboys' ship. He has further made decisions upon level of commitment required and demonstrated upon the field...as well as what type of play will receive merit and consideration.

But this involves concepts, not hide underneath a mushroom shell for understanding - what if something went boo in the dark approach. I'm STILL not afraid of the boogie man in the dark.

Explaining, and not leaving for someone else to connect dots....

With a complete line of large and past mobile linemen, opponents merely increased the attack upon that immobility and would overload, misdirect, and blitz those same linemen. The effect was that they WERE consistently defeated at their flanks and overrushed in mass.

It didn't matter if they were former All Pros...as when two seasons ago the Cowboys had NINE All Pros from three years ago. They were now exploitable...AND WERE.

If one is looking for protection from what is now over four seasons ago...hey, keep on hiding underneath that Mushroom. Yea, there is a Magical Mysitcal Tour there for sure.

Not only was every team in the NFL exploiting that relationship and role, but it was forging team directions as well.

Know why the team just didn't leap out there when free agency happened this NFL year, once the Lockout was called off and a CBA arrived at? Well, there was an accumulated cap hit that restricted ABILITY to do just that. It wasn't from bad decisions from Jerry, or a 'rook' head coach, Garrett, making and pulling wrong strings.

The need to make the commitment in cap changes was propelled by proof over the past TWO SEASONS that those players were NOT doing the complete job on the field. Period.

The team made a decision based upon SCHEME and guidelines of the head coach. I posted a thread upon just this...and wasn't visited by yourself, TwoDeep, that expanded upon the principal.

2. Jason Garrett, not Jerry Jones, wants a balanced attack. He WILL attain a reliable run game that shows up on game day. To accomplish this, Jason doesn't care if that player is mountain side huge, or not, but mobile and articulate in execution of direction and down field technique. The running game is important.

Before releasing Andre Gurode, first, the team had to determine just where he was right now, as a player. Since he came to Camp, recovering from a self scheduled knee operation, the team just couldn't up and cut him without a settlement complication. The team then gave him a week to show where he was as a player...and lo and behold, he was where he was over the past two seasons. That no longer being an acceptable standard under the newly established parameters by JASON GARRETT.

But to the Cowboys' credit, they first required that a replacement, capable to fill the job function, was available. See, I used a positional comparison...and didn't fly underneath that Mushroom and compare back to an All Pro status earned four seasons ago with Andre Gurode. As there are now multiple players that can fill in on a NFL level solidly. This would now include: Phil Costa, David Arkin, Bill Nagy, and yea, even undrafted Kevin Kowalski.

With changes, even with a single positional adjustment, there are problems. Well, there are problems with youth just as there are with over-the-hill gangs also. That is part of the price for change. YOU HAVE TO SEE THEM IN PROGRESS....

But even here, the Cowboys, showing balls of steel, hedged their bets there as well.

3. These personnel cuts have created the very environment that will allow FOR A CHANGE. Don't look now, but under last year's protection, Tony Romo was only injured and out for over half of the past season.

But going by demonstrated, and no longer just projected comparison, this Exhibition season has shown that this group of 'rooks' at least belong in the league, and not enjoying former memories while holding the team's real progress in randsom.

But carrying that a step further...next season, there is a projected $20 +M in dead cap burden. The one time ability to leave that behind this season, has come to the forefront. The additional amounts of money, with the recent departures and even an upcoming and projected by myself, release of Igor Olshansky, will push the credit given this year, to about $13-14 M. That makes next season's Cap figures very manageable. Even for player and future acquisitions.

I find it rather humorous that explanation of the current status in the secondary was requested in addition...

The Cowboys ONLY attempted to buy the services of Nnamdi Asumghua. That would have changed things completely back there. But Nnamdi wanted to be an Eagle! Ha....so be it.

But that didn't dilute what was in the Dallas secondary already. Dallas was able to put together a pair of solid safeties on a single year deal. They will have to now prove their own metal and where they belong. That isn't a bad thing. It retains the aspect of unburdened change. The Cowboys, with the current cap credits, are in position to either reup Abram Elam and Gerald Sensabaugh or acquire another player or two.

Then on the cornerback front...this is a transitional year for Terrence Newman. Just cutting to the bone here, he probably goes elsewhere and seeks a better contract next season. But if he expects to stay in Dallas, and be a loyal and committed Cowboy, then the format is now established, that you get only what you earn now.

See here, JERRY, HAS LEARNED.

Orlando Scandrick has shown that he is committed. He has shown that he is physical. And now in his fourth season, he has shown that he deserves the opportunity, since coming up through the Dallas Organization, to try his own wings out in the secondary. Candidly, he is very strong in coverage and always is a shadow on his receiver.

Scandrick establishes one of a pair into the future. But there then is Mike Jenkins. He is fully upon the bubble, but armed with prior knowledge of where things lie organizationally, now. mUe

Throwing around just prior All Pro labels, that would hit Jenkins also. But we all now know, a former label just doesn't cut the direction upon the ironing board right now. The iron is now hot, and is going to be used. Just like Elam and Sensabaugh, he is on a ONE year leash as well. If he earns keep, then he will be kept and projected into the future. That's how GOOD Franchises do things in today's NFL. But that includes both Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett as forging directions in the NOW. He will have to earn it, the old fashioned, and Cowboy way.

4. But that brings us to the concept of management of change. That IS exactly what is occurring even with the release of Gurode as well will probably be the course for Olshansky.

With the direction established for the other positional groups now, the team has complete freedom to make changes in the secondary, if needed, next season. The rest of the team, with exception to possibly the defensive line, is solid. I'll await judgement on them, until the real season kicks off and a full starting unit is on the carpet with the defense.

With this season's cap relief, the team can pursue some remedies in the secondary next season, via FREE AGENCY. It also, since direction is firm in other positional groups, able to hit the draft and maneuver up to get a pair for the secondary there as well.

So, instead of rushing underneath that mushroom but one more time, at least see there will still be some very fertile play going on this year. But, for the record, opportunity for change does exist strongly into the very next season, with ability, NOW, to make changes.

No, it's not stupid 'ol Jerry. But the team is now, very competitive.

Don't look now, but that under-the-hill gang that people are rushing underneath a mushroom for, are showing that they can actually run the ball. They are more precise, agile, AND aggressive in their blocking. They go until the whistle blows..and occasionaly draw a flag for going beyond the whistle. But that is a good thing. As is the reason they project for change. That being their youth itself. They have an excitement to them, and that is a PRIME element to achieving with change.

Now Cowboys fans, you and I both know, especially those of you who were a fan of the Dallas Cowboys all the way through the Star War Periods of the internet. But for now, don't pour water on those embers below.

For both Jerry Jones, yea both the owner and GM, and the team, the Dallas Cowboys, are on the right path. And as long as the offense projects to be a league leader, in both running the ball and throwing it, as well as scoring....they ARE in the mix. But here, we all know with a nucleus firmly established in youth, they project up...NOT DOWN.

 

 

                                                          


                                                                         There's no right way to do the wrong thing.

Such is life in the big and real city. So is the NFL. The team has already displaced many of the old players dominating cap space...and it's now time to let Jason Garrett make his moves and forge a team. The old offensive line and money uses were not making it in today's NFL. Old principals have to be 'tweaked' to stay current and adaptable. The reason for youth getting the bucks is simple. They work harder for it, but have more athleticism to accomplish it when it's needed to be called upon.

It looks as though the money is being invested now, in the youth to middle veteran players...as a top notched franchise should have it.

I think that Gurode, short of begging to be retained at a much lowered salary...is gone. The rest of the salary drain should be with the exit of Igor Olshansky. With the $6 M already able to be moved to the Cap Hit for next season, this and Olshansky should clear a lot of that up to at least make it a matter of adjusting for who is needed at that point.

In stead of looking like a young kitten trying to guard a couple of piles of food with all four paws and claws spread out all over the place, we as fans should see more of a process going on here.

It would be nice to have a very 'cheap' Andre Gurode stick around, and help out. But the reality is that playing time and experience is valuable in projecting into the future as well. A youthful offensive line has to be forged, and this is a way to accomplish just that. There is some excellent coaching going on in that area right now.

But trying to holdon to the image of last year's offensive line is akin to that kitten will all four paws extended in different directions and sprawled on the floor.

Marc Colombo, Leonard Davis, and now, possibly Andre Gurode will be gone. So be it..and this fan isn't afraid to not assume a sprawled kitten's stance on subject.

And the total list of you being referred to are:

Kevin Kolwalski - free agent from Toledo 22
Bill Nagy - 7th round from Wisconsin 23
David Arkin - 4th round from Missouri State 23
Tyron Smith - 1st round from USC 20

Now add in two from last year's practice squad/call ups:

Jermey Parnell OT 25
Phil Costa C 24

...and the veterans would fall to:

Kyle Kosier 32
Doug Free 27
Sam Young 24

With Smith signing his rookie contract; Kosier on a short termed but economical contract; and Doug Free signing a long contract but at a hometown discount...and it's easy to see the mold in place, NOW.

Gurode just does not fit, unless he wishes to be a true team player and match payroll expectations as well. But he is a couple years past mold projection on age and future durability.

But with the team drawing a line in the sand even upon a more recent All Pro production, and basing that upon actual on the field productions. And as Parcells stated, EVERYONE has to show up in camp and prove their metal. Well, unless Gurode has crockadile tears in his eyes and his Agent adds to that picture...he won't be part of the instruction going onto the young players who are already on this mold being formed.

But the Cowboys, being responsible and respectful, didn't make a deal and just say goodbye in passing.

Moving forward, the team now needs a defensive lineman, a corner, and possibly one more offensive lineman in next year's draft. And Free Agency might boil down to a single or two targets of opportunity.

If he is shown his walking papers/trade...then the starting lineup well could look similar to:

Free    Nagy    Costa    Kosier   Smith

But instead of dispair, they showed that in a strongly based running attack, under the directions of Jason Garrett, that both Felix Jones and Dez Bryant can be very productive.

 

'This team's playoff failures can be traced back directly to the offensive line. Does anyone remember losing a bye against the Chargers, in 2009, because of goal-line blocking?

Jason Garrett wants to and is going to run the football. The running game and screen game will be Dallas' life this year. Establishing Felix Jones is critical, and you need the "right kind of guys" to help you do that in the NFL.

The run blocking last season was bloody terrible.

Jason Garrett has emphatically made his statement on this subject.'

*(taken from a post by 41gy# on CowboyZone

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216660&page=15

 

One either believes that Jason Garrett is now a 'big city' boy and you actually hand the keys over to him, or you merely send him to the Monestary to become a Monk. I believe he's every inch...BIG TIME!

And that when all is said and done, so will be the Cowboys.

 

 

 

                                                              


                                                                        There's no right way to do the wrong thing.

Take a line off the opposing center and draw it straight back through the Dallas defense through the secondary. That straight line has to show a defineable upgrade over time.

That line includes the two defensive ends and nose tackle upfront. It next includes the two middle linebackers. And then finally, it involves the pair of safeties at the umbrella for the defense.

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When the New York Giant coaching staff was breaking up and Tom Landry was coaxed to remain in football to take the reigns being offered by Murchiston, there was a mental commitment brought to thebirthing Dallas team.

Tom was about to retire from professional football, but warmed to the idea of being in Dallas and continuing his coaching. One of the first moves that he did, was to convince Eddie LeBaron, who was about to take his Texas Bar Exam, to come out of retirement and take the role of quarterback for the new Dallas team. Landry took and rotated LeBaron and Don Meredith in a building process. But he had a plan.

On an occasion, following the first win, in 1961 against Pittsburgh, LeBaron approached Landry to suggest that the team take a different approach that was not as heavily centered upon the run. Tom informed him that the team had a more necessary objective. That was to build a rock solid team that could produce in the manner that he was taking the team...not just winning a single game against an opponent.

Landry had sold the principal up to ownership, and when things hit a little record skid, and the first five seasons came to a conclusion, Murchisaon gave the keys back to Landry for an unprecedented 10 year stint instead of what the press was expecting. Instead, Landry was allowed to continue the building on both type of player and a marriage within an established system. That combination netted a period of 28 years of what became a Cowboy team. Leaving behind the name of Rangers as well as a humbling beginning.

I would say that Jason Garrett is in a very similar situation at present. He has established himself as the head of the organization from the coaching staff and final line with the players. He is growing a system and mental reference as well. It is no small surprise that Jason has chosen Rob Ryan in the forging of this stage of that team's developments.

Hooooah! And it doesn't take much imagination to foresee a Jason Garrett era arriving as well.

It is evident that you, Mr. Smith, place a lot of rocks in your proverbial basket, yet fail to see the source of your own moorings.

The contract between the team and player is the source of stability in the market place. The length of that contract places the largest balance of retainability upon a player...not a league policy for free agency. The player could just as easily hold out in a manner that Emmitt Smith did, and seek a changed or new contract.

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Roger Goodell wants “around-the-clock talks” with union.

How long could it take to draw a picture of how much is needed to float a league and keep the 'average' franchise afloat. Then considerations should revolve around the solvency minimum levels to a strengthened league status for the teams, first.

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A question of whether one wanted a murder marred, or cocaine and prostitute involved past involved in your team centered Star. The example of Ray Lewis and Michael Irvin was presented for source of example for achievement on the field. A quick assumption that it took a somewhat criminal and violent person to achieve in today's sports. And this is my focus...

 

Quick spurts of emotion are usually off taget when applied by a response oriented fan. Just as with an athlete. There are quite a few motives that can cause a person to be driven to succeed.

It deals with the drive and not the motives behind them. The motives behind them, usually lead a direction as well. So motives for drive are important as well.

Aggression in football is involved with a sport. An athlete is able to differentiate between blatant anger and goal directed itensities.

That is, unless he is corrupted by a criminally based ethics in his drive.

There are periods of times when a NFL level athlete has been corrupted by convenience of personal release and large cash flows empowered opportunity for drama and 'pleasures' frowned upon by a general and much more strongly sacrificing public.

That doesn't mean that criminal intent is what causes the difference.

That comes with how a person learns to deal with confrontation and intense activity. The cruxt is in knowledge of how to deal with supportive action, mind set, and skill sets.

That personal reference set, is not dependent upon a positive or negative motive for stimulus, but in knowledge of application of itensity, commitment, and physical applications.

This, again, isn't dependent upon a negative motive, but only on acquiring the skillset to respond as intense and similarly in application on the field. Now, taking that to include drugs, prostitution, and cruelty exhibited by beatings and murder only itensifies the rush to REMOVE that individual from the professional sports venue. It becomes self defeating and quickly escalates, unless the individual identifies the problem...and CHANGES.

Ray Lewis, and yea, Michael Irvin walked through the heartaches and redirected their respective careers. They, although, gained a strength from learning how to deal with those circumstances and focus more intensely on their athletic aspirations.

If one has paid attention, both Ray Lewis and Michael Irvin have since preached focus in intensity and team play. Not crime and getting over socially. There is a difference. But positive motives can lead there as well. As to on the field success.

It's dedication that turns the corner for achievement.

                                                      


There's no right way to do the wrong thing.

Watch out, a city official will ticket you for unlawful accumulation of weeds...

Now, when attempting to describe change that is in effect now, all many could do up to here, is act as a spoiled brat and cry. Then on cue, attempting to elevate to some seen point of strength with the tossing of an insult based upon their own sense of a perceived peckig order. Rocket science? 

One can't claim high ground until he is actually able to point towards functional elements in group dynamics, involved in goal direction.

A pretty good thread would be on leadership, that some of our self-professed 'groupies' missed as well.

Some of those discipline considerations were accountability. Not having really weathered developmental aspects in group activities, and participation on direction, goals, standard evaluations and enforcements...themselves, too often they tend back to a burn barrel exchange of Ripple or even worse, drug of your own ability to pay for or steal, as a referencing comparison. 

Accountability was the issue.

Now, just where do YOU expect Jerry Jones to plug into that consideration, accountability, at present?

Fact is, you don't KNOW...as, figuratively,  you are too busy trying to look the part of an informed fan and social stud, by sticking to a lame routine of insulting his character and role in the organization.

You didn't come to grips with the first part, accountability.

Just to point at this aspect of common sense...which too often is used to define current status:





Question: How do you load a 450 pound hog?

Answer: Any way he wants you to!




A bore would say, as above, what the samhill does that mean? 

Even a mule would understand direction of travel, even if lacking in objectivity.


Jerry provided opportunity of prior experience and success in the NFL.

 

What, many are saying that Wade Phillips had no value what-so-ever when he joined the team to further develop a half-broken and uncompleted defense that Bill Parcells had changed. This deviating from the very historical model of the franchise, and this is what many are supposedly holding in such esteem. And that in the face of Bill leaving before fully establishing it?

Naw, they both were parts of a progression involving franchise concepts of FUNCTION.

The second part that many will merely take apart and play with.

Just as was done in a recently published Forbes article on today's top ten GM's for the past three years. Many didn't even want to know the truth or to look into where the direction pointed on issue. This being a similar perspective of the current group of players up until NOW.

First, in development, Bill Parcells established a blue print of design for applications on the field. That has already become policy. That was a joint effort in the change, involving both Jerry Jones and Bill Parcells. It took Jerry to make the potentials that Bill presented, a reality. Not a minor point in procedure here.

Then, Wade gave specific applications of technique and a large enough selection reference to adapt to much more varied challenges as they are confronted on a game by game basis. There has been established enough of a reference to be able to adapt and cope with a multitude of game situations today.

Jerry and Wade continued adding to personnel, which further expanded on the team direction established at  the entrance of Bill Parcells.

Bill Parcells was insultive and demeaning in player confrontations and handling. He was phased little in sending Larry Allen, Emmitt Smith, and saying good bye to the recently departed Troy Aikman. To many fans, this was a rub in of itself. But the team needed to change. CHANGE required time and opportunity to develop.

But even during these team function changes, attitude and core pockets of trouble existed in the players as a group. Despite them even going through these functional and team changes. There was a cockiness and even arrogance that was shown in many forms through these transition points as well.

The team rebounded from the austerity that Bill Parcells gave them. The grief he got in return wore him out. He couldn't emotionally meet the challenges of forging change in a group that resented personal degradation and insult at it's core.

The team was tired of not being able to go onto the field and enjoy the game. They had micro management as to their own spirits, and rebelled. Not hard to grasp here.

Wade Phillips gave respect to the base element of respecting a player's dignity. This was misunderstood as to motive. As to specifics of practice, he gave too much credability to a cerebral approach to reinforcement that did not fully engage technique and physical demands. He assumed this would adequately fuel and translate to game skills and an edge once the carpet was entered upon but during game conditions. He failed to see the real correlations here, although. That was his undoing, as outlying factors started to dominate game outcomes and hence, morale of those players.

Understanding the reasons for failure, gives more of a human view on those short comings. They can be corrected, and no longer brand a person and lock him up in bondage of being inept.

There are varying levels of failure that all can lead to success. But to hide behind failure removes the human elements involved and insults a base level of human dignity of challenging those failures and LEARNING to overcome them and ACHIEVE again. All SUCCESSES are based upon overcoming and developing from some form and level of FAILURE. That IS human nature and also it's REWARDS.

Wade fought a valent effort. He was motivated by protecting the dignity and pride of his players. Even if he failed in his last stages within the organization, he learned through it, and still grasps the potential for even overcoming those misapplied principals. He does maintain dignity for trying and with personal sacrifices for a common good as well as goal. Here, he is a WINNER. Even if he only had three of four winning seasons. Just as he wasn't the Father of all of his players, he didn't bring the current situation into existence as well. He was a participant in a portion of the Dallas experience.

Being a fan, I cloak myself upon a principal of Sportsmanship. Not the use of intended name calling. My approach has been of giving a dignity to the failures of Wade, and moving on. Not rushing to cast stones and impell all opposing such a vantage of disgust.

But carrying the current situation farther.

All play in the NFL is dependent upon intense preparation that respects the need for applied, not cerebral reinforcement, of technique, strength demands, and coordinated team interplay. Not abstract attempts to look as if in a highlight reel. The team needs strong reinforcement of interplay that has combined focus, not just individual actions.

An opponent needs to be beaten...not merely survived.

The team has lost their salt here. That doesn't mean that once having drawn a line in the sand, they won't now be REDIRECTED towards more effective work and focus. They will now, under Jason Garrett, receive the benefit of practical and technical focus in practices. They will practice now, as if it is the REAL THING. That makes all the difference in practice. This applies as much to the world of sports, and the NFL, as it does to preparations for war.

When you replace real habits that apply, with altered habits, those have to be rechanged when things are real again. That involves both a mental process, but additionally, identification, and the habit of execution. That is both time and play draining. You are setting your team up for loss, if not directly supported merely on the consistency of reinforcing good habits and not having to change them to reaquire better habits. That is simple logic, not a hatred of Wade, Jerry, and a lack of faith in an 'unproven' Jason Garrett.

Oh, Jason can still fail, but that doesn't discount the knowledge Jerry Jones has with him after being associated with the person and his knowledge, in Jason Garrett. It is both a functional progression and situational necessity for Garrett to stand up and meet the current challenge.

That requires change both in Jason Garrett and the current team, but problems have been addressed.

Accountability has been a part of the process all along. This is not despite Jerry Jones, but because he cares enough to ensure that even if enough rope is extended to hang oneself, once he accomplishes that hanging, the body is cut down and given proper respects. But then all move onward.

But here, all has not been a waste. Deficiencies of players have been identified and returned to those very players. They are being given a more realistic vehicle to reestablish Championship values and practices. Those players unable to gain perspectives once again, will be gone at this season's conclusion.

Tony Romo has found accountability as a quarterback. He has become much stronger in his role as a team leader. The gut shot the team had that followed his loss for a month and a half, is just starting to be overcome. His loss was a tough pain, as the team was forcing a team identity, and involved him in a real and functional role. But now, the team has to carry the issue...but that will lead to an even stronger...TEAM.

Now, you can return to your preppie gene pooler's mentality of burn barrell abuses, but this fan choses to embrace a much more cosmopolitan view, and give credabilities to those involved with the Dallas Cowboys. Hey Wade, sorry things didn't work out for you. That was painful for all, but hey, we're moving forward, but we do have specifics to learn from and grow from. There, as a fan of the Cowboys, I haven't lost a beat. But I don't have to downgrade Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, or even Bill Parcells to still enjoy my Cowboys fully.


ACCOUNTABILITY has returned to the Cowboys.

IDENTIFICATION of problem areas has been defined.

APPLICATION of a direction has been chosen and implemented.

REDIRECTION and CHANGE have already reentered the Cowboy landscape, and I don't have to do a statistical chart related to Lombardi Awards over the past five years to understand this.

 

Jerry, over the past seven to eight years, has functioned quite well as the acting GM for the Dallas Cowboys. That is based upon walking his team through the dead zone created by the collapse of the Super Bowl team culminated in 1995. That very period, that is shuffled off as merely being the departure of Jimmy Johnson and then successive 'weak' coaches, actually mirrored the large number of player departures either through free agency, injury, or release. That such a coach as Barry Switzer through Dave Campo made it to even a NFC Championship game, attained a Lombardi, as well as making it to the playoffs under Chan Gailey, is a testament to the fabric of player that tried to carry on amidst the dynasty break up.

As players started to get injured and no longer available for Dallas use, they still monopolized the Dallas cap to very huge and demanding sums. All the way from 'five rings' to Michael Irvin, our beloved tight end, then Troy Aikman, and then the last vestiges inclusive of Emmitt Smith and Larry Allen. That took huge chunks of the cap away as well as limited what could even be done in a year by year reappraisal by the team itself.

If one doesn't think that the transition through the NFL from such standings wasn't a long and painful process, one then has to ask a San Francisco or Green Bay fan how long it takes to gain a Lombardi and even stay there. Those were similarly strong teams, managed by GM's that have transitioned to the present along with Jerry as well.

To ask Jerry to associate all blame from not having owned up to his own previous high tide mark, is to ignore what he, as well as many other GM's had to contend with.

With little to draw upon, Jerry went to Dave Campo, whom he trusted. That was following the stage that Jimmy Johnson had left after he stabbed Jerry in the back before the whole media in a Super Bowl Victory Party. Jimmy had the week before, attempted to get both the GM and Head Coaching job with ANOTHER team.

Well, with Dave Campo, Jerry was forced to learn all the GM training principals that was then needed for his remolding and forging as a future GM. He then started to rely heavily upon opinions and wisdom available in the field. Jerry became extremely educated in franchise function, coach selection, as well as player identificaion and acquisitions.

If one is going strictly on day by day actions today, ask New England why they gave up a Randy Moss for a Branch...then doubt their GM. Just for considerations in consistency.

Naw, before asking Bill Parcells to assume leadership and control of the Cowboys, Jerry did HIS homework. He consulted Tom Landry era members and braintrust for their informed opinions. When Bill arrived in camp, that first year, I was seated along with my wife, next to where he walked onto the field for that first training camp practice.

Both Bill and Jerry knew that direction was the prominent feature in team developments. Bill was able to establish function as well as discipline in what remained with the Cowboys at that time. Principals of operation, inclusive of scheme and applications of personnel changed under Parcells. Changed from order of business remaining from Landry and even Jimmy Johnson periods. Things changed for the team.

The foundations for todays defense, were laid by Bill and Jerry. And then later with the assistance of Wade and a very top class scouting department, has continued the process of upgrading and increasing depth levels to today. Yea, there have been some temperary pieces added to the mix, but for the largest part, direction has committed top picks in the draft as well as money to retain producers at the top levels. Sure, there have been some gambles, such as in the secondary. That is the place where age and ceilings had to be mixed and worked through.

The box area for this Cowboys team is as dependable as any in the league. Oh, sure, a huge and dominant noseguard might change things even more; but here, they acquired Josh Brent with just those thoughts in mind. As to that secondary, it has grown by leaps and bounds. Out of the woods right now? No, as they have become greatly more youthful in appearance. But it is growing through those pains of change as well. As this youthfull group in the secondary is able to come into their own, and not just fill a slot, so will the defensive strength to drive games and set parameters that have to be overcome. That is coming, but Jerry, the GM, is fully involved here as well.

You know, when Bill Parcells figured that he was just too tired of life in Dallas. Then he up and quits, that left Jerry, solely having to handle redirection and developments. Bill made it to the playoffs twice, and lost. Had he handled all the required developments and team direction in the four seasons that he was at the helm. NO....he didn't. That then left Jerry the GM to forge the continued directional changes.

Well, Jerry had already learned how to handle the top most failures of an organizational head. No, Jerry, the GM, again sought advice from his truely trusted confidences, as well as sought selection alternatives throughout the NFL and collegiate ranks. He already had a fair team developed, but had to hold two fronts steady to retain the ground that he and the franchise had galantly fought to attain since the removal of Dave Campo.

Did someone imply that Jerry the GM had failed for a full fifteen year period?

Well, to sustain his team, who had been somewhat brutalized by the dominance of Bill, chose on someone with a deep defensive background to continue the franchise's directional progress on the now gained 3-4 scheme and defensive side. Wade Phillips had the experience and success to wet nurse a growing defense.

Now, not only did Jerry have to deal with an even progressive change in the leadership of coaches at the top of his organization, but the remnants of proud but older veterans who were attempting to chip away at changes - in temperament and even execution on the field. Either challenges to developing coaches, or older vets, no longer content and agitating or declining, had to be further pruned and effectively replaced. Gone were TO, Tank Johnson, Greg Ellis, Flozell Adams, Adam Jones, as well as Chris Canty, Patrick Crayton, and Kevin Burnett. Yea, old Jerry could have been financially unsolvent and done what Washington continually attempted to do, and annually buy another couple to four high priced free agents. Offensive linemen, yea, he could have got one of the best groups of offensive linemen in the league...but at what current and future effects would they arrive? Washington has already proven out that a similar route rarely pays off long termed. This very position is where most malcontent against Jerry, exists right now. At the prices paid for fully functional offensive 'special skills' personnel, who could stock ANY team with All Pro candidates throughout one's line?

Jerry the GM has developed up a much more youthful team, throughout most of it's roster. He did this diligently preparing for the future ramifications and contractual vacuum that could have much more long lasting and dramatic effects in the upcoming contractual confrontation that looms before us. Was he being just the foolish tart in preparing his franchise to weather this upcoming and potentially paralyzing work stoppage? No, that is part of the real picture as well.

With the various in season waivers and releases this year, Jerry has shown the younger pups on this team, that they must continue to strive and develop at full speed. The signing of Jessee Holley to the 53 man squad is very significant. Why? Because he came from the Michael Irvin drama for TV? NO, because Holley is one of the most dedicated workers on the team. Similar to Sam Hurd. He does everything within his own grasp to execute and perform. That is an important ingredient into the mix. It shows organizational relevance to both effort and achievements.

Over the past three seasons, the Cowboys have had three consecutive winning seasons. It has been the most dominant team within the NFC East itself. It did this because of Jerry the GM, and not despite that fact. True, the present situation is caused due to new players being added to the mix...but that was started three seasons ago, and reaching towards filling the desired quality. Will they achieve desired levels of play this season, before this season concludes? I think so, but that part has to be seen. Youth, sometimes folds when confronted with adversity. But this was what Jerry was trying to insulate and protect his team from, when he gave his team a pep talk this very week.

Now, if one chooses to ride the winds of anger, media agitations, and bafoon imagery, then go your way. Some say that Jerry is nothing but a showboat. But the real storyline is that Jerry attempts to provide imput to you, the fan. He does so at the inconvenienc of continual harrassment and agitation by media memebers such as Galloway, 'training bra' Engels, and even JJT now. Yea, some of their work touches upon parts of truths, but their mudslinging arrogance is evident as well. My point here, is not in pointing out a 'modernized' format of yellow journalism, but Jerry making information much more accessable to you, the fan. Hey, Wade might well prefer not to give an endless supply of information that scouts would kill to have access to. But a fan should at least recognze that Jerry has the fan in mind as well, and allows the many cameras and questioning that keeps an alert fan with a realistic picture of real developments. Warning, some of the negative information included may be of an adult nature, and requires simple understanding. But that is part of the current sport scene as well.

My point is this: Jerry really is not the base of the current one and four start. The young players and how the team adapts with leadership issues is. Don't worry, Jerry the GM has enough pride that he will invoke change and new directions if this team fails to cover directions pointed towards over the past three years. Jerry, the GM or owner, is nobody's fool. And he really isn't the Snibley Whiplash Villain some on portray him as being.

As to failures, that relates to specific times talked about and to what the dominant features that were affecting those various periods of time. It's all not just a sequence of events ignorant of all but Lombardi totals. This is a sport...and is supposed to be appreciated by fans. Loving of the good parts of play, not just final trophy counts. Here, the team isn't lacking in it's history. As to watering the roots of the organization, Jerry the GM is nobody's fool.

If one would be realistic in an appraisal of GM's throughout the NFL for the past three years, he would advisidly include none other than that same, Jerry Jones.

Here is the list of top ten NFL GM's as formulated by Forbes.com.

Over the past three years, the top ten GM's in the NFL are as follows:

 

team/GM/record/Lombardies

Indy Bill Polan 39-9 0

NYG Jerry Reese 30-18 1

KC Scott Pioli 31-17 0

Pitt Kevin Colbert 31-17 1

SD A.J. Smith 32-16 0

GB Ted Thompson 30-18 0

Dal Jerry Jones 33-15 0

Ten Mike Reinfeldt 31-17 0

NO Mickey Loomis 28-20 1

Mn Rob Grzenzinski 30-18 0

*(Forbes went into much more detail than what I included, in their article.)

'Our' Jerry Jones

Wasn't the GM that Tex was? Wasn't it Jerry that literally almost got into a fist fight with his own son, Stephen, following the 'Tex' mode on NOT paying players? The issue was, following the loss to the 49'ers beating Dallas at the NFC Championship Game and then taking the Super Bowl under Barry Switzer, on whether or not to pay Deion Sanders the then 'hostage' money and make him a Cowboy. Dallas had already taken from San Francisco in a manner that it's own players were being 'bought' off. Such as the starting center, Stepnoski, guard, starting WR, Harper... and Kenny Norton as well. Jerry had picked up Charles Haley prior to the loss NFC Championship. Jerry thought that Deion had made it tough on Michael in that game, so he would turn the 'favor' around for the 9'ers. That probably brought the last Super Bowl for Dallas right there.

Then there are the more recent developments in and around Valley Ranch that has 'cleaned up' the locker room, reinstilled respect and dignity, and brought in youthful talent at a very high level.

I have to give Jerry a thumb's up on some day being in the Hall. He pushed and was the 'over-the-top' influence that brought in league levels of involvement and potential to be competitive as well as equal playing ground concepts unlike baseball.

Unlike a George Steinbrenner or even a Mark Cuban in NBA and MLB, Jerry was much more cosmopolitan and striving for common ground. It is true, that he was as dominant a personality and as such, stimulated interest and satisfaction by fans for going out and creating high levels of interest including media attention and attractions. That stated, he continually maintained an equal ground atmosphere in around his own peers. He was a step above former media magnets as he protected other owners, players, and the fans themselves.

As Murchison stood for the fan and made decisions on loyalty, Jerry has shouldered a similar mantle of responsibility. Murchison stuck with a Tom Landry and the franchise was given a slow birth. Well, Jerry has expanded upon those concepts and additionally included career development, protections and very high rewards for players as well.

Heck, it was paying the 'due rewards' to the Triplets and injuries and exits of players such as Deion and Haley that created a financial burden that buried the franchise for almost eight seasons. It took to the re-entrance of Bill Parcells for the Cowboy Franchise to even dig it's way out of that financial hole.

No Jerry's direction led Stephen to slowly build a different set of grounds in finances, but at the same time providing league wide stability for both the current team and it's players. Here, although, his and Stephen's work have provided a sound backdrop for the league to work from in the approaching labor and contract considerations. This, although after Jerry forced an internal payments coming due internally for his own organization.

Jerry forged a stronger NFL through individual team enhancements through marketing while maintaining support for low market teams as well. Where a Steinbrenner Yankees grew upon their sole access to a 'killer' media market, Jerry shared with his high tide and priviledged situation with the rest of the NFL. Where a Cuban set personal marks of high profile and interaction, Jerry kept his profile measure more in tune and reflective of those about him. Similar pointed decision reflective of media intervention were similar, but how they were wielded differed. Jerry was giving more directly back to the fan and his team. High profiles were similar, but how they tasted to the fan himself, were much more palatable.

That almost singularly involved with direction. Not job, as Jerry shares the burden of accomplishing the mission. He gives responsibility but monitors that and calls upon an accountability for performance. On this score, I am directing this towards the media's high involvement in presenting that picture of high levels of achievement which is never lowered in their holding the Cowboy and America's Team to the highest of continual levels of evaluation with no slack in holding them accountable to reaching those elevated standards.

Mr. Jones has provided a world class facility and backdrop that now serves as home and a base for the highest levels for environment from which to home the present team. The facility itself was forged under enormous financial chaos that tore it's way throughout the entire Nation's economy. Not only was it completed during duress, but it's efforts including cutting edge technology and applications that are currently expanding and developing into the rest of the NFL itself. His undertaking was nothing less than cutting edge. But this relevance only serves to magnify the dedication and contributions he thus provides this team's players and it's fans.

Jerry has given painstakingly to concepts of fairness, 'guts,' performance, development, and a functional task of the 'old' buck stops at the top. He has always taken the gambles AND paid the price for it's successes and failures as they came. He has demonstrated character even if some fans didn't appreciate the positional show as well. Although here, he forged a higher set of values than did similar and highly focused owners in other sports.

No, this fan is appreciative of Jerry and his yoke of a true Champion for the NFL, the Cowboys, and us, the fans. He deserves a future position in the Hall of Fame itself. When he no longer is chained to the organization as it's current owner, an inclusion in the Dallas Ring of Honor is due as well.

I apologize for my descriptive, 'rant,' but I've needed to get this off my chest for over two years now....

To Eighteen or Not?

 I sat in front of a black and white Television in a soft cotton pajama set. I eagerly awaited the start of a game involving the Detroit Lions and the New York Giants. My Father had lovingly explained some of the excitement centering around a stout Lion defense that had none other than Dick Nitrane/'Night Train' Lane book ended with another very prominent secondary player as well. Dad spared no care in providing me a sincere and deep appreciation of their era's Tom Brady, Bobby Lane. At this point in my development as a NFL fan, I hardly knew that the Detroit franchise started out as the Portsmith Spartans in 1929, and later became the Detroit Lions in 1934. I didn't have a clue that the Giants and Detroit had played to a 0 - 0 tie in 1943. Which was the last time a NFL game ended as a scoreless tie. There was no knowledge by me that Detroit had played Cleveland to league Championships in 1952, 1953, and 1957. What I did know at that early age, was that Bobby Lane was some kind of 'good' and already was a great player in my mind. I certainly didn't know that the Giant franchise was started in 1925 and started the credability of the play in the NFL by defeating a collegiate team, to wit, Notre Dame -who was then coached by the legendary Knute Rockne. Rockne reassembled his former Four Horsemen to play with his Championship team of 1924. All I knew was that the game was exciting and rewarding for me as a fan. It centered upon strong physicality, daring, gamemanship, and strings of records that grew along with the sport itself. Aspects in the sport reflected injury, strung out records, and both successes and failures for all.

More often than not, one had to follow the intensity and loyalties of team trials and tribulations by reading of a very dramatized and detailed description of games. This encompassed very descriptive and sensory oriented summaries of the struggle involved in each and every game published in print. Then, the emotion was dominant in the fiber of the sport and gauntlets were thrown down and fought out on the field for real. Blood and injury were real elements that were confronted by a team and it's individual payers.

Protection of body parts and players slowly entered into the sport. Even such elements as shock absorbing pads, helmets, and faceguards took time for perfecting this need to focus and divert powerfully delivered blows by anything available and any manner that would hit it's target. Fists and fingers in an opponent's eyes, underneath the chin, in the gut, or a clothesline and helmet to helmet blindside hits...well, were human elements of the game. To describe that type of action, very sight provoking and drama filled language was used to describe what was going on the field. Not in presenting an emotional target to transfer to players and even the play to occur on field.

Drama was not fictionalized or taken advantage of. Hence, the reward for accomplisment wasn't diluted by a social tag of cynicism or insult of view. The overiding element to success was in succeeding and enduring the sacrifice needed to win. One saw the action leading to success, and not a steady diet in print of a much more cerebral and insulting stereotyping for drama. There already was intense drama going on upon the field.

That same young boy now can fast forward to today. I now have memory of an extensive and historical based set of high achievements. The Super Bowl has sustained the dynamics needed to satisfy a yearly need for fruition of a vast system now operated at top levels within the economy of our country. The NFL has overcome both the financial and sporting sophistication that evolved with an equally changing venue in world conditions, stability, and changes in methods of communication as inclusive as sporting events themselves. Mass communications through the airways, utilizing television, radio, and the internet have intensified a fan's ability to expand how he looks upon the game. This allows for a view highly specialize in directions and manners not even conceptualized in the NFL's early growth periods.

The NFL is interdependent on the whole array of elements with the American life today. It is at the very top level of sporting events in a country who loves to work and succeed at something that it cherishes. The league provides final fruition to a concept of sacrifice, discipline, and hard earned achievement that a democracy has to foster through it's own roots of support. It gives back at a level that rewards our very way of life here.

Expanded, it requires and helps to sustain a reporting system that is very integral to as sophisticated a society as in existence today. It draws heavily upon publications inclusive of magazines, books, newspaper, and the internet to an intensive level. Communication is as integral a part of today's football as the concept of hometown support and loyalties were decades ago. But the type of communications is as much an importance today as the style was in the NFL's infancy.

Additionally, the financial integrity of a franchise has to be integrated to a very refined level to even become and remain competitive. The industry has to utilize the full spectrum of industry available in the field at the very top levels of consumption. Food, entertainment, television, transportation, cutting edge construction and facility characteristic electronics have become cutting edge and developmental in their very natures. The system demands for organizational, analytical applications, scouting, recording, as well as player evaluations and scheme development against a changing array of league tendencies and players has reached historical highs. They by nature require unbreached efficiency as well as play. That all comes with a price.

When the question of to 18 game or not comes to the front...well, one has to look upon the demand that is transfered to the player. Injury has always been a part of the game. Early injuries in the sport, were more dramatic and harder to overcome than they are today. It is a drain on every player who receives an injury. Often, long recoveries and intensive tolerance of pain and patience are required to return to former levels of play. This part hasn't changed, but today, except for the most severe of injuries, a player can return to general levels of performance and hence, play again. Things have continually improved over time to the player's advantage.

Where does an 18 game regular season take these considerations?

I feel that there is less likelihood for injury in an extended season with a shortened exhibition season. Most teams only have a single live practice in between game days. This tendency would help and not hurt players strictly on levels and numbers of injuries due to actually competing at full speed in game types of conditions. Individual drain could well be relieved by better and improved rotation as well as depth in rosters.

What about ability to evaluate and determine success indicators by the younger players. Here, I think that one has to consider the real sophistication and saturation methods at use in today's game. Scouts are in the field paying fine tuned analysis and recording of individual players as they rise up to and through the collegiate ranks. Their instruction and physical developments are in accord and give root to the actual sustaining methods in the field by the NFL itself.

By the time that today's player reaches the Combine, enough documentation by film and scouring reports exist to firmly have indicators as to levels of potential involved in those entering into a period of schools, organized activities, and then training camp by teams. Even these training activities aren't as blind in nature as would be implied by introducing the question of enough evaluation by NFL levels of games. Here, it's still what a player does on the 'carpet' that determine careers. That won't change by two Preseason Games as opposed to four.

In horse racing, it doesn't take too many non-race runs to be able to acquire measureables that will point to whether to spend the funds to enter a horse in real track races. The same decisional indicators exist with potential players. The player has to be able to expand effectiveness of internal and team play to an opponent. If he doesn't stand on equal ground with team quality already, the additional time and potential for injury just doesn't improve those tendencies and potentials.

Next considerations, would be on the picture of finances. With more actual games, the potential for player increase in revenues improves as well. More games means the leverage to be paid for more finished product being provided by the player. His comparative earning limits have been expanded by time 'on the job.' In effect, he is being given additional overtime hours to add to his earning net totals.

The question at large, presently, is whether or not to fight for the same rate of league wide diversion to the benefit of a Union represented group, or to the advantage of owners.

Here, things are what they are. It doesn't simply boil down to milking off the top as was implied in the not too distant past. The level of revenues going to players surpasses any other industry levels in the entire country. Owners require huge revenues to negotiate the high load demands upon their very sport. They are presented with a world wide economic picture that is pitted with shortcomings, regulational deficiences, and cost inflation that would stagger a Camel fresh from water. Cost effectiveness almost demands that owners regain a little more control in the total revenues for their strengthening and yes, further developementally as franchises.

This doesn't imply, that the player has to swallow pride and just take one for 'the Gipper.'

No, with an increase in earning potential still indicated through an increase in 'real' games, his gross will still be improving despite a loss of total initial level cash flows. The average player will instead be benefitting through his increased earning potential instead of losing strictly in an association with percentage of gate and associated revenues as it enters the sport's picture from the top. The player's ability to earn will still have the flexibility to improve when an increase in games is compaired with a reduction in top level diversion where the picture is strictly limited to an association with percentage at onset.

I don't think this adaptation really changes the integral elements for success of the sport. Records are always made to be broken. Playing conditions do become subject to changes as well. But, the love and appreciation of a fan is in the playing of the sport itself. Methods of reporting through the various media and even season length doesn't affect the love that a fan possesses even into the 'now' of the sport. A couple games added, won't affect the base love that a fan experiences when he is in the stands; watching his satellite; or listening to his radio. He is excited by team and player achievements and successes. His response is just as responsive now as they were when Frank Gifford was at the helm for those New York Giants.

And as the purests of the sport will change on almost a decade long basis, the real elements of the sport have transcended time. I don't see a hindrance of a couple games. Here their net results should and will result in improvements for ownership, the players, and yes, us fans as well.

I would be intrigued if Allen were to be available. Many fans aren't very enamored with a high placement for Mays.

I'm not as high on the Combine type of measureables. Football players are harder to beat than just great athletes. Ken Hamlin plays a strong role in the Dallas secondary. Not all of that is matched up with the speedy receivers. There are cornerbacks for that specific coverage problem. The team was confident in leaving him matched up with the good tight ends and receivers that were faced. He wasn't abused in those matchups.

I question how much improvement occurs if not one of the top two safeties were used to send Hamlin packing. Ball and Watkins both might be fine in a trade off consideration just for the backup quality.

Mike Hamlin was drafted for his coverage as well as collegiate ability to go for the ball. I wonder how much less he would merit than those less than the top tier of this draft. Since time is needed to develop even a top tier addition, that causes me to start to question matchups that project to a top level and already functional element to arrive at 'upgrade.' Other than Thomas and Allen, I would have to weigh more in line with upcoming needs elsewhere on the team.

At linebacker, even Bradie James has hit that 30 point of his career. I wouldn't rest well expecting Bobby Carpenter to replace him. J Williams looks to project into where Keith Brooking plays, the weak side, but the strong side is another story. Hodge was brought in to contend in a package type position, but won't even be ready for the field during the pre-camp training this summer. He may well have already missed his train onto the roster.

The future is quickly arriving in the interior of the linebacker group...and I'm not sure I project into a J Williams and Bobbie Carpenter interior just yet. The speed of J Williams is tempting, and he eases my concerns. But there is Carpenter, and he just doesn't sooth my senses for the middle of a defense outside of package considerations.

Middle linebacker is a pretty important team function. Allow me to shed some light here:

'With Jake Delhomme gone, and young Matt Moore (8 career starts) installed at quarterback, the Panthers would seem to have a leadership void. But actually the team’s guiding light didn’t go anywhere. The leader in question is middle linebacker Jon Beason, who will be counted on to help sustain the old Panther mentality as the roster turns over. That’s important, with a crew of vets jettisoned and the front office under strict spending limits. And Carolina believes Beason is up for the job. “It’s two things,’’ coach John Fox said. “One, the nature of that position, because you’re at the heart of it, you’re the signal-caller, and some of that just happens. Not that your middle ’backer has to be the leader of your defense, but it just turns out that way quite a bit. And he has some of those natural leadership skills. It’s not always rah-rah. Sometimes those things that are needed to be said are on Monday after practice or after a game, not so much during a game. It can be how you react when there’s a crisis. Jon’s got those skills.’’ Beason just turned 25, but in three seasons, he’s been in on 419 tackles, started 48 games, and made two Pro Bowls.'
*(by Albert Breer)

See anyone on the Cowboy roster that will quickly fill the shoes of either Keith Brooking or Bradie James? Excuse me, if I don't get carried away with the plate dejure for this season, and stick with an older set of values as to what is needed first...




For the past five years, the fandom and many of the media have been on the drum beat of wide receiver for Dallas. Well, they struck rare mineral content through free agency following the draft. But they did strike talent...and then there are indicators by Jerry himself, taking the receiver missings out of the frying pan for this draft. If Bryant reached Dallas at 27, then a real decision would have to be made. He is real talent....it won't happen. Just as it won't happen that either Thomas or Allen reach that point in the draft for Dallas. If Dallas desires either of them, then have to pay for the dance and move up to acquire them. I'm not sure that Jerry is intent on weathering more media itensity that would cloud both himself and his team.

At safety, I feel what is already on the shelf merits confidence. Ken Hamlin might not be an All Pro right now, but he is a fully functional veteran. He is at least better than what Dallas had with the departed cornerback, Henry.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to going to safety, a coverage type, in the top three rounds...but at #27, I would expand considerations quite an extent. I would include linebacker, and even defensive end/nose tackle to that. This group of defensive linemen in the top three rounds are pretty strong also. I would be even more eager to add a top of draft defensive end to 'push' the combination of Hatcher, Bowen, and Spears.

There usually are just about 22-24 players each year, that actually have first round grades. That puts Dallas, less some free falling of these, right at the lower return level for their draft spot. Now if some quarterbacks push into the first round, some players might fall. If they don't and a team wants to cherry pick a quarterback, then trading into the top of round two, and taking an aggressive and strong linebacker and defensive end would be smart. That would leave the third and fourth rounds for the offensive tackle and guard/center selections. A developing and 'small school' cornerback and safety could be brought in that could be brought to speed, but in a lower round. That makes more sense to me...given the present and need to push up to a Super Bowl this season.

At safety, I would make a real push for Ram's safety, Atogwe...and move to strengths of this draft that match with 'future' needs on this team. I would build the defensive interior, middle linebackers, and offensive line first...and then add a strong developer at both safety and corner.

Jerry and Wade are at the Combine...

 

Jerry and his staff are knee deep in the observation and interviews of a large class of draftable players in this year's Combine.

I understand the development of a general guideline set by GM's. They tend to class according to a longer termed projection that includes the concept of positional development and specific need in a particular team's scheme and it's current roster needs.

A head coach wants someone to fill needs to be met on the current year, and tends towards finding a direct slot fill.

There is a melting of roles, presented both by the head coach, worried about job security right now...and that of the GM, who has to maintain a cap management ensuring continuity between functional parts on the field today.

This understanding gives a fan more of a tool for understanding just where Jerry the owner and Jerry the GM has taken his team over the past seven years.

Jerry had to take a concept of play that entailed a run of Super Bowl Lombardi level play, and adapt to a changing environment in play in the NFL at the time that the wheels of that Aikman, Irvin, and Smith bus started to come apart and off the bus. After discussion with Bill Parcells, a franchise approach to concepts of play was arrived upon. A departure from historical Cowboy philosophy changed. The 3-4 scheme was chosen to develop and take advantage of tendencies coming into and being used in the league this past decade.

Jerry Jones, the GM, made the decision of franchise change and brought Bill Parcells to establish the new system and to direct the change of personnel needed to accomplish the system change. Bill Parcells brought in an accepted accountability as well as respected level of discipline and respect to the organization.

Working as a team, a foundation was laid for a tough and responsive defense. The team went from one of a low level of play, to once again being competitive on a fundamental basis.

When personal demands and cost of forging such a dynamic change caused Bill to step down and move on, the momentum of direction and change had already been established. This didn't just take Jerry off the hook. Jerry the GM, then had to forge a continuing process of player and team progressions to point towards a top level of play, and not just reflect improvements at more basic levels.

Upon the departure of Parcells, there were transitionary personnel who were acquired on more of a temporary basis propelled by need and low cost availability needing to be uprooted and changed. There also was a group of players of a senior nature and no longer adding to a final type of current direction.

When it was that Jerry chose a head coach with very strong ties to long earned respectability in the league for 3-4 defenses to marry up with an offensive honed and NFL experience youthfully growing offensive mind, it wasn't for drama or appeal of ego. It wasn't in a naive rush to return to a challenge of a former beginning and the change from Tom Landry and a floundering Cowboy franchise then. It was forged in direction and an overriding view that had parameters of measurement; principals of accountability; and a very broad and experienced group of evaluators participating in talent evaluations at all levels on and off the field as well as a coaching staff forged in NFL experience and high levels of achievements.

This past season, the aging elements to a youthfully directed new team, that no longer projected beyond a game to game basis, if that....well, were given fresh opportunities on another team. This nucleus of starters developed and jelled into a group that had opportunity to strike deep into the playoffs. This wasn't by luck or a sudden change of fortune. They were forged under game conditions and came together with a unifying aspect of performance.

Three key elements were added in acquisitions of veteran players with a shelf life longer than a single year or two. They all were on the defensive side, where direct successes were directed by Wade Phillips himself. This was the first real opportunity to put a personal influence as to direction in his own style of choosing came to the front. The draft, although, was another story. It had to revert, due to the progression of the draft itself, to rebuilding the bottom of the roster and giving support type players a much stronger and developing picture of youthfullness.

Last year's draft churned the bottom 1/3rd of the Cowboys' roster and gave an upward and current view of an upward progression and development to the present roster.

This year's draft is different although. The team has learned to persevere through opportunity and real strengths in player evaluations to finally be in a position to make some franchise strengthening moves in this year's draft.

This year's draft has changed in complexion of presentment. The starting positions on both sides of the ball, are pretty well set. The maneuverings of Jerry, the GM, has established and correctly projected into this year's NFL confrontation coming into consideration as to standards of conduct there. The team has already established franchise stabelizing signings and ensured a very strong progression from any and all fallouts that loom in the immediate future on other teams.

The core of a very strong football team are in tact, and are insured of remaining close to standard into the near future. Thanks to the actions of Jerry the GM.

This draft is a different animal, unseen by Cowboy fans, since the times when Jerry and Jimmy were wheeling and dealing to bring some talent together for their very first run through the playoffs. This team can now build quality depth behind it's established starters, and push stronger direction into the team and it's ability to adapt and cope with a conflicting schedule and injury limitations on field play.

This team now can selectively pick and choose players that will add an intensity of dynamics that are already present on the team.

This is a very intense period for these evaluators in this current Combine. It appears to be loaded with quality players and presents a vast array of talent that can now be added to an already good team. An opportunity for deep roots are being cultivated right now at this Combine. It is being forged by a team atmosphere, inclusive of both the GM and his coaches, but inclusive of a broad support team of evaluators as well.

Standards of comparison were established and specifics of present team abilities clarrified with an eye now to the future. The team knows what it is looking for, and now will see who and what combination best excells it's own directions.

In the past, these Cowboys might have approached this draft with a merit slide-rule stick, that would not have allowed the consideration of a non-starter to have been taken in the first two rounds. Needs might have even in the past dictated the taking of a lesser talented player to meet a positional specific need.

This year, the Dallas Cowboys can now approach the blending of actual implied talent levels with positions being presented, without trying to force a selection into a need consideration.

This biggest clarifying issue then becomes simply identifying a best talent on the board and giving him developmental opportunities. This is need of development is even buffered this year, due to the number from last season who were removed from the active roster and relegated to physical development and getting schooled in the NFL.

It now is possible to take an offensive tackle in the first round, without expecting him to jump right out on the left side and starting. An offensive interior lineman can be allowed to interact with All Pro interior linemen and grow into a functional role with more specific skills being sought to combine with current philosophies and team tendencies.

Houck and Garrett can now bend the selection process to include a massive and aggressive offensive lineman guideline more specificly directed to specifics of play in a Dallas Cowboy team. It isn't whether he can first start at right tackle and bump over to the left, but grow and later assume a more matured slotting.

That is light years beyond the scenario that Jerry and Parcells started out upon the pathway of which, now eight years ago.

This Combine and April's draft is where progress should be heading, with drafting of youth to fill team direction and not just slots.

Looking down the barrell of an approaching first round....

Now, taking what Mel Kiper has on current projection of first round talent:

7. OT Russell Okung Oklahoma State grade: 95
9. OT Brian Bulaga Iowa grade: 94
14. OT Trent Williams Oklahoma grade: 93
17. G Mike Iupati Idaho grade: 93
20. OT Bruce Campbell Maryland grade: 92
32. OC Maurkice Pouncey Florida grade: 90

Now there is the top talent in this year's offensive line group, going on strength of football skills over this past collegiate season. It is what teams start off with when they adapt them to both the NFL and to their respective teams also.

The combine starts in about a week, and free agency starts in about two weeks. The team has just completed it's own internal evaluations and will be heading in strengthening directions shortly.

The team has to improve in the interior as well as exterior of this group in the future. It has to identify who it wants and close the deal in THIS draft. The first round should go to offensive line...as it has the greatest potential of change to this year's team starters, should injury enter the picture.

Simply, the team just doesn't have enough ammunition to change what would start at the safety position from this year's draft...so the target of opportunity adjusts to offensive line. This year there is enough there to target and move to acquire a team strengthening member...and this doesn't need a Shannahan to get it done.

Team direction already has shown itself to be both strong and directed.

The question for discussion would then become, who would you target and what would you be willing to pay to move to acquire it, in the first round. I don't like accumulating powder to blow on down the stream, just make better choices as you go down the draft. That stated, pull the trigger on who you think matches the functional draft prices come April and the draft.

There will probably be very little outside play in free agency by the Cowboys, but I think that I would ensure that a solid picture of transition inside is there. Even in the line, a two to three year window is the functional measure...minus injury needs.

All present starters on the offensive line will be 31 or older for this next season. There will be contract considerations approaching soon as well, in this current group of starters.

The combine will affect the 'skills' selections in the first round more than the 'big ugglies', with the exceptions being at pressure positions, and the secondary. Speed turns a lot of wheels on draft boards at the 'skills' positions.

The measureables will open eyes to top end potentials, and then the needs will open doors on teams.

If you are looking for 'big ugglies', then you basicly know what you need to know already. Heart still drives the bus, and negotiations for dollars kill potential, if it is a head thing at that point...who do you like?

 

There's no right way to do the wrong thing.

Oh, and to the tar and feathers brigade...

Now, loved Cowboy buddies of mine, I love your heart...but I won't bend intent to suite the crowd and their sense of ownership in concepts...I tell you where you miss mark on MY view.

First, to present the degree of involvement associated with a man's effert...it first has to encompass the magnitude of the struggle involved. In the case of Jerry Jones, that plate of consumption is more of a platter...and to remove a huge amount of ignorance of just how intensive an undertaking it involves. Well, it takes just getting much of the facts out there. That takes a sizeable amount of effort as well as approaching a realistic description....time and volume. I address the general consideration of Jerry as the GM here.

Now, in priortizing relevance of something, the source who is talking has NOTHING to do with the concept involved. The concept is what you scrutinize, and source isn't limiting on truth. That part of it STANDS on it's OWN merit, completely disjoint of your perceived personality presenting something. A great man can wear humble clothes and STILL be great due to principals involved. My friend, don't fall prey to social attachments of value...as they change with the wind. Truth is truth no matter the clothings involved. That stated, fine clothes don't pollute perspectives as well...only bad habits do that. It is what it is despite personality attached.

Stick with me here, this is demonstrative in nature. Now, as far as sticking with the intensity of a Scout and his faith in a player...that scenario has played out for quite a few previous and more recent players for the Cowboys as well. I loved the story about faith in Emmitt Smith. The facts are not that it was the sole 'baby' of the Scout, as presented in a recent article, who was a good one. Fact being presented by myself, was that the 'walk on water' view of Jimmy Johnson and in the face of a co-equal participant being ignored concerning Jerry...is that same Jimmy wanted a linebacker and was ready to pay as huge a sum for what ended up a 'wasted' in comparison, pick - and having to pay a king's ransom for him as well. Sound like maybe a certain Cowboy's two firsts on Galloway or a Roy Williams type deal to you? It does to me. That one going to Jimmy...and he wanted him far above Emmitt.

Now, Jerry listened and worked with his coaches then, as he does now. When efforts to acquire Jimmy's pet linebacker fell short, and the linebacker was picked, Jimmy wanted to throw the kitchen sink at him. He wanted to still get him. It was then, with full knowledge of Emmitt's level of talent, that the Dallas draft room, both Jimmy and Jerry, decided to point towards the REAL need of Dallas. Then, they attempted to get their quality back. As the article DID point out, they then decided on approach, and in the face of a tendency to drain from the pool of available runners, to move up and secure Emmitt. That was the truth of it, as was stated....not all depending upon imput by a particular fan.

That imput was heeded as to focus, and agreed upon as to value in Emmitt form THAT point. But, given enough opportunity to have paid the king's ransom, JIMMY would have pulled the trigger and LOST. Ending up with a much less than Hall of Famer instead...and the Triplets NEVER formed. That is the 'luck' of the situation although.

My point here, although, was of tempering degrees of involvement and to clarify the developmental process to specifics of roles with Jerry. He has a ton of personal experience and depth of application in the very specific arena of correctly reading opportunity for personnel and the degrees of variations involved in decisions. These decision windows of opportunity are very short in deliberation and long termed in effect.

Jerry, as has been stated by many observers, IS very sharp and atuned to values involved now. He also is as capable of pulling a deal as ANYONE in the field today. That part is WAY under appreciated concerning the same, JERRY JONES. He's NO ONE'S fool...don't kid yourself here. It applies to his role as a GM as well.

Now, relationships of effectiveness of franchises is extremely immortalized in these parts. A stronger view of how the stars are reflected in franchises today, is being misrepresented somewhat. Also, the specific reasons detracting from success, is being given a gross and inconsequential consideration as to effect as well.

Allow me to paint a CLOSER to reality comparison for a start point...

In the past DECADE, ONLY the New England Patriots, in 2003 and in 2004, were able to REPEAT as Super Bowl Champions. Over the past NINE seasons, all NINE winners of the NFC Championship Game have changed from the previous year's winner. That is extreme COMPETITION at the NFL level now. Winning at the top levels is NOT totally dependent upon whether or not capable leadership is involved. If not for a upstart Giant team, the New England Patriots might have given us a real example of an exception to this tendency, but alas, they merely went to show how precarious the relationship between great and 'lucky' really are in this NFL.

This quickly points to the credability of a general level of success as being the best indicator over the long haul. Here, despite NOT winning more over past 'recent' years, there was still a discernable levels of at least respectable successes as well. I have NO WHERE run to the label of Super Bowl Rings, as the 'charges' have been thrown at myself and implied I was the 'wart hog' for doing. That would have invalidated, if used as an end all measurement, to my very implication. That the reasons for failure was not so much due to sorry coaches and a destitute GM, but due to changes in the makeup of the team following the Dynasty period with the Dallas Trilogy.

The very breakup of those three lingered over a five to six years, but the effect of that breakup caused the decline...NOT Jerry or the Coaches themselves being that poor. THEN, the burdens of Cap loss minus player carried on for an additional THREE seasons, before REAL upgrade and direction could be added as well. That was the CHANGING elements incumbant in the NFL was being forged. Giving the depth of expertise in cap management, that Jerry's son is now given 'guru' reverance for having developed through. That was the learning curve, but it went to Jerry as GM as well. 'Naivety' would ignore that aspect in Jones.

Chan Gailey had a period of winning regular season, and a limited success in the playoffs, but the Dallas 'special' skills players were being plucked out of the product. Then Campo inherited a mess, as expectations and moral of the team emploded prior to complete cap fallouts. Now, THAT is fact also...as the team then progressed slowly back to Bill Parcells, who was then needed after the falling from grade of a Dynasty to one of building upon base levels of principals and direction once again. That required time to change and juggle opportunities while still trying to win as much of the prize as could be managed. Slowly again, Dallas headed up the ladder of successes.

These factors go to the consideration of credability and a realistic appraisol concerning attachments with Jerry Jones as a GM.

Now don't kid yourself here. That transitions had to rely upon Jerry Jones and his sought for advisors and personal ears confidences that he had acquired in the field for a long time. Jerry has TREMENDOUS imputs as to talent, football information, as well as application of talent and concepts. He has ALWAYS sought out advice and listens very intensely. As some fans point out, he is a very intelligent as well as observant person. From his very days in the oil fields, he can formulate tremendous opportunity out of the whisp of a scent eminating from the ground itself. He is able to forge tremendous direction and success as the whisper of success hits his senses. Does anyone succeed always in such an environment of the NFL? NO, as I have just pointed out, that just isn't the lay of the competition with system supporting elements in the present.

If OWNERS are smart, they won't tamper in a stability of today's NFL with this general status quo and push for a workable new contract. As their product of excellence as well as change is fully functional now. If they are content for a stable monitary base instead of control of the cash flow, then their projection extends into tomorrows...but projection is the key. As it is with the role of Jerry the GM in an actual function of doing his job. Listening and then giving direction, not choosing on whims. That is still worked out in the draft room, discussion rooms, and staff evaluations. Jerry is a part, but doesn't ever relinquish his responsibility.

The military forges the concept that RESPONSIBILITY can NOT be delegated, and this principal has not been lost on Jerry. Oh, sure...given the nature of the game, 'stars' will have periods and even years of diminished twinkling, but their general ability will survive until they are no longer NFL talent to walk out on the carpet. Players such as Ocho Cinco will ebb and flow with team changes and opportunity. Roy Williams will become dominant and disappear, only to re-emerge again.

To pin value as to evaluation on a tenuous aspect of success, and then earmark contributory levels on individual and disjoint causes sometimes become more of a stumbling block to us fans, when we haphazardly try to mete out ultimate levels of satisfactions by ourselves. The functional view is lost in that shuffle. I brought this article and my effort in putting it together, to bring out some of the tidbits that contribute to a real picture, and not tainted by my personal satisfaction with having ONLY won.

Well, for the past three seasons, and that is my measure- as that is what these COWBOYS ARE. It is what it is...well, own up to the FACTS then, would be my response.

This is now a year to year business...as I have pointed out above, for the entire past decade. This is a new decade, and dynasties have the decade historical period for achievement. This team, with Jerry as the GM, HAS a winning record for the past three seasons. That correlates to the very SAME period that Wade Phillips has been at the helm of the team as it's head coach. Don't kid yourself here, he IS the head of the team. Jerry imputs and gives measured direction, as ALL GM's do, but the team is sound. They have met the measure of challenge and proven this much of the deal. They are a solid team and demonstrated consistently on a current level of NFL achievement.

This team has challenged the base level needed for credability...the NFC East. They have been it's Champion for two of the past three seasons. I challenge a Giant addition to this thread, to dispute THAT fact. They have served second fiddle to the Cowboys for two of the past three seasons during the regular season. That part is uncontestable. Along these same lines, for five of the past SIX games against Philadelphia, Dallas has WON. That part is UNCONTESTABLE. That is record.

Jerry HAS GM'd that three years, and Wade HAS COACHED those three years. Now, that IS significant as the NFL is now a year by year business.

Am I attempting to seize a personal high ground here...Hell NO. I'm just pointing out for a common view of realistic appreciations for FANS!

What irks MY butte, is the continual inference that there has been NO credability or leadership applied to these Cowboys.

That is not maintaining perspectives...

I have sought to cultivate a discussion, which I continually have accomplished. I have sought ALSO to add to actual knowledge of functions in effect and bring to view much of what is either ignored or simply hasn't been in the view of normal perusal by similar fans. I have paid the pauper and paid the price to first, find credable imput. Then I have sacrificed my own energies to ensure opportunity for personal satisfactions were given fuel to be burned as one chooses.

But to continue onto topic at hand...as IS a discussion, and not cursing at another poster, or belittling presentment due to lack of enough tar to spread upon his effort.

The SOLE unifying element to the leadership and transitioning of this Dallas Cowboy franchise has been none other than Jerry Jones. That applies to the hat of GM as well. Jerry, wisely, consulted and sought the imput of Bill Parcells. Bill has faults just as many as most others, and when discussion includes that, it also is discussion, but BILL isn't the issue...as continuity in change and direction is.

Jerry circled the wagons on three DISTINCT and more recent periods of time, and it was at HIS direction that this was done. It goes to credability AS the GM that is at the cruxt of THIS observation. Jerry brought Bill in to provide a stable environment from which to reestablish a championship level of commitment and discipline to his organization. After discussion concepts, an AGREEMENT as to franchise direction was arrived at based upon PRINCIPAL. Not personality, but effectiveness as it applied to TEAM. That was as the GM, that Jerry agreed to the principals of integrated aspects in offense, defense, specials teams....as well as a historical departure in scheme. The 3-4 defense became a Dallas commodity. That wasn't a convenient departure in a similar vein to some of the Jimmy Johnson types of 'wild hair' episodes. These went to the very core of the decision process, and were top shelf in origins.

Then, when Bill up and 'quit', as he didn't any longer WANT to pay the price to be a champion in Dallas, Jerry again had to take things in hand. He then chose upon sound principals, and brought in Wade. One can alway hypothecise how a Vince Lombardi might have done the job, but get this, Vince would be HARD PRESSED to keep his job a whole decade in today's game!

Then, Jerry the GM, had to reconcile team directions and personnel after his team, loaded with 'stars' being paid as such, accumulated enough injuries to derail what all perceived to be a Super Bowl journey. This is in reference to the 2009 season. Well, he did the work WITH imput from a wide arena of people, and made hard and fast decisions. He CONTINUED developing his team, and at it's core...it's HEART. He took out lockerroom conflict, and pushed performance onto younger and fresher talent, despite hard to remove loyalties to proven and previously high performance players. Greg Ellis, TO, Roy Williams...et al, were given walking papers and the team consolidated and progressed.

Despite the tar and feather brigades out in force in Cowboy fandom, this team, by those expectations, overachieved this past season? I say no, they owned up to the challenges at war, and were forged in fire. They became COWBOYS in the sense that us older fans love. They started to perform.

Well, is the job over? Don't you believe it..as all is still a year by year business in today's NFL. But are they now strongly in the top pack of hunt for a Championship? You bet they are...and changes are always a part of today's deal. They did this, although, through a strength with Jerry as GM and Wade as the headcoach. They also have a growing strength, just as the team is growing, with additional coaches contributing as well. Jason Garrett immediately comes to mind.

My post is again already long enough to bring to closure, but there is just as much information to be brought to table concerning strengths and contributions of both Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett and much discussion there as well....

My point again is this. There has been demonstrated current levels of strength by this team already. There are adjustments that could enhance, but not eliminate the danger for injury and problems from occuring. That just isn't possible to isolate and protect from, only adding to a possibility to achieve. Here, although, don't sell Jerry in his role as GM...as he is the SOLE source of continuity through all the single aspects associated with parts of success and failures to today. Today although, there is a strong team and franchise in operation. Don't be confused about this.

Does it still have challenges and points of conflict to come. You BET. Dallas has the very hardest schedule in the NFC East as well as the entire NFC. New Orleans has an EASIER road to success next season. Will that prove out? Who knows, such as Dallas has lurking dangers all along it's road next season. But, for this fan, I'm well satisfied with the degree of contribution of Jerry the GM, as he exhausts all avenues as well as sources to bring the very best that he is able to achieve. That takes work, and overcoming as many if not MORE obstacles than other franchises. Afterall, this IS America's team.

It's time for Cowboy fan 'Myth Busting'... 

*[I'll preface this that my posting is really a TV mini series in length. It's not the Cliff Notes version favored by many fans. I won't apologize for it's length, as a more thorough rendering of topic was my intent. Sorry for it's length, so please allow me to post seven pages before starting your comments...thanks]


All right, this fan has put up with fellow 'fans' for some time now...and generally it was a one directional call to arms against any and all Cowboy fans who did not embrace a wholesale onslaught of insult and demeaning of the terms involved with anything directly related to responsibility or production on the carpet itself. This was elevated to a full blown and grass root's 'support' of the team to include outright degradation of all so called rose-colored wearing fans that did not want to go so far as being a true rebel and provide funds to erect a billboard directly accross from the New Stadium and from it's vantage insult the very top level involved in the franchise itself. These insult hurlers wanted nothing less than the immediate removal of Jerry Jones himself, as GM of his own team. They would settle for nothing less to give any credability to the illustrious organization or those fans who followed them due to what they had done in the past and the demonstrated more recent events in that same franchise.

No matter what was presented to this self appointed keepers of the grand vision, they, and 'they' know who YOU are....would have nothing to do with analytical analysis. They would always substitute an insult driven and personal vindication of their own pleasure limiting blinders instead. They never stopped short of a humiliating and stereotyped attack against anyone not first proclaiming Jerry Jones as a fumbling ingrate; Wade Phillips as a delapidated and defeated overreaching bowl of jelly; and a total lack of 'guts' in a whole roster of players. NO, it NEVER ended short of a tar and feathering, and usually, an attempt to run such diversive elements as simple fans telling it like what they saw....off 'Cowboy' sites or insulting with the NEW social low level of cultivation. They called them idiots, retards, and childish for sticking to the actual presentation of a differing view of developments and actual trends taking effect even as those proclaimed that in fact there was NOTHING ever to occur until (1) Jerry Jones was no longer anywhere near actual participation in football decisions; (2) Wade Phillips was removed from any function on a coaching staff of the Dallas Cowboys; (3) there was just too little actual talent on the offense after TO's departure, to propell the Cowboys into a realistic competition against NFC East Rivals in New York and Philadelphia; and (4) there just was too little talent left on the defense after Dallas allowed such elements as Chris Canty, Anthony Henry, Kevin Burnett, and Greg Ellis to depart.

The myths of gloom strongly thrived on such elements of association as Jerry wandered into the Dallas scene totally unprepared and blind in his dealings from the start. He was supposedly a non-football person who relied upon Jimmy Johnson's ability to discern talent and forge direction for both he and the franchise. Through a transition of ownership, all blame was thrown at Jerry for the end of Tom Landry's time at the head of a vastly changed team in a NFL that had started a new direction in talent and applications as well.

Just to get things back in a realistic perspective, let's just look at what the picture of Jerry in an executive capacity should be described as such:


*(taken from the official Dallas Cowboys site)

Executive Profile

In one of the most dramatic eras of ownership in professional sports, Jerry Jones's stewardship of the Dallas Cowboys has brought unprecedented results and success to one of the world's most visible sports entities.

Highlighted by Super Bowl victories following the 1992, 1993 and 1995 seasons, Jones became the first owner in NFL history to guide his team to three league championships in his first seven years of ownership.

In 1995, Dallas also became the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in four seasons while tying the NFL record for most Super Bowl victories by an organization with five.

By 1999, the first decade of Jones's ownership closed with eight playoff appearances, six division titles, four conference championship game appearances and three world crowns. Dallas closed the millennium as the NFL's "Team of the Decade" for the 1990s.

Since he took over as general manager in 1989, the Cowboys have drafted 17 different players who have gone on to appear in a combined total of 63 Pro Bowls. Dallas has also signed four veteran free agent players who have made 13 Pro Bowl appearances while representing the Dallas Cowboys. Since 1989, the Cowboys have made 97 trades, the most celebrated of which was the 1989 deal that sent Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings and provided the personnel foundation for three league titles.

In selecting the on-the-field leadership for the Cowboys, Jones hired a pair of coaches who won three Super Bowls in Dallas: Jimmy Johnson (1992-1993) and Barry Switzer (1995). Chan Gailey followed with a division title and playoff appearances in 1998 and 1999. In 2003, Jones successfully recruited two-time Super Bowl winner Bill Parcells to Dallas, and Parcells then directed the team to a 10-6 record and a return to the playoffs in his first year on the job. In the last 27 years, 26 different owners have entered the National Football League. Of that group, only Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft of New England have guided their franchises to more than two Super Bowl championships. Moreover, Jones joins Art Rooney, Jack Kent Cooke, Al Davis, Eddie DeBartolo and Kraft as the only men to have won at least three Super Bowls as NFL owners.

On the league front, he has actively contributed to enhancing the NFL's status as the world's premier professional sports league by serving on the NFL's Competition Committee, the Broadcast Committee, the Management Council Executive Committee and the Business Ventures Committee. His vision in the areas of marketing, corporate sponsorships, television, stadium management and community service has made a visible imprint on the landscape of sports in America.

As a co-captain of the 1964 National Championship Arkansas Razorbacks, Jones is one of a very small number of NFL owners who actually earned a significant level of success as a football player. Jones is currently living his passion by engineering the fortunes of an NFL franchise. A man of varied interests who will not rest on yesterday's achievements, he is a dedicated businessman and family man sharing a vivid enthusiasm for both.

The Dallas Business Journal picked Jerry as the 2010 Business Man of the Year....and describes his progression as follows:

A Cowboy to the Core
by Chad Eric Watt Jan 04 2010


Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has changed the NFL game with his maverick moves and Texas-size ambitions.

A win is a win.

That’s the message Jerry Jones is trying to convey to the media swarming around him in the Dallas Cowboys’ locker room.

It’s November, and his first-place NFL football franchise has just defeated the lowly Washington Redskins 7-6, scoring the game’s sole touchdown on a 10-yard pass with 2:41 left to play.

Jones didn’t throw the ball, catch the pass, or call the play. He hasn’t strapped on football gear in 45 years.

Yet, he’s about to hold court.

“It’s a real, real statement for this team to have won this football game,” said Jones, shifting effortlessly into the babble typically reserved for star players and coaches in post-game press conferences.

In any other locker room, the owner would have been way out of place. But the players don’t seem to notice, and the coaches don’t protest.

This 67-year-old owner is in his natural position. In the spotlight, in his suite, on the sideline, and in the locker room—every aspect of the Cowboys’ business is Jerry Jones’ business.

Ultimately, Jones can’t control whether the team wins or loses on the field, but he can make it into an efficient moneymaking machine—and he has, in every way imaginable. From his innovative approach to marketing the team to the one-of-a-kind fan experience he created with the opening of Cowboys Stadium at the start of this season, Jones’ impact on the NFL cannot be overstated. And, after more than 20 years in North Texas, during which time he has been a leading supporter of the Salvation Army, his impact on the region extends well beyond his team. That’s why the Dallas Business Journal has picked him as our Executive of the Year for 2010.

The Dallas Cowboys’ $1.2 billion stadium will help the football club add more than $360 million to the company’s top line for the 2009 season. But, regardless of the arena, Jones has built the iconic Dallas Cowboys into a lucrative and seemingly recession-resistant business that’s standing strong in the face of the worst recession since he bought the team.

The team sold all the suites in the new stadium, albeit some on a single-game basis. The recession’s biggest impact on the football club is that, as of mid-December, it hadn’t sold naming rights for the venue.

Still, the Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable franchise in the National Football League, and neck and neck with Britain’s Manchester United soccer club for being the most valuable sports business on the planet.

Jones was a millionaire when he bought the Cowboys. Rebuilding the team made him a billionaire and enabled him to create a billion-dollar arena for the team (with a little help from the people in Arlington).


A Maverick From the Start

The most hands-on owner in the NFL first became known as the rich Arkansas oilman who bought the Dallas Cowboys and immediately fired its beloved head coach to hire his college teammate.

At the same time he was bringing change to the Dallas Cowboys he also was bringing change to the National Football League.

“No one handed us an operating manual,” Jones said, referring to how his team should be run.

Visiting with other owners, Jones could get a sense of how other teams were doing it. But, even 20 years later, he marvels more at the things they weren’t doing at the time.

“You couldn’t find a team that was involved in stadiums,” Jones recalls. And few teams did anything special with their brands.

 

 

Jones began changing that as soon as he could, at first in the face of lawsuits from the league and howls of protests from his fellow owners.

Over time, that’s changed.

Newer owners saw a method to Jerry’s madness.

“Jerry is a big thinker who can execute,” said Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. “He is one of the best salesmen I’ve ever met.”

As he’s shifted from rebel to part of the institution, Jones says he’s slowed down. But that’s hard to believe. He’s constantly thinking—words sometimes fail to keep up with his mind. He’s at the same time both smooth and intense, focused and restless, constantly fiddling with his Super Bowl ring. (He has three, but wears only one at a time.)

“He is so smart, so creative, and has so much energy, he just blurs past you,” said Bill Lively, president and CEO of the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee and a former director of the Dallas Cowboys band and halftime productions.

Before the Redskins game, Jones stopped an interview to take a call from offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Jones told his play caller that Kevin Ogletree deserved a roster spot as the team’s fifth wide receiver, and he ought to get more repetitions in practice and in games. With that call concluded, he’s immediately back in the interview, as if it never happened.

That’s how involved Jones is in running his team. And his work has only gotten more intense. The Cowboys are a playoff-caliber team with a recent history of underachieving. Then there was that billion-dollar construction project during the last four years. The folks filling the new stadium deserve a better effort from the team, Jones says. And Jones himself deserves better.

“All you have to do is walk in here and know that I mean business,” Jones said, standing proudly in the new stadium.

Buying Low

Jones is the high-profile boss of the highest-profile team in the highest-profile sport on the continent. And, as of last year, he got a high-class football stadium to match.

That’s a long way from 1989, when he paid $160 million for the Cowboys—$150 million for the team and $10 million toward Herschel Walker’s guaranteed and unpaid contract.

The National Basketball Association was on the rise. And Texas in the late 1980s was stuck in a recession highlighted by real estate foreclosures, bank failures, and an energy bust. Cowboys owner Harvey R. “Bum” Bright, an oilman himself, had to put the team up for sale.

“In 1989, you not only had an economically depressed climate, you had a mentally depressed climate here,” Jones said. “If that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to buy the Cowboys.”

As coach Tom Landry said a tearful goodbye, newspapers reported, incredulously, that the man who fired him planned to set up his own office at the Dallas Cowboys headquarters in Valley Ranch where he would be full time. Jones might even oust longtime general manager Tex Schramm and actually run the team himself. (Schramm departed shortly thereafter.)

For those closest to Jones, his behavior wasn’t puzzling at all.

Before oilman Mike McCoy was Jones’ partner in the business that made them wealthy, he recalls that Jones was a minority owner in another drilling project, but Jones still behaved like the boss.

“He was still doing it the Jerry way—he had a whole lot of minority interest,” McCoy said. (In fact, Jones sought out McCoy and convinced him to partner on an oil business so that Jones could be the boss.)

“He wouldn’t ever own something that he didn’t run,” said Charlotte Jones Anderson, Jerry’s daughter and the club’s president of charities and vice president of brand management. “He felt like he was going to go in and run this business and do the best job he could.”  It was a big job.

The Cowboys still had a sterling reputation as a football team, but as a business, it was bleeding red ink.

“The interest was $75,000 a day, and the operation, stadium and team, was losing $1 million a month,” Jones said. “So combined, $75,000 a day and a million a month, that’s over $100,000 a day.”

Jones always wanted to own a football team. A year out of the University of Arkansas at age 24, Jones seriously looked at buying the American Football League’s San Diego Chargers. The price would have been about $5.8 million.

His father, Pat Jones, who at the time owned a successful insurance business, advised him against it. Jerry walked away. Weeks later, the AFL and NFL merged, and the Chargers ultimately sold for $11 million.

“My dad always told the story of how he cost me $5 million to $6 million right out of the chute,” Jones said.

Son of a Showman
That’s probably the only bad business advice Jones ever received from his father.

Jerral Wayne Jones was born in Los Angeles, but raised in Arkansas, where his father had a supermarket business.

“He was quite a showman,” Jerry Jones recalls. “He would walk around in a white cowboy hat and cowboy suit.”

The showman was also a hard worker, and he expected the same from his son, even after two-a-day football practices.

The elder Jones later left the grocery business and started Modern Security Life Insurance Co., which made him millions when he sold it in the early 1970s.

It’s fair to say Jerry Jones had a head start in business. In addition to his father’s tutelage and fortune, Jones played football for the University of Arkansas, winning a national championship in 1965. That opened doors in the Arkansas business world.

Whatever support Jones received from his father he multiplied tenfold by starting his own oil business at the right time, in April 1981. That was just before the energy bust—a terrible time for companies with existing assets and debts, but a great time to get started.

“While everybody was floundering in a terrible environment, we were drilling our very best wells,” said McCoy, Jones’ partner in Arkoma Exploration Co.

Changing the Game

After laying his oil fortune on the table to buy the Dallas Cowboys, Jones quickly set about changing the team and, ultimately, how all pro football teams operate.

In 1990, Jones rebid the Cowboys’ local radio rights, signing a deal with KVIL-FM 103.7 and ending a 19-year run on news-radio station KRLD-AM 1080.

KVIL paid $3.5 million a year for five years, according to newspaper reports at the time—up from $2 million a year that KRLD had been paying.

Jones’ business partner McCoy said the NFL and its teams have historically “awarded” broadcast rights, rather than creating a competitive-bidding environment.

“What you need is one additional bidder and all the strategy changed,” McCoy said. “If you have an odd man out, the price goes through the roof.”

Three years later, with Jones on the NFL’s television committee, the Fox television network bid $1.5 billion for the right to air National Football Conference games, shutting out longtime broadcaster CBS. Fox’s offer of about $395 million a year topped CBS’ top offers by more than $100 million a year. That contract led to a new era of ever-escalating deals for NFL television rights.

On the radio side, Cowboys radio continues to move: Last April, the Cowboys dumped The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310) for a startup all-sports-radio competitor The Fan (KRLD-FM 105.3). KRLD-FM adopted the same call letters as its AM sister station in December 2008.

But media rights weren’t the only thing changing. Inside the stadium, Jones got a license to sell beer in Texas Stadium in 1991, after two years of ownership.

Previously, the stadium was BYOB, and the Cowboys’ concession revenue—a percentage paid to the club by a vendor—was only a pittance.

To convince a skeptical City of Irving to allow beer sales in Texas Stadium, Jones brought bags of empty beer cans and whiskey bottles collected in the stadium after a game.

Beginning with the new stadium, Cowboys concessions now are handled by Legends Hospitality Management LLC, a joint venture between the Cowboys and New York Yankees led by Mike Rawlings, a former Pizza Hut executive.

Legends is bringing a completely different approach to stadium food and drink, Rawlings said.

Bad stadium food is a result of the way the business is structured: The food vendor writes a big check for the right to sell to the crowd and then goes about trying to make money by charging big dollars for bad food and drink.

Legends, by contrast, operates like a joint venture with teams and stadium operators. It pays a smaller rights fee up front, but shares revenue down the road.

“The teams feel more accountable for the fans to be happy,” Rawlings said.

And the more Legends sells, the more the partnership makes for its owners.

Rawlings didn’t share financial stats for Legends’ first year thus far, but said things are going well.

“We’ve blown past our numbers,” he said. “Fan satisfaction and training have been excellent.”

The Ultimate Salesman
But more than negotiating richer deals from the usual sources for his team, Jones found new ways to make money from the Cowboys.

In 1989, the Dallas Cowboys had two main revenue sources: ticket sales and broadcasting contracts.

“The only sponsor we had materially was American Airlines, which sponsored the media guide,” Jones said. “There were many things regarding the promotion of the team that weren’t being done at all.”

 

When he bought the team, the Cowboys’ blue star and other trademarks were held in an NFL pool, which controlled most sponsorships, clothing deals, and merchandising. When that deal expired, Jones pledged he would begin selling the Cowboys himself.

“I’ve got too much that I can do with our marks and logos,” he said.

In August 1995, he signed a $40 million deal with Pepsi, despite the leaguewide deal with Coca-Cola. A month later, he signed a sponsorship deal with Nike, again without the NFL’s knowledge or consent.

The league sued Jones; Jones sued back. And fellow owners began taking aim at Jones.

But a funny thing happened on the way to NFL anarchy. The Cowboys’ side deals didn’t particularly diminish the leaguewide sponsorships.

“It grew the pie a lot bigger,” Jones said. “The NFL ended up with bigger revenues, and the clubs ended up with bigger revenues.”

Explaining that to the league office and incumbent owners was frankly too difficult, the master salesman says.

“Words wouldn’t get it done; you had to almost show them,” Jones said.

“The idea of clubs having a soft drink and the league having a different one—that wouldn’t work. Well, it works. They’re getting two different things—it is just twice or more the value.”

A year later, the sides settled their dueling lawsuits, and the Cowboys got the freedom to sell what they had wanted.

Now, instead of doubt and distrust, Jones is finding his ideas are getting the benefit of the doubt.

“I was going over a concept about signage and sponsorship, and (Tennessee Titans owner) Bud Adams came up to me and said, ‘Jerry, I didn’t understand a word you’re saying, but I want to do it. You’re enthusiastic about it,’” Jones said.

Big Front Door, Small Back Door

Jones excels at making money with the help of others. When he’s spending money, he’s just as intense about not spending more than he has to.

The lesson he learned from his father is the one about a big front door and a small back door, or, put another way: Take in as much as you can, but be mindful of how much you pay out.

“The hardest thing to copy is the kind of common sense he has about business—knowing a good deal from a bad deal. He’s just good at it,” McCoy said. “He’s very meticulous about making decisions.”

When the Cowboys moved into the new stadium, American Airlines more than doubled its sponsorship presence in the new stadium. That’s because the Cowboys are a strong brand, and they’re good to work with, said Billy Sanez, director of advertising, promotions, and corporate communications for American Airlines.

“Are they going to take your money and run? No,” Sanez said. “They’re interested in whether our programs work.”

At home games, American is running a contest promotion called “co-owner for a day,” which aims to treat a fan to a game day in Jerry’s shoes, almost. Implicit in that promotion is that the owner’s position—not quarterback, not head coach (in case you forgot, his name is Wade Phillips)—is the best spot on this football team.

The co-owner promo is one of the more memorable advertisements that Cowboys fans see during a home game. The second quarter of the Redskins game featured nearly as many promotional spots as it did replays. (Replays and cheerleader shots on the stadium’s giant scoreboards carry sponsorships too.)

The Dallas Cowboys excel at making the most of its sponsorships, but not overdoing it, said Erin Patton, a former Nike executive, who is now a brand management consultant and Cowboys season ticket holder.

“What the Cowboys do really well—they have a strategic sponsorship process,” he said. “It’s not just putting someone’s logo somewhere. They really figure out how to integrate their sponsors into the experience. It becomes authentic to the fan.”

Jones’ intensity is a great deal for his business partners in making money, but tough when it comes to getting him to spend his money.

After Emmitt Smith’s second Super Bowl win in the early 1990s, the star running back held out for the first two games of the next season as part of a contract dispute.

“The Cowboys had the leverage, plain and simple. They tried to utilize that leverage,” Smith said.

But the Smith-less Cowboys started out 0-2 and Jones and Smith came to terms. When he was back on the squad, it was business as usual—for the next eight years. Smith left the Cowboys after the 2002 season without a contract.

“(Jones) didn’t want to make an offer to me (at that time) because he felt like he was going to insult me,” Smith said. “I probably would have played for less money, but we just never got around to talking about how much less.”

Smith would play two years for the Arizona Cardinals before re-signing a one-day contract with Dallas and retiring a Cowboy.

Billfold in the Car, a Half Cent on the Table

The negotiator Smith dealt with is the one Arlington Mayor Bob Cluck thought he was going to meet with in 2004 after stadium talks fell apart between Jones and the City of Dallas.

“I had heard so many things about Jerry Jones. Somebody said, ‘Look, when you go over there, don’t take your billfold with you,’ ” Cluck said. “And I believed that—I left my billfold in my car.

“It turned out he’s a man of his word; he does what he says he’s going to do. He has never tried to put anything over on us.”

Of course, Cluck and Arlington had something Jerry Jones could use—a half cent of local sales tax. Arlington used the same tax revenue to build the Texas Rangers’ Ballpark at Arlington and retired it early when higher-than-forecasted sales taxes paid off that project.

Thanks to investments in public transportation, Dallas and Irving didn’t have any more sales tax to offer. That, plus a cap on Arlington’s portion of the building costs made the stadium deal work.

“The fact of the matter is Dallas didn’t have access to a source of financing that was freed up,” said Ray Hutchison, a public finance lawyer at Vinson & Elkins, the law firm that represented Arlington in the deal with Jones.

After Arlington voters approved the additional tax to cover the city’s $325 million stadium investment, Arlington ended up getting a $1.2 billion facility. The construction and opening of the stadium have helped Arlington weather the recession better than its neighbors, Cluck notes.

Sales tax collections 10 months into 2009 were down 10 percent and 7 percent in Dallas and Fort Worth, respectively, while Arlington is down 2 percent for the same time.

“We would’ve been down (more) if not for the revenue Jerry Jones brought in,” Cluck said. 

 

Buying a Super Bowl?

Jerry Jones can build the most valuable pro football team in the league. He can build a cathedral to sports and entertainment. He can unite Dallas, Fort Worth, and the suburbs while hosting the 2011 Super Bowl. He can control the weather there.

But he can’t control who wins the games played there.

Yet, on the horizon, there’s a chance to change that. The National Football League’s labor agreement with the players association is set to expire after the 2011 Super Bowl in Arlington.

If the two sides don’t reach an agreement before March, the 2010 season will be played without a salary cap. While a number of other rules come into play in an uncapped year, the Cowboys, fueled by revenue from the new stadium, could become the New York Yankees of football.

The Yankees collected their 27th World Series baseball championship last fall, in large part by outbidding all other teams for top-notch talent. Major League Baseball doesn’t have a salary cap.

Jones was noncommittal about how he would operate in an uncapped year.

“Just because you have a dollar in that year doesn’t mean you need to spend it,” he said.

Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones was just as circumspect about buying a Super Bowl the year the game is played in Arlington, but it’s clear that father and son have spent time thinking about the prospect.

“We’ve got to have a plan, regardless,” Stephen Jones said.

Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, said that money alone can’t buy championships, even without a salary cap.

“What we’ve learned is you need to get quality and value,” he said. “Spending money isn’t going to get you wins.”

But it can get you a stadium that’s built for championship teams.

“When you make the kind of commitments it takes to build a stadium like this, you don’t have to waste a lot of energy explaining yourself,” Jones said.

“You don’t have to explain to a lot of people where your expectations are.”

 

Now, this thread has already approached a mini-tv series length, but it could be exploded into specifics clarifying aspects of change and direction....just digressing a little to point directions here:

*(taken from the DMN)
On the issue of the 'wisdom' lost with the departure of Jimmy Johnsons:

It's like 2½ months shy of 20 years ago when I first laid eyes on Emmitt James Smith III, the Florida running back who came out early the year the Cowboys selected him in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft.

Funny, the twists in life. The Cowboys needed a running back that year because:

First they traded Tony Dorsett to Denver in 1988 since he and Herschel Walker really were struggling to co-exist.

Then Jerry Jones buys the Cowboys and replaces Landry with Jimmy Johnson.

Then it takes less than half-a-season for Johnson to sour on Walker, realizing the team's only bonafide star player in 1989 was not his kind of running back.

Then the Cowboys trade Walker to Minnesota that season for a king's ransom, leaving the Cowboys without a serious running back and in need of what Johnson would call "the guy."
Even with such a great need at running back, the Cowboys ended up selecting Smith with the 17th pick in the draft . . . begrudgingly. Remember?

Johnson was infatuated with Baylor linebacker James Francis. He thought he could get by with Plan B free agent Keith Jones at running back. So Johnson spent the early portion of that first round trying to trade up from 21 to 13 with Kansas City to grab Francis, knowing he was going to go well before the Cowboys ever picked with the choice they received from Minnesota in the Walker trade since the team with the worst record in the NFL the previous season (1-15) actually already had spent what turned out to be the first pick in the 1990 draft selecting quarterback Steve Walsh in the 1989 supplemental draft.

Cincinnati pre-empted the trade. They grabbed Francis one pick ahead of Kansas City. And even when the Cowboys went back to the drawing board, Johnson still hadn't given up on Francis, then calling the Bengals trying to swing a trade. Cincinnati didn't want to budge.

Johnson and his coaching staff, made up of his former University of Miami assistants, knew all about Smith, what with that Hurricanes-Gators thing in the state of Florida. He was the guy they wanted but realized they were far too low to have their choice, and there was about to be a run on running backs since the only one taken to that point was Penn State's Blair Thomas going to the Jets at No. 2.

Time to move. So the Cowboys swapped firsts with Pittsburgh and sent them a third for the right to move to 17, where they selected Smith. After that, get this, the next three picks went like this: Green Bay, with two consecutive picks, first takes Ole Miss linebacker Tony Bennett and then Minnesota running back Darrell Thompson, and then Atlanta takes Washington State running back Steve Broussard - three running backs in a four-pick span.

Had the Cowboys sat at 21, Emmitt would have been long gone.

A more realistic picture of the present Cowboys is growing as I present a case here. This next season, these same Cowboys that received a basement full of ill received anticipations will again be a favorite in the NFC. The same pitfalls that loomed in their immediate past will again reappear in the continual year by year league that the NFL has evolved into. Assuming that the agreement with the Player's Association is again given yet another birthing.

That stated, it is still very respectable for a fan to favorably give respect and earned measure to the owner, Jerry Jones, and yes the GM as well....here, I'll include an 'appropriate' version given by another fan such as myself:

*(taken from the Dallas Cowboys Star Magaine)
Tip of Hat

I am a Dallas Cowboys fan's wife. I don't know too much about football, but I am learning. My husband is also an avid golfer. When he dies, I don't know if I should bury him on the golf course or in Arlington. But this letter is about Jerry Jones. He is quite the gentlemen. I have listened to some of the questions that have been put to him and he just smiles and answers them. In my opinion, some of these questions are insensitive, humiliating and degrading for the Cowboys. They are nosy and I refer to the letting go of Wade Phillips. For pete's sake, would Jerry tell the media before he told his head coach? The media, in any genre, be beligerent, insensitive and again, in my opinion, stupid. So, Jerry Jones, from this fan's wife, I take my hat off to you and think you are an admirable gentleman.

Anita C., Amarillo, Texas

From another fan yet:

Thanks to Tony and Jerry

As a fan of the 'Boys for 50 years, I want to thank Tony Romo for the great sacrifice he has made by cutting the ties with Jessica Simpson. No way he could rest, watch films and train with a major distraction like her. The next time he messes up, just think about the sacrifices and dedication that he has put in. I live in Eagles land. Got to tip my hat to Jerry for staying with Wade and believing in the young talent.

Francis W., Northampton, PA

No, fellow fans, there is life after a single monkey is removed off the proverbial back of any topic thrown up in a defiant attitude. Heck, with that perspective, get ready for a chimpanzee when Dallas plays Minnesota next season; then a orangutan when Dallas plays New Orleans; oh, and don't forget your gorilla when Dallas reaches the playoffs again and then needs to win the NFC Championship game next....myself, I'll just put on my rose-colored and enjoy yet another season....WITH Jerry the GM!! 

 Boxers anyone?

<!-- / icon and title --><!-- message --> By CCBoy
Jabberhead, SJ/CP Contributing Author

Just how huge were the player draftings of DeMarcus Ware, Felix Jones, and Anthony Spencer right now?

All three player's selections directly revolved around the role of Jerry Jones in his capacity of GM...

Case one: DeMarcus Ware

Bill Parcells sat in the draft room with two draft selections in hand, and full knowledge that San Diego sat directly behind the top selection of Dallas in the draft. Bill wanted to ensure that his defensive line had a piece of dominance at defensive end. He wanted to push for the selection of Marcus Spears at the first selection. If that had occurred, as to the wishes of that same BILL PARCELLS, then DeMarcus Ware would be a San Diego Charger to today. Jerry, the GM, pushed for DeMarcus, and the rest of that player's glory as been defined. Most pure GM's would have aquiesed to the choice of their head coach. Jerry didn't, and played out his role of GM as it should have at that point. The Cowboys have profited by this, ever since.

Case two: Anthony Spencer

Sitting in the War Room on yet another draft, and Jerry the GM saw that a need for a future replacement was urgently arriving for another player to replace an aging Greg Ellis, who had reverted to his annual cry and 'shame show' while being asked to adjust to the changed picture and new team needs. Despite a label of meddler in operations, Jerry, the GM, manipulated a trade back up into round one to secure the talents of Anthony Spencer. Despite cost of movement, Jerry was given grief and insult for clarifying specific players and acuiring them. Where would the Dallas pass rush be now, if not for this balanced pair on the outside? In addition to pass rush, this pair are very strong in retaining an opponent's running game within the tackles.

Case three: Felix Jones

There Jerry, the GM, was once again. Sitting with two first round selections and the ability to select any offensive tackle or wide receiver that he desired. Did he jump up to the top of the draft to secure another Rusell Maryland or even Tony Dorsett? Nope, he had already seen, as a true GM, that his team needed further strengths at a number of positions, despite holding a record 9 Pro Bowlers on that same roster. Most of Cowboy Nation sobbered bitterly in not selecting Mendenhal once he arrived to the first selection slot for Dallas. No, while his iron was hot, he used it. Acting as a GM, the team took instead, Felix Jones. Although starting his career somewhat slowly, due to injury, the depth of that selection's wisdom is starting to be revealed. Let's just take a look at an indicator of his particular influence as it adds to the rushing considerations:



'10 games with a healthy Felix Jones: 156 rushing yards per game

7 games with a missing or brace-encumbered Jones: 106 rushing yards per game

That's a healthy 47% improvement with a healthy, brace-free Felix in the lineup.' *(taken from Blogging the Boys)



This projection of specific players and their subsequent contributions being developed out could be greatly expanded and discussed as well. One could put up Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Tashard Choice, David Buehler, or even more.

How big is that trading habit by Jerry Jones, to get TWO first round picks in different drafts....to secure (1) DeMarcus Ware; and (2) Anthony Spencer.

Then the repeat of successes with, (1) Felix Jones; and then (2) Mike Jenkins. To think, what many media and Cowboy 'fans' have been demeaned and were insulted in Jerry, the GM, for being vain and lacking football 'knowledge'. Maybe that should be reconsidered......quickly!

Not to touch upon a Miles Austin versus TO trade off this off season. Then his chosen coach, couch potato Wade, only brought in Igor Olshansky, Keith Brooking, and Gerald Sensabaugh...all former WADE PLAYERS!

I wonder if these indicators of what a developed and Wade Phillips, as opposed to Bill Parcells, type of defensive player represents and adds to this Dallas scheme, still lingers? What has been the net result running the entire length of this Dallas season? Well, let me just list the results of games played the entire season by Dallas:

34 Tampa Bay 21
31 NY Giants 33
21 Carolina 7
10 Denver 17
26 Kansas City 20
37 Atlanta 21
38 Seattle 17
20 Philadelphia 16
7 Green Bay 17
7 Washington 6
24 Oakland 7
23 NY Giants 31
17 San Diego 20
24 New Orleans 17
17 Washington 0
24 Philadelphia 0

Now, if one looks down the opponent's score for the season, he, except against the Giants, will see a picture of defineable and demonstrated consistency. This is no matter how strong an offense that the opponent has presented.

Basis of team operations and fundamental principals of scheme and applications were established by Jerry and Bill Parcells upon his arrival into the extended Cowboy family and it's coaches. This past off season, Jerry, the GM, broke with that past and took a new direction, independent of that specific Parcells association. Many of the previous year's All Pros, and associated with acuisition under or promoted by Bill, were given pink slips and a change induced, by Jerry, the GM.

Such players as Keith Brooking, Igor Olshansky, Gerald Sensabaugh, Anthony Spencer, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Felix Jones, and David Buehler have now proven themselves. Those are directly related to the efforts of that same, Jerry Jones, the GM, and his head coach.

Jerry, the GM, stood by his coaches and empowered them to lead and develop team applications. He stood by Wade, and expanded his direct involvement in defense. The Dallas defense moved, with Parcells' remnants, as a borderline top ten defense. Now, with Wade friendly adjustments and experience players, that same defense has moved up to a strong top ten and even better, a base unit top four in run defense.

Things have evolved over the course of a season. A wholesell change in starting elements started off having to define roles, apply them on the field under game conditions, and then improve over time. This it has done.

On the offensive side of the ball, Jason Garrett was given anonymity and strength of control within his own hands as well. It has taken some time as identity and effectiveness had to be developed as well. The team switched from a strong passing team, to one of more balance as well as adapatability.

Talent levels had to first be identified and then clarified. This it was. Boy howdy was it! Two real stars have arisen before our very eyes this season: Miles Austin and Felix Jones. Opponents are just coming to grips with their very implications. That gives a tremendous about of adaptability for Jason Garrett and 'his' offense. From the New Orleans game forward, the new Garrett offense has been emerging. It has not exploded, and put a whole half hundred on the board yet, but it's very strengths are emerging in sight. It has the ability to forge dominance both in the running and the passing games inclusive. No second burner stuff for this unit now.

It still has to be forged under fire of the very best teams in championship conditions, but it is arriving and now reflective of what was provided and brought to the table for observation...by Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, and Jason Garrett.

At this point, it is now up to the players to weather the growing storm and meet their own destiny.

If after reading the above, a person can still say that Jerry, the GM, had no hand in the accomplishments, then I'll wash his boxers in my mouth, here and now.

Here you go, Jerry...as a fan, I'll rest your case!

If a fan wants to discount all of this steadily accumulating and strongly supporting data, not even touched upon in my posting, then he doesn't have credability or ethics as such. He doesn't deserve an additional washing service...as he has failed simply, in being a fan and giving credit where it has been EARNED! He has instead substituted a search for degree of failure in the face of enormous accomplishments...also before his very eyes!!

I purposely did not include the elevating aspects of Tony Romo. The team has brought him in as a pup. It slowly developed him up to equal starting footholds to that of Troy Aikman, Don Meredith, and yes, Roger Staubach. His story line is far from over...but Jerry, the GM has ensured that his potentials will be maximized and given a real shot at immortality....COWBOY style!!

 

The Gorilla is gone....


by CCBoy
Writer/Cowboys Analyst

The storyline for this current franchise has not been fully written even yet...but for the immediate future, the monkey business is gone. Jerry the GM has grown in his relationship to that of Jerry the owner, but Stephen has wisely benefited from it all. There is now benefit of depth in observation and application that has increased in its protective ability to direct the organization. The stability of this Dallas Cowboy franchise has been elevated tremendously, as it now incorporates functional aspects of integrity and ethics in player developments as well.

That was a fatal flaw in the previous elements of decisions by a GM, Jerry Jones, who had his own roots in a Wildcatting and a very questionable survival driven oil industry. It took Jerry long enough to gain a managerial handle on system management and integrated avenues of strength development and an applied projection.

With the 'monkey' removed from his own back, Jerry no longer is pressured by a false sense of having to ignore logic and realistic analysis. Circling the wagons as to imput of real and contributing eyes in the sport have once again paid off beyond a gambler's rise on the fragileness of striking it big, and then holding on.

This dynasty at least has a foothold to grow from, and it was built upon sound principals and sticking to a strong set of criteria for growth. Real logic and evaluation of talent and how it comes together is once again live and doing well in Dallas. Dallas now has both a GM and a Head coach who have returned credibility, and speaks loudly to us fans who will listen.

Both Jerry and Wade have walked the course and laid themselves open to proving their own metal and ability to survive on accomplishments, and not just position. Jerry, in the past rejection of failure, made a commitment to integrity in applications of his own organization. He put himself accountable and stood firm in direction to provide opportunity...showing early personal strengths that have carried him through all testings, whether successful or not.

The burden for survival and functional head of the franchise was then given to Wade Phillips. The price for survival and achievement was then transferred to Wade to sink or swim in a climate of crocodiles and barracudas. Wade took every conceivable shot and insult that could possibly have been mustered, but he took it for his tem. What he did do, was to give two things strongly to his team.

First, he gave players the strength of direction that only a quality, seasoned, and successful NFL coach can provide his team. He gave them confidence in credible decisions and the integrity that comes with a clean sense of role and what team performance accomplishes. By taking a continuous flow of salvos from media and fans alike, he provided a buffer for his team to slowly walk their own path through fears and lack of common tools from which to grow. Jerry the GM, provided this team with the coach that had the guts of conviction to hold to his course no matter the intensity of confrontation trying to derail his team. Wade Phillips was left in charge, and provided his team the leadership, aided by a very quality coaching staff about him, to grow and refine base talents and unproven talent, accross the entire depth of this team.

Both Jerry, the GM, and Wade, the Head Coach, make far reaching contributions to the picture that developed. GM Jerry, knew what general levels that he had brought onto the team, and Coach Wade knew how to apply that talent and to develop it into a picture that he had full knowledge and experience in applying. Both Jerry and Wade determined that full strength of a real and talented franchise quarterback was essential to win in the post-season. To fully support this quarterback, his very strengths had to be protected as well as maximized.

First, to say that Jerry was a voice crying in the wilderness as to personnel, is very naive in formulation. He was the spearhead of all evaluations, back inclusive of the arrival of Bill Parcells and the players acquired at that point, both in free agency and via the draft. Jerry the GM was fully involved in the process and selection process, that did add a multitude of upgrades and youth that gives this team the strength of projection it now holds.

Bill Parcells, before he said quits, and took a year off, only laid a foundation of system approach, discipline, and general franchise credibility. He didn't leave a winning team, with associated talent levels to function...in place at departure. He affected direction tremendously, but the personnel changes were only directionally implied at his departure. No, Jerry the head of Scouting and Personnel Development, you know, the GM, was the forging element in and through these changes as well. Oh, you bet, Stephen was and has been growing through this process, but this was still the baby of that same Jerry Jones, only this time, Jerry was walking the walk fully and participating at top levels in full support of his franchise.

No, old limbs and roots were pruned, and with the spring rains, fertilizer and cultivation were applied to the organization. The Dallas defense was base level functional, but not dominant. What was then done? Only pruning older elements that were really limiting top level growth and unable to project at higher levels long enough to warrant the cap cost. Not an enjoyable aspect to lose veteran players, but the franchise need was there, and a good GM in conjunction with an approval of his head coach, CHOSE DIRECTION!

Pink slips were allowed to arrive upon a large group of previous Dallas Cowboy veterans. Gone were: Zach Thomas, Thomas Henry, Roy Williams, Chris Canty, Greg Ellis, TO, 'Tank' Johnson, Adam Jones, and 'killer' Davis. Folks, that IS direction.

With this group gone, a doubting media and a disppointed fan base saw nothing of a 'proven' nature. There was natural doubts as to credability of both the GM and it's Head Coach, following an injury driven fall from grace and humiliation in Philadelphia at the conclusion of the Dallas season.

Well, Jerry had alredy applied the measure of credibility in his very player selections. Although injury had been a very harsh task master up to this season, it ceased enough this season, to allow chosen direction of developments and players to be given opportunity to be forged under fire and pressure of their own. They had to weather small victories and failures of their own, to arrive at a 'forged' state of steel. They had to gain their own legs to stand upon, and this is where many fans lost sight. Before there was to be demonstrated strengths, the team had to come together to accomplish and arrive at top individual capabilities.

Players such as Keith Brooking, Anthony Spencer, Miles Austin, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Igor Olshansky, Gerald Sensabaugh, Felix Jones, and even Doug Free, Victor Butler, John Phillips, Stephen Bowen, Bobby Carpenter, and David Buehler were told to step forward and start to contribute by making plays. Well folks, they all have...and that goes to the faith and direction laid by both Jerry and Wade.

No, instead of abandoning the team and us the fans, Jerry and Wade have weathered the challenge, stood up for accountability, and forged a team from which us fans to take great pride in.

Myself, as a fan, I am first taking note, and then saying humbly and genuinely....thanks!!

The Lady or the Tiger?

by CCBoy
Writer/Contributor

...and this time, the Cowboys had best be expecting the Tiger!

Let's hedge our outlooks a little at this point...

There are a pair of games that go directly into a playoff picture, this weekend. Let's eliminate all misunderstanding here, they in effect are playoff in tone.

Those are the games between Green Bay and Arizona, and the game involving Philadelphia and Dallas. Win solidly, and each of the winning teams will establish an advantage going into the playoffs. When a win comes the week before, it puts a mental edge and some panic into the picture for the losing team.

Now this goes to the psyche of the team, and not in playoff criteria or statistical analysis. When a team dominates another team and then turns around to play them again, it puts an added burden to overcome when the second game arrives. The physicality of the box area is where this picture comes to the front. When one team actually dominates, it evolves around efficiency in this area specific.

There are things that can be manipulated for temporary advantages, such as special team plays, kicks, and returns. Those types of game changes can be defensed and planned around in consecutive contests. With a team such as Philadelphia, they attempt to pad opportunities by being extremely aggressive on defense. They go for 'easy' turnovers, creating fumbles, and going for overloads and rushing 'trick's to create field advantages and other turnovers.

A team such as Philadelphia will also try to take advantage of a lack of clarity in identification of play progressions, to get receivers open and in areas that they can exploit open areas in their adapting defenses. Even repitiion of play, will allow for better identification of the West Coast progressions and manner of hiding routes until they are sprung on a defense.

In their first meeting, Philadelphia was much closer to the vest, than they will be this meeting. They will pull the plug on cover and try to exploit any and everything that they can figure out on the Dallas side. They will be coming like thieves in the dead of night...and hoping to be successful in their thievery.

A victory here, and they will be given a week off, and free from immediate scrutiny by an opponent on the field, and then homefield and emotional strength for a shortlived and emotional advantage in Philadelphia. They have motive to fight for.

They also have precedence in successes and recent experience from which to take into this very defineable part of the playoffs. NO, let there be no misunderstanding in this game this weekend. The animal instincts in them, will be at full and heightened levels...just as a cougar stalking a prey. They will unleash upon the Cowboys with all their fury and anger.

Here, the Packers and the Cowboys will be in similar situations. They will be the new kid on the block as to recent successes on the 'street.' Each has built a strong team that is eager and full of opportunity and determination. Both teams have a prospect of dealing with their opponent for this weekend, the very next weekend in similar situations.

Starting this weekend, both Green Bay and Dallas will be in similar projections as to playoff entrance. Green Bay is stuck in a wild card role, and as such, will be doing all that it can do to develop that specific picture. They will be going strongly to get a regular season win against Arizona.

The motives for Dallas are much stronger. They are faced with the prospect of dealing with a very hated and divisional foe. The two teams have a very long history, that has been settling back towards parity between the two. That stated, Philadelphia sat upon Dallas and humiliated, insulted, and disrespected the team at the conclusion of last season, where all Dallas had to do was win their last game and claim that birth into the playoffs themselves. The Eagles attacked all the points of stress on the Cowboys, and then sat on them as a team. That was very sobering to a prideful group of players.

After that ending season in the old stadium, this whole team was reforged as to purpose and roles. Players on the Dallas team, were challenged and allowed to redirect and develop individual strengths and contributions to a more defined team directed play.

Instead of adapting around positional privilege, in many players such as TO, Greg Ellis, Roy Williams, and even a Zach Thomas...the Cowboys were told to grow and develop skills that would then be brought into the picture, and not just worked around positional privileges and coping with what that presented.

Tony Romo went back and started an intense work. He has worked and gone within himself. He worked intensely on mechanics of delivery, and although still developing in areas such as crossing routes, Tony has done a great job of improving his very mechanics. He has become a very grounded quarterback in the process, and since he can work well within his own abilities, he is better able to confront chaos and intensity, and deliver in the crunch.

He then was blessed with the distraction of Roy Williams attracting double coverage and no one wishing to allow a new animal to be uncaged. In the injury period following ribs fractured on Roy Williams, Miles Austin was given that all important creature....opportunity! He has since forged an All Pro animal in what had been observed as potential prior to this showing of his OWN skill set.

No longer, can teams carte blanche pick up on eliminating a single Roy Williams, Jason Witten, and then packing the line of scrimmage and blitzing the run into submission. There are now functional dynamics that can make you pay for taking this cerebral approach to game control. The Cowboys have some real punch while in the ring, and one had best take that to heart. A combination of punches are now coming, and they are landing with authority.

The road for Dallas is a bit harder at this point, in they have to overcome mental aspects of change. The team is developing synergy with it's fans in the confines of a magnificent but new Stadium. It is forging direction with a coattail tugging media that is just coming to grips that this team has strength and dynamics of it's own.

The offense has continued to weather the frustrations of adaptation and changes, but have grown and demonstrated a NFL level of distinction and ability. Although finishing the deal of scoring has been a drawback through some of the more intense times, it has grown in dependability and dynamics itself. The head is definably Tony Romo, and he has a huge chip on his shoulder to square. He has the burden that he feels that prior failures in the playoff arena have been a reflection of his own, and very personal short comings. He is a driven beast now, and will continue to pace until he has his victim squarely in his sight, and then will pounce. A team had better not let this tiger become the stalker, as they will have a new storyline to contend with...

But the real unseen animal, has been the Dallas defense. As the operation of removal was completed last off season, and the blood settled about the departures of six players from that defense...Jerry Jones and the Scout Department went to serious work. They were trying to replace a departing and out of place Zach Thomas, and hit a home run. In his place they acquired what is now the emotion and FOCUS of this defensive side. The team acquired a player committed to the team, in all of it's implication. Keith Brooking brings the heart to fruition for all to see, relate with, and develop around. He is a vocal and very real on the field leader. He brings his stubborness to the locker room as well. When periods of doubt and introspection would arrive after disappointment and challenge, he rallied their spirit. That is major, as the heart of the defense just came back INTO TOWN.

This team has acquired the required us against the world and bunker mentality of survive as a team. That is where Championships are won. The team can now take their own direction with any and all comers, as the talent about the focal points have grown to the level of play production...making plays. Confidence in the youthful players has come to the front. Just as when Pittsburgh had a bunch of future Hall of Famers come onto it's team, and then was dominant for a whole decade, this Dallas team now has a top producing group that includes DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, and Mike Jenkins. Add in a growing Jay Ratliff, and then more motivated Spears, Oshansky, and even Bowen, and Bradie James and the Cowboy box area is now aggressive and bringing heat upon opposing quarterbacks and their running backs. That boils down to dominance in the very area that dominance grows.

No longer does Dallas, with chips on the table, have to rely upon PERSONALITIES as was the story with Adam Jones, Roy Williams, Zach Thomas, Greg Ellis, and 'Tank' Johnson. In their place are real team players that are learning to efficiently work together, and attack an opponent. 'Killer' Davis is no longer searching the secondary for a single highlight hit. In his stead are a pair of safeties that actually work at integration into a team umbrella.

That previous defense now has closure. In it's place is a dynamic, growing, and very aggressively growing group. This is the dynamics that can now take control, finish, and put to rest the opponent that in the past, could rely upon a late game surge and eventual success. The new animal has a growing taste and desire for victims, and with an added memory of anger and frustration that now needs to find fruition.

This group of Cowboys has the view, personal habits, and talent to meet this new challenge. It also has the depth of tradition and history from which to draw...as the franchise is that of a WINNER. It now has to challenge, overcome, and reclaim that tradition. That, although, should be the next step as this group already is tempered by dedication, focus, and motivation to achieve, and not merely survive an opponent.

This team brings a lot to the 'show', and an opponent had best not take this team for granted, as a monster will then be unleashed.

This time around, the team won't be naive and unsuspecting as to what will be going on the carpet...as they will be developing it themselves.

The team has a chance to work it's way all the way to a #2 seed, and their motivation is not lacking the least. They have an opponent that they know well, but this time, all the attitude will be removed. They will have taken the distance away from that opponent, and dragged them into their home for the fight....and fight, they will!

You want a final line... Here it is...Wade, you want a team? Tomorrow is your last chance. You lose that, and you have lost your war for a head coaching job. You have then lost any credability in Dallas. Your team has been continually insulted, belittled, and challenged by any and all comers to show up and fight. For three straight years, they have failed. That is now upon YOU. IF, your team loses against New Orleans, no matter how many 'swell' excuses you wish to humbly throw up in defense of yourself, you will have lost any and all credability from that point onward. No matter that you have two remaining games in YOUR season, it will be over, and the fat lady has sung. Win, and you have an inside straight to put your chips upon....lose tomorrow, and you can't bluff a mule. You have managed to the tune of Murphy's Law, and it has kicked your posterior. Your offensive coordinator has run and dodged any and all consistency in preserving for that special and one situation in a game, where he could be all cerebral and look the part of an intelectual. Well, those all ran up against old Murphy and lost as well. Well, this game, the preparation of New Orleans for a desperate team BETTER be way off base. No, YOUR team better be full of all the insult, put downs, and lack of guts displayed....and they had better been lead by yourself, to be rip snorting ANGRY for this game. Anything short of total throw down by YOUR team, and Murphy has kicked your unmanaging backside. You either lead, follow, or get out of the way...and a head coach led by his owner isn't worth his salt in today's NFL. No matter how much one wants to put his heart into your projected success. I hope you are not truely lacking and possessing a grand case of professional naivetee in how to lead, and not cope. We shall see tomorrow night... but don't YOU forget, that we fans know what the Cowboys are all about, and it doesn't involve hoping for a magical moment. We shall see.

        

                          Allright, let's take a look at the state of the Cowboys 

 

                                                    The State of the Cowboys



By CCBoy


If one was to take the most pessimistic look possible at the goings on with the Cowboys, what would that look like when presented? Next, if it really isn't as bad as the worst of naysayers imply, then where does it fall and how realistic is optimism in this picture? Fair enough a start point? If so, then let's start on a evaluative journey....involving the Dallas Cowboys.

To start with, the top of the flow chart has to receive some scrutiny. Here, to start with a negative vein, many fans and media alike have been not too subtly calling for the head of none other than Jerry Jones himself. The mental associations start with his flashy participation and high profile tendencies around any and everything involving changes in the Dallas Cowboy organization.

Now to be honest, one has to evaluate this negative view and see what is involved in this projection. First, the charge, meddlesome and overbearing to the detriment of the organization. Now, proof here is almost purely subjective except when an observer puts his own values and associations in place as indicators of change. To be fair here, the negative view has to be assumed and followed through with. So, here goes....

Jerry Jones has a history of putting his ego in the way of team constructive decisions and in the process has limited the dynamics of those placed in charge of directing the team to success. The list of head coaches for the Dallas Cowboys has been a turnstile of short termed and ill prepared coaches that have served mainly as an extension of the ego of Jerry Jones himself.

To do this, we must look at supportive facts of the franchise itself...so let's start that journey first.

The Cowboys joined the NFL as a 1960 expansion team.[2] The team's national following might best be represented by its NFL record of consecutive games in front of sold-out stadiums. The Cowboys' streak of 160 sold-out regular and post-season games began in 1990, and included 79 straight sellouts at their home, Texas Stadium, and 81 straight sell-outs on the road.[3]

An article from Forbes Magazine, dated September 10, 2008, lists the Cowboys as the most valuable sports franchise in the United States, and second in the world (behind the United Kingdom's Manchester United), with an estimated value of approximately $1.612 billion, ahead of the Washington Redskins ($1.538 billion) and the New England Patriots ($1.324 billion).[4] They are also one of the wealthiest teams in the NFL, generating almost $269 million in annual revenue.[5]

The Cowboys have been one of the most successful teams of the modern era (since 1960). The team has won five Super Bowls and eight conference championships. The Cowboys have more victories (41) on Monday Night Football than any other NFL team; the Miami Dolphins are second with 39 and the San Francisco 49ers are third with 38.[6] They hold NFL records for the most consecutive winning seasons (20, from 1966 to 1985) and most seasons with at least ten wins (25). The team has earned the most post-season appearances (29), a league record of 56 post-season games (winning 32 of them), the most division titles with 20, the most appearances in the NFC Championship Game (14), and the most Super Bowl appearances (8). The Cowboys also played in two NFL championship games before the NFL's 1970 merger with the American Football League. The Cowboys became the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in just four years (a feat that has been matched only once since, by the New England Patriots). They are second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers with most Super Bowl wins (tied with the San Francisco 49ers with five each). The Cowboys' success and popularity has earned them the nickname "America's Team". Before the 2008 season an ESPN's Page 2 statistical comparison of all teams since the AFL-NFL merger had the Cowboys narrowly beat out the Pittsburgh Steelers for the top of its Ultimate Power Ranking.[7]

That is the story of the Dallas Cowboys to present, but let's start to single out the part that belongs with the Jerry Jones portion of that journey....

As the Cowboys suffered through progressively poorer seasons (from 10–6 in 1985 to 7–9 in 1986, 7–8 in 1987, and 3–13 in 1988), Bright became disenchanted with the team. During an embarrassing home loss to Atlanta in 1987, Bright told the media that he was "horrified" at Landry's play calling. Bright sold the Cowboys to Jerry Jones on February 25, 1989.

Jones immediately fired Tom Landry, the only head coach in franchise history, replacing him with University of Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson. With the first pick in the draft, the Cowboys selected UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman. Later that same year, they would trade veteran running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for five veteran players and eight draft choices. Although the Cowboys finished the 1989 season with a 1–15 record, the worst record since the team's inception, "The Trade" later allowed Dallas to draft a number of impact players to rebuild the team.

Johnson quickly returned the Cowboys to the NFL's elite. Skillful drafts added fullback Daryl Johnston and center Mark Stepnoski in 1989, running back Emmitt Smith in 1990, defensive tackle Russell Maryland and offensive tackle Erik Williams in 1991, and safety Darren Woodson in 1992. The young talent joined holdovers from the Landry era such as wide receiver Michael Irvin, guard Nate Newton, linebacker Ken Norton Jr, and offensive lineman Mark Tuinei, and veteran pickups such as tight end Jay Novacek and defensive end Charles Haley. In 1992 Dallas set a team record for regular season wins with a 13–3 mark. In January 1993, only three years after their 1–15 season, the Cowboys earned their first Super Bowl trip in 14 seasons. Dallas crushed the Buffalo Bills 52–17 in Super Bowl XXVII, during which they forced a record nine turnovers. Johnson became the first coach to claim a National Championship in college football and a Super Bowl victory in professional football. The following season, they again defeated the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII, 30–13. The Cowboys sent a then-NFL record 11 players to the Pro Bowl in 1993: Aikman, safety Thomas Everett, Irvin, Johnston, Maryland, Newton, Norton, Novacek, Smith, Stepnoski, and Williams.

Only weeks after Super Bowl XXVIII, however, friction between Johnson and Jones culminated in Johnson stunning the football world by announcing his resignation. Jones then hired former University of Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer to replace Johnson. The Cowboys finished 12-4 in 1994, but missed the Super Bowl by losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, 38-28. In 1995, Jones lured All-Pro cornerback Deion Sanders away from San Francisco, and Dallas once again posted a 12-4 regular season record. The Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 at Sun Devil Stadium in Super Bowl XXX for their fifth world championship. Switzer joined Johnson as the only coaches to win a college football National Championship and a Super Bowl.

Yet the glory days of the Cowboys were again beginning to dim as free agency, age and injuries began taking their toll. The Cowboys went 6-10 in 1997, with discipline and off-field problems becoming major distractions. As a result, Switzer resigned as head coach in January 1998 and former Steelers offensive coordinator Chan Gailey was hired to take his place. Gailey led the team to a 10-6 record in 1998 and an NFC East championship, but was let go after an 8-8 playoff season in 1999, becoming the first Cowboys coach who did not win a Super Bowl. Nonetheless, the Cowboys posted more wins in the 1990s than any other NFL team.

2000s
Defensive coordinator Dave Campo was promoted to head coach, but he could only post three consecutive 5-11 seasons. Many fans and media were beginning to blame Jerry Jones for the team's ills, noting that he refused to hire a strong coach or general manager, preferring to hire coaches who did not want to be involved with personnel duties so that Jones himself, as GM, could manage them. Jones then lured Bill Parcells out of retirement to coach the Cowboys. The Cowboys became the surprise team of the 2003 season, posting a 10-6 record and a playoff berth by having the best overall defense in the NFL. However, during the next two seasons, the Parcells-led Cowboys missed the playoffs. The Cowboys then finished an up-and-down 2006 season with a 9-7 record and a playoff appearance, but after a last second loss in the Wild Card Game against the Seattle Seahawks, Parcells retired and was succeeded by Wade Phillips.[11] In his first season as head coach, Phillips and his coaching staff led the franchise to its best seasonal start ever, a conference-best 13-3 record, and the franchise's 16th NFC East championship title, the most of any team in that division. (Washington, New York and Philadelphia are tied for second with seven championships each.)[12] The Cowboys were eliminated by the (eventual Super Bowl Champion) Giants in the divisional round of the playoffs, the first NFC #1 seed to so falter since the 1990 playoff re-alignment.*(taken from Wikipedia)

Now, those indicators tend to show, despite the criticisms levied against the owner and GM, Jerry Jones, his organization has continued to progress continually back to the top levels of successes in the NFL, on a basis of wins and losses. That is a strong indicator of team directions.

On the specific consideration of specific control of the team, Jerry showed the entire world that he was not afraid to give full controls to a strong figurehead. He did this when he lured Bill Parcells out of retirement to head his Cowboy organization. Under the direct leadership, control, and player acquisition of Bill Parcells, the team gained strengths yet lacked post season successes as an organization. This was an indicator that Jerry Jones alone was not the mediating factor in a lack of successes here.

Further, the Dallas franchises' greatest win season, 13-3, occurred under the leadership of Wade Phillips following the departure of Bill Parcells. The nucleus of that Parcells' lead team, the 13 All Pro players were not enough alone, to reach the desired results in the playoffs. That team was beaten by a strongly motivated and talented Giant team that grew to be the strongest team in the field over the course of that Super Bowl push. The failure of this team was not more to the lack of talent, leadership of it's head coach, or it's owner and GM, Jerry Jones-but more to the direct accomplishments of those same New York Giants.

The complete list of Coaches who have been at the head of the Dallas Cowboys is as follows:

Coaches
Note: Statistics are correct as of the 2008 NFL season.

# Name Term Regular Season / Playoffs Achievements Reference
GC W L T Win% / GC W L Win%


Dallas Cowboys

1 Tom Landry* 1960–1988 418 250 162 6 .607 / 36 20 16 .556
AP Coach of the Year (1966)[6]
Sporting News Coach of the Year (1966)[6]
UPI NFL Coach of the Year (1966)[6]
UPI NFC Coach of the Year (1975)[6]
2 Super Bowl championships (1971, 1977)
5 NFC championships (1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978) [7]

2 Jimmy Johnson 1989–1993 80 44 36 0 .550 / 8 7 1 .875
AP Coach of the Year (1990)[6]
UPI NFC Coach of the Year (1990)[6]
2 Super Bowl championships (1992, 1993) [8]

3 Barry Switzer 1994–1997 64 40 24 0 .625 / 7 5 2 .714
Super Bowl championship (1995) [9]

4 Chan Gailey 1998–1999 32 18 14 0 .563 / 2 0 2 .000 [10]

5 Dave Campo 2000–2002 48 15 33 0 .313 — — — — [11]

6 Bill Parcells 2003–2006 64 34 30 0 .531 / 2 0 2 .000 [12]

7 Wade Phillips 2007–present 32 22 10 0 .687 / 1 0 1 .000 [13]

Now, if one goes back to the Landry era, he will notice that even the greatest of Cowboy coaches didn't win a NFC Championship victory until year ten of his being at the helm. What would this tell to a realistic person decrying the point that there has been ten years since the last Super Bowl period for his beloved Cowboys? Aside from bemoaning the fact, it is a real indicator that Super Bowls don't grow on trees nor do they occur at an outrageously high rate even for the best of franchises...since the Cowboy organization is the second leading owner of Lombardi trophies theirselves. Landry's Super Bowl victories occurred in years eleven and seventeen respectively.

Now, in the era of Jerry Jones, he has accomplished three Lombardi trophies in a period of now twenty years. As to team victories, that has taken an upswing to recent years as well.

Continuing on the status of the Cowboys when compared to an All Time Power ranking, the Cowboys have still retained their top place as of 2008:

Page 2's ultimate NFL power rankings, Nos. 1-10
By Thomas Neumann

Updated: September 17, 2008

Which franchise is king of the NFL?

This is what 32 teams set out to decide each year through a 16-game regular season and subsequent playoff tournament. ESPN.com even breaks down its NFL power rankings on a weekly basis.

But which franchise is the best in the NFL … period?

To answer that question, Page 2 created power rankings on steroids -- the ultimate power rankings. This study analyzes data since the AFL-NFL merger in the 1970 season through the 2007 season. This starting point eliminates any question of competitive disparity between the NFL and its former rival leagues, the AFL and the AAFC. Teams that joined the NFL after 1970 are admittedly at a disadvantage for scoring in some categories, but they have a consequent advantage in negative categories. Additionally, regular-season winning percentage is weighted heavily to give these teams a fair appraisal.

1. Dallas Cowboys

Pct. SB Play. W ≥ 12W ≤ 4W All-Pro MNF CC CPD Busts Total
.594 5-3 26 10 2 56 69 6 2 1 1,498

The Cowboys might not be your team, but they are indeed America's Team.

Since the merger, no team has displayed as much consistent excellence across as wide a variety of criteria as Dallas. During the NFL's modern era, the Cowboys lead the NFL in Super Bowl berths and playoff victories. No other team has won a Super Bowl under three different coaches.

The Cowboys have ranked in the top three in scoring 11 times and in scoring defense eight times since 1970 -- advancing to the NFC Championship Game an astonishing 14 times in that period.

Only Pittsburgh has had more first-team All-Pros. Only San Francisco has had more seasons of 12-plus wins. Only Miami has had more "Monday Night Football" appearances. How good are the Cowboys? So good that they won a Super Bowl with Barry Switzer as coach.

Certainly, the Cowboys have had their share of off-the-field issues. That's a case study for another day. What we'd really like to know is … how did these guys ever lose to the Lions and Cardinals in the playoffs?!

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Pct. SB Play. W ≥ 12W ≤ 4W All-Pro MNF CC CPD Busts Total
.603 5-1 23 6 0 62 57 2 0 2 1,495

The Steelers narrowly missed out on bragging rights to the top spot. But before you blame Page 2, notice that Dallas was penalized with two "crushing" postseason defeats to Pittsburgh's zero. Left off that list was the Steelers' loss to San Diego in the 1994 AFC Championship Game, which occurred days after some Pittsburgh players met with a choreographer to make plans for a music video for a Super Bowl rap song called "The Blitzburgh." Embarrassing? Certainly. Crushing? Probably not.

So if you need to blame someone, we suggest Neil O'Donnell. Those two dubious interceptions to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX amount to a 50-point swing.

On the positive side, Pittsburgh has enjoyed the NFL's most stable coaching situation -- consider that the Steelers have employed as many head coaches since the merger (three) as the Falcons have in the past nine months. Pittsburgh also leads the league in first-team All-Pros since 1970, with nine players being so honored at least five times. The Steelers have advanced to 13 AFC Championship Games, winning six.

*(this comparison was provided by ESPN)

Now, maybe a complete analysis of all of the regular and end of season results can yield a truly definable relationship:

Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Post-season Results Awards
Finish Wins Losses Ties
Dallas Cowboys
1960 1960 NFL Western 7th 0 11 1
1961 1961 NFL Eastern 6th 4 9 1
1962 1962 NFL Eastern 5th 5 8 1
1963 1963 NFL Eastern 5th 4 10 0
1964 1964 NFL Eastern 5th 5 8 1
1965 1965 NFL Eastern 2nd 7 7 0
1966 1966 NFL Eastern 1st 10 3 1 Lost NFL Championship Game (Packers) (34-27) Tom Landry (NFL COY)
1967[5] 1967 NFL Eastern Capitol 1st 9 5 0 Won Conference Playoffs (Browns) (52-10)
Lost NFL Championship Game (Packers) (21-17)
1968 1968 NFL Eastern Capitol 1st 12 2 0 Lost Conference Playoffs (Browns) (31-20)
1969 1969 NFL Eastern Capitol 1st 11 2 1 Lost Conference Playoffs (Browns) (38-14) Calvin Hill (Off. ROY)
George Andrie (Pro Bowl Def. MVP)
1970 1970 NFL NFC East 1st 10 4 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Lions) (5-0)
Won Conference Championship (49ers) (17-10)
Lost Super Bowl V (Colts) (16-13) Chuck Howley (SB MVP)
Mel Renfro (PB Def. MVP)
1971 1971 NFL NFC East 1st 11 3 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) (20-12)
Won Conference Championship (49ers) (14-3)
Won Super Bowl VI (1) (Dolphins) (24-3) Roger Staubach (SB MVP)
1972 1972 NFL NFC East 2nd 10 4 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (49ers) (30-28)
Lost Conference Championship (Redskins) (26-3)
1973 1973 NFL NFC East 1st[6] 10 4 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (L.A. Rams) (27-16)
Lost Conference Championship (Vikings) (27-10)
1974 1974 NFL NFC East 3rd 8 6 0
1975 1975 NFL NFC East 2nd 10 4 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) (17-14)
Won Conference Championship (L.A. Rams) (37-7)
Lost Super Bowl X (Steelers) (21-17) Tom Landry (NFC COY)
1976 1976 NFL NFC East 1st 11 3 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (L.A. Rams) (14-12)
1977 1977 NFL NFC East 1st 12 2 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Bears) (37-7)
Won Conference Championship (Vikings) (23-6)
Won Super Bowl XII (2) (Broncos) (27-10) Tony Dorsett (Off. ROY)
Harvey Martin and Randy White (SB co-MVPs)
1978[7] 1978 NFL NFC East 1st[8] 12 4 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Falcons) (27-20)
Won Conference Championship (L.A. Rams) (28-0)
Lost Super Bowl XIII (Steelers (35-31)
1979 1979 NFL NFC East 1st[9] 11 5 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (L.A. Rams) (21-19)

1980 1980 NFL NFC East 2nd[10] 12 4 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (L.A. Rams) (34-17)
Won Divisional Playoffs (Falcons) (30-27)
Lost Conference Championship (Eagles) (20-7)
1981 1981 NFL NFC East 1st 12 4 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Buccaneers) (38-0)
Lost Conference Championship (49ers) (28-27)
1982[11] 1982 NFL NFC 2nd 6 3 0 Won First Round (Buccaneers) (30-17)
Won Second Round (Packers) (37-26)
Lost Conference Championship (Redskins) (31-17)
1983 1983 NFL NFC East 2nd 12 4 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (L.A. Rams) 24-17
1984 1984 NFL NFC East 4th 9 7 0
1985 1985 NFL NFC East 1st[12] 10 6 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (L.A. Rams) (20-0)
1986 1986 NFL NFC East 3rd 7 9 0
1987[13] 1987 NFL NFC East 4th 7 8 0
1988 1988 NFL NFC East 5th 3 13 0
1989 1989 NFL NFC East 5th 1 15 0
1990 1990 NFL NFC East 4th 7 9 0 Emmitt Smith (Off. ROY)
Jimmy Johnson (NFL COY)
1991 1991 NFL NFC East 2nd[14] 11 5 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Bears) (17-13)
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Lions) (38-6) Michael Irvin, (Pro Bowl MVP)
1992 1992 NFL NFC East 1st 13 3 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) (34-10)
Won Conference Championship (49ers) (30-20)
Won Super Bowl XXVII (3) (Bills) (52-17) Troy Aikman (SB MVP)
1993 1993 NFL NFC East 1st 12 4 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Packers) (27-17)
Won Conference Championship (49ers) (38-21)
Won Super Bowl XXVIII (4) (Bills) (30-13) Emmitt Smith (SB MVP)
Emmitt Smith (NFL MVP)
1994 1994 NFL NFC East 1st 12 4 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Packers) (35-9)
Lost Conference Championship (49ers) (38-28)
1995 1995 NFL NFC East 1st 12 4 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) (30-11)
Won Conference Championship (Packers) (38-27)
Won Super Bowl XXX (5) (Steelers) (27-17) Larry Brown (SB MVP)
1996 1996 NFL NFC East 1st[15] 10 6 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Vikings) (40-15)
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Panthers) (26-17)
1997 1997 NFL NFC East 4th 6 10 0
1998 1998 NFL NFC East 1st 10 6 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Cardinals) (20-7)
1999 1999 NFL NFC East 2nd[16] 8 8 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Vikings) (27-10)
2000 2000 NFL NFC East 4th 5 11 0
2001 2001 NFL NFC East 5th 5 11 0
2002 2002 NFL NFC East 4th 5 11 0
2003 2003 NFL NFC East 2nd 10 6 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Panthers) (29-10)
2004 2004 NFL NFC East 3rd 6 10 0
2005 2005 NFL NFC East 3rd 9 7 0
2006 2006 NFL NFC East 2nd 9 7 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Seahawks) (21-20)
2007 2007 NFL NFC East 1st 13 3 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Giants) (21-17) Greg Ellis (CBPOY)
2008 2008 NFL NFC East 3rd 9 7 0

Total 432 316 6 All-time regular season record (1960–2008)
32 24 All-time postseason record (1960–2008)
464 340 6 All-time regular season and postseason record (1960–2008)
5 NFL Championships, 10 Conference Championships, 19 Divisional Championships

Except for 2000-2002, when Dallas was coming out of the period of the 'Triplet's', and the team finished at the bottom of the NFC East just above the Cardinals, the Cowboys have returned to being completely competitive within the NFC East which consistently has a direct correlation with strength of playoff opportunity and even playoff success. Maybe the relationship within that division is proving more of an indicator than a misdirected approach negatively directed towards Jerry Jones.

It appears that the franchise has not been tarnished as to product on the field, even while under the ownership of Jerry Jones.

Maybe one would like to seek some association with the coaching and support staff themselves:

Current staff
Dallas Cowboys staff

Front Office
Owner/President/General Manager – Jerry Jones
Executive Vice President/COO – Stephen Jones
Director of College and Pro Scouting – Tom Ciskowski
Assistant Director of Pro Scouting – Judd Garrett

Head Coaches
Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator – Wade Phillips
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator – Jason Garrett

*(if one notices, there is already a special relationship right here. There is a head coach, but closely followed by an Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator as well) They as a pair are the dynamics at the top of the coaching staff for this Dallas Cowboy team.

Offensive Coaches
Quarterbacks – Wade Wilson
Running Backs – Skip Peete
Wide Receivers – Ray Sherman
Tight Ends – John Garrett
Offensive Line – Hudson Houck
Offensive Assistant/Quality Control – Wesley Phillips

Defensive Coaches
Defensive Line – Todd Grantham
Linebackers – Reggie Herring
Assistant Linebackers/Defensive Quality Control – Dat Nguyen
Secondary – Dave Campo
Secondary – Brett Maxie

Special Teams Coaches
Special Teams – Joe DeCamillis

Strength and Conditioning
Strength and Conditioning – Joe Juraszek

Here is the coaching description of Wade Phillips in the professional ranks:

NFL coaching

Phillips began his professional coaching career in Houston as the linebackers coach in 1976 for the team coached by his father, as well as defensive line coach in 1977–1980. He remained on his father's staff as the pair headed for New Orleans. Bum stepped down as head coach of a struggling Saints team in late 1985, and Wade stepped in as interim head coach. He spent the next three years as the defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles and then four more in the same position for the Denver Broncos. Phillips replaced Dan Reeves as head coach for the Broncos in 1993, but was fired after a mediocre 1994 season in which management felt he lost control of the team.

The most successful coaching stop for Phillips was at Buffalo. He always kept the team competitive and in the playoff hunt. A loss to the Titans in the 1999 playoffs haunted Phillips for the rest of his time at Buffalo. In this same season he caused a controversy when he inserted Rob Johnson as starting quarterback at the last game of the season, after Doug Flutie was the starter the whole year and led the team to the playoffs.

He has the distinction of having been replaced by a father and a son from two head coaching positions – by Jim Mora at the New Orleans Saints and by Jim Mora Jr. at the Atlanta Falcons. He also has twice replaced Dan Reeves as a head coach.

On February 8, 2007, he was named the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, replacing the retired Bill Parcells. He was chosen after Jerry Jones interviewed 10 potential replacements, including former Cowboys and former San Francisco 49ers Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner, former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and former Cowboys quarterback Jason Garrett. In the 2007 NFL Playoffs he led the Cowboys to another playoff loss, making his playoff record 0–4. The Cowboys failed to make the playoffs in 2008. The season ended with a 44-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, preventing a wildcard playoff berth.

Prior to the 2009 season, Phillips also took over as defensive coordinator, replacing the fired Brian Stewart. Phillips called defensive plays for the final 10games of the 2008 season after Stewart was stripped of the responsibilities.

The strength of Wade Phillips is the defensive side of the ball. Many good teams have functioned quite well with a head coach that dominates on one side of the ball. Wade has previously coached both defensive line and linebackers at the professional levels, and had strong groups at both positional groups. His periods as a defensive coordinator were usually marked by very strong as well as productive defenses. He was effective at almost everywhere he was in this capacity. In Dallas, he is assisted in the secondary, by yet another very strong coach, in the person of Dave Campo. Campo himself, has many years as a Defensive Coordinator and even as head coach, so he knows well how to integrate a group of players into an efficient system. He also has a very demonstrated ability and success with the secondary itself. The success of the young corners is an immediate indicator of his continued effectiveness there. What he is not, is a magician. If he only has the talent of practice squad players, then that stings all the way through the defensive alignments. That stated, the coaches on the defensive side of the ball aren't the problems of failure.

Next, a look at the offensive side of ball...Jason Garrett:

Professional career

He signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 1989 and 1990. In 1991 Garrett started at quarterback for the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American Football, but suffered a separated shoulder in the season opener. He rebounded the following year to lead San Antonio to a 7-3 record. In 1992, Garrett also played for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. In 1993, Garrett went to the Dallas Cowboys, where he was a backup to Troy Aikman on the 1993 and 1995 Super Bowl winning teams. In eight seasons with the Cowboys, Garrett played in 39 games and completed 165 of 294 passes (56.1%) for 2,042 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. The highlight of his career with the Cowboys occurred on Thanksgiving Day, 1994, when Garrett, starting in place of an injured Troy Aikman, led the Cowboys over the Green Bay Packers by completing 15 of 26 passes for 311 yards and 2 touchdowns in a second-half comeback. In 2008, the game was named the fourth-best moment in the history of Texas Stadium by ESPN.[3] In 2000, he went to the New York Giants, where he appeared sparingly as the backup to Kerry Collins from 2000–2003. In 2004, after a short stint as a backup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he went to the Miami Dolphins.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, he became the quarterback coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2005–2006 and then, in January 2007, he was hired by the Dallas Cowboys as offensive coordinator. His influence made the Cowboys the 2nd best offense in the NFL making him an attractive head coaching prospect. Despite persistent offers from the Baltimore Ravens and the Atlanta Falcons, Garrett refused head coaching jobs and opted to remain in Dallas. His salary in the 2008 season will be close to $3 million and will be the highest paid assistant coach in the NFL. With Garrett staying, some expect him to succeed Wade Phillips as the head coach of the Cowboys, though there is nothing within his contract to suggest this.

On December 29th 2008 the Detroit Lions received permission to speak to Garrett regarding the teams head coaching vacancy according to ESPN sources. The Denver Broncos interviewed him in January 2009 as a possible replacement for recently fired coach Mike Shanahan. He was also a finalist for the St. Louis Rams head coaching position, to replace Jim Haslett, the interim head coach. Ultimately, he lost the job to Steve Spagnuolo after appearing a lock to become their next head coach. When word leaked that Garrett was flying to meet with the Rams, fans flooded the ticket office with angry calls.

Jason has had success as a coach, and has extensive experience as a player before that. He is very well grounded on all phases and possible views from a variety of sources on the offensive side of ball. He is a real talent and viewed by the league as such. Despite his talents, just as all other coaches, he will be directly tied to the product on the field. If injuries crash a very talented offensive unit for a second year, then he well could become another coaching casualty as could Wade Phillips. This fact of life in the NFL, does not change their very high pedigrees and abilities on each's respective side of the ball. The supporting coaches for both sides of the ball are as strong also. This group, make no mistake, does have the potential to lead a very efficient team to any kind of post season success. They aren't a point of failure by their own strengths alone...in any consideration. Any failures will not rest upon their abilities individually or a group.

Perhaps there was leakage in how the quality of Hall of Famers that would indicate a direct link between Jerry Jones and failure of the franchise...well, here's the record of all Hall of Famers from the Cowboys:

Pro Football Hall of Famers
Troy Aikman Class of 2006 (QB 1989–2000)
Tony Dorsett Class of 1994 (RB 1977–87)
Michael Irvin Class of 2007 (WR 1988–1999)
Tom Landry Class of 1990 (Head Coach 1960–88)
Bob Lilly Class of 1980 (DT 1961–74)
Mel Renfro Class of 1996 (S/CB 1964–77)
Tex Schramm Class of 1991 (Pres/GM 1960–89)
Roger Staubach Class of 1985 (QB 1969–79)
Randy White Class of 1994 (DT 1975–88)
Rayfield Wright Class of 2006 (OT 1967–1979)
Bob Hayes Class of 2009 (WR 1965–1975)

There, except for the entrance of Bob Lilly and Roger Staubach, all of the rest of the Hall of Famers entered during the ownership of Jerry Jones. Maybe the image of the whole Cowboy organization hasn't been tarnished beyond recognition as well!

Now, here is the current roster for the Dallas Cowboys:

Quarterbacks
5 Rudy Carpenter
3 Jon Kitna
7 Stephen McGee
9 Tony Romo

Running Backs
34 Deon Anderson FB
24 Marion Barber
23 Tashard Choice
30 Alonzo Coleman
39 Julius Crosslin FB
28 Felix Jones
35 Keon Lattimore
45 Asaph Schwapp FB

Wide Receivers
19 Miles Austin
84 Patrick Crayton
83 Julian Hawkins
17 Sam Hurd
87 Manuel Johnson
85 Kevin Ogletree
86 Isaiah Stanback
11 Roy E. Williams
10 Travis Wilson

Tight Ends
80 Martellus Bennett
44 Rodney Hannah
49 Jamar Hunt
89 John Phillips
82 Jason Witten

Offensive Linemen
76 Flozell Adams T
79 Robert Brewster T
60 Travis Bright G
75 Marc Colombo T
70 Leonard Davis G
68 Doug Free T
62 Ryan Gibbons G/T
65 Andre Gurode C
64 Montrae Holland G
61 Greg Isdaner G
63 Kyle Kosier G
77 Pat McQuistan T
71 Cory Procter G/C
69 Matt Spanos G/C
66 Mike Turkovich G

Defensive Linemen
95 Tim Anderson NT
72 Stephen Bowen DE
92 Marcus Dixon DE
97 Jason Hatcher DE
99 Igor Olshansky DE
90 Jay Ratliff NT
78 Junior Siavii NT
96 Marcus Spears DE
67 Casey Tyler NT

Linebackers
51 Keith Brooking ILB
57 Victor Butler OLB
54 Bobby Carpenter ILB
98 Greg Ellis OLB
55 Stephen Hodge ILB
56 Bradie James ILB
53 Steve Octavien OLB
50 Justin Rogers OLB/ILB
93 Anthony Spencer OLB
52 Matt Stewart ILB
94 DeMarcus Ware OLB
59 Brandon Williams OLB
58 Jason Williams ILB

Defensive Backs
20 Alan Ball CB
35 Tra Battle SS
27 Courtney Brown FS
42 Jerome Carter SS
26 Ken Hamlin FS
36 Michael Hamlin SS
37 Mike Hawkins CB
21 Mike Jenkins CB
33 Mike Mickens CB
41 Terence Newman CB
32 Orlando Scandrick CB
43 Gerald Sensabaugh SS
31 DeAngelo Smith FS
25 Pat Watkins SS

Special Teams
18 David Buehler K
6 Nick Folk K
91 L. P. Ladouceur LS
1 Mat McBriar P

81 Active, 0 Inactive


Next, let's look at who departed from the Cowboys this year:

Terrell Owens
Kevin Burnett
Chris Canty
Anthony Henry
Zach Thomas
Roy Williams
'killer' Davis
Adam Jones
'Tank' Johnson
Joe Berger
Brad Johnson

From that list are 'seven' starter types, and four backups in quality. Three of the 'starters' were in the secondary. Although the starters across the board, were of a professional quality, I don't think anyone will miss the deletion of those four in the secondary from this year's team. Anthony Henry was on the borderline of being starting quality on this very Cowboy team. Replacing the secondary play of Roy Williams and Davis is nothing less than an upgrade in on the field play here. At the conclusion of last season, the weakness of this very same safety group is what put the team continually at risk through the whole month of December. Ken Hamlin could not focus on a favorable area while in his 'quarterback' role. This even affected his play as well. With the addition of Sensabaugh, who is much better in coverage than was Roy Williams over the past three seasons, the whole secondary puts on a difference face. The two 'rook' cornerbacks of last year, Michael Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick present a very aggressive as well as mobile change at cornerback. They take some of the emergency out of the role of Terrence Newman. Not pressed nearly as badly as in previous years due to lack of talent and injuries, Terrance Newman should be much more at ease in his dominant role now. His game should move a little more forward in aggressiveness and effectiveness as well. If Mickens and Ball meet current expectations, the corners will be a very a very aggressive, young, and fast group with real coverage skills this year. This whole group will be without baggage of a centerpiece who was a sneeze away from constant turmoil...even more than those presented on the offensive side of ball. Something that wasn't addressed much this off season as well.

The group at safety is assuming a completely different picture from that of last season. This group is changing and we shall have to await somewhat, on what that part of the secondary in actuality proves out to be. I have my thoughts here...although. The Cowboys made a decision to go stronger towards strong pass defenders than another linebacker type in the box area. The strength of Sensabaugh is very similar to that of Ken Hamlin when he joined the Cowboys. I think that Sensabaugh is every inch the defender that Hamlin was when he inked up with Dallas. A solid season by him, and this secondary is off and running and growing in ability to interact. This will be a trying season in some respects, as they have to forge a common ground, but this is both a youthful but strong skilled secondary now. It has grown in depth and ability to produce accountability both before and after a ball gets to a receiver. That will be a benefit of more of a team element to play in this secondary. This group should renew a sense of 'layer' to the defensive side of the ball. That will increase the ability to slow down opponent's movements of the ball. Dallas should be getting stingier to move the ball upon this season. I see that as a big plus to the team.

Next on the defensive side, is the consideration of the linebacker group. Here, youth will be served sooner than later. When this occurs, you have very aggressive play and some mental lapses, but that will be kept to a minimum with Keith Brooking and Greg Ellis both on the roster for this season. I'm not so worried about the loss of Kevin Burnett. He was a good fit in the packages phase of the defense, but his skillset can be reproduced with a combination of players. Bobby Carpenter has the skillset already, believe that one or not, to fit right into a role of running and moving laterally. This is the real key to a package linebacker in the middle. Bobby Carpenter really should fill the bill here. That is, unless one of the two linebackers in this draft-Jason Williams or Steven Hodge doesn't sneak up and claim it after adjustments. These two rookies have a lot of speed and coverage athleticism that could be focused in this capacity from the start. I feel confident that the requirement for effective coverage by the middle linebacker in packages will be filled by the mix on the roster at present.

I think that the blend of Ellis and Anthony Spencer will get very good mileage this season. I really don't like the second burner view that Spencer has been receiving by some of the media and fans alike. This is his coming out party in a Cowboy way of progression. I wouldn't, although, discount the ability of Greg Ellis to reach his double digit mark one more time. I think pressure is the tune of direction for this team. The two added 'rook's-Victor Butler and Brandon Williams were selected for this very reason. Now, there are four 'rooks' with three foreseeable slots there for the taking. That means that all will be on the line for all the participants in camp this year. That said, there should be real directed activity towards getting the pressure on opposing quarterbacks and keeping it there. Someone should drop out of this group, whether it is a 'rook' going to the practice squad. This will prove out under the watchful eyes of this Cowboy coaching staff who already know talents and expectation for directions that have to be proven out. Coaches already have the mental set to take this group of players forward...well forward into a New Stadium as well.

This is part of what has been evolving this off season. The redefining of workable parameters of expectation, commitment, coaching enforcement, team directed goals, and additionally dedicated and socially supportive teammates. The team has been highly involved in character development, changed to team acceptable goals and performances. The whole mood of Valley Ranch has changed in the process. An all me and smothering player such as TO is no more. A criminally challenging as well as attitudianl nightmare such as Adam Jones or even a cantakerous player such as Tank Johnson are no more. A self limiting yet undeniably unrewarding player such as Roy Williams has moved on. In their place as come commitment, determination, and a team PRIDE. That's COWBOY PRIDE to those who have forgotten the words!!

Now, a fan can cry and bemoan all the complications, implications, and derivations all negative if he wants to...yea, that's his prerogative. But, if you ask me, this boils down to three basic ingredients.

The first of which is on the offensive side of the ball. Where the early successes of a Jerry Jones directed team involved the 'Triplets', this version of the Cowboys has the same 'Triplet' concept updated for the demands of this era's NFL. There is a group of running backs that averaged a whopping 4.5 yards a carry last season. This on top of Marion Barber and Felix Jones being out for expansive periods of last season. When the team under the direction of Jason Garrett, starts to use that fact, then a multitude of other events will happen as well.

Then, there is the 'Golden Boy', Tony Romo. He eerily resembles Roger Staubach to within a single stat point or another to the exact point that Roger was when he arrived and started his career with Dallas. That is high cotton, to you Texas Boys. He will bring that same gamesmanship to this year's season, now that his focus target is no longer demanding half of his focused time for success. The ball will be moving around. It will then be going to the group that now is the receiver portion of this newer version of the 'Triplets'. With the individual strengths and variety that this group retains, it will become much hard for defenses to have to defense and recognize the same abilities that existed with a single TO on field, since those same qualities will be there only in the form of a group of players that can match every single ability contained in TO. If you hadn't noticed there, was that TO had started to drop many more balls, get caught up on the line of scrimmage much more frequently, and not change any more but a few games in actuality. The Cowboys now have that same player, but in a multitude of shapes and view which makes it much harder to see and pick up as such. Tom Landry's principal of confusing the opponent is get amplified about ten times and being let out onto the field this season. It may take some time, as with the original Landry format, and the first arrival of the 'Triplets', but rest assured, THEY'RE HERE!

I've already touched upon the defensive and offensive parts of this picture. The other definable change comes in special team's play. First, a very effective special team's coach is recovering from his dramatic injuries as we discuss this now. He is the echo of change going to hit the field for our Cowboys. This draft was not all directed towards special team's play as some would have you think. That stated, it did incorpoate fresh legs and young aggressive attitudes that will be leaders on these teams. The speed and talent of these new additions will be seen from the very start. Why did the team draft a kicker? We all know now. The very fine place kicker from last season, Nick Fok just had hip surgery. Not only to protect the team's interest in a top notched kicker, but to add to covereage effectiveness the Cowboys drafted a very talent player-David Buehler. This was a case of attention to minute details and not a case of asleep at the wheel by the talent evaluators on this draft. They were challenged and brought that aspect to the carpet in what other teams will feel from this very group-challenged!

The strength of the defense, offense, and special teams are not improved from that of last season, even if at it's onset, there were 13 All Pro Players on its roster.

Lastly, I will mention the free agent additions to this Cowboy team. From them will be expected leadership, further direction, and quality of performance on a steady basis.

The players on this list include:

QB Jon Kitna
MLB Keith Brooking
SS Gerald Sensabaugh
DE Igor Oshansky

Did someone say EEEEEEEEGOR?

Now, if I have to explain this group to you, you haven't been paying ANY attention to this very long and directed article...so I won't even try.

Now, How about them COWBOYS! 

 __________________


There's no right way to do the wrong thing.

                                      

To a fictitious Mr. Cowboy, alias Talon (Eagle's fan) 

 

 Mr. Cowboy, alias Talon (Eagle's fan)


By CCBoy
CP Staff Writer/Analyst/Satirist

No...you still have tail feathers stuck where they don't belong and still insist on strutting like a peafowl.....nope, that's not an eagle either. You are so quick to attach the premise of your meanderings to an insultive term of endearment that is thundering logic only unto yourself. Nope, that's still a little canary in his cage trying to project, using a light and shadow effect to being something he is not....an authority of his own team, much less knowledgeable about the Cowboys. Throw any real backup quarterback at the wheel of last year's Cowboy team-when Romo was out, and it would have been Dallas rolling into the playoffs and not even a Kleenex tissue available for your dearly beloved Eagles....Not a single stat needed to be added to this statement, as it was the TRUTH and not your tuned up perspective attempting to present a resemblance of fact. Call your whole season's worth in the last game of the season...as that is always your sign of achievement, one example of Dallas failure. You seem to forget the first game went to the Cowboys, before injuries decimated and changed how the team played.

You now will attempt to run to the front of the line yet again, oh MR. COWBOY...who couldn't own up to not being on this Cowboy site, and try your echo routine to try make everyone here believe your patented routine of Cowboy disarray and Philadelphia Championships yet again. For the record, since your song and dance has NOT changed over five years...just when is your Championship team going to materialize? You have lived in la la land and even jumped off the wagon and predicted that McNabb was in a death knell and that Reid would be packing bags as well.....and you try and throw a term of ignorance around with the use of 'STAT MAN' as you attempt to use that as a medal of honor...well, mr. HIDE BEHIND a Cowboy name, and discuss as a COWBOY fan, and then attempt to look all pompous and condescending....allow me to put your label for all to see...CHUMP.

If you think your linebacking crew is top shelf and above that of Dallas, then you have sealed the coffin of your time machine that never gets off the ground. First, Dallas had the best defensive player in the NFL, even considering your departed All Pro Safety. No, you didn't come close to replacing him...here, you should just stick to the facts...or invent a stat that covers YOUR protruding posterior. DeMarcus Ware IS the top linebacker of BOTH teams. Then Dallas has another who should have been All Pro, in Bradie James. By all accounts he was a top notched linebacker. Then Dallas only acquired a perenial All Pro, not in MR. COWBOY's toy locker of titles, but over an extended period of time. He is ONLY 33, so do break your neck in trying to associate him to a convenient label of OVER THE HILL. Ray Lewis still is able to get out of bed, past that age, and New England played half of their linebacker total group at much higher ages than that. Brooking is a very good weak side linebacker in the interior. That only leaves the strong side outside linebacker position, and it is still occupied by Greg Ellis and Anthony Spencer. Both are quality players, even if you didn't get the association correctly. Ellis is just a year removed from 10 sacks and had 8 sacks in a reduced role last season. Spencer did well in his first and second down role, and should be even more of a force this year.

Don't give up the ship yet, MR. COWBOY, and if you are going to toss around terms NOW, that you are out of the CLOSET, and now acting your own version of the barnyard thingy, let's try on for your amusements, Dear Queer, for your impersonation of the Humpback Cowboy. But not to leave a discussion, since you can't tell the difference in comparison, and a tart's name calling and blind attempt at a diversionary insult of 'stat man'. See, if you listen, then you are able to tell the difference in presenting the facts and not your continually vein efforts of Captain Cool Aide presentations of 'Eagle dominance'. You are already soaring in your dreams at about 10,000 feet, but don't yet know how to fly. But to land your Charlie Brown sopwith camel, the Cowboys drafted FOUR linebackers this draft. Didn't really grasp that did you? Two very talented outside linebackers, and TWO inside linebackers that are very good at defensing the pass and have above average ability to both, hit and to run very quickly. The team is building the backup strength at this position. Then there is still Bobby Carpenter, who should be the package linebacker and backup to Bradie James. Why don't you give us all your best rendition of how old Greg is, how lame Spencer looks, and how stuipd all the 'rooks' and Carpenter are for consideration, MR. COWBOY....

The Eagles hit on Jackson last season, as he had 900 yards, and he is ONLY the THIRD rookie in the past ten years to do that. But, you fully expect a second such drafted rookie to do this THIS year....TWO in a row, but you are MR. COWBOY, alias Eagle fan....

You cheaply ask why didn't Romo grab the bull by the horns and quit if he didn't win it all this year....just the kind of garbage thrown out by a gutless Philadelphia fan. Yea, you were complimenting the Cowboys allright...first, Romo is STILL a YOUNG player, and you inferred that the Cowboys are an 'old' team.... first account, you are the hypocrite, second account, you lied about the composition of the average age and youthfullness on the Cowboys. You implied that the Eagles have a young team, but the Cowboys ARE YOUNGER. What, you held your fat hands on the scales for yet another weighing of facts? Yea, go figure the depths you travel as a Cowboy/Eagle's fan....neat trick you Wiley Coyote.....

I think this will be a very good year for the entire NFC East, and all teams as last year, will probably NOT have a losing record...but that is a real STAT, and not just a usual tossing of insults by yourself.

The tragedy at the inside facility was presented as a Cowboy fan...and don't even attempt to present a white flag of truce after having misrepresented those associations with a real tragedy, and then claim ANY kind of high ground as a Philadelphia fan resuming his usual trashing and one dimensional insults. You are the SAME Green Manure clan that loved it when Michael Irvin ended his career on the turf in Philadelphia. You won't be sainted by this soldier's actions...as if you gave a wet willie concerning it.

Just to show you the real folly of your associations, MR. COWBOY, read and attempt to UNDERSTAND the following set of STATS:

"ADVOCATE BlogWrite Post
Originally posted by Americas' Team… from a sports forum:

Tony Romo Compared to 8 Greats After 39 Starts in Career
02:08 PM ET 04.29

I compiled these stats for each quarterback at www.pro-football-reference.com . These stats are each players' stats after 39 starts. Since Romo has 39 career starts, thats my comparison number of games. After looking at these numbers, we know Romo is more then capable of greatness. For the exception of Marino, Romo pretty much has stats that were actually better then the others. His future looks very bright.

Attempts Comp. Yds. Pct. TDs. INTs.

MARINO 1,370 839 11,103 61.2 95 42

ROMO 1,280 815 10,300 63.6 78 43

MONTANA 1,318 841 9,623 63.8 64 36

P. MANNING 1,355 818 10.024 60.0 67 50

FAVRE 1,341 833 8.113 62.1 52 45

S. YOUNG 1,072 672 8,412 62.6 51 35

AIKMAN 1,086 636 7,290 58.5 32 48

STAUBACH 912 528 7,395 57.8 49 42

BRADSHAW 969 469 6.098 48.4 36 63

Just looking at the stats, you see that some players got off to slow starts. Bradshaw was a big game player like no other but his regular season numbers weren't great. His numbers picked up when Swann and Stallworth got drafted before the 74 season. Romo is 2nd in completion pct. He had more yards passing then everyone except Marino and is only 2nd to Marino in touchdown passes. Amazingly Romo had only 1 more INT then Marino did. He had 7 less INTs then Manning did. I believe all Jones has to do is put the players around Romo. Hey! look at the numbers guys! Romo will start winning the big games very soon. The future of the Cowboys could be very bright. Gotta love the numbers !!!!"

 

Now, let's compare that SELECT group to McNabb's numbers...ooops, he DIDN'T make the group.

You lose three starters on your offensive line and automatically assume you are off to the starting lineup for next year's Pro Bowl. Didn't you learn ANYTHING masquerading as a MR. COWBOY? Apparently you weren't nearly the wolf in sheep's clothing that you thought you were...nor did that suddenly make you a chip off the old block either.

Maybe we should mention the Cowboy's improvement in the secondary also...as you just assumed your EAGLE secondary. MR. COWBOY, the Cowboy's secondary is top notched as well. Dallas has Hamlin back. Dallas has Terrence Newman back. The Cowboys signed Sensabaugh. Then it has both Scandrick and Jenkins back at corners. That is a five player group that can now cover as well as any secondary in the NFL. To this group was added a cornerback, and two safeties in the draft. You were talking about youth on the team, weren't you? The Cowboys only added the best tandum cornerbacks in all of the collegiate arena with it's selection of the two cornerbacks for Cincinnati. They led the whole Nation in interceptions last year....and they can just develop up to speed at their own rate now. No, the truth of the matter is that this Cowboy team is in the process of churning over and going STRICTLY youth in the bottom 1/3rd of it's roster. You said that this team was 'OLD'....maybe, just maybe, you should remain MR. COWBOY, for when you go into the phone booth to change, you only come out the 'old' TALON, who was nothing more than a continual onslaught of insult, demeaning Cowboy insults, and an eyesore in personal slander and insult. Hey, there are plenty of phonebooths around, knock yourself out....as to content, you didn't anchor your floating boat on anything that holds up yet, but will play around with childish insults and demeaning associations until the cow comes home to eat. But for the record here, you still got that lead Cow's Bell around YOUR neck. We all hear you coming....



*(if you are having trouble following this, it was done tongue and cheek as something of ironic humor. Realistic insults and name tossing is being referenced to develop particular topic areas that could be discussed to point out many strengths that could and should be part of a developing picture of this year's Dallas Cowboys.

As the concluding statement implies, this year's Eagles just as last year's Giants, aren't going to be able to sneak up on a single team that it plays this year. This is a completely different start point for our Cowboys.) 

 __________________


There's no right way to do the wrong thing.

 

                                        The Cowboys Charity Basketball Game 

                                   Cowboys-Corpus Christi Charity B-Ball Game


By CCBoy
CP Staff Writer/Roving Reporter

I have nothing but praise for the Dallas Cowboy franchise. On a night when it and the entire NFL was locked in a fight for players in the NFL draft, the Cowboys sent a whole contingency to Corpus Christi, Texas to fight for the youth in that city.

The event was conducted at the W.B. Ray High School gymnasium where there was ample parking for the event. I was well sheltered by law enforcement personnel who were present all about and ensuring a very protected and supportive environment for the game. People attending had little problema accessing the facility or enjoying the game.

While getting seated and settled in for the game, we were entertained by the Cowboy players warming up and the local team shooting baskets at respective ends of the court. The Dallas players had just finished a commitment in the Valley and were already being challenged by yet another public appearance and this one being a basketball game. You could tell that they had received little time in their transition, but they came full of the 'Cowboy Pride' with them.

Events kicked off with former Cowboy player and current organization employee Calvin Hill grabbing the mike. He held the mike the rest of the evening except for short periods that he relinquished it to local town representatives. After listening to Calvin in this environment, I can tell you first hand that he is fully entertaining and was fully engaging for the entire night. He quickly grabbed the crowd's attention and kept them laughing and enjoying the events as they progressed. Calvin made this a very memorable occassion for all of us in the stands.

In attendance at the game, was the present Corpus Christi Mayor, and members of the City Council as well. Calvin Hill presented a couple of plaques in appreciation of participation for the city's youth to members of this group. Then he announced members of both teams. The local team had a state representative as well as a local judge playing for their team. This team was not devoid of court talent although, as it had about four to five 'ringers' playing for them as well. I think they were former collegiate basketball players in the school systems in the area.

The Cowboy players in attendance included: Martellus Bennett, Pat Watkins, Stephen Bowen, Marcus Dixon, and Travis Wilson. They saw much court time in the process.

After the official introductions, Calvin Hill called for youth volunteers for a game of Pig. Five local kids were pointed out by Calvin and they all went to the court to challenge the Cowboy players in this basketball 'mini' contest. It kept the entire crowd responsive and laughing continually. After a good effort, where even a youthful little girl made a few baskets, the Cowboy players won the contest.

Throughout this crowd, one could see a sea of blue and Cowboy related memorabilia. Following the game of Pig, the Cowboy players broke up on court and signed autographs for eveyone in the gymnasium. All the players were warm and very friendly in signing papers, football, shirts and even clothes being worn by the many fans. It was obvious by the buzz of everyone that this was very appreciated and all were thrilled to have such good access to the players.

The court cleared, and the game was on. Now, I was a little bit skeptical as to what that would amount to, but was pleasantly surprised that a pretty good game ensued. The local team, supporting a state Representative and a local Judge, were actually competative. It had a player, Johnson, who scored about 24 points on the evening.

At half time, the local team was trailing the Cowboy team by only four points. Halftime activities is where Calvin presented the coaches for this team, a couple of plaques and then assumed a place at the end of the court and signed autographs himself. The halftime festivity consisted of a trio of 'hip hop' dancers who were local yet very entertianing. The media for the facility were good as the music kept the audience focused through the half time as well.

The second half started up, after frisbies, small balls, and Cowboy beverage containers were thrown into the stands. At four times, the activities were stopped, and drawings were conducted where autographed shirts and footballs were given away. I was impressed that almost all given away were received by youth there at the event. You should have seen the excitment upon their faces as they went center court and had Calvin 'drill' them humorously and then give them their individual rewards. Half of those kids almost floated back to their seats. Calvin enchanted the many kids that he drew into the proceedings on center court throughout the entire activity. As an older member of the occasions, I completely was melted by this experience.

As to the game itself, Martellus Bennett was the show. Stephen Bowen did his own 'Shaq' imitation, and Marcus Dixon pounded some under the boards, and Pat Watkins did some pretty impressive slams, but this was the Martellus Bennett show. He scored a total of 40 points-with both 3 pointers and slams inclusive of a very impressive 360 degree back board fed slam. He padded the Cowboy lead in the second half, and the Cowboy players pulled away. The final score was 80-62 with a Cowboy win.

I am very sorry that all of you could not be there, as you would have enjoyed being engulfed by the experience; the cause; and the intensity of joy on all the children's faces as well. I am glad that I was in attendance in the stands as it was a pleasure to see the Cowboys meeting a local need in this community-both for the youth and in the hearts of all in attendance.


                                  There's no right way to do the wrong thing.

                                                           Cowboy's Off Season:
                                                             The REAL Direction


By CCBoy
CP Staff Writer/Analyst

It is continually mentioned things just weren't addressed...

Leaving last season, there were some areas of concern that needed to be addressed. The foremost of all of these was the horrible coverage on coverage teams. DeCamillas was immediately brought in to redirect the conduct on special teams. The nature of this part of the game was upgraded by a better group brought in by this draft. The inability for this unit to stop the opponent without major field position changes lost Dallas as many games last year as any other feature being addressed...first. That whole climate has changed-FACT.

Now, much of the short comings in the special team's play was due to a kicker's inability to kick deep for coverage units to excell. Then, with BOTH Felix Jones and Miles Austin injured for most of the season, return abilities dwindled as well. While Felix Jones was able to return for the team, the team was the 6th best in the NFL. He averaged a whopping 27.1 yards a return. With Miles Austin healthy, this is a major advantage different from last season. Heck, even Stanback may prove, now healthy, to even be a major contributor there. On the punt return side, Terence Newman has great skills that can be used in crucial games, as well can those of someone like Scandrick, and one of the new secondary 'rooks' is pretty polished as well. Reliability is found in Crayton for punts. He doesn't muff punts and his average is surprisingly respectable on punt returns.

Next, add in the field position consideration that dramatically returns with the healthy return of Mat McBriar. Now, with the addition of a drafted David Buehler, in the FIFTH round, the team can use it's kicking game more directed.

This special team's group should project up with the very best in the NFL this year, in all phases of that part of the game. That is 1/3 of a game's fight...

Now, as to NOT addressing problems...c'mon, quite ignoring the facts of the matter here:

So, here then, is the Cowboy's list of primary needs that needed to be addressed in free agency or in the draft.

1. A solid backup quarterback

Well, the team only went out and traded for Jon Kitna, who is a very capable and proven leader. He has a complete arsenal of throws and knows how to lead a team through rough times as well. In addition to this, the Cowboys drafted one of the top five quarterbacks in this draft, Stephen McGee and did NOT reach for him via where he was selected. They got very good value for him at the top of the COWBOY's draft.

2. A starting middle linebacker

Here, in free agency, the Cowboys signed Keith Brooking. He is a proven commodity that still has much credability at this point in his career. Everyone has been saying the Ray Lewis was operating on fumes for the past four seasons. Nay sayers would have called New England idiots for signing a whole group of 'senior citizen' the very year they rode them to the Super Bowl, and four consecutive years following that challenged the entire NLF with them. This was solved, but not enough yet, as the top pick in this draft...the COWBOY part of it, was a player who will quickly push for this very position. The Cowboys drafted the fasted linebacker and one of the most talented in this draft-Jason Williams. He WAS the top player selected by this draft group.

3. At least two cornerbacks

Don't look now, but Dallas took the most productive pair of cornerbacks in collegiate football last year. The Cowboys drafted both, Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith from Cincinnati. Heck, Macklin was a complete steal that dwarfs the picking of Canty by Parcells four drafts ago. Macklin was the number nine cornerback in this entire draft, with isolated coverage abilities. He only lead collegiate play in interceptions, and the pair together were unmatched in collegiate play.

4. A starting caliber strong safety

Early on in the free agency, Dallas signed a very productive Sensabaugh. He is starting quality and is an aggressive defender that creates turnovers. In addition to this, the Cowboys drafted Michael Hamlin, a coverage safety, and Steven Hodge who has similar abilities to Darren Woodson when he came onto the Cowboy's team. Hamlin was considered top 100 by many sources. He was All-ACC in 2008, first team.

5. Another serviceable offensive lineman

Now I can understand the disappointment in not getting Unger with the top pick in the draft...hey, that would have been nice, but it just didn't happen. The team moved on, maybe fans should also. The team then DID pull the trigger on a very talented, aggressive, and motivated Robert Brewster. He fits the requirements of bringing a 'smash-mouthed' player onto the roster. This was a much lower priority, yet Jerry hit the need high in the draft that HE had....

All the mumbling going on is on a mystical lack of projection in the offensive side of the ball, as the defense has got defineably better and more long termed in the process.

The offense just isn't going to disappear. Roy Williams is somewhat in a comparable situation to what Terry Glenn was at his arrival with Dallas. Teams had written him off somewhat, yet he came on strong. Roy Williams had a single All Pro season, and then had to deal with a dysfunctional period due mostly to his team's mishaps and misadventures directed from it's leadership side. That organization only killed the careers of three other top notched receivers that entered into it's dungeons. This off season, mid-level free agents were refusing to sign more lucrative contracts to be with them. Lucas was one that chose not to accept a higher contract to the Lions both in trade considerations and in free agency. He's still on the market. As are other prominent veteran players that could add much to many teams, to include the Cowboys.

That is a cap consideration, but if Dallas had to pay out first and second round money on players not going to hit the field, they wouldn't be in position to sign any of these possible targets. The point here, is that the team is STILL in position to do so, if it feels that the depth of strength isn't quite what it wants, after observing and working with this group of 'rooks'...but Jerry being stupid, c'mon naw, take your tar and feathers to another city, if you are looking to be a fan. Jerry walked the talk and did what could have been done, following doing just EXACTLY what the fans wanted, and get rid of obvious sources of conflict and media agitations-Tank Johnson, Adam Jones, AND TO.

Start punching holes in some REAL facts and not a bunch of desires for a 'kill for' collection of ball cards....if you want bling supersized, I have a bunch of old Alan Ameche, Walt Garrison, Calvin Hill, and Johnny Unitas cards you can have....as to Cowboy football, it's alive and STILL doing well in Dallas.

This year's Cowboys will be playing much more 'smash-mouthed' on both sides of the ball. The defense was strongly headed there even at the end of the season. That defense has been expanded and additional talents for attacking have been accumulated in the draft. That side of the ball has had an influx of talent once again, yet, has a very young nucleus of players still gaining in polish on the carpet.

On the offense, heading into this coming season is the undeniable wealth of talent brimming at the running back position. While injured much, Marion Barber ended up with 885 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns; not to mention 52 receptions with 417 yards receiving and 2 additional touchdowns catching the ball. Tashard Choice, against the very top teams in the NFL, only averages 81.3 yards rushing and 40.8 yard receiving in those last four games. That is some hard nosed running to be brought to the table this year, with a healthy offensive line now. Then is the addition of Felix Jones, who only in 30 carries amounted a dazzling 266 yards and an amazing 8.9 yards per carry.

Everyone says teams will merely camp in the box area...well, let them, as Martellus Bennett and Jason Witten will eat their sack lunches and then say 'thank you' afterwards...with a very tall set of Roy Williams and Miles Austin to be hot on a heartbeat.

Now as to the constant slap of Bill Parcells versus Jerry Jones comparisons...let that 'wildcat' formation try coming up against a Wade Phillips' 4-6 seemlessly visualizing, and SEE what happens! 

                                  There's no right way to do the wrong thing.

                             Yes Lord, I'm ready...how about you, Cowboy fan?

                            Yes Lord, I'm ready...How about you, Cowboy fan?



By CCBoy
CP Staff Writer/Analyst

First, what did we expect when the very top of this draft was already directly tied into the fruits of last year....and a good addition of Roy Williams to match with TO-before wheels fell off the bus. Price was correct last season, as similar level players going to other teams are receiving an equal return now, and sometimes steeper. That is a general level for a team star not happy with where their home is at present. Discuss the merits of talent after that has played out, but the price was correct for the time and the time table for opportunity. That this whole team may have missed their own destiny, is not the fault of Jerry Jones...who did what the franchise needed at times of need. Dynamics are earned as you go, and that falls on those doing business around the field. When the egos close to the field did not earn on the levels they were being paid, and roll up their sleeves and forge their own direction, Jerry pulled the plug on that opportunity. The team still had to pay for the changed direction. Sometimes men prove their metal, and sometimes those players just don't commit to the team. He properly evaluated their contributions, and released TO, Tank Johnson, and Adam Jones. That phase is now history, but affected today....and a need as to depth. Add in 'killer' Davis, Burnett, Roy Williams SS and there was a wide area that needed change. This is a broad and not just a small window needing a change for this team...not another's.

The team didn't have a first rounder, and when Unger came off the board this draft, the whole picture of change and it's dynamics dropped drasticly. This draft just didn't have the top levels of projected talents. This dictated what the team should then do...and try to get developing talents that they had already evaluated on their team specific boards. I doubt that the quality of leg work and keeness of evaluation suddenly deteriorated over a year or two being removed from Bill Parcells. Get real in the throwing around of slanders and terms of disgust concerning the evaluative ability reflected back to Jerry Jones when things just deteriorate from previously sound actions. If a player breaks a leg, hey, you LOSE that player. That doesn't mean that a solid relationship didn't exist prior to that broken leg.

The same applies to a draft process already at a disadvantage for a 'wow' factor...that still doesn't mean that a high draft grade won't develop if within a year or two four of these players work up to starting or key roles on the team. That goes with any team. Four and you had a great draft. I think that this group at least deserves, as any group of new players does, a wait and see attitude towards the talent actually contained in those players. The first Dallas selection looks to be an active ingredient and to make a splash within a year's time. There are three safeties and a cornerback that will start to grow immediately towards a relevant role. I think the evaluative ability to judge secondary talent has been pretty solid over the past four years. Many of the players in the Dallas system have gone back into the league and done well and even started in quite a few situations there. This very group will work it's way up and contribute. Me as a fan, can count on that aspect...and that is in place now, already starting to grow and reduce operation price as well.

Jerry already had done what everyone here was clamoring for, and appreciating little, paying his own players to money and retaining them. Well, most of those just wanted more and when organization well being was the point in question, they moved on. Look at how top teams in opposition act, take Philadelphia, who has a very large coffin to deal out of....well, they told a top level safety and two...TWO offensive tackles to hit the road. This just reinforcing what they have done over the past eight years. This slowly handcuffed what Dallas could do down the road, as it always does...but hey, he gave the fans what they clamored for, opportunity for the big show. This was done despite what it would prove if things crimped at a road block. That it did last season, where potential was not met due to friction points created by injury and a generalized lack of team jell.

Well, fans, that is just the price of doing things around the 'big show'...sometimes things come up that block success. This doesn't denegrate the effort to succeed although. That was a herculean effort done by Jerry Jones as well as his entire support staff. They tried to be smart at each and every move along the road. That wasn't enough, but on the same accord, fans, it doesn't denegrate the person or the process in the transition. It failed...move on, but be realistic on how you see the approaching change involved. This WAS the point of Mickey Spagnola, who is NOT a homer for looking for the functional reasons and not an escape goat to tar and feather at each mental disappointment that approaches.

Levels of talent were greatly depleted after the first round and a half. That was a completed fact that changed all dynamics in the draft for Dallas, from that point forward. Get over disappointment in areas that were just not changeable from that point forward. The top three picks were the opportunities that Dallas had at the time. This is NEVER an all win opportunity at this level, but Dallas got off three very solid shots at the game available. It got a very good linebacker that projects inside on the weak side next to Bradie James...and he has wheels that just don't stop. Next, the Cowboys got an offensive talent in the offensive line, that plays with attitude. Nice concept in my book. Then, remember the futility of not having a viable alternative at quarterback, well the Cowboys did just what we as fans had wanted-planted a seed with some real talent at quarterback. That one works for me also....

Then, after that, with all those picks, we as fans demanded three Jim Browns, two Joe Montanas, three Michael Irvins, and a partridge in a pear tree. It was just not going to happen in a sequenced draft. Maybe, since we are Cowboy fans, we should have just demanded our 'right' and picked all of our players first in each round...? No, that is the price of the game, and we played just as everyone else did.

As for me, I'll just wait and see how some Texas players and Cincinnati college players perform on a Cowboy team. I won't jump off the ship because I see a player for Michigan or Notre Dame get more press clippings than the players scouted and taken by Dallas. I will stick with my chosen team on this one. I will go to camp to watch these players develop. You know something, if they don't immediately shine and bring out the DeMarcus Ware in their play, I will put those expectations on a burner and just watch them grow....you know, real time speed.

Myself, I am quite happy with the shopping cart's return. Hey, we fans got a boat load of positional support. Want help in the secondary? Well, the Cowboys got a cornerback, and three safeties. Did someone say there was a void at safety? Talk about a fastly approaching deadline for the outside pressure and it's depth...well, Dallas just got two developers with proven sack ability in THIS draft. One was the fourth leading sacker in the entire country this past season...talent?

If someone hadn't noticed, this whole season will realisticly hinge upon the conduct and play of one Tony Romo, and the support given by one Roy Williams. The ability to win was ALREADY established prior to this draft. This team was already chunked full of talent...and did NOT need a whole shelf of former Hall of Famers to be fully competitive with ANY team in the NFL. They proved this the past two seasons. Now it comes time for this base team with these new additions to go out onto the practice field and do just that...practice. They need to grow as a team. That was an active and missing ingredient this past season. You know something, sometimes, where there is large doses of desire, just that happens. Now, Jerry brought in a huge dose of just that, DESIRE, onto this team. Let us as fans just watch and SEE what results. The seed of success were already on the same shelf as the players for this team. Give the cook a chance to set a table and us taste the end product before we attempt to crucify the person doing some of the shopping for the preparation...OK? 

                              There's no right way to do the wrong thing.