SB Nation User Blog: Jordan2

The In-Person Analysis

Jordan2 — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:51:24 -0000

Hey guys my name is Jordan, and I'm a long time reader of the site. I haven't posted in a long time, but this week has brought me out of my offseason hibernation.

Living in Dallas and rooting for the Cowboys is a great joy, and I often have the oppurtunity to throw caution to the wind and go tailgate for America's Team. With the double dose of an open practice and the first home game of the season, I was thrown back into the world of football, and I walked away with some amazing memories. I'll try to convey what this week was like to be there for all you guys that can't make it to Texas Stadium.

First of all, like in my previous posts, I won't be doing much actual analysis. You guys do a good enough job of that all ready.

Second, I know this is a hard read, I don't know how this new format works

The Open Practice:

The skies were cloudy and grey but spirits were high as thousands showed up to see the Cowboys first hand. This was a slam dunk in my opinion, because fans of all shapes and sizes were able to attend. For all of those people that don't have the time or the money to go to see a home game, this was the perfect oppurtunity to get a look at the team and have that chance to be a part of the farewell season at Texas Stadium.

We showed up 3 hours early to tailgate a practice. Thats right, along with a few other diehards (or you could call us cheap for not wanting to pay 7.50 for a beer inside) we opened some cold ones and began to lament the playoff loss, the long offseason, the risky moves, the draft and all things Cowboys. The entry was first come first serve and the entry line stretched all the way around the stadium, with some people waiting hours only to see the line break down into chaos when more gates randomly opened up. We chose to lay low and wait until the frenzy for the good seats died down.

Once the blue parking lot filled up, the rain came. I'm not talking a sprinkle, I'm talking a full on monsoon. We weren't exactly sober at this point so standing in the rain seemed like the right thing to do. It seemed like the thing a real fan would do. Whether or not I was in the right state of mind to properly analyze that situation, I knew it was a good idea because we were able to find shelter with random fans and make new friends and hear new opinions. One guy had a Julius Jones jersey that had been releived of its duty to harbor the "J." and now only said " Jones". It was great.

During the practice, the crowd was going nuts for the most part. Living and dying with every Brad Johnson flutterball or Demarcus Ware speed rush. Many fans brought clipboards with in depth roster info, others were only there to scream really really loud. T.O. and Romo were interviewed and sounded to be in high hopes for the season (but what else did you expect?). Tony showed up to the interview with his helmet still on and TO came over to remove it. The crowd went crazy and Tony smiled.

I really have to give it up for Jerry Jones. He has provided the fans with unparralled access to an NFL team. The fans have an oppurtunity to really get a feel for this team's personality through things like Hard knocks, training camp, and this practice. If this team really is special like we all think, it will be nice to look back with a ton of lucid memories.

The Preseason:

I showed up to the stadium like I usually do: cooler full of beer, jersey on, ridiculous leather cowboys helmet on, high hopes, and no tickets. Scalpers are plentiful on the ride up, and deal is usually easy to find. I was expecting to pay around $30 for some decent seats. I never really care where I sit, the only thing that matters at Texas Stadium is simply being there and cheering on the boys.

I would have never expected the experience I was about to have.

After turning down 50 yard line seats at $50 a piece, I trudged on hoping that I didn't miss out on the best value. Then an angel showed up. A scalper offered me three tickets for $33 a piece on the 35 behind the cowboys bench. The row stood out to me because it said "B" instead of a number, and I knew I had to grab them up. Row B is literally the second row behind the sideline. I couldn't believe it.

We walked all the way down to wear the numbered rows ended and a chain seperated us from our seats. Upon sitting down, I never felt smaller. Being so close to NFL sized people is humbling and a little scary. We were directly behind the bench where the O-line sat and could literally hear the conversations on the sideline. Not only that, the seats directly in front of us belonged to what I called the wives club. Leonard Davis, Marc Columbo, Pat Mcquistan and Jason Wittens wives were all right in front of us disscussing the team and gossiping about Stadium personel. It was amazing. The wives had a constant dialouge with their spouses during the game, exchanging winks and showing their approval and interest.

Things seen/heard at the game:

Bill Bates is the hardest working man on the sideline. He was hooking all the guys up to that cooling machine and taking time to recognize those of us that recognized him.

While he is one of my personal favorite players, McBriar doesn't seem to have anyone on the team that talks to him. It's all business for the aussie.

Danny Amendola is short.

I caught Zach Thomas and a coach staring directly at me at one point and I heard Zach say "look at that kid with that goofy leather helmet on."

The wives were getting constant updates on the players that were injured including Kyle Kosier: they originally said that it was his big toe and that he was fine. Columbo looked at his wife and said that the arch of Kyles foot was hurting, but it wasn't serious. The final conclusion was that he would be fine and a good tape job would settle it. Who knows.

Miss Price was 20 feet away, but sounded like she was in my headphones and the volume was all the way up.

I was able to get some of those printouts of the plays that the team uses to analyze the game in real time. An awesome souvenir.

Hard knocks was everywhere. I'll probably get a split second on there at some point because they were constantly fliming the O-line. I was wearing that goofy hat and a Marion Barber jersey.

Speaking of the O-line, at one point Hudson Houck was talking to the 2s while the starters looked on. Bigg started laughing histerically and got his wife's attention. Apparently Houck has a tick or something and moves his arm in a weird way and Davis was mocking him behind his back. The hard knocks crew picked up this story right when Flozell got in on the action so look for that on the show.

Bigg's mom was right in front of us too, and I asked if he was a big softy and she replied "He is my gentle bear"

All in all I had a great time. After these experiences I really feel like I know this team well. I can't wait for the season to start.

Thats it for this post. I'll try to get another one up after I go to the Monday night .

Hey Look At Me!!

Jordan2 — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 07:42:16 -0000

Yeah I know, you have no idea what this diary is about, but you're reading it anyways. I expect nothing less from you guys. Hungry...maybe even fiending like I do for more Cowboys info. Sorry guys, it's my first diary in awhile, and I wanted to get you guys to read this no matter what.

Selfish?

Maybe.

Read on and stroke my ego....

First of all:

I want to say "Well Done!!" to all of you guys who continually post about the draft and the proper strategy to become a better team than the unfathomable 13-3 season we just watched. It's almost impossible but you guys make me believe it can happen.

My posts are generally limited to jokes here and there that no one gets.... mostly until the season starts again, because i find a way (by hook or by crook) to get in to the stadium and provide some (limited) analysis.

But golly-gee-willikers, you guys have the draft info on lock down.

If SI.com didn't have the film room (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/specials/draft/2008/video/), this spot could be the best there is for competent and thought out draft day information.

I'll go on the record and say I love Cason, in fact i think he would be the best corner to get besides DRC, but from what i have read I dont see much interest in the first round from other teams, and haven't really heard much about him besides the words from the keyboards of the faithful BTB bretheren.

Do you think that it's possible he could slide to us in the second round? If not that, is it possible that the wheeling and dealing that supposedly is going on in Jerry's head could be trading up in the second to nab this future team leader and playmaker?

I see all the intelligence and intangibles in this player. He seems like the guy that will suck up any ego he has in order to make the team better. And on a team that went 13-3 last season, a rookie of that type could be the catalyst to send us to the next level.

Forgive me, friends, for I have sinned.

I have posted a diary that has no new info and hardly any credible sources.

You guys still like me right?

Poll

After reading this diary, I feel:

Sad. This guy wasted my time.

2 votes

Amazing. I'm on a lot of painkillers.

7 votes

Indifferent. I'm like Romo choosing between TO and Witten.

5 votes

Really Mad. This guy isn't funny or interesting, I want to punch him.

8 votes

Confused, I don't remember this guy ever posting anything

5 votes

Affirmed. In that this guy is an idiot, and now I'm sure.

2 votes

Happy. Because I don't care what I read on this site; it's all good

3 votes

32 votes | Poll has closed

Draft Value Chart

Jordan2 — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:25:11 -0000

Hey I'm trying to find the chart that Jimmy Johnson came up with for the point value assigned to draft picks.

I'm pretty sure that the first pick is worth 3000 points but I'm not sure beyond that. Could someone post it in the comments or open a new diary so we could all take a look at it?

Pro Bowl Balloting

Jordan2 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:47:16 -0000

Currently there are 10 Cowboys leading the votes in the NFC.

They are Jason Witten, TO, Andre Gurode, Flozell Adams, Leonard Davis, Nick Folk, Roy Williams, Demarcus Ware, Mat Mcbriar and Keith Davis.

Also, you know Romo is going, he just has to live in Favre's shadow.

Profootballtalk.com has the full list of leading vote getters.

Go check it out and make sure you vote!!!

2nd Half Hopes

Jordan2 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:27:05 -0000

These are all the things I would like to see in the second half of the season.

Skip Bayless to die; he picked the Giants as the best team in the NFC over #2 Green Bay and #3 Dallas. Strangely those are the two teams that beat the Giants.....

Oliver Hoyte returning to his punishing form. A linebacker converted to FB? I love it; now if only he could catch the ball better.

Marcus Spears batting lead off instead of cleanup. He has a few really good plays this year but most of them come after D ware starts the pressure.

Roy and Hamlin sandwiching somebody. I have a picture of Roy and Darren Woodson smashing a Cardinals reciever from back in the day. If both of these guys are supposed to be the hard hitting SS type, can I get a Roast Plaxico Sandwich on rye please?

Bradie to the Pro Bowl. This guy has been a total stud. He's having one of the best seasons of anyone on our defense. As meaningless as the media tells us this game is, it still irks me when pundits put so much stock in how many pro bowls a player has been to. Bradie deserves it this year, no doubt.

Grizz needs a media pass. Can you imagine the analysis we would get if Grizz could go to Valley Ranch?

Home field advantage in the playoffs. Is that so much to ask?

What are you guys looking for in the second half?

New Contract for Romo

Jordan2 — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:09:29 -0000

Espn just said Romo signed a 6 year 67.5 million dollar contract

They said that some of it can be prorated this year because it was signed before the Nov. 5th deadline

Time to celebrate, we have a franchise QB locked up.

[Update] markdamack has a diary posted below mine, lets comment on his so that we don't get cross chatter on the same subject

Cowboys Uni Watch

Jordan2 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:22:54 -0000

Promoted from the diaries by me.

BTB-regular Jordan found an article about the Cowboys uniforms throughout the years. This is perfect reading material for a bye week. If you got time to kill go click on all the links in this story. As Jordan says below, forget about the author's football analysis and hatred of Dallas, it's not worth the time. His annoyance factor ratings make the article feel like something the E channel would use to counter-program the Super Bowl broadcast. I imagined Joan Rivers making an appearance and asking Tony Romo what designer he was wearing. But the Cowboys definitely have had some quirks in their outfits...err...uniforms.

Here's Jordan's post.

I found this article on ESPN's website and found it pretty interesting.

Since I'm a young cowboys fan, I don't have extensive knowledge of uniforms worn in the past. This turned out to be a pretty good read. The writer, Paul Lukas, does a great job of spreading Cowboys hatred to the masses and generally hating on everything we love.

He even uses and "annoyance factor" to rate the random parts of the uniform that he is looking at.

It's just downright unbelievable how the media hates us, and I'm always caught off guard when I here some pundit say something based on personal belief and not football.

But, like I said, I'm young. I suppose I'll get used to it someday.

Chargers coming to Dallas?

Jordan2 — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:02:29 -0000

Ok, this is completly rumor, but Profootballtalk is reporting that the Chargers game on Sunday is most likely going to move.

profootballtalk.com

The possible places to move would be Arizona, Los Angeles Colliseum, and TEXAS STADIUM!

I'm not a big Chargers fan, but I would love to see LT play in person.

Also, the site goes on to say that tickets could be free and donations would be accepted. Although I doubt Jerry would let it happen for free, the site says that something similar happened in 2003 and tickets were free.

I know a lot of you guys hate profootballtalk but I'm pretty pumped about this.

If you guys get any new info, post it!

The In-Person Analysis 2

Jordan2 — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:46:52 -0000

Another game, another story.

It's a little different to post a diary like this after a loss, and just like last time I won't be doing too much analysis.

Like Terry said, this was a playoff atmosphere. I met as many people from Texas as I did from Boston. It was insane, within 5 miles of the stadium the atmosphere was electric. It seemed as though even the scalpers had a pep in their step (and why not, what with the scalped seats going for $300 a pop?) People were screaming from their cars, and trash talking was exchanged between all rival vehicles.

Unfortunatly, I had no ticket. So, at 8:00 AM, a friend and I sought out a man on Craig's List to provide us with 6 incredible tickets on the 30 yard line. It was too good to be true, his post read: "Unable to attend game, would like to give these tickets to a good Cowboy's fan for a reasonable price."

So as visions of Super Bowls danced through our heads, we went to East Dallas to meet him. As soon as I got there, he shook my hand eagerly, smiled, and began to explain how great of a person he was for doing this. I thanked him and was ready to put him on the short list of Saints in my life, until I saw the tickets. These things were the most fradulent and poor excuses for a ticket I had ever seen. Photocopies of actual tickets, all with the same barcode, not perferated, and with bleeding ink.

I balled my fist up and prepared to lay a Leonard Davis size thrashing on him, but instead, I kindly said "these are fake, and you are a terrible person"

Despair and frustration

It felt like the Dave Campo era all over again.

How was I supposed to find a way to get to the game?

Our plan was to find someone with extras and beg them for tickets. As sad as it seems, it works sometimes! Luckily, my compadre had purchased a red parking pass so we wouldn't have to make as long of a walk this time.

With about 30 minutes till kickoff I was screaming for extras from someone. Anyone. Little kids. Grandmas. Drunk guys. Sober Guys. Guys in Portapotties. Guys that had already told me no. It didn't matter, I had to get in.

And then as I stood in an empty roadway, or so it seemed, I was hit by a some floozy riding a stolen moped. Hit me right on the elbow. A police officer followed him and had no time for me to complain. As I stood in pain, a group of guys approached and said "wow are you ok? Should we get some help over here?" I thought, "what would Emmitt do?" and I simply said "No medical help, just get me in that game" It was if the Mad Mopeder had been sent from above to create sympathy for me, because these guys had an extra!

$160 later I was in the game for a bargain price in the lower level. I thought for a second that this was a sign, and that I was supposed to be there for a win.

ugh......

You guys know the rest, but here are my random thoughts:

Brady is good.

I hate Mike Carey the referee. He is the worst official in the game today. Ugh.

Getting started early in the game on offense would be nice.

I tested out The Beer Belly at the game. Don't know what it is? Check it out: www.thebeerbelly.com

Cowboys fans gave up almost immeadiatly after that field goal on 4th and 5.

3rd down is the worst time to take a mental break on defense. (duh)

I'd like to see Miles Austin run a kick back soon.

I still don't see another team that will get in our way in the NFC.

Well that's it for this post. Enjoy your week, and I'll see you after the next game.

Score Predictions?

Jordan2 — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:20:36 -0000

My friends and I always go around before the game and give out score predictions.

Although I rarely remember what they pick, or even what I pick, it's always fun to see what everyone else is thinking.

I'm saying 41-13 Cowboys

What's your score prediction for Monday night?