Why the Dallas Cowboys won’t win it all this season

Some say the hole in Texas Stadium is designed for GOD himself to look down on his beloved Cowboys. Others will tell you, the hole represents the multitude of heartbreak that has plagued the Boys in big games over the years. Whether it was Don Meredith’s inability to find a open receiver from the Green Bay Packers three yard line with time running out in the 1966 championship game, or the heart wrenching loss to those same Packers again in the 1967 famed ” ICE BOWL”. Maybe the hole represents the void left by Jim O’brien’s field goal in Superbowl V to lift the Baltimore Colts past the Cowboys in the final seconds, or Jackie Smith’s wide open dropped touchdown pass from Roger Staubach to keep pace with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super XIII. Truth is, the hole in Texas Stadium could represent anything, but current Cowboys QB, Tony Romo, and the rest of the Dallas Cowboys have not done much to dispell any of the myths that are out there.

“Considering, the seemingly bottomless bank vault Jerry Jones whipped open this offseason, it would lend itself to believe that Jerry and his staff have made all the right moves for a Super Bowl run. “

In the latest Cowboy saga of “Hole in the Roof heatbreak”, Tony Romo has been at the center of scrutiny due to two playoff losses in which many feel should have been different outcomes for the Boys. A bobbled snap that cost the cowboys a playoff win, in Seattle, in 2007, and a lackluster performance after a romantic weekend in Cabo, Mexico with Celebrity girlfriend, Jessica Simpson, may or may not have played a role in this years disappointing loss to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants. Oh! But this wasn’t just any playoff loss!! The Cowboys averaged 37.5 points a game which resulted in two double digit victories in the regular season against this team, only to be held to a paltry 17 points in the divisional playoff game. The Cowboys stunk up the joint by going scoreless for the last quarter and a half. Cowboy Nation would like to believe the new retractable roof at the Cowboy complex to open next year in Arlington, Texas, will free the Boys of the curse of choking in the final minutes of big games. Well, sorry to break it to you Cowboy fans, it’s going to take a bit more than a new stadium to reach the ultimate pinnacle of sports, The Super Bowl.

Okay, okay, by now your thinking so far I haven’t told you why this years team won’t fulfill its ultimate goal. Considering, the seemingly bottomless bank vault Jerry Jones whipped open this offseason, it would lend itself to believe that Jerry and his staff have made all the right moves for a Super Bowl run. No other team in the NFC has the talent the Cowboys have and no one else stands out as an immediate challenger to the NFC crown. Jerry Jones filled the weak spots of the team with young talent by signing Adam“don’t call him Pacman” Jones, adding experience and linebacker help with pro bowler Zach Thomas, drafting Felix Jones to compliment Marion Barber in the offensive backfield, and resigning key free agents in Barber, Terrence Newman, Flozell Adams, Ken Hamlin and some guy they call T.O. But Hold up! Haven’t we’ve been here before? Wasn’t it just last year that we were saying the same thing about the Cowboys, who added Big Time free agents Ken Hamlin, Tank Johnson, and Leonard Davis. The Cowboys pass rush was supposed to get a boost from drafting Anthony Spencer, and the defense was suppose to be Super Bowl ready because Wade Phillips was hired on as Head Coach, which allowed Jason Garrett to focus on making the offense Super. For about fourteen weeks this past season we saw evidence that all the moves the Cowboys made were for the betterment of the team. We also saw evidence to the contrary at key moments of the season, as well. Anthony Spencer was never able to beat out Marcus Spears at the left Defensive End position. Leonard Davis would often catch key penalties and get beat to allow sacks and pressure on Tony Romo in key games of the season, including the playoff loss against the Giants. Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams became scape goats for a porous Cowboy secondary all season long, and Tank Johnson, who couldn’t join the team until the second half of the season would only have a few bright spots and was no factor in key losses against The Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, and New York Giants at the end of the season.

Here are the top 5 reasons the Dallas Cowboys won’t win it all this season:

• 5. No home run in the run game– When the Cowboys visit the barbershop more than 15 times a game (Marion Barber), they usually win, but all of these wins have come in the regular season. Because Barber has such a punishing running style, it’s questionable how much he will have left in the playoffs. Barber does not possess breakaway speed. Since Barber is the only experienced runner on the roster, can’t depend on the new Jones in the backfield to make a huge difference the old Jones did not, at least not in his first season. So, with that said, there will be many times when playoff season begins, Romo and the Boys will be facing third and long ( Allow me to present exhibit A- Giants over Cowboys 21-17 in divisional playoffs)
• 4. Lack of playoff winning experience– Some may question the validity of this one, but those who have played the sport knows that when you have never won anything, all it takes is a second half lead by the opposing team to reintroduce that seed of doubt. While the Boys have gained playoff experience 3 of the past 5 years, they have come up empty every time. In fact, America’s Team has not won a playoff game since destroying Minnesota way back in 1996. Only T.O., Zach Thomas, Ken Hamlin, Tank Johnson, and Brad Johnson have experienced Playoff wins. Last I looked, only two of these players play significant minutes. Fact is, NFL rosters are made up of 53 players. 5 of 53 is not saying much.
• 3. NFC East competition– Say what you will, but the cowboys have trouble dominating the NFC East because it is simply the best division in Football. No other division can boast at least three playoff appearances by each of its teams this decade. This division has had Super Bowl representatives two of the last four years and the Boys are almost everyones favorite this year from the NFC. The Cowboys won the division for the first time since 1998. The so called, high powered offense scored 6 points, 6 points, and 17 points against the Eagles, Redskins, and Giants respectively down the stretch, this year. Say what you will, but there is nothing super about those numbers. With only four losses all year, including playoffs, Dallas found a way to give three of those games to teams in the division. My guess is, this wont change.
• 2. Tony Romo’s immaturity—This is one that will be debated until the cows come home. Tony Romo, with all of his physical abilities and improvisational skills has continuously shown that he needs a short leash. Why so harsh on Romo you ask? Well consider this!! The most covered QB this offseason next to Michael Vick and Brett Farve, is Tony Romo. While Vick has been convicted and Farve back and forth on retirement, Romo has made news for everything from dating Cowboy cheerleaders, Partying with Britney Spears, to being at every venue possible with his star girl friend, Jessica Simpson. One would think that a guy who bobbled a game winning snap in the playoffs in 2007 and a guy who received lots a blame for a poor performance after hanging with his girlfriend just before a playoff game in which his team loss in 2008, would stay out of the lime light. Better yet, A guy who is fast developing a reputation as a high profile playboy, would attempt to fan these flames by making less news for his social life and more news for his football play. There are those who would say its ludicrous to think that Tony’s relationship with Jessica has anything to do with the Cowboys playoff loss last year. I would say to those naysayers that they are absolutely correct. It’s not Jessica Simpson at all!! Tony Romo’s immaturity in thinking that the media’s craze surrounding his private life has no negative affects on his team, is what the cowboys should worry about. No great Quarterback comes to mind, with the kind of Rock Star image Romo has created for himself. Joe Namath never had to worry about this kind of media. In fact, it can only serve as a negative if teammates are busy answering questions in the locker room about Tony’s 20 under par in a recent celebrity golf tournament or Tony’s trips to the Dallas Mavericks games, The Virgin Islands, and who knows where else with Jessica. Tony’s problem is he loves being “Macaroni Tony” so much, he hasn’t stopped to think how answering simple questions during football season about anything but football can be distracting in his locker room. Am I losing it!! Any normal person would do everything to prevent the negative, Right!!! The Boys are hardly a veteran team. A seasoned team might be able to handle these distractions, but as evidenced by T.O.’s meltdown at the end of the last seasons playoff’s game. “This is my quarterback, man, That’s my quarterback” The Cowboys still have a ways to go. Tony Romo acts like a part time Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, all the while parading around the world as a full time socialite with Jessica Simpson, and new found celebrity friends. I guess 67.4 million Dollars can buy just about anything!! Wonder why we rarely read about Tom Brady or the Manning’s in such meaningless theater? Oh! My bad–they’ve been busy get ready for another Super Bowl Victory. Queue the victory music for the opposing team in early January. This Cowboy still don’t get it!!
• 1. Wade Phillips/Jason Garrett–The number one reason the Dallas Cowboys will not win it all this year is lack of imagination and inexperience of its head coach and Asst. Head Coach, respectively. Wade Phillips can’t win a playoff game as a head coach to save his life. He will forever be haunted by starting Rob Johnson over Doug Flutie in a playoff game verses the Tennessee Titans that has now been doubbed ” The music City Miracle“. Phillips chose Johnson over Flutie to start the 1999 season. After a 0-3 start and a rib injury, Doug Flutie gets the nod and leads the then coached Buffalo Bills to a 10-5 record. After a meaningless game to end the season, Phillips decides to start Johnson over Flutie in the playoff game. The rest is history!! Wade is 0-4 as a head coach in the playoffs. Phillips must also keep a tighter reign on the offense led by Jason Garrett. The Cowboys came off the field too many time last season due to over agressive play calling that borderlined reckless at times. Fact is Jason Garret was new at his position of offensive coordinator and he was agressive with his toys. Often times overlooking the run game at much needed moments of late regular season games. As a result the Boys did not look sharp the last 4 weeks and were bounced early from the playoffs…..Oops! or have I said that before!!! Wade will need to calm his young Asst. Coach down, and force him to be smarter with field position if he plans to win in the playoffs, or can he? Remember, it was Jerry Jones wo hired Jason Garrett, not Wade phillips. More to come on that down the road!!

Hang in there Cowboy Nation, the bulk of this can all be resolved with better coaching in big games, and more on and off field dicipline from the teams best player. While I can’t tell you at this point, who will rise up and knock the Cowboys off the thrown they have yet to capture. I can tell you the hole in Texas Stadium appears it will leave one more void in your hearts before the stadium is demolished. Look at the bright side, The regular season will be a whole lotta fun……I have my Popcorn ready!!. “How ‘Bout them Cowboys?!!!!

And That’s How the BIG MAN sees It

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