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Introduction

While the Cowboys have been relatively quiet this off season the media channels make it seem like they are the most active team. Every day there is a new rumor or expansion of a rumor associated with them. It seems every NFL player that is unhappy where they are seems ready to jump to Dallas.

Even though they often name other teams Dallas is always focused on for three years. One, they are the Cowboys,  America’s Team. Everybody loves or hates them so they are sure to draw ratings just by virtue of who they are. Second, they are competitive. An impact player here or there could make them the Super Bowl favorites. Third, Jerry Jones is willing to take risks to get his team to the top.

So, I’ve been thinking about all these rumors and the upcoming draft and about what the Cowboys could feasibly do over the next couple months.

No McFadden

There’s been a lot of speculation about the Cowboys jumping up the draft to get Darren McFadden. Besides not needing a top-five back the money they would have to pay him is simply too great. The Cowboys will sit pat towards the tail end of the draft and, if anything, move out of the first round.

Unfortunately for those who love McFadden and the Cowboys he will not have a star on his helmet come next year.

Pacman Jones and Chad Johnson

These are the two prominent rumors regarding the Cowboys right now. “Pacman” Jones has made it clear that he wants to play for the Cowboys. If he’s willing to suck it up and take 90% of the risk then he will. He’s good enough for the Cowboys to take a little chance on but he won’t be commanding huge money or a high draft pick.

Chad Johnson has made it clear he wants to play anywhere but Cincinnati. He mentioned the Cowboys and suggested that with his addition the Super Bowl is guaranteed. While that’s certainly a stretch an throwing game combining the likes of Owens, Johnson, and Witten would be formidable to say the least.

While I originally thought the Adam Jones trade was much more likely I’m beginning to think there’s a real possibility with Chad Johnson. This is solely based on some comments by Jerry Jones. He stated that the Cowboys are assuming Terry Glenn won’t be back and their number one priority is getting some firepower opposite Terrell Owens. When pressed about whether he thought that firepower would come from the draft Jerry Jones said it wasn’t likely.

The Draft

Well, the Cowboys have two first round picks this year. That gives them an edge in this year’s draft. Combine that with the fact that they have no glaring needs and they have many options. They will not trade one of these picks to get Chad Johnson or Jones directly but could use them to maneuver.

For the purposes of this piece that’s what I will assume the thinking is. These first two choices will be looked at as pieces to build towards these trades.

Pick 22: From the Cleveland Browns for QB Brady Quinn

There is much speculation about what the Cowboys will do with this pick. In this scenario they are going to trade this bad boy to either the Falcons or the Dolphins (who ever offers more). I’m going to assume the Falcons will in order to #### up a QB the Dolphins otherwise would have. So…

***Dallas Cowboys trade pick 22 to Atlanta Falcons for 2009 First Round Pick and pick 34 (Second Round, pick 3)***

Atlanta Falcons select Quarterback Brian Brohm from Louisville.

This is a repeat of what happened last year when the Browns traded from early in the second round up into the first to insure they got Brady Quinn. Here, I’m betting the Falcons fear the Dolphins scooping up Brohm enough to want to jump up.

Pick 28: Antoine Cason CB/S (Arizona)

This is called hedging your bet. The Cowboys select a good young DB just in case “Pacman” doesn’t shake out. They also give themselves someone to groom behind Henry and Newman. If Newman’s price is too steep after next season then they will have his replacement waiting. Cason also gives them some depth at Safety and could be moved there if necessary.

This pick gives them lots of options moving forward. They have fulfilled a serious need and set themselves up for the future. They also protect themselves against Jones if they manage to get him and he tanks.

Pick 34: From the Atlanta Falcons for QB Brian Brohm

The Cowboys now have two picks in the second round. They also have two first round selections in 2009. One of which is from a team that seems destined to struggle for years to come (but isn’t that what they thought about Cleveland too?).

I think this is where they make their big move. ..

***Dallas Cowboys trade pick 34 (Second Round, pick 3), pick 61 (Second Round, pick 30), and LB Bobby Carpenter to Cincinnati for WR Chad Johnson***

This is about as close to market value as the Browns can hope to get for Chad Johnson. It gives them a lot of options are where to go. They will have three picks in the second round to help bolster their defense and add a talented receiver or whatever they want.

For the Cowboys, it removes a few things. First, Bobby Carpenter hasn’t really found a place in this defense. He’s out of favor with the coaching staff and seems to need a fresh start. He’s young and talented and with the right team could become a stud Line Backer.

Second, they don’t have to worry about busting on a WR selection. This will give them the ability to continue to wait on two promising young Wide Receivers (Sam Hurd and Isaiah Stanback) while assuring they are competitive on the field.

Third, they will have some leeway with Terry Glenn. He won’t be called on to step immediately back in and will be given some time to heal. If he’s anything like what he once was then a one-two-three punch of Owens-Johnson-Glenn will be nearly unstoppable (not to mention the continued presence of Barber, Romo, and Witten).

…and the Rest

The rest of the draft is relatively uneventful (though I’m not sure anything could compete with what they did above). The Cowboys use the later rounds to shore up their Defensive and Offensive lines. With the final few picks they may pick up a DB or two just to keep the churning going on there.

The real story of the rest of the Cowboys draft is this…

***Dallas Cowboys trade pick 157 (Round Five, pick 30) to the Tennessee Titans for Adam “Pacman” Jones***

Jones and the Titans get their wishes. Those are, respectively, to play for the Cowboys and to be rid of Jones.

As the Cowboys demonstrated by using their first round pick on Cason they are not playing games with Jones. He will either come in to compete for a job and stay on the straight and narrow or will be dismissed without hesitation.

With this scenario the Cowboys would be stupid not to at least pick him up. He’s a proven talent and a dynamic return man. If he really has learned then the Cowboys have their DB’s for the future in Cason and Jones. Henry would be moved to Free Safety and Hamlin to Strong Safety (if the Cowboys so desired) and Williams released after the conclusion of the 2008-2009 season.

Summary

Cowboys acquire WR Chad Johnson from the Bengals, draft CB/S Antoine Cason with the 28th overall pick, and acquire Adam “Pacman” Jones from the Tennessee Titans

WR’s: Terrell Owens (81), Chad Johnson (85), Terry Glenn (83), Patrick Crayton (84),Sam Hurd (17),  Isaiah Stanback (86)

CB’s: Terrance Newman (41), Anthony Henry (42), Antoine Cason (43), Adam “Pacman” Jones (32), Alan Ball (20)

Conclusion

So after being fairly quiet the Cowboys absolutely take over the hype of the offseason. Their two trades dominate headlines and promise to make them better on both sides of the ball.

By being crafty the Cowboys assure they have two picks in 2009 and many more options then and shore up their Defensive Backfield. The only obvious missed opportunity was a RB but the Cowboys have one more trick up their sleeve when they trade for Ricky Williams…

…just kidding. The Cowboys use a later pick (or two) on a Running Back their willing to take a chance on. It could be a committee of three to at least begin the season but Marion Barber is clearly the starter.

Keep in mind this is a hypothetically and purely for fun. There’s no way this would go down but it would be a lot of fun if it did. It would also significantly improve the Cowboys on both sides of the ball and give them plenty of options for the future.

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Introduction

Well, the Cowboys have finally lost a game. Beyond that, they actually played a good opponent in the New England Patriots. But in that loss, there was a lot of good to be taken from it. The defense did an excellent job early in the game against Tom Brady.

Meanwhile, the offense moved the ball fairly well against a top-five defense. Tony Romo also seemed to rebound from his 6-turnover performance against the Bills and only threw a interception in the desperate closing moments of the game.

The important question, for me, is what can I take away from this game as a Cowboys fan? Despite being a loss I saw a lot of things I liked but plenty of room for improvement and I'm still excited about the Cowboys' chances.

Cowboys Offense

I have two primary complaints with the Cowboys offense.

First, they start way to slow. The Cowboys are like an old Diesel engine; they take a long time to start up but then can run for a very long time. The Cowboys have yet to manage a touchdown in the opening quarter and scored only a field goal this past Sunday.

They need to change that, obviously, but first we've got to identify why they start so slow.

It could simply be a characteristic of this team (a fatal one if so) that they need to "warm up" every game. It could also be due to play calling, perhaps the Cowboys are less aggressive early (but I seriously doubt that's the case). What I think the real problem is, they have no down field threat and opponents are stacking against the run.

I've noticed the Cowboys like to come out and run it early and often. This would be nice except that their running game is rather anemic until late in the game. The Cowboys have no down field threat so teams stack the box and receive Julius Jones with open arms.

There are a couple remedies to this. First, Terry Glenn's return will help by default. His speed is a threat and teams will respect it. I guarantee if they don't respect him in the first game he's back (testing his surgically repaired knee) they will get burned. Glenn will help open things up for the running backs.

Second, the Cowboys could try a little "West-Coast" variety in the opening minutes. Maybe role the backs out into the flats or have them barely cross the line of scrimmage and toss them the ball for 3-4 yard completions. This will advance the ball and force defenses to spread out. It should also help them get their offensive charge going sooner.

Finally, they could obviously come out throwing and throwing deep. While they don't have a deep threat that makes safeties sit back on their heels they have enough speed and fire power to get down field quickly. A flea-flicker on the second or third play of the game could really open up a chance for Terrell Owens or Sam Hurd to get down field and come up with a long completion. This would at least stoke the fires early.

Cowboys Defense

The more and more I watch the Cowboys' Defense the more I like it. They seem to be really getting what Wade Phillips is preaching and acting upon it. They got to Brady multiple times on Sunday and their pass rush is really picking up. Greg Ellis' return has played a huge part in that and he's gotten to the quarterback in every game he's played.

DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer are also attacking from the edges and adding pressure to opposing offenses. The defense is also covering fairly well downfield with Anthony Henry out and Terrence Newman still not at 100%. However, this shows that once their two starting corner's are back to full health they can have confidence in Jacques Reeves to be tough to throw against.

They also have Tank Johnson on the way. While he is undersized for a traditional nose tackle in a 3-4, his aggressiveness will help him in Phillips' system. More importantly, he'll be able to give Jay Ratliff some rest and keep him fresher as the game wears on. If Tank can flash even some of his promise then the Cowboys pass rush could be excellent.

DeMarcus Ware

DeMarcus Ware's maturation is also a huge plus. While some criticized the Cowboys for taking Ware over Merriman I believe Ware is the more complete player. For instance, after sacking Brady the Patriots tried to use Ware's aggressiveness against him.

They ran a play they love, a screen pass, which entailed the offensive line basically abandoning Brady on one side. Brady then drops back, drawing the defense with him, and then dumps the ball off at the last second. They did this and DeMarcus Ware had a clear avenue to Brady.

Rather than take it, however, Ware smelled out the play and stayed with (I believe) Kevin Faulk. As defenders closed on him and Faulk struggled to get free, Brady was forced to attempt a pass to him. However, Ware's presence ruined what is often a huge play for the Patriots and forced them to punt the ball away.

Tony Romo

Say what you will about Romo, I believe in him. He showed poise in this game and kept his head (answering critics after his terrible performance against the Bills). He managed the game when the Cowboys had the ball and still showed he can make plays.

Romo has the arm, has the legs, and more importantly (I think) has the heart. He has absolute confidence in himself and isn't afraid to keep throwing. He believes in his team and in Jason Garrett's offense.

Romo has shown that he has "it" and I believe he can truly lead this team. With his continued development and all the weapons the Cowboys have I see good things in the Cowboys (and Romo's) future.

Jason Witten

The best tight end nobody knows about is having a great season. He has 32 receptions for 454 yards and 4 touchdowns. He's an effective weapon for the Cowboys across the middle and displays great hands and toughness.

More importantly, he has filled the voided left by Terry Glenn. While he obviously doesn't stretch the field like Glenn he has become a legitimate threat and defenses have to scheme against him. Along side Terrell Owens he gives defenses fits and has proven to be one of the Cowboys' most consistent players.

Coming Improvement

On offense the Cowboys promise to improve. As stated, they haven't been striking early and I'm sure the coaching staff is hard at work on correcting that. But they also have Terry Glenn's impending return.

Glenn has been out with a knee injury but had some cartelidge removed so he could come back this season. Once he is healthy, his speed will add another threat to the Cowboys arsenal. Terry Glenn could stretch the field while Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, and Patrick Crayton have proven they can make plays on a short field. Lining up Glenn and Owens on one side and then Witten and Crayton on the other could pose serious problems for defenses.

On the defensive side of the ball the Cowboys also stand to improve.

For one thing, Terrence Newman (regarded as their number one corner) isn't at full strength. He's still getting himself back into shape and working himself into Wade Phillips' version of the 3-4. Once he gets to full strength and confidence he has shown he can shut down some of the best receivers in the league and will force opposing QB's to throw elsewhere.

Anthony Henry will be patrolling that "elsewhere" and could cause offense's to turn to option number three. Before going out with an ankle injury, he was leading the league with 4 interceptions. He also had a high number of pass deflections and was making a serious case for why he should be called the Cowboys' true number one CB. With a healthy Newman on one side and a healthy Henry on the other offenses will have difficulties getting the ball to their receivers.

Finally, Tank Johnsons' presence I don't think can be emphasized enough. If for no other reason than the fact that he will give Jay Ratliff some rest. But I think he'll have a bigger impact than that.

His aggressiveness will benefit from Phillips' style and allow him to get into the backfield and make plays. He's also going to have a chip on his shoulder and be looking to prove the Bears wrong for giving up on him. This motivation should not be underestimated.

If the Cowboys pass rush continues to improve and they can settle into a strong rotation on the defensive line and the D-B's return to full health the Cowboys defense will be a tough one to play against.

Conclusion

While the Cowboys lost a game there was a lot of promise in that game. There is also some comfort to be taken in knowing that they're going to be getting more talent as the season wears on. If the Cowboys can maintain their advantages and improve on their deficiencies then I wouldn't hand the Lombardi Trophy over to the AFC quite yet.

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Introduction

Recently, Donovan McNabb sat down for an interview with James Brown and made some controversial comments. Basically, what he said was that African-American Quarterbacks have to do a “little extra” because of their skin color.

Well, there’s one position where I think the minority has to do a lot extra because of their skin color.

White running backs, nearly extinct in the upper echelon of football, face strong opposition from the earliest stages and a strongly held belief that they simply can’t play the position. All that may be about to change…

 

A Little History

Shortly before the NFL draft this season I wrote a little piece about this phenomenon. It was titled “Position Available: White’s Need Not Apply” and focused on the story of a prospective white running back named Brian Leonard.

Over the course of the article I discussed the anomalous game of Brock Forsey against the Cardinals and the questions that followed (including, “Is it surprising you came out and had a great game and you’re white?”).

I also talked about how, according to Tony Dungy, white’s are discouraged from a young age from pursuing the “skill positions” (RB, WR, CB) and funneled into more appropriate positions.

Finally, I concluded that Brian Leonard, despite his size, skills, stats, speed, and toughness, would face a strong current against him because of his race. I don’t think it can be denied that to be a white running back you have to be truly special.

During my research I was very discouraged about his chances. Most sites agreed that he should be shifted to full-back despite running a 4.49 40 (Reggie Bush ran 4.38, Adrian Peterson ran 4.40, and Marshawn #### ran 4.46) and stating he preferred to be a running back. I thought he would surely be drafted as a full-back, if at all, and never get a real shot in the NFL; all because he was white.

Current Events

But that all changed today. I recalled that he had been drafted by the Rams in the second round but also that he had been drafted as a full-back. Besides, no matter how good he was I seriously doubted he could supplant Steven Jackson. Then Steven Jackson went and got hurt.

Now, the Rams are likely to elevate their number two running back into the starting slot. And that number two running back is, of course, Brian Leonard.

This development is stunning and quite unbelievable. I honestly didn’t know how to react when I learned that Brian Leonard would likely start this Sunday at running back. I thought it was a joke or a dream maybe even a Pepsi-induced hallucination. But, nay, it appears the Rams are seriously preparing to launch us into a brave new era in the NFL; an era in which franchise black quarterbacks are handing the ball off to elite white running backs.

Great White Hope

Now, Leonard’s not going to have an easy task this Sunday. He’s going up against the number 8 rush defense in the league and a team that is sitting atop the NFC. The Cowboys are sure to key on struggling QB Marc Bulger and will be looking to improve to 4-0.

Brian Leonard will face a determined defense Sunday and a group of guys determined not to let a white running back do well against them. We have yet to really see if he’s capable of doing the things he did in college in the NFL. And I’m not sure Leonard has had enough experience to be truly prepared for Sunday and I don’t think he’s going to set the world on fire, at least not yet.

But he has brought his “Leonard Leap” to the NFL in the preseason:

 

I’m really torn this Sunday. On the one hand, I’d love to see Leonard do really well this Sunday just to put a #### wrench in people’s perceptions. On the other hand, the Rams are playing the Cowboys and I, therefore, would love to see them completely crushed.

But even if Leonard isn’t successful this Sunday I think there is still one up and coming running back who could give white people everywhere reason for hope:

 

Conclusion

Are we going to see this stereotype torn down before our eyes on Sunday? I seriously doubt it. I think we’ll see Leonard struggle in his first start against a pretty good run defense but his struggles will not be because he’s white.

Will we see a day when both Brian Leonard and Sam McGuffie are starting in the NFL? Will we see a day when white running backs are as prosperous as they once were (post-integration I mean)? I don’t know. But be sure and tune in on Sunday because even if we don’t see those barriers torn down, we’re going to see a little crack form in them, and then it’s only a matter of time.

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The Good

This was going to go into the “Bad” section until I read that a “minor miracle” appears to have occurred.

In case you haven’t quite heard the story, during the kickoff following the halftime of the Bills-Broncos game last weekend, Tight End Kevin Everett lowered his head to make a tackle. That tackle turned into a helmet-to-helmet collision with Domenick Hixon.

Besides twitched Kevin Everett remained mostly motionless for about 15 minutes and was loaded, immobilized, into an ambulance. Unlike so many similar scenes, Everett did not give the customary thumbs up.

As of Monday, the outlook on his situation was bleak. A surgeon even said he felt that the Tight End would probably never walk again. He said the injury was potentially life threatening and was at best “catastrophic.”

However, as of Tuesday evening the outlook had changed completely. Apparently, Everett has regained voluntary movement in his arms and legs.

The reversal has been dramatic. When I first read about this story I thought this was a horrible situation. Now, it appears this may be a miracle. Kevin Everett, if he has indeed regained motion in his arms and legs could literally be walking in a matter of months. Will he ever play in the league again? Absolutely not.

The injury will be a weak spot for him the rest of his life. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has to walk with a cane the rest of his life. That, however, is far better than what they were suggesting on Monday.

I heard a report about some kind of special gel being applied to him soon after the injury. Upon searching the Internet I haven’t found any mention of it, so if someone finds a link please leave it.

Whatever the case if Kevin Everett is able to walk again then it will be good for him and his family.

The Bad

The Browns, the Browns, the Browns. We all knew they were bad heading into the season but did we really think they would be this bad?

After getting simply smacked by the Steelers, the Browns traded their starting Quarter Back. Two questions:

1. Does anybody really think Romeo Crennel will be coaching this team next season?

2. What are the odds on the Browns going 0-16?

Officially, Derek Andersen was the number two QB and it can be assumed is the starter for next week. However, there are rumors that Brady Quinn could be preparing to make his Browns debut.

Personally, I’m not sure it will really matter. The Browns look so bad on both sides of the ball they should be bumped back down to NCAA Division I-AA (or whatever the hell they call it now).

The Browns epitomize “bad” and every coach on that team should be looking for a new job. I wouldn’t be surprised if Romeo Crennel is gone by week 6. The Browns should be looking at Bill Cowher, Marty Schottenheimer, Jon Gruden, Denny Green, or even Bill Parcells and preparing to make the first pick in the 2008 draft…wait…never mind, the Cowboys should be preparing for that.

The Ugly

A couple weeks back I commented on how the “Patriot Way” was a bunch of garbage.

Now, the Patriots have proven that you can pretty much take what little belief remained in the Patriot Way and flush it down the toilet. Turns out, not only are Patriots’ players cheaters, so is the entire organization.

Now, I think Rodney Harrison’s infraction was fairly minor but a serious blow to a team and organization that claims itself righteous. The bigger blow, by far, has to be allegations that the NFL believes the New England Patriots videotaped the Jets sidelines in an attempt to steal signals.

This isn’t the first time the Patriots have faced these kinds of accusations. Last season Packers officials made a Patriots employee who didn’t have the proper credentials put away his video camera. This incident has done nothing but fuel the fire of LaDanian Tomlinson’s hatred fro the Patriots as he said the following, “I think the Patriots actually live by the saying, ‘If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.’”

And apparently there’s been worry of the Patriot Way for a while now. In this article from Boston.com, the Packers had received the heads up before hand, “‘From what I can remember, he had quite a fit when we took him out,’ Packers president Bob Harlan told Mortensen. ‘We had gotten word before the game that they did this sort of thing, so we were looking for it.’”

The popular theory in New England is that a vast right-wing conspiracy has been launched by the “Man-Genius.” Another popular excuse is that “lot’s of other teams are doing it” and a fan interviewed during the Fox 25 News at 10 on Tuesday night uttered the exact phrase LT mentioned: “If you’re not cheating you’re not trying. Go Pats!” Needless to say, Patriots’ fans appear to be shrugging off the mantle of class that they had placed on their team and smiling with that “whatever” look on their faces.

The Patriots have been heralded by fans and commentators alike for “doing it the right way.” Now, it appears not only are they like every other team, maybe they're even worse. The Patriot Way may be the way of cheaters everywhere and prove that the best way to the top is to screw everyone else in your way.

Their titles can not be taken away, neither can the fact that they’re a great team. But all the success has a taint now and in the history books many asterisks’ will appear next to their victories.

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Introduction

This has been an interesting offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. While the press continues to wait in desperation for Terrell Owens to erupt the Cowboys have gone through a great deal of change. The story of the Cowboys offseason began as the regular season ended. Cliche as that is to say, it is so true in this case that it must be said.

The events the game in Seattle set in motion have rocked the very foundations of the organization but have gone by with what amounts to very little noise. Surely, that lone game did not determine the course of the Cowboys' offseason but it did seal their fate.

Now that the season is getting ever closer I think it would be a good time to look over what has transpired since that fateful snap. Through the myriad of speculation and meaningless mud slinging that most of the media has engaged in there are some truly interesting goings on in Big D. 

A Little History

For the past few seasons the Cowboys existed under Bill Parcells' reign of terror. He micromanaged the team like the dictator he is and it resulted in an improved roster, three winning seasons, and two playoff losses. With that Bad Ol' Bill left town to joining up with ESPN and eventually slam the organization. It's only a matter of time before Parcells unloads on Jerry Jones and begins taking credit for any success the Cowboys have.

When Parcells first came to Dallas many gave him two years tops. They said the egos of Bill Parcells and Jerry Jones couldn't be contained in a single metropolitan area let alone a single stadium. Then later they said Terrell Owens would be good for one season only, drawing on the evidence they were presented with in Philadelphia.

For the group of overeager former players it was cut and dry, T.O. was a bad seed and had turned on Donovan McNabb. In fact, these gutless commentators have yet to speculate on whether or not Donnie's and his mommy conspired to run T.O. out of town when he became the hero like they would later when Jeff Garcia did. But that's a topic for another post.

Now, the "professional" media is using its wisdom to suggest that Wade Phillips is nothing but a puppet. Someone who Jerry Jones can control. They have no real evidence of this, any one the Cowboys hired was going to be labeled that way. But it gives them something to talk about and they've revved up their coverage of how Wade Phillips will deal with T.O.

The Draft

After hiring Wade Phillips the Cowboys began to focus their attention on the draft. Speculation initially centered on which of the many available Safeties (or Cornerbacks) the Cowboys would take with their first pick. Once Ken Hamlin was signed there was a slide to wide receiver.

The experts felt that the primary needs the Cowboys had to address were Free Safety (since everyone since Darren Woodson has failed) and backup Wide Receiver (Owens and Glenn arein their 30's after all). However, a few dissidents suggested the Cowboys could go after a Defensive Tackle (considering they didn't really have anyone else behind Jason Ferguson). No one could predict, however, the present that would fall into their laps.

The Brady Quinn Question

In those days of old, we were busy speculating on whether or not Brady Quinn would go first or third in the draft (come on, did anybody really believe the Lions were going to take anyone except Calvin Johnson or that the Raiders were going to take anything except a Quarterback?). Then, right before our eyes, the fall began.

Brady Quinn looked so pretty in his suit. He was just waiting to hear his name called and stride up to accept his place in NFL legend. He would enter NFL legend all right, but probably not for the reason he wanted. First, the Raiders picked JaMarcus Russell to little surprise. Then the Browns should they might actually know how to build a franchise and chose the franchise tackle. The Bucs showed commitment to rebuilding their aging defense and then the Dolphins shocked the world by picking Ted Ginn Jr.

Then he fell right into the hands of Jerry Jones at pick number 22. The Cowboys had a hot young Quarterback in Tony Romo but until last year no one thought he was "franchise" material. With Quinn he could make the fanbase happy while getting a nod from the "experts." But instead he did the smartest thing possible: traded the pick to Cleveland for their first round pick next year.

That gives the Cowboys two first rounders next season, one of which promises to be pretty high. Plus, they get to find out if Tony Romo is really their man or not without wasting any of Quinn's necessary development time. Jerry Jones pulled of####ood move and I think it's going to pay off big.

Eagles Trade: What were they Thinking

I swear, the Cowboys must have infiltrated the Eagles front office. I mean, the Eagles traded themselves out of the first round for virtually nothing to let the Cowboys pick up a guy they hope to become a sack machine. The Eagles drafted their potential future Quarterback while allowing the Cowboys to select the guy they hope will put him on the ground.

The Cowboys got the guy they were targeting the whole time in Anthony Spencer while securing their future. It was, quite frankly, masterful. Jerry Jones proved why he's a GM to be reckoned with, despite his many critics, and deserves all the credit for ensuring the Cowboys legacy (did anyone mention that massive new stadium that's going to host the Super Bowl in a few years?).

Greg Ellis

With the drafting of Anthony Spencer there has been a question about Greg Ellis. The veteran is again nervous the Cowboys are going to cut him lose. They drafted a guy who plays the same position with their first round pick and that makes Ellis feel left out. Personally, I don't think he has anything to fear. He is still a stellar player who can get to the Quarterback like few others can. He has a future in Big D and I could see him joining the organization in a different role once his playing days are over.

Phillips' Defense + Garrett's Offense = Super Bowl?

Tony Romo seems to think so. I'm not so sure. One of the biggest problems I had with Bill Parcells was that his schemes were vanilla; on offense and defense. The Cowboys offense was near prolific, one of the top scoring offenses in the league, and the defense was one of the best during the first two-thirds of the season. However, the bland defense couldn't hold up as the season wore on.

Parcells used the same defense every game. His defense focuses on one-on-one matchups and requires every player to preform their role perfectly; if one player is out of place the whole scheme falls apart. This defense worked all right when Ware was coming off one edge and Ellis was coming off the other. The offense had to worry about blocking them so much they tied up their weapons in doing so.

Once Ellis went down and that threat was mitigated offenses exploited the straight-forward nature of the Parcells' 3-4. The Cowboys offense, as prolific as it was, couldn't keep up. Parcells mechanical nature and adherence to some stupid sheet kept them from doing anything truly special.

Now, the Cowboys have a much more aggressive defensive scheme. It attacks the offense on every play and focuses on allowing the players to make plays. It works much more like a loose framework for the defense to play around rather than a strict code to which they must adhere. It enhances instincts and should allow the Cowboys to strike at the throat of the offense.

The offense should also be more aggressive. According to reports, Garrett's offense is number based. That sounds simple, but basically it allows the offense to adjust much more easily. Rather than a list of letters and phrases a number is assigned to each position. The players can then quickly and effectively switch a route or a block or whatever to better exploit the weaknesses of the defense.

If Tony Romo is the Quarterback all Cowboys fans hope he is then this could be truly special. Controlled aggression is the most effective strategy in sports (as far as I'm concerned). If you can keep the other team off balance and reacting to your moves then you have the advantage. With luck (and lots of practice) that's what this new combination will do.

Conclusion

Notice, not a single mention of T.O. or of Tony Romo being more of a man than all the critics who write about him. Nothing about how Wade Phillips is Jerry Jones puppet or how his "player-friendly" style is going to compromise the Cowboys chances. No, what's important about the Cowboys offseason is its quiet nature. You know somethings wrong when you hear a lot of screaming, and the quiet that has settled over Big D has given me some confidence.

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This is an update of a previous post.

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Brian Leonard
I was reading some draft related materials today and I came across this little tidbit from Pete Prisco of CBS. He writes in his column from the 15th of April, that an athlete by the name of Brian Leonard hopes to make the leap from the college ranks to the pro ranks as a running back.

This dream is shared by many who are entering this year's Draft but there is a problem with Leonard's dream: he's white.

He also may not be a running back. Most scouts have him rated as a top fullback but his idea of becoming a running back is shunned. He has good size, is strong, and is a powerful runner. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield. The scouts just aren't sure he has the explosivenss (and maybe skin tone) required to be a featured running back in the NFL.

A White Running Back?
The sighting of a white running back at an elite level is about as rare as that of a Snow Leopard. White running backs are rarer than Black Quarterbacks, especially in terms of starters; and very few are on rosters as backups. Not a single white guy started at running back for any team in the NFL last year.

It's something I've noticed before. There simply aren't any white running backs. Fullbacks yes, but not running backs. The idea of a white guy being a running back is ludicrous. The thought of a white guy breaking off a long run and taking it to the house is laughable. White people can't run. Plain and simple, white meat is not made for the "skill positions" of running back, cornerback, and wide reciever.

If you're on offense and you're white you can play Quarterback, Lineman, Tight End, or Fullback. On defense, Linebacker, Lineman, or Safety. Those are your options.

Really?
Is that really the truth? Are white people really not cut out to play the "skill positions?"

Wide receiver is much more diverse and that thinking with regards to wideouts is breaking down. Personally, I think Wes Welker and Brian Finneran are two of the most underrated players in the league. Both are white, both play wide reciever, and I think both are good.

I can't think of the last time I saw a white corner. But the idea of a white corner is not so outlandish as the thought of a white running back. I would actually believe it if somebody told me a team's number one CB was white.

But running back? White's don't belong as running backs. They just aren't cut out for it.

Running Back is Made For Blacks
A couple years back a white guy named Brock Forsey had a good game. Not that big of a deal, except that he's a white running back. While playing for the Bears he ran for 134 yards agains the Arizona Cardinals.

After the game he recalled being asked, "Is it surprising you came out and had a great game and you're white?" He didn't think they would be so direct but everybody was thinking it. Emmitt Smith called him Brian Piccolo, though Forsey clearly isn't that good since he's no longer in the league, but most were simply shocked that a white guy could be a running back.

"'They can't compete with us," says Eric Dickerson, the NFL's all-time single-season rushing leader, who dominated with the Los Angeles Rams during the 1980s. "The black athlete, especially at that position, is faster, more elusive. That's just a position made for agility.'" (Harris and Robinson)

Discrimination
There is a great deal of stereotyping going on here. Athletes and scouts, coaches and commentators just don't feel white people are capable of being the featured back.

According to Harris and Robinson's article, which was written in 2004, and from which much was taken for this blog, the best runner in highschool from central Florida was white. His name is Kevin Harris and he decided to go to Wake Forest because they were one of two schools to commit to making him a running back.

His dad, who was also his highschool coach, was told by one school's rep, "Coach, I could never bring back a white running back to my university. That's just the way it is. They just wouldn't accept it."

In his Freshman year at Wake Forest Kevin tied the school record for the most touchdowns by a red-shirt Freshman (6) and was 10th in the ACC.

I think the biggest issue is perception. I recall watching ESPN's coverage of the 60th anneversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking the color barrier in baseball. In one of their segments they interviewed the only two black players on a traditionally black school's baseball team. They said black kids just didn't think of baseball as a "black sport." I think the same holds true for the running back position.

White athletes have been taught that they can not be running backs. It's just not a "white position." Instead, they refine their skills to be linbackers or tight ends or fullbacks. But they don't even try to be tailbacks, running backs. They are taught that since they are white they will not succeed at that position.

White kids are told not to try to be tailbacks. They are told to bulk up and become fullbacks or seek some other position because a white running back simply isn't acceptable.

The first black coach to win a Superbowl, Tony Dungy, had this to say:

You've got guys in high school, white players, who are discouraged from being wide receivers, defensive backs or running backs -- I think we do have that. It's "this position is a white position or black position." I definitely believe they are channeled early on.

Conclusion
I believe the fact is, over the years, more black guys have been better at the running back position than white guys. For whatever reason they've just proven over the years to be better. White guys are not broadly disciminated against (hell, most quarterbacks are white, many tight ends are white, plenty of linemen are white, and some of the best linebackers are white). But there is something interesting going on at the running back position. In 20 years there really hasn't been a white guy good enough at that position? Really?

There is simply a bias against white running backs. It's not malicious prejudice like was experienced by minorities in the past, but there is no doubt it exists. When a white guy steps up to compete as a running back most people will see him as "more of a fullback." In this day and age it's simply unthinkable that a white guy would be averaging over a 100 yards a game, and maybe be the first in twenty-some years to crack a 1,000 yard season.

But stereotypes and biases are only strong until they're disproven. They are there to challenge people to rise above them and to smash them. They exist to give someone a goal to achieve, a record to set, and minds to change.

I don't know if Brian Leonard is the man to do that. I haven't seen him play and know little about him. If his heart is in it, a team could maybe take a chance on him. Pick him up and give him the ball. Maybe he'll be the first great white runner in years. Maybe he'll even end up leading a team to the Superbowl. Maybe.

But if not, hey, you could always just use him as a fullback.







Further Reading
Thanks to Chris Harry and Charles Robinson who wrote a nice piece about this in 2004.
Endagered Species: A racial dividing line exists at the running back position, and there doesn't seem to be a clear reason why.


Update!
Brian Leonard Drafted by St. Louis Rams
Well, seems like this question will be answered. If Brian Leonard is truly a good runningback then he couldn't have landed on a better team. The Rams love Steven Jackson and will look to Leonard to give him a breather. They also love to pass out of the backfield so Leonard's pass catching ability will be utilized. He certianly will never be the starter in St. Louis (barring a major injury to Jackson) but it's a start and a good one at that.

A New Hope (brought to you by the Darkside)
Demon found this video a of runningback named Sam McGuffie. He seems to have good skills. He appears fast, strong, and agile. Changes direction well and doesn't go down easily. If he keeps this up (watch the video, very good!) then he may well be the first white dude to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since the 80's.

Check out the original post here

2007 NFL Draft
This year’s draft was nearly as exciting for me as last year’s. I’m not quite sure why. Maybe because there were no clear needs for the Cowboys to fill? Or maybe because there was no concensus pick for the Cowboys? Or maybe there just weren’t as many superstars this year to get excited about.

But one thing I did get excited about was Brady Quinn’s saga.

Brady Quinn
The Notre Dame quarterback was called by many the most “NFL ready.” The year before potential number one pick Matt Lienart slipped all the way to number 10 and the Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile, the quarterback declared the most “NFL ready” that draft went with the next pick to the Denver Broncos.

The year before, Aaron Rodgers had been projected as the potential first pick in the draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Instead, he slipped all the way to pick number 24 for the honor of backing up Brett Favre in Green Bay.
The sam thing ended up happening to Quinn. But the commissioner was compassionate and let him stay in his suite to avoid the humiliation of being passed over again and again…and again. This got my attention. As soon as Ted Ginn was taken thoughts entered my head, but I dared not entertain them.

There was some discussion of the Cowboys taking Quinn. They hadn’t had a true franchise quarterback since Troy Aikman retired in 2000. They had gone through the likes of Quincy Carter, Ryan Leaf, Vinny Testeverde, and Drew Bledsoe all to no avail. Then last seaons they introduced the world to Tony Romo.

But here was a potential cornerstone of the franchise. A quarterback most NFL teams had in the top three of their draft boards, if not higher. I was genuinely afraid the temptation would be too much for Jerry Jones to handle. But he did, masterfully. He traded out of the spot to snag the Browns’ number one pick next year.
This did two things. One, showed confidence in Tony Romo and two, gave the Cowboys the ability to get a “wow” player in the ‘08 draft.

Anthony Spencer
The Cowboys didn’t stay out of the first round. Instead, they traded with the always confusing Eagles to get back into it. The Eagles allowed the Cowboys to swoop in and pick up a defensive end they will convert to outside linebacker and who many feel could be a major force in the pass rush. The Eagles drafted Kevin Kolb to replace Donovan McNabb in the event Spencer lays him out.

From what I understand Spencer is a great pass rusher. He recorded 93 tackles last season as a defensive end and 10.5 sacks. If Wade Phillips can convert him into a DeMarcus Ware or Shawne Merriman type player then the Cowboys may resurrect Doomsday.

Raiders
Personally, I think the Oakland Raiders made a mistake. Not by taking JaMarcus Russell, at this point they pretty much had to. They made a mistake by not signing a veteran quarterback which would’ve allowed them to take Calvin Johnson.

The Raiders need a new dynamic on offense. They traded for Randy Moss to give them that, and he never did. Instead, Randy Moss curled up in his shell and refused to come out. He was unhappy and rather than channeling that into effort he let it drag him into depression. He underperformed in Oakland and never gave 100%.

The Raiders should’ve signed a veteran QB, drafted Johnson, and then moved Moss somewhere to get more picks this year. Oakland needs a lot more help on offense than Russell alone can give them. If they bundled Moss with a pick or two they could’ve gotten another second. That would’ve allowed them to get another offensive weapon on the first day.

New England Patriots
But the Raiders didn’t do that and they wound up trading Randy Moss to the New England Patriots for a fourth round pick next year. There’s no doubt somewhere in there a shade of the ability he once showcased still exists. If he can bring that back he could help make the New England offense prolific once again.
New England has made some big moves this offseason.

First, they signed Adalius Thomas (rated as maybe the best free agent) to bolster their aging line backing corps. His presence should help make the defense as aggressive as it once was and as formidable as it was during the Superbowl years.

Meanwhile, they have worked hard to correct the issues with their receiving corps. Last season they did little to add Tom Brady after being forced to trade away Deon Branch. They learned their leason and worked hard to fix that issue.

They signed Donte Stallworth who showed tremendous skill in Philadelphia last season. They signed Kelley Washington who was a talented but unused wideout in Cincinnati. Then they grabbed up a player who is all effort, Wes Welker, who will not only help them at wide reciever but also assist their return game. Finally, they traded for Randy Moss.

The Patriots are positioning themselves for another title run. They have loaded up and had two first round picks this year. They traded one away for a first rounder next year, assuring they will have plenty of opportunities next season as well. They’ve really set themselves up and they will be more dangerous than ever next season.

(Don’t be surprised if the Patriots sign Keyshawn Johnson)

Brian Leonard
I wrote an earlier post about white running backs and Leonard’s desire to be one. He ended up being drafted in the second round by the St. Louis Rams. Now, he certainly won’t start over Steven Jackson, but if he can succeed anywhere it’s in St. Louis. He’ll probably play a hybrid Half back/Fullback role. He has good hands and the Rams like to throw out of the backfield so I wouldn’t be surprised if they role him out to the flat regularly.

Conclusion
I enjoyed the draft, felt the Cowboys did quite well. They scored the player they wanted and someone to rush on the opposite side of DeMarcus Ware. They also got themselves a first round pick next year from a team who will very likely have a top ten pick. They got themselves several tackles to help on the offensive line and even a kicker for the future.

The draft went well for my team. How did your team do?

Brian Leonard
I was reading some draft related materials today and I came across this little tidbit from Pete Prisco of CBS. He writes in his column from the 15th of April, that an athlete by the name of Brian Leonard hopes to make the leap from the college ranks to the pro ranks as a running back.

This dream is shared by many who are entering this year’s Draft but there is a problem with Leonard’s dream: he’s white.

Continue Reading

Jerry Jones Has Been A Shrewd GM Lately

A lot of people criticize Jerry Jones, saying he's a meddling owner. They talk about how he interfers with coaches and tries to get his hands in the game. Jones, they say, doesn't know jack about football and has effectively ruined the team since firing Jimmy Johnson.

Some of those points may be true. He was convinced he could get pretty much anybody and win a Superbowl (he was right in way, Barry Switzer?) but I believe with Jimmy they may well have four-peated. After Switzer's less than stellar tenure they went through coaches like Paris Hilton goes through men.

Finally, Jerry seemed to surrender and sign Parcells but that only ended with a disappointing playoff loss in Seattle. The loss will produce a new rule in the league, resulted in Parcells retirement, and gave the Cowboys some serious angst for next season.

With Parcells reign a "failure" (since he was expected to win a Superbowl) Jerry seemed to slip into his old ways. All the pundits joined in a chorus of "the Old Jerry is back." He hired a coach he could control and put the team back in his hands. Their evidence stretched from the Terrell Owens signing, which Bill Parcells, they said, simply couldn't have wanted (kind of like Bill Belichick would never want Randy Moss). Then Jerry went and hired Jason Garrett to be the Offensive Coodinator before hiring the Head Coach. Not letting the Coach pick his own staff meant Jones was asserting his control.

Maybe all that is true. But Jones isn't getting some credit he seriously deserves. Maybe he doesn't know jack about football but he knows plenty about business. And on the business end of things the Cowboys have excelled lately. Think about it. Who was the last big free agent loss for the Cowboys who they hadn't cut or had no interest in resigning?

He's done very well keeping his best player off the market. They locked up Jason Witten, Roy Williams, and Bradie James two seasons ago (full seasons before their contracts were up). Then this year they extended Gurode and kept him off the market. He was a free agent before last season too but they signed him to a one year deal (again before Free Agency began).

Now, the Cowboys have signed Ken Hamlin to a one year deal. This gives them a veteran safety to pair with Williams. While he's no ball-hawk he is a much better Free Safety than they've had and should help Roy Williams do what he does best: destroy the guy with the ball. He should also do a fair amount of that himself.

But the real deal is that they're getting a solid Safety for next year, while allowing them the flexibility to get a Safety this year in the draft (maybe even first round) or even continue to develop Pat Watkins. Meanwhile, if Hamlin does well, I mean really well, then they could sign him to a multi-year deal.

My point is this. For all his faults Jerry Jones is an excellent business man. And lately he's been applying that to the Dallas Cowboys thus keeping the team together. He's manufactured contracts in a cap friendly way and made sure their top Free Agents are locked up. Now if they don't get Romo extended this could all blow up. But I think the Cowboys will get it done (They also signed him to a one year extension last season).

Jerry Jones may be a meddling owner but if he keeps meddling like this then I'm all for it.

Oakland Raiders
There's been some mild debate about this year's draft. The Oakland Raiders have the dubious honor of sitting atop the draft board and their selection has been virtually set in stone. After the Bowl game Jamarcus Russell appeared to be the shoe in for the spot. Not because he's the best player available, but because he's the best player at his position available (Quarterback, the Raiders position of most need).

Meanwhile, Scouts are practically messing their pants everytime Calvin Johnson worksout. They text their buddies about his physical abilities and drool over what he could be in a few years. They say his the best player they've seen in years.

Then the Houston Texans up and trade for Matt Schaub. They've named him the starter and are actively shopping David Carr. That same Carr they took with their first ever drafte pick and number one overall in 2002.

I guess we shouldn't really be surprised this happened though. Starting in 1970 here is the list of Quarterbacks taken 1st overall:

1970: Terry Bradshaw
1971: Jim Plunkett
1975: Steve Bartkowski
1983: John Elway
1987: Vinny Testaverde
1989: Troy Aikman
1990: Jeff George
1993: Drew Bledsoe
1998: Peyton Manning
1999: Tim Couch
2001: Michael Vick
2002: David Carr
2003: Carson Palmer
2004: Eli Manning
2005: Alex Smith

Needless to say, there's been a big interest in Quarterbacks lately. The list includes plenty of talented guys, hey they wouldn't have been taken were they not talented. But it yields very few winners. And that's the idea when you take a Quarterback first overall. It's not enough to get a good guy, a guy who can help your team win games. You must get a great guy and one who will help win you Superbowls.

Some people would say those QB's who didn't win a Superbowl but were taken 1st overall simply didn't have the pieces around them or the coaching above them. But part of being a winner is making others better. A Quarterback taken 1st overall must be next to a miracle worker or else he will not be worth it. He must lead you to a Superbowl or you "should have taken somebody else."

And that brings me back to Russell. Is he great? That's the question the Raiders must think long and hard about. Will he lead them to the Superbowl, work with the coaches to get there, and make his teammates better? Taking a Quarterback first overall is risky because his not winning a Superbowl makes him a bust (Drew Bledsoe*, Michael Vick both turned their teams around but never won the big prize and have been much criticized for it [I realize Vick still has plenty of time]).

Personally, I think the Raiders should sign David Carr. I believe the kid has great talent but was handled poorly in Houston. I feel for Matt Schaub because I think he has great talent but he's going to Houston. The Raiders could sign Carr and rework his contract to more friendly terms, giving him one year to prove himself. Then they could do what they know they should do: draft Calvin Johnson.

The Raiders need a prolific receiver to make up for their many shortcomings. They need somebody who will make every catch no matter how poorly delivered. Johnson, allegedly, meets this mold and would be well worth the first round draft pick. Plus, it's much easier to recover from a Wide Receiver bust than a QB bust (seems like there are more reliable WR's than QB's).

Once they've signed Carr and targeted Johnson they can get about the business of trading Moss. I don't think they'd trade him to Houston for Carr (unless Houston threw in some serious sweetners) so they should try to look for the best deal out there. A second first round pick would be nice but I think Moss' value is in the second round plus some other incentives.

If they could get a nice lineman and some picks for Moss they'd be on their way to rebuilding their offense. It doesn't have to be prolific or anything since their defense is pretty good; it just has to score some points. Something they couldn't do at all last year.

If the Raiders did this I think they'll have a far better chance than drafting Russell, still having to rebuild the offensive line, and still having to deal and then replace Moss.


*Drew Bledsoe never lead a team to a Superbowl win though he does have a ring courtesy of Tom Brady.

Raiders Should Draft Johnson

Everybody's saying how the Raiders should snap up Jamarcus Russell like he's the hottest commodity since fire. Well, not everybody. Read this mock draft, for instance.

But it's something I've been thinking about for a bit. Calvin Johnson by all reports is a physical freak. Supposedly out jumping the machine designed to measure vertical leap among other feats. He's reportedly by far the best player in the Draft and best receiver in years.

If all this is true, and it appears to be, and Johnson is really such a phenom then the Raiders would be stupid to pass on him. They need a top receiver and pairing him with Joey Porter could do wonders.

Then, of course, theres the question of quarterback in Oakland. The Aaron Brooks experiment failed miserably and Andrew Walter appeared lost in that dysfunctional offense. They'll need someone smart and tough; someone who can make the reads quickly and get the ball to Porter and Johnson.

That's why I think the Raiders should  trade Randy Moss to Kansas City for Trent Green.

That's right, trade him to division opponents and watch him eat away at their soft core as he did in Oakland. Green's still a good Quarterback and would give Oakland a few years to find that marquee QB.

They've just singed Dominic Rhodes to compliment LaMont Jordan and their one-two punch should give the offense a little more power next season. If they start shoring up their line then they could address their QB situtation and get rid of a cancer at the same time. Maybe even get a draft pick out of it.

If they did this then they would get the best player in the draft, get rid of Moss, get a quality Quarterback (not a franchise QB, they're aiming too high right now), and give teams someone to worry about opening up more room for Porter.

With the Raiders Defense all the offense needs to do is score at least a couple touchdowns a game (something they couldn't do last season) and control the ball. With this running combination, talented receivers, and savy QB they would have a shot at being near .500 next season.

Ricky Williams is Supposed to Return to Miami

A few season ago he was the best runner in the NFL. Before LT, we had the powerful Ricky Williams. He was impressive for combining power, speed, and agility. In 2005 he wasn't quite the player he once was but he was a strong running back.

The question now is, will they bring Williams back? Or will they try to trade him? The Broncos are supposedly willing to trade for a Runningback now, so maybe that's a possibility. Maybe trade him to the Raiders for Randy Moss? Perhaps the Patriots will be interested in someone to fill the gap that will (eventually) be left by Corey Dillon? But I think the Dolphins would be loathe to trade him within the division.

There are plenty of teams that would be interested in aquiring Williams but I think the Dolphins will keep him on board.


All this is assuming he returns...

Let's assume he does. What impact will he have on the Dolphins?

Dat Nguyen, Wes Phillips Hired to Cowboys' Staff
According to Dallas Cowboys.com, which I hold as fairly credible, former Line Backer Dat Nguyen and Wade Phillips son Wesley Phillips have been hired to Wade Phillips staff.

In case you don't know who Dat Nguyen is, and that's too bad because he's a great player, he was only in the league for a short time. He was drafted by the Cowboys in 1999 and the proceeded to become their starting middle linebacker in his second season (they were still running a 4-3 at the time). He lead the team in tackles several times and, I believe, was the heart of the Dallas defense.

In Bill Parcells first year, 2003, the Cowboys defense was rated number one and that was in large part due to Dat Nguyen. Then Bill Parcells decided to change the Cowboys defense to a 3-4 and openly wondered if Dat Nguyen would "fit" that defense. At 5' 11" and about 230 lbs. he was considered undersized for an NFL linebacker anyway, let alone one that would be asked to go one-on-one with linemen.

Nguyen proved that his size wouldn't hold him back and he continued to excell in Parcells new 3-4 defense. In that season he had *88 solo tackles (119 total), 2 sacks, and 11 passes defended. In 2005 Nguyen suffered a career ending injury.

Now he's back as an assitant linebackers and defensive quality control coach. Meanwhile, Wesley Phillips, who was Quarterback's coach at Baylor last year, was hired as an offensive assitant and offensive quality control coach.

Personally, I'm psyched about Nguyen returning as I said his intensity is what I believed was the x-factor a few years ago. After he left this defense just hasn't had that same drive. Nguyen was the heart of this defense and maybe he can inject some of that heart into the defense next season.

DeMarcus Ware, Marcus Spears to Thrive in "Phillips 34"
DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears were the Cowboys first round picks in 2005 (number 11 and number 20 respectively). Neither has been quite what was advertised. Ware has been good but there's a lingering feeling that he could be better. His play has been fine, good enough to make the Pro Bowl this year, but Marcus Spears has been a different story.

Touted as one of the best ends in the draft he has done very little. He's had a total of 2.5 sacks in two seasons. The line has been solid against the run but is very poor at generating pressure on the Quarterback. Meanwhile, Luis Castillo who was drafted the same year has excelled in San Diego. In two season Castillo has tallied 10.5 sacks.

Just like Wade should help Ware elevate his game there is hope that he can do the same of Marcus Spears. If that happens then the Dallas Defense could change from one that got very little pressure on the QB to one of the most sack happy in the league.




*Stats courtesy CBS Sports

Wow. The first tragedy of the New Year has all ready struck.

Twenty-four year old Broncos' corner Darrent Williams was shot in a drive-by shooting around 2 am.

Unbelievable. This is terrible. A twenty-four year old in his second season in Pro Football, future looking bright. And he's gone because some slob felt the need. No details yet but the only thing that I think could make this worse would be to find out this was some disgruntled Broncos fan.

This should remind us of the humanit