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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

Forget the fact that it’s now afternoon. I think a good name for this column (which I plan to make weekly) is the The Morning After, just has a nice ring to it.

Last night the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Chicago Bears in what many considered to be a potential NFC Championship preview. Afterwards, the Bears were left wondering who exactly they are and how much longer Coach Smith will stand behind Rex Grossman.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys offense came alive in the second half and Tony Romo demonstrated a poise that many critics felt he didn’t have. Terrell Owens lit up the Bears and Jason Witten continued to be one of the toughest Tight End’s in the league. Finally, Marion Barber III showed he deserves to be the Cowboys number one running back and punished the Bears defense.

First Half

This game was really a story of two halves, with the first half being a defense slug fest.

Before the game there was a lot of talk about how the Cowboys were going to kick away from Devin Hester. To me, it sounded like a good strategy, and the Cowboys employed it early; the opening kickoff sailed out of bounds.

Then the Bears defense came on during the Cowboys’ first series. They sacked Tony Romo and the quarterback struggled early. It looked as if Romo’s critics were right and that his image was bloated by facing weak opponents. The scariest defense in the league had finally brought the young “gunslinger” back to earth.

By half time, the score was 3-3 and neither team’s offense was clicking. Both quarterbacks had been intercepted without throwing a touchdown and the Cowboys had only 18-yards of rushing offense.

Then in the second half, the Cowboy came alive and put up the most points on the Bears since 2004. And the Bears have to be thinking it’s finally time to take the crown off of Grossman and hand it over to Griese.

Nothing Special

The first key to the Cowboys victory was limiting Devin Hester. They changed their strategy and began actually kicking to the phenomenal returner. But the coverage was near perfect and Hester was frustrated.

He muffed one kick and was striped on another. He had to fair catch a couple and did nothing of note all game. The Cowboys punter, Mat McBriar, used a special kind of kick to maximize hand time and allow his coverage team to get down the field.

Nick Folk also helped matters by getting some good hang time and booming his kickoffs to within the 5.

Pay the Man

Tony Romo is the real deal. It’s time the Cowboys pay him and lock him up long term. He showed tremendous poise and recognition. He dodged a great defense and picked it apart. There’s no question now as to what kind of a quarterback he is.

Tony Romo sparkled against a great defense and inspired hope in the offense. And he did so while still missing his number-two wide receiver, Terry Glenn. If he keeps this up he’ll be headed back to another Pro Bowl and maybe the Cowboys will be headed to the Super Bowl.

Rex Grossman

Rex is not the Bears quarterback. He’s terrible. Enough is enough. He’s so bad he makes Roy Williams look good in coverage. It’s time for the Bears to accept that he simply isn’t he answer and hand the reins over to Brian Griese.

The Bears can maybe groom Kyle Orton but they’ve definitely got to give up on Rex Grossman. The Bears should see if they can pull a Cleveland and see if they can’t trade Grossman for a late pick. I mean, if Seattle would take Frye there’s got to be a team that will take Grossman.

Marion Barber III

This guy is a stud. A complete contrast to either of the other two major running backs in this game (Cedric Benson and Julius Jones). Barber doesn’t have the break away speed of an elite running back. What he does have is toughness and intensity and that makes up for it.

He will push the pile every time and he doesn’t bounce backwards. Barber smashed up the Bears in the late parts of the game and broke off a 54-yard run when just trying to run out the clock. He also swatted Adam Archuleta aside for another TD.

Meanwhile, Cedric Benson continues to make the Bears look foolish for trading away Thomas Jones. Benson had a total of 46 yards on 16 attempts (2.9 yards a carry with a long of 12 yards).

Granted the Cowboys are fairly good team against the run, a number one running back should still put up better numbers than that. Especially on a team with Rex Grossman under center. Trading Jones now looks like an even greater mistake than it did when the trade went down.

Cowboys Defense

Anthony Spencer, the Cowboys first round pick, got his first sack. DeMarcus Ware got two sacks. Anthony Henry got two interceptions. This defense is starting to click.

Terence Newman returned after missing the first two games, and while he didn’t have much impact today, his presence will help as the season continues.

While the defense played against an anemic offense, and the secondary still struggled. However, each week the Cowboys’ defense has been doing the little things better. They seem to be getting more comfortable in this new scheme and their play making is up.

If they continue to develop and improve they could do some damage once Newman is back to full strength and Ellis finally returns. If those two come back near 100% then they could catapult this defense towards the top and give the Cowboys a truly great team.

Conclusion

This game was really a game of contrasts. Tony Romo shined while Rex Grossman faded. Marion Barber hit the Bears’ D in the mouth while Cedric Benson was quiet. Terrel Owens dominated while Muhsin Muhammad is still wondering why he left Carolina.

The Cowboys demonstrated they are one of the best teams in the NFC (if not the best) and showed maybe those Super Bowl prognosticators aren’t crazy. Meanwhile, the loss of confidence was evident all over the Bears’ faces. Even the defense surrendered in this game and you knew no one in that locker room believes in Rex Grossman anymore (maybe not even Grossman himself). If the Bears don’t start Griese next week, then Smith should be fired immediately.

In the end, what should’ve been a close game turned into a blow out. And the Cowboys showed how unpredictable the NFC still is.

Note:

Donovan McNabb (21/26, 381 yards, 4 TD’s, 0 Int’s), Kevin Curtis (11 Recs, 221 yards, 3 TD’s). What a difference a week makes. McNabb looked good against the Lions and so did Curtis, and put to rest all this “controversy” from the past week. And my favorite part of this whole thing is that he did it with a white wide receiver.

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Introduction

This post is a long time coming. Since Tony Romo was first handed the reins of the starting job people have been critical of him. Most are people who simply don't like the Cowboys and, therefore, don't like Romo. Some are Bledsoe loyalists who feel that Romo some how fashioned a conspiracy against their man.

One of the least clever and most childish ways for those who dislike Tony Romo is to call him "Tony ####." This is meant as a derogatory play on his last name since most people have a negative view of homosexuals and their role in sports. In the common mind, homosexuals are effeminate and totally incapable of competing with more masculine males.

But what I want to ask is, what if Tony Romo was a homosexual? What does that mean? Does that make him worse at the Quarterback position? Does it mean he can't play sports or that he's too weak to make it in such a tough league? Why exactly is calling Romo a "####" so popular and why is it seen as evidence that he is not a franchise Quarterback?

Origin on the Name

From almost the moment Tony Romo took over for the Dallas Cowboys, haters everywhere devised the nick name "Tony ####." A personal chuckle was generated in their small mind as this epiphany struck them. At first, they couldn't unleash the fruit of their mental labor. Tony Romo was nothing but successful and when someone's successful they can't be called a "####." In sports, ####'s just aren't successful.

Then he struggled as the Cowboys defense collapsed and the offense struggled. It was then that enemies of the Cowboys everywhere hit the internet to let loose the Tony #### moniker.

They hadn't the courage to say it before his struggles because they knew reports of his sexual preference would be denied due to his success. But then, once he came back to Earth and in spite of his relationship with Carrie Underwood, they began using Tony #### freely. By doing this they both announced their belief that Tony Romo was a failure and that homosexuals can not succeed in sports.

What's Love Got to Do With It?

I wonder why so many people think homosexuals can't be successful at Quarterback? Perhaps they feel threatened by the idea that a homosexual man is at the pinnacle position of the most masculine of sports. Perhaps the idea of a homosexual leading a team, America's Team, in America's Game is just too much.

Suggesting that being homosexual would make one less capable of being a Quarterback is akin to saying being black would make one less capable of being a Quarterback. Not only is the suggestion insulting, it's just plain stupid. 

The only connection between sexual activity and sports is that abstinence is a tool used to Olympians to be more successful. They believe that the lack of sex allows tension to build up and make them more competitive. In ancient Greece, for instance, Olympic champion Tarentum avoided sex before and during the games. Other than that, I find little connection between the two, especially sexual preference.

I would like for someone to explain to me the logic behind asserting that "####'s" are incapable of excelling in sports. It's completely irrational and only displays the bigotry of those involved. In ancient Greece, for instance, many Greek men engaged in homosexual behavior and went on to succeed in their particular vocation.

Homosexual = Weak?

This is something to be dispelled right now. This suggestion is ridiculous. True, many homosexuals are effeminate but that does not mean they aren't tough. Citing ancient Greece again, the Spartans were the most militaristic and "toughest" of the Greeks. 

Spartan boys would leave their parents home at 7 to enter military training until age 30. In that military service the commanders of the units would "dominate" their unit. This means they engaged in sodomy with the men in their unit to establish dominance. This act did not diminish the toughness of the Spartans as they went on to conquer their corner of Greece and at one point even occupy mighty Athens.

All this to say that being a homosexual is not a reflection of strength. If Tony Romo is a homosexual then he should not be looked at as weak. In fact, his homosexuality should have no bearing on his ability to Quarterback a team.

Conclusion

I want someone to explain to me how being a homosexual would make one less capable of being a successful Quarterback. I want them to explain to me why they attached the label "####" to him only after he began to struggle and would often display his negative stats with the phrase. How would his sexual preference determine how successful he is on the field?

Calling him Tony #### is both idiotic and insulting. Not to Tony Romo but to the homosexual community. It suggests that homosexuals are inherently incapable of succeeding at sports since it he has been give this nickname to display why he won't be a good Quarterback.

I think it's time to drop the Tony #### nickname and bury it. It's archaic and displays the ignorance of those who use it. If people want to cite Romo's struggles that's fine but attacks on him using bigotry should be stopped. Sexuality has nothing to do with success in sports and people should move past those ideas and into the realm of reality. 

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Introduction

In case you haven't heard, Dallas Cowboys' Quarterback Tony Romo has become quite the celebrity. Everything from his appearances in Hollywood to the fact that he and Carrie Underwood are romantically involved. If you remember, before Tony Romo's first game he revealed that his long time girlfriend had broken things off. With his meteoric rise and initial success along with his small-town boy good looks he was a key prospect for gossip "reporters." And the rumors started soon. First, it was Jessica Simpson. Then it was a list of other "Hollywood" hotties and now it's Carrie Underwood.

 Now, not only is he dating a celebrity, he's also doing things like judging the Miss Universe contest in Mexico. He's been in as many (if not more) gossip-columns as he has in sports pages. And everybody's weighing in on it. Everybody seems to have a problem with this. After reading the latest column by Gil Lebreton about Romo's "undeserved" and "distracting" celebrity status I've had it.

 Work

One of the complaints lodged against Tony Romo is that he's spending "too much time being a celebrity" whatever that means. Sports "experts" feel that he's not working hard enough on the football field because he's distracted by his celebrity status. Ignoring that he has been at every OTA and working with the new staff to get the new offense down, they feel he should be doing more. Eating, sleeping, drinking football 24/7, 365 is all they'll accept.

 These experts write and write and write and worry and worry and worry. They worry that Tony Romo's personal life will interfere with his on field actions. They worry that since he's not living at Valley Ranch and having contact only with the coaching staff and team mates he'll fail. They write about his continual trips and exploits and how it will cost the Cowboys.

 I wonder, when these writers aren't writing columns are they taking classes to become better writers? Are they speaking with their editors about how to improve the paper, or website, or magazine as a whole? Do they go out and have drinks with their friends, maybe even the night before they're deadline? I wonder if any of them ever had the opportunity to meet and date a celebrity if they would say, "No, I'm sorry, it will interfer far too much with my work."

 I doubt it. I bet they would leap at the chance to date Jessica Simpson, or Carrie Underwood or any other hottie who happens to be famous. Why wouldn't they? Inevitably, they would be "dragged" along to these events and maybe even become celebrities themselves. And why not? They deserve personal lives. They deserve to travel and do whatever they want. They have a contract with whomever they write for and, as long as they deliver, I don't see why they shouldn't be afforded a social life.

 These columnists and experts have no clue what they're talking about. They don't know what it's like to work in a profession that essentially consumes your life for ten months out of the year. Literally, traveling with your team, practicing virtually every day, then the days you don't practice you play. Then you get a couple months off so you want to go have some fun, travel, be with those you care about.

 Who are these columnists to criticize Tony Romo's free time and personal life? So what if he happens to be dating a celebrity and going to events which are covered by cameras? Of course, people will bring up the fact that he is the Dallas Cowboys Quarterback (a situation which almost makes him a celebrity by default). Then the sports hounds will comment on him because they have nothing else to write about and a deadline to meet. Tony Romo isn't skipping practices to party, he's not having dogfights at his cousin's house, he's getting arrested, he's just having fun with his honey and that has absolutely no bearing on his professional life.

 Dessert

The second complaint people are lodging against Tony Romo is that he doesn't "deserve" his celebrity status. That's a funny word to use here, "deserve." Who exactly does deserve "celebrity" status, Paris Hilton? There's not measuring stick for dessert like this. So Tony Romo didn't win a Super Bowl, does that mean his name should be stricken from public discourse? Goodbye Dan Marino if it does. This is a ludicrous statement, "he doesn't deserve to be a celebrity." How dare they.

 We all remember the botched hold in Seattle. But does that some how disqualify Tony Romo from enjoying himself? So every one in the world who makes a mistake or has a bad day at the office is disallowed from doing what they want? No wonder so many people are so unhappy, thinking like this will produce horrible results.

 How do these writers "deserve" their posts. Because their writing is so exceptional that no one can deny their genius? I've read more well-written cereal boxes than some of the filth saturating the media. Conversely, why don't some other exceptional writer's, some who have blogs right here on this site, not deserve national attention? It doesn't make any sense to say someone doesn't "deserve" celebrity.

15 Minutes of Fame

Many people talk about the "15 Minutes" in which people are the biggest story of the day. Then in a "week's" time (often more like several months or even a couple years) they are virtually unheard from. Many people have this "15 Minutes" while very few are able to maintain their celebrity status for the long term. But, if you really think about it, the one's who are celebrity's long term (regardless of the medium) are simply the one's able to capitalize on their "15 Minutes."

 I've heard it suggested this is all Romo is trying to do. A bold statement from a mass of people who have never met Tony Romo and, with their current attitudes, probably never will. Regardless of the facts, if this is truly what he's doing how can he be blasted for it? He's simple seizing an opportunity that life has presented him. He would be an #### and a failure at life if he didn't.

 So what if next season he throws for 5 interceptions and 0 touchdowns in three games before being yanked and never heard from again. If he can seize upon this opportunity and use it to help himself and his family then good for him. Isn't that what America is all about: Opportunity? I mean, aren't we all looking for our "break?" Well, maybe Tony Romo isn't as good as Cowboys fans hope he is. If that's  the case, then Tony should do everything possible to seize upon his moment and make it last as long as possible. Good for him.

I sincerely hope that every one who is blasting him would do the same thing. If not, they are failing themselves and their families.

 Liberty

My final point is this: Tony Romo is a free human being who has every right to do whatever he wants so long as he doesn't harm someone else to do it. And no, "harming" someone else doesn't mean disappointing some drunken fan by not being the next Troy Aikman. If he wants to hang out with celebrities and party all night, that's his business. But if it starts to interfere with his performance on the field he'll soon find himself unemployed. Again, that's his business.

 People have every right to do whatever they want. If it ruins their lives that's their business. No one else can tell Tony Romo he needs to tone it down. No one else can tell Tony Romo he doesn't "deserve" what he has. No one else can tell Tony Romo he's not "focused" enough on his job. No one can tell Tony Romo he needs to find a girlfriend who isn't famous or else he can't be the Quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Romo has every right to become as famous and as big as possible. He has every right to do the things he's doing. These experts and columnists ought to shut up and do their jobs instead of worrying about other people doing theirs.

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A little over a month ago now, Antonio Ramiro Romo was the toast of the town. He was riding high, having replaced the statuesque and aged Bledsoe to lead America's team to an amazing turn around. In his first game as a starter he embarrassed a team that was supposed to have one of the best pass-rushing defenses in the NFL and was the popular pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. He went on to lead the Cowboys to a 4-1 record in his first five starts with his only loss being the result of an unfortunate series of events.

This was a far cry from where he'd come. In 2003 Tony Romo was brought on board by the suggestion of one Sean Payton. Parcells also liked what he saw but at the same time wasn't sure how he was going to direct this team. He had Qunicy Carter, who he had started over Chad Hutchinson, and quickly signed Vinny Testeverde. Officially, the Testeverde signing was to provide the always coveted "veteran backup."

Soon however, the Cowboys quarterback situation changed completely. The Cowboys had traded a third round pick in the '05 draft for the much hyped Drew Henson, they had cut Quincy Carter (allegedly because he failed a drug test), then promoted Vinny Testeverde to the starting position and fans were waiting for Drew Henson to supplant him. Chad Hutchinson was next to leave but the Cowboys kept this third-stringer Romo. For a while he was second on the depth chart but all the watchers knew, this was simply to motivate Drew Henson: the next great Cowboys QB.

Fast forward to Saturday night. Tony Romo had asserted himself as the Cowboys starter but the Cinderella story was over. He had been struggling, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns in his last five games, and the Cowboys were slipping into the playoffs losing three straight home games.

At Qwest field the Cowboys were holding their own. Only down by one they had driven to within the five yard line and were preparing to kick the game winning field goal. As he had done for almost three full seasons Tony Romo knelt to receive the snap and hold the ball for the kicker. He had done better than the nay-sayers expected. He had completed 17 of his 29 passes for a touchdown and no interceptions. He managed the game well was poised to rise up in celebration as the winning kick sailed through the uprights.

But then, the impossible happened. He botched the hold and was tackled short of the first down marker. Ending the Cowboys season and crushing the hopes of those who'd crowned him king earlier in the season. And then, the critics came out. Like vultures to a rotting corpse they descended on the young QB declaring his career over and stating that this latest mistake was simply the culmination of his mediocre abilities.

Cowboys fans were irrate and many joined in on the bashing. Many of those same fans had recently supported Romo's immediate induction into the Ring of Honor and had predicted Romo would lead the Cowboys to the Super Bowl. They were probably the most bitter of fans as their dreams of a Lombardi trophy were put on hold for yet another year.

But the one man closest to the situation proved to be right all along. After insterting Romo in the Giants game, amid criticism from the experts, Parcells was hailed as savior of the season. He, however, was dubious. He told people repeatedly to "put the anointing oil away" and that Romo had multiple flaws that would come out sooner or later. Among them, Parcells was afraid he would try to create too much instead of settling for what the defense gave him.

He also quickly pointed out that when Romo ran he did not grip the ball with two hands. Fans ignored the coaches points and declared Tony Romo the greatest thing to happen to the franchise in ten years. Then Romo fumbled, he held the ball too long, he tried to do too much, and he lost that "magic." And then those same fans turned. They started saying that Romo was a bust, the Tuna had gone bad, both needed to go.

Those fans, and those other critics who are simply reveling in the Cowboys loss, are wrong. At least for now. They're crucifying Romo far too early; just like others deified him far too early. Romo still has a long way to go before he turns out to be the next great Cowboys quarterback or just another brief pause in the search. Those same fans who once hailed him, now damn him, need to hold their tongue.

I believe this is a critical moment for Tony Romo. This could either be the motivating factor which propels him to heights he proved he could reach this season. Or it will haunt his time in Dallas and sink him to the lows he likewise showed himself capable of falling into. And Parcells knows this. I don't think Parcells is going anywhere. This is his time to shine as well.

Parcells will use this to mold Romo. Romo's completely surrendered and recognizes ultimately it was his slip up that cost the Cowboys the game. Parcells said Romo's problems were from over confidence and given historical evidence I have no reason to disagree with him. Now is the time Parcells will use to mold Romo into what he knows he can be.

While ultimately it will be Romo's character which will allow him to rise above this, or lack of character which will keep him stuck in a rut, Parcells will have an important hand in it. I fully expect Parcells to return to mold this young gun. Whether Romo really is the next great Cowboys QB I don't know. But what I do know is that he shouldn't be blasted the way he is. Give him time, then judge. Put the anointing oil and torch aside and let's get ready to see how he responds next season.

I just Googled "Terrell Owens" and clicked on the news section. There are 87 articles (so far) about him "...Tuning Out Parcells' Speech" (Forbes) or being "...Focused on His Bash not Speech" (Chicago Tribune) plus countless moments wasted on ESPN about the Wide Receivers "exclusive" interview with bestest buddy Michael Irvin.

This is just the media's sad attempt to make something out of nothing. As I said in Manufacturing A Story back in November about Owens sleeping in team meetings, this is the media trying to save face by creating a situation in Dallas.

I'm so tired of the media trying to make something out of nothing. Does anyone really care that T.O. tuned out the coach? Do you think his teammates care? Do you think Jason Witten's thinking, hmm, if Terrell Owens didn't feel the need to listen to the Tuna, perhaps I shouldn't either? Or that Tony Romo is thinking Hey! If you're not going to listen to Bill then I'm not going to throw you the damn ball! Or that Roy Williams is going to confront him about it? Or, finally, that Bill Parcells is really going to get upset about it?

I think not. This deam doesn't hinge on the success of Terrell Owens. Make not mistake, it benefits greatly from it (he has 8 TD catches, tied for second in the league) but it doesn't require it. No. This team requires something else. This team requires Antonio Ramiro Romo.

Romo and his play has made everybody (except the media) forget about Owens. I don't mean forget he's on the team but forget his dubious nature. Fans don't care that Owens ignored Parcells speech on what it takes to be a champion. After all, Owens only has two less Super Bowl rings than Parcells. Plus, it was a Monday, Terrell doesn't get into game mode till Wednesday. It's more humorous than anything. That crazy T.O. He's always up to something. *giggle*

Don't care. The play of Tony Romo and the play of the defense have made most people lose interest in Terrell Owens. There's no longer a feeling he could self destruct and take the team down with him. Bill just cut a guy they paid a 2.5 million dollar signing bonus to. Something every "expert" said he wouldn't do. Parcells knows how to control his players. But the biggest factor in keeping T.O. out of the spot light has been Tony Romo.

Which says something. For all his drops which even I criticize him for, we can't have our #1 guy dropping some of those passes (broken hand or no), he has 8 touchdown passes which is tied for second in the league. He leads the Cowboys in catches and can still do amazing things after the catch. Plus, his Thanksgiving Game celebration was awesome.

The media is so desperate to be right about this they send an #### like Irvin with questions written by the execs at ESPN to interview him. They are trying to get Parcells angry at Owens. I guarantee when Parcells says something about this it will be brief and dismissing. He doesn't care. Jason Witten, Terry Glenn, Roy Williams, Marion Barber III, Julius Jones, Patrick Crayton, Martin Grammatica, and most importantly Tony Romo don't care. I don't care. And neither should you.

Only the media in their sadness over being so wrong and missing what was really cooking in Bill Parcells kitchen (see what happens when you let him shop for the groceries?) still care about what this guy says. The Cowboys are Tony Romo's Team. Dallas is Tony Romo's town. And this is now Tony Romo's nation.

The Replacements*

This season nine different NFL teams have switched Quarterbacks. Some have been struck by the ever virulent injury bug and have been forced to substitute their number two until further notice. Many others, however, have willingly benched their field general in favor of a different leader. The results have been mixed and the trend appears to be continuing, here are the results thus far and a few other QB’s who may be warming the bench before the season is over.

Dallas Cowboys

Out: Drew Bledsoe

In: Tony Romo

This is probably the most talked about switch. There was speculation this would happen before the season began. Romo started the Cowboys first preseason game and was never taken out. He performed well against the Seahawks but that was, after all, against a vanilla defense. Bill Parcells also openly stated he hoped to get Romo in during the regular season.

Drew Bledsoe continued to prove he is, in fact, a living statue. He also threw those classic “Bledsoe Interceptions” which ended games and killed hope. He also failed to make reads and missed many open receivers. He never got on the same page as the rest of the offense and seemed a step slower than usual (which is really saying something). And so, after one of those “Bledsoe Interceptions” on the goal line, just before half time of the Giants game Bledsoe was benched in favor of the unproven Tony Romo.

”Big mistake,” Bledsoe was quoted as saying about the move. He seemed to be right as Romo threw three interceptions during the rest of that Giants game. He appeared to be the classic “rookie QB” (though this is his fourth year in the league). Instead, he’s thrown one interception since and managed the Cowboys offense efficiently. He has shown poise and escapability and has slightly tempered his compulsiveness.

In the end the switch to Romo may not only be the most talked about one but the most successful one. Romo has a QB rating (101.2) second only to the great Peyton Manning (104.5). His only loss was decidedly not his fault and he should be undefeated at this point. So far Romo has proven Parcells right and all the critics wrong.

Arizona Cardinals

Out: Kurt Warner

In: Matt Leinart

This is the second time Kurt Warner has been shoved aside for an untested, first-round draft pick. The first time it was for Eli Manning while the Giants were doing fairly well. The switch was criticized at the time but I think the Giants are happy they did it today. This time it’s for the untested Matt Leinart.

The jury is still out on Leinart. He has the tools at wide receiver but the offensive line is more than questionable. With Edgerinn James at running back the Cardinals should have a prolific offense. They don’t. Instead they look completely lost on offense and struggle to punch it into the end zone.

This was another switch that had to be made. Warner’s biggest problems were in his fumbles and inability to effectively read defenses. Leinart stepped in and played fairly well. He appeared ready to hand the Bears their first loss. Instead, Chicago came behind in the most impossible of ways and Leinart is still winless. Ultimately, this was the right decision but the Cardinals problems extend well beyond QB play.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Out: Byron Leftwitch

In: David Garrard

This change has been hinted at for a while now. After last season, when Garrard stepped in for an injured Leftwitch and performed well, some suggested making the change permanent. However, Leftwitch returned for the playoffs and played less than spectacularly. The controversy was denied by coach Jack Del Rio but certainly existed. As an aside, I feel it would’ve been more talked about if the Jaguars were in a bigger market.

One of the knocks on Byron Leftwitch is his immobility. Meanwhile, Garrard can make plays with his feet. The Jaguars offense has been less than prolific this year and Leftwitch’s injury appeared to be exactly the excuse Del Rio needed to make the “neccessary” change.

Garrard’s latest performance left many questioning if the Jaguars should go back to Leftwitch, even if he’s not at 100%. Personally, I think Leftwitch is the better of the two, but the die appears cast for this Jaguars organization. If they have any hope for the playoffs it will have to come from the arm of David Garrard.

Miami Dolphins

Out: Daunte Culpepper

In: Joey Harrington

This team was advertised to be the first to capture home field advantage during the Super Bowl. Why? you may ask. Because they have a solid defense, a potentially potent offense, and they got this guy named Daunte Culpepper from the Vikings. The logic: If Gus Frerotte could make this at least a decent team, then a much more mobile, younger QB like Culpepper should be able to put us over the top!

Now, the Dolphins are sitting on three wins. And Daunte Culpepper is sitting on the bench. He rushed back from a knee injury and played like a rookie in his four games for the Dolphins. He seemed to drop the ball more than throw it and the offense went absolutely no where.

In comes Joey Harrington to continue the Dolphins current course of mediocrity. While they’ve won twice as many games with Harrington than with Culpepper, it has less to do with the QB switch and more with their Defense.

When Joey Harrington said he felt he could compete with Culpepper for the starting position he was laughed at. The media brushed the suggestion aside as a never-was trying to maintain his confidence. However, he’s done at least as well as Daunte and all the experts have egg in their face for their bold prediction.

Oakland Raiders

Out: Aaron Brooks

In: Andrew Walter

The Raiders offense is truly horrendous. In the preseason it was noted that new Quarterback Aaron Brooks was having a hard time moving the ball down the field. It was assumed, however, that players of the caliber of Brooks and Moss would adjust.

In two games they didn’t. Brooks found himself on his back more than scanning the field. After taking a beating he was finally injured and replaced by Andrew Walter (whom some fans were calling for before the season began). Walter has likewise been on his back more than his feet and now those “in the know” are wondering if Brooks should come back.

It seems like it wouldn’t matter. With Randy Moss’ emotions in a tizzy he’s dropping a record number of passes. The defense is performing admirably but the offense seems so broken it’s impossible to fix. Walter or Brooks, this offense is going nowhere.

Seattle Seahawks

Out: Matt Hasselback

In: Seneca Wallace

This change was purely the result of injury. Hasselback is an excellent Quarterback whose contributions to the Seahawks are underrated. With Alexander down his presence was even more important.

Normally, an injury to the starting Quarterback of the former NFC Champions is a death sentence. But Wallace has performed well. While he’s not on par with Hasselback yet, he’s playing efficiently and the offense has adjusted to his strengths (the Raiders could take a tip from the way Holmgren’s calling plays).

Hasselback will be back soon and things will only get better for the Seahawks. They’re still in the thick of the playoff race in the NFC and will come away with another NFC West title. Wallace will keep things warm until Hasselback gets healthy. Will there be a QB controversy in the off season? Probably not, but if Wallace continues to play well it will be interesting when Hasselback’s contract comes up.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Out: Chris Simms

In: Bruce Gradkowski

Coach Jon Gruden has always had a thing for “the other Quarterback.” Now it appears he may finally have his man in Bruce Gradkowski. The Bucs were never totally sold on Simms as their QB. Even though they did offer him a nice long-term extension they always kept their eyes open for the next great QB.

Simms turned down the long-term deal for a shorter one, betting he’d cash in after a great 2006. Then he ruptured his spleen. He’s been placed on Injured Reserve and replaced as the Bucs starting QB. He may be out on the street soon and it appears Gradkowski will be steering the Bucs for the near future.

Chris Simms never seemed fully comfortable in Tampa Bay and this change could be the best for both parties. There will be plenty of teams looking for a young QB next season. If Green Bay’s not convinced about Aaron Rodgers perhaps Simms could wind up there. Or maybe even Oakland or Detroit. However you slice it, I think Gradkowski is a better fit for the Bucs and Simms will land on his feet elsewhere next season.

Washington Redskins

Out: Mark Brunell

In: Jason Campbell

The latest of the switches. Joe Gibbs finally sat Mark Brunell. This is a move fans have been clamoring for since before the season began. Jason Campbell is certainly quicker than Brunell but not much else is known. Brunell wasn’t doing a horrible job but the Redskins are looking for a spark.

Around the league many young Quarterbacks are helping teams become competitive again. Joe Gibbs hopes the same thing will happen in Washington. Last season the Redskins looked dead in the water. This season is the same. Last season they went on a 5 game winning streak. We shall see how the Redskins respond to Campbell and if they can again finish strong and sneak into the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs

Out: Trent Green

In: Damon Huard

Just like the Seahawks, the Chiefs were forced into this switch. Trent Green took a nasty hit in the first game of the season and Huard, in his tenth season, took over as the Chiefs starter.

Now that Green is healing up there has been some conversation about leaving Huard in and letting Green warm the bench. As well as Huard has played, Green will play better. Huard’s done a nice job but as soon as Green’s ready to go, Herm Edwards should put him back on the field.

Trent Green was poised to lead the Rams to the Super Bowl. Then he got hurt and in stepped Kurt Warner. We all know the Cinderella Story from there, how only months before winning the title Warner was staking grocery shelves. Green is an excellent QB who shouldn’t be replaced because Huard is doing well. The guy did good things this season but the job is Green’s unless he physically can’t play.

On the Hot Seat?

Jake Plummer

The Broncos were able to scoop up Jay Cutler (the player the “experts” called the most “NFL ready” of the QB’s) in this year’s draft. And immediately, speculation began about him replacing Plummer as the starter.

Every week, Plummer seems to make just enough mistakes to merit putting Cutler in. Then he’ll somehow redeem himself and the Broncos will come away with a “W,” quieting the Cutler calls for a little while.

If there’s a time to switch it’s now. Plummer threw three picks last week and made some other poor decisions. However, the Broncos won the game, and he responded with a beautiful drive to a touchdown. The Broncos are still very much in the playoff conversation and if they hold pace will win the AFC West. With that being the case continuity is of the utmost importance. The Broncos post season hopes rest on the shoulders of Plummer.

Tom Brady

That’s right. Tom “Montana” Brady could be benched. I wouldn’t have believed it either until I read this. I know, just because they signed Testaverde doesn’t mean he’s going to replace Brady. But it does confirm some of the su####ion that Brady is hurt. And if that’s the case then it may mean the Patriots are preparing to bench him.

I highly doubt the Patriots would ever sit Brady unless he was seriously hurt, I’m talking near death here. The ever tightlipped Belichick camp hasn’t let on to their star QB’s condition but signing Testaverde provides security in case they have to sit Brady.

Ben Roethlisberger

Big Ben has struggled this year. The Super Bowl champ has been asked to do a lot more this year than he has in his previous two years. Whereas in the past he would throw occasionally to supplement the run, the air attack has become the primary weapon on offense this season. And Ben’s pitched several balls to the other team.

In his three games, backup Charile Batch has thrown for 5 touchdowns and no interceptions. In comparison, Ben has 10 TD’s to 14 INT’s in 8 games, that’s 1.25 TD’s per game and 1.75 INT’s per game. While Batch has played well, I question his ability over the long haul. And I don’t think Batch is the future of the Steelers franchise so even if they are completely out of the playoff hunt I see no reason to sit Ben unless he’s hurt.

Michael Vick

This past week Falcons fans booed Michael Vick. After everybody and their half-sister declared him a changed man, Vick stumbled the past two weeks. He reverted to the running back with an arm and coughed up the ball to kill the team’s chances. You love his ability, but he has to be more judicious about it. I think it’s where Vince Young will ultimately top Vick as the “Rushing QB,” because Young will look to pass much more frequently than Vick.

This sounds crazy but how long have the Falcons given Vick? He’s been their starter for six seasons and is still the same guy he’s always been. And just like he does every season he teases us with a few games where he appears to have finally “gotten it” and throws more than he runs.

But inevitably he starts to run again. And even though it’s dazzling it will cost them important games. As the Falcons fail to score and get behind Vick gets nervous and puts the onus on himself to score, with his feet. Their backup, who I think will be a very good starter, is on the last year of his contract. Now’s the time for Atlanta to decide what they’re going to do. Go with a pocket passer, who has decent mobility, like Matt Schaub or stick with Michael Vick and hope that he doesn’t get himself seriously hurt during one of those crazy runs and finally, really does “get it.”

Thus far the Replacements report card is about what you’d expect. Huard and Romo are shinning. Garrard and Harrington are struggling. Leinart is proving he’s still a rookie and Wallace is keeping the offense rolling. We’ll see how Campbell performs and if Cutler makes his first NFL appearance this season.

Here’s to The Replacements!

*Note: This post was originally supposed to have tables breaking down each QB's rating, completion percentage, total yards, and TD-INT ratio with their replacement's. However, Fox Blog's in all their glory do not allow you to insert tables (at least using HTML) nor do they allow you to center text using HTML. I apologize for the decrease in quality of this post but hopefully in the future Fox Blogs will have the wisdom to allow for more freedom's in their posts. ~rusirious13

One of the healines to take you to the Cowboys front page here on foxsports.com asked the quesiton: Was Tony Romo lucky or good Sunday? It then goes on to describe the ambiguous feelings of Romo and himself.

So now I pose the question to you, before we see him play again Sunday.

Is Tony Romo the real deal or was he just lucky? Was it "beginner's luck" or is he actually going to help this team take a shot at the post season? Personally, I have no idea so I was wondering what the public's feeling on the matter is. Now it's your turn to sound off the Cowboys latest QB.

Romo Provides Hope


....at least for one game....

Tony Romo looked sharp on Sunday night. Besides his one interception, when he tried to force the ball to Owens, he made precious few mistakes. He looked poised. He sidestepped the rush on multiple occasions and delivered the ball with zip.

I find it strange that the sports commentators are saying how much better the line played. And they did, I grant you, but a big part of that was Romo. The pressure's going to come; especially from a team like Carolina. But Romo moved around in the pocket and let his line bend, but not break. All too often Bledsoe was incapable of avoiding that rush. His line had to hold like steel or else he couldn't make the play.

Romo did well. Even after handing the Panthers their second touchdown, this team didn't give up. And that's probably the biggest difference. For a while now, I don't remember having this kind of hope for my team. I don't remember, while being shutout, with a missed field goal to boot, against a good team, having that hope. But I did Sunday night, and so did the team.

For one night anway, the all important heart had returned to the Cowboys team. If the playoffs were determined by talent alone the Cowboys would go deep. But they've lacked that heart. Not just this season, but for a while now. That passion for the game that allows you to dig deep and battle back from being down or, conversely, step on a team's throat and put them away when you're up.

That's the most important thing Romo provided. Not the fact that he threw for nearly 300 yards. Not that fact that he helped get the Cowboys out of trouble on several occasions. Not the fact that he remained poised under pressure or that he only turned the ball over once. What Romo gave the Cowboys was hope. The hope that it wasn't just more of the same. Hope that if the play got broken, he could avoid the defense and help make a play.

He spread the ball around. Finally, Jason Witten is involved in the passing game. Witten's a top five Tight End, it was embarrassing how under utilized he'd been up to this point. Owens was allowed to make plays after getting the ball in his hands. Glenn demonstrated his abilites by making some good grabs. Romo delivered the ball where it needed to go and let the players around him demonstrate their abilities.

But Romo brought back the excitement in Big D. He wore a big smile during and after the game. And it was a contagious. Parcells was kissing everybody, including Keith Davis. Nobody talked about it but rookie Free Safety Pat Watkins, who has stared every game before last night, was inactive and Davis was back in the starting position. Parcells even patted Owens on neck and then twisted his hat while Owens celebrated the victory (did anybody ever expect to see that! I know I didn't). Parcells also had an encouraging pat on the chest for Romo.

With all that said. Cowboys fans must go forward with cautious optimism. Don't bite on the critics ploys. They will try to highlight the mistakes Romo made (one or two maybe?) or will try to get Cowboys fans defensive. Romo shouldn't be enshrined in Canton yet. We shouldn't be saying, "We've finally got someone to replace Troy Aikman!" No one will ever replace Aikman, and we don't know how long Romo can keep this up.

We shouldn't be too excited over what happened last night. But we should look forward to next week against Washington. The team appears excited. They appeared to have fun last night, from owner, to coaching staff, to players (except for Bledsoe who must have been smoldering). And, while we mustn't get too high on Romo, he has given something we haven't had in a long time: Hope.

"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise."
-Oscar Wilde

I sincerely hope that truly is the case. The Cowboys, so hyped in the preseason, have proven to be nothing more than an average (at best) team. They sit at .500 with a Defense that is questionable, an offensive line that is porous, and a full blown Quarter Back Controversy.

Paper Tiger

Meanwhile, Drew Bledsoe is claiming he believes he gives the 'Boys the best chance to win. More than that, he claims he was planning on coming out and leading the Cowboys to victory over the G-Men.

Sure, Drew. Like you showed before half time. Just like that. With the ball in the red zone. With weapons like Terry Glenn, Terrell Owens, and Jason Witten to throw to. With solid Running Backs like Marion Barber and Julius Jones (and a faster-than-fast Tyson Thompson in reserve). And with Anthony Fasano and Patrick Crayton as solid backup options to toss to.

Even with all that, Drew, you couldn't get the ball in the endzone. With all those weapons, Drew, you failed. Yes, the Offensive Line is weak. But you failed unquestioningly this time. The requirement wasn't even that you score a touchdown. While that's not unreasonable, given your distance to goal, it wasn't required. The requirement was that you protect the ball and generate some points (and that ever important momentum) going into the locker room for half time.

But with all those weapons. With all the experience that 13 (mostly) full season in the NFL brings. With the home crowd behind you and momentum beginning to shift because your defense just gave you the ball back, what did you do?

You threw an interception.You threw to a perfectly covered receiver on the weak side.You made a huge, rookie-like mistake. And with it lost momentum, lost the chance to get points, and lost the confidence of your coach, your fans, and your teammates.

Don't pretend this is the first time, Drew. Don't pretend like Parcells had only seen you for a half and then decided to pull you. He forgave you last year. When you blew the game against the Seahawks he forgave you. He's forgiven you this season. When you've missed countless wide open receivers and, maybe more importantly, a wide open Jason Witten several times. He forgave you when you threw that interception (strangely, again the red zone) against the Eagles, effectively losing that game. He forgave you for getting your arm hit by a charging LaVar Arrington, when all you had to do was simply side step, costing a touchdown.

Not this time, Drew. You've had your chances. You had your chance in that game. You could have shown your leadership and poise by getting the Cowboys a touchdown there. You could have demonstrated your veteran knowledge and skill by protecting the ball. You could have done those things, Drew, but you didn't. Instead, you threw the ball away. You gave up the game in that moment. And maybe you gave up your career too.

Final Hope

And so enters Tony Romo. Undrafted out of Eastern Illinois, he won the Walter Payton Award (AA Heisman) and had a productive career at Sean Payton's alma mater. He was, however, passed on by 32 teams including the Dallas Cowboys. As demonstrated in the past, the draft is only so good a gauge of talent, but to go undrafted leaves a very large question mark on potential.

During the Parcells Era in Dallas, Romo has outlasted the likes of Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchingson, Drew Henson, and Vinny Testaverde. He is described as a "Parcells guy" and is sometimes compared to a young Bret Favre. He flashes promise but has as many interceptions as touchdowns.

At times he makes the classic rookie mistakes of staring down his receiver, misreading coverage, forcing passes, and misreading routes. At other times he shows tremendous potential such as fitting the ball into tight coverage, seeing the whole field, taking what the defense gives, and improvising after a broken play (mostly meaning scrambling).

Few Quarter Backs simply step in and succeed. Hall of Famers like Troy Aikman, Steve Young, and John Elway all struggled mightily in their early days. The stories of Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisburger are much less frequent than the stories of players like Ryan Leaf.

Speaking of Tom Brady, this situation is 100% different. In the 2000-2001 Season Tom Brady stepped into a ball-control offense. Tony Romo has done the same. However, Tom Brady is a pure passer. He is not statuesqe like Bledsoe but he prefers to stay in the pocket and complete short passes with the occasional bomb. Tony Romo is totally opposite. He prefers to run around and throw the deep ball. Take the big risk to make the big play. Tom Brady is about poise and consistency. Tony Romo is about flash and power. This can be very dangerous in a ball-control offense. Or any offense for that matter.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
-Albert Einstein

That's where we are left. Since Troy Aikman left the Cowboys they have had nine different starting Quarter Backs (ironically, that's Tony Romo's number) and now Tony Romo makes 10. Now is the time to find out what Romo has. Bledsoe was never and most certainly is not now "the future."

With Matt Schaub and Chris Simms entering free-agency and a limited number of quality QB's available in the draft, the Cowboys need Romo to show what he can do now. This is probably Romo's only shot. If he doesn't perform this year I must believe the Cowboys will pursue the likes of Schaub or seek a trade.

At the end of the day all one can do is hope Romo performs. Hope Romo does well. Hope Romo is able to avoid the pressure and make the throws. And hope the Cowboys can turn themselves around and not waste yet another season wandering in the desert.

Man, last night was awful. Not only did the Cowboys lose but I managed to get a $200 speeding ticket! WTF! Speed traps man, dropping the limit from 55 to 35 on a rode that has double wide shoulders?!? #### ridiculous.


But back to the 'Boys.

Drew Bledsoe
I almost feel bad for this guy. Check that, no I don't. Drew makes #### poor decisions and has his entire career. His only redeeming qualities are durability and arm strength. But neither of those matter when you're on your back all the time or when you're not you're throwing interceptions.

He deserved to be pulled. I think Parcells waited too long on him. He's shown nothing against winning defenses and has cost the Cowboys games. The big one was Seattle last season, Philly this season. He's done. Don't go back to him even if Romo struggles. It doesn't matter this team's not going to make the playoffs.

Tony Romo
Speaking of the new QB. Typical. I wasn't surprised at all that Romo didn't come in and lead the team to a glorious come back. The guy has thrown two regular season NFL passes (one of which was poor but Sam Hurd adjusted to make the catch) and has never faced anything but vanilla defenses. He had no run support and a team that was very depressed.

On top of that he's very much a "gunslinger." He's going to make some horrible throws, some very bad decisions, but he's going to make some crazy looking plays, and will avoid the pressure like Bledsoe never could.

He's no savior. But I'd rather have a new guy throwing interceptions (and maybe learning from them) then an old guy. If the results are the same then why not give the new kid a chance and have the old guy call it a career?

Terrell Owens
Don't get enough opportunities? With the game (virtually) on the line you drop the ball, literally. The pass wasn't perfect, but it was close enough. That ball should've been caught. Terry Glenn makes that catch. Keyshawn Johnson makes that catch. Hell, even Patrick Crayton makes that catch. But not T.O. the self-proclaimed greatest receiver to lace up cleats.

O-line
Bad and worse. This offensive line is terrible. They have guys that are too old (Rivera, Adams) or too inexperienced (Colombo, Gurode). They can't open up holes for the running backs and can't stop holes from forming while trying to protect the quarterback. Rivera was a complete waste of money. Adams hasn't come back from his injury and the line just hasn't geled. And we don't have time to wait for them.

Defense
Big D stands for Defense! Yeah right. Best Rush Defense in the NFL! Give me a break.

The Giants had their way with Cowboys Defense. Doomsday III? Hardly. This defense resembles the Cowboys D from the 60's more than those of the 70's and 90's. Their corners (which were solid last season) seem to have lost a step. They still don't have a true Free Safety and Roy Williams gambles too much to make up for it.

The linebackers are weak. With the exceptions of DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis. Bobby Carpenter? Unless he's a hidden gem was a total bust. This was supposed to be one of their strong suits but other than those two outside rushers, nothing.

D-Line is almost as bad as the O-Line. Difference is they're young (except for Ferguson) so all is not lost. Given time they could have a great line but with no help from the secondary and the inside linebackers that won't mater at all.

Coaching
Let the death bells ring. This is the end of the line for Bill Parcells. The conversation was that if the Cowboys won the Superbowl (hahahaha, sorry, now it's laughable) he would retire. Conversely, if the Cowboys collapsed and went like 5-11 or something worse he'd retire.

When the Cowboys season is over and they're well below .500 Parcells may not have a choice. It may sound crazy but let's not forget Jerry Jones fired Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson. If I remember correctly after last night Parcells is .500 as a Cowboys coach. After four seasons that's just not good enough.

But who will replace him? Mike Zimmer? With the way the D's been playing I think not. Sean Payton's already in New Orleans. Maybe Jim Fassel? Or maybe even Bill Cowher?

Regardless*, I think Parcells will either retire or be fired after the season's done.

"Too many mistakes," is right. Too many mistakes. It's in the past now but the Cowboys had their opportunities. They should've scooped up Drew Brees. Sure Bledsoe was on the roster but Parcells seems like he was planing to bench him anyway. Should've signed Vinatieri, seems small but then the Cowboys wouldn't have had to think about keeping two kickers. Should've drafted a QB or a Safety with that first round pick. Should've...

The list goes on. These Cowboys are talented, but they lack heart. They lack that fire and intensity that inspires greatness. They make too many mistakes and seem to have no desire to turn things around. Until they get less apathetic their play will continue to be worse than bad. It's too late for the Cowboys this season. And the light at the end of the tunnel appears farther than ever.



*I was going to say, "if the Cowboys don't make the playoffs," but seriously with the Giants and Eagles to contend with can this paper tiger really be considered a contender?

Being an avid Cowboys fan I check their website frequently. Yesterday, the headline was all about Terry Glenn's contract extension. I'm anticipating the next several days to be relatively quiet (they may sign Jason Witten to a contract extension but I don't expect that till after the draft).

So I go to t he website this morning and what do I see, an article stating the Cowboys have sought, and been granted, permission to speak to Lions quarterback Joey Harrington. With Jon Kitna and Josh McCown now on the roster the Lions appear poised to cut their ties with 2002's Number 3 overall selection. This article got me to thinking about the possibility of Harrington's arrival in Dallas.

First, I don't think Harrington is nearly the disaster many do. Don't get me wrong, he's not one of the top ten QB's or anything but I don't think he's a dismal failure either. I think he's been utterly mismanaged in Detriot and has suffered because Matt Millen only goes after big name talents and neglects other essential positions (like O-line). But I don't think think Harrington is as bad as his career 68.1 QB rating would suggest.

Don't get me wrong, Joey Harrington is not starting material (right now). However, he could be a decent backup. Someone who could kind of keep the offense warm if Bledsoe got hurt. A Charlie Batch type. He's got NFL experience and that counts for something. I also think he'll be more successful away from Detriot (like Steve Young was when he left Tampa Bay [don't misread and think I'm saying Joey Harrington is or ever will be as good as Young, just an example]).

However, I've been reading the stuff out of NFL Europe and it looks promising. Henson is the leading passer in the league with a 62.9 completion percentage, 1 touchdown, and 0 i