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Introduction

In my humble opinion there are currently three truly major sports leagues in America: Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the National Baseball Association. Other organizations like the National Hockey League and NASCAR are certainly popular but they can't lay claim on the prestige of those three.

Winning the championship in any of those three leagues is a point of pride for the city and region whose team does so. Usually, cities have to wait years even decades for one of their teams to capture the ultimate prize. Every once in a great while two teams from the same region will win their respective league's title.

This year, rather, season of 2007-2008 there is unique chance that three teams from the same town will be crowned world chances. The town is, of course, Boston and the teams are the Red Sox (MLB), the Patriots (NFL), and the Celtics (NBA).

Boston Red Sox

In 2004 the Red Sox were truly a miracle team. They came from a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series to win the World Series. Now, a few seasons later they are the favorite to win another World Series. 

The Colorado Rockies were on a roll coming into this series. They had won 21 of 22 games including a one game playoff against the San Diego Padres and consecutive sweeps of the Phillies and the Diamondbacks. Then they ran into the jugornaut that is the Boston Red Sox.

The chances of the Red Sox winning the series look good. They won Game 1 handily behind excellent pitching by Josh Becket and a high powered offense. The Red Sox scored a total of 13 runs after a lead off homer by Dustin Pedroia. 

In game two the Rockies put up a serious fight. They scored first and held the Sox offense in check. However, Curt Schilling did his job and the early score was the only Rockies score of the game. The Red Sox won again by a score of 2-1.

Now, the series shifts to Colorado where the Rockies have excelled. The Red Sox are dominant and seem to simply be too overpowering for the upstart Rockies. However, there are plenty of obstacles still standing in the Sox way of victory.

First, Dice-K has been a rather shaky pitcher. Some games he pitches the way the Sox expected when they shelled out his massive contract. Other games, he appears no better than an average pitcher. If Dice-K pitches the way he's capable of then the Red Sox could win easily. However, if he doesn't pitch at the top of his game then the Rockies will quickly regain the momentum.

Second, who is their guy for game 4? Jonathan Lester? Does that name really inspire confidence? Sure he's a great story, and yes he was 4-0 this season, but is he seasoned enough to face a World Series caliber team? I have my doubts.

The Red Sox could easily lose the next two games behind weak pitching. Not that the Rockies pitching will be that much better (Josh Fogg, Aaron Cook) but they're playing in Denver and they're offense can heat up at home. Also, their team defense is excellent and if they can keep the ball in the park they will have a great chance to win.

So, as favored as the Red Sox are and as good as they've been playing they are in no way guaranteed to win. Even with a 2-0 lead there is a long way to go before the Red Sox win their second World Series title in 4 years.

New England Patriots

The Patriots have emerged from the controversy of "Spygate" to become one of the best offensive teams in history. Last season the Pats tried to win another ttle using their theory that any player would excel in their system. With no legitimate wide receiving threat the Patriots were dismissed from the playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts.

This past off season they decided not to make that mistake again. They traded for Wes Walker (one of the must under rated, till now, players in the game), signed Donte Stallworth (Philadelphia's number one receiver last season), and traded for Randy Moss.

These three pieces have melded beautifully for the Patriots and given their offense a spark unlike any other team in history. Tom Brady is having a historic season with a 137.9 passer rating and has thrown for 27 touchdowns and 2 picks.

The Patriots are lighting up the score board (and maybe running up the score) by averaging 39.9 points per game. They are currently 7-0 and appear unstoppable. However, they too have plenty of road blocks in their way.

First, they must play the Indianapolis Colts. In a unique role reversal the Patriots have been the toast of the town, crushing opponents and looking like an offensive power house. Meanwhile, the Colts have been quietly winning games and playing efficiently. Their defense has silently become the best against the pass in the league and third best overall.

These two collide on November 4th but I almost guarantee his won't be their only meeting this year. Regardless of who wins November 4th there's a good chance they will play again in the AFC Championship game and the Colts could easily win that. As overpowering as the Patriots have been, we learned from those old Patriots-Colts games  that a great defense can contain an explosive offense. That leaves it up to the Patriot's defense to stop the Colts offense and, unlike in years past, I'm not convinced they're up to the task. 

Besides the Colts, they also face the Pittsburgh Steelers who have also been putting together a nice season. They are currently 4-2, scoring 26.7 points per game and have the top rated defense in the league. They are known for creating unique blitz packages and are fully capable of getting to Tom Brady. Again, I believe the Pittsburgh defense is capable of slowing down the tide of the Patriots' offense but am unsure if the Patriots' defense can do the same to the Steelers.

While there are discussions of the Patriots going 16-0 and winning the title that is easier said than done. As good as they've looked the Patriots have a long way to go before they bring home another Lombardi trophy (their 4th in 6 years). While I wouldn't bet against them I'm again not quite ready to crown them (though every week makes that tougher).

Boston Celtics

This is the team we know the least about. For twenty some years the Celtics haven't had a title and haven't made a serious run for several seasons. Then, this past offseason, the Celts traded for sharp shooter Ray Allen and power forward Kevin Garnett. This has lead to a feeling of a return to prominence despite the regular season not yet starting.

Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett certainly look formidable on paper but we won't really know how good they are until they play the game. They added a few other pieces here and there but there remains serious questions about this team.

Even though the East is weak and a one man show in Cleveland made it all the way to the Finals last year, the Boston Celtics have a hard season ahead. Rajon Rondo must be an efficient point guard and play within himself this season. The Celtics also don't have a true center with Scot Pollard backing up Kendrick Perkins. Recent history has shown that shoring up those two positions may be the keys to post-season success.

If the Celtics escape the East, and with the new "Big Three" it's almost certain they will, there are major questions of how they would matchup against the Western Conference Champion.

The Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, and San Antonio Spurs are all easily better than the Celtics (again, on paper). Teams like the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Utah Jazz could surprise everybody and get themselves in the Finals. Once there, a case could be made that they too are better than the Boston Celtics.

Of all the Boston teams, the Celtics have the longest road to victory. Not only because the season has yet to begin, but also because they have the most equal competition. We shall see if the Celtics play as good as they appear on paper and I have the hardest time believing they will win it all.

Conclusion

I am far from convinced the Boston teams will sweep the Big Three Leagues. But I could easily see the Red Sox and Patriots winning their titles. That, in and of itself, would be a feat and something that Boston fans would revel in for years to come. If the Celtics won too, the city of Boston would have bragging rights it might never lose.

Whatever the case, I feel Boston has a unique opportunity this "season" and may be hence forth known as "Title Town."

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Introduction

We're about a week away from opening night and I have neglected the Dallas Mavericks since the beginning of the summer.

The last time I was really paying attention was around draft time. The Mavericks picked up Nick Fazekas, Renaldas Seibutis, and traded some dude for Reyshawn Terry. They brought Devean George back and signed Eddie Jones for some defensive help.

Then this whole Kobe Bryant trade stuff blew up and drew my attention once again to my favorite basketball team. So, let's look at the Mavericks roster position by position.

Point Guards

Devin Harris: The time has come to make Harris the full time starter at point. He's quick, aggressive, and can score in bunches. The question is how good of a distributor he is. If he can slash to the middle and then kick it out to his outside shooters then he'll elevate himself into the top-tier of point guards. His strength is speed and if he learns to pass on the go then he could be a very good point guard.

Jose Juan Barea: A tough little point guard who is also very fast. During this year's summer league in Las Vegas Barea was averaging 14.4 point per game, 6.2 assists per game, and 3.0 rebounds per game. He was elected to the summer league All-Star team and had a .531 field goal percentage and a .429 percentage from beyond the arc.

That's fairly meaningless since it was in summer league but Barea show legit talent. He'll never be a starter but he could be a great back up and his style mimics Harris' enough to keep the team moving. He's also a great shooter and on a team like the Mavericks he could be dangerous.

Jason Terry: I'll put Jason Terry here but he's really more of a 2-guard at this point. The Mavs may use him at point every once and a while but he's primarily in there to shoot the ball. Terry is a solid offensive weapon and isn't too much of a liability on defense. He's capable of hitting the big shot and can come through in the clutch. He'd been an excellent change of pace point guard but he should be beside Devin Harris on the court not sitting in front of him on the depth chart.

Shooting Guards

Eddie Jones: Signed in the off season, Jones will take over as the defensive guard (a role filled last year by Greg Buckner and the year before by Adrian Griffin the year before). However, unlike his predecessors Jones is a legitimate offensive threat. He's not going to be dancing with the ball and streaking to the basket. But he can shoot ball (especially from behind the three-point line) and that is a major upgrade over the position. He won't be starting, sitting behind Terry, but he'll see significant time and if he keeps up his tenacious defense he'll be a real asset for this Mavericks team.

Trenton Hassell: The Mavericks basically traded like for like when they sent Greg Buckner to Minnesota for Hassell. Hassell is a little bit better than Buckner offensively but otherwise isn't really that different of a player. Finally, he's a little bit younger and over all was an upgrade over Buckner. But he's still buried behind Terry and Jones and I don't know how many minutes the Mavericks intend to give him.

Maurice Ager: This is the guy the Mavs drafted a couple years ago and someone I think will be a steal, not quite Josh Howard like but still a steal. Ager is a flat out scorer. He's a tough kid who could develop his defense under a coach like Avery Johnson. I would like to see him getting more minutes but with the trades and the necessary switch of Terry to shooting guard I don't see it happening. Ager's got to start seeing real playing time soon or else the Mavs risk missing out on a great young talent.

Renaldas Seibutis: The Mavericks last pick in the draft. Supposedly, since I've never seen him play, he's a great shooter and an intense defender. That's nice, but he's not a good enough athlete to compete at the NBA level right now. Besides that's he's buried so far on the depth chart he wouldn't even dress for games. This kid's staying in Europe pending his development.

Small Forwards

Josh Howard: Howard is an up-and-coming superstar. He will be an All-Star this season and for many season to come. He's got a great looking shot and is versatile enough to cut to the basket or make some room for himself on the outside. He's defense is lacking but getting better and his long arms are proving difficult for opposing offenses to handle.

Howard is a great option as a small forward and could easily fill in at shooting guard. Howard is obviously the starter and most talented player here and there is not question what he brings to the table. In fact, I really hope he asserts himself this season and takes over this team.

Devean George: George was brought in last year and brought back this year for two reasons. One, he has championship experience. Two, he is a good defender and a smart player. Other than that his time has come and gone. He's still an asset off the bench but I really didn't think he filled a big role for the Mavs last year and I'm not sure he will this year.

Jerry Stackhouse: Stackhouse is easily the third best player on this team. However, he's great off the bench. He adds a tenacity when he comes on the court and can still score from anywhere. He's a great back up for Howard and the two can share court time with either filling the 2 or 3 spots. He's the Mavs sixth man and is critical to any title hopes.

Reyshawn Terry: This kid could develop into a solid NBA small forward. He is athletic and talented on both sides of the ball. Given time and careful coaching he could for a great one-two punch at this position with Howard. This is basically Stackhouse's replacement as he prepares to retire. However, with the loaded roster I think the Mavs will struggle to keep him and ultimately may decide they can net a similar player later.

Power Forwards

Dirk Nowitzki: Given everything, still the most talented player on this team. The only defense against Dirk is to get in his head and let him stop himself. He doubts his talents far too easily and Don Nelson knew it, attacking him and showing no fear against his inside-outside threat. If Nowitzki had attacked right back I firmly believe the Mavs would've won the series but he allowed himself to be intimidated.

He's the cornerstone of this team and will remain so. He's gone from a strictly perimeter big man to an inside-outside power forward with decent defense. He's shown an ability to improve on everything he's worked on and if he gains proper confidence he could finally assert himself as one of the best power forwards in the game. The only player stopping Dirk is Dirk and if he gets out of his own way there are bright days ahead.

Brandon Bass: For several years now the Mavericks have been searching for someone to back up Nowitzki. For now, they're going with the young Brandon Bass. And Bass has really come on. He's scoring in bunches and getting rebounds like a mad man. If he keeps this up he could secure himself a long-term deal and represent a real change of pace. I'd like to see the Mavericks forgo signing a veteran big man and let this kid have a chance to backup Dirk.

Nick Fazekas: Fazekas has an amazing touch. He can score from any where and has a lot of heart. However, he doesn't have the strength to be an NBA power forward and won't be seeing much time this season. His defense and athleticism aren't where they should be and he'll have to develop those quickly. But the Mavericks believe in him, like they once did in a kid named Nowtizki, and believe he'll develop into a solid player. He'll get some time this season but he wasn't drafted to make an immediate impact.

Centers

Erick Dampier: What a waste of money. He's a decent center yes. He'll get some blocks and disrupt the offense. He'll pull down some rebounds if he has to. But don't expect too much out of Dampier. Though he'll flash brilliance he's not what the Mavericks thought they were getting. He needs to start producing offensively or else he could easily see the occasional start dip to none. When he's contract is over the Mavericks should let him walk.

DeSagana Diop: A solid and surprising player. Again, not much of an offensive threat but he has great heart. His size and athleticism allow him to be a major contributor on defense. However, he'll need to pickup his offensive production if he doesn't want the Mavericks to look for another center to start in a few seasons. This year, however, he is easily the best center and should start from the beginning of the season.

Didier Ilunga-Mbenga: A promising young talent who was injured last season. He's not a huge guy but is still fairly big. He's also terribly athletic and could be a special player if developed correctly. This year he'll still be sitting on the bench most of the time but will come in for relief every now and again. He'll see an increase in his minutes come playoff time as Johnson tries to avoid foul trouble for his two primary centers.

Conclusion

Overall this is obviously a very talented team. The question is, do all the pieces fit together? I think the real core of this team is Nowitzki, Howard, and Harris. Jason Terry is a solid scorer and a great two-guard. Outside of that Stackhouse, Jones, and George can contribute off the bench in various ways. Their centers are still huge question mark and I'm not sure where guys like Hassell and Ager will fit in.

Well, Donnie Nelson has done a great job of assembling talent and now it's up to Johnson to make it all fit together. The team has gotten much tougher over the past several seasons and if they can continue to do that without sacrificing their offensive aggressiveness they'll be tough to beat. I think the Mavericks are certainly capable of winning it all as they have a great mix of stars and role players. The real question is will Dirk Nowitzki get out of his own way or will he let himself be intimidated again and collapse one more time?

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Introduction

I'll give you a moment to recover from the brilliance of my title...

Ok, moving on, Kobe Bryant wants out of LA. Early this summer he was screaming about being traded on national radio. Then he'd go on local LA radio and say he wanted to be a Laker for life. Apparently, Kobe hasn't upgraded to the digital age when pretty much anybody can get news from a wold away instantaneously.

Of course, the LA faithful bought everything he was saying. Growing up in Philly as a life long Laker fan? That sounds a little fishy to me but I digress. Kobe Bryant is only concerned with winning the championship and advancing his own career. Therefore, Bryant would love to go anywhere that he feels would give him a better chance to win the title and advance his own career.

So, using the technology of the ESPN trade machine I will try to put together some trades that would benefit everybody. Now, the likelihood of Kobe getting traded are about as good as an environmental activists' of winning the Nobel Peace Prize but it's always fun to speculate. 

Kobe to New York

Obviously, the Knicks have to top the list. For no other reason than that only New York is bigger than LA. New York could absorb Kobe Bryant and welcome him as a new star. My comrade Dudski talked about this in his blog and I concur.

The Knicks certainly have the pieces to make a big trade and I think going to the Knicks would satisfy Kobe's ego. Being able to resurrect Spike Lee's team would provide Kobe with some motivation and the opportunity to play for Isiah Thomas would make Kobe drool.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to New York Knicks for Malik Rose, Quentin Richardson, Jamal Crawford and 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: Get a tough power forward in Malike Rose, a great shooter in Richardson, and an upgrade at point with Crawford. The three of them could help in Phil's Triangle and are certainly upgrades over the current cast (excluding Kobe, of course). Crawford, Richardson, Rose, Odom, and Walton could make for a high-flying offense but they still have a huge hole in the middle. They would need to go get a center but this lineup is still better than what they'll have (again excluding Kobe) and two picks in '08 would give them a head start.

Knicks: Having Marbury and Bryant on the same team could be problematic. However, it wouldn't take long for Bryant to assert himself and I truly believe Starbury would defer some of his shooting to Bryant (this isn't Steve Francis we're talking about here). The Knicks would also be off to a good start at rebuilding here and could make a serious play in the East.

Kobe to Chicago

This is one of the most popular scenarios. But the specifics are hard to hammer out. Who would the Bulls be willing to part with? That largely depends on what direction the Bulls as an organization want to go. They have a five year deal with Kirk Hinrich and seem to have committed to him as  their point guard. But the rest of the team is really up for grabs so it's the Bulls choice to make.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to the Chicago Bulls for Chris Duhon, Ben Gordon, Ben Wallace, and 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: Get a decent point guard who still has promise in Duhon, a developing superstar in Ben Gordon, and the show stopper in Ben Wallace. The first round pick is again, a necessity, and this trade would give the Lakers some options.

Wallace would finally provide a presence at the Center spot and both Duhon and Gordon will be free agents after next season. That would give the Lakers to opportunity to resign them or gain some salary cap space. Their youth is also a big plus and they could be paired with who ever the Lakers pick up to rebuild.

Bulls: Obviously getting Kobe would dramatically improve this team. Hinrich is a creative passer and Kobe is excellent moving without the ball. Those two could mesh beautifully and be a dynamic duo for the Bulls. Again, the middle is exposed without Wallace but this team would be a serious threat in the East.

Kobe to Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks are a very opportunistic team. Mark Cuban is obviously not afraid to spend but he would never execute this trade. Regardless, it's a trade that's possible and makes a degree of sense. But neither the Lakers nor Mavs would willingly make the other better.

This trade I think would also require a little more from the Lakers end to compensate the Mavericks and make the salaries work. Again, the first round pick is a given but if I was the Lakers I would also demand the rising star Josh Howard before I would even consider a trade with Dallas.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kober Bryant and Vladimir Radmanovic to the Dallas Mavericks for Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: The Lakers would obviously get two great pieces for their offense. Dirk Nowitski creates serious match up problems and paired with Obom could cause fits for opposing big men on the offensive side. Also, Josh Howard is getting nothing but better and adds a threat on both sides of the court. He's a guard-forward and a solid player. Again, two first round picks would give them some flexibility to build around their Nowitzki-Odom-Howard core.

Mavericks: The Mavs would lose two big pieces of their team but would gain arguably the best player in the league. Bryant would add some offense and some defense and Radmanovic can be counted on as the outside scoring big man. However, he is no Nowitzki and would definitely be a bench player. If Bryant could play like we know he can then this could be a serious upgrade over their current roster.

Now to get a little less conventional.

Kobe to Phoenix

I was thinking about Kobe Bryan in a Suns uniform and I think I like it. He would be a great fit for that offense and would add a dynamic option for them on both sides of the court. If the Suns could get somebody who could slow down opposing offenses then Kobe would easily put them over the top.

Shawn Marion is obviously the key part of any trade between Phoenix and LA but the Suns would have to do quite a bit to sweeten the deal.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, a 2008 First Round Pick and a 2009 Second Round Pick

Lakers: Marion for Bryant is not a good trade. However, Bell would add some toughness to the Lakers and could add some potency to their defense. They're not going to score more points with this trade unless they sign a decent point guard. However, getting two picks would give them some serious flexibility and Marion's athleticism would add a new dimension to the Lakers offense. Plus, Bell and Marion would work very well with the players already on the team and the Lakers could actually be a decent team.

Suns: Championship. Hands down. Nash+Stoudemire+Bryant+Diaw=Unstoppable. Plus, Hill off the bench will do great things. I didn't include the fifth man because he would be irrelevant. This trade would land the Suns the championship now and give them an easy chance to repeat next season. The Suns would give up some very big picks over the next couple years but their window is closing and they need to do something to win now.

Kobe to Washington

The Wizards are a team that are on the cusp of glory in the East. If they made a move for Bryant they would significantly increase their chances and get far better on the defensive side of the ball. Meanwhile, the Lakers would get two great components for the Triangle.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant and Vladimir Radmanovic to the Washington Wizards for Antwane Jamison, Gilbert Arenas, and a 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: The Lakers would get two great scoring options and two great pieces for the Triangle. Gilbert Arenas is classified as a point guard and would be a huge upgrade over what the Lakers have. Pairing him with Fisher (similar to how the Mavs pair Terry and Harris) could be great. Meanwhile, Jamison has a good inside-outside game and this team could run the floor with the best of them. While they wouldn't improve on defense they would be dynamic on offense and could use that pick to get a true Center. Plus Arenas and Jamison both have short contracts and that would free up a ton of cap room for the Lakers if they chose not to resign them.

Wizards: This would significantly improve the Wizards, especially on the defensive side of the ball. It would give them the best scorer in the league and an extra option in Radmanovic. The Wizards still have Stevenson and Haywood and this would be a good foundation on which to build. In a couple seasons the Wizards could be real contenders.

Kobe to Houston

Here's another team that I could really see Kobe going to. Again, this trade is  far less likely than the already very unlikely trades mentioned above. However, I think a trade between the two could benefit both sides. I said a long time ago the Lakers should've traded Kobe to Orlando for McGrady and I'm thinking maybe they can still do it. McGrady is still a great shooting guard and with the right team can do some great things.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant and Vladimir Radmanovic to the Houston Rockets for Tracy McGrady, Bonzi Wells, Mike James, and 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: Mike James provides and instant upgrade at point guard. Again, he could be paired with Derek Fisher and provide a good option at the two spot. McGrady is one of the best guard-forwards in the league and is behind maybe only Kobe in skill. Things haven't panned out with Yao so maybe a change of scenery will revive him. Bonzi Wells only has a season left on his contract and could free up some cap space. In the meantime, he has flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball and would add some toughness to the Lakers.

Rockets: The Rockets would get a breath of fresh air. Kobe's worked with a high-caliber center before and maybe he can help Yao get back to what he was promised to be. He can certainly score and play defense and again, a change in scenery could help revive him. Radmanovic would again be a third scoring option and I think could be a bigger threat with defenses keying on Ming and Bryant.

Kobe to New Jersey

Bryant really wanted to play with Jason Kidd. What player wouldn't? Besides Nash he is the most creative point guard in the league and wants to get his scores the ball. Vince Carter is untradable (not because he's better than Kobe, because he has a Trade Restriction) so they'd have to give up Richard Jefferson. They'd also have to give up some promising players and again that first round pick. However, a team with Carter-Kidd-Bryant would be unstoppable in the East and maybe even unstoppable against the west.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to the New Jersey Nets for Richard  Jefferson, Sean Williams, Nenad Krstic, Bostjan Nachbar, and a 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: The Lakers would get Richard Jefferson to keep their scoring up and a promising young point guard to help lead the team. Krstic has been a surprise and could be a real asset to the Triangle. Nachbar also shows some promise but would open up a couple million in cap space if the Lakers decided not to resign him after next season. 

New Jersey Nets: This would set up an epic match up between the Nets and Celtics in the playoffs. Which big three would succeed? I don't know. The Celtics would have a hard time stopping Kobe and Carter plus the Nets have something the Celts don't: a true point guard. I think the Nets would come out on top and challenge for the championship. Again, the Nets window is closing and they need to do something to win now.

Conclusion

None of these trades will happen. However, it's always fun to speculate. My favorite trade is with the Suns because I believe that would spell championship. However, I would also like the Nets trade simply because it would be fun to watch them obliterate the East. All in all, Kobe will simply walk away in 2009 and the Lakers will struggle to rebuild. Buss should try to get something for him now but they will never get equal value for him.

So these are some random scenarios. Let me know what you think but I'm really interested to see if there are any other interesting trades you would have in mind (be creative!). Peace.

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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.

See this post in stunning HD! 

Introduction

After failing to even post the second edition of The Morning After, I've gotten the crazy idea that I should try another weekly piece.

This time, I think I'll try to rank the top five teams as of this week. While early in the season this is an easier task, I hope to have more controversial picks as time goes on.

Hopefully, I'll find time this weekend to actually watch the Sunday Night game and complete a post for Monday morning.

1. New England Patriots

I don't care about any of this, "you gotta beat the champs," none sense. Do you really believe the Patriots aren't the best team in the league? I mean, the Patriots have been clicking on both sides of the ball and have man handled their opponents almost effortlessly.

While their opponents do have a combined record of 4-12 the Patriots performance can not be denied. The defense is as stingy as ever and the offense is more prolific than it every has been. Statistically, this team is second in total offense (having been supplanted by Dallas only this week) and first in total defense.

The Patriots are dominating and could make a serious run at 19-0. However, that's highly improbable and I expect they'll have at least one bump along the road. That being said, until I see otherwise, the Patriots are the team to beat.

2. Indianapolis Colts

The defending champs are undefeated and, yet, are still playing second fiddle to the Patriots. A drubbing of the Patriots (or a grind out win for that matter) on November 4th would go a long way to putting them back on top. In fact, if they remain unbeaten through that game then they'd obviously be the top team in the NFL.

But the Colts aren't exactly dominating teams like they have in the past. Their games are tight and they've had to come from behind a couple times this season. In fact, they appear more like the Patriots a couple years ago in their attempt to control the ball and beat the team's with stoic defense.

The Colts are still one of the best teams in the NFL but I can't deny what I see when I watch the Patriots. Until I see a chink in the Pats' armor, the Colts are still in their shadow.

3. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have been downright prolific. Their offense is the best in the league and Tony Romo looks like he's been playing in the league for years. Terrell Owens is quiet after the game but makes plenty of noise during it. Jason Witten is also making his way back into the NFL limelight and Marion Barber is a stud.

The defense, meanwhile, is getting better each week. In fact, they held the Rams without a touchdown (St. Louis' lone score coming on a kick return). While that's not a great feat the little things the defense is doing are improving. Greg Ellis is back on the field, as is Terence Newman, in a reduced role and defensive line is upping its tempo.

The scary part about the Cowboys is they only promise to get better. Terry Glenn is aiming for a mid season return and would add a whole new dimension to the Cowboys stellar offense. Tank Johnson is preparing to join the defense, with a major chip on his shoulder, and hopefully provide some help on that d-line.

The Cowboys opponents are a combined 3-13 but they, like the Pats, have been playing some simply outstanding football. They have the Bills this week and once they get through that we'll have a clash of titans on October 14 when the Pats come to town.

4. Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre looks like Brett Farve circa 1996. The guy has been making plays and his young receivers haven't let him down. He's now the touchdown king and more importantly the Packers are 4-0. What's truly impressive is that the Packers are the youngest team in the league and they are winning with virtually no running game.

The Packers defense is proving itself as the new cornerstone of this team. They stuff the run and play the pass well. They put plenty of pressure on the QB and play with the fire of youth and smarts of experience.

The Packers first real test won't come until October 29 when they play the Broncos and I wouldn't be surprised if they go the longest without a loss. The Packers are much better than we thought and now the only question is how good are they? The sky appears to be the limit but I really think their ceiling is lower than the Cowboys'.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

Afraid I have to agree with the consensus, the Steelers are one of the best teams in the league. They lost to Arizona in, what I consider, a fluke game (they were without Hines Ward) and I think it was one of the Steelers bumps this year.

Big Ben's been looking good this year. He's spreading the ball around and moving like he did in their Super Bowl year. The offense has been opened up and Roethlisberger appears to be up for the task. The defense is still preforming well and are statistically the second best total defense in the league.

As time goes on, they'll still be a team to beat. Unless the injury bug plagues them again they'll be in this thing near the end.  They still have Seattle, New England, Baltimore, and (dare I say it) Cleveland on the slate. If they can get by all those opponents, or at least put on a good showing, they'll be in this thing deep into the post-season.

Power Rankings from Around the 'Net

ESPN (no author cited)

1. New England Patriots
2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Dallas Cowboys

4. Green Bay Packers
5. Seattle Seahawks

MSNBC (third party website: coldhardfootballfacts.com)

1. New England Patriots

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Dallas Cowboys

4. Green Bay Packers

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

CBS (Pete Prisco)

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. New England Patriots

3. Dallas Cowboys

4. Geen Bay Packers

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

Fox Sports (Peter Schrager)

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. New England Patriots

3. Dallas Cowboys

4. Green Bay Packers

5. Seattle Seahawks

Conclusion

There is pretty strong consensus among the top five. The only real dissension is whether the Colts or Pats are number one and whether the Seahawks or Steelers belong in the fifth slot.

Well, there's always room for debate and I'm hoping  that space gets bigger after next week. Several upsets this past weekend shook things up some but given time and the disagreements should grow. Thanks for checking it out and please feel free to leave your own top five.