For 11 straight seasons prior to this one, the Dallas Cowboys failed to win more games than they lost after December 1st.
There is no logic to this. Players came and went. Coaches, including head coaches, came and went. Some years they practiced in Wichita Falls, other years in San Antonio, other years in California. They had coaches that were tyrants and coaches that were pushovers. One year, they entered December with an 11-1 record. And still choked in December. It didn't, and still doesn't seem to matter what they do. When December arrives, things go south.
I have been researching this phenomenon for several years. I've talked about it every season for 5 or 6 years. Finally, other writers are starting to bring it up.
But this year, I, at least, can provide you with a reason why this continues to happen to our favorite team. Yes, there is an answer to "why". And yes, I have found it.
As I have spent countless hours over the years reading about my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, I have payed close attention to many of the writers on the Cowboys beat. I have also payed close attention to how these writers' words were accepted in the Cowboys fan communities online. I have seen certain writers venomously attacked verbally because of what they had written. Some writers always get attacked. Others do on occasion. A few rarely get attacked. It appears that all that's required to garner a verbal attack is to say something that appears to be negative towards the Cowboys.
It doesn't seem to matter whether it's the truth or not, only that it be deemed negative. Before this begins to appear to be a whine session, and I assure you it isn't, I'm going to get to the answer to the question "why".
One of the reporters that I've seen villified on numerous occasions is Randy Galloway. Now, being a wordsmith myself, I happen to enjoy reading what Galloway says. He's witty and direct. He says what's on his mind without hesitation and he says it well, I think. No, I'm not starting the Randy Galloway Fan Club. The fact is, I fear the man.
You'll see why in a moment.
In a very obscure article found on the internet, posted on Thursday, August 31st, 2006 at 5:11 pm, it says:
http://www.knowyourdallascowboys.com/2006/08/31/randy-galloway-comment-in-1996/
"The year was 1996. The Cowboys were coming off of their third Super Bowl title, and other than the situation with Michael Irvin’s suspension, the team had retained much of its talent (recall that this was the year that Dallas was supposed to have the unstoppable duo of Deion Sanders and Kevin Smith at the corners).
During a pregame show for the opening game against Chicago, someone asked Galloway for his prediction for the season. He said he thought that Dallas would win one more that season, and then it would be a “very long time” before it won another. Obviously one prediction fell short, but the Cowboys seem to have rendered him a short-term prophet with respect to the second."
The author implies that Galloway meant the Cowboys would win another Superbowl that season, but one would have to change the question to come to that conclusion. The question, apparently was about Galloway's prediction for the season. His response was that it would be a very long time before they won another. I believe Galloway was talking about them winning another playoff game, which they did in the '96 season. And it has indeed been a "very long time" since they have won another.
Could this explain the Cowboys foibles over the past 12 years? Did Galloway, perhaps without even realizing what he was doing, place some kind of curse on the Dallas Cowboys organization? Could Galloway have unintentionally set forces in motion that caused the Cowboys to go into the post season with virtually no momentum and denied the Cowboys of a playoff victory for all these years?
I located this information last year and even announced then that I was going to reveal the reason for the Cowboys failures in December and the post season for so long. My exhuberance in discovering this obscure information quite frankly had me heady and I let that excitement get ahead of my thought process.
The more I considered how I would write the article, the more I thought of the power of this possible curse. Then I thought about what the repercussions might be should Randy Galloway become angry because I was accusing him of this. Anyone that could, by the mere speaking of words, cause all the events to transpire that have led the team to the point they are now should be feared. If his words were powerful enough to cause the mighty to fall, think of the damage he could inflict on the life of a relatively unknown Joe from east Texas.
So I didn't write the article. Oh, it beckoned me regularly. I even started a few drafts, but destroyed them before I published. The fear was grievous. But so was the need for the truth to come forth and for me to be the one to bring it.
So here we are. The cards are on the table. I've admitted what I've found. I've admitted my fears. I readily admit that this article is not meant by any means to cause Mr. Galloway any distress of any nature. My only wish is that he contemplate this and see if he can reverse that curse some way, somehow, for I do love the Dallas Cowboys and wish to see them return to their glory yet again before I pass from this realm of existence.
And please, please, Mr. Galloway, do not become angry at me and as they say "shoot the messenger". I only wish to be a harbinger of truth.
Now, I know there will be skeptics, but I challenge them to show us some other kind of proof that there is another cause that is more plausible..
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
OK, so what's next?
I don't know about you, but I've written this season off. I don't for a moment believe that the Cowboys will be able to regroup from the Pittsburgh loss and win three games in a row against playoff contenders. Oh yes, you can rattle off all the mathematical ways it can happen, but we're talking heart here and desire to win. It's simply not going to happen.
So now, we're looking at the draft and trades. What are the areas that need to be dealt with? I can see several that I believe should get serious attention.
First of all, there are several players on the team that shouldn't be, in my opinion.
Stanback has proven himself to be brittle. Too many injuries, too often. I don't know what they've paid him but there's no way he's made enough plays to justify the amount. The only play I can recall him making this season was in yesterday's Pittsburgh game. He was a project when they drafted him. He's still a project. The Cowboys need players, not projects. Replace him with someone who can tie his shoes and get on the field to play.
Terrence Newman has also proven himself to be brittle. Again, too many injuries, too often. I don't know how long it's been since he was considered to be 100% well. Find a replacement.
Anthony Henry should be moved to safety.
Roy Williams (safety). The Cowboys need to trade him or cut him. If they don't, they're going to stick him out there in pass coverage again, and we know what we get when that happens. The best I can tell, the only thing he's ever truly been good at was horsecollaring, and that's no longer allowed.
Flozell Adams has been in the league for 11 seasons, all with the Cowboys. A four time pro bowler and 2nd team All Pro, he signed a new six year contract with the Cowboys, to the tune of $42 million, including $15 million in guaranteed money and about $13 million in signing bonus. He is generally the most penalized player on the team. Now, the argument is he protects Romo. The midseason games this year didn't seem to prove that. The line didn't protect anyone with Kozier gone. When he returned, the line got better. It looked to me that Kozier was much more important than Adams. His perpetual movement before the snap penalties changed games, took away momentum and yardage and caused all the other bad things that go with that. Remember, we're not talking about some rookie here. We're talking an eleven year veteran that hasn't learned the fundamentals. We have no reasonable expectation of him going another four years (to fill out his contract) without making more of those just plain stupid penalties. If he hasn't learned by now, it's not going to happen. Trade him to someone. Find a replacement. I'm tired of wasting money on people who are hurting the team or who can't be depended on to play from week to week.
Pacman Jones - Just say no. The only reasonable expectation you can have with this guy is that he's going to screw up and get banned from the league. I firmly believe that he's on his last rope with the NFL commissioner and that his next stunt will be his last in the NFL. And I also firmly believe that Pacman Jones will screw up. I don't believe it's a matter of "whether", only "when". Why waste the time, manpower and resources to train a guy that's not going to be available to play. Replace him.
Backup quarterback. Depending on these worn out, non-mobile has beens has not worked. Do something different. Look for talent, even if it doesn't come with lots of experience.
Starting quarterback. Two and a half seasons should be enough for Tony Romo to settle his ass down and stop throwing so many interceptions. He has gone wayyyyyy past the "acceptable mistake" mark. Great quarterbacks don't do that. If he's going to be great, it has to end.
Special teams. A new special teams coach is in order. Coverage and blocking need serious work. Folk is a keeper.
Offensive coaching. Playcalling is predictable and isn't even coming close to using the maximum talent available on the team. Jason Garrett needs to get creative. Presuming he's still here, of course.
Defensive coaching. Defensive playcalling needs some major work, too. It's hard to know exactly what they need since it's changed every frigging week, it seems and they only had one game that they truly dominated a good team. And they only did that for three quarters. I'm talking about the Pittsburgh game, of course. Some players need to be shifted around, such as Henry to safety. Some need to just move on, such as Pacman Jones and Terrence Newman.
Head coach. Phillips will probably be fired at the end of the season. Talk has it that Jason Garrett is the heir apparent. Jason Garrett has not performed well enough to be considered for a head coach position. Right now, if I were to be picking a new head coach for the Cowboys, it would have to be Bill Cowher. And give the man the authority to get the job done. This means Jerry Jones lets the man do that job without interfering with decisions, playcalling or players. If another puppet coach is installed, expect more of the same.
Strength and conditioning coaches. Fire the whole bunch. If they've been there longer than a month, fire them. The Cowboys have entered December every year for 12 straight years, out of condition and low of strength. They don't have enough steam left to finish games. So they wind up having a drop off in wins each December. I have no idea if these are the same coaches they've had every year or whether it was a new bunch each year, but regardless, they aren't getting the job done, so they need to be replaced. Then go find out who the strength and conditioning coaches are for Pittsburgh or New England and steal them. Either group should be adequate to get that job turned around.
I'm sure I can think of other things, and as I do, I'll try to mention them. But this should keep a couple people busy for a weekend.
Rod
So now, we're looking at the draft and trades. What are the areas that need to be dealt with? I can see several that I believe should get serious attention.
First of all, there are several players on the team that shouldn't be, in my opinion.
Stanback has proven himself to be brittle. Too many injuries, too often. I don't know what they've paid him but there's no way he's made enough plays to justify the amount. The only play I can recall him making this season was in yesterday's Pittsburgh game. He was a project when they drafted him. He's still a project. The Cowboys need players, not projects. Replace him with someone who can tie his shoes and get on the field to play.
Terrence Newman has also proven himself to be brittle. Again, too many injuries, too often. I don't know how long it's been since he was considered to be 100% well. Find a replacement.
Anthony Henry should be moved to safety.
Roy Williams (safety). The Cowboys need to trade him or cut him. If they don't, they're going to stick him out there in pass coverage again, and we know what we get when that happens. The best I can tell, the only thing he's ever truly been good at was horsecollaring, and that's no longer allowed.
Flozell Adams has been in the league for 11 seasons, all with the Cowboys. A four time pro bowler and 2nd team All Pro, he signed a new six year contract with the Cowboys, to the tune of $42 million, including $15 million in guaranteed money and about $13 million in signing bonus. He is generally the most penalized player on the team. Now, the argument is he protects Romo. The midseason games this year didn't seem to prove that. The line didn't protect anyone with Kozier gone. When he returned, the line got better. It looked to me that Kozier was much more important than Adams. His perpetual movement before the snap penalties changed games, took away momentum and yardage and caused all the other bad things that go with that. Remember, we're not talking about some rookie here. We're talking an eleven year veteran that hasn't learned the fundamentals. We have no reasonable expectation of him going another four years (to fill out his contract) without making more of those just plain stupid penalties. If he hasn't learned by now, it's not going to happen. Trade him to someone. Find a replacement. I'm tired of wasting money on people who are hurting the team or who can't be depended on to play from week to week.
Pacman Jones - Just say no. The only reasonable expectation you can have with this guy is that he's going to screw up and get banned from the league. I firmly believe that he's on his last rope with the NFL commissioner and that his next stunt will be his last in the NFL. And I also firmly believe that Pacman Jones will screw up. I don't believe it's a matter of "whether", only "when". Why waste the time, manpower and resources to train a guy that's not going to be available to play. Replace him.
Backup quarterback. Depending on these worn out, non-mobile has beens has not worked. Do something different. Look for talent, even if it doesn't come with lots of experience.
Starting quarterback. Two and a half seasons should be enough for Tony Romo to settle his ass down and stop throwing so many interceptions. He has gone wayyyyyy past the "acceptable mistake" mark. Great quarterbacks don't do that. If he's going to be great, it has to end.
Special teams. A new special teams coach is in order. Coverage and blocking need serious work. Folk is a keeper.
Offensive coaching. Playcalling is predictable and isn't even coming close to using the maximum talent available on the team. Jason Garrett needs to get creative. Presuming he's still here, of course.
Defensive coaching. Defensive playcalling needs some major work, too. It's hard to know exactly what they need since it's changed every frigging week, it seems and they only had one game that they truly dominated a good team. And they only did that for three quarters. I'm talking about the Pittsburgh game, of course. Some players need to be shifted around, such as Henry to safety. Some need to just move on, such as Pacman Jones and Terrence Newman.
Head coach. Phillips will probably be fired at the end of the season. Talk has it that Jason Garrett is the heir apparent. Jason Garrett has not performed well enough to be considered for a head coach position. Right now, if I were to be picking a new head coach for the Cowboys, it would have to be Bill Cowher. And give the man the authority to get the job done. This means Jerry Jones lets the man do that job without interfering with decisions, playcalling or players. If another puppet coach is installed, expect more of the same.
Strength and conditioning coaches. Fire the whole bunch. If they've been there longer than a month, fire them. The Cowboys have entered December every year for 12 straight years, out of condition and low of strength. They don't have enough steam left to finish games. So they wind up having a drop off in wins each December. I have no idea if these are the same coaches they've had every year or whether it was a new bunch each year, but regardless, they aren't getting the job done, so they need to be replaced. Then go find out who the strength and conditioning coaches are for Pittsburgh or New England and steal them. Either group should be adequate to get that job turned around.
I'm sure I can think of other things, and as I do, I'll try to mention them. But this should keep a couple people busy for a weekend.
Rod
Saturday, November 29, 2008
It's December! Time to Smoke or Choke!!
OK, folks. . . preseason is over!
The next game the Cowboys play is on December 7th in Pittsburgh at 3:15 PM Central time. Did you catch that? I said "December". The Cowboys went into December last season at 11-1. They finished 13-3. And their one playoff game against a lesser ranked team, the Giants, wound up as a loss.
I've ranted for several years about how badly the Cowboys have played in December. I've said that until the Cowboys figure out how to win more games than they lose in their final five games of the regular season, they are bound for mediocrity. I, and others, have scratched our heads trying to figure out why the Cowboys continue to crater in December year after year. The only continuous common denominator between Cowboys teams of each year seems to be Jerry Jones. And we know there's nothing anyone can do about that except Jerry Jones himself. And I can't for the life of me figure out what in the cat hair Jerry Jones could possibly be doing that would cause the cratering. I honestly believe that no one wants the Cowboys to win more than Jerry Jones.
Yet they don't win.
I believed back during preseason that this Cowboys team had the best chance to get into the playoffs and actually win some games and possibly even make it to the Superbowl. I truly thought they had a legitimate chance. But here we are on the precipice, looking ahead at possibilities. And anyone not blinded by homerism surely can see there is more potential for bad things to occur than there is for good things to occur.
The Cowboys are 8-4. If they win these last four games, they finish 12-4. This would guarantee them a playoff spot. Their final four games are against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, the Giants at Texas stadium, the Colts at Texas Stadium and the Eagles in Philadelphia. Personally, I don't see any guaranteed wins in that lineup. Pittsburgh will be tough, especially if the weather becomes a factor. They're accustomed to playing in it. The Cowboys aren't. The Giants quite simply are the best team in the NFC at the moment. Yes, they can be beaten. No, it isn't easy, nor is it expected that the Cowboys will do it. The Colts are not going to lay down for the Cowboys either. They have aspirations of their own. And Philadelphia is always up for the Cowboys. That bitter rivalry generally brings out the best in play and the worst in sportsmanship of any team the Cowboys play. Even if the Eagles are out of playoff contention, maybe because the Eagles are out of playoff contention by that point, they will be looking to spoil the Cowboys' chances to make the playoffs.
If the Cowboys lose only one of those final four games, they finish 11-5 and, depending on which team they lose to and how other teams finish, the Cowboys could make it into the playoffs. But it's not a lock that they'll be in the playoffs at 11-5.
If the Cowboys lose two of those final games, they finish 10-6 and their playoff hopes are no longer in their hands. They do not control their own destiny any longer. While they can still make the playoffs, their chances are greatly reduced and depend on bad things happening to other teams.
If the Cowboys lose three of those final games, they finish 9-7 and there will be no playoff game this season that includes the Cowboys. And all hell breaks loose at Valley Ranch. Expect heads to roll, both coaches and players.
So, the Cowboys season now depends on how they play in December. And they're not playing against the Forty Niners and Seahawks of the world. They're playing against playoff contenders and/or bitter rivals. Anyone who thinks the Cowboys have a cakewalk into the playoffs is simply kidding oneself.
And don't talk to me about current winning streaks. Three games does not constitue a "winning streak" of any merit. Granted, it's better than losing three, but as I said earlier, the Cowboys had an 11-1 winning streak going into last December and screwed the pooch on that deal.
Injuries scare me the most this season. It's been a perpetual problem. Seeing Ware and Barber both with issues in the Seattle game had me on pins and needles. Quite simply, I don't know how the Cowboys would have survived the loss of those two players. Facing the schedule they have, the Cowboys need everyone healthy for every game.
Just for the record, I'm beginning to take a hard look at the conditioning staff on the Cowboys. If the Cowboys are simply worn out by the time December gets here, then it's time for a change. Other teams play through December and win more than lose. Their teams are in good enough condition to hang in there till the end of the season, and into the playoffs. Maybe Jerry Jones needs to look at this in depth.
OK, back on topic. It's December. The Cowboys have a chance. But it's an uphill climb against tough odds. Do they have what it takes to get the job done? I believe that if they go to Pittsburgh and win there, they have a chance. If they lose to Pittsburgh, I will be shocked to see them make the playoffs.
In the meantime, pull up a chair, stay close to the fire. It's December and we have perilous times ahead.
The next game the Cowboys play is on December 7th in Pittsburgh at 3:15 PM Central time. Did you catch that? I said "December". The Cowboys went into December last season at 11-1. They finished 13-3. And their one playoff game against a lesser ranked team, the Giants, wound up as a loss.
I've ranted for several years about how badly the Cowboys have played in December. I've said that until the Cowboys figure out how to win more games than they lose in their final five games of the regular season, they are bound for mediocrity. I, and others, have scratched our heads trying to figure out why the Cowboys continue to crater in December year after year. The only continuous common denominator between Cowboys teams of each year seems to be Jerry Jones. And we know there's nothing anyone can do about that except Jerry Jones himself. And I can't for the life of me figure out what in the cat hair Jerry Jones could possibly be doing that would cause the cratering. I honestly believe that no one wants the Cowboys to win more than Jerry Jones.
Yet they don't win.
I believed back during preseason that this Cowboys team had the best chance to get into the playoffs and actually win some games and possibly even make it to the Superbowl. I truly thought they had a legitimate chance. But here we are on the precipice, looking ahead at possibilities. And anyone not blinded by homerism surely can see there is more potential for bad things to occur than there is for good things to occur.
The Cowboys are 8-4. If they win these last four games, they finish 12-4. This would guarantee them a playoff spot. Their final four games are against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, the Giants at Texas stadium, the Colts at Texas Stadium and the Eagles in Philadelphia. Personally, I don't see any guaranteed wins in that lineup. Pittsburgh will be tough, especially if the weather becomes a factor. They're accustomed to playing in it. The Cowboys aren't. The Giants quite simply are the best team in the NFC at the moment. Yes, they can be beaten. No, it isn't easy, nor is it expected that the Cowboys will do it. The Colts are not going to lay down for the Cowboys either. They have aspirations of their own. And Philadelphia is always up for the Cowboys. That bitter rivalry generally brings out the best in play and the worst in sportsmanship of any team the Cowboys play. Even if the Eagles are out of playoff contention, maybe because the Eagles are out of playoff contention by that point, they will be looking to spoil the Cowboys' chances to make the playoffs.
If the Cowboys lose only one of those final four games, they finish 11-5 and, depending on which team they lose to and how other teams finish, the Cowboys could make it into the playoffs. But it's not a lock that they'll be in the playoffs at 11-5.
If the Cowboys lose two of those final games, they finish 10-6 and their playoff hopes are no longer in their hands. They do not control their own destiny any longer. While they can still make the playoffs, their chances are greatly reduced and depend on bad things happening to other teams.
If the Cowboys lose three of those final games, they finish 9-7 and there will be no playoff game this season that includes the Cowboys. And all hell breaks loose at Valley Ranch. Expect heads to roll, both coaches and players.
So, the Cowboys season now depends on how they play in December. And they're not playing against the Forty Niners and Seahawks of the world. They're playing against playoff contenders and/or bitter rivals. Anyone who thinks the Cowboys have a cakewalk into the playoffs is simply kidding oneself.
And don't talk to me about current winning streaks. Three games does not constitue a "winning streak" of any merit. Granted, it's better than losing three, but as I said earlier, the Cowboys had an 11-1 winning streak going into last December and screwed the pooch on that deal.
Injuries scare me the most this season. It's been a perpetual problem. Seeing Ware and Barber both with issues in the Seattle game had me on pins and needles. Quite simply, I don't know how the Cowboys would have survived the loss of those two players. Facing the schedule they have, the Cowboys need everyone healthy for every game.
Just for the record, I'm beginning to take a hard look at the conditioning staff on the Cowboys. If the Cowboys are simply worn out by the time December gets here, then it's time for a change. Other teams play through December and win more than lose. Their teams are in good enough condition to hang in there till the end of the season, and into the playoffs. Maybe Jerry Jones needs to look at this in depth.
OK, back on topic. It's December. The Cowboys have a chance. But it's an uphill climb against tough odds. Do they have what it takes to get the job done? I believe that if they go to Pittsburgh and win there, they have a chance. If they lose to Pittsburgh, I will be shocked to see them make the playoffs.
In the meantime, pull up a chair, stay close to the fire. It's December and we have perilous times ahead.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
