Not this year. . . .

My blog is about reality. Sometimes reality doesn't fit so well with the denizens in Cowboys Nation. But it's still reality. So here's some reality for you.

I watch several of the Cowboys related message boards and have for several years. Historically, Cowboys fans by this point time have lathered themselves into such a frenzy that message traffic is at a pinnacle for the year.

Arguments about particular players and their (perceived) impending positive effect on the team abound. As an example, one says "Quincy Carter will lead us to the promised land". Another says he isn't. Then the arguments about whether Terrell Owens should be brought in or not. Differences in opinion fueled the message boards. Everyone had an opinion and few were reticent to voice them.

Not this year.

This year, there has been a marked and quite noticeable decrease in message traffic during training camp and preseason. Normally, this time of the year, one can log onto the message boards and easily spend an hour viewing new posts, reading new articles about the Cowboys and just generally keeping up with what's going on in Cowboys land. But this year, I can peruse three or four different Cowboys message boards and be through in half an hour at most.

Has eleven years of high (although false) expectations finally sunk in? Are today's fans finally convinced that until the Cowboys prove to us they can end their regular season by winning more games than they lose in December, those fan's aren't going to invest the emotion and money (Read that, Mr. Jones!) into a team that has let them down year after year after year.

Jerry Jones has predicted Superbowl seasons every year practically since they actually did have one back in '95.

Not this year.

I have no doubt he believes this team has the potential to make it to the Superbowl. Whether he's thinking that mentioning the "S" word might somehow jinx them, I don't know. I just know he's dodging that word like he would dodge a Texas rattlesnake.

The players aren't talking smack either. Most of them stay away from the "S" word also. But what's most interesting is that the fans online aren't talking smack about Superbowls either. Sure, you hear one occasionally, but more often than not, if they do mention going to the Superbowl, there's a caveat included about the Cowboys cratering in December or being able to win one playoff game first.

It appears to me that regardless of what we want, the reality of what the Cowboys have shown us for eleven years has set in for most of us. Perinneal losers is the reality. Losing more games in December than they won is the reality. Going into the playoffs on a negative note is the reality. Getting our hopes up as fans only to be disappointed at season end is the reality. Can they change that reality.

Of course. but until they do, reality remains as it is.

We've seen one game so far this season. The Cowboys looked great in almost every facet of the game, handily giving the Browns a 28-10 defeat. For the first time since 1995, we got to see a Dallas offense step onto the football field and just methodically march the ball downfield, seemingly indifferent to what the Browns were trying to do defensively. We haven't seen a Dallas offense with that kind of swagger since the last Cowboys Superbowl season in 1995.

Now, does that mean they're to clear off the shelf for the new trophy? Does it mean the Cowboys will play like that all season? Of course not. It means they owned the Browns yesterday. There are 15 more games to be played this regular season. Four of those are in December. The Cowboys suck in December. They have for 13 years straight. That's the reality.

On, January 1, 2007, I wrote this in my blog:

"To those that might possibly read this that can actually effect a change in the Cowboys organization, be aware that not every fan is going to be like me. Not every one of them is going to return to the trough every year for more of the putrid feed you've been serving us for the past 11 years. Some of those fans are going to find other teams to root for, or another sport. Those fans won't spend money on your merchandise and tickets. And that will make your cash register smaller. And that will mean you have less money to spend in places you really need to spend money. The formula is really quite simple.

Win Games = More Money, Lose Games = Less Money"

Here we are in 2008 now, facing another season with hopes (albeit rather quiet hopes this year). It's hard to get fired up for this team at this point. Yes, they looked good yesterday. But we all ate the cheese last year when they entered December having lost only one game. The December Meltdown showed up right on cue and they went into the playoffs on a downward spiral, only to lose to the Giants, a team they had already beaten twice last season.

No, eating the cheese is much harder this season. How can we get fired up in September. Or even October. We did that last year. Or November. We did that last year, too. Do we want to go spend a ton of money on Cowboys paraphenalia before December? I don't. And I firmly believe there are lots of other fans that don't, either. There are few things worse than watching your favorite team just turn into mush. Is this silence an indication that the fans are hanging onto their hard earned dollars until they see some viable positive results from the Cowboys? I contend it is. And I believe this was inevitable. Most loyalties are a matter of convenience. We want to feel like "our team" is the best. When "our team" wins, we feel better. "Our team" has disappointed us for years. And I contend many are jumping ship because of it. At the least, many are holding on to their dollars until they see some results. If Jerry Jones hasn't already seen a change in his bottom line, I truly believe he will.

Now, if the Cowboys play the rest of the season (that includes December!) like they did yesterday, then I believe they can go all the way. Yes, I'm talking Superbowl Championship winners. World Champions.

If they crater in December, regardless of their record before then, they will not go to the Superbowl.

Now, is that a prediction?

Not this year. . . . .

I wouldn't want to interrupt the silence. . . .

Rod