I hate to be the one to break it to you, but the 2008 Dallas Cowboys are going nowhere in a helluva hurry. Let me make this extremely clear to you so you have no doubt what I believe.
The Cowboys will NOT go to the Superbowl this season.
The Cowboys will NOT win the NFC East.
The Cowboys will be lucky to end with a winning record for the season.
Players whom I said in a previous article were critical to this team's success this season have suffered injuries. Tony Romo, Newman, etc. Other players that are critical are not close to playing to their potential. You can't tell me that Terrell Owens can basically be erased from the roster list by five different teams, leaving him with numbers that even rookies laugh at. You can't tell me that it takes nearly half a season for this team to start getting a few interceptions from this loaded with talent defense.
Well, I guess you can tell me that since it's true. You can't tell me that Tony Romo's interceptions and fumbles are ok. They aren't. And now we're dealing with Brad Johnson behind the center, leading this exalted team at the pace of a turtle on crutches.
The finger pointing is amok at the moment. Some blame the coaching staff. There's no doubt that neither Phillips or Garrett are living up to expectations. Some blame the defense. There are plenty of players to point your fingers at there. Some blame the offense. Again, you won't be looking long before you find plenty of problems to justify your claim. Starting with the offensive line, the erratic play of Tony Romo. The lack of production by Terrell Owens, etc. Some blame special teams. Can you say "field position"?
Personally, I blame it on the medical staff. They should have ran some tests to see if anyone on the team, coaches included, actually had a heart before they were hired. I see no evidence that any of them do because none of them are showing any heart with the performance of their job.
Twelve years ago (we're talking 1996 here) this team went to the playoffs and won a game. Since that time, this team has choked each and every year and are in the process of choking right now. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that they started early this season. We know based on the past 12 years that they're going to lose at least three of their final five games. It's what they do. Every year. Just like clockwork. If they only lose three of those final five and no other games, the best they could do this season would be 10-6.
Beginning tomorrow, they have four games to play before that final five. Romo's out for two of those games according to most reports. Newman has been nursing injuries for two seasons now, so counting on him to save the day isn't dealing with reality. Other teams have figured out how to deal with Owens, so he's not going to be the messiah either. Wide receiver Roy Williams is accustomed to losing. I wouldn't count on him being the saviour either.
Two of those four midseason games are against Tampa Bay and the New York Giants. With current injuries and the teams lack of heart and confidence, it is doubtful the Cowboys will win either of those games. By my calculations, that puts this team at 8-8 for the season. Oh yes, the mighty have fallen. Using "Superbowl" and "Dallas Cowboys" in the same sentence should only be done if one is talking about former glories or when looking forward to some point in the distant future.
OK, let's hear the accusations of me being a Redskins/Giants/Eagles fan or how I'm a hater or how I'm not a "true fan". Or try to convince me that I haven't watched this team get worse each game they played so far. Good luck with that. You'll need it.
The emperor is naked. He has no clothes.
And the 2008 Dallas Cowboys are in a death spiral this season. They're going nowhere. And they're gaining speed doing it.
It sucks. But it's what I perceive the reality to be.
Your mileage might vary. And good luck with that, too.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
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