Dallas Cowboys Nation

Monthly Archives: March 2009

Where Do You Belong?

Loyalty has been questioned thoroughly throughout the NFL.  From GM’s to Coaches it seems that players, who dedicate blood, sweat, and tears are thrown away as if they were the puppets of a washed up ventriloquist.

This past weekend I was on my honeymoon, I traveled on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.  While meeting new people I noticed loads of Cowboys hats, T-Shirts, and Jerseys.  It is then that I realized, yes loyalty is deceased within the front office of NFL teams, but their are fans who still keep their loyalty.

vince_lombardi_trophy2

I’m prime example; I’m originally from just north of Philadelphia.  My Dad and brothers are die-hard eagles fans, and I’ve had to spend nights at a neighbor’s house because of vicious rompings the Cowboys fed the Birds.  Though the rift between my families still stands strong throughout football season, the blue and silver run through my veins.

It’s evident that our players have reached incomparable scrutiny.  Romo gets bashings from hell from bloggers who have no sports knowledge.  ESPN portrays the Cowboys to be a team whose accomplished nothing and is today’s version of the Oakland Raiders.  Fans… They scream for victory.  I… I scream for patience, support, and understanding. 

I’ve been driven crazy by fair weather fans that are pleading for victory, who are pleading for off-season moves, who are pleading for new coaches.  My response to you is: You don’t play, you don’t coach, you don’t own, and you don’t manage.  If you could then you would.  Many of you won’t like this post, possibly won’t be able to stand another thing that I’ve written.  However, I write truths.  I stand by my team no matter what’s going on.  I support Romo, I support Wade Phillips, I support Newman, and I support the future decisions of the Cowboys.  All because I’m a fan.  I love my team, and it’s our support that will help them win another championship.  We’re as much apart of this team as any player, so if you’re up for the challenge I say follow me…if not find another team to distract.  Help me prove that loyalty still lives in the Dallas fans.  Let is be the example.



Cowboys Have 11 Picks

The cowboys now have their 11 draft picks for this year. They are getting an additional 5th and 6th round pick compensatory for the combined loss of Julius Jones, Jacqeus Reeves, and Nate Jones, each were unrestricted free agents when they departed after the 07 season.

This should put the Cowboys in even better position to trade up for some better picks, this year or next.

Of course this is basically no big surprise, but as it just became official today, figured you’d want to know.

Thanksgiving: Cowboys -vs- Raiders

Word came out today that the Cowboys will host Oakland on Thanksgiving, which will again be the second of three games played that day.

The Cowboys are also not getting a primetime slot for the season opener. Perhaps that best considering that the MLB schedule for the Rangers has them playing homes the first three sundays of the NFL season. The Rangers ballpark in Arlington is just blocks from the new Cowboys Stadium.




Tony Romo, How Does He Stack Up! Part II

Giants Cowboys Football

Due to the over whelming response we received on the “Tony Romo, How Does He Stack Up” post from last week. I felt compelled to dive a little further into that subject. I never thought for a moment when I was writing that post that it would stir the pot as much as it has. The reason I began to do that post was just to get something involving Romo on the site. The final result of that article has not yet been determined, but one thing for sure is that you all have plenty to say about it. So let’s take this debate a little further and find out what is really going on!

Leader: One that leads or guides. One who is in charge or in command of others.

Leadership: the activity of leading; “his leadership inspired the team”

So above you see what the actual definition of “Leader” and “Leadership” is, So now how do we determine if these are things that Tony has? Well judging by many of your responses and views on these two words. What we need to be looking at is a complex set of parameters. First, the majority of the people that believe Tony is not a leader, or does not have the make up to be one, say things like:

“He can’t sit on the bench and pout like a 4 yr old when things aren’t going his way. He has to get up and find solutions with his teammates.”

This statement was very intriguing to me. Why? Well it just kind of struck me funny! For about ten years of my life I worked in the NASCAR racing industry. I worked for several different race teams, all different levels. From Saturday night short tracks to NASCAR’s highest level (sprint cup series). I was very fortunate to have been able to work for some very good Crew Chiefs (the quarterback of the team), and I must say none of them operated like the others! I had some that were very coarse and led with an iron fist. I also had some that were very quiet and led by example.

Now the ones that led with their fists were no better than the ones who led by example. They both got everything out of their guys and were and are still very successful! So where did this leader perception come from? And why do most fans cling to that way being the only way? I believe that this is a direct reflection of “fans” views about athletes and how much they are paid versus what the normal Joe must endure just to be able to pay his/her bills! We as fans hold athletes at an unattainable standard!

These guys are no different than you and I other than they make more money in a year than most of us will make in a lifetime. I am sure some of you out there hold positions that leave you in charge of directing people; How do you lead your people? I try to treat everyone that works with and for me with as much respect as possible, but also I make sure that I work harder than anyone who works for me! I do this not because I like to work hard, but so they see the “Leader” setting the tone! What I am getting to is my style is probably different than yours, but does that make mine wrong? No! It does not, but my style of leading does have a key component that it depends on in order for it to work. That component is simple! My leadership abilities depends on having everyone on the same page! In order for my personnel to perform at a high level, all of them MUST work together! If one link in the chain is not holding up their end of the work, the chain will break, and the final product will suffer.

Now this rule really applies to either way of leading, but the “Iron Fist” way does not do something that my way does. The “Iron Fist” way demands that everyone do their job or else! My way can inspire others to do things that they normally could not, or would not do! In the end both ways work, and will work effectively but I prefer for my personnel to perform at the highest level because they know they can rather than performing at that level out of fear! It is my belief that success will last longer this way.

Tony Romo leads his players by the example method, He expects everyone to do their job to the best of their ability, without having to be bullied to do it. Now I realize that we all want to see him go off on someone and belittle them, but he is not going to do that very often. Tony feels that if the team does not play well that it is entirely on his shoulders, and the only way he feels comfortable repairing it is by pushing himself! It is up to the guys around him to recognize his efforts and to say to themselves “Tony is working hard to repair things, I should do the same!”.

Now I will not argue with you that Tony has made some very dumb mistakes. I will also not argue with you about the fact that Tony must cut down on the stupid plays, because he must! However mistakes, and bad throws do not correlate to a poor “Leader”. The majority of his stupid plays are made while trying to make something out of nothing! Let me ask you a question, How do you think Tony’s numbers (both in the Win column and in the personal stat sheet) would look if he threw the ball away every time everyone was covered? Or better yet every time he had two uncovered blitzers come at him he threw the ball away? You would have the same sorry ass QBs we have had here since Troy left! The making something out of nothing is what sets this guy apart from the rest. Yes he needs to do a better job of picking his spots, but cut the guy just a little slack!

I find it absolutely mind blowing that so many of you, believe EVERYTHING that you hear or read! ESPN and the National Media have done it’s very best to convince all of us that Tony and the Dallas Cowboys are a bunch of losers, and lunatics! People, us calling for Tony to be moved is exactly what everyone wants! The Dallas Cowboys are the team everyone loves to hate! In case you all do not understand this let me break it down for you. ESPN has a freakin “Cowboys watch” on their ticker, not because they want all Cowboy fans to be kept well informed, but because nothing sells “papers” like certain despair at Valley Ranch! No matter what good things take place at the ranch. The only thing ESPN is going to broadcast is the next allotment of turmoil! You will not hear or read this on ESPN, but you will damn sure hear about “A Possible rift brewing between Terrence Newman and Tony Romo”!

The point is don’t just take what someone says as the gospel without first doing your own research! If you want to argue something with me, then by all means bring it on! I strongly suggest however that you do your homework, before you just blab something that the National Media said!

Tony Romo is our Quarterback! Tony Romo is a “leader”. So all of you who think the 9-7 2008 season was caused due to the poor leadership abilities of our Quarterback. All I ask from any of you is to go back and look at the tape! The porous O-line, Injuries, poor route running, and receivers leading the league in dropped passes, have absolutely nothing to do with leadership! All of these things have to do with EVERYONE NOT PULLING THEIR WEIGHT! When ever you can say that EVERYONE is performing to the best of their ability, but Romo is letting them down. Then I will loosen my stance, but right now, this teams failures in 2008 are not because of “Poor Leadership” from Tony!

Is Felix Jones a Hero

28 FELIX JONES, RB
DALLAS COWBOYS
6’0” 212LBS

Jones, the No. 22 overall pick in the draft, provided a big-play complement to Marion Barber and showed flashes of brilliance in his six games. He had 266 yards on 30 carries (8.9 yards per carry) and scored four touchdowns, including a kickoff return.

That is all we have to go on as a professional, as a college player there is a little more. However people keep talking about Jones as a savior or something.

2007 his last year in college;
He finished with 123 carries for 1,117 yards and 11 TDs, while averaging a whopping 9.1 yards per carry, leading the nation.

[ Mickey Spagnola wrote while making excuses as to why Dallas went 9-7 last year;
Felix Jones was 86-ed in the sixth game had he not gotten hurt things could have been a lot different.]

Here is my question to you;

Why do I hear on the radio, and on ESPN and read online about what a Hero Jones is and all we have to go on is a really good 5 and ¼ games?

I like Jones don’t get me wrong I almost bought his jersey but I went with Ware instead.

So tell me what you think……..

NFL Season Length in Question Again

How long should the regular season be? It’s an issue often discussed among fans and NFL members alike … should the season be longer? The majority opinion seems to be no since it would put an added strain on players that are already battling through bumps and bruises over 16 games in the regular season, then you add the pre-season into the mix and it just seems cruel.

But the latest discussions seem to be focusing on the idea of a trade-off between the two, converting a pre-season game or two into regular season games so the overall schedule is still the same.

Roger Goodell has his take on the situation, but it appears that he is more worried about profit than anything. You see it’s hard to justify the NFL’s current pricing for pre-season games when the starters rarely play more than three quarters in a pre-season game, and even that’s beyond the norm aside from one game.

It’s a valid point too; tickets cost just as much for less performance and less stakes. Even season ticket holders have to pay full price those games, so it begs the question, should a pre-season game be converted to a regular season game?

The proposed idea has either been switching one or two games over, which will add to the number of regular season games without adding any extra games to the whole season. But in reality it actually does add to the whole season for the teams, not in that they have to play an extra game, but that they have to compete at a professional level for an extra game.

That’s another four quarters bone jarring hits that take a toll on the players. Another 60 minutes of stress on player’s bodies that adds up by the time the playoffs roll around. That’s another 60 snaps that the coaches have to plan and scheme for. The question is whether or not it’s justified to put that burden on teams.

I won’t sit here behind my little desk and pretend that I know the answer; truthfully I doubt anyone has the right answer on this subject. Owners stand to gain an extra $4 million in profit from even one game being converted, while teams would have to battle through an extra game trying to make it to the Super Bowl.

Personally I believe that we could use one more regular season game and one less pre-season game, but even I realize the consequences of such an adjustment. I cringe just like the next guy when players are hurt on the field. It’s my biggest problem with Philly fans, is that when Irvin broke his neck 10 years ago in Philly, those fans were cheering as he lay still on the ground. Every fan in football should be sympathetic to a player being hurt, no matter what team they play for, no matter what’s on the line, play-offs, super bowl title, or otherwise.

These guys go out and literally risk their lives and health for our entertainment, and unfortunately, that is not without consequence for some in the short term, and all in the long term.

It’s not just because of the length of the schedule that these things come up, though. It’s my opinion that the current format for bye weeks is in need of adjustment, with or without changing the number of regular season games.

No team should have a bye week before week 5, anything before that not only makes for an extended stretch of week after week abuse to end the season, but it guarantees injuries and poor performance in the playoffs. With the change of date and venue for the Pro Bowl in next year, it’s even more evident as it’s expected that few true starters will agree to play in the game if it’s played a week before the Super Bowl. Effectively making the Pro Bowl a free-for-all game instead of an All-Star game, putting more stock into being elected to the Pro Bowl than actually participating in it.

So think bye week assignments should only span from week 5 to week 14, even with the current 16 game schedule. Beyond that it’s wondered if the pre-season is even needed at all anymore.

Nowadays players are less likely to need exhibition games to get back into shape after an off-season since teams generally start off-season conditioning programs before the draft in April, and they now go through multiple voluntary workouts, OTA’s, and mini-camps before even attending the mandatory training camp. In all, there are plenty of reasons why the concept of a pre-season is just outdated and unnecessary.

Then again, would anyone argue that the pre-season games helped Matt Cassel prepare for a season as the starter in New England after seeing Brady go down in week one? How about all the guys trying to earn a starting spot, or simply more playing time in general, with good performances in exhibition games? Are not pre-season games invaluable to teams for those reasons?

It’s a sticky subject that has plenty of sound logic on both sides on the fence, and while it would set a new precedent for the NFL, should it not be the players, coaches, and owners deciding what happens to the schedule next? The owners, with the few exceptions the likes of Jerry Jones and Al Davis, have little to do with weekly team operations and arguably are not the best representatives in a debate such as this.

Then again, maybe it’s all mute and nothing will come of the talks this year. It only means that it’ll be discussed again next year. But you guys tell me, how many pre-season games should be re-designated as regular season games?

You can also comment below if you have a more varied opinion than what a poll can let you describe.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Spotlight

      The Dallas Cowboys will be in search of several different but equally needed positions in this years up coming draft. So we have decided to do a spotlight series on each different position, and the players they may be looking at to fill those needs. The first part of this series begins today!

      The first position on the block, is one of dire need! This team needs depth in a bad way in the secondary. Now when I say secondary I am specifically talking about first and foremost, a ball hawking safety. Followed immediately by corner depth behind Newman, Jenkins, and Scandrick.

      Myself and the writers of both A Cowboy Nation and Cowboys Nation, will be giving you our analysis and the possible draftees. So without further delay here are your possible secondary draftees.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Continue reading →