Much Ado About Nothing

Every year, all we hear about from the talking heads on TV is how good the Dallas Cowboys will be, or how good they are.

They have so much talent, they proclaim.  This will be the year they break through and represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, they'll shout.

But, as usual, the talking heads are wrong.  "America's Team" is much ado about nothing.

Sure, they have a good quarterback in Tony Romo.  The Eastern Illinois product has been impressive in the regular season over the last three seasons for the Boys, posting a QB rating over 94 each year and amassing 81 touchdown passes.

Yet he's also choked in big spots for Dallas, costing them opportunities to really cement themselves as a legitimate force.  Remember the first round of the playoffs in 2006? The botched snap?  Or the NFC Divisional Game last year when the Giants held Romo's great offense to 17 points at home in a loss to the Giants?  What about just a couple of weeks ago, when Romo's pick-6 cost the Cowboys a much needed victory in Pittsburgh in the final minutes?

They have a bevy of good running backs.  Marion Barber, Felix Jones, now Tashard Choice.  All three have been effective.

They have a bunch of big name receivers (Jason Witten and Roy Williams being among them).  They have the loud-mouthed, cocky Terrell Owens, who is so important to the worldwide leader they have Ed Werder devoted to covering his every move.  Owens has never won a Super Bowl, and while it can be argued that without him the Eagles would have never reached the big game in 2005 (2004 season), he is credited with destroying locker rooms more than he is helping them.

Their defense is good at times.  But this past week, as Scott mentioned in this week's Monday Morning Longsnapper, the defense allowed two 75-plus yard rushes and they blew a golden opportunity to cement their playoff status at home. 

And yet they're still the big talk on the networks all week long.

Let's look at the facts.  Other than last season's 13-3 record and #1 seed in the NFC playoffs, the Cowboys have won nine games each of the two previous seasons, and six the year before that.  This year's team has only nine wins, and with a loss this week may be the third 9-7 team in the last four years.  Does a 9-7 team really deserve as much attention as this one gets?

Do something in the playoffs first.  Do something that actually matters.  As a fan of the biggest choke team in sports history, I know that people get tired of watching a team fail to fulfill expectations year in and year out.  Until Dallas actually has multiple good regular seasons, and at least advances to the NFC Championship, what are we talking about here?  All this team has is a bunch of big named players that can't do anything when it counts the most.

They may have a lot of big stars on the field, and a star on their helmets.  But until they win something, they're much ado about nothing.

The Monday Morning Longsnapper

• If there was ever more proof needed that Bill Belichick is, in fact, a truly dislikable human, it was when, with his Patriots up by 29 with under three minutes left, he challenged a 4th down conversion for the Raiders.  JaMarcus Russell threw a short pass to Chaz Schilens, one that, if it was a close game, probably wasn't enough to warrant the yardage for the first down.  Either way, the officials gave the Raiders a favorable spot, and Billy Boy wasn't going to let that go without a fight.  Thankfully, the play was upheld.
• It's official:  running back is the most easily replaceable position in the NFL.  LaDainian Tomlinson's backup leaves a career as as second stringer behind to head to Atlanta, and now Michael Turner has over 1,400 rushing yards this year.  Marion Barber goes down with an injury, his unknown backup, Tashard Choice has averaged nearly 90 yards per in his last two games filling in.  In Denver, Ryan Torain, before going down with an ACL-tear, rushed at 5.7 clip in the first half of his first start.  Peyton Hillis, before he went down for the season, was averaging over 5 a pop in his last four games, with 5 TDs.In Pittsburgh, when Mewelde Moore's gotten the chance to start, he's averaged 90 yards a game. Word to the wise if you're an RB:  don't get hurt, ever.
• Houston with an obvious upset, right?  Not as much as you'd think.  Last year, Houston lost to Tennessee twice, but held their own each time.  Not to mention, Houston's got the best WR in the league in Andre Johnson (just ask Nick Harper, he's got AJ's cleat marks up and down his chest).  And, the Texans came in winners of three in a row.  Also, I know I'm not the only one that doesn't think Jeff Fisher's gang is that good anyway.
• Speaking of not that good, is LaDainian Tomlinson the next Shaun Alexander (maybe he should have taken more time protecting his career?)?  That's probably a bit extreme, but, don't be surprised if you've seen the very best of the former Horned Frog.  His toe injury that's limited him all season hasn't gone away, and, sadly, it appears his electric cutback abilities may have Bison Dele'd.