Ok, I am a Cowboys homer. I make no apologies about it. Everyone that knows me knows a few unwavering truths about me...I'm Christian, I'm a dork and I'm a Cowboys fan. In college, that was almost all I was known for...being a Cowboys fan. You all know someone like me, the over zealous fan you love to see in misery. You may not give 2 flips about their team...all you know is you want to see that team go down in flames just so you don't have to listen to how great their team is and how their team will never loose and, if on the off chance they do loose, it's because they got screwed by the refs and not because they lost to a better team. That over zealous fan was me in college.
When I was a Junior at Mississippi State University, Dallas played Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX. My fraternity was having a Super Bowl party at the house and all week I had people telling me I better hope Dallas wins or I will NEVER hear the end of it. The day of the game, I got up at 9:00 in the morning (early for me on a Sunday) and went down in front of the big screen tv and parked myself all day long waiting for the game. When the party (and game) started, our house was filled with most of my fraternity brothers and their dates (I however purposely did not get a date...I didn't want to subject anyone to what I would face if Dallas lost...). All of my fraternity brothers, but one, was rooting for Pittsburgh (their dates really didn't care...they were there to watch the commercials) which basically meant that the whole house was against me. To tell you the truth, I couldn't even enjoy the game knowing what was at stake if Dallas lost. I mean, if Dallas lost a regular game it was a party in the house for the next 2 days. I would get anonymous notes on my door and car, my phone would ring off the hook only to have 10 messages left with varying degrees of Dallas Sucks! left on my voice mail, any shirt I had with a blue star on it would be held for ransom...those are just a few of the things I endured if Dallas lost a regular season game. So, I couldn't even imagine what kind of torture I would be subjected to if Dallas faltered. And they came close...but in the end, Larry Brown saved my rear end and salted the game away with an interception return for a TD giving Dallas their record tying 5th Super Bowl win. Everyone in the house was dejected and left with a scowl on their face. Me, well I knew I dodged a bullet when Dallas won and ever since then, I've tried to temper my enthusiasm of being a Dallas Cowboys homer
But even though I am a Cowboys homer, that doesn't mean I won't call a spade a spade. Right now, I am cautiously optimistic but, in my opinion, Dallas still has to earn some of the respect a lot of Cowboys fans think they deserve. Why do I think this? Well, the combined record of the 4 opponents Dallas has faced this year: 3-13. And of the four opponents Dallas has faced, only one (Eli Manning) had a decent QB and he carved Dallas' secondary up like a Thanksgiving turkey.
Dallas' defense is a little suspect right now. I know they are getting better with each game. I know that Greg Ellis just came back and had 1.5 sacks vs. St. Louis. I know Terrance Newman is getting his health back with each passing week. But I just can't help but think that when Brady, Moss, and company come in here in 2 weeks, the result is not going to be any different than the last several times Dallas went up against Randy Moss. He has torched them almost every game he has play against them since he has been in the league. And if New England can get Roy Williams in coverage (and I'm betting they will figure out a way) then Brady and Moss will be playing backyard ball all day long. The only chance Dallas has in that situation is a shoot out which is where Romo comes in.
Dallas' offense is awesome right now. They don't seem to miss Terry Glenn like I thought they would so what are they going to be like when he comes back?!?!? Scary good?!? Possibly. Romo is the real deal and that scamper he made yesterday after recovering that errant snap over his head is what legends are made of. I'm not ready to put him in the HOF yet, but if he continues to play like he has this far and continually improve at the same time, then Dallas could well be heading back to elite status in the NFL.
Next week, Dallas should beat Buffalo. If Dallas plays like they can, and like they have, then they shouldn't have any problems against Buffalo. The TRUE measuring stick will come against New England in 2 weeks. Win, no matter how, and Dallas will have all the respect in the world. Loose, and it will be just another AFC power showing why the AFC is head and shoulders above the NFC right now.
Monday, October 1, 2007
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2 comments:
I have never recognized you as an annoying fan or a Cowboys blowhard. You have always come across (at least to me) as a passionate, yet sensible fan. Okay, you do take losses pretty hard, but that is understandable. Being a good fan is what it's all about. People who give you a hard time just because they know how passionate you are about it are just outright a-holes.
BTW, the Cowboys look like the real deal, despite their opponents records. Regardless of any of their shortcomings, Romo appears to be able to make up for those. As Madden would say, "He's somethin special". There was a story a couple of weeks ago that he was almost a Bronco......I wish I hadn't heard that.
Good read Brooksie. Good to have you in the blog world. You know how I love your Cowboys analysis! Keep up the good work.
Chance
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