Not What We Thought They Were

America's Team...perhaps that is fitting for a team that seems to believe it is highly superior to just about any alternative. With relevant political and socioeconomic analysis not necessary I will simply state: the Dallas Cowboys are the most overrated team in the NFL, perhaps pro sport currently in action (although that technically disqualifies the Cowboys who are, as of today, no longer in action...sorry TO, your tears won't get you on the ballot for Super Bowl MVP). The 2007-08 Cowboys were not the team their press clippings implied, but more importantly, they were not the team they thought they were.

The Dallas Cowboys are the most successful team in the modern era, tied for most Super Bowl wins and went through a stretch of 20 consecutive seasons with winning records. This mountain of accomplishments seems to fit Dallas, with the "Everything is bigger in Texas" slogan. With a cowboy owner and a gun slinging QB, the 2007 Cowboys were supposed to be the re-birth of Cowboy glory teams. With home field advantage through out the playoffs and a record number of Pro Bowlers, the 'Boys were supposed to roll the "weak" NFC all the way to the Super Bowl. Surprise! Here comes Eli Manning...yes that Eli Manning...and all of a sudden they become the first number 1 seed since the Wild Card format was created to lose their first playoff game at home. The Cowboys have now not one in the playoffs since Barry Switzer was the coach and Troy Aikman was the QB.

Why? What is going on here? The supposed marquee franchise of the NFL, the team whose logo is a star, has fallen from grace. Some may say "That is the nature of the NFL." Certainly Jerry Jones would reply "Then how come the Patriots can be so good for so long." The answer is simple Mr. Jones, build a team through the draft finding players who play with integrity and passion; that means no Terrell Owens, no Terrance Newman, no Tony Romo (although he had no reason to believe Romeo would be such a media whore).

The era of free agency was supposed to bring competitive balance to the NFL. Now, the Patriots are 17-0 and seemingly unstoppable after breaking the bank in the off-season to acquire new pieces. What people fail to realize is Tom Brady was a 6th round pick by the Pats, who also drafted Vince Wilfork, Asante Samuel, Ty Warren, Richard Seymour, Laurence Maroney, Daniel Graham and a plethora of other Pro Bowl caliber players. That scouting department is second to none, with the men in Indianapolis and Pittsburgh certainly right there. We see it with the Green Bay Packers and Ted Thompson. Suddenly, Thompson receives the accolades for putting together that Packer team, and he has done it through the draft. An 8-8 team became a 13-3 team playing at home for the NFC Championship with the only free agent signing Frank Walker, the team's 4th or 5th cornerback.

Jerry Jones does not have the attitude to compete in the NFL anymore. He didn't even have the pieces in place to see Ryan Grant's potential when Grant was in Jones' own division. JJ makes gambles with coaches, free agents, draft picks, and now quarterbacks. It used to be endearing, the commercials with Deion and Jones joking about how much money Prime was making. Those character flaws in his team were not harmful in the early 90's because other teams simply did not have the resources or pull to get the players Jones could get. With salary caps, profit sharing, free agency, and more advanced scouting networks, the Cowboys have not been able to remain competitive, and it isn't simply parody.

The attitude in Dallas is much like that of USC, they don't rebuild, just reload. That philosophy does not work in the NFL. It is true that for the last 5 years the New England Patriots have been one of the top 3 teams in the NFL. We must disregard 2001 because they came out of no where to win the Super Bowl and the next year went 9-7, making the playoffs in a horrible division. 5 years is not too long to expect to have success, the Colts have had similar recent success and simply not won Super Bowls, while the Eagles in the NFC were making NFC Championships common place. There is balance in the NFL, there must be. Jerry Jones refuses to lose and refuses to make the proper changes when he does lose.

The media only adds fuel to the raging inferno of pressure in Dallas. Skip Bayless wrote a book about the immense pressure of playing in Dallas, and playing quarterback for the Cowboys is often considered the hardest job in sports. Since Troy Aikman retired in 2000 the QB's in Dallas have been...well pathetic: Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Ryan Leaf, Clint Stoerner, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson, Drew Bledsoe, and Tony Romo. Over that stretch the Dallas Cowboys are 57-55 with exactly 0 zero playoff victories. From 2001-2007, five quarterback of won NFL MVP honors, and the Cowboys were starting Ryan Leaf at one point... Not exactly reloading.

Last year, the Cowboys were 9-7 and lost in the road in the famous Romo fumble. A 13-3 team suddenly becomes the team of the century and breaks an NFL record with 12 Pro Bowl players. The New England Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season and demolished the 'Boys IN DALLAS and only sent 8 to Hawaii. Some might point to a weak NFC, I would assert a simple lack of understanding by writers, players, and don't even start with fan voting. Roy Williams could not cover my little sister running a hitch. Ken Hamlin has been the recipient of gift interceptions due to a weak schedule (his interceptions against Cleo Lemon, Eli Manning, and a walking dead Marc Bulger shouldn't even count,) even with those he only had 5 picks, and only had more than 1 pass defended in a game TWICE. Terrance Newman isn't even one of the top 3 corners in his own division and is the most overrated defensive back in the league by a landslide (He thinks he's the second coming of Deion, only without the big play skills, coverage skills, and fewer tackling skills...ouch). Three Dallas offensive linemen were voted starters on a team ranked 17th running the ball even though they have Marion Barber and Julius Jones toting the rock. That makes Marion Barber's selection even more ridiculous...the guy runs hard, I understand, but he can't outrun anyone and he proved that on Sunday against the Giants.

Attitude reflects leadership. Wade Phillips was the perfect coach to make the Cowboys forget Bill Parcells. Wade Phillips was also the perfect coach to squander talent, a #1 seed in the playoffs and underachieve in a winnable NFC and in a division that was killed by injuries. That decision is a direct result of Jerry Jones deciding to hire a "players coach," which is code word for "soft" in the NFL (Players love playing for the Bill Belichick, but he is NOT a players coach). Jerry Jones brought a young and talented team a locker room cancer wearing #81. He then proceeded to overreact to Tony Romo's success (which could be a whole other post, but I don't have the desire to write anymore than has already been written...it nauseates me), and decided to give him an insane contract extension mid-season. Little Romeo then tanked the second half of the season throwing just 3 touchdowns to go along 5 to the wrong color jerseys following the Green Bay game.

The Dallas Cowboys won't be playing for the NFC Championship. They lost because of the team....you heard TO say it, they lost because of the team. And if you blame HIS quarterback, that is unfair. Unfortunately, he's right. This team failed because Jerry Jones' already antiquated design has worn out. Standing on the sidelines next to Wade Phillips in the closing seconds, he proved just how overbearing and oppressive he is. Mr. Jones, I know you bleed silver and blue, but before you go trade draft picks for head case wide receivers, or Dolphin punt returners, remember that Green Bay will be playing for the right to go to the Super Bowl. Ryan Grant ran for 200+ on a sloppy track at Lambeau and he was on the roster of a team you played three times this year. Take a look in the mirror and maybe you'll see the problem is wearing a $1200 suit and cuff links. Your team is overexposed, overrated, and overdue for an over HAUL. Turn on Fox around 5:30 local on Sunday, and be sure to get your popcorn ready.