Dallas Futility

For those that enjoy portents of doom, please take a moment to survey the great players arrayed at the tops of this page. Now, ponder the fates of the Dallas teams this season.
First, the infamous Romo bobble that cost the Cowboys their first playoff win since 1996. What this does to the burgeoning young quarterback's psyche is anyone's guess going into the 2007 season.

The Dallas Stars joined the fray with their ignominious exit in the first round series against the Vancouver Canucks. Goalie Marty Turco must unfortunately be PERFECT in order to advance the Stars to the Cup finals.

With their spectacular collapse in the first round, the Mavericks joined their Dallas team brethren in first round playoff exits. The Mavs made it into the history books as the first number one seeded team to lose to the number eight seat, the Golden State Warriors, in the seven game series format. Nice.

And last, as Powerhouser J.D. so astutely points out, the Texas Rangers are bad. Kansas City Royals bad. Their performance against the Yankees last week marks a new low in horrendous defense and hitting ineptitude.

As for the Rangers, this led me to ponder a few things. I get tired of hearing Cubs fans whine as much as the next sports fan about their "Lovable Losers" team. The Rangers, even in their previous incarnation as the Washington Senators, are ALSO historically bad. Now, even though the Cubs have over 100 years of history compared to the Rangers 45 years, we can still take a look. Let's compare:

Chicago Cubs (1902-present)
Number of postseason appearances (series) : 14
Number of National League Championships: 10 (last one in 1945)
Last appearance in postseason: 2003

Washington Senators (1961-1971)
Number of winning seasons: 1
Number of postseasons appearances: ZERO

Texas Rangers (1972-present)
Number of postseason appearances: 3
Number of American League Championships: ZERO
Last appearance in postseason: 1999

Why are the Rangers so bad? I point to Dubya, Tom Hicks, John Hart, and Jon Daniels. The Cubs may have their goat, but we have the worst owners and General Managers in baseball history.

"Maybe."
--Tom Hicks, Dec. 12, 2000, when asked if he overpaid for the services of Shortstop Alex Rodriguez. To date, Tom Hicks is still paying parts of Rodriguez's salary to play for the Yankees.

Out With the Old, In With the... Old.

Okay, so Wade Phillips is THE guy. Or the puppet guy, depending on which side of the Jerry Jones fence you reside. The piece de resistance that pushed him over Dallas hometown favorite Norv Turner was supposedly his ability with the 3-4 defensive scheme instituted by Bill Parcells.

He also said he wants to work with DeMarcus Ware, and mold Dallas's fearsome linebacker into a O-line disrupting machine. Many have pointed to the play of Shawne Merriman of San Diego as proof of Phillips' coaching ability.

Both Merriman and Ware have two years in the NFL under their belts now - with virtually the same stats. If Phillips is coming to work his Merriman magic on Ware, DeMarcus might actually regress. Why is Phillips the supposed defensive savior?

However, the best part of Jerry's new hire might be the new face in Cowboys camp, Wade's daughter Tracy Phillips- a model, dancer, and music video girl extraordinaire.

Here she is in the new My Chemical Romance video. (Hint: She's Helena - the dancing dead chick at the end.)

Reason #10 Why You Can't Blame Jerry Jones: Wade Phillips

Wade Phillips will be announced as the new Cowboys head coach later today.

What happened to Norv Turner?

I haven't been this dissapointed since I found out Taco Town was fake.

The Playmaker

2 out of 3 ain't bad. Congrats Michael on the Hall of Fame.

The Next Cowboys Coach?

My guess is as good as yours...

Remember the Red Bomber

Let's face it. When talking assistant coaches, only other coaches know who the real propsects are. These guys aren't on the field on game day. Many of them are in a booth hidden from plain view. And while we may blame them for game plans or play calls, you always have to ask if the head coach stepped in and made the decision.

So what do we know about Jason Garrett? He's liked, make that loved, as a coach by his peers. Something Powerhouse writer Jared already demonstrated. Beyond that, we know he gave us one of the greatest non-Super Bowl games in Dallas Cowboy history. Remember that Thanksgiving he stepped in against the Packers and did his best Clint Longley impression to give our 'Boys a key win in what I will call the good ol' days in another decade.

But what are his coaching qualifications:

1) Experience- What you say he's only held one coaching job as Miami's quarterback coach? You say Dante Culpepper and Joey Harrington weren't great quarterbacks this year? Never fear. He has 13 years of clipboard carrying experience as a backup QB in the NFL, a job which includes signaling plays, which will be his main role if Mr. Jones decides to wait on making him the head coach. Hey he was holding a clipboard long before Sean Payton gave up his attempt at ruling the Arena League. The only question is can he work a clipboard and a headset at the same time.

2) Loved by his peers- I know I already mentioned this. But if you consider two front runners, it makes some sense. Wade Phillips knows Garrett and says he would love to work with him. Norv Turner is great friends with Garrett and tried to hire him while in Oakland. And in case you didn't notice, it doesn't make a lot of sense to hire your offensive coordinator before your head coach. But it can work if you hire a head coach who already likes your offensive coordinator.

3) Gun Slinger mentality- If you watched the 1994 Thanksgiving Day game against the Packers, you saw this. He only led the offense to a franchise record 36 points in the second half. This by going downfield with abandon. The guy played with no fear and with great smarts. He just didn't have the physical tools to be an NFL regular. He now comes to a team boasting a quarterback with a similar mentality and needing a mentor now that assistant coach David Lee is gone. He'll, also, likely use that mindset in his play calling as well, something the Tuna knew little of.

4) Ivy League pedigree- I know he's not a politician. But what's T.O. going to do when he rants about not getting the ball and Garrett responds with something like this: "You see Terrell, while you appeared open, Tony realized the velocity of his average projectile relative to the velocity and 38.5 degree angle to the location of the throw would have resulted in an interception. Had you run your route with the proper parabolic curve the equation would have been much different resulting in a touchdown, assuming you send the proper sensory signal from your brain to your ulnar, median, and radial nerves causing your phalanx bones in your manus to grip at the precise time the ball arrives on your hands."

So there you have the Red Bomber's resume. I like the hire for nostalgia. I guess we'll find out if its a good football move in a few months.

Coach Jason Garrett?

Could this be true?

Would Jerry Jones really hire former Cowboys quarterback Jason Garrett to be the seventh coach of America's team? (Or, as fellow Powerhouser Scott would say, "Non-disaster afflicted" team?)

Garrett is in demand. Nick Saban believed in him enough during his tumultuous tenure in Miami to offer him the offensive coordinator job at Alabama, and his name has floated enticingly around other coaching positions as well, both in the college and pro ranks.

Obviously, the development of King Romo the First into a top-tier quarterback is foremost on the minds of Jerry and his son/stooge Stephen. Garrett, the coach of Miami's less than stellar quarterback Joey Harrington, is known in media reports as a masterful communicator with his pupils on the on the Dolphins roster. (And with punk kids asking for his autograph - as I can attest.)

With the Dolphins outside of my NFL radar, it is difficult for me to ponder the qualifications Garrett would bring to the job. How is his play-calling? What do Saban and the Jones duo see? Laboring under Troy Aikman with clipboard duty during the Cowboys' glory years can only be a plus. But could he really impart any guidance to Romo in tempering the young quarterback's overconfidence and decisions in the pocket? What could he say that would sink in that Parcells did not? (At least we now know the REAL reason the Tuna retired.)

With Bill's legendary reluctance to break in a young quarterback, maybe Tony would respond to a coach that is committed to his improvement. But head coach of the Cowboys with only two years' coaching experience?

The rumor mill has San Diego defensive coordinator Wade Phillips (whom the Cowboys have yet to even contact) as the temporary head coach, with Garrett waiting in the wings as the offensive coordinator. Jerry has never rolled the dice on an unproven commodity, so this scenario makes the most sense. Jones, though, has never let good sense get in the way of imposing his will on the new hires.

So Mr. Garrett, if you're the guy, welcome back to Big D. Things are much different since you last roamed the sidelines at Texas Stadium. I'm sure you'll be checking back in on the Powerhouse before the season starts, as we are the one-stop shop for all of your snarky blogging needs. We'll have plenty of advice for you - we are expert armchair play-callers.

Now, about this TO guy...

The Tuna Flops

You've heard by now that Bill Parcells has walked. Actually he drove, and out a side gate to avoid comments nonetheless. Yep, the tough guy that always thinks he is so clever and has to have the last word at news conferences snuck out a side gate. Sounds like Chicken of the Sea to me.

And what did he really acheive? He posted a record four games over .500 with two playoff appearances. But in this conference, that is not impressive. This was a mediocre team in the mediocre NFC, the conference where the lower playoff seeds always back their way in to the bracket. If this team played in the AFC during Bill's tenure, they are least four games under .500 with no playoff berths.

I will give him this: other than the offensive line, the Tuna has left behind some talent on this roster for the Cowboys seventh coach to tap into next season. Seems he should have been buying the ingredients and letting someone else cook the soup.

Anyway, let's consider what Bill did in waiting sixteen days to step down. Three assistant coaches are gone, and they are good ones. Mike Zimmer is one of the top d-coordinators in the game. Bruce DeHaven is the top special teams guy. And David Lee was Tony Romo's mentor making him a bigger loss than the head coach.

In addition, a number of candidates are off the board having taking jobs while Billy Boy wondered if he had the energy to coach. Now, we're left to speculate about a bunch of guys whose names weren't mentioned for anyone else's job. And how does the scouting department prepare at the Senior Bowl not knowing who the new coach is and what his philosophy is going to be?

And this is a pivotal hire for Jerry Jones, who was great with his first hire even if we hated him for giving Tom Landry the boot. Since, the hires have been poor. Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, and the Tuna have left much to be desired.

And for Jerry, the decision won't be easy. Just consider some of the names. Ron Rivera? He coaches a great defense in Chicago, but can he be the coach? Mike Martz? Again, a great coordinator, but the Rams weren't near as good or as disciplined after Dick Vermeil left. Norv Turner? A great offensive mind with Dallas ties. He's struggled in two head coaching jobs but worked for two of the NFL's worst owners. Bob Stoops? He coaches the enemy right now and there's always questions about making the transition to the pros.

So let's face it. There is no surefire candidate, but Jerry has no excuse with the talent he has. He just needs someone to truly inspire and discipline this team.

And, in some ways this decision was made both a year too late and a year too soon. On one hand, Sean Payton has a job so you can't promote him. And trust me when I tell you I hoped Bill would have quit last offseason opening the door for Payton. Then, you can pretty much count Bill Cowher off the market having just step away from the Steelers to get away from the game for a time.

But who else might you look at?

I was excited to see Tony Dungy get to the Super Bowl, but I thought losing last weekend may have made him want to seek something new, especially with the talent on defense Dallas has. So he's not available.

Pete Carroll gets all the press with his NFL experience and success at USC, but his NFL time and success have never intersected.

I would make a run at Jon Gruden. Chucky is marketable, full of fire, and creative. I'm typically not a fan of coaches running the West Coast offense but his is modified with more downfield routes. And with Tampa aging quicky on defense, he may be looking for the grass on the other side.

Wade Phillips might be worth a look. His run in Buffalo would have been much better if not for Drew Bledsoe and he is known for great defenses.

Besides them, I might try to lure Marvin Lewis or Jack Del Rio out of their current posts to lead the charges of America's team.

I know, that's a lot of head coaches under contract, but these are guys who are known quantities. Combine that with a young, developing team and the sky's the limit.

But my choice would really be simple. You trade all of this year's draft picks to Tennessee for Vince Young, hire Mack Brown, tell him he can no longer answer his players questions for them, and see if the duo can relive the magic of 2005. Of course, then, we're screwed if DeLoss Dodds promotes Greg Davis to head coach.

Breaking News: Tuna gets Canned

High school gym coaches in New Jersey are starting to sweat as Bill Parcells fills out an application.

Random Thoughts on My Return to Sports Cyberworld

Never fear, Powerhousers, I'm back. And forget those rumors you heard. Rehab? Not a chance! Sent to my grandmothers in El Paso for nine months because I got pregnant! Not with my package in the way!

I've been gone a while I know. Life's just kept me busy. But I'm back to bring objectivity and integrity back to the Powerhouse and wanted to chime in with a handful of thoughts I've accumulated in my absence.

First, the big news of the day even if it's not Dallas news. Peyton Manning and the Colts beat their archnemesis, the New England Patriots, to advance to the Super Bowl. This is huge because it provides a certain vindication for coach Tony Dungy and QB Peyton Manning. Some say its total vindication, but they have one more game to win.

Why do I care? When I was about five years old, I became a Tennessee fan. I saw a team dressed in orange with a big "T" on their helmuts and thought they were Texas. Hey, I was five, alright? Anyway, I cheered them on. They won. And then I found out it was Tennessee. They've been my second favorite NCAA team ever since. And Manning's been my favorite underdog.

But this also huge because I've always liked Tony Dungy's style. And, not only did he finally clear a big obstacle as a coach, he joins Lovie Smith as the first two African-American head coaches to lead teams in the Super Bowl. It's somewhat tragic it took this long, but it's good to see this day on the horizon.

Now, for Bill Parcells. Do we want this drama queen? You either want to coach or you don't. If you have to think about it this long, then you don't have the necessary passion to coach, something I think rubbed off on the Cowboys this year. He's had a great career. Hasn't been the worst coach in Dallas. But it's time to hang up the whistle and go back to Jersey. Or Bristol.

Well, the Rangers missed out on Mark Mulder and Barry Zito. It's hard to see this team as better than last year's. Yet, it may be enough this year to make a run at the AL West. This is because their division rivals continue to lose key pieces without adding equal talent to replace it. And if not 2007, 2008 might be the year to watch this team. Their biggest trouble spot is outfield, but they have a number of up-and-comers just a year or so away.

You have to like what the Stars are doing. Seems like half their team has the ice on them rather than vice versa. Yet, they hang in there in the Western Conference and as we all know, seeding means jack in the NHL playoffs.

A little note: Versus now has National Lacrosse League games Saturday nights. I'm going on record to say this is a highly underappreciated sport. I've watched lacrosse all my life when I could find it on television and I think Jerry Jones or Mark Cuban need to get a team in Dallas.

The Mavs took a step in exorcising their NBA Finals demons this afternoon in beating the Heat in Miami. However, with Shaq and Pat Riley both out, it was hardly a huge win. But do look for Josh Howard in the All Star game.

And I've saved this one in the secret compartment of my water bottle for last. Seems the substance in Michael Vick's water bottle at the airport wasn't Mary Jane after all. Is this a case of a black athlete having a substance in a water bottle so we assume it's the wacky tobacky? Shame if it is. Now, having said that, I sure hope it doesn't turn out to be Whizzinator powder. That one's for Onterrio!

But...OSU Is Our Friend...

Three overtimes just wasn't enough.

The Texas Longhorns lost their first conference game of the season to the Oklahoma St. Cowboys 103-105 on a last second shot from Mario Boggan Tuesday night. The Horns battled back from a two point deficit three times in the waning moments to force a third overtime period but came up short in the end.

Despite the lack of consistent defense, the Horns moved the ball like clockwork up and down the court. Kevin Durant provided a monster showing with 37 points and 12 rebounds. D.J. Augustin pitched in 19 points and 9 assists to cap off a 55 minute epic battle between the Big 12 elite.

Watching this team has been nothing short of spectacular. Like their football counterparts, a lot of questions needed to be answered after the seemingly invaluable cogs took the next step in their careers. Through 17 games, the Horns have the arguably the best freshman class in the nation. They also have at least two first round picks suiting up unless coach Rick Barnes can steal some of Mack Brown's staying power magic.

I don't usually take pride in losses, but it is exciting to see the capabilities of this team and the prospect of where they could go in the tournament.

Be on the look out.

Little Debbies with a Side of Tuna

I've been thinking about this a lot today. Perhaps it's not as far fetched as I once thought. I'll just come out with it: Is Bill Parcells the professional equivalent of Dennis Franchione?

Follow me here...

Dennis Franchione was brought to a&m based on his track record. He had been successful at New Mexico, TCU and Alabama before landing in College Station. He built up a reputation as a program architect which led to high expectations from the aggy fanbase. During his stint, he has had 2 seasons where he didn't make a bowl and 2 seasons where he was embarrassed in a bowl. (The two worst bowl losses in a&m's history as a matter of fact) He started his coaching with quarterback Dustin Long at the helms and later switched to veteran Reggie McNeil. (Long has since transferred) Despite this, it was the emergence of Stephen McGee that really brought his program to life. But, when it came to big games, he has not been successful. He has mustered a pathetic 2-14 record against the upper echelon of the Big 12: Texas, ou, Texas Tech and Nebraska. He has also led the ultimate humiliation of getting beaten 77-0 at the hands of ou. Had he not beaten rival Texas this year, he would probably not be welcomed back to College Station.

Bill Parcells was hired by the Cowboys to revive a franchise that had been struggling to get back to their glory years. Parcells had found success with the NY Giants, NE Patriots and NY Jets before landing in Dallas. He built up a reputation as a program architect which led to high expectations from the Cowboys' fanbase. During his stint, he has 2 years where the Cowboys did not make the post season and 2 seasons where the Cowboys had a first round exit. (It’s been 11 years since Dallas last won a playoff game) He started his coaching with quarterback Quincy Carter at the helms but later switched to veterans Vinny Testeverde and Drew Bledsoe. ("The Q" has since been cut) Despite this, it was the emergence of Tony Romo that really brought his program to life. But, when it came to big games, he has not been successful. He has mustered a pathetic record against the upper echelon of the NFC East: Philadelphia, NY Giants. He has also led the humiliation of getting beaten by a 3-13 Detroit team at home. Had he not beaten rival the NY Giants this year, he probably would not be welcomed back to Dallas.

Gig 'em Boys?

I Just Need One More Hit To Tide Me Over

The nightmare has officially started.

Yes folks, football in the state of Texas is over. No more Horn games to bitch about. No more Cowboys games to dissect. Not even a Class 2A High School game to tide you over until the weekend. Dallas is officially football free for 8 more months.

Around these parts, it's a season would much sooner forget.

What do Horn fans have to show for it? Sure, a win over Oklahoma should not be taken lightly given our recent history. But, in the end, Oklahoma is the reigning Big 12 Champ and Texas escaped the clutches of the Alamo Bowl. We have another 10-win year on the books which most schools would kill for. But, a loss to a&m at home makes it feel empty as we ponder the burning question of "what if". (And if you saw the first series of the K-State game, you know exactly what "if" is) Mack Brown has currently gobbled up the #1 recruiting class for next season. But, two of our more heralded recruits have jumped ship and will be suiting up for another state. Not to mention the Texas boy who got away. (Thank you John Brantley for letting us pass on Ryan Mallett because "your word is as solid as oak") We won’t even mention the presence of Greg Davis who must hold some mighty fine blackmail over Brown.

And what about the Cowboys? Romo comes in and is deemed the savior of the franchise. But, too much anointing oil results in a choke job reminiscent of Leon Lett’s highlight film. Instead of gearing up for the playoffs the Cowboys are just off. At least the media has a few weeks of material on "will they or won’t they" for TO and the Tuna. As I pine the days where I could watch the Cowboys without getting cramps, here's hoping that both are on the next train to Clarksville.

On to the other local sports which could not be more contrasted more right now.

First, you have the streaking Mavericks. After a hideous start, and silly talk of a hangover, the Mavericks are leading the NBA with their record. Despite missing Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs have really come together as a well-oiled machine. Josh Howard is making a strong case for MVP of the team right now. Jason Terry is finally awaking from a sluggish start the plagued him early on. Things could not be better.

Then you have the Stars. To the detriment of my wife, I historically got amped for the hockey season. But, since the lockout season of 2 years ago, I have neglected to attend a game much less watch it on TV. I just don’t care anymore because the NHL didn't care about me. That’s not a good appearence to give fans in a sport that is still trying to gain an audience after 80+ years of formation. From the sound of things, the Stars are not having their strongest season this year. While they currently occupy a playoff seed at the halfway point, I can't remember the last time I heard that their winning streak was 2.

It's hard to get excited for the Texas Rangers. This offseason they signed some really intriguing players that have proven to be difference makers. But, they also lost a few that could have been stars here. Ameriquest could have been Gary Matthews Jr. Field if John Daniels would have played his cards right. Instead, he apparently let his brother Jack influence him. I expect nothing less than a strong start from the Rangers. It's the post All-Star game that worries me. Like the Boy Who Cried Wolf, I'm tired of running to see what the Rangers are doing only to mutter and curse under my breath as I hang my head in shame for falling for the old bait and switch. The Rangers are the ultimate Texas Tale.

Chin up football fans. We still have the Desperados to cheer…nevermind. I couldn’t complete that sentence with a straight face. To ESPN classics we go!

Cowboys Loss Unsurprising, Improbable

Obviously, I picked against the Cowboys in this game so I figured they'd lose. But inside Seattle's five-yard line with just over a minute to play, I thought the Cowboys had suprised us. I thought we might see Gramatica duff the kick the kick but I never expected the catastrophe that developed.

Tony Romo had done many things to do his part to throw away games in recent weeks, including poorly timed interceptions and a near league leading number of fumbles in the last five games. Yet, even he had seemed to overcome the fumble that short circuited the Cowboys possession to start the third quarter. Other than that play and a few passes left short, he had played a smart game to give his team a chance to win.

But then he fumbles the ball on the hold of what may have been the game winning field goal. Despite his best efforts to save the play, he was tackled from behind to clinch the game for the Seahawks.

Sure their were plenty of culprits on this night. Terry Glenn and his fumble on the Cowboys two that resulted in the saftey that gave Seattle a lead. The offensive line for committing a number of penalites as they usually do. Even the defense, who failed to capitalize on Matt Hassellbeck's horrible in which the Cowboys should have had five interceptions and caught only two. On top of that, the defense allowed two drives the length of the field in the fourth quarter after a suprisingly good performance in the first three. They made a stop on the second drive on downs but it set the stage for Glenn's idiocy. The coaches even failed, along with the wide receivers to exploit the decimated Seahawks secondary in scoring only 20 points.

But no mistake was bigger than Romo's. Dallas had not played its best game but because of late poise from Romo and shocking intensity from Julius Jones. the Cowboys had a gimme win at their fingertips. The table was set to surprise and get us excited about the weak NFC playoff field. Instead Romo's fingertips failed leaving us looking to training camp '07 in San Antonio.

Bill Parcells and T.O. will likely be gone. Romo, along with the rest fot he team, will hopefully have more discipline. The Cowboys will likely finally use a first round pick on the offensive side of the ball. Greg Ellis is a longshot to return with the second serious leg injury of his career. But Bobby Carpenter ahowed he may have been worth a first round pick last night. So while hanging my head for this season, here's predicting an NFC title in 2007.

The Laces Were Out!

I'll leave the excuses...I mean...explainations to those more in the Cowboys loop. But, I couldn't resist.

Possible captions for the above photo:

1. Romo fumbles his chance at greatness
2. Cowboys "drop the ball"...again
3. Romo-ed
4. I thought TO was supposed to have the drops?
5. Tony Romo seen here trying to catch one of his own passes

Let the Parcells/TO offseason media firestorm begin.

Could It Happen?

The Dallas Cowboys get their second shot in four years to end their playoff victory drought. Last time was 2003, Bill Parcells inaugural season when Quincy "Deadhead" Carter improbably led the team to a 10-6 record a playoff loss.

This year it's 9-7 with Tony Romo at the helm. His rise is improbable but only because he was undrafted. Anyone who has closely followed the Cowboys these last few years knew his stock continued to rise.

And despite the horrible month of December the Cowboys have endured, there may be hope. Did you see Romo's stats Sunday minus the fumbles? Wow! And surely he won't fumble like that two weeks in a row.

Did you see T.O making plays? TD reception. Pulled in a pass behind him with one hand for a first down. Fighting for yardage. Is this the '03-'04 version of Mr. Owens now appearing?

And have you heard how beat up Seattle's secondary is? Lost their top three cornerbacks to injury. Even had to call in former Cowboy cornerback from the loan officer biz to fill in for them this week. This means Seattle will likely keep as many back in coverage. The Cowboys should be able to run or pass at will on this opponent.

Nonetheless, it is not to be. Romo will be good, but will struggle in what has become known as the NFL's loudest stadium. So loud they've been accused of piping in crowd noise over the stadium speakers.

This is also, after all, the '06 version of T.O. so a repeat of Sunday's performance is unlikely. He'll flop and be cut, like he should be.

And while the Cowboys offense should have a field day, don't forget the Cowboys defense has made it look like they've played nothing but the NFL's best offenses for the past month. Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselback should both shake off the rust this week and toast our 'Boys.

And, most important of all, these are the Bill Parcells Cowboys. This year's December flop is no fluke and can't be attributed to solely the loss of Greg Ellis. After all, the Parcells-coached Cowboys are 7-12 in December and January in the Tuna's four years at the helm, including a 29-10 playoff loss to the Carolina Panthers in 2003. This team just lacks the necessary passion in the biggest games and with an identical record as last season wouldn't be in the playoffs if not for just about every other NFC team collapsing alongside Dallas..

So the score: 45-35 Seattle advances. But bright days ahead for Tony Romo and the Cowboys with a new head coach.

Still Hopeful?

"Well, if I don't have hope, then who has it? I won't let the negativism that permeates this town from week to week stay in place because if I'm negative about it, then I'm afraid my players will be. I'm not ready to put the flowers in the hearse."
--Bill Parcells

I am glad to see that Bill is so confident. Although, I guess he can't stand in front of the press and say "That's it! We suck. Let's pack it up. Gotta hit the links by ten. I need some Mountain Dew - anybody got 50 cents?"

Wasn't this supposed to be the team that finally "made it?" What has happened to America's Team?

This is quite possibly one of the most bizarre Cowboys teams I have ever watched. (I have only been on this earth for 28 years, so I cannot speculate on the trials and travails of Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly and company. I do remember Danny White a little bit, though - and Rafael Septien. Ah, the eighties Cowboys. Good times.)

A veteran starter benched for a rookie who gets intercepted on his first pass. Said rookie then wins four straight games. Cowboys merchandise once again is the number one seller in the country.

A not-quite suicide courtesy of Terrell Owens, followed by this release of his children's book. Spectacular defensive collapses. Romo gets a Pro Bowl invitation for what amounts to only five good games. (If that is the new standard for Pro Bowls, why isn't Vince Young there?)

The team can finish with a 10-6 record, but after the debilitating loss to the Eagles Christams day, the clubhouse is rife with dissension. Terence Newman called out Terrell Owens (not by name, of course) and bemoaned the fact that "some" players talk a big game but don't back it up.

Julius Jones and Terrell Owens complain about ther role in the offense (Although, this is hardly a jaw-dropping surprise in Owens case.) Romo, doing his best Brett Favre impersonation, has been intercepted seven times in the last four games.

I am sure that we will have many an opportunity to bemoan the myriad blown chances the Cowboys have had to set up a golden playoff run. Now, with the division title and the number two seed slipping away, a hello-and-goodbye playoff loss is becoming inevitable.

Then again, I could be wrong. Maybe the Cowboys defense willl suddenly discover a pass rush come January. Maybe Owens will not build on his league-leading 14 dropped passes and continue what has become a sterling season for Cowboys receivers. Maybe a win against the hapless Lions on Sunday will provide the spark needed for the first Cowboys playoff win in ten years.

Coach, I'm trying to be hopeful too. Let's see what happens.

Eagles' Strength is Exposing Cowboys' Weaknesses

You want to find something positive. After a bad loss, everyone will pile on the home team. So you look for the positives. But where are they?

DeMarcus Ware? He's growing into a beast but two false start penalties put the Eagles in more manageable third down situations, helping keep drives alive.

Tony Romo? Perhaps, the only guy who played well enough to win for three quarters. Then, he got greedy with the Cowboys in position to make it a one score game, throwing an interception into double coverage. Cracking under pressure, you have to wonder if this first-year starter is playoff-ready.

Well, if those are the closest a guy can come to compliments, there be lambasting to do. Here's the long list:

Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn- I lump these guys together for good reason. Both failed to make plays. Both dropped balls after Romo created big play opportunities. T.O.'s would have put Dallas deep in Eagles' territory and on the comeback trail. Glenn's would have placed the ball at midfield after Romo got creamed and fired up the team and crowd. Then, both complained about not getting the ball enough. Complaints about the coach? The QB? Whatever they are, shut up and get open.

Glenn doesn't often speak like this. But we know T.O. does. Jerry took a chance and why not. T.O had become an impact receiver. Now he's become an average headache. Send him packing after the season and start over.

O-Line- We had thought they were better. The running game was better this year and Romo's escapability had covered over many trangressions. They've allowed the NFL's two worst run defenses to shut the running attack down. Yesterday, they were jumping offsides on their own turf, Romo was running for his life, and Julius Jones got stuffed.

Defensive Front Seven- No pass rush. No run defense. What good are you? Ware is the only player of any worth in this group.

Secondary- You can always count on a tight end or fullback to get open against Roy Williams and Anthony Henry continues to get schooled by opposing receivers.

Coaching- He doesn't coach penalties. He's told us that. But it's Bill Parcells' team to have this team disciplined and ready to play. Have you seen a team play with so little passion with the division at stake?

And what's with the vanilla game plan? Parcells seems to forget he doesn't have the great personnel on the front lines the way he did in New York and New England. It might help to run some misdirection or to blitz because, playing the game staright up, his guys will get beat. That rings especially true in the playoffs.

And where's Marion Barber in a big game? Dude only played key role in comeback against the Falcons and shows an explosiveness often lacking in Julius Jones.

And the Tuna has no one to blame but himself. Traded down from a shot at Stephen Jackson to take Julius Jones and get another first round pick. With that, he got an average running back and overrated, rarely seen Marcus Spears. Drafted Bobby Carpenter who is a big time bust. Spent the majority of his picks on the defensive front seven while neglecting the offensive line (well, except for Jacob Rogers, Stephen Peterman, and Al Johnson). The result is the long list of deficiencies laid out above.

And where's the so-called signature win now? Carolina? Indy? The Giants? Atlanta? Hell, it may just be that Tennessee was the best team the Cowboys defeated this season. That means, say hello to an eleven-year playoff victory drought.

So this is the Bill Parcells' Dallas resume: passionless, undisciplinedteam and bad game plans that have succeeded against teams that have since proven to be mediocre at best. Perhaps, he should follow T.O. out the door.

A Few Gifts Worth Returning

I woke up this morning with a nice case of indigestion. Unfortunately, it had nothing to do with that second helping of pumpkin pie.

-Vince Young has to be in serious competition for Rookie of the Year. While his stats are certainly not gaudy, he has been the cog for a dismal 0-5 season start to an 8 out of the last 10 turn around. The man simply doesn’t fold under pressure. However, I would have no qualms about Young losing out to Jones-Drew or Colston. Both have made a strong case for why they too deserve the honors. Unlike some analysts, I do not think that it should be given to the player with the most ESPN hype based on what he did in college. (Congratulations to Reggie Bush for having his first 100+ yard rushing game in week 15 by the way) Let's not make the same mistake twice.

-How 'bout them Cowboys? A few weeks ago, the division title looked all but sewed up. This morning, the Cowboys find the words "need help" next to their name. To put the nightmare into perspective, the Cowboys have a 1-game edge over the Tennessee Titans who need to beat New England and have 3 teams lose just to snag the sixth seed in the AFC. Yes, things have quickly gone sour in Dallas...and the NFC for that matter.

-The creature is once again not happy. He says that he alone should be the center of attention in the game plan and more balls should be aired his way. I have heeded the advice to "watch the game film" and I just don't get it. For every good catch he has a drop. He has turned into the second highest paid decoy behind Reggie Bush. Newsflash: No one cares what you did in Philadelphia or San Francisco. It's like me saying "I used to pull some nice tail in high school and college so there is no reason why I can't still do it as an out-of-shape stud pushing 30." It seems inevitable that either Parcells or Owens will be looking for new real estate in the offseason. I can't say that I will shed a tear over this.

-How quickly the media has turned on Tony Romo. It appears that he has lost some Hall of Fame votes with his past 3 performances. I tend to agree with the shift in thinking. There is no doubt that Romo has had an outstanding year. But, being dominated by the Eagles at home is an indicator that a huge spark is needed to make a serious playoff run. Romo simply hasn't been able to keep the fire ignited. Not that his defense is doing him any favors.

This morning is certainly a Maalox moment.