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As a die hard fan on this special night, this is the most embarrassing game I’ve ever watched in my entire life. We’re talking about a chance to control our playoff aspirations and close out the final game ever at Texas Stadium with a win. It did not happen, the Cowboys are a complete failure and big disappointment.

This team has ALOT of issues to address this offseason. I’m officially writing off this team, they plain suck. Its mind blowing to imagine that this bumbling squad still has a shot at a wildcard spot. After tonight, I don’t see them winning in Philly. No heart, no killer instinct, these guys have nothing inside to overcome the stupidity made by their key players.

The bumbling starts with Romo, I’m sold on him not being able to win in huge games. Tonight’s game was basically a playoff type game with alot on the line, and Romo put the Cowboys behind early, and the offense never dug out of his hole. When Romo stinks so goes the rest of the team. I’ll say it again, Romo is no where near Aikman’s caliber, and not even better than Danny White, so that’s a big problem for Dallas. If your QB is not better than a Danny White caliber forget getting to the Superbowl, seriously. Do not try to sugar coat or throw stats at this argument, Romo is a huge disappointment and he is what he is - not good enough.

For Wade, I expect him and his entire staff to get the boot after we lose to the Eagles next week. Wade has failed to get this team fired up, and Garrett has failed to be innovative, get them both the hell outta here and start over. This team takes losses like this and implodes, show me something this whole year that gives you hope, and I’ll reconsider my stance, but the reality is that the Cowboys do not have what it takes to win anything the rest of the way, let alone the playoffs. (We need Jim Mora to speak at the podium tonight, he’ll tell you)

The Cowboys now will rely on others to lose in order for them to sneak into the playoffs, what a joke of a team, seriously. I love this team, but they have the wrong pieces in place right now.

Jerry Jones has to be beyond disappointed and completely embarrassed. This was a slap in his face and the faces of the fans, the players stunk it up in the worst way.

If there were any questions as to who was running the defense, all those questions have been answered by now. Wade Phillips has taken the helm on defense and ever since the change the Cowboys Defense has turned it around. The pressure is there, the execution is there, and the 3rd down stoppages are there. Wade was brought in to fix the failed 3-4 defense Parcells implemented. The 3-4 was heading into oblivion after several seasons of mediocre play, including Phillips’ 3-4 last year and 1st half of this year. The defense has indeed been corrected, and looking stout at the right time of the year - December.

Its been well documented that Dallas D in December has been abysmal and consistenly inconsistent. What the Cowboys are missing now is the offense, and the attention is steadily shifting towards Jason Garrett. Garrett’s name has been in most of the recent headlines that include meetings with key offensive players, and the Owens, Witten, Romo triangle. Clearly, the offense has been stagnant all year long. Last year’s explosiveness has been non-existant most of the year.

Some are already making the offensive playmaking comparisons to that of Sean Payton. One year the offense looks good, the next year the offense runs the same plays and the offense is found out. The Cowboys seem to be at this threshold under Garrett in year two. The Cowboys have been shutdown and slowed down by various defenses; from bad defenses to good defenses. It doesn’t matter, and decent defensive coordinators have been able to study our film and devise a solid gameplan. So, what’s the deal? Garrett is not getting it done this year on offense, and with each defensive dominating game and lackluster offensive display the pressure will mount on Garrett, and don’t throw stats at this, there’s more than stats that make a team. Parcells was not a stats guy, and neither am I. What you see on the field is what we are, and right now, the offense is not looking so good.

To have all the weapons on offense and not rack up some points is mind blowing. Is it Garrett, is he still too green, are the players not responding to his coaching style? Is it this Turner style scheme? The three prominent coaches running this scheme are Norv Turner (San Diego), Cam Cameron (Baltimore), and Jason Garrett (Dallas). Obviously each of these coaches have their own twist on the philosophy. Turner has had a decent offense this year, but their defense is putting them in bad situations. In Baltimore, Cameron doesn’t have big names, but somehow he’s made the most out of the offense which includes a rookie QB. I think the offensive woes come down to Garrett’s inexperience to be innovative or adaptive, something just isn’t jiving on offense this year.

The media circus is in full effect, and the drama in Dallas has been kicked up another notch. This being said, the Cowboys better win today, or its going to get really ugly, really fast. This mess started with Jerry Jones making some questionable comments about Barber, and then we have all this drama with Romo, Witten, and the wide receivers. Then Newman calling out the coaching staff, and now word that Witten was Werder’s source in regards to the love triangle between Romo, Witten, and Owens. Its a mess from the very top to the bottom - a mess.

Its complete mayhem in Dallas and a loss in a key game against the Giants could absolutely make this team implode. A win is needed bigtime in order to get the team back in wildcard contention, but more importantly for the sake of stabilizing the team as a whole. The locker room antics are wide open to the media, its ridiculous what is going on in Dallas. This is another indictment of bad coaching and ability to manage these players.

This sort of locker room drama would not have happened under Parcells, and its getting out of control right now in Dallas. Phillips seems to be oblivious to what’s going on, he was asked if the locker divided, in which he basically said no. Just the fact that the head coach is being asked these types of questions is just not a good thing.

Let’s see how the team responds today against the Giants.

This will be the same format as last week. Expect the Giants to come after Brad Johnson, and probably moreso. The Giants defense is way better than the Bucs, and Steve Spagnolo gets the most out of his players. To me, this is somewhat of a measuring stick for our defense. If Wade is indeed making the calls as we all think, then we should see a repeat performance and better gameplanning.

If the Cowboys defense steps up again, and the offense struggles again, then the focus of our woes could conceivably shift towards Jason Garrett. Now this obviously is not all that fair to Garrett’s offense since we’re missing the key leader in Romo, and Witten will be limited today, so we kind of need to take that in stride and make the best of. My concern is Garrett’s ability to get the most of what he has to keep us competitive in today’s game. We know Brad cant throw the deep ball, so we need some plays the focus in on Brad’s strengths.

How we in:

- Pressure Eli all day long, knock him around

- Slow down Plaxico Burress

- Tackle/Wrap people up

- Shutdown Jacobs

How we lose:

- Turnovers

- Bad special teams coverage

- Quick 3 & outs

- Lack of pressure

- Sloppy tackling

- Early lead by Giants

Madden Forecast: Cowboys 28 Giants 24

My Forecast: Cowboys 17 Giants 33
If the Cowboys can somehow steal this game, we do have a chance to get back in the hunt in the East, with Romo returning after the bye week. Jimmy Johnson thinks we’re going to have to take our lumps in this game and I’m with him, I really don’t see us winning this game even if the defense improves again. Brad Johnson sucks. We should have kept Matt Moore, that was a bumbling mistake. We’re going to be looking for a real backup next season.

Looks like others are thinking like me in regards to what is going to happen next with Wade Phillips. I blogged about this yesterday during the 3rd quarter of the game. I layed out the scenario in which Wade will be given until the bye week at the lastest; at which point, Jason Garrett would be handed over the team as the Interim Head Coach.

DMN Blog had very similar thoughts on this scenario, which further reinforces my thinking as well:

But Jerry might be forced to make a move, especially if the Cowboys lose their next two games (a likely scenario) and enter the bye week with a losing record. Dallas would be in Save Our Season mode at that point.

Maybe it makes sense to give Garrett a trial period for the last half of the season. If he can’t right the ship, Jerry can make a run at Bill Cowher or another big-name coach this winter.

For now, Wade Phillips is still at the wheel, and the league’s most talented team appears to be headed for a fiery crash. (DMN)

That’s pretty close to what I said yesterday, so there are obviously more writers and fans thinking the same thing…Wade Phillips’ days in Dallas are numbered, as in 14 days to be exact.

I’m going to add more into the scenario I layed out yesterday. I think Jerry Jones thought ahead and brought in the people he did to supplement Wade’s staff. Prime example would be Dave Campo. Dave Campo knows Jerry, and he’s a defensive mind, he’s been a successful defensive coordinator in the NFL. Judd Garrett was also hired as the Assistant Director or Pro Scouting, let’s not forget that part. That being said, if Wade Phillips is indeed canned by the bye week, which I believe will indeed happen, then you’ll be saying good bye to Brian Stewart as well. There is no way we keep the horrible Phillips understudy in training on board as our defensive coordinator. Campo will likely take over as DC.

Both Garrett and Campo will be judged on how they handle the team on the interim basis. If all goes well, and I mean a complete turnaround into the playoffs, then Garrett will remain as head coach, and Campo will remain on as DC. Furthermore, with Campo on board, we could make a transition back to the 4-3 if we wish. The 3-4 has been a complete utter failure under Parcells and Phillips, who were supposedly 3-4 gurus, so if neither could get it going, then why keep running it? Some defensive systems are cyclical, and I think the 3-4 has run its course in Dallas.

Now, I know we’re getting ahead of ourselves, but I thought it would be interesting to see the potential makeup of the staff in the coming weeks. Jerry is not dumb, and clearly has his contingencies well in place.

As I write this the game is still going, its the 3rd Quarter and the Cowboys are absolutely abysmal, this team is in serious trouble, serious. Wade has lost this team, they are not playing. This looks like a 5-11 team at best. Let the drama begin in Dallas, it starts and ends with Wade Phillips. I’m going to put this out there…Wade Phillips will be canned by the bye week, at the latest.

Here’s whats going to happen:

The Cowboys take a beating and lose to the Rams, we drop to 4-3. Next week the Bucs have their turn on beating us, 4-4, we go to the meadowland and the Giants crush us 4-5. We hit the bye week and Phillips is given the boot, and Jason Garrett becomes the Interim Head Coach. Jerry got the pieces in place for Garrett and he’ll be given his shot to right the ship. Either way you cut it, this team is in horrible shape. The party is over in Dallas, and if Garrett isn’t given the shot to turn it around, the Jerry better be calling Bill Cowher behind the scenes, and that’s for real.

I wrote earlier that this was a must win for Wade Phillips, and we floundered from the first play of the game until the last play of the game. This was a complete meltdown and disaster. The fact that the Cowboys were in this position of making a late failed rally further proves how overrated this squad is. Without a doubt we have officially taken a step backwards.

Wade Phillips is not getting this team prepared or not motivating the players that need to be motivated. The players have to be held accountable, and Romo is a liabilty in the same vein as Drew Bledsoe…turning over the ball, fumbling around, and not aware of his surroundings cost us today, and hurt us in other uneccesarily close games in weeks past. Something is wrong with Romo.

We’re in trouble. Get ready for the scrutiny and fallout because its here in full effect.

The Cowboys drop to 4-2, their next 3 games are: @Rams, Bucs, @Giants…. all of the sudden this team could lose three more after its all said and done. To think we’re going to turn it around is foolishness. This team has had too many let downs, too many turnover, and too many penalties.

Jerry Jones is disappointed, and you know he’s thinking of the next coach of this team. Its gonna be Cowher. This is not panic mode, its reality.  This hiring cooridinators is not getting it done.

You can now add Dolphins’ QB John Beck to the list of QBs the Cowboys may be interested in acquiring. First the Cowboys scouted the Bucs’ Chris Simms, and now there’s speculation that John Beck could end up in Dallas. Its hard to say if the Cowboys would actually make a trade with either team because, there’s a strong likelihood that one, if not both QBs will be released. Its a tricky situation.

According to the sources, the Dolphins contacted the Cowboys - and other teams - about Beck shortly after coming to terms with Pennington. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has expressed a desire to find a long-term backup to Tony Romo with Brad Johnson turning 40 next month. (DMNBlog)

On one hand, you know Brad Johnson is on his last limbs in the NFL, but he has valuable experience; and, on the other hand we could end up in this same situation next year maybe worse if Johnson were to retire in 2009. So, this being said, the Cowboys could be in the market for a long term backup, someone younger. To me Simms would be an ideal backup for Romo, but Beck could have more potential.

Beck was drafted in 2007 (2nd round), by Cam Cameron, a system that Beck would be familiar with in Dallas, - you have the Norv Turner offensive philosophies with Cameron and Garrett. I would imagine that Cameron saw something in Beck that lead him to believe that at some point he would be a good fit for his type of offense - another plus.

You know Parcells is working his GM skills on Jerry telling him the same thing, and underlining the fact that Beck is young, familiar with our system, and younger than Johnson obviously. If Parcells can make the sell on Jerry we’ll see a trade, if not, we’ll sit pat and see what falls through the cracks come the roster cuts. I’d give a 5th rounder at the most for Beck (preferably a 6th rounder), if I knew he would be here for awhile to backup Romo. I think Beck would flourish under Garrett as well, could be a very good fit if it happened.

The Cowboys are in San Diego for their first preseason game of the year. By this time of the year, players are ready to bang heads against opposing teams rather than fellow teammates they’ve been seeing all training camp. It is a preseason game, so I wouldn’t expect much action from the starters, maybe a few series at the most. This is already being called a preview to the SuperBowl, and while this is a premature assumption it could very well happen. We’ll see how the unpredictable season goes.

For now, let’s look at a few players we should be looking at during this game:

CB Mike Jenkins - Jenkins is part of the secondary upgrades the Cowboys were in desperate need of upgrading this offseason, so looking at Jenkins against a Norv Turner offense will be a great test for the rookie. He’s slated to start in this game, so he’ll see action against the Chargers 1st teamers. I’ll be watching how he matches up and makes his reads.

RB Felix Jones - besides Jenkins, Jones is the second guy I can’t wait to see in action. He’ll get his reps against a pretty solid Chargers defense. I want to see how he does in pass blocking, and it’ll be interesting how the Cowboys utilize him. Camp reports have him in some two back combos with Barber, so this will be nice to see. Jones already has better hands in the passing game than Julius Jones, so we could see some more dump offs of some dreaded screens. Historically, the Cowboys have been a horrible screen team, but maybe Garrett has some new schemes to test out with Jones.

TE Martellus Bennett - let’s face it, the camp reports have been consistenly negative on Bennett, so I want to see how he does in live action. Is his issue with practice the same as it is in live action, if so, we blew a pick here; however, if he comes out and plays good then, he’ll get a reprieve from Cowboys Nation. Bennett is in a battle for the #TE with Tony Curtis, so we’ll see who steps it up.

WR Danny Amendola - he gained attention with his plays in minicamps, and has continued to shine in training camp. I want to see how they utilize Amendola. You cannot deny a passing threat, so if Amendola keeps doing what he’s been doing, this undrafted rookie could leap frog several receivers. Practice is one thing, this live action will be significant to me, I’m pulling for him and hope the good news continues tonight. If he does well, you can start to pencil him on the 53 man roster. I don’t see the Cowboys dropping the ball on this find like they did with Matt Moore last year.

SS Roy Williams - no one is scruntized more on the team than Williams, and tonight will either have the doubters back entrenched more than ever, or maybe they will be surprised with his play. What I want to see is how they use Roy Williams, are they going to leave him on the field on passing downs, or will they sit him down, or move him around in nickle/dime packages. We will see.

DE Marcus Spears - this is a break or make year for Spears, yes he has been good on run defense, but the Phillps 34 is an attacking defense. Spears has not been that player under Parcells or Phillips. Reports have him swapping spots with defensive monster Jay Ratliff. Like I said before, when they start moving you around there’s an underlying issue. For Spears, they are trying to find him a spot to use him best, he’s not good at DE, and I don’t see how he’ll do any better up the middle at NT where Ratliff has been reaking havoc.

Wide Receivers - with Glenn gone, we’ll want to see who steps up in the passing game. So watch them closely too, Stanback, Hurd and Austin, pretty much all of them. Personally, I like Hurd the most from those three. Austin needs to be consistent in catching the ball, if I see more dropped passes from him that’ll be all she wrote in my eyes. Stanback is still in training mode, we’ll see how much he’s progressed.

Cowboys @ Chargers, NFL Network 9pm CST

NFL Gamecenter

With two solid years under his belt, Tony Romo has leap frogged the rest of his 2003 draft class, QBs like: Palmer, Leftwhich, Boller, Grossman, Ragone, Simms, Wallace, Bollinger, and Drew Henson. I would say its safe to say that Romo is the head of the 2003 class. Most of these QBs are marginal backups or out of the league completely. Carson Palmer has done alright, but Romo has surpassed him.

Expectations certainly have changed with Romo, one of 13 Pro Bowl players back on a team that tied a franchise record by winning 13 games in his first full season as the starter. That was before the Cowboys’ playoff loss in January to the New York Giants, after which Terrell Owens tearfully defended the quarterback.

Dallas is now a legitimate Super Bowl contender, going into 2008 as a favourite in the NFC - with the quarterback who was backing up Drew Bledsoe in 2006 when the Cowboys broke from their last California camp. Romo is the 10th starter in Dallas since Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman played his last game in 2000. (AP)

Expectations for Romo & Co. are probably higher than ever; however, I do expect the Cowboys to come out exploding teams from start to finish this year. The defense will be into the 2nd year of the aggressive styled Phillips 34, and the offense will be in its 2nd year under Jason Garrett. Its going to be a good year.

The Hall of Fame game officially kicks off the 2008 football season, and looking ahead to the next batch of Hall of Famers, our very own Darren Woodson becomes eligible as a 1st year ballot. Other players eligible are, Shannon Sharpe, Rod Woodson, John Randle, and Bruce Smith to name a few.

DR. Z gives his take on Darren Woodson:

“I have no trouble with either defensive back, though. Rod Woodson certainly deserves it. Darren? Played a unique position for the Cowboys. Did everything a safetyman had to do, strongside or weak. Hell of a special teamer, too. Yes, a terrific player, a Hall of Famer.” (SI)

Darren Woodson should be a Hall of Famer for sure, he was the heart of the Cowboys defenses until her retired, when he was out of the lineup, the defense was not the same. Woodson is the perfect example of a Hall of Famer, his work on and off the field have been well documented, he’s a great guy, the type of player the NFL wants.
Some other interesting reads:

Dat Nguyen and Zach Thomas are on the same page

Five Views of Pat McQuistan