Mud Bowl

A team that can run usually has an advantage in wet and muddy field conditions…..advantage Cowboys.

Usually Shawn. I’m worried about a corner slipping on a slant and a cheap five yard pass going the distance. If it really is wet, look for some heavy passing in the first quarter, as the teams will try to get their big plays in before the field turns to slop.

Last time I checked………slop fest favors running backs. Let’s see we got THREE that can carry the rock plus a FB. We got a couple of good TEs and KJ. They got….uh er uh…….

They got………uh………er………uh……..one WR that plays RB named Westbrook.

GO COWBOYS!!!!

Prediction……..if we can beat this team good watch the beagles fans boo their home team…………LOL!!!!!

Next week Mutiny in Philly……….Andy Reid plays the part of Lt. Bligh. Except don’t expect this skipper to sail 3,600 nautical miles without instruments or TO………LOL…….he will be adrift at sea!

TO is of course Fletcher Christian……….and the fans and other players joining TO after there 2nd loss in a ROW! well that would be the crew of the HMS Bounty!

LOL……..couldn’t happen to a better bunch of guys!!!!

Dallas Backs combine for 275 rushing yards against the Ealges. Final Score…….

Cowboys 24 Eagles 10 it is never really close as JJ, MB, and TT give there best performance as the Three Amigos and run all over the philly defense the way our man Emmit used to do!!!!

Drew adds a passing TD to Terry Glenn despite the rain. Witten gets in the act too!

Ware, Ellis, Spears, Canty and Company end McNabbs season finally and put him on the stretcher and mom delivers some warm New England Chowder……….which he vomits up cuz the clams are shaped like Tom Brady!!!!! Somehow Campbells mixed it with Alphabet soup but the only two letters to appear in the bowl are the T and the O. LOL!!! Enjoy it Boys……..it won’t get any better than this!!!!

Rafael……Let’s be honest and objective,the Eagles are worried about Julius,Barber,Witten,Keyshawn,Glenn,Bledsoe,Ware,Roy Williams,Spears,Canty,Newman,Henry,etc…….Cowboys 27-Eagles 17 in a hard fought battle!

Rafael,

Tuesday is usually everybodies day to rank the teams. I’d love to hear your opinion every Tuesday.

I’m sure McNabb remembers our new defense(and so does Reid) so expect lots of three step drops and dump offs to Westbrook,containment and QB pressure will be key in this one…..

McNabb feel asleep counting sheep the other night.

It turned into a NIGHTMARE when he got to 94, 96, 97, 98, 99…….he also stirred after 31 and woke in a cold sweat at 41 and 42……..word is the team doc subscribed AMBIEN.

Good night McNabb.

He might want to think about 50, 56, 58 and 59 too. But i didn’t have the heart to tell him that!

He went to Lurie and all Lurie could say was he had never been able to get past 22!!!!! Sleep well Eagles………sleep well!!!!

aikman had problems with wet weather – how is bledsoe?

There has never been a better time to absolutely snuff out a team on the ropes and literally smash their faces into the dirt and mud to serve notice that there is a changing of the guard in the NFC…Monday night will be the night.

Kick them while their down. On national television, no less.

Here’s to mud in their eye.

There’s only one thing worse than trying to pick the winners in these NFL games every week and thats the weather. These weather folks cant predict the weather for two days ahead, let alone 6 six days ahead,so I find that the chances of their prediction for Monday night being right less likely than me picking the right lotto numbers this week. It wouldn’t surprise me if that the chance of SNOW for monday is higher than rain, LOL.

You might recall Bledsoe had trouble in Seattle with a wet football. The worse the weather the better for Philadelphia. Weather is the great equalizer in football.

Weather aside, the Eagles are playing for their lives in this game. They are the NFC champs and won’t go down easily, even with the TO mess. I predict this will rally them and we need to come ready for a big fight. They would like nothing more than to beat the Cowboys on MNF just to prove they don’t need TO.

Dallas 23 Phil 17

Kevin/Raf,

I have also wondered why there isn’t some sort of weekly Power ranking here. How bout it Raf?

Or do you think that since the NFL has playoffs to determine a true champion, Power Polls are not needed…….

Eagles have no running game. We do. IF it is raining- forecast this far out is really worthless- we have BIG advantage.

Hey Cowboy Fans,

Strictly my opinion but here are my top 10:

1) Colts
2) Steelers
3) Denver
4) Cowboys
5) Giants
6) Bengals
7) Panthers
8) Seattle
9) Patriots
10) Falcons

I agree with the premise that the Eagles will give us their best game Monday night.For them to drop another division game,and drop to 4-5 in this competitive division would be a season killer for them.We just have more talent and weapons at this point and in the end we should win.Let’s say we win(puts us at 6-3)then we beat Detroit 7-3) then lose to Denver because of exhausten)we are looking good!

We have a great rushing game?!? What game have y’all been watching? Two reasonable rushing games do not make for a trend.

We rank 8th WORST at yards per carry. Fortunately, Philly ranks 6th worst.

Add in how the TO fallout will have the Eagles circling the wagons, plus a home crowd, plus any weather that may or may not happen, and you have a tough game for the Cowboys.

I seriously doubt we’ll see the ‘Boys blow out the Eagles twice after being dominated by them for years. But I do think we’ll win a nailbiter with our much tougher D. Cowboys 16-14

I agree with Remnant,

I will be happy to get out of lincoln stadium with a win.

I think this will be a close game, maybe an ugly game in the rain, but we need
to start this 3 game stretch with a win.

Dallas 13
Philly 10

I see it more like this.

1) Colts
2) Steelers
3) Denver
4) Panthers
5) Bengals
6) Cowboys
7) Seattle
8) Giants
9) Patriots
10) Falcons

I don’t think there will be a big drop off in WR production. There is only one football and this kid from Georgia (Reggie Brown) will make some plays he otherwise would not have a chance to make.

This will be a tough Philadelphia team, maybe as good as last year (for this one game at least).

I think this benefits us, and the running game. McNabb isn’t an accurate passer, so I imagiine he’ll be even worse in the rain. We can run the ball effectively. They can’t.

http://CowboysCentral.com

Dallas must ATTACK !!!

They must remain aggressive for 60min. Once you get your opponent down you must keep striking. I hate it when you dominate an opponent but score wise they remain close. Dallas of the ninetys never stopped attacking, even with a large lead they kept coming. Also when given a turnover you must turn into points. The ninetys team when given a turnover would shove it right down their throat. Defensively I know we can limit the eagles success, offensively we must not play conservative.
I said yesterday with our “D” if we can score 21pts per game, we will win the east !

I see a low scoring game with the Cowboys winning 13-3.

Bledsoe grew up in Washington state, where I’m sure he played HS and College ball in wet weather. He has also had all his success in the NFL in typically cold weather towns. The weather shouldn’t be a factor for him if he can take a snap.

My concern is with the groin injuries we have recuperating in the secondary. Wet/slick fields are extremely tough on groins. Lets hope it is equally hard on sports hernias. I’m all for us blitzing the heck out McNabb. Keep him running where he has been less effective this year.

Raf/Raul-I see the banner saying “your comment is awaiting moderation”. Is this a new procedure or have I just not been observant. Or am I on your “bad boy list”?

Sean it’s just a cuss word filter,lot’s of us have experianced it….

Sean, it’s not a big deal. I’ve been on the list several times.
If the program sees certain “nasty” words, even it they are
used in proper contexts, it holds them.

On ratings,

I only rate what I see, and I’m watching about two to three games a weekend
these days.

I’ll leave that business to the coaches and reporters.

I’m afraid that Cortez might be the best kicker on the field….

Anyone see the news conference Terminus Olfactorius had with his apology. Anyone think the Eagles pulled a motivator on T.O. to get him up for Monday night. If the players union can force the Eagles hand and TO plays he will extra tough Monday night. I don’t think it will matter because I believe that Parcells will have the Boys sky high Monday night. Cowboys 35 Eagles 13

TO is toast he is gone. No way the Eagles will take him back. ANd the NFLPA ain’t got the clout to change that.

TO cannot play the next three games.

Eagles submitted 4 game suspension. No way he could play once submitted to NFL Comm.

He can come back afterwards, but Eagles would look like the biggest horses AS* if they took him back. I do not think that would happen anyway.

As far as I am concerned this man has disgraced everything the NFL stands for.

Good riddens !!!

My top 10
1) Colts
2) Denver
3) Steelers
4) Panthers
5) Falcons
6) Seattle
7) NY
8) Bengals
9) Cowboys
10) SD

The boys will began to play their best games starting with Philly. The fans will have signs to get TO back. I believe we will see a balance of consistency throughout and this will be a hugh confidence builder. Drew will deliver and receive more and more attention. The O-line will exceed expectations and the D-line will be ranked in the top three before play-offs began. Quite frankly, I don’t see us losing anymore games. Credit everyone, I think each week we will see different playmakers on offense and defense with more than one player stepping up. There will be a host of guys who will elevate their game each week. The D will just keep getting better. We will win the Division.

None one wants to sway the Big D’s way but, after we beat Denver DALLAS will be the TOP STORY.

I started watching football in 1972 & the 1 constant , the only winning formula I have seen that works is :

In order of importance: Solid defense Run/Pass
                                    Solid running game ( where 3rd & 2 is a confident
                                                                    down for the offense to run)
                                   Descent Passing game: 1 to 2 big plays per game

I have seen the best aerial offenses in the last 30 years fail to get a championship.
Dan Fouts & the chargers
Dan marino & the dolphins
John Elway & the broncos ( Until Terrell Davis arrived)

At the halfway point of this year the Colts seem to fit this formula the best.
Followed by the Steelers.

After that you can mention : Dallas , Denver ,SD & the Panthers in almost the same breath. So yes in the NFC Dallas has a great shot along with the Panthers. As far as the giants go , I am not sold on Eli in the Playoffs or the Giants pass defense.

Let me know what you think!!!

As far as proof of the aforementioned formula See the Baltimore Ravens.

If I remember correctly it was a 50/50 shot that Dilfer would complete a

5 yard swing pass !!

My Terrific Ten,
 

1) Colts – Didn’t they look great on Monday?
2) Denver – They are going to be tough on Turkey day
3) Steelers – Chaz Batch starting QB.
4) Panthers – What happens when you stop SSmith?
5) Falcons – Vick feels disrespected. Ron Mexico goes out clubbing.
6) NY – Who is on that Defense that is scary after Strahan?
7) Seattle – Do they get the ‘soft’ tag removed finally this year…
8) Bengals – …and hand that tag to the Bengals?
9) Cowboys – I still think they are a year away from the big dance.
10a) SD – Don’t finish games well. Even with The Danian. How can that be?
10b) Washington – They go into the 2nd half looking vstrong. AND 54 is Back.

Jesse New York:

I agree with your conclusions. Although no team in the NFC looks very complete this year, I think Alan is right that the Cowboys are still a year off, or maybe two. Getting there is OK, but this is still about winning.

The main reasons they probably don’t win it all this year have little to do with offensive explosiveness, and much more to do with needing (a) another dominant OLB, (b) a hard hitting, ball-hawking free safety, © a dominant, mistake-free run blocking O-line, and (d) a kicker reliable from at least 45 in. The OL might develop this year or next from the available players (although I have my doubts, especially at Center), but the rest of the pieces listed above are not here yet. AS BP said last week, he has some good young players now, but he wants and needs more of them to have the kind of team he wants.

GermanyCowboysFan,

aikman had problems with wet weather – how is bledsoe?

Bledsoe has a good reputation for playing well in bad weather. However, his worst game this year (by far) was in the rain in Seattle.

Lex,

Iâ€â"¢m afraid that Cortez might be the best kicker on the field….

Akers handled the field-goal duties for the Eagles last week against the Redskins. He will do the same against us. Cortez will only be used for kickoffs. Hopefully, there will be only one of those.

Tommy,

… If the players union can force the Eagles hand and TO plays he will extra tough Monday night. …

The worst the NFLPA can do is force the Eagles to pay Owens for the games missed. There is no way they can force them to play him. Besides, this will go to arbitration, and take months to resolve.

The NFC is anybodys. If Carolina is the best, the Boys just put Henry and Glenn on Steve Smith all day and shut them down. He has 42 more catches than his other recievers. If the NYG are the best, we beat them already and we played bad and without JJ. If Seattle is the best, we had them beat without JJ again I think. If ATL is the best, all you have to do is contain the running game of Dunn and Vick. I can realisticly see us taking the NFC barring any injuries.

cowboy bert
We need a playmaker on offence. In the three games we have lost have been a lack of production from our offence.

JJ has nothing to do with the games we lost he was there for washington.

CBert,

a) I think only the draft will get us that olb we need.

b) that safety might be on injured reserve already – Berry-o

c) How good does our OLIne look if everyone is healthy? Three NFL Tackles, Two NFL Centers( yeah there is room for improvement there – , two and a half NFL Guards, with Noll, and hopefully Columbo pushing for time at Guard and Tackle. Not Bad.

d) Is it a kicker we need or just stability at the whole Long Snapper/Kicker position?. If these two kids we have now work out, we are set for a while.

Off topic NFL news……Philly loses center Fraley for rest of season,Priest Holmes(another team we play) is out for the season….

aw,

I still think that playmaker is Crayton and/or one of our Backs. Maybe this is where JJ busts out. maybe MBIII takes off here. Is Bledsoe the playmaker? Who Is NE’s Playmaker? Brady?

Bledsoe’s considered one of the best bad weather QBs out there.

The top 10:

1) Denver – Better D, Better Running game
2) Colts – Look at who they’ve played. D is a smoke & mirror mirage
3) Panthers – Dallas’ only real balanced competitor.
4) Cowboys – Yeah, yeah, yeah…I’m a homer. But Rafael’s last thread is absolutely spot on. (Hope I had a little to do with the analysis after my diatribe on statistics…great analysis, Rafael)
5) Steelers – Not enough Offense, D is getting real suspect
6) Seattle – They’ll win the West, get a bye and…choke
7) Falcons – Still not sold on the D or Vick’s arm…can’t win the tough ones
8) Bengals – Probably should be higher…maybe at #5
9) Chargers – I think they’re probably the third best AFC team, but that record is gonna hurt.
10) Giants – Sorry…they’re a very big notch below the top 4 in each Division. Remember, they were 5-3 at this point last year.

I saw that the Boys tried out Favors the former Panther DE. If I recall correctly he had an above average season in 2004. Does anybody have any info on his currecnt situation is injury, etc.
He could be a great spot player.
Thanks

AlanTDot,

Good analysis for next year. Jean-Jaques Taylor just had a decent analysis basically saying need are 1. OL 2. Playmaker WR 3. OLB and 4. FS

The only weakness I see in our Offense is OL. EVERY other position is set for the next 2 years. There are no weaknesses in our D. Experience is the only cure. Yes, a stud FS would be great, but not a necessity.

F15,

I think the Colts are a bit of an illusion as well but, They are undefeated. That’s gotta count for something.

Sure it would be nice if we had a stud FS, OLB, playmaker WR, and OL, but what team could not use some combination of players to fill weak spots on their team? This is a relative game. You cannot have the best player at every position. If we had what Jean-Jaques Taylor suggests we need, we would be one of the the best teams of all time.

The days of the Pittsburg Steelers of the 70’s is long gone. Every Superbowl team, winner or loser has had weak spots, some like Baltimore had glaring weak spots at key positions. It becomes a question of who stays healthy and plays well under pressure. Dallas has as good a chance as anyone, except they have a more difficult schedule than most.

AlanTdot
I’m big on Crayton I think he is good and should start next year. But as of right now we don’t have that playmaker on the team yet. Bledsoe has been good considering what he has been doing the last few years even great. In half the games we couldn’t put point up. Brandy is a playmaker they don’t loose many games because of Brandy. When our backs are against the wall and we have to make a play who is it going to be?? Our backs haven’t been there yet. Maybe we do have that playmaker on the team but we don’t know how to use them yet. I still think we need a young WR next year.

Our WR position is a strength other than age. I suspect they will draft a WR project and count on KJ and TG for a couple of more years. Receivers can be developed and some of the best came out of nowhere.

Solid inside linebackers, cornerbacks and offensive linemen are what every team needs and those can be found in the lower first and middle rounds.

Top draft choices should be used on pass rushers, QBs and running backs. Other than QB, they impact the team the fastest and talent is more obvious so the risk is less.

This is why the cowboys traded down so often, for the most part building the team with solid middle round players with key positions filled at the top of the draft.

rha
I dont like leaving WR by chance, that’s why we haven’t had a playmaker at that positions since #88.

aw,

I think our combination is good other than age. I would rather have 3 good ones than one TO or Randy Moss and 2 wannabees. The total production is the key. Who cares whether one receiver has 100 catches and 1300 yards or 2 with 50 each and 675 yards.

Same analogy with running backs. Look at Pittsburgh, they will rush with anyone but one runner may not be in the top 10 in the league.

Just watch Monday night, the key is what McNabb throws for and how many touchdowns, not whether one or three receivers gets them. My guess is that Reggie Brown will have close to the catches and yards that TO would have had. Just a hunch.

Wide recievers are a dime a dozen, you dont need to take one with the first round,

Quote of the day,

He says he can play and heâ€â"¢s good. Itâ€â"¢s not about if I can play with him, itâ€â"¢s if he can play with me and the way I play. This is my team, I run the ball more than other QBs and that would take away from his catches. If that works for him, he could be here. Weâ€â"¢re about being a team. We donâ€â"¢t have selfish players here starting with me; we are a team. It would help to have him, but at the same time I feel like we have all the right pieces in place to be a winning football team"
— Falcons quarterback Michael Vick on if Terrell Owens could play with Atlanta.

Don’t get too excited about the rain. I live in mid-PA (makes things fun since there are a few Iggle fans around here) and the forcast for Monday is sun.

next time terrell owens spikes the ball on the big star at texas stadium he might be wearing a star on his helmet. u never know.

Ken,
I know that wont happen, bank on it.

rha
That is where you are wrong I rather have a Moss TO and some wantabees because they make the wantabees look good. I would trade KJ and Glenn for a TO or Moss type player. If you need proof Philly’s WRs were a weakness before TO got there. Look at what Irvin did for Harper. Harper look real good until he went off by himself and showed he wasn’t that good. Pittsburgh with the running game is only this year didnt have a top back. The bus was a top RB and was doing his thing last year. Having a #1 WR with some #3s is better then having A few #2s.
Derrick
You don’t have to take a WR in the first round you don’t have to take any position in the first round but the higher you pick a position the better chances you have at a star.

aw-TOs making his team look real good now. Who fears the the Philthy WRs now? That is what you get when you put all your eggs into one basket(case).

aw,
well, its a good thing you’re not the Gm of the dallas Cowboys, thats all I can say.

rha,

Those first two Super Bowls in the 90s had it pretty much covered. Best RB, Great WR, as good as any QB in the league…….best Tackles a Great couple of Guards……….a good solid Center………a pro bowl TE……..a couple other good WRs………

If all I could add is one player to the current Dallas Cowboys give me another Outside Line Backer. We can win with the QB and WRs we got. We can be a dominant defense like Chicago, Ravens, Steelers, and Giants all Super Bowl teams I am referring to with another OLB. This team could win games even with Jose Cuervo kicking the ball…………or Cortez.

Defensive front that included Jeffcoat, Casillas, Maryland, Leon Lett, Haley, Tolbert, Hennings? Ken Nortorn Jr at LB……..even though the D put no players in that pro bowl……..statistically and when it counted they were as fierce as any to ever play in the league. Now look forward a decade and hope we are saying the same things about Ware, Canty, Spears, Ellis, Glover, Ferguson, Dat, James, Shanle, Coleman, and company!

I don’t know when I look back and I respect the Steelers a Lot………but that early nineties Cowboys team was so stacked that even with attrition and Barry Switzer at the helm we managed 3 in 4 years.

It is easy to point at the Pats this year and say they ain’t all that……..but look around the league at who they gave up………they have lost a lot over the last 4 years too. Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law, WRs, LBs………..they just did it under the cap which was pretty amazing but they are having to pay the piper now. As are the Eagles……….don’t be the Bills when you get there make it Count!!! Cuz you never know when you might get another chance. I don’t see one in the Eagles future.

I think it is hard to maintain a level year after year. Look at the 85 Bears……..arguable one of the all time greats………..great RB…….good WRs………a decent servicable QB………awesome Defense and they never got back to the dance. You don’t just lose players you lose coordinators like Buddy Ryan, Tom Coughlin, Norv Tuner, Dave Wannestat, Butch Davis, Romeo Crennel, Weis, a team just ain’t the 50 guys in the locker room it is the coaches the trainers the owners enforcing there will on the chess game that is the NFL. Players do make the plays but they work all week under the scrutiny of the most highly paid and skilled coaches in pro sports to play for 4 hours on Sunday or Monday night.

Yeah we all need roll players to step up……….so far the role players for the Cowboys have been rookie Marion Barber, Bradie James, Patrick Crayton, and Scott Shanle. None of these guys is getting a free ride to Hawaii………at least not this year. But all have contributed greatly to our wins. No you cannot build a pro bowl squad and they don’t work anyway look at the FA failures in Minn and Washington.

Looking back it is a credit to the organizations of SF, Pitt, Dallas, and now the Pats. Winning for that long is tough.

Jon, AMEN.

The cowboys cut Tony Dixon today and signed another OLB, Quintin Caver, a second round pick in 2001, it’s funny, the cowboys were considering drafting him in the second round of 2001, but instead with their first pick the Cowboys picked Quincy Carter and when it came around a few picks later for the cowboys second pick in that round, the Eagles drafted Caver just ahead of the Cowboys, so the cowboys took Tony Dixon, which I find funny since the Cowboys today cut Dixon to make room for Caver.

philly is still a top tier team, idc what anyone says mcnabb like farve, brady so on, can win games on there own. they were humiliated in dallas so philly will be sharp on monday, if we win its by 2-3 pts

aw:

Philly will most probably miss the playoffs. Oakland will almost certainly miss the playoffs. Both teams are likely to end up with losing records. Philly’s record may get better now that TO is gone. Tell me again, how exactly are TO and Moss making the rest of their teams so good?

Lynn Swann never had great numbers, but I am one of the few that always believed he belonged in Canton. As you suggest is important on offense, he made big plays when they were needed. Mostly, they weren’t, at least not that often, because the Pittsburg guards ran the inside trap play about as well as anyone ever has, and Bleier made all the key first downs behind them. He isn’t in Canton, either, just a really good player.

The only stat that matters is W-L. The best way to get it, especially in the playoffs, is still ball control, defense, and kicking. In the playoffs it all gets to out-toughing the other team. If you still can’t see that, remember NE vs St.L. Being the greatest show on turf means nothing if the other folks can stop you cold. The Cowboys lost two Super Bowls to the Steelers at the point of attack, and the Oilers lost two conference championships to them there, too. Buffalo had stars on both sides of the ball, and lots of offensive production, but lost 4 times at the point of attack, and became a late-night punchline. When it mattered, they couldn’t control the line or the clock.

Wide receivers fill the seats and energize the crowd. They do not generally help teams win at the point of attack, which is still and always will be where football is won and lost.

bert:

Some time ago I figured out that you can find guys comfortable with seeing their team win without too much flash, and there are guys that want to see flashes even if those don’t bring some W’s along. Those won’t be comfortable until they see a guy piling some stats.

I would be up for waiting another year with what Dallas has while waiting for the pair of guys at ND (Samardzija and Stovall). My gut tells me that they’ll stay along Quinn, under Weiss advice, aiming for all the marbles next year in CFB. The only guy that seems appealing to me and is certain to be at the draft is Martin Nance of Miami of Ohio, who measures at 6-5 and 215 and is pretty good in the red zone.

One of the guys on Inside the NFL just said Terrell Owens’ best fit for 2006 is US!!!!!!!!! the Cowboys because Bill Parcells could handle him (as well as Keyshwan…cannot picture those 2 in the same team)……man, I would hate it if we sign that SOB

Jerry Jones said he wouldn’t sign him.

Not gonna happen … the Cowboys already have two starting WRs over 30 … young blood (Crayton, Price) is what is needed. I fully expect Price to replace Glenn next year (barring a full Glenn season) …

I would like to see us win outright Monday night without any late game momentum shifts to our opponent. We have yet to be blown out this year (although we had to climb out of an early hole in the Oakland game). 2 of our 3 losses were on mental lapses by two of our best players at the very end of games. We can’t have that, especially against the Eagles at Lincoln Field on MNF with 2 more tough games in the 10 days following. We have to attack and pound them into complete desperation.

Call me greedy, but I want this to be a much more complete ass-whipping than Indy handed the Patriots last Monday. The Boys need to prove that they are back by beating the defending NFC Champions in front of a nationally televised audience and serve notice to our next two opponents that we are coming after them next.

We’re halfway through the season…this Monday in Philadelphia is where we need to plant the flag and let the NFL know we came to play in Detroit this February.

My midseason assesment:

Passing game:

- Who might have thought that we’d be seeing the Drew Bledsoe we’ve been seeing? I thought that he would be better than what he showed at Buffalo last year based on the sole perception of having a better line, but he has showed us all that he not only has still some gas in his tank, but he can also play at Pro Bowl level (And with McNabb, Favre and Culpepper having nightmarish seasons, if he keeps up, he could be a certain pro bowler).

- Terry Glenn has 682 yards. He nearly collected half of those numbers in the first 3 weeks. Could it be a coincidence that since then he’s been facing safeties in long routes? Philadelphia paid dearly for not doing so until late in the game. If the running game keeps improving look for him to keep piling numbers, might be breakout year. But it all depends in one huge if, can he remain healthy?

- By midseason Keyshawn looks like he won’t reach the 1000 yards milestone (he has 37 catches for 430), again, but he’s making up for that with his play in the red zone, his 5 TDs came from there. And that one-handed catch against NY is already a season highlight in sports channels.

- Witten hasn’t been as regular a pass catcher as we would all like to, he has a much needed assignment of helping the OT’s, but almost everytime that he goes out of the pocket he’s the 1st or 2nd read, but that doesn’t translates to the red zone, he’s been double teamed every time in there.

- Much has been said about the work of the OLine in pass protection and run blocking, Petitti needs help every once in a while, Tucker will need some too, but Flozell wasn’t looking rock solid, they need to play better, Bledsoe has been sacked 21 times already, that’s not good but it wouldn’t hurt the OLine if Bledsoe throws the ball OB if he reaches 4-Mississippi and still doesn’t has an open target.

So, reviewing: Bledsoe could reach the 4000 mark if the running games flourishes as Parcells desires, making up for a 1000 yard season for Glenn and a 10 TDs season for KJ. And we’re still up for seeing Price in his true position, he’s a flanker playing, as of now, in the slot, let’s see if Parcells keeps him at that. But, as it should be, everything depends on the OLine, and they need to improve those sacks numbers and it might help that they will face just one team in the top ten in sacks, that being St. Louis (10th) with 22. They’ll face Philly (22), Detroit (12), Denver (32), NY (17), Kansas (26), Wash (27), Carolina (14) and St. Louis.

Running game:

- Dallas has a three headed monster at RB for the second half of the season and playing time will be shared by portions between JJ, MB and TT. JJ is the starter, Parcells already said so, so there shouldn’t be any more of that so called controversy, he might not be the better all around, that might be Barber, but he adds another dimension, he can break long gains with his speed and he can also catch the ball. I think that we’ll see the ball being shared as Parcells envisioned in camp, 20 snaps to JJ, 10+ to MB and 5 to TT. MB getting in for every 3rd downs and TT subbing JJ in 1st and 2nd downs.

- There has been people talking about JJ only showing his stuff in three games last year, I’ll prove with stats that he only had one bad game. His 1st game was against Baltimore, the unit finished the season with 105 rushing yards per game, Julius finished with 81 yards. That’s not a bad game. Then he played Chicago, a 150 yard performance, 1st breakout game. He continued with Seattle, 198 yards, 2nd breakout. And he followed with his only bad performance vs New Orleans, finished ranked 30th, and JJ only racked up 88 yards in 23 attempts. He followed the game with two though divisional games against Philly and Wash, who schemed with their really good units (15th and 2nd against the run) to stop JJ, JJ managed 80 yards against Philly and only managed 57 against Wash. Those aren’t bad performances, those are though ones. And he followed with a NY rout, 149 yards.

- There has also been alot of talk about the run blocking the OLines has been making, certainly, Rivera finally is starting to show why he was paid all that money at his age, Johnson is at his best while pulling and running and LA is LA. Petitti also needs constant help in here, usually getting Campbell, while Tucker has been looking rather good, even while being left alone. There’s only room for improvement here and with their improvement along comes the stats for the three headed monster they lead.

I’ll post my Defensive assessment tomorrow. I’ll take opinions and shots.

Just thinking out loud, but isn’t Reggie Wayne a free agent after this season? I can’t imagine the Colts being able to resign him. They have to save what cap room they have left for Freeney in a year or two. Any thoughts?

Chandus,

Can a running back hit stride when he doesn’t get fed the ball? Didn’t BP say that CMartin told him that he didn’t hit his stride until game three last season cause he didn’t get the ball enough? JJ needs more than 20 carries. I would hate to sacrifice a game breaker for a mediocre average run game.

Something isn’t clicking on this offense and I don’t see that in your assessment.

With Quinton Caver signing, we must have some real reservations about Burnett.

rha,
The signing of Carver doesn’t mean that at all. Burnett is on the depth chart on Wares side, with singleton gone for the season, we need someone to back up Fugita on the strong side.Burnett will get some reps on both sides, but remember, Burnetts a rookie, when you play the 3-4, you need alot of good linebackers

I’m sure there are reservations about Burnett, he hasn’t done ANYTHING yet. He’s completely unproven. I just hope he breaks out when he gets a chance.

I don’t think signing Caver necessarily speaks poorly of Burnett, but in general, the Burnett situation is disappointing.

This summer, the media referred to him like it was a question of “when” not “if” he would start. Of course, I jumped on board.

Hopefully, heâ€â"¢ll get more snaps now with Fujita being out. But in a recent press conference, BP didn’t sound enthusiastic.

As a second round pick, Burnett will get 3 years to develop. Itâ€â"¢s just disappointing that he needs it.

Has anyone heard why Burnett hasn’t emerged? I doubt it is just there hasn’t been a place to put him, BP would have found a way to get him in the game if he was showing anything in practice.

It would be a shame if we have to wait 3 yrs for him to develop. We’ll likely use a high draft pick next year for an OLB if he doesn’t show anything in the 2nd half. If he starts to emerge, that same pick might be used for the OL.

I think the red flag here is not that we signed Caver. It’s that BP put Burnett behind Ware. He might as well be placed behind Peyton Manning or Carson Palmer. Before being placed behind Ware, we heard a lot about how fast he was coming around, and how BP was concerned about giving him too much. After being reassigned to Ware’s position, Burnett dropped off the face of the Earth.

If your playing time depends on beating Ware out for a spot, then get comfortable on the bench.

I would have thought that a better plan for the future would have been to put Burnett behind either Singleton or Fujita, whichever player was going to start opposite of Ware.

If Burnett was ready, he wouldn’t be backing up Ware. At least that’s my theory.

Madcowboy,

“If Burnett was ready, he wouldnâ€â"¢t be backing up Ware. At least thatâ€â"¢s my theory”

I absolutely agree. No way BP is going to bury someone (especially a highly touted 2nd rounder) on the depth chart if he was showing anything in practice. He’d find a way to get him in the game.

We agree.

I believe that Rafael has questioned whether Burnett has the size to play OLB, and further speculates that Burnett is simply filling a temporary need until he can be moved inside.

This may be true, but either way, it doesn’t matter because Burnett isn’t backing up an insider LB now either.

One more thing about Burnett.

When Burnett was drafted, the word was that he had first round talent, but because of his past ACL injury, teams were afraid to take him.

You would think that so long as he remained healthy, which he has, then he would be another Canty type of pick.

I guess the frustration is that, after 3 months, we are beginning to realize that he doesn’t have Canty’s upside.

Of course, 3 months doesn’t make a career, so my hopes for the long-run are still high.

Hey guys, on the Burnett analysis, he may still be hurt, and attempting to play hurt. He was playing really well up until his injury. It set him back quite a bit. .. Remember too a lot of NFLers play hurt, or practice hurt. Take a look at T-New, now I’ll get a lot of crap for even speculating, but you can not tell me that this kid wasn’t playing injured last season. Great his rookie year, looked slow last season, and now looks to be all of a “shut down corner”. … Parcells has even stated that some players are starting to come on, recovering from some injuries. I would speculate that includes Riveria, Ferguson, M. Barber, and Burnett. If you look at Riveria’s play early in the year and compare the play to the last few games, its as if you have a whole nother person out there. Ferguson and Barber are also playing their best ball of the season, right now. .. Give Burnett some time, he may be a solid contributor later down the road this season.

EricR,

You could definitely be right. I hope so.

But if he has been practicing hurt, then he must be recovering now because BP definitely gave him a public challenge in last week’s press conference.

TO helped Philly finally get to the SB. Oak might not go anywhere but its not because of Moss it because they have lots of holes in that team. We don’t have a number 1 WR on our team. We need someone that can get open or someone that draw the d in so someone else can get open. In four games this year the passing was nowhere to be found. I rather have an Irvin on my team with some nobodies than what we have.

aw,
“TO helped Philly finally get to the SB”?? WHAT?

thats funny, because I didn’t see T.O on the field the three and a half games at the end of the rugular season and the playoffs on the field while Philly was on their way to the Superbowl, so how again did he help get them to the Superbowl again. He played in the Superbowl, but didn’t help philly get there.

EricR
T-New wasn’t as great as some might like to think in his first season but he wasn’t as bad as people think last year. I think how he was getting beat in the 2nd half of his rookie season led to his bad 2nd year.

Derrick
I’m going to tell you how he helped he give the rest of the WR confidence while he was playing. So when he was gone the confidence was still there. McNabb had this best season last year where do you think that started with TO. I’m not a TO fan I don’t like him but I do recognize what he can do and what he has done. A number one WR makes others play better in the passing game and can help the running game. We dont have that playmaker right now or we are not using it right.

aw,
PLEASE!!!!! Are you kidding me!!
Dont give me this garbage that he gives the rest of the team confidence, these are professional athletes, not twelve year olds. I will say that T.O has a ton of god given talent, but the probem is, he has a two cent brain. He doesn’t bring confidence, he bring drama, slams his own teamates, criticizes the organization he plays for, doesn’t communucate with coaches,fist fights with other teamate, is not a leader, he’s a selfish CANCER of a player in the locker room only looking out for himself, not his teamates. Great players lifts their team and his teamates to higher status, not bring them down like T.O does.

Every NFL team knows about what TO did to the Eagles lockerroom. If TO is to sign a contract next year, which he will, it will have many behavior clauses in it and incentives probably only a one year deal. I would not be opposed to the idea of having TO as long as he signed contract with behavior clauses in it. Think of that offense Keyshawn, Terry Glenn, TO, Jason Witten and Julius Jones no one would be able to stop that offense and we would have an even stronger defense next year as the rookies progress.

Derrick
Hold on you ask how did he help them get to the SB and I told you. What has happen this year has nothing to do with how he helped them get to the SB last year. I want a number 1 WR, I didn’t say I wanted TO. TO will play next year and he will put up numbers and he will help his team win. I don’t blame TO for wanting more money because he should be in the top 5 paid for WR but he went about it the wrong way.

Oh yea and Parcells would be the perfect coach for TO. TO is one of the hardest working athletes and stays in top shape. Dont underestimate his work ethic. Antonio Bryant was lazy in practice and that pissed Parcells off more than anything i gaurantee you if Bryant worked as hard as TO does he would still be a cowboy

There were alot of different ways the Eagles could have went to control TO but they were hard nosed and wanted to keep up their image and act like hard asses. Well it came back to burn them i am happy because i cant stand the eagles and all their fans but if they would have actually adressed TO’s salary concerns (he didnt ask for more money rather just a guarantee he would recieve all of the money on his contract) instead of going public and saying they would not rework his deal. TO retaliated by taking shots at the team and Donovan while this was not the best strategy it gives TO what he wants free agency.

aw,
he is among the top three paid recievers in the league, average 7 mil for the first three years, nobody held a gun to head to sign the seven year deal, you sound like that other idiot, micheal Irvin, stop defending the undefendable.

Derrick
No he is not top three paid. You are right nobody held a gun to his head but if owner can cut a player after a year a player should be able to ask for more money after a year. Players have to fight for money up front becaues NFL contracts are realy year to year deals. Most if not all player never get to see all their money.

aw,

the Eagles gave Owens a signing bonus just shy of $10 million. Owens is scheduled to make $3.25 million this season, then receive a $5 million roster bonus next March.

In 2006, Owens’ base salary will drop to $770,000, then rise to $5.5 million in 2007, $6.5 million in 2008, $7.5 million in 2009 and $8.5 million in 2010. Over the life of the deal, Owens will average $6.6 million per year, making him the second- or third-highest-paid receiver, behind Oakland’s Randy Moss and possibly Indianapolis’ Marvin Harrison.

Derrick
The bottom line he is not and wasn’t going to see that money, why do you think he wanted a new deal? Where did you get these number at do you have other WRs numbers, I don’t think he is top three or even top 5.

aw:

Marvin Harrison won’t see all the money for which he signed, neither will Ward, and probably Randy Moss won’t either, so your point is? T.O. was a well paid receiver, I saw those numbers being portrayed by Peter King of SI. He wanted to be the top paid receiver after one year, you’ve got to be kidding me, this is the salary cap era you can’t do that any more.

aw,
 This was posted in an article from the philadelphia inquiry in an interview with the owner of the Eagles jeffrey laure yesterday.

T.O wants a new deal for the signing bonus, thats all he wants, Rosenhaus doesn’t get any money either unless T.O gets a new deal. T.O and Irvin shoot their mouth off about him being payed 3.5 mil, thats his base salary, they dont include the signing bonus number or the roster bonus, thats the lie in their argument.Agents and players know that the end number of the deal they sign will never be seen, thats why they want the large signing bonus, thats the guarantee, they know that going in, Vick wont see the end of his deal either, he knows that, the actual deal of T.O was a three year deal, he knew, we all knew it,but he wants to redo a deal every year and not count the signing or roster bonus in his deal. The things in the deal were put into T.O’s deal were to pertect the eagles because of his history which were well documented, he had lots of baggage going in, if he had just shut his big mouth and played and became a team player, he would of seen most of that deal. And now T.O will NEVER see that big signing bonus and contract again and he’ll be 33 in december and it will look good on him come next year, when and if a team gives him a small base salary with some incentives and a cut clause as soon as he opens up his big mouth again. He has some serious pyscological

TO is getting exactly what he deserves and that makes me happy.
He asked for it – he got it. And that is good. Even better that it helped mess
up the birds. At his age, and with his history, he will NEVER get another big contract. I don’t think even Danny Boy is dumb enough to give him anything but a minimal with incentives. Signing bonus- NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!

Its a shame, T.O. has a ton of talent and could of went down as one of the best recievers in the game, but now, he’ll be looked at as a CANCER on a team, and the things he said about his teamates, his star is certainly fading and fading fast. He definitely has some serious psychological issues.

Chandus
What is your point? what are you talking about?

What about the 100 million dollar contract that DBledsoe signed?? He saw maybe 30 mil of it.

Of course he isn’t starving, but nobody plays out their contracts anymore. If you under play it by enough, you get cut and signed for a lot less. If you over play it……you have to act the ass and hold out.

Point is NFL contracts are not guarenteed, so it don’t matter if you sign a 1 billion dollar contract, you are NEVER going to see all the money.

hey guys, I need a little help. I am traveling to china and will not be home to watch the game. Yes disappointed but business calls. Chances are high that the game will not be broadcasted in mainland china so need another source, other than this blog (which will be read throughout the game) to catch the play by play….your help is greatly appreciated.

Dave,

I’m sure the cowboys masses will be here in full force to keep you informed, you can also track the game on NFL.com too. Hope you set the VCR,or the DVR, so you can catch the game when you return. I think I speak for all in saying, sorry, you’re going to miss the game but have a safe trip.

AlanTdot
That’s why player fight for that guaranteed money and teams try to back load the contract so they can cut the player. Smith in SF I think signed the best deal or one of the best in history because he is guaranteed I think close if not 50% of his contract.

Lets not forget what he did in SF ! Then when he got what he wanted A trade, well Baltimore wasn`t good enough for him so he went to the Eagles. Again exactly what he wanted. Then he signed his contract & was very happy because he got what he wanted. Only when he found out what Jevon Kearse received , which was much better contract & who

Agent is Rosenhaus did he get greedy. Well as far as I am concerned he got what he deserves.

Defensive assessment:

- DLine:

The rotation established between Ellis, Glover, Spears, Canty, Ferguson, Coleman and Ratliff is the key of the success of the D since 10/2 at Oakland, since then the Defense has allowed an average of 13.6 points while stopping the top Offense in Football (Seattle), and 4 top 15 Offenses (Philly 8, NY 12, Oakland 13 and Arizona 15) in 5 games. Still, things doesn’t get much easier, they still have to face Philly, Wash (ranked 11th) and NY again with out of division matches against the top 2 (St. Louis), 3 (Denver), 7 (Kansas) and a Carolina unit that’s starting to get into a pretty good rythm. The only break will be while facing the 28th Offense at Detroit. So, the guys up front have to prepare for the ride that’s awaiting them.

There has been some talk about trading Glover or Ellis based on the play of the rookies and the possible surface of Wannabe Pepper (I’ll keep saying him wannabe until he finally gets out of the inactives list), those are intangibles and without those 2 guys you would need to kiss goodbye those pass rushing 4 man fronts, so, for the sake of the Defense play Ellis and Glover might face retirement while still being Cowboys.

- LB’s:

Inside there’s going to be rotation, rotation, rotation. Now Shanle has proven that he can play in this league, the tandem he forms with James can only be counted for one huge miss, the 1 yard TD Hasselbeck threw to Ryan Hannam, where, I can bet, Parcells missed Nguyen. Now that Nguyen’s healthy again look for him to give some the inside tandem some rest. In the outside things are a bit more messy with Singleton’s injury, Fujita needs to step up while Kevin Burnett grows up and waits for the chance of playing inside next season. I think that Caver doesn’t has a chance in his first game to make the actives list, but I think that he was brought as a wake up call for Burnett.

- Secondary:

Dallas rushing Defense is entrenched at 6th in the NFL, while the passing D is listed at 13th, the problem there is that they were torched for 987 yards in the first 4 games, since then they have fared much better. What changed? Well, Newman is shadowing the best receiver since then, he shadowed T.O. and he only got 50 yards. then he covered Shockey in the slot and he only caught a pass for 14 yards while being there. Seattle didn’t had a legitimate 1st receiver. And against Arizona he got Boldin for most of the time. Might things be different had Parcells aligned Newman against McCardell, Santana Moss and Brandon Lloyd? We won’t know, but we might see Newman covering Ashley Lelie 11/24, Shockey again 12/4, Santana Moss 12/18, Steve Smith 12/24 and Torry Holt 1/1.

BTW, what’s the change between what Pile has been doing at FS and what Scott made last year? Pile is faster, he certainly keeps up with the fastest receivers. Roy Williams has to be happy, he’s wreaking havoc while playing near the OLine.

Chandus,
Very good write up, Cant disagree with your defensive assessment through eight games.

our pass defense is pretty good but it has given up a few big plays……….Moss and Moss especially.

However, last year it gave up a LOT of big plays. The good thing is we are young in the secondary and young in the front 7. You guys realize that the only vets are Dat, Ellis, Glover and the FA Ferg! The rest of these guys are 1, 2, 3 or 4th year players. That is very positive for the future of this franchise. Good for years to come.

Bill Parcells is rebuilding a Dynasty and Jerry Jones knows it.

Future Contracts that need to be figured out are Witten and Williams. But everybody else is pretty good. We got a team that can grow old together and start putting rings on the other hand since we already got one on the Thumb!

The pass D is so much better in the last few games- we have given up very few big plays. That is the real improvement on D.

Chandus
TNew is not shadowing anyone. TO was covered by all three CB. Where are you getting this from? Ellis and Glover, one might be gone next year I doubt they both stay past next year.

Burnett was statistically a lot like Bradie James coming out of the SEC slightly more heralded. It is good to have a young guy working into the game………he will be a gamer eventually. It took James 3 years to wake up and play but his play since Dat went out has been superb. Sometimes players are worth the wait!

Jon
The difference is Burnett was seen as someone that could start now and James wasn’t.

aw:

Until that reception where T.O. made Aaron Glenn look comical he was covered by the guy aligned in front of him, since then he only saw Newman. And you’re the guy that said that Ellis wasn’t going to make this team, as someone before me said, it’s good that you’re not the Dallas GM.

derrik, thanks for the response and the safe wishes….hopefully i can get nfl.com over there…and yes the tivo is already set!!!

Jon,

Good point about building a “dynasty”.

I thought Parcells comments about Marc Colombo said a lot about his future in Big D. He told Colombo to not worry about his immediate roll, but to look down the road into contributing next year. Parcells has long term plans in Dallas. ….

Also on Parcells comments on Colombo, I’ve said this before, but Parcells gives it to his players “real”, and they appreciate his honest professional assesment of their situation. If Colombo rehabs well and becomes all of what a first rounder is expected to be, he will always keep in mind Parcells gave him a chance when no one else did, and that the coach was fair by giving him the time he needed to get to 100%. Why do “Parcells players” have such loyalty? … just ask Marc Colombo in a few years!!!

Chandus
when did i say ellis wanst going to make the team??

Chandus
Glenn said it himself they did and haven’t been doing anything differently. AH, AG and TN all covered TO.

I believe a 11-5 record for the Boys to be a very realistic probability. If Parcells would be a little less conservative with his offense and let his guns do their jobs, a division title or better yet a Super Bowl appearance is not out of the question…..also credit should be given to a greatly improved defense.

The reason Burnett has not had a break-out game is the same reason Brady James couldn’t…they’re both dumber than a box of rocks.

OK, that’s being a bit harsh. But it does have some basis in fact, and BP has hinted at it several times. Each is far superior talent-wise, but are really struggling with the mental part of the game. It’s why BP didn’t want to “overload” him. BP hinted that it just takes some guys longer to adjust.

The pro game is much tougher scheme-wise, and the 3-4 is even more complex, especially for linebackers. Now, that’s not to say Burnett won’t get it, he will. It just takes a little longer for some. Kinda like Tucker as well.

Let’s face it, I don’t want a roster full of Ivy leaguers and playing football at the pro level is not exactly rocket science. In fact, give me the neanderthals every time…and make ’em mean. Like Leon Lett and Erik Williams. They, too, took time to “get it”.

Burnett will be just fine.

aw,

Dallas doesn’t have a playmaker in its receiving corps? Terry Glenn is on pace for 1,300-1,400 yards but he’s not a playmaker? He goes down midseason last year and the passing game collapses, but he’s not a playmaker? His yards per reception average currently rivals Randy Moss’
but he’s not a playmaker?

What games are you watching?

Just so some of you guys will know,Burnett is now backing up Fujita at SLB and behind Ware is Obgego,with Shanle taking over Dats spot and Dat playing the nickle.

Rafael Vela
Come on now what games are you watching? 4 games is year which is half the offence was a no show period. 13,13,16,10 points in those games where was TG? S Smith is a playmaker Moss is a player both of the them, TO playmaker, Glenn not playmaker. The numbers for Glenn and Bledsoe look good but they haven’t been able to put point up in half of the games. Glenn is not on Moss’s level so go somewhere with that little fact. Moss has been hurt this year or he would have better numbers. I’m not saying Glenn is not good but he is not a number 1. In the Washington game both teams had max protection. Glenn scored on a trick play Moss score twice just by beaten us. That is a playmaker. Maybe if we had a better line Glenn could be more of a playmaker but I wouldnt call him one right now. Do you really think Glenn is a #1?

Fighter.

Bradie James was 3rd pick out of LSU and was pretty heralded in the SEC and had experience in 4-3 and 3-4. Yet he has struggled on the field except special teams until this year.

I don’t think James or Burnett is as dumb as rocks. Bradie James seems pretty well spoken and on the Boys site it says this.

“James was a two-time All-SEC selection on the football field and a National Scholar Athlete as selected by the National Football Foundation and a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in the classroom”

I went to college and I was on list myself, the one where if you don’t improve you don’t come back. LOL………it has been more of a delay in his game. He seemed to react late……….In fact he might have been overthinking!

I ain’t saying they are all ROCKET SCIENTIST……..but to play in the NFL these days you are increasingly asked to be a SMARTER PLAYER……..did you notice what Parcells said of the DUKE LB……….he wants smart players. And their ain’t nothing that says a guy cannot be smart and mean! Ali used to punish guys……..and was brilliant in and out of the ring……..he promoted himself and his sport and is the still the most recognized athelete in the WORLD over MJ and Tiger and Lance! Only Pele comes close.

I don’t think there are as many DUMB players in the NFL as you think.

Now the Big Cat Leon……..well he made a DUMB PLAY in that there thanksgiving day ice bowl………but hey I would love to have another one like him regardless of his IQ!

so what was your GPA Fighter?

Expertise is derived by repition and over time. 3 years of doing anything will make you an expert. No pilot, no surgeon, no pro athelete can step on the workplace without practice.

I am a rocket scientist, sort of…but I’m not 6’4, 250; have the vertical leap of an elephant; and can run the 40 in 4.3……………….minutes.

I too was a National Scholar Athlete. I roomed with a few players. But just as I wasn’t near the athlete they were, very few…and I mean very few…would be considered intellectual heavy weights. And using Ali as your standard bearer, please.

The point I made (crudely, I’ll grant you) was that BP has, by his own admission, limited Burnett because he hasn’t been able to get it. James admitted that the light turned on for him a few games ago. Probably around the same time we stopped ragging on him and calling for his trade.

By the way, all those naysayers in the pre-season and early parts of the year need to post a mea culpa. And for gosh sakes, keep off Burnett’s ass by giving him a few years before calling him a bust.

Burnett will be fine. Maybe this year, maybe next. Either way, I love his talent and hope that he starts to “get it” soon.

One last Jon, you don’t get time to learn to be a fighter pilot…you either get it or you wash out.

That goes for surgeons, athletes, and just about any other high-profile profession…you either have the talent or you find some other profession.

Terry Glenn is a playmaker. Seems like everytime he gets his hands on the ball, something happens. He’s averaging close to 19 yds per catch, which, by the way, leads the NFC. I believe Coach underutilizes his receivers. If he would just let’em loose, all games would be blowouts.

fighter……..you don’t start out in an F-18 either. You start in a single engine prop job in pensacola. The Navy and Airforce both put you through a rigorous training in a trainer that they don’t care if you and the plane don’t land. Congress don’t like F14s in the drink from “pilot error”. Which to my knowledge is still the cause of most airplane crashes……….Regardless if you were a scholar athelete or not that sudden stop at sea level kills the dumb and the smart. Flying today’s aircraft ain’t exactly rocket science either. Now landing an airplane on a carrier that is moving 20 knots in the water now that takes skill! I would take a WWII Mustang P-51 pilot over anybody flying today. That guy did it with out all the instruments and GPS or an old Steerman. Now you’re talking airplanes! Flying an airplane these days is more about opportunity(military) or a bank wad for the civilian……..it don’t take a brainiac. I know plenty of brilliant idiots that cannot even tie there shoes or walk and chew gum………I used to sell to NASA LOL……..place is full of em and if I recall the blew up a few rockets and failed on a few missions cuz one used meters and one used yards…….and those guys all had letters behind there name like PHD……….and billions of tax dollars up in smoke………hech Bradie James and Burnett probably would have done as good as those “genius” did!

You think MJ or Tiger are dumb, Montana or Brady? Richard Petty or Arnie Palmer? Hey I will admit Magic Johnson sounds like a moron when he calls a game, but he is a very “smart” biz man. Plenty of millionaires never went to college, in fact most did not. Aikman just another dumb jock? Ever heard him call a game and recognize the coverage and sound like a prophet when he says if the QB audibles here he can get in the end zone? I don’t think there are a lot of DUMB atheletes in the NFL anymore. The game is too complex. I mean Julius Jones and Tyson Thompson both had academic problems in college…….but I don’t hear you calling them dumb? What is the measuring stick? Why not Ali? Hey heres one how about OJ……from da hood and learned to talk white and made a mint as a salesman…….and smart enuff to fire Shapiro and let Cochran run the show.

Jon,

Why are you making it personal? This ain’t about me. You also have no idea what you’re talking about when it comes to training fighter pilots…just as you seemingly have no concept of relational analysis. Making a million has little or nothing to do with intelligence in the case of sports, entertainment, or modeling.

Tiger, whom I’ve met, is extremely intelligent (see Stanford admissions criteria). Same for Montana and Notre Dame.

The point was never their IQ, it was the players ability to understand what is expected. The RB position doesn’t have near the complexity of a 3-4 lineman. And my gosh! You want to use OJ as a poster child for intelligence?? You, my friend, are an idiot.

By the way, Arnie is a crass, mean-spririted simpleton. That from personal experience.

So was Chad Hennings just another dumb jock in your opinion?

Jon:

I’d love to see a Mustang P-51 pilot getting into a F-117 Stealth and trying to get the damn thing from the ground, chances are that all the little lights on the plane will give him a headache and crash the damn thing.

Went to pilot training with him, he was 2 classes behind.

He wasn’t brilliant, which is why he finished last in his class and got A-10s.

Not saying he was a charity case, cause I saw one with the Dutch female (man, I hated flying formation with her). However, I am a big fan of his.

One of the best laughs was seeing him squeeze into a T-37.

Sorry, I just re-read that post and gave the wrong impression. Chad went to the Air Force Academy, which is extremely difficult. 18 hour semesters and a ton of extra-curricular.

No matter the help received for the athletes, that’s a tough row to hoe. And he did graduate the toughest pilot training program in the world. Got to give him props.

you wouldn’t have an air force bias would ya………..try landing your F15 on the USS Reagan…………although I will say one thing……….Air Force guys that fly commercial after the military do know how to land soft……….Navy pilots still slam into the deck………..lol.

Hennings was a big guy to fly that tank buster. Hey David Robinson wanted submarines……..now that would have been miserable.

I believe Monday night’s game will be a blowout in the Pokes favor…..if Bledsoe does not repeat the problems he had in the rain in Seattle,,,otherwise expect the defense to come through for Dallas in a close win.

Come on guys… Drew Bledsoe grew up in Washington.. played and flourished at Washington State and played in New England and Buffalo. Drew can play in any conditions. Seattle was just a bad game for him… he’ll come out firing and will lead the Boys’ to a clean Philly sweep!

Jon,

I think if you want to point to a situation where smarts is an obvious factor in success look no further than NE. The mojority of thier defensive players, physically speaking aren’t your proto typical guys. Character, smarts, and physical attributes are ALL important in creating a team of winners. Just imagine if you hade an entire team of Terrell Owens type guys. You’d have all the talent in the world but it would a bunch of individuals NOT a team.