Free torture for Cowboys fans

by Dave Halprin on Jan 19, 2007 12:00 AM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Do you like to torture yourself? Do you like hitting yourself in the head with a shovel? If so, then keep reading. Nick Eatman takes a look back at the season and dredges up memories like this:

The Cowboys were 8-4 after beating the Giants on a last-second field goal by Martin Gramatica, who had just signed with the team the week before when the Bill Parcells and the Cowboys completely lost patience with the inconsistent Mike Vanderjagt.

But in a nationally-televised showdown with the Saints, the wheels came off quickly, not just in the game, but the rest of the season as well.

The Cowboys won only one of their final five games, including a demoralizing playoff loss to the Seahawks that prevented the franchise from its first playoff win in 10 years.

That made me want to hurl. I'm still waiting on an answer from the Football Gods as to the reason behind such gut-wrenching plays like this:

Most Pivotal Play
Tony Romo's Drop

Of all the dropped passes that occurred this season, mostly coming from passes by Tony Romo, it turned out Romo had the season's biggest drop of all. The Cowboys had a chance to grab a two-point lead on the Seahawks in the NFC wild-card game with a potential field goal with just over a minute to play. Instead, after virtually having no problems with any holds in two years, Romo dropped the ball just before getting it down for kicker Martin Gramatica. We've all seen the replays numerous times, watching Romo scoop up the ball and alertly dart for the end zone only to have Seattle cornerback Jordan Babineaux tackle him from behind, just a yard short of a first down. Just like that, the Cowboys' season came to an end on a play that automatically becomes one of the more infamous moments in franchise history.

Here's more on the Bruce DeHaven situation.

According to sources, DeHaven interviewed with coach Mike Holmgren on Thursday to be the Seahawks' special teams coach. Like Zimmer and Lee, DeHaven does not have a contract with the Cowboys in 2007. The Seahawks are looking to replace Bob Casullo.

DeHaven joined the Cowboys in 2003 and has produced a quality special teams unit, highlighted by punter Mat McBriar, who earned a Pro Bowl berth this season. Tyson Thompson and Miles Austin averaged 26.0 yards per kickoff return, as the Cowboys ranked second in the NFC in average starting position (28.8 yard line).

The Cowboys allowed only 19.6 yards per kick return, second-best in the NFL, but they suffered through two deflating missed field goal attempts at Washington and in the playoffs against the Seahawks, when Tony Romo bobbled the snap with 1:19 to play.

Aargh...there's that play again, the Romo Bobble! It will never leave us until Romo produces something to trump it.

Sometimes it's funny when writers get all indignant and take out their frustrations with the pen. JJT is a little angry with Bill Parcells and lets it all out in a long screed roasting the Tuna. I've learned that it can be good therapy!

Two weeks is long enough.

And if Parcells can't make a decision, then Jerry must do it for him - and fire the future Hall of Fame coach.

That's the article in a nutshell, but read it for yourself. You can practically visualize JJT full of wrath and fury, banging away at the computer keyboard. But I do agree, it would be nice to have a decision.

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Comments

1-3;2-4; 1-5

Not good records to end the last 3 seasons.

by mlibbey on Jan 19, 2007 1:19 AM CST reply actions

JJT says all the folks at Valley Ranch

but what is more likely is all the reporters at Valley Ranch since nobody from the Dallas Cowboys is talking right now except Jerry Jones.

Oh and as for the silencing of assistant coaches - there are several other head coaches with the same rule. If I worked for IBM I would be fired if I talked with reporters about the new mainframe we are designing (unless my job was publicity and then only to say what is cleared in advance). Why should it be different for the Cowboys?

The weeding out of coaches might be Coach Parcells' way of dealing with terminating some coaches while taking the heat to allow them to find other jobs. He may be selfless instead of JJT's assertion of selfishness.

Did it ever occur to anyone that Coach's biggest impediment to returning is the terrible job the media does in covering the team? Is 5 million enough to put up with their s%#t?

by lee3022 on Jan 19, 2007 2:35 AM CST reply actions

The press, both electronic and print, are far

more an insidious foe to this country than Al Qaida.

Wharter

by Wharter on Jan 19, 2007 8:52 AM CST up reply actions

The most pivotal play

was Glenn's fumble, not Romo's bobble. It essentially cost us 8 points at a time when momentum had clearly swung our way. Not only was Romo's fumble only worth three points, but given the Dallas secondary, Seattle would have had a great shot at winning the game anyway.

I love Terry Glenn. He's one of the few reliable gamers on the team, but his mistake was by far the most costly, and this from a veteran who has played in big games before.

by dunkman on Jan 19, 2007 7:56 AM CST reply actions