And I for one will be glad when the calender year 2008 is gone. It was a tough year for me personally and for our team, starting with the playoff loss.

While I’m still upset about how the season ended with a whimper, I totally agree that this thing doesn’t need to be blown up altogether and the rookies and the play of Columbo were refreshing to see and give us some hope for next year. Pro wrestling and the Dallas Cowboys are still the best male soap operas out there and I’ll continue to stay tuned.

Just some questions for you about upcoming free agency (just to continue to be positive about our outlook on the future).

What Veteran FA DT would become available to play NT and get Ratliff to DE so we can “plug up the middle” and improve our run d?

Would you replace Zach Thomas with Bart Scott?

Would you keep Kevin Burnett? (I would)

What FS would you get to replace Hamlin (or would you even get one to replace him)?

Is Roy Williams SS done? Would you keep Keith Davis at the position? (I would).

Should we get a top flight CB to replace Terrance Newman?

Would Terrell Suggs be a good replacement for Greg Ellis?

What QB out of college would you be looking to draft, or would you want a FA instead?

What would you do with Flozell?

alot of good questions for you Bling! Hope your up to it!

Agree. There is a lot of good young talent, and even some good veteran talent. But until the veterans ditch the entitlement attitude, let the coaches coach, hold each other to fire behind closed doors, decide they want to be a TEAM, we can’t expect different results.

EVERY team in the NFL has some talent. EVERY team in the NFL has chemistry issues throughout the course of a season. But the TEAMS who decide the end result is more important that individual milestones and accolades are the TEAMS who can fight through the mid-season blah’s and come together when it matters to make a real run at a championship.

And it starts at the top. With an owner like the one we have who is involved in almost every aspect of this team, excuses are contagious. Jerry made them, Wade made them, and the players made them. This team is what it really is…

Now, the mission should be to put the best most energetic and enthusiastic players on the field. We saw what the young guys bring. Let them carry the burden. Let them develop into leaders. Sure beats what we have on the front lines as of today.

My responses to your answers

1. Haynesworth would be too much money- we don’t need that. If we get a Spaceeater NT that can plug up the middle, it must be at a good deal. Perhaps your mere mentioning of Watson brings to light what we should be like- looking for good deals and COACHING those good deals into players- but we need good coaches for that. Watson was brought in before he was drafted, but AZ got him. Is he gonna become available?

2. Bart Scott seems to be the LB from Baltimore I like the best, but being that Zach Thomas is not the right kind of linebacker for our scheme, as well as his recent “I won’t be back” statement, then the real issue is money. Scott would only make sense if it was a good deal (and a good deal only). There are others to consider also for the position.

3. Burnett should be kept and converted into Strong Safety. If he is great against the pass, and is lightning fast, and a great tackler, then I say they should at least look into that possibility. I know one thing- he is incredibly fast, and a dynamic player. I believe he may possibly turn out to be an incredible Strong Safety, but I don’t really know. Did he play the position in college ever? He is not the largest linebacker, and he seems to be deserving of a starting position. Could my hunch here be correct? it’s too bad no one has ever mentioned this before (god forbid our coaching staff be analytical and talented).

4. Hamlin WAS awesome Bling, but he did not have a good year this year. Maybe he will bounce back with good coaching/scheme. It’s true he was injured, But if we keep him, he should either be moved to strong safety if Henry is there at FS, or moving Burnett to SS would then make Hamlin stay at FS and hope he has a better year. It’s true he was injured here at the end, but if he makes those tackles at the end of the Baltimore game, it would not matter what would have happened in Philly.

5. I also believe that Roy Williams is done at SS, but I think Keith Davis played well in his place. Now he also was injured at the end here, and made some bad plays too, but his heart was there. The biggest hit of the year was his hit on Portis (I can still envision the hit right now- fabulous!).

6. Newman is a top flight cornerback- BUT- he has not come through for us in any big game yet. Yes, he has had great games, but remember what I just said- HE HAS NOT COME THROUGH FOR US IN BIG GAMES. That catch by Jackson over Newman showed me that he may not be as top-flight as we may think he is. He had a similar big play against him in the Pittsburgh loss. Terrible, Terrible, Terrible…..

7. Anthony Spencer is the replacement for Greg Ellis, but Greg Ellis was the back-up to both, so the question is who is gonna be a back-up to both Ware and Spencer. God, I hope Spencer has a better year next year than this.

8. I am inclined to bow down to your assessment on this, but I will add this- I would have liked for us to have gotten Colt Brennan in the late rounds of this past draft. I don’t know why, but I just feel that way. He would have been better than Johnson or Boller. Instead, the Redskins have him on the bench. I hope Campbell keeps him there.

9. I think the best thing that could happen to Flozell is a good coach. We really don’t know what kind of play we can get from Flozell from a good OL coach, so we have to give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that Jerry does something right about the coaching on the offensive side of the ball.

and here are more hypotheticals for you Bling, are you ready?

Would Shannahan be a good coach in Dallas?

Could he make the Cowboys a run based offense, rather than the current pass happy system Garrett runs?

Does he have alot of offensive background on his resume’? (I’m sorry, I don’t know)

Is Montrea Holland a starter at guard over Kosier?

Do you think we messed up royally when we didn’t get Shawn Rodgers or Kris Jenkins last year to play NT?

Is Kevin Burnett able to play Strong Safety, allowing us to rid ourselves of the overpriced Roy Williams, or is some other plan in the works at SS?

Is Gabe Watson a possible free agent soon? or is he in a long contract with AZ?

Who would you want to replace Zach Thomas next to Bradie James?

Is it true that Bradie James is unhappy, and stated to the media he wants out?

Are you like me and believe that Bradie James is not a pro-bowler, and is a liability against the run and the pass, and if he is unhappy, then good riddance?

Good luck Bling!

that could have been, without all those injuries. Hopefully the result down the road is we found some young talent we didn’t know we had as a result of injuries forcing the Boys hand in playing back-ups. (I don’t think we’d have a clue as to Choices’ abilities if Felix and Marion hadn’t been injured).

Thanks for not panicking like everyone else. There are a lot of solid builing blocks here. Just gotta have more balance on offense. And generate more turnovers on defense.

And as far as a name for the backs…Bash, Dash and Tash?

That gets you black balled from the entire league….I hope it wasn’t Witten who was the “source” for Ed Turder, but if he was, he better shut the F up and just play….

to see all of us arguing over who’s to blame for poor play, motivation, mistakes, etc. etc.

But our coach is responsible for all that. He has lost control of the team to allow this to happen, and if Jerry Jones doesn’t see this, then he is a fool. He must act. Now, I truly believe that it isn’t Wade’s fault because he has been Head coach with one hand tied behind his back, but it still is the inevitable outcome. I hope we keep Wade as defensive Co-ordinator, get Dom Capers to be what Brian Stewart is (defensive co-ordinator in waiting) and make Shannahan head coach. Then none of this petty bickering and crap about “secret plays being drawn up in some dark hidden room” or any “He said she said” and fingerpointing crap will go on anymore. Coaching is the Dallas Cowboys problem- believe it.

This thread is about things to be happy about for the 2009 season!

It is NOT a “who ratted the team out?” thread.

How about each of you list what you were most happy with in 2008 from the team or front office?

We are doomed to failure if our coaching continues to allow this. Our coaches must change to gain control of the players or the same dysfunctional offense will take the field next year.

he is a restricted free agent though, doubt they’d place a large tender on him, but he would be the perfect “fat azz” to post up in the middle on obvious rushing downs…i just can’t see giving up a draft pick for him….i hadn’t had a chance to see much of him since he came into the league, but i did read plenty of reports of poor work ethic, and laziness, and they also drafted a NT the following year so who knows how much they value him, or how effective he’d be here….but if he is released or not tendered, he would be a low cost target to bring in for a look. ….

What i liked about the 2008 season ??…hmm….
1) Felix Jones is going to be everything i thought he was going to be..
2) T Choice was an excellent pick up in round 4, as I was a proponent of drafting 2 RBs.
3) Scandrick was even a better pick up in Rd 5..and has locked up the slot CB spot.
4) D Ware keeps progressing and came through with the 20 sacks i predicted.
5) Spears has won me over enough to actually think he should be here long term.
6) Canty, Johnson, Thomas, Spencer, Ellis, and Hamlin all fell short of my expectations.
7) Burnett showed me enough to think he should start and be resigned.
8) The Barbie Carpenter fiasco should be over real soon.
9) Tony Romo needs to rededicate himself to getting better and working harder.
10) I’m still holding on hope that Stanback has a bright future here in Dallas.
11) Marc Columbo was our best O Lineman this year, and I love his toughness.
12) Flozell Adams is only as good as the guy next to him.
13) MBIII should be very concerned about being trade bait in the near future.
13) Patrick Crayton should be thinking the same thing.
14) IF we don’t attempt to sign FA left OG Mike Goff of San Diego, we missed the boat.
15) Roy Williams-WR did look a little too disinterested out there at times..
16) Jason Garrett was fully exposed this season. no creativity whatsoever..please go !!
17) Wade did lose control of this team, and I’m no longer a supporter of his. BUT
18) We NEED depth ILB/OLB, OL, DL,QB and Safety…………..CB’s,RB’s,WR’s,TE’s all set
19) Jerry needs to admit mistakes were made…and change..like he said on his show…
20) Not as talented as we thought they were…Witten,Ware,Ratliff only Pro Bowl players

YES we should be going into next season as the Super Bowl favorites..

ok…that’s enough..

But don’t think for a minute i wouldn’t go into next season with Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, and either draft a mid-late rounder or sign a vet FA for 3rd RB depth…..

We had a chance to move him in during last years draft for at least a 1st round pick+….I understand we didn’t quite realize we’d end up stealing Jones and Choice…it is what it is…You all could blame it on the OL, but 3.8 ypc doesn’t impress me one bit…We got him, and i’ll root for him, but that doesn’t mean it’s our best case scenario.,..

I think Jones and Choice are better than MBIII RIGHT NOW….so don’t get all caught up in the hype and you tube garbage….Like Jimmy Johnson always said, RB’s are expendable, and you ride ‘em out till they don’t gallop so well anymore…then bring in a new horse…MBIII is the slowest to the hole, slowest to develope a play, and has the worst ball security of the bunch…..Would i miss him and his 7 million dollar contract ????…not one bit….give me a determined Choice, and an electrifying Jones anyday……add one of these pending free agents Rudi Johnson, Maurice Morris, JJ Arrinton, Lamont Jordan, Kevin Jones, Dominic Rhodes, Cornell Buckhalter, or Jesse Chapman, and I think we’d be all set at the RB position………Sure I love MBIII, and if salary cap and other team needs weren’t a problem….I’d love to keep him around, he has great intangibles, and is a spark plug when he gets in a grove…..but i’d sure rather spend his 7 million dollar cap hit on a LB like Suggs, Lewis, or Dansbury, an OLineman like Jordan Gross or Mike Goff. or a DLineman like Haynesworth or Peppers………that’s all.

Ratliff flanked by Canty and Spears is not the answer.

Rat needs to move to end. But to do that, we need a big fat tub of goo to clog the middle. I was a fan of the Roy Williams trade, but now I think it might have been smarter to use that pick on Terrence Cody.

On a separate topic, I was thinking about Antonio Romo, the so-called future of this franchise and something funny happened as I was sitting on my couch stewing over the fact that USC could probably have beaten Dallas in its final game.

I was reading an L.A. Times article about how Peyton Manning spends the whole off season throwing to his wideouts and TE’s. It said they practice the routes and timing so much that it becomes so precise that it is more exacting than some medical procedures. During camps and practice when the defense is on the field doing drills, Manning takes his group to a separate field to work on the routes AGAIN.

Imagine how comforting it would be if Romo would do that with T.O., Roy, Tellus and maybe most importantly, Austin. But they don’t. I’ve been to the camps in Thousand Oaks and Romo just yips and yaps on the sideline. I believe in “enjoying the journey” as Romo keeps saying, but I’m also ready for him to become a professional, and most of all, a leader.

If they get rid of coaches because of bad performance, then the players have to take things seriously, because they will be thinking in the back of they’re head “hey, if they are willing to cut loose coaches and bring in real coaches, and if I don’t perform up to par, then they will get rid of me”. Sometimes it is just a healthy fear of fear that you need to motivate someone to succeed.

That makes no sense to me.