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FISH on FOOTBALL The Cowboys' Magic Moment: The Joy Of Six

The Cowboys celebrated not one, but two, Miles Austin touchdowns.

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

The Cowboys celebrated not one, but two, Miles Austin touchdowns.

I'm calling it the most enjoyable single moment there is for the sports fan. And you just experienced it! Let's discuss in today's FISH on FOOTBALL Cowboys notebook:

THIS MAGIC MOMENT: It may be the most enjoyable single moment there is for the sports fan: The after-the-buzzer, no-holds-barred end-zone mob scene. It's a game-winning celebration, of course, and in the Cowboys' 26-20 OT victory at Kansas City, that was sweet enough. But the dogpile atop Miles Austin was more than just the recognition of a W. It was good friends finding their guy to hug him. It was members of the team who barely know one another being magnetized together. There was no awareness of the cameras, there was no time to "act cool,'' there was no time to think about agents or money or endorsements or business. It was 53 smiles, all throwing themselves into each other, with the biggest smile of all, Miles Austin's, as the weight-bearing beam. It was raw. It was pure. It was good.

More Fish below...

Star-divide

Fish_medium

SITUATIONAL PUNT-RETURNERS?: We all call results like this one "ugly wins,'' and there is truth in that. Penalties, turnovers, dropped passes. But that game had an ugly feel too because of the gray weather, because of the mucky field, because of the 1960 uniforms, and because the only way those Chiefs are ever going to win a game is if they ugly it up. star_break Why is it so difficult to find a punt returner who is a) reliable, b) smart, c) sure-handed, d) elusive and e) fast? I wonder this every time a team (including Dallas) opts for a "situational substitution'' at punt-returner or kick returner.

JUPITER'S CRUNCHED: I don't think anybody misjudged Martellus Bennett's talent. I don't even think his Jupiter-Crunchiness is a distraction. I think it was simply too much to ask that he be Jason Witten Jr. - yet, anyway. star_break That's the first time America's Team has ever won at Arrowhead? Really?  star_break While it is certainly fair to say Dallas showed some guts here, it would be unfair to fail to note that the Chiefs did the same. star_break For all the analysis: Value the win. It's a roadie against a team that is going to beat somebody. And consider the alternative: What if you lose? What if you've got to stew over a loss for two weeks? Dallas made enough plays to survive this thing and to avoid an awful NFL fate.

WADE'S PIT CREW: Ideally, Wade Phillips should WANT his defense on the field in game-winning spots. If you are a pit-crew boss, and you believe in your car, you WANT your car in control of the final laps, you believe in your car, and you really don't even sweat it much. The Giants and the Broncos and now the Chiefs, and pit-crew boss Wade must be sweating like he's wearing a ski suit in a sauna. star_break Quit worrying about whether the rules are too strict. Quit worrying about whether the call against Alan Ball was too strict. Start wondering why, on third-and-26, Ball opted to go for the kill shot on a Chiefs pass play that, even if it's complete, still leaves KC at fourth-and-long. Situations, guys. This is junior-high stuff. "What do we do if ...'' is one of the most basic junior-high coaching sentences uttered.

ROMO VS. ORTON: I've chided Tony and the Romosexuals for making it seem like the Cowboys QB needs to be Aikman or Staubach when really, all he needs to be is Kyle Orton. (Don't laugh; Orton is not only Denver's "bus driver,'' he's also 5-0 and he's also a top-10 Fantasy QB.) What Romo did in Kansas City was rather Ortonesque, really. He overcame some uphill climbs, endured by not trying to hit five-run homers, and eventually did a couple of little things right and watched as they blossomed into big things. Those two TD throws to Austin were "little things'' that blossomed, and Tony maybe discovered that he can throw FOR 350 yards without actually slinging the ball 350 yards.

MILES FROM HOME DEPOT: Miles Austin becomes America's most acquired-off-waivers Fantasy player, but that's not the most important thing. What is important: Can he become a real No. 2 receiver? A real No. 1 receiver? Not to be a cynic -10 catches and 250 yards and a couple of TDs is the single biggest day in Cowboys receiver history! --  but Home Depot is full of guys who had one great game. Here's hoping Miles can have two, and three, and 16, and 160. star_break Now that DeMarcus Ware has that first sack, maybe he gets on the roll. But to me the lesson to be learned is how difficult it is to be truly great over the course of the long term. We constantly hear how this "second-year star'' or that "incredible rookie'' is bound for Hall-of-Fame glory. But you just don't get 20 sacks every year. You just don't.

CHALLENGING CHUCK LIDDELL: That's how many games in a row now where Keith Brooking has been the best defensive Cowboy in the field?  star_break Jay Ratliff's step-over-two-blockers to stuff a FG attempt? That cannot be an accident, or a last-minute guess. Ratliff (and his coaches) must've seen something, must've seen that the KC blockers on that side lock up with each other and get low (and maybe forget to look up). Savvy stuff by the Cowboys special teams - and upon further review, it's a trick Ratliff tried at least twice. [Ed Note: for more detail on Ratliff's block, go here.] star_break The Fox telecast, in trying to add juice to this 1960 "Throwback Rivalry'' (the Chiefs, of course, were once the Dallas Texans), suggested that the old Cowboys somehow used to refuse to meet the challenge of playing the upstarts from the AFL. Cool story, but that would be like saying today that the NFL is "refusing'' to play "the upstarts from the UFL.'' How could they play? Why would they play? Here's another cool story: Chuck Liddell is "refusing'' to fight me.

0 recs  |  Comment 35 comments |

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Rossum should be the Punt Returner...Going forward

It should help..Wonder what crayton’s role would be..now that he is #3 receiver

by thejanusman on Oct 13, 2009 5:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Alan Ball

This team has terrible situational awareness/intelligence. When you try to appear on ESPN jacked up you might get flagged. It’s like going for the pick on a hail mary or fourth down instead of knocking the ball down.

by I_miss_Switzer on Oct 13, 2009 5:29 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

that was hands down the funniest thing I've seen in football.

I was watching with 3 good friends who all happen to be Niners fans. I was literally rolling on the couch as they were staring at the TV with theirs jaws on the floor. Oh man, I’m laughing even while typing this, LOLOLOL!

Summarizing the Dallas Cowboys in two words; inconsistently amazing.

by sublimezg on Oct 13, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm with ya.........

I thought it was hilarious because at the time they were losing 35-10 and for him to do something like that is hilarious.

by texstar on Oct 13, 2009 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That was nuts!

And I’m not a huge fan of showboating when your team is getting thumped. So he deserved to look stupid, IMHO.

by illcowboy on Oct 16, 2009 1:51 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

remember when BP was making the team practice situational awareness

like kicking the ball out of the end zone and so forth. Those days are gone…or the players are really dumb sometimes

by dcfanz on Oct 13, 2009 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah BP had this team better prepared for odd situations

and odd situational preperation keeps your head in the game

by AustonianAggie on Oct 14, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I cant help but think DWare will break out once his deal is signed.

Is he trying to prove that he is worthy of the all time biggest Dline contract. Or is he worried he will be hurt and miss out.
Go for the 2nd biggest contract, avoid the scrutiny, get the deal done, and go back to being dominant.

Good points on Bennett and Romo.

KICK ASS every day!!!

by squidlo97 on Oct 13, 2009 5:35 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

usually goes the other way around doesn't it?

They usually become complacent after the deal is done, but work their asses off to get it.

by speedmetal on Oct 13, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Zero, Mike.

That’s how many games Brooking has been the best defensive player this year.

That title belongs to Jay Ratliff.

by JBell523 on Oct 13, 2009 5:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

absolutely agree

Those were my exact thoughts when I read that. I love how Brooking is playing, but Ratliff is our main playmaker.

by speedmetal on Oct 13, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

What's Great is

That we have this debate. They are both great. But what I really like is that Brooking is becoming the vocal leader of a defense that desperately needs someone to talk and keep everyone focused. He’ll start creating that situational awareness. And he allows other leaders by doing like Ratliff and Ware to do their thing.

by staubachfan on Oct 14, 2009 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It was raw. It was pure. It was good.

that’s what she said!!!

by what_the_crap on Oct 13, 2009 5:52 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

LOL!!!

KICK ASS every day!!!

by squidlo97 on Oct 13, 2009 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mike

looks a bit like Brian Billick!

by fiverings37 on Oct 13, 2009 6:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

More Like Big

on Sex And The City

Of course I never watched it….

"You have to have a stronger belief in yourself than the disbelief of others."
Antonio Ramirez Romo

by Far Rider on Oct 14, 2009 6:53 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

just saw the title of this blog. i thought there would be a picture of a cheereleader sitting on a pigskin.

by raven on Oct 13, 2009 6:14 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

ZING!

Summarizing the Dallas Cowboys in two words; inconsistently amazing.

by sublimezg on Oct 13, 2009 8:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

A little early for the annointing oil on Austin.

One game does not a #1 or even 2 WR make. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see this guy repeat last Sundays’ performance ad nauseum. Regarding Brooking..definitely the best off season acquisition. He’s got a heart so big, it could crush this town. Love the enthusiasm.

by Benthere on Oct 13, 2009 9:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm just glad he didn't get injured

as per usual. I’m more excited about that than the record.

by speedmetal on Oct 13, 2009 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Especially

after that big hit he took.

"You have to have a stronger belief in yourself than the disbelief of others."
Antonio Ramirez Romo

by Far Rider on Oct 14, 2009 6:54 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well, I'm going to annoint Austin

He’s been my pick to explode since the end of last year, and I’m hoping this trend continues

by AustonianAggie on Oct 14, 2009 11:29 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

the simple fact that Romo threw to Austin

14 times in 35 attempts says Austin is going to get the ball. This may be the first game this year a WR was thrown too more than the other positions

by AustonianAggie on Oct 14, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Actually I think it was 7 instead of 8

Game 1 – TB – targeted 7 times
Game 2 – NYG – 4 times
Game 3 – CAR – 7 times
Game 4 – DEN – 7 times
Game 5 – KC – not active

by BishopWest on Oct 14, 2009 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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