Cowboys Still Talkin' T.O.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Apr 9, 2009 5:57 PM CDT
in Dallas Cowboys General
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PrintShhhhhhh...If you are quiet you can still hear it. Say his name five times in the mirror and he just might appear before your very eyes. Terrell Owens! Terrell Owens! Terrell Owens! Terrell Owens! Terrell Owens!
Though still relatively fresh in his Cowboy grave, the ghost of Terrell Owens is already beginning to loiter around Valley Ranch. When a big-name player is released from any team, it is common for players to be asked for their reaction. A month after Terrell Owens' release, some Cowboy players are speaking out about the controversial wide receiver without even being prompted by the media.
Patrick Crayton is talkin' T.O.
"All of that is in the past," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "As a group, there are no more excuses, no more scapegoats to put the blame on. It’s all on us that are here to get the job done. There is nobody here to point the finger at. You understand the business. They made it more [offensive coordinator] Jason Garrett and [quarterback] Tony Romo friendly. Again, no more excuses."
Greg Ellis is talkin' T.O.
I don't think it was a good move. Yeah, to me I'm disappointed in it. When I see T.O. - and you've got to watch people, not necessarily what they say but watch their actions. And, I mean, to me when I seen T.O. that day, that football game in Dallas, on our sideline, Patrick Crayton got the ball and T.O. comes out of nowhere and throws a block. That guy wants to play football. That guy cares and wants to win football games. When things aren't going his way and the ball isn't coming his way and all that kind of stuff, to me he was just saying, 'Man, I want to get more balls.' And I heard him say, 'When I get my numbers, when I get the numbers, we win football games.' And that was true."
Tashard Choice is talkin' T.O.
"I'm going to miss him," Choice told Dallas TV station Fox 4. "I think he was a good person in the locker room, to be honest. He was somebody I could count on, if he was just being a friend or a big brother or on Sundays. I could always count on him."
Hell, I wasn't sure Marion Barber could speak, but even he's talkin T.O.
"[Critics] are trying to make [Owens] into something he's not," Barber said. "I felt the same way like everybody else, but then I met the man. Once you know who he is, he's a great guy." Barber later called the move a "shock."
In my opinion, this is just a part of the healing process for a bunch of guys who just lost a very popular teammate. The comments do however give the impression that there is quite a bit of anger and disappointment in the locker room over Owens' release. It would be easy to assume that some of the players in the Cowboys' locker room may blame other players or coaches for Owens' release. Let's hope that no one holds a grudge. How ironic would it be if T.O. proved to be a divisive force even after being released?
Hopefully everyone will get their grieving out of the way before camp. Let us also keep in mind that this is Terrell Owens we are talking about. Isn't Donovan McNabb still answering questions about T.O.?
Trust and believe this. If Tony Romo and Jason Garrett do not flourish, now free of the "burden" of getting T.O. the football; if Roy Williams and Miles Austin disappoint; if the Cowboys go in the tank in December again; this will not be the last we hear of the ghost of Terrell Owens.
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None of these comments are recent
Not to be a smartass, but these comments are all at least a week old.
And those were all in media interviews so how were they not prompted by the media?
Go Cowboys!
I agree
These are old quotes. You will be able to dig up lots of similar quotes from ANY team that has had a major player or coach leave. The Broncos locker room was full of such quotes after Shanahan departed. Heck, the Eagles locker room had dozens of players saying this stuff after JEREMIAH TROTTER left. Ultimately, everyone gets in line, reports to training camp, and plays ball. Because they know that the NFL is a Not For Long business, and if you are going to gripe and not produce, then there’s always someone who can take your spot. Even if you’re Terrell Owens.
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
JJT
is on NFL Network talking TO as I type
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
the ironic part is that the media made TO a scape goat, when you start hearing
everyday that he is a cancer over and over and over again for the duration of the season and the post season as well, soon or a later you’ll start believing it. I wholeheartedly agree with Gregg Ellis, and it wasn’t only only on Crayton TD, TO was throwing blocks all the way for Felix as well, anyway I don’t think TO was playing defense in the last game of the season, or pass protecting Romo in the AZ game or even blocking for McBriar. Our problem last year was not TO, but defense and until we fixed the defense TO or not we’ll be in the same boat, year in and year out.
from JJT on the NFL Network
from what I get from him:
- Wade should have been fired
- RW need to put up 1200 yards and 10 TDs, anything less makes it a “dumb trade”
- Ware will be locked up soon
- He thinks the Cowboys are an 8-8 team
- He can’t see Roy Williams being “what everyone is saying he will be”
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
LOL
Cowlishaw, his wheezing, his love of NASCAR and the NHL, is still preferable to JJT’s douchebaggery.
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
They were only 9-7 last year,
They cut their most explosive offensive weapon, Newman and Ellis are older, still no answer at safety, exact same offensive line as last year, and don’t have a first round pick this year. I’m hoping they get better, but they are trending in the wrong direction, Wade Phillips’ history is not on our side, and we play in a brutal division. I don’t think 8-8 is any more of a stretch than 12-4. Personnel-wise, they got worse offensively and stayed the same defensively.
by Baked Potato Soup on Apr 9, 2009 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Honestly this wasnt a 9-7 team last year.
If Romo didn’t miss 3 games, if Newman didn’t miss games, and Pacman, and Kosier, and let’s face it even Roy Williams we would’ve atleast gotten a playoff spot. But yea we screwed the pooch when it counted (dont get the saying but w/e) and injuries were rampant as well. Team with far less advance further than we do, so between 8-8 and 12-4 I guess anything is possible. So far the changes we’ve made have been good, so things are looking up, technically.
"Aw Shucks" - Wade Phillips
“Screwed the pooch,” meaning “made a terrible mistake,” is a
cleaned-up paraphrase that author Tom Wolfe popularized. Wolfe’s book
“The Right Stuff,” which dealt with the early years of America’s
manned space program, used the phrase “screwed the pooch” in
describing a calamitous error made by Mercury Astronaut Gus Grissom.
Haha okay thank you.
I’m rather young, so certain phrases coined before my birth are hard for me to recognize their origins lol.
"Aw Shucks" - Wade Phillips
Roy Williams
Would of made the tackles against the Ravens and Would of been a 10-6 team
09+24+28+23+82+11+94+41+26+31+90+32+56=2009 Success!!!!
According to the movie
Gus blew the emergency hatch on the capsule while waiting to be picked up by the Navy, and it flooded and sank before the choppers could get to it.
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 9, 2009 11:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes that was completely incorrect
The Astronaut assignments were so competitive that if that were true he would not have been selected for more flights, including the command of the first Apollo mission.
by staubachfan on Apr 10, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
Ironically, if it was true
He wouldn’t have perished in the Apollo training accident. Very sad.
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 10, 2009 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions
I hear ya...
…but you’re looking at the glass half-empty. I would argue that all of our impact rookies from last year are one year older and even more poised to contribute, and we were DEVASTATED by injuries last year more than any other NFL team.
So I don’t know if last year’s 9-7 benchmark is a fair measuring stick for this group of players.
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
What is everyone saying Roy will be?
Based off everything I’ve read, there is no consensus on Roy. If anything, most people are already slanting their opinion against RW. So if JJT is saying that he won’t be what everyone says he will, then I hope that means he’s going to perform well.
You gotta look at it this way like hes our 1rst round pick
Hes a risk that we took just like you take when you get anyone new. He will be a good fit in dallas and will play his butt off in dallas.
09+24+28+23+82+11+94+41+26+31+90+32+56=2009 Success!!!!
I would retitle the this post to the media wants to talk TO
and like another commenter has stated, these are all 1st time reactions to TO being cut, not guys who are holding press conferences or calling up msm to express their thoughts. I guess what you are showing is that there is still a tangible link between the boys and TO even after all this time and I do agree that if dallas turns in another disappointing season the decision to cut him will come back to haunt them. I think the team is very aware of the fact and they need to be aware that they will all be lumped in together (some more than others) as a failure of a team for the 09 campaign. So I think they can either let that get to them or they can use it as motivation to keep that perception out of their lockerroom.
JJT did not specify who around the league he had talked to, were they scouts, or GMs, you know, people who make actual personnel decisions. I just watched that interview on the NFL Net and he was vague. I do agree with what Troy said this past Tuesday; the scouting department will be under severe scrutiny over this trade because of what JJ gave up if RW does not deliever. Troy said it would be an inditement of the scouts because he is a veteran player that has been long enough in the league to where they had enough film to make an educated decision.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
Bottom Line:
I liked Owens. I don’t blame him for anything. But he is getting old and not consistently drawing double coverage anymore.
if they weren’t going to change the coach, they had to go young to change the make-up of the team. No one is blaming Zach Thomas or Brad Johnson for anything either, but we have a pretty young team now and these younger WRs have to develop.
We had to change the chemistry of the team regardless of whether TO was a distraction or not. This team went 9-7. What are we missing so badly? turn the page.
T.O was drawing the double team...
The one time Owens did not get double covered was in S.F. and he went off on Nate Clements for like 220+ yards. If Developing young WR was the issue then you leave RW in Det. use our draft picks to help sure up our Defense and Offensive line and you develop the guys like Austin, Hurd, an Stanback.
Replacing T.O with RW doesn’t develop young WR. RW so far has not showing that he commands a double team what that move does is put 8 men in the box an clogs the middle of the field. T.O’s double team kept the safeties high and the short to intermediate routs clear.
Its going to be a challenging season, an not because I think its all going to hell in a hand basket because we don’t have T.O. its because so far I don’t think we have done enough to address the real holes on the team the problems that we had when the Big Tuna was paroling the sidelines. We are still collapsing in December, we are still committing way to many penalties, our safeties are still suspect in coverage, and our offensive line still has moments of Pop Warner technique when it comes to pass blocking.
But the draft is coming up so maybe we can make some good moves there.
Semper Fi.
by UnNecessary Roughness on Apr 10, 2009 3:21 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd agree with your list of "real holes", UR
But I think we’ve got a shot at improving in all those areas (except maybe the penalties) this season. Who can tell at this point.
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
God i hate JJT.
It just proves the yellow journalism that runs rampant throughout the nation. Everyone is saying “cut Owens cut Owens”, they do that, and then now everyone is saying “Oh now they don’t have a #1 because Roy isn’t that good and won’t put up T.O. numbers.”
JJT also looks like a mutant alien that probably reads minds, so Ed Werder probably used his abilities for his “sources”
Just watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCmK8_Kp_eM
Imagine if we had Romo throwing it to him, with a good running game and other viable options at recieving as well. We’ll be fine in 09. Repeat after me, We’ll be fine in 09.
"Aw Shucks" - Wade Phillips
Good video...
…I think it accurately depicts his skill set— GREAT on deep outs and fades, excellent sideline ability, great size, but he’s not tremendous after the catch. Not a lot of open field moves or burst. Which is okay, we knew that already.
Didn’t realize he had a no-helmet run like Witten! Wonder why the media didn’t show that one repeatedly like they did #82’s…
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
Even when the media isn't asking about TO
they really are. They won’t lead with direct questions about #81, but they’ll use terms like “distractions”, “under achieving”, “Romo friendly”, or any other phrase/saying that is correlated to TO and then players respond accordingly. These are the dog days for the media too and not only do Cowboys stories still draw ratings/web-site hits but TO stories definitely do. I know even if/when we win games this season, TO will come up. The media is that smart kind of dumb where they can’t think for themselves but still gravitate towards the gossip that lures in readers/watchers. Trash.
deja vu
all over again. On acid.
Jeez, can we give it a rest?
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
thank you......i couldn't agree more.
He’s gone, why are new threads being started about him?
by StillHateTheGiants on Apr 9, 2009 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions
I'd agree
The post doesn’t seem necessary, since the quotes are not new.
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
All of which exactly defines the problem and why he had to go.
It’s not about the team once he’s arouond, it’s about him.
players are defined by whether they are “pro-TO” or “anti-TO.”
Every utterance is analyzed over and over for every nuance. And don’t think the players don’t watch and listen to the “Mediots.”
The Bills are no longer the Bills-they are now “The Buffalo Bills, Starring Terrell Owens.” Their entire season is now defined by having him. If they are succesful, it will be because of him. If they aren’t, everyone will talk about why TO didn’t do more, or
“is there dissension in the lockerroom?”
He’s not our problem anymore, so do we really need Posts about him???
I think it's still relevant
"I see the door, I just get off on running through the wall." - Young Tripp
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Apr 9, 2009 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions
It's relevant to people who thought it was a mistake to cut TO
To people that were happy about dumping TO, it’s totally irrelevant. IMO
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
one thing is for sure
Troy Aikman needs to shut the hell up.
Stability is key, and JD is a Beast.
zywica for life...
+1
"I see the door, I just get off on running through the wall." - Young Tripp
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Apr 9, 2009 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions
lol
It’s his job to talk now. Sadly, he is no longer the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, he is part of the media. I still love him and at least Deion Sanders will always stick up for us!
-1,000
Troy spoke the truth about Owens. If you are a TO apologist, you don’t like what he said.
If you won’t believe Owens is a problem from someone you should respect as much as Troy Aikman, you never will.
Talk about hearing it from someone who should know! And he clearly delineated for you TO-Lovers the difference between Owens and Irvin.
You don’t want to hear the truth, don’t blame the messenger!
by Realist Larry on Apr 10, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions
huh?
who’s talking about TO, it’s Roy…
Geez, read, then respond…
Stability is key, and JD is a Beast.
zywica for life...
T.O. Nevermore
TO doesn’t exist for the Cowboys anymore. He was always a rental player with a tremendous upside and an equally tremendous downside. Its not like the guy was a Cowboy Icon or anything. There have been many great players that have left the team and they were with the Cowboys alot longer than TO. In today’s world a really big deal is made and I think back in the day not so much was made of the players point of interest. It has always been a business, somewhat more slanted to Management in the old day and now slanted toward the player. I think this is a reflection of a team effort vs. the bigger than the game player. In the old days teams, specifically the Cowboys, made the team effort. Even aikman’s Cowboys made the team effort, but lately the players have become bigger than the game. In the end, either way all players leave eventually.
Ahab the Arab
Most of those comments from players
were in direct response to a question by the press. I’m not going to read to much into that. As far as last season goes, if TO was an issue it was behind the scenes and we’ll never know for sure. The press made him the bad guy in every situation and it was very unfair. I believe our two major issues last year were to many key injuries, specifically our punter and QB. And Wade not seeing that he didn’t have a backup QB.
Of course cutting TO is an issue at this point
but it is an entirely different situation than the eagles. There is little evidence coming from people within in the organization that TO was a problem in the locker room. It seems to be like more of a business move – TO is declining, and at this point we have so many young weapons on offense that his constant want for the ball is kinda holding everyone back. This is entirely jerrys fault, but the extension way overpaid him. When you think about it, TO had a monster 07 campaign sandwiched between two mediocreseasons
TO at most had another year or two as a cowboy. With Philly…..if they give him a contract, most os the problems don’t arise and they’ve won at least one superbowl by now imo and probably are still the best team in the nfc. They’re really different situations
Tex Still Talking Romo
With his hands trembling like Jean Van de Velde on the 18th tee, was the Seattle Slip a foreshadowing of Romo’s career in the clutch?
How about a 28-year old “man” taking a Spring Break trip to Cancun six days before the franchise’s biggest game in a decade… some may write that off as youth, but Tex knows that Aikman had already won 3 Super Bowls at the same age.
What about Romo’s fall record, which suggests that the poor-man’s Matt Leinart checks out every year around Thanksgiving for a shot a love with Tila Tequilla or the latest divorced cougar to come down Hollywood Boulevard.
Cowboy fans can recognize the heart of a champion… and Romo is not that champion. He’d rather be Brody Jenner than Roger Staubach. He’d rather be on the cover of US Weekly than Sports Illustrated. The beleaguered quarterback with a pear-shaped physique would rather sip umbrella drinks than compete in a contact sport come fall.
Time to get Tex a real quarterback… Romo will never win a playoff game in Dallas.
Are you talking about the same quarterback that stayed in the Arizona game with a broken finger? The same guy who looked like he was dying against the Giants? The same guy who collapsed after the Philly game…after not missing a single snap?
I mean at least you have a small point about the celeb thing, but I don’t think anyone questions Romo’s physical toughness, except the idiots who said he should play with a broken finger like Brady Quinn did…untill Quinn ended up on the IR.
Dude's a troll
best not to respond to his entirely off-topic rambling. Don’t want to encourage him.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Apr 10, 2009 2:59 AM CDT up reply actions
He's not a troll...
That’s just tex.
Just don’t read his posts. Generally they are the same thing over and over.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
+100000
That’s why I think Romo is more of the problem than TO ever was. TO cared about winning, Romo doesn’t give a damn
-100000
Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Say that fast, five times!
by Aaron Novinger on Apr 11, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions
He doesn't?
Really, because I thought that was the same dude that was getting killed by the Giants and still go up and completed passes?
That’s pretty ridiculous. There is nothing in Romo’s game that would make you think that he doesn’t care.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
A T.O. post
would have been front page material a month ago. Now It’s just boring.
But, the guy had friends in the locker room. I’m sure they’re a little upset he’s gone. But it means more playing time for just about all of them(except Ellis, of course). I’m willing to bet money they all were at least somewhat excited once they reached that realization.
Epic Fail since 1985
My point is this:
If you think this issue is dead you are nuts. Watch how many times this gets brought up during the season. If the team does not perform, this will hang over their heads for a very long time.
The Cowboys players will be forced to answer questions about T.O. all season long. And we all know how well this team handles distractions.
"I see the door, I just get off on running through the wall." - Young Tripp
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Apr 10, 2009 2:48 AM CDT reply actions
They may be more well prepared to handle distractions
But, I suppose to look at the bright side of things, I’d rather read about the “T.O. distraction” than the “celebrity girlfriend” distraction. At least somewhat football related.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Apr 10, 2009 3:13 AM CDT up reply actions
This is true only if
TO tears it up in Buffalo. If he sucks up North, the move to dump him will be viewed as prescient.
Regarding the affection some of his teammates show: I’ve known guys (and you probably have, too) that are total jerks to everybody else in the world, but if they treat me like I’m king of the world, it seems like he’s a great guy. Hey, I don’t know TO personally, but he strikes me as that kind of person. Everybody’s his BFF at first, then he slowly turns against some (Romo, Garrett, Witten) while maintaining allegiance to others. Of course they think he’s a great guy, because he’s not calling them out in public. It’s extremely shortsighted; unfortunately, it’s human nature.
Thus, TO's absence will be the new excuse...
And if the cowboys do go 8 – 8, it won’t be because they have a poor head coach or because the quarterback or the offensive coordinator can’t get it done… it will be because they cut TO. That is a scary proposition, because the last thing Wade needs is more excuses as to why the best team in football (in his mind) isn’t winning games. TO was a siren song that Jerry could not resist and the consequent wreckage may take more than one season to repair.
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
When did he ever say...
they were the best team in football?
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by AirforceBat on Apr 10, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
That's an exagerration on my part
I had in mind the comment after the Giant’s playoff loss that the best team didn’t win.
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
Actually, by cutting him, part of the thinking is the opposite-if they play badly now it's square on the shoulders of Romo, Phillips, and Garrett.
And on the defense.
“No more excuses.”
Losing a 36 year-old receiver sure won’t be to blame.
by Realist Larry on Apr 10, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Also, that's based on an assumption we'd do any better w/TO.
One thing you Owens fans forget-except for the one good reg. season run to 13-3, we didn’t do squat with him.
If we are 8-8, then the truth is we’d be 8-8 WITH TO too.
Now, if this team drops below .500, AND Owens has a monster year in Buffalo, I’ll admit he might have made a difference.
Don’t hold your breath.
by Realist Larry on Apr 10, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions
same thing was said about Brett Favre
Green Bay didn’t meet expectations and the media really hasn’t killed GB..
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
So it's a media spin issue
Nothing new about the MSM fascination with TO and the Cowboys. I’m sure BSPN will start a new stat for TO vs Roy W. week to week comparison.
The guys in the locker room won’t care once the season starts and they are successful. If they aren’t, then it won’t matter because the media will be flogging them anyway.
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 10, 2009 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions
T.O. will remain a Cowboys' story until either:
a) he exceeds expectations or causes drama (media induced or not) in Big B
or
b) Dallas’ success or failure late in the season focuses solely on the potential, or lack thereof, of where the franchise is headed.
Either way, we will have to get used to the what-if-we-kept-T.O. comparisons at the beginning of every game’s broadcast.
Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Say that fast, five times!
Crayton and Ellis
need to stop worrying about ex-teammates and raise their own level of play. No more bitching about your contract (Ellis) and no more dropping balls in playoff games (Crayton) and maybe TO will eventually be forgotten.
BTW, look how much the buffalo Bills are mentioned on ESPN now. Realist Larry is 100% right that Buffalo is no longer a team but TO and his supporting cast. Honestly, I’d rather the Cowboys go 8-8 than have to listen to more crap about TO. That dude puts the “I” in team.
It's never as good or as bad as you think
I think everyone saw JJT on NFL Total Access this week where he said we would be an 8-8 team this season. That statement is a little ridiculous – and I’m not just saying that because I’m a fan. Look at how the Giants flourished once Eli was free of the burden of having to get the ball to Shockey every play. Shockey was arguably the best offensive player the Giants had at the time. What happened after Shockey got hurt? They spread the ball, Eli got comfortable and Shockey got traded.
Our top priority is signing Ware. Hopefully we’ll keep Miles Austin – but if we don’t, then no biggie. We’re acting like there are no other WR’s out there who can produce. Crayton is going to step up, Witten is the best TE in the game – and I guarantee you that Martellus Bennett and Witten will see action on the same plays this season. We’re talking about installing the Wildcat to better utilize our three studs at RB – we will be fine.
Tony and RW have to step up – but if we all know that I would assume that they know that. That would explain all of the time they are voluntarily spending working together at the Ranch.
Here is my early projection for this (pre-draft) team. 10-6 and a 5 seed in the playoffs. We’ll win our first playoff game in 13 years – and then the sky is the limit. Are you betting against the star going into the Divisional round with a playoff win under our belts? I’m not. We can be nasty when we want to be. We beat the champs last year with our 3rd string RB. We were a bad Romo pass away from beating the eventual champion Steelers. We were a blocked punt away from beating Arizona. We were a bad quarter away from beating Washington and going 4-0. We were right there – and this is without TO getting his numbers. Honestly, it was like he was never really there last year. Yes, he finished with 1000+ and 10 TD’s – but he also had 200+ of that 1000+ in a single game. And while that is great – he wasn’t the TO of 2007. TO couldn’t get off the line – and the same guys who want to crucify us for cutting him are the same ones who begged us to cut him in the first place.
Our chemistry will be better and guys like RW and Romo WILL step up. When we’re 4-0 and talking about our week 5 opponent, everyone at BSPN will be kissing our collective butts.
10-6 wildcard teams tend to start hot, fizzle and then end hot. We’ll be fine. TO will be good in his first year with the Bills – but that will all change. I promise you, in two years we’ll be talking about how the best decision we could have made was cutting TO. We’re going to be in the NFC title game in 2010 because of this move. Mark my words.
Everybody breathe – LOL. We’re fine.
Nice
A pretty realistic post. I like it.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by AirforceBat on Apr 10, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions
Realistic meaning Optimistic?
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
Just because your not super negative...
Doesn’t mean that your optimisitic.
He’s just not a pessemist.
I don’t think it’s just crazy to think that Dallas can go 10-6, they went 9-7 with Drew Bledsoe a few years ago.
Is it really that much of a stretch to think that Dallas will get a wildcard?
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by AirforceBat on Apr 10, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions
No. Not at all.
If you admit its just as realistic that they go 8-8 or 7-9. This is a wide open league with no dominant teams. Anything can happen, including Wade Phillips winning a playoff game.
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
Anything is possible
But why does Vegas set lower odds for the Cowboys winning the SB than for most other teams? They don’t just throw a dart blindfolded.
Current odds at Bodog.com 11-1, same as the Colts, and only behind NE, NYG, and PIT.
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 11, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions
It is realistic.
I’ll admit that.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
"Everybody breathe – LOL. We’re fine."
LOL. I think that’s what people tell themselves when they are having panic attacks.
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
Friends of TO in the locker room
will talk, because they miss their friend. What’s notable is who isn’t talking or stating bland pablum when forced to comment. This will last the rest of the year and then some, because the media will stoke it. Especially the DMN press corps, ESPN. They’re still talking about him in Philly – 4 years later
'It is not enough for me to win. My enemies must lose' - David Merrick
the philyl situation is so different
because if TO had been happy in philly and they had paid them, the eagles probably would have like 7 nfc championship games under their belt in the last 9 years. Imo, that team was definitely good enough to win a superbowl.
Meanwhile, we just went 9-7 2 out of 3 years with TO, and hes in his mid 30s. We have a ton of offensive talent and to not utilize that talent and get them involved more (meaning giving TO much less touches) would be crazy imo.
We will not be better without T.O.
UnNecessary Roughness : To add to that. Witten is going to find out how different the world is without T.O. Anyone remember how great our offense looked after T.O sprained his ankle. Romo all of a sudden looked like a free agent QB. I’m afraid he’s going to have that look all year.
We gave up two #1's for RWilliams.
I think there’s an assumption there that the guy can catch 70 passes for 800 yards and some TD’s.
If not, we’re Joey Galloway screwed.
by Realist Larry on Apr 10, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Argh
I’m tired of hearing this about Witten.
- is well aware of what the world looks like without TO— he played half his career in that world. He had 13 TDs and over 2,000 yards in that world, including a 2004 season of 980 yards and 6 TDs, numbers which are superior to his 2008 season of 952 yards and 4 TDs.
Witten’s production will not suffer from TO’s absence. If you want to argue that our run game is going to suffer, then fine, I disagree with you but I could understand that argumet. But to argue Witten is going to suddenly fall off a cliff makes no sense.
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
Yeah...
He was playing well before Owens.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
darn straight.
ZSomeone even did a fanpost on him ! 8)
by Realist Larry on Apr 10, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Amen
Let’s stop the crap about Witten being reliant on TO’s presence to have success. Ridiculous.
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 10, 2009 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Carl Shelton still talking T.O.
Can you cite each of the quotes above? Just give dates?
If memory serves, the latest one is over two weeks old. The other two are over a month old. You posted the MB3 quote over a month ago in a post linked on the right hand side of this page. Who exactly is “still” talking?
You’re one of the best Cowboys writers I’ve read, but this post is lazy, sloppy, and dishonest. Man, I just clicked on a link on Sports Illustrated(!) to find this post. The burden of proof is on you.
I am kinda in agreement...
I certainly don’t go as far as the lazy/dishonest thing, but it does seem that if we are now getting linked to from other, bigger sports sites, then we should make sure we’re addressing topics we want to get coverage and that are worth discussing. We can’t whine about ESPN covering TO incessantly if we are part of the problem here by feeding unnecessary TO stories out to other sites on the web.
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
+1
Carl has been doing a good job, but enough with the TO love affair. He’s gone, move on.
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 10, 2009 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions
The Players Know Best
When someone you like, are fond of, and admire is wronged, it is the natural human response to want to defend them…to speak the truth amongst soooo many lies and distortions….to defend honest and honor. And when that someone is a vital part of the success of your TEAM …when that someone is a respected player and leader of your TEAM…when that someone is instrumental to your success as a player and as a TEAM…then yes, the sadness, shock and the dissatisfaction of their absence, lingers. So I understand how so many of the players who saw nothing divisive about TO when he was on the TEAM, will still harbor positive feelings about him…long after he has been removed from the TEAM. Shock, is a human response to an event that contradicts one’s perceptions and sense of reality…most often it takes time to sink in…Winning will help…Losing won’t.
But again it is so obvious that what the players said about TO all last year was never what the media focused on. Instead the media persisted with their negative fantasies and portrayals of what was “really going on”, REGARDLESS of what the players, who knew him well on and off the field, had to say. Why should it stun the media now that he has been run out of town for fictional DIVISIVENESS, that those same players would continue giving the same positive testimonies about TO. ? When are you guys gonna realize that YOU can’t invent reality….that YOU are the ones spreading divisiveness in your reporting…that YOU have disregarded the truth about what was really going on inside the TEAM’s locker room…that YOU have ignored the best interests of the TEAM by ignoring what the players have been saying all along. Don’t you DARE try to suggest that if the Cowboys are not a cohesive group next session that it will be , again, the result of TO’s “Cancer”. Because by the mere suggestion of sucha thing …YOU are spreading that cancerous divisiveness. It was never put there by TO…it was put there by the media!
No…it will be the result of the medias’ , mean spirited persuit of TO’s infamy and their deaf disregard of reality. Of course TO will be missed…both on and off the field…he was a great teammate, friend and TEAM player. How many more players have to say it…and how many more times? They said it through 2007 and through 2008….and they will say it in 2009, 2010, 2011….because it is the TRUTH.
I pay attention to the players’ opinions……the players know… they care about each other as TEAM-mates…and they know TO did too. And I believe tthe players’ word over the reporters’ lies any day!
I long ago stopped giving any regard to the media’s negative spin and speculation,especially when it came to TO and the locker room….if I wanted make-believe, I’d watch cartoons.
TO is a really great player…a future HOF’er…his influence on the Cowboys was profound..in a positive way to his Teammates…it will be lasting….Greatness doesn’t come often…And that’s what happens when you have the opportunity to meet greatness. The influence lasts forever, just like TO’s influence.
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