A Glimmer of Hope for the Dallas Cowboys?

Nov 11, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (center) talks with COO/EVP Stephen Jones (left) and EVP Jerry Jones, Jr. (right) prior to playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 38-23. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

You probably think from my title that I am suggesting that the Dallas Cowboys, based on Sunday’s victory, still have a glimmer of hope for this season. That may or may not be the case.

What I saw in this Philadelphia Eagle game and throughout this season so far has been a team either unwilling or incapable of succeeding in all three phases of a football game for a full 60 minutes.

The offense struggled early again but as we all suspected looked a lot less anemic with the return of Cowboys’ running back DeMarco Murray. And it actually seemed to get in a real rhythm in the second half. Hopefully, it’s something this unit can build upon for this week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals and for the remainder of the season.

We did however also did see a porous defense that is beginning to look a lot more like the unit last year that continuously gifted late leads back to the opposing team, rather than the top 10 ranked defense it had been earlier this year. It’s fortunate for this year’s group that the offense seems to always be behind, so squandering fourth quarter leads really hasn’t been that big an issue.

I know you have to mention the decimated linebacker group, safety and all of the other injuries the Cowboys have suffered. But let’s not forget this was a 3-7 Eagle team missing three key starters on offense; its quarterback, running back and star wide receiver. It was also a rookie quarterback starting for the Eagles,  Nick Foles, who easily moved his troops up and down the field. As for special teams, to give up a punt return for a touchdown that late in a game is simply incomprehensible.

Now, let’s get to the glimmer of hope. Did you notice how Jerry was sweating profusely in his owner’s box as the game progressed and it’s victor was still in doubt? It’s nice to know he suffers the way I do in watching this version of the Cowboys. Of course, the difference between him and I is he can actually do something about it. Unfortunately for me, my only recourse is to yell at my poor television and to vent through my writing.

No, the glimmer of hope was standing to his right; his son Stephen Jones. This same son who Jerry admitted almost hit him when he committed all those dollars in the middle of the 1990’s for signing Deion Sanders. I don’t condone violence under any circumstances, but I do wonder what could have been, had he knocked just a little sense into him. I don’t know much about Stephen yet, except his father credit’s him for some nice cap restructuring moves within the last couple of years. I take that with a grain of salt since parents typically exercise clouded judgment when it comes to their children’s abilities.

No, what impressed me was after the Cowboys gave up that late punt return for a touchdown and his father looked like a balloon that just had the air let out of it, Stephen stood next to him and bit his fingernails. Why did that impress me, you ask? He could have had his eye glass cleaner brother-in-law do it for him, but no he chose to do it on his own all by himself. Wait a minute…doesn’t that sound a lot like the father? Well, maybe. But I am still hoping that this apple rolls very far from the tree and expunges all of its ego seeds harmlessly onto the ground as it continues to roll.