You have bought into the mediocrity, Dallas Cowboy fans!
By Tonni Shook
Not much more can be said about the 2012 Dallas Cowboy’s season that hasn’t already been said. The last game against the Washington Redskins Sunday night, did not end well and here we are again, wondering what went wrong and why do we continue to accept 8-8, year in and year out. As I say goodbye to this writing gig that I have so enjoyed the past thirteen months, I will leave you with five things to think on during the off-season.
Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys fan holds up a sign for Santa prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jason Garrett: The head coach with very little on-the-job experience. As written a year ago, the following request was asked – hire an offensive coordinator so ill-timed timeouts will not cause angst and turmoil across the nation. Did this happen in the 2012 off-season? Yes and No. They did hire ex-Husker, Bill Callahan, to be something offensive coordinator-ish, but did anyone see him calling plays? No. This year, Garrett did learn his lesson about icing his own kicker, but there are still miscues coming from the head honcho; namely play-calling and in-game time-management. It appears that Jerry Jones will not make any changes at this point when it comes to Mr. Garrett. Get ready for much the same in 2013. Are you content with this Cowboy fans?
Tony Romo: The quarterback who ranks in the top 10 statistically in all of the NFL. However, he continues to disappoint in the big game. Another gem written in 2011, which the fans screamed about the most (52 comments!), seems to need repeating for 2012. What changed this season? Nothing. Oh sure, Romo has more passing yards than ever before, but what good did it do in the end? Let’s face it – he’s not getting younger, he’s peaked when it comes to lessons learned, and he’s overpaid. Yes, I said it. He makes too much money for a quarterback who consistently fails. When will the excuses stop Cowboy fans?
Penalties: The worst penalized team in the National Football League – your Dallas Cowboys. This one is very unacceptable. These are grown men, playing a game that most have played the majority of their lives. They know the rules; they know what happens when you break the rules. So why do they continue to be the worst in the league? As was stated in the past, it’s a lack of discipline. If the coaches would put some consequences on the rule-breakers then they would stop – bottom line. Too soft, coaching staff, much to soft. Is this acceptable Cowboy fans?
Offensive line: The atrocious front line that is paid to protect the quarterback/running back. Disclaimer: they did play much, much better towards the end of the season. With that said, this pondering thought is the easiest to correct. Injured players will return healthy in 2013 and the draft is an opportunity to pick up college studs. If the front office will do THEIR jobs and fire those who need to go and be a better judge of talent than their peers, this one can be nixed from the list. Can Jerry Jones do the right thing Cowboy fans?
The fans: You – the person who bleeds blue? You’re the person who owns 175 variations of Dallas Cowboy gear in your closet. You are the faithful. There is no doubt that you will continue to support your team, through sickness and in health, until death do you part. Right? For change to happen, something drastic has to occur. What I’d like to see is the fans, as a collective unit, stop attending games. That would be a huge wake up call that MAYBE Jerry would get. I doubt it though. He could care less about the fans. He doesn’t care that we boo him. He just wants our money. When is enough, enough Cowboy fans?
December 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr (39) reacts to a penalty call against the Cowboys in the final minute of the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 28-18. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
This all might sound like a broken record, but truth is, the Dallas Cowboys are a broken record. The media, the fans, and the coaches continue to make excuses for each of the five off-season thoughts above (excluding #5.) Dallas is an average team and has been for the past decade. The buck stops with Jerry Jones who has hired a handful of the weakest head coaches imaginable. Coordinators revolve in and out as often as Kim Kardashian goes through men. Romo can sling it with the best of them, but doesn’t protect the ball. As for the rest of the Cowboys, they don’t demand respect that a player who wears the star should demand. Until you expect more, Cowboy fans, this is as good as it gets. Until then, keep believing, keep hoping, and keep loving the ‘boys in blue – change is inevitable.