The Landry Hat
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The Moment That Really Ended the Dallas Cowboys’ Season

By Robert H. Carroll

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Ending the season this way really hurts and if I wasn’t so angry, I’d be depressed. Emotions are powerful, three of them in particular – Love, Anger and Fear. Love and anger can be inspirational and motivational. These emotions – that burning sensation in the chest of Cowboy Nation, will get funneled into positive outlets this off-season.

Anger will drive everyone in that locker room to run faster, lift heavier and train harder for the next season. Love for your teammate will inspire everyone to follow coach Jason Garrett‘s mantra and “Be the best you for 60 minutes”.

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Expect to see a lot of perfect execution, unselfish and dominating play next season thanks to the fear of losing. Fear can cause a flight or fight reaction. Cowboys will use it to #Fight and #Punish opponents. We won’t leave anything in the officials hands.

The catch. Years ago, when football was a real sport, there was no “completing the process of a catch”. There was no “tuck rule”. Players emerged from the turf with clumps of mud and grass embedded in their helmets.

Defensive backs could touch a wide receiver and safeties could deliver a message. Receivers didn’t beg for a penalty flag to be thrown after every incompletion. Games were officiated with common sense. If you didn’t bobble it while going out of bounds – it was a catch. Simple right?

Next season, my keyword is #Focus or maybe #Perfection. I know it’s not as awesome as #Fight but I want Garrett to emphasize: every game matters; every possession matters; and every play matters. After all, in Week 17, Garrett did say that there aren’t any meaningless games when I hoped he’d rest the starters before our playoff run.

Perhaps Cowboy Nation can eventually get over “the catch”, because it never should have never happened. Remember Week 8? That’s the game I want shown in the locker room during training camp and OTA’s next season.

The Cowboys were 6 – 1 and playing on Monday Night Football at home with momentum from a six game winning streak. They faced Washington, a hated division rival with a record of 2 – 5 and using Colt McCoy, their third string quarterback. A game where the Cowboys had 3 penalties for 35 yards, but running backs DeMarco Murray and Joseph Randle each fumbled and turned the ball over. The Cowboys lost in overtime, 20 – 17.

That game and those turnovers against an inferior opponent changed everything. For me, that’s the moment that really ended our season. We would have finished the season 13 – 3, in first place with home field advantage throughout the playoffs and hoisting number six in a few weeks.

Instead, I’ll remember two things about this season – the catch controversy and Murray fumbling the football. I’m sorry, but in my opinion, you can’t make up for a turnover.

I’m not anti-Murray, I love that he can catch the football out of the backfield, his ability to pass protect and his running style. He choose the right contract year to stay healthy and showcase his ability which unfortunately also included a lack of ball security.

Quite simply, you can’t lead the NFL in rushing and fumbles in the same year. Murray fumbled in the first game of the season, on his very first carry, the last game of the season and a few games in-between. GM / Owner Jerry Jones has to decide to resign or release Murray and turnovers may have made the decision easier.

It doesn’t help Murray that the Cowboys have running backs Randle, Lance Dunbar and Ryan Williams already under contract. Williams, a former second round pick, remained on our practice squad while turning down many offers to join other teams. This gave him time to learn the playbook, the pass protections and schemes, to rest and get healthy. Unfortunately for Murray, the upcoming 2015 NFL draft is reportedly loaded with running backs too. None of these signs point to a huge payday or contract negotiation leverage for Murray.

Cowboy Nation will and should thank Murray for giving us the NFL leading rusher title. The majority of Cowboy Nation would rather be playing in the Super Bowl with two 800 yard running backs that didn’t put the ball on the turf.

#WeWillReturn

#FumblesKill

#CowboysNation

#WeDemBoyz

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Next: DeMarco Murray Named PFWA's 2014 Offensive Player of the Year

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