The Cowboys season over? Not a chance

It was hard to be a Dallas Cowboys fan after losing to the New Orleans Saints in overtime last Sunday. Already without quarterback Tony Romo, receiver Dez Bryant and countless other starters, the Cowboys fell to 2-2 with a dangerous game coming up with the defending Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots. But is it time to wave the flag on the season and just expect the Cowboys quit?

It seems to be a popular opinion among the members of my weekly-radio show, Best for Business. When we went in for the Cowboys post-game show, I was shocked to hear former Cowboys running back Tashard Choice say the season was over. Agreeing with him was my co-host Walt and later accompanied by our other co-host Tovash on Twitter. I was shocked at what I was hearing from normally level-headed football analysts.

I respectfully disagree with all of them and I am here to show that the season is far from over. They will attack me and say I am a “Cowboys homer”, but that is far from the case. I am simply being a realist and doing my due diligence on what is coming up and what players are returning to this team very shortly.

One of the major reasons of optimism is the fact that the defense gets back two of their best players in Greg Hardy and Rolando McClain.  One of the more shocking things to come out of Choice’s mouth during our post-game show was that Hardy was not an elite-pass rusher in the NFL. He tried to tell me five other players who were better but I just shook my head. There is a major reason why the Cowboys are risking signing a player with as much baggage as he has to a one-year deal; that is because he is a game-changer. In 32 games, Hardy recorded 27 sacks, forced four fumbles and had 121 tackles. Pro-Football focus ranked him the second-best 4-3 defensive end in 2013. He is a beast on the field because he can lineup all over the defensive line to create mismatch problems. How can this guy not be a game-changer?

Let’s talk about Rolando McClain, the very nonchalant linebacker from Alabama. This was another player that is returning that Tashard Choice had his doubts about. Again the question is why? Last season he was one of the more important members of the Cowboys’ defense that lacked star-power. In 2014, McClain had a +17.2 rating for the Cowboys, according to Bloggingtheboys.com and Pro-Football Focus. McClain also recorded 81 tackles, a sack, forced a fumbles and two picks. Numbers don’t convince you? Consider the fact that when McClain was not on the field, opposing running backs looked like Moses going through the Red Sea. He is a game-changer at the middle linebacker position and paired next to a healthy Sean Lee will do wonders for this defense.

Still think this team is doomed? According to Executive Vice President of the Cowboys, Stephen Jones, rookie defensive end Randy Gregory should be back by the time they face the New York Giants after the bye week. Gregory already has shown you what a spark-plug he is for this defensive line, especially getting three quarterback hurries in the opener. Rumors are circulating that Dez Bryant might even return for that game, but that is still yet to be seen.

So for the final-five games until Romo returns, you will have your defense at almost full-strength and an offense that is not making mistakes and scoring when they need too. How can this be a doomsday scenario? How can you say that the team should quit now?

Things might get bad and the season might be over soon. Yet, with all that is returning, there is more than an optimistic chance the Cowboys can still weather the storm until Romo gets back.

To say it is over without even looking at the reinforcements and the schedule down the stretch is just a lazy and emotional way of analysis. I think we are all better than that.

More on this topic and others every Thursday on Best for Business radio show. Live on deepellumonair.com from 8-11 pm CST! Follow me on @easportsdfw

Cowboys must weather the storm minus Romo;The stakes are too high

The season is on the brink and it has only been two weeks. WTF? Already without top receiver Dez Bryant, the Dallas Cowboys lost their star quarterback Tony Romo to a collarbone injury in the win against the Philadelphia Eagles. That is not the best way to start a Super Bowl or bust season for America’s Team.

The good news is that Romo will only be out for about eight weeks, but that is still a lot of games without your quarterback and number one receiving option. Now the offense is in the hands of Brandon Weeden. Did that make you reach for the noose next to your bed? Calm down and let me try to relax you a bit.

Yes, the Cowboys are about to go on a daunting stretch with Weeden trying to lead the offense. That is seven games that include both of last year’s Super Bowl participants, two division rivals and three teams that can hurt you if you don’t bring your A game.

Yes, the Cowboys are 6-9 without Romo since 2006 when he became the full-time starter.

Yes, Weeden has a terrible record as a starter and boasts a career quarterback rating of 73.4. Why the optimism? This 2015 Cowboys team is very good.

All the Cowboys need from Weeden is to get three wins at minimum while Romo is out with his injury. That would at least give the Cowboys a record of 5-4 going into the Miami Dolphin game on November 22^nd.

That is pretty doable, especially since the defense is playing lights-out, led by linebacker Sean Lee who is playing on another world right now. Lee had 14 tackles, two tackles for a loss and an interception. Right now, they are the third-ranked defense in total yards and number-one in rushing yards allowed. Just wait until Greg Hardy, Randy Gregory and Rolando McClain return in a few weeks, it could get scary good.

Also, the offensive line makes the job for Weeden much easier as he finally can get some great protection. It also helps the running game stay as dominant as it was last season.

All Weeden has to do is manage the team and become the ultimate bus-driver quarterback. The coaches will help by focusing on the running game and simplifying the offense. For Weeden, it is just about not making mistakes in the game.

“There is pressure on everyone in this organization," Weeden said. “So I am not going to put any added pressure on myself. I know what is at stake. I know we have a good team. So hopefully we can all rally and keep this going in the right direction."

Weeden knows his role and what it takes to get through the storm without Romo and Dez.

"We have a lot of weapons, a lot of good weapons," Weeden said. "So my job is to make it easy on those guys, let them do their jobs, get them those one-on-one matchups, and let them do what they do best."

To hedge their bet on Weeden, the Cowboys made a trade Tuesday to bring in veteran back-up quarterback Matt Cassel. They also promoted practice-squad quarterback Kellen Moore for some added depth. These moves ensure the Cowboys aren’t worried and will try to win it all this year. The stakes are too high.

The battle plan is simple. Win three to four games, keep running the football, play sound defense, play smart and don’t turn the ball over.

If Weeden and the Cowboys do that, the team will be ready for a great stretch-run when Romo and Dez make their return.

They have too. The stakes are too high this year.

Go to the freaking GAME! +Rangers and Cowboys thoughts

So you know the great debate about why aren’t people going to the Texas Rangers games? Yeah, I am on team go to the freaking game! Before Tuesday, I was trying to defend those who would choose to watch the game at a bar or at home. Some of the excuses would be with the heat, cost of tickets, food, drinks, and even parking. Thanks to Tovash Hatcher, my esteemed co-host on the Best for Business show, shown exclusively on Thursday nights on deepellumonair.com, I am now having a huge change of heart.

On Tuesday, Tovash treated me and our other co-host Walt for a game at the ballpark against the Houston Astros. He showed me that you can still enjoy the game and not spend a fortune to go to the game. First off, there are so many seats at very affordable options for everyone, ranging from as low as $8 to $65. The next complaint was the food and drinks and the high prices at the concession stands. Screw going there people, YOU can bring your own food. Only two ballparks in the country allow the fans to bring their own food and drinks into the stadium, Progressive Field and Globe Life Park. Bring a backpack and put in anything you’d like to eat or drink. As long as it is in a plastic bag or container, the attendant will allow it. On our outing to the ballpark, I brought in a foot-long sub with five water bottles. That was a game-changer for me. Parking was also very cheap to find, with $15 cash lots literally next to the ballpark.

The only issue for me is still the heat. If it is a day game and the temperatures are nearing in the 90s, people will suffer in the ballpark. If you aren’t a hardcore fan, why put yourself through that? I am still a proponent of building a roof over Glove Life and that should happen quickly. Other than that, go to the freaking games! They are fun, relaxing and the team is GOOD.

Rangers 1^st place!

How about those American League West-leading Texas Rangers! On Tuesday, the Rangers beat the Astros to take first-place in the division for the first time since April. It was also just a couple of months ago that they were nine games back out of the lead. I will be the first to admit I was wrong about this team. General Manager Jon Daniels fixed the bullpen and added an ace to the rotation which has paid-off dividends. With Manager Jeff Banister just hitting all the right buttons with the lineup card, the Rangers seem to be a threat to a lot of teams in the AL. Can they win the World Series? Maybe not, but they are going to be a real fun to watch in the playoffs. Let’s just hope they can get in with a division title and not play in the dreaded wild-card sudden death game. Those are too nerve-wracking.

Cowboys win, but also loose.

So it was brilliant to see Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo lead a game-winning drive yet again, but should they have been that position in the first place? It was so nauseating to watch multiple receivers, including Dez Bryant drop such easy passes. The sloppy play and lack of execution is a trait of a team that is young and raw, not of a contender. It also didn’t help seeing three very important players go down with injuries.

The Dez Bryant injury is the one that is making all the headlines, but I honestly think we will be fine in the short-term. I believe Dez will be back by the time the Cowboys host the Seahawks on November 1^st. Until then the Cowboys have to whether the storm and win three out of the next five games. Standing at 4-2 for the stretch run is a very good position to be in. The more concerning injury for me is the high-ankle sprain that rookie defensive end Randy Gregory has. He is playing lights-out and it sucks to have him to sit out for a month. With no Greg Hardy for the next three games, it is going to be tough to generate a pass rush. This will be essentially the same starting defensive line the team had last season. It will be up to the offense to help carry the load once more, but it won’t be as easy as it was in 2014. You had two guys named Bryant and Murray helping a lot in that scenario.

It is time to see how elite Tony Romo can be.

Remember to watch and listen to Best for Business on deepellumonair.com Thursday nights 8-11 p.m. CST. I am also on the deepellumonair.com Dallas Cowboys post-game show with former Cowboys Tashard Choice and Cory Procter. Same website, 15 minutes after every game, you will love it!!!

We should all tell Tony Romo, I love you

All the hype and expectations for the 2015 Dallas Cowboys season was fading pretty quick Sunday night. With less than two minutes left in the game, the New York Football Giants held a 23-20 lead and was driving to the end-zone. The Cowboys lost their All-Pro receiver to a foot injury and the offense couldn’t execute when it mattered most. A 0-1 start was facing the Super Bowl contending Dallas Cowboys.

Then football happened.

After the New York Giants decide to go for a pass on third down and miss, they settled for a field goal. It left the Cowboys with just a minute and 29 seconds on the clock, with 72 yards to get into the end-zone.

Then Romo-magic happened once more.

On the final drive, Romo completed five-out of-six passes including the game-winning touchdown pass to veteran tight-end Jason Witten. It was vintage Romo. With 11 yards to go, Romo has to quickly pick up a snap that hits the ground, looks down towards Witten who was streaking across the goal-line. Romo fires the ball right between the numbers as Witten makes a nifty move to push off the linebacker.

Touchdown!

“You gotta have poise in random situations,” Romo said.

It shouldn’t have come to that. The game was a hot mess for the Cowboys all night long. Too many times did we see the running backs not hit their holes right or pick up the extra-few yards. Too many times did receivers drop perfect passes and let the ball carelessly fall into the Giant’s hands. The Cowboys dominated this game in all statistical categories except for turnovers and for most of the game, the scoreboard.

Now with receiver Dez Bryant out for possibly the next five games, the Cowboys have to really step it up on the offensive end. Once they play more challenging opponents, it will be crucial that they execute.

But even with all the negatives in the game, there was one shining example that showed as long as Romo is quarterback, the Cowboys have a chance.

He finished 36-of-45 for 365 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 80 percent of his passes and added another storybook finish to his resume. Romo a choker? Not even. This man has shown us time and time again he is one of the best damn quarterbacks in the game. If you lead your team on two touchdown drives to get back the lead without your top-receiver, you have to be great.

While the offense tinkers for next week, let’s all take a second to embrace number 9. We are all witnessing something truly special. We should all take a cue from Witten, Romo’s best friend since 2003, who had some words for him after the game-winning throw-and-catch.

“We were full of emotions, I think there were a couple of I love yous in there,” Witten said.

Well said Witten.

It is time for the NFL to clean up their mess, starting with Goodell

The owners of the National Football League are super lucky that this country is in love with watching football. Everything but the on-the-field product seems to be crumbling and the commissioner is always at the center of it.

After dealing with concussions, domestic abuse and Deflategate, the NFL was rocked with another scandal that erupted Monday. According to “Outside the Lines”, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was behind another cover-up with the New England Patriots, this time concerning Spygate.  The report states that after Goodell handed out the fines and sanctions to the Patriots for spying on other team’s signals, he ordered the destruction of multiple videotapes and paperwork that linked the team to the act. League sources then said that Deflategate was Goodell’s way of making up for the mishandling of Spygate. You can read the full report here: 

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/13533995/split-nfl-new-england-patriots-apart

Wow. This is just getting ridiculous. Maybe Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was right about the NFL being a pig being ready to be slaughtered. It is getting too big and powerful and corruption is everywhere. The sad thing is that it is the same problem over and over again. No accountability is really felt for anyone on the power structure.

Usually after a company’s CEO would deal with any kind of embarrassment, the board members would take action and find a replacement. The problem is that the NFL’s board, “the owners”, loves the fact that Goodell is making them a lot of money. According to “CNN Money.com”, the league brought in an estimated $12 billion in revenue sales, a 14.3% jump from the previous total of $10.5 billion. It is very clear that the NFL has one-clear motive and that is to make money. That is a sad reality.

Yes, the league is a corporation and they should focus on making money, but at what cost? They already tried to cover-up the dangers of concussions and skirted the importance of dealing with domestic violence. Now they are willing to sacrifice the integrity of the game? It is the only thing left for the fans who truly love football.

 It is time for the league to stand up and clean their mess up. They will continue to make money no matter what. We love football, as long as the game is not ruined, the fans will flock to stadiums and their television sets. It is time for the owners to make safety, domestic violence, the integrity of the game and general decency the top issues on their agenda.

The final task the owners must complete is to replace the Commissioner now. He may be trying to protect the shield, but he has clearly lost control. Sometimes it is best just to pour water over the problem, mop it up, and start all over. Let’s get back to football people.

Concerns over Cowboys' running backs rising

A lot of people panicked when running back DeMarco Murray left the Dallas Cowboys for the Philadelphia Eagles in the off-season. I didn’t panic. When the Cowboys didn’t draft a replacement back in the draft, the fans and the media alike were worried. I again wasn’t worried. As training camp started, people weren’t comfortable with the idea of a running back committee of Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, and Lance Dunbar. I again was comfortable with the idea of the three-headed monster at running back. Yet, as the pre-season ended and the news the Cowboys traded for draft disappointment Christine Michael, I started to get worried.

We are less than a week away from the start of the 2015 season and the Cowboys have some concerns with their running backs. While I was excited about the prospect of Randle and McFadden running behind this talented offensive line, I am started to have some doubts. My main concern is with Randle, who is expected to be the starter. The talent is there and I think with enough carries, Randle could break out to be a big star in this system.

The problem is his off-the-field issues and how much of a knucklehead he is. Remember last season when he stole cologne and underwear from a department store, or his domestic violence situation in Wichita, Kansas? While both situations were settled, it didn’t seem Randle ever learned from his actions. Now, it seems that another problem has occurred with the Oklahoma State back. Randle never showed up for the Cowboys Kickoff Luncheon and the team only said that the absence was excused.  Rumors started to run rampant about whether or not Randle might have been involved in another legal dispute. Nothing is confirmed, but the rumors became more rampant once the Cowboys traded for Christine Michael. That doesn’t really bring me some confidence that he can be the lead dog here in Dallas.

The next man up isn’t more comforting. Darren McFadden, who has been a disappointment ever since he entered the league, is trying to make a comeback. The talent is there and you some of that burst and acceleration in the Cowboys’ third preseason game. Yet, you have to wonder when he will go down with another injury. His tenure with the team has already been marked with two hamstring injuries.

Lance Dunbar is a good back, but he really is more of a change-of-pace back that will mostly be used in the passing game. Then you have your new toy in Christine Michael. Michael, who was traded to the Cowboys from the Seahawks in exchange of a conditional seventh-round pick, has a lot of “potential”.  Looking at his very limited highlight tape, you see why the Seahawks picked him in the second round in 2013. He has burst, great speed, and is a very skilled player in short-yardage plays. His major problem is fumbling the football and not paying attention to coaches.

The only thing that makes me feel better about this year’s rushing attack is the offensive line. They are arguably the best in football and can open up major holes for these running backs.

Remember, the goal is not to replace Murray, but his production. He had 1,845 yards last season on 392 carries. So between four running backs, they each need to have around 98 carries for 461 yards. That is very doable, but they have to stay healthy and stay out of trouble.

My worries won’t go away until we see them in action, but it is something that all fans should be paying attention too. It could be nothing and the Cowboys could be right by betting everything on the offensive line. If they are wrong, this offense might revert to being stagnant and the dreams of a sixth championship might have to wait until they get a capable running back.

Kliff Kingsbury HAS to turn Tech around; College Football Playoff Predictions

As the rest of the country gears up for the return of college football next week; I am a little bummed about watching my alma-mater play. I have never had such low expectations for my Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Oh I don’t expect much from my team, especially in the sense of titles. Yet, they were always fun to watch and cheer for because it was that entertaining. Remember the amazing comeback against Minnesota in the Insight bowl? Remember the incredible 2008 season? Remember the Pirate talk from the head coach?

I thought when Tech first hired former Red Raider quarterback Kliff Kingsbury to take over as head coach that they were going back to where it should be. The “Air Raid” offense was back and was ready to score a lot of points at Jones AT&T Stadium. The first year was fun, compiled with a 7-0 start and an upset win over #16 Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.  The program was finally getting back to where it belonged.

Then last year happened and I was sick to my stomach. It wasn’t just bad in 2014, it was horrendous. It felt like they had no defense at all. Like as soon as the other team was on offense, the Red Raiders took a break and returned to the sideline. Then three games into the season their defensive coordinator is let go because of an unknown substance abuse problem.

The offense wasn’t any better, but they at least tried to keep up with teams. The quarterback play was up-and-down and honestly I was confused as to who the starter was from time-to-time. The Red Raiders were falling back into mediocrity, something former head coach Mike Leach tried to prevent for so many years.

I am not saying fire the head coach, but he really needs to make something out of this year. They need to hark down on recruiting and find those diamonds in the rough that the big schools overlook. It is also imperative they keep bringing in talent for the defensive side of the ball. This team runs through defensive coordinators as much as Rob Gronkowski goes through playmates. Eventually, they need to realize maybe it is the lack of talent on that side of the ball. You can’t win shootouts if you can’t stop them.

If these problems don’t get fixed this year and another slow start happens, watch for Kingsbury to be on chopping block. Well at least they still have some of the best uniforms in the country. #gottastaypositive.

Speaking of College Football, here is my way to early College Football Playoff predictions:

1.       Alabama

2.       Ohio State

3.       TCU

4.       Oregon

This will be wrong, just like every other person who is predicting this mess. That is why we love college football!

Who do you think will win the National Championship? Who do you have in the final four? Tweet me at @easportsdfw and let me know.

Cowboys still strong; even without Scandrick

One of the worse things that could happen to a team during training camp happened to the Dallas Cowboys Tuesday. Cornerback Orlando Scandrick tore both his ACL and MCL and will be out for the rest of the season.

Scandrick went to defend rookie receiver Lucky Whitehead on a pass and fell on top of Whitehead after he caught the ball. That is when Scandrick’s knee banged into Whitehead’s body and then it buckled up, causing the injury. Scandrick immediately knew he tore his ACL.

“He said immediately, ‘It’s my ACL. I Know it. It’s gone,’” secondary coach Jerome Henderson said.

The eight-year veteran will soon have surgery and is already vowing to return better than ever. The problem is that he won’t help the Cowboys win a title this year, something Scandrick was going to be a big part of. Last season, Scandrick was the Cowboys’ best corner last year, especially coming in at the slot position. He had 55 tackles, nine pass deflections, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a sack. 

For most fans and media members, it seemed doom and gloom about the upcoming season without Scandrick. Even former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin was worried about how the injury would affect the 2015 campaign.

“@Luney708: @michaelirvin88 how big is the scandrick injury 4 our boyz playmaker???”improved pass rush has 2 go with good corner play. Big😒

— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) August 26, 2015

“@Luney708: @michaelirvin88 how big is the scandrick injury for our boyz playmaker???”someone else will have to step up BIG TIME

— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) August 26, 2015

“@AngelPuerto2: @michaelirvin88 If you had to pick now, who do you see stepping up? Mo, White or Patmon?”I hope a big yr for Mo. WE NEED IT!

— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) August 26, 2015

With all due respect to Mr. Irvin and all the other doom and gloom voices, the Cowboys will be just fine. Yes, it sucks to lose Scandrick for the season; you never want that for one of your best players. But, this season the team is finally very deep at the corner position.

First off, Brandon Carr is still leading the way and could be poised to have a comeback year. Last year was tough on him because of the passing of his mother, but he resurfaced and made big-time plays down the stretch. Carr can help the void by keeping one side of the field in check.

Another player to help step up is draft bust Morris Claiborne. Remember when he was selected sixth overall in the 2012 draft? So far all the hype has faded and we are left with a injury-prone player and constant burn victim. Now in his final year of his contract, he has an opportunity to stand up and make something of his career. Finally healthy for the first time in awhile, Claiborne has made some very nice plays in camp and the coaches are impressed. If he can translate that onto the field, he would be a serviceable replacement for Orlando.

What about this year’s first-round draft pick Byron Jones? Though looked at as a possible hybrid between corner and safety, he could be called upon to play a lot more now at corner. You also have Tyler Patmon and Corey White who have both shown intensity through training camp and are both capable of stepping in and playing. The reviews by the coaches have been superb on all three of them so far.

Yes, the injury sucks for this team and we all wish it wouldn’t have happened. But, there is depth that this team can use to survive and move on. The defense is still very talented.

So I hope you recover well Orlando. No worries, your fellow DBs have your back this season.

Dallas Cowboys hurt; Rangers not quitting

So I decided to take an extended vacation from writing and the sports world here in DFW goes nuts. So much news, so little time, and here’s my take on what is going on.

Dallas Cowboys

Can we just put the entire team in bubble wrap until the first game against the Giants please? Every time I look through the news feed there is another report about a Cowboys player suffering an injury. So far none of the injuries are deemed to be serious, but they are getting worse. The highlight came when All-Pro Guard Zach Martin suffered a scary stinger in his neck. He was on the ground for several minutes before walking off on his own power. With the Martin injury, center Travis Frederick is the only starter that is healthy. Hopefully all these nagging injuries subside once the regular season starts, or it will be a very long season.

Yesterday was a good day for any Darren McFadden fan, which includes me. Slowed by hamstring injuries since the start of camp, McFadden has finally been healthy enough to practice and against the Rams he was pretty good. Showed some great burst, hit the holes well and proved how effective he can be. If he can stay healthy, the Cowboys will have no worries at running back. Again, that is a big IF.

With all the injuries pilling on for the offensive line, maybe it might make sense for quarterback Tony Romo to sit out of the preseason game against San Francisco. It wouldn’t make sense to put him back there behind Frederick and back-ups and risk an injury. He might play two or three series but if I was in charge, Romo would ride the pine until the third game against Minnesota.

 I really like how well the receiving core is playing in camp this year. Terrence Williams, Cole Beasley and Devin Street have really stepped up and have made plays every day in camp. If it continues into the regular season, this offense is going to be unstoppable, especially when Dez Bryant is on the field. Defenses are going to be struggling on who to cover and trust me, someone will be open.

Texas Rangers

Ok, so I had a little debate with my former co-host on KTSR, Tovash Hatcher, about the attendance at Rangers games. He is baffled about the lack of fan attending ball games, especially during day games. I counter that a lot of people aren’t going to spend money to go to a game where they are dealing with extreme heat. Maybe if you got a retractable roof on top of Globe Life Park, those attendance numbers might spike a bit.

Ok, so this team might have a shot of pulling out a playoff appearance this season. Despite a lot of bad baseball early in the summer, the Rangers have fought their way back and find themselves four games out of the division and just one game out of the second wild card position, with two teams ahead. There is still a lot of work to be done. The good news is that Derek Holland returns to the rotation today and that could have some positive effects for this pitching staff. Another capable arm can help put some pressure of this bullpen.

Another thing the team has to do is to keep piling on wins and keep the streaks alive. They ended a five-game win streak last night and have to get another long streak going. If you want to make the playoffs, there is a lot of ground to make up. Houston still manages to keep winning and you have get ahead of both the Los Angeles Angels and the Baltimore Orioles to get that second wild card spot. So the best thing to do is to keep winning.

Do they make it? I still think they lose out, but this team has taught me to never count them out. How fun will the metroplex be when you have October baseball and football? Arlington would be pretty busy. Let’s hope that dream comes alive.

Who believes Jason Garret is a better coach? "We Do"

The Dallas Cowboys are a funny team. No team in the league has more polarizing figures than Dallas. From Jerry Jones down to Tony Romo, you either hate them or love them. The head coach isn’t far away from that distinction. When he took on the job as head coach, his potential to freeze his own kickers or mismanagement of the clock worried many Cowboys fans for the first three years of his tenure. Fans and media members alike rolled their eyes when Garret would babble on about the process and the right way to build a team. Nobody believed that the red-headed genius from Princeton could resurrect the Cowboys’ glory years. Then last season happened and it is a whole new ball game for Coach Red.

Entering the 2014 season, I was on the fence with Garrett. Like others around me, I couldn’t trust him as a play-caller anymore. He became very predictable and the offense started to bog down. The Dallas offense in 2013 was ranked 16^th in total offense. It was getting pretty bad and nobody believed Garrett had the answer to fix things.

Yet he did. He brought in his own offensive coordinator and focused solely on being a ‘walk-around” head coach. The changes were felt immediately. The team had an identity of running the football, playing tough and playing with discipline. The mantra became “Finish the Fight”.  It helped the team win 12 games and was a “non-catch” away from the NFC championship game. Clearly something changed with Coach Red.

Now he has a bigger challenge in front of him. He no longer has running back DeMarco Murray leading the charge. Now he has three very volatile players added to the defense. The schedule is tougher this year. The expectations are higher than ever before.

Yet Coach Red sticks to his guns. Nothing changes for the Cowboys.

How does he handle the pressure of expectations from last season? He got a little help from the U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Her story has given Garrett the mantra for his team to follow. “We Do”.

“For her to share that idea that we’re not going to let other people outside us define us, we’re going to define ourselves by what we do and what we say and don’t say and how we present ourselves each and every day, that’s a message that we’ve shared with our team and it’s something I think is really important in life for individual people and certainly good for football players, coaches and a football team,” Garrett said.

The above quote is just another piece of proof that Garret isn't the same man that took over the team back in 2010. It is enjoyable to see a coach mature over the years and Garrett has done that. He saw that one way wasn't working and changed for the better. He sacrificed his ego to help the team win. In the process he went from an "offensive guru" and became a true leader. The team has bought into Garrett and so should we.

“We do” is now the new team mantra found on many of the player's t-shirts. Will it help them get to a Super Bowl? Who knows? But clearly, Garret is making a mark on this team. Now when he talks about a process, fans and media members are a bit more appreciative of the phrase.

Cole Hamels to the Rangers: *Shrugs*?

Should Texas Rangers fans be rejoicing in the streets after last night’s blockbuster deal? Eh. I am not as sold as many people are about the recent trade that has Rangers fans jumping for joy.

Basics:

Ok, so here is how the trade works. The Texas Rangers will receive ace left-hander Cole Hamels as well as left-handed reliever Jake Diekman. Both players are under Ranger control until 2018. Cash was also sent to Texas. On the other side of the trade, the Philadelphia Phillies received veteran pitcher Matt Harrison and prospects Nick Williams, Jake Thompson, Jorge Alfaro, Alec Asher and Jerad Eickhoff.

At a glance, it seems that both teams got a fair shake out of the deal. The Rangers get an ace that you can control for another three years and you add a reliever to a shaky bullpen. The Phillies get to work with Matt Harrison now and look forward to five top-prospects. Was it worth it though?

This year is a waste of a season. The team isn’t good and they have squandered any ground in the race for the playoffs. So this move was made for the future? On paper it looks good, especially for the starting rotation. Imagine, Hamels, Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, Chi Chi Gonzalez and Martin Perez as your starting rotation. Yet, the team is still a few moves away from being a contender.

Look at your lineup, it is full of left-handed batters and you might only have one or two righties on the team. You are going to need to go and spend in free-agency for a power right-handed bat. Also, some of the members of your team are under-performing in a big way. Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, and Shin-Soo Choo are just some of the underwhelming players on the roster. Oh by the way, your bullpen is terrible. Sure, they got a nice kid in the trade to help out, but you are going to need to do an overhaul there. With the way this ownership lately has been with pinching pennies, there is no guarantee that all of this can get fixed so soon.

While I am happy the Rangers got an ace, there is so much still left for this team to do before I start planning any trips to the World Series. Let us tap the brakes people.  

Dez Caught IT.. A contract that is!

As a Cowboys fan, the last week has been a lot of refreshing my Twitter feed for any news on the Dez Bryant contract negotiation. I was rewarded today when news broke about the Dallas Cowboys and Bryant agreeing to a five-year $70 million contract. The Cowboys are contenders again.

I still remember back in my college days at Texas Tech, when I first heard of Dez. Back then I was rooting for Tech’s very own Michael Crabtree, who set college on fire with his numbers. Yet, my cousin Mo Mohmand leans over and tells me that I couldn’t be any more wrong when it comes to who is the best wide-out in college. His choice was Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant.  I ignored him and his claim. I’ve been owing Mo a lot of beers since Bryant has entered the NFL.

Now entering arguably his prime of his career, Dez will now have the financial security he has always craved.

I am glad it is over because I really do hate this part of sports. It makes fans crazy, angry and very depressed. We want to talk about the schemes, the practices, training camp, and real games. Not about money, negotiations, and holdouts.

Dez is back and with his return, the Cowboys can get back to making this offense a threat once again. Running the football is just much easier when you have Dez on the field.  Do I also hear rumblings of a Super Bowl Favorites?

Too early to tell, but we do know that football is gearing back up and the Cowboys just got back one of their most important pieces. Congrats Dez, you’ve earned it. 

Deandre Jordan's decision crumbles Mavs' Dynasty

I basically make a living writing down words and there are no words to describe the anguish I am going through. Last night, the Dallas Mavericks franchise officially crumbled into the abyss. It all started with a call on Monday night.

As many of you know by now, free agent center Deandre Jordan, who had verbally committed to a new four-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks, started to have second thoughts on his decision. That is when he phoned Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers and the game was back on. On Wednesday, the last day before players can officially sign with a team, the Clippers made a full-court press to convince Jordan to return back home. It worked. The Clippers won and crumbled the Mavs in the process.

Jordan and the Clippers acted like children by pretty much blocking any attempt by the Mavericks to try to reason with the baby-like center. There was an emoji war, blocked calls and Clippers forward Blake Griffin even posted a picture of a chair blocking one of Jordan's doors. It was just sad and pathetic to watch.

Close to mid-night Texas time, Mavs owner Mark Cuban started to call it quits. The grand-plan to rebuild on the fly was over and so was the Dirk Era.

Now what? They can’t bring back Tyson Chandler. No Jeremy Lin. Maybe Mo Williams or Roy Hibbert? It is just awful to think about the upcoming season.

As much as I fought against this plan, it seems like the franchise has to go into tank mode. There is no way out of it now. Dirk is old, and Chandler Parsons and Wesley Matthews aren’t players you can build around. The draft is the only option now.

While we dread the future of the Mavs, I do want to thank the team for a great run. It was 15 years of exciting basketball, playoff runs, sell-out crowds; two finals appearances, a title, and watching one of the best players in NBA history do his thing on the court.

Maybe now the eccentric owner who changed the NBA, might change his own ways and start actually caring about the draft. After the Jordan kick to the crotch the team got hit with last night, it is the only option.

Why DEZ? WHY?

I love Dez Bryant. I really, really do. He is one of the top receivers in the NFL and is a huge weapon for the Dallas Cowboys. Yet, I can’t help but feel he is making one of the most idiotic decisions a player could make regarding his contract decisions

.

So far, the Cowboys have put the franchise tag on Bryant for the 2015 NFL season, which should guarantee him $12.823 million for this year.  Bryant and the Cowboys have until July 15^th to work out a long-term deal or he will be forced to play under the tag this season. That means no long-term deal can be worked out until after the season is over.

So that begs the question of Bryant’s latest negotiation tactic. On Friday, Bryant confirmed a Chris Mortensen report that he plans to miss the season-opener if he does not get a deal done by July 15^th. According to Mike Fisher, Bryant might even extend his hold-out past the opener. My question to Dez is why?

If the Cowboys call Bryant’s bluff and go past the deadline, Bryant will be sitting out for nothing. If he misses the opener or anymore games after that, what will bring him back onto the field? The Cowboys can’t sign him to a long-term deal, so all he will be doing is losing money. In his first three-years in the league, he has made up to $11, 810,500 on a five-year deal. So it makes too much sense for him to just sign the franchise tag and push negotiations to next year.

Plus, Dez loves to play football and does not want to be away from his team. He wants to be with them during every aspect of the off-season, as we saw when he came to practice during OTAs. You can’t keep this kid off the football field, and the Cowboys are going to take full advantage of it.

My prediction? A standoff until July 15^th and the Cowboys sign him to a long-term deal. Both sides want this done and this deadline will force them to make the deal. But, no need to worry about Dez missing any games this season; it is just not in his DNA.

Adrian Peterson to the Cowboys? Hell Yes, for the right Price

Imagine for a minute the Dallas Cowboys with Adrian Peterson. You have arguably the best running back in recent memory behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. Can you say Lombardi Trophy? Ok, I am getting ahead of myself there but this improbable dream just got closer to becoming plausible. On Friday, Peterson will be re-instated by the NFL and it seems that there will be no additional suspension. While it does mean he can rejoin the Minnesota Vikings in all off-season activities, this really opens the door to possible trade situations. So how do the Cowboys fit in and why should they go for it?

First off, we know the Vikings will not release Peterson. They would not only eat a lot of dead money on the salary cap, but they would also not get anything in return. So if they truly want to part with him, a trade is the best option. But, Peterson has a massive contract, including being owed $12 million for next year alone.  I will tell you now, no team in their right mind will trade for a running back with that kind of price. So if Dallas wants to get into the mix, they need to convince Peterson to take a pay cut and drop his salary to at least $8 million. Now, the Vikings are going to want draft picks as well and some are speculating it could be maybe a 1^st or a 2^nd and then adding in a 4^th or 5^th pick. Should Dallas do it?

Absolutely.

The Cowboys are built to win right now thanks to their superior drafting in the past two seasons and their new thrifty approach to paying players. Yet, the problem lies in the fact that the quarterback is over 35 and dealing with back injuries. Tony Romo doesn’t have but maybe three more years left before he retires. You can build the best team around for the next few years, but you need a good quarterback to put you at the next level. Plus, you do want to strike gold in the Tony Romo era. Peterson helps you do that.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not going to break the bank for Peterson or leverage the future. If you have to give him big money and a lot of high-quality draft picks, then move on. The team can draft a quality back in the draft, and the defense is starting to shape up already with Sean Lee and Rolando McClain returning. Defensive end Greg Hardy brings you a low-risk, high-reward option on the defensive line and you can always draft a great cornerback.

Yet, if the price is right and you can make it work, go for Peterson. Because that would not only make you the odds-on-favorite to win the Super Bowl this season, but probably for the next three years as well.

Dallas Mavericks Playoff Preview:

Man do I love playoff time in the NBA, especially when my Dallas Mavericks are in it. It seems that lady luck is on our side because everything went right Wednesday night to set up the dream match-up for the Mavs in the first-round. Here come the Rockets! Some might be discouraged because of the Rockets being a number 2 seed and the injury and chemistry concerns with the Mavs. Yet, this match-up is really favorable for the Mavs.

How can the Mavs win? They need Center Tyson Chandler to make an impact in this series and go toe-for-toe with Dwight Howard. To have a chance in this series, you need to be able to neutralize Howard’s ability to protect the rim and dominate the paint. Of course there is also a matter of trying to stop James Harden from going crazy on the offensive end. Put Rajon Rondo on him and let him frustrate Harden. In the regular season series with the Rockets, Harden went down five percentage points anytime Rondo covered him.

Then on the offensive end, you’ve got to find ways to score. They need to Run DMC! Dirk, Monta, Chander Parsons! If those three can get going, this series will be long and very entertaining.

So I am going with Mavericks in 6 because I have to have hope right?

Texas Rangers:

Speaking of hope, there is none for this team. They suck!

Irvin says Cowboys are going to "explode"? Really?

So Demarco Murray is gone and the Dallas Cowboys are going to explode? That is what former Cowboys great Michael Irvin said when asked about the decision for Murray to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles this past week. In fact, Irvin was rather upset, not with Murray, but with the Cowboys for not paying him what was necessary to keep him around. Sounds kind of foolish don’t you think?

Murray picked the Eagles over the Cowboys mainly because the team wouldn’t offer him the big guaranteed money. According to the reports, the Cowboys offered around $12 million in guaranteed money, while the Eagles came in with $21 million. The decision wasn’t about loyalty or being hurt, it was all about the money. If Dallas even came close in that regards, he would be a Dallas Cowboy still. So why is Irvin blaming the Cowboys for sticking to their financial model?

“The new Dallas Cowboys, everyone says they’re not wasting money,” Irvin said in an interview with the Dallas Morning News. “Well when you have a winning formula and you keep a winning formula, that’s not wasting money.”

Irvin also said in an interview with 105.3 the Fan that he felt the Cowboys had a family and that is what it takes to win in this league. He recalled stories about his relationship with former Cowboy great Emmitt Smith and how they backed each other up on the football field. He tries to say that is what you had with Dez Bryant and Murray. Sorry, Playmaker, but there is one inherent flaw to your argument.

Back in the 1993 season, Smith held out for the first two games trying to force the Cowboys to give him a new deal. The team lost both games and Owner Jerry Jones was forced to make a deal happen for him. The Cowboys went on and repeated as Super Bowl champions later that season. Smith, who was a part of the so-called family that Irvin talked about, put business over his team that year. He may have loved Irvin and Aikman, but he wanted his money.

Today, Murray’s former teammates also made some “business decisions” as well. I didn’t see Tony Romo restructuring his mega-contract to help fit Murray in.  Dez Bryant didn’t like what the Cowboys offered him so he has a franchise tag on him that costs the Cowboys with a huge cap-hit. I am not blaming these players, but pointing out that the NFL is a business first and winning and teamwork comes second in this league.

Irvin still is worried about these Cowboys and said that the team could “explode” without Murray. 

With all due respect, I am sure the Cowboys will be fine without Murray. With how good the offensive-line is, the Cowboys won’t miss a beat with the running game. I think Irvin forgets that it was our defense that let the team down the last time we played.

Let’s hope Irvin settles down sometime soon or we might have another Cowboy “hater’ on NFL Network next season.

The Curious Case of Greg Hardy?

As free agency is nears, the Dallas Cowboys have one major need that has to be addressed before the NFL draft. The pass-rush is considered to be the biggest weakness on this team and we saw how it bit the team in the ass in the playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Since the draft isn’t a reliable or immediate fix to that problem, free agency is where they need to strike. There is one name out there that could be very appealing, but his legal issues might make it a major obstacle. Here is the curious case of Greg Hardy.

Hardy is one of the best defensive ends in the league. In 2012 and 2013, Hardy has put up 26 sacks. Just last year, the Cowboys only had five sacks. The problem is that Hardy is still in hot water with the league. Though he was cleared of charges of domestic abuse, the league still has him on the commissioner’s exempt list.  He could get a suspension of up to six games and signing him could be a controversial move. So do the Cowboys sign him? Should they?

Let’s pretend that the Cowboys can convince Hardy to come here and for a good price. If it comes to that point, we need to sign him and ignore the calls for morality. This is the NFL and it is naïve to believe all players are morally sound. There is another world that the fans don’t see and we aren’t meant to see. The point of the game is to win and that is all that matters. Even if Hardy is suspended six games, he would still be a huge benefit to the Cowboys.

This team has only two years left with quarterback Tony Romo playing at a high level and we are at win-now mode. It is no time for being cautious or being thrifty, it is time to win. Hardy helps this defense get to another level. If he isn’t coming because he wants a lot of money, I understand. But, if there is a chance to bring him here, you sign him and try to compete for a Super Bowl. 

Rondo+Mavs=Dynasty? Or Short Marriage

When the trade for point guard Rajon Rondo happened, I’ve got to admit I was stoked. I mean it was pure genius how Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson re-tolled the roster and brought it back into title contention in just a few short years. Now the Mavs have an All-Star point guard that can help guard the elite point guards in the West and help cement another title for Dirk Nowitzki.

That dream didn’t last long.

Now that the NBA season is winding down and the march to the playoffs is starting, the Mavs are struggling to co-exist in the Rondo-era. Even with the addition of Amar’e Stoudemire, the team is still trying to find its identity. Though the defensive numbers have improved dramatically since adding Rondo, the offensive end is still a mess. You would think adding one of the elite point guards in the game would elevate it, but sometimes you can’t force certain players with certain teams.

The Mavs run a flow offense, which generally means that there are no set or called plays. It is about playing the pick-and-roll and creating spacing all across the court. Rondo, however, is a much different point guard. He prefers to have the ball completely in his hands and to use most of the shot clock. This is not what the Mavs are comfortable with, especially when you have a ball-dominant shooting guard in Monta Ellis. Ellis needs the ball in hands to create shots and drive to the basket.

That brings us to another problem with Rondo and that is he sucks on the offensive-side of the ball.  He currently is shooting .408 percent from the floor and a dreadful .382 percent from beyond the arc. Even his free-throw percentage is at a career low .280 percent. These numbers aren’t what the Mavs need in their point guard.

Add in the fact that Rondo and head coach Rick Carlisle are fighting on-court over play calling, you got yourself a very volatile situation. If the Mavs don’t have a long playoff run, they will have to make some tough decisions this off-season with their All-Star point guard.

Dallas Cowboys:

Yesterday I mentioned that I figured it would be time for Cowboys fans to get used to the fact that Demarco Murray won’t be returning. I bet a lot of them are wondering then, who will replace him next season? That is going to be a tough question to answer, but of course there are some interesting candidates. We all know of Adrian Peterson, but I figured that will be a pipe-dream because of the mess he has up there in Minnesota. We could name draft prospects and I am sure Melvin Gordon or even Todd Gurley would be a great addition.

The name I am focusing on is free agent running back Mark Ingram. The former Heisman trophy winner hasn’t made a huge impact in the NFL, but in the right situation he could flourish. The Cowboys don’t need a home-run hitter or a workhorse like Murray, but behind this offensive line Ingram and other backs can contribute big time. Ingram, at the right place, would be an incredible fit for this team.

Texas Rangers:

If the Rangers are going to do anything this year, they really need Yu Darvish to make a huge impact. I know he is coming off injury, but he has to make an impact and be one of the top pitchers in the league this season. If he isn’t in the conversation for the Cy Young award, don’t be surprised if the Rangers aren’t in the conversation for making the playoffs.

Quote of the Day:

“It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up.”

— Vince Lombardi

EA gets Mike Florio's job!

In less than three months, I will be graduating with a degree in Journalism and I am confident in getting a job very quickly. It won’t be at some small-town newspaper, but I am gunning to be running NBC’s Pro Football Talk. After what Mike Florio pulled these last two weeks over the Dez Bryant situation, I am supremely confident I could do a better job without any experience necessary. Florio started this insane witch-hunt over a mysterious video tape that allegedly shows Bryant doing something criminal. Here he talks to Shan and RJ on 105.3 The FAN about the tape for the first time and created a media fire storm.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/02/20/mike-florio-on-rumors-holding-up-dezs-contract-talks/

Luckily, the firestorm has died down as facts have replaces speculation and there doesn’t seem to be any evidence of any videotape. As I am writing this, so far all the incidents that Bryant has been involved in have been known to the Dallas Cowboys. My point in all of this is to implore all reporters to replace rumors and speculation with cold, hard facts. Now, let’s get back to talking about real sports.

Dallas Cowboys:

The Cowboys are gearing up now in free-agency as we now know what they plan to do and it is what we all expected they would do. According to Mark Lane of Fox Sports Southwest, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said they plan to put the franchise tag on Bryant by the deadline tomorrow. The tag will pay Bryant roughly $13 million in 2015. The Cowboys believe this will only be a placeholder and allow the team to continue to have more time to work out a long-term deal with Bryant.

"We just don't want to lose his rights," Jones said. "We think Dez is a, you know, unique player and certainly a big part of what we do in terms of what we've done, our success, and certainly going forward."

I am not surprised by the move, because why would the Cowboys want to let go their second-most important player. The franchise tag just prevents Dez from getting interest from other teams and allows the both sides to talk over a long-term deal until July 15^th. In my opinion, this will get done by the Summer time and at the latest by the deadline. The Jones family is known to get stuff done around deadlines.

Yet, the pessimistic fans out there are worried and yelling about why haven’t the Cowboys backed up the money truck to Dez’s front door. There are two answers and they are quite simple to understand. 

First off, the Cowboys aren’t in the business of paying big-time contracts to players anymore. Their sins of the past have come back to haunt them and that is why they have been in terrible cap situations over the years.  With Stephen Jones running the show now, there has been a change in philosophy. They don’t want to pay the big bucks until they know for sure they can trust the player and it will pay off in the end. That leads me to my second point on the hesitation of the Cowboys to pay the “big bucks”.

It has nothing to do with off-the-field issues; it has to do with health. I am thinking the team is worried about the amount of back issues that have crept up over the past few years. While it hasn’t affected Bryant in terms of missing games, it has concerns. If these back issues keep coming up, why pay big money for a player that could miss games.

Regardless, according to Mike Fisher of CowboysHQ.com, the Cowboys were close to deal with Bryant in October, but he switched agents. That pushed back negotiations back to square one. The Cowboys and Bryant’s new agent, Tom Condon, finally talked on the phone and it seems like negotiations will start soon. Like I said before, I believe they will get Bryant locked up and he will be a Cowboy-for-life.

Another All-Pro Cowboy won’t be returning to join Bryant next season, in my personal opinion. Mark Lane also reported that Stephen Jones said it is likely running back Demarco Murray will test free agency.

"[Murray] is probably going to, you know, get some peace and see what's out in the market and then we'll talk and see. I do believe deep down he'd love to stay in Dallas."

Murray, who had a MVP-caliber season last season, knows this will be his last chance for a big contract. Running backs these days only get one chance at the big one and after that it is chump change. That is just how running backs are valued these days in the NFL. So what would make sense for Murray in the long run? Take less money and stay on a good team and compete for a title or go to another team simply for the money?

What I think will happen is that he will leave to the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have a lot of cap-room, they desperately need a running back, and they are poised to get to the Super Bowl, especially if they add a player like Murray.

So Cowboy fans, start trying to imagine life without Murray and let us start trying to piece together the search for his replacement.

Tomorrow’s preview:

We are going to talk about the Rondo problem with the Mavs, Texas Rangers talk, and we look into the multiple options for Demarco Murray’s replacement.

Great inspirational Sports Quote of the Day:

“I always felt that my greatest asset was not my physical ability, it was my mental ability.”

– Bruce Jenner

The Return of EA SPORTS DFW!

After a long delay, the EA Sports DFW blog is back to a triumphant return. A lot has happened to the DFW sports scene since we last talked and we have a lot to cover.

Dallas Mavericks:

A lot to digest with this team and I still can’t come up with a definite feeling towards this squad. They are talented, but too many times this team has come up short in trying to live up to our expectations. They started out the year having one of the more efficient offenses in NBA history but had one of the more dreaded defenses in the league. The trade for Rondo started with so much hype and now has many fans questioning the move. Now, new forward Amare Stoudemire is the new hope for this Mavs team that is still trying to put all the pieces together. In his Dallas debut against the Charlotte Hornets, Stoudemire had an impressive outing off the bench with 14 points and three rebounds in just 11 minutes of playing time. His offensive game and rebounding skills look to help this Mavs squad this is struggling to find bench help. If Amare can follow up with even more impressive outings down the stretch, then fans can have some optimism going into the playoffs this year.

Dallas Cowboys:

There isn’t any down time for America’s Team and the drama is building up as Free-Agency nears. According to Mike Florio of Pro-Football Talk, apparently there is a video of Cowboys All-Pro receiver Dez Bryant doing “Ray Rice type things”. My take on this is that it is complete b.s.  First off, if this was something to deal with any law being broken, wouldn’t we hear something from law enforcement trying to see this tape? Also, I am sure this would be a huge story that nay reporter would want to break. Yet, we still have multiple reporters including Mike Fisher of 105.3 the Fan has no clue of. The Cowboys have also expressed puzzlement over the existence of this video. The video doesn’t exist, trust me Cowboys fans. It doesn’t seem plausible.

Yet, there is something to be concerned about with Dez Bryant. The contract negotiations aren’t going well and it does seem that a franchise tag might be coming. According to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News, Stephen Jones said the Cowboys are “leaning” towards applying the franchise tag on Dez.  

Jerry Jones even said that they haven’t really talked to Dez’s new agent since the change was made mid-season. So what is the hold up? I am thinking that there is still no trust between the front-office and Bryant and they aren’t comfortable with guaranteeing big money towards him. The only other plausible reason this isn’t happening is maybe Dez and his agents want a ridiculous contract.

Regardless, this is a bad situation because franchising him will not only take up significant cap space, but it will piss him off. Dez did say not to test his loyalty. Jerry is sure testing it right now.

Texas Rangers:

As pitchers and catchers are reporting in Arizona for spring training, there is a bit of excitement for the Rangers from myself. Yes, they were unbearable to watch last season as injuries derailed this team but I think there is room for optimism. Yes, we don’t have Ron Washington here anymore bringing his leadership to this franchise, but Jeff Banister is just as capable of bringing that same intensity. Also, this team is finally HEALTHY! We can finally see what this team was meant to be last year, with some minor additions. While I don’t think this team will compete for a title, they are surely in the race for the division title. So let’s relax and just be happy baseball is back!

Dallas Stars:

Do I really have too? No? Thanks..

Follow me at @easportsdfw for more updates and my thoughts on sports.