The Dez Problem: Why Garrett needs to revamp his offense

If you have tuned into the local radio show that I am a part of in the last year or so, you would notice I really like Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett a lot. I would have to defend him against my fellow co-hosts who think he might be one of the worst head coaches in all of sports. Until last week, I thought they were all crazy. Now, I would be totally in favor of sacking Garrett.

Why the change? This offense has turned into a bland and predictable piece of garbage if someone not named Tony Romo is in at quarterback. Last week’s performance against the New York Giants showed us how bad things really are underneath the surface.

Even with Romo out, it was thought that Dak Prescott would succeed because of all the quality weapons surrounding him.  He had a healthy Dez Bryant, one of the best offensive lines in the league, a young and dynamic running back and a veteran security blanket in Jason Witten.  So how did they manage to score only one touchdown against the Giants?

First off, give the Giants some credit. They spent big money to upgrade their defense and it worked. They were committed to stopping the run and forcing Prescott to beat them through the air. Also, there were times when Bryant and Cole Beasley could have helped the cause by actually catching the football near the end zone. Yet, there was something terribly wrong with the overall game plan and philosophy.

Dez Bryant is your most dynamic weapon and needs to be involved more than just being a decoy. Instead of moving him around the field to create better mismatches, Bryant is mostly lined up to be a deep threat. Here’s a rundown of the type of routes that Bryant ran thanks to Joey Ickes of Blogging the Boys.com.

Final Route #s for Dez full game: pic.twitter.com/k9pNsnyFvQ

— Joey Ickes (@JoeyIckes) September 13, 2016

21 of 44 of Bryant’s routes were Go routes with the next most being 5 a deep over. This is not a winning formula in today’s NFL. The problem is the Cowboys think this is how you have a successful offense. Their philosophy is to allow them to double Dez and then throw to the other weapons on the team. If Dez gets open and makes some game-changing plays, then awesome. If not, they are still moving the ball with their other players.

Problem with that is your other weapons aren’t going to make dynamic plays. Witten and Beasley can move the ball, but they don’t beat the defense effectively. In the end, Bryant has to get more than one catch in the ball game. It is that simple.

So why is this not a problem when Tony is at QB? Mainly because Romo is a seasoned veteran that can adjust the plays at the line of scrimmage and knows how to get the ball to Bryant. Romo has hidden a lot of the warts that Garrett’s offense has. Once Romo leaves the offense, it is clear how predictable it can become.

If Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan don’t change things fast, they might not have their jobs much longer. Romo can’t carry Garrett forever.

2016 NFL Season Predictions

The NFL season is here and what a game to start week one.  The Denver Broncos defended their championship by edging out the Carolina Panthers 21-20. Though one game is in the books, I still have time to release my really bad season predictions. So here we go!

AFC:

AFC East: Patriots

AFC North: Steelers

AFC South: Jaguars

AFC West: Broncos

Wild Card: Raiders, Colts

NFC:

NFC East:  Cowboys

NFC North: Packers

NFC South: Panthers

NFC West:  Cardinals

Wild Cards: Seahawks, Vikings

AFC  Championship: Steelers Over Broncos

NFC Championship:  Cardinals Over Packers

Super Bowl:  Cardinals over Steelers

MVP: Aaron Rodgers

OPOY: Adrian Peterson

DPOY:  Kahlil Mack

ROPOY:  Zeke Elliot

RDPOY: Myles Jack

Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians

Week 1 Predictions:

TB over Atlanta

BAL  over BUF

HOU over  CHI

GB over JAX

KC over SD

OAK over NO

CIN over NYJ

PHI over CLE

TEN over MINN

SEA over MIA

DAL over NYG

IND over DET

ARI over NE

PITT over WAS

LA over SF

Cowboys go 9-7 in 2016; Win Division Title despite Romo's injury

After months and months of preparation, bad news and some fake football, the NFL regular season is finally here. For the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday afternoon might be the start of one of the biggest transitional moments since 2006.

With starting quarterback Tony Romo sidelined for the first part of the season with a major back injury, a litany of questions regarding the pass rush and a rookie quarterback tasked with shouldering the burden of this team, the Cowboys have a lot on their plate as they open the season with the New York Giants.

Will the Cowboys make the playoffs?  Here is how I think the season will unfold in 2016.

With Dak Prescott running the show for at least the first six games, Cowboys will find success but the growing pains of starting a rookie will be prevalent. Look for the Cowboys to go 3-3 entering the bye week in week 7. I think any Cowboys fan would love that situation.

By Week 8, Romo will make his return and lead the Cowboys to two straight victories over both the Eagles and the lowly Browns. Unfortunately, expect back-to-back losses to the Steelers and Ravens and the Cowboys enter Thanksgiving 5-5.

Romo then returns to his winning ways on Thanksgiving, beating the rival Redskins. They follow it up with two straight victories over the Vikings and Giants before losing to a young and talented Bucs team at home.

With two games left in the season, the Cowboys split the final two games in the season beating the Lions and losing the finale at home to the Eagles.

Cowboys finish the season at 9-7 and squeaking in a NFC East title.

Will this happen?  Most likely not, but there is some hope for this team this season. Health and luck will have to play a big part in 2016. Either way, this will be a season to remember for Cowboys fans.  

Sorry Tony, It is time to hang them up

For the few minutes that Tony Romo lay on the ground in the first quarter of last Thursday’s preseason game against Seattle, Dallas Cowboys fans were worried that the end had come for the Romo window. Romo did get up, but it was later revealed he suffered a fracture in his vertebrae and could be out 6-10 weeks.  Though he will be back later in the season, it is apparent now that he must seriously consider retirement.

A little disclaimer before we get started, I love Tony Romo. Since 2006, when I started my interest into sports, he was the first player I identified with. Since then, I would defend him at all lengths and applaud when he would make those Houdini-like plays. He was my quarterback, borrowing a phrase from former Romo teammate Terrell Owens. Yet, in the last few years, I was in total denial about the long-term health issues that seemed to be plaguing him. The hit that happened last Thursday finally woke me up.

The Romo-Era is coming to an end.

Why the change?  The numbers simply told the story to me. With the current injury, it will be the sixth time since 2008 that Tony Romo won’t play a full season.  That doesn’t count the multiple times he has suffered major injuries and still played through them. Remember when he had a punctured lung? This shows us two narratives; Romo is one of the toughest players in all of sports and he is also one of the most fragile.

It has gotten worse since the start of the 2013 season. He had four surgeries and two separate fractures on his back. It seems every time he gets hit, fans have to hold their breath to see if he will get back up.

As he gets older, it will get worse.  Football is a brutal sport and it is much worse to those who are older. It is a young man’s game and Tony is tempting fate every time.

He will return this season and could be fine and lead the team into the playoffs. Romo could return for next season and play at a high level. But, the next hit could also be the one to knock him out forever.  No player should have to retire that way. Lifting up your children is much more important than lifting the Lombardi Trophy. 

EA: Striving for Greatness

Joining the sports media world might be a tougher task than actually playing in a professional league. It has been one year since I have graduated from college with a journalism degree. I was actually excited back then to get into sports media. I started to fill out job applications like no other, sometimes filling out 20 in a day. It didn’t matter where the job was, I was going to apply and make a name for myself. I was going to be the next Peter King or Dan Patrick. Visions of grandeur filled my head and helped me sleep at night.

I never heard back from anyone. A year vanished as I tried to find work, while my parents worried over my future. In my household, you were expected to be a lawyer or a doctor, something with job security. I was a rebel though; I wanted to get into the sports world as much as possible. It was my dream since I first turned on 105.3 The Fan back in the summer of 2009.  Against all odds, I chose a different path to make a name for myself.

It hasn’t been the easiest decision in my life. Multiple people inside and outside the business have told me that it is a dying business and I have made a mistake. One person told me that I wasted a lot of money with my Journalism degree. On top of it, I see multiple colleagues of mine getting jobs right here in Dallas with big time organizations, while I struggle to get just an interview. It caused me to doubt myself and wonder did I ruin my future.

I won’t lie; this past year has been extremely hard on my psyche. I am man enough to admit, I have had to cry myself to sleep over what this dream of mine has cost me. 2015 was not a good year.

The biggest question that kept running through my head was, Should I quit?

There was only response back. Never.

I haven’t given up once in life and I am not going to stop now. I know I am one step closer and I know it will be worth it in the end.

I am writing this to all those struggling with their dreams and just asking them to keep at it. Anything worthwhile in this world must be paid for with blood, sweat and faith.

The time we have on this planet is short and it could all end in a blink of an eye. So spend it doing something you love and that is how you make your life worthwhile.

I wanted to thank Walter Chism, Tovash Hatcher, Marcus Mays, Quincy Fraser, Glenn Jackson, Mike Fisher, Gavin Dawson, Chris Arnold, Jeff Cavanaugh, Ben Rogers, Cory Mageors, Mark Lane, and countless others who have given me a chance or the support I need for my dream. I will never forget it.

Dallas Cowboys desperate pass rush options

Well, that escalated quickly. The Dallas Cowboys, who desperately need a pass rush, struck out on another free agent defensive end as Chris Long skips dinner with head coach Jason Garrett to sign with the New England Patriots. So what happens next? There is a possibility of a trade or going into the draft and taking guys like Joey Bosa or Noah Spence.

The free agent market is dried up, but there are some names that could be of some help for the ailing pass-rush. Let’s look at some of the names.

1.)  Jason Jones- He is a 30 year-old pass rusher that is basically the best of the eh. He was decent in Detroit last season and was considered their second-best pass rusher. He had 4.5 sacks in 2015 and was decent against the run. It looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers visited with him and is interested in signing him, but if the Cowboys want to make a move to stop the bleeding, they could do it with Jones.

2.)    Jeremy Mincey- We all know and love Mr. Mincey. While sacking quarterbacks in 2014, he also produced music that was quite entertaining. Unfortunately, Mincey didn’t have much of an on-the-field impact for the Cowboys as he didn’t record a single sack. That could be because Greg Hardy was getting a lot of the snaps, but it is a worrisome sign that Mincey might not be an impact player anymore. Yet, as desperate as the Cowboys are, the team might have to return to the veteran defensive end to help solidify the pass rush and bring leadership to the defense.

3.) Dwight Freeney- OK, this is getting bad. Do we really think Freeney can be a savior for the Dallas’ pass rush? He might not be the solution, but he could be a rotational player and can hold down the fort until Randy Gregory returns from his four-game suspension. It is very unlikely the team will sign him, but he is out there.

Troublemakers:

1.)    Greg Hardy- He may be the most talented of all the defensive ends that were in this free-agent draft class, but he is also the most troubled. After a turbulent season with the Cowboys, Hardy seems to have soured his relationship with a lot of teams. We know Dallas won’t sign him, at least if it was head coach Jason Garret’ call. According to Mike Fisher of CowboysHQ.com and CBS DFW, the Cowboys will not bring back Hardy. Hardy also hasn’t visited or had any interest from other teams as well. According to “The Dallas Morning News”, Hardy is back at Ole Miss finishing his degree. It seems safe to say that Hardy won’t be a Dallas Cowboy.

2.  Aldon Smith- UMM NO.  He’s suspended for at least half the year. No thanks.

Looks like it might be Joey Bosa in the NFL Draft. No bueno.

Elliott to the Cowboys?? Not so Fast!

How can the Dallas Cowboys royally screw over their draft this year? Oh by drafting Ohio State phenom running back Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4 overall pick.

Recently, ESPN Dallas writer Jean-Jacques Taylor had an article out that detailed why the Cowboys need to take Elliott in the first round. He had some valid arguments that almost swayed me to switch over and take the Buckeye at No.4.

Taylor pointed out that Dallas Quarterback Tony Romo had his best season in 2014, when he was attempting 30 or fewer passes in games. That was thanks to the marvelous season former Cowboys running back Demarco Murray, who rushed for 1,845 yards en route to winning the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award.

With Murray grinding out yards during the game, it allowed Romo to pick where to attack and gave him a lot of breathing room to help carry the team to 12 wins and a playoff victory in 2014. It was truly the best combination the Cowboys have had in recent years and I get why Elliott would be a guy that could help bring back that magic.

My problem is that I think you can still find that kind of running back later in the draft and still use current starting running back Darren McFadden. Did we forget that during this dreadful 2015 campaign, McFadden still ran for 1,200 yards behind an offensive line that declined in play? Add in a young running back in second or third rounds and the team can still churn out that 2014 magic.

If Elliott was a top-5 player in this draft class, I would be happy to bring him in, but he isn’t. There are far better players to choose from. The Cowboys have to stick to their board and take the best player available and at pick No. 4, Elliott isn’t that player. Players like linebacker Myles Jack, defensive back Jalen Ramsey and defensive end Joey Bosa are all better than Elliott.

Fans and media alike used to kill the Cowboys for drafting for need because it led to reaching on players and that is exactly what will happen if they draft Elliott.

Be smart and take the best player on the board at No.4. It’s a safe bet it won’t be the phenom running back from Ohio State.

THE MFFL Dream is Dead

One of the more memorable sports memories for me was when the Dallas Mavericks beat all odds to win the 2011 NBA championship. It had all the drama that sports could offer and as a Mavs fan you were on top of the world. That feeling didn’t last long as the team has fallen off to mediocrity in the last five years.

The front-office tried their best to stay relevant and make the last few years of Dirk Nowitzki’s career worth something, but they have failed at getting the “big-fish” superstars to come to Dallas. Now as the second-half of the 2015-2016 NBA season ramps up, the Mavs find themselves sputtering into mediocrity. Fans aren’t connecting anymore and the excitement level for the team is at an all-time low. Now there is a movement to force the team to tear everything apart and build everything through the draft.

I used to be totally against this movement, always preaching that the NBA draft is overrated and this team can be successful if it can just try to land some superstars through free-agency. I am sad to say I was wrong and I fully endorse tanking this team.

It is hard for the Mavericks to really tank anytime soon, especially since Dirk is on the team. Yet, they need to start embracing that mindset now because it seems that is the only way this team is going to get better. Owner Mark Cuban was on the G-Bag Nation on 105.3 The Fan earlier this week and it doesn’t seem like they are going to change their philosophy anytime soon. In fact, Cuban talked about having better player development as a way to ensure a more solid roster.

While I am glad he is fixing some of the issues, he fails to see how the rest of the NBA really is building their teams, which is through the draft. While there are examples of teams that don’t get it right when doing it through the draft, i.e. Cleveland and Philadelphia, there are other teams like the Warriors and the Spurs that dominate the NBA because of their attention to the draft.

Remember guys like Dominique Jones, Rodrigue Beaubois and 2015 second-round pick Satnam Singh? Yeah, that is just the tip of the iceberg of how bad the Mavericks are at drafting and this goes back years and years.

So here’s what needs to happen in the next few years. The first move I am advocating is a shakeup in the front office. Keep Donnie Nelson as President of Basketball Operations, but they need to bring in another guy to be the General Manager and be in charge of scouting and the draft. Next, they need to start trading away as many pieces and acquiring younger talent. Make Dirk’s years as comfortable as possible, but at the same time get pieces together to trade for draft picks. The point is to cushion the blow as much as possible, because once Dirk retires; this team is heading straight for the lottery. Tanking is one part of the equation; they still need to acquire talent on a consistent basis.

It is time to get ready for a life without Dirk. It going to suck, but if done right, the light at end of the tunnel can be the glare of multiple Larry O’Brien trophies.

Quaterback>Everything

Despair, destruction and depression were words you could describe about the Dallas Cowboys for the six years after former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Troy Aikman retired. None of his replacements could even come close to being competent. It was by sheer luck that his true heir was even found, as Tony Romo went from undrafted free agent and backup, to franchise player. Fast-forward to 2016 and Tony is getting old. Coming off multiple surgeries to his back and collarbone and missing most of the 2015 season, things are bleak for number 9. While he still has some stuff left in the tank to make some magic happen, you would be a fool if you didn’t find his replacement now.

Going into this draft, many fans and pundits believe it is time to make use of the fourth overall pick in the draft and select one of the stud quarterbacks.  Then there is a complete other faction that wants to take advantage of having a high pick to either bolster the defense or add a weapon to the offense, so that Romo can win now.  

Let’s make peace and try to map out a plan that can make both factions happy.  

It is absolutely necessary to have a quarterback ready to go in the wings. Aside from needing an eventual heir, this team needs a capable backup quarterback. Last season, the front-office gambled on it and it blew up in their face. The team went through three quarterbacks and all three were just terrible. You knew the team was still talented because they were able to stay in every game, but the ineffective play at quarterback led to disastrous results. In just one season, Dallas dropped from second to 26^th on third down conversions. The offense lost their identity and soon the season went with it.  A capable backup is needed for this offense to survive.

You could go and sign a veteran backup like Robert Griffin or even Johnny Manziel, but those aren’t long-term solutions and you have to be also ready for the day Romo eventually calls it quits. The team is already very young at all the crucial positions on this team. In fact, the team had the fifth-youngest team in the NFC at 25.92, according to analysis done by the NFL during opening week of the 2015 season. So imagine a team hitting their prime, with a young quarterback who has taken the time to mature and he is ready to hit the ground running. The post-Romo window looks very appealing.

Yet, those Romosexuals, like me, are wondering about the win-now window with Tony. Yes, we would not get an impact player with the fourth overall pick, but you can get very good players that can help contribute this season. Remember, the Cowboys still pick at the top of the draft for at least the first four rounds. Add in those talented rookies to your draft haul, mix in some bargain veterans through free-agency and the Cowboys can be back in the title-conversation by the time the season kicks off in September.

See? Everybody wins. You can still go win-now with Romo and still get the quarterback of the future.

If the team decides to not go with a top quarterback this year, that is fine too, but they better hope they win now. It’s going to be dark days ahead once Romo decides to hang up his cleats.

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.