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.