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2012-2013 Regular Season: Surviving Cincy &
Steeling For Steelers
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- December 16, 2012
At 2:45 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Dallas Cowboys had appeared
unconvincingly regal in their rematch against the Philadelphia
Eagles.
"Cowboys Nation" was – once again – in a catch-22. Fans could either
be encouraged by what “America’s Team” might continue to do (or
they could remain skeptical of anything new).
The Cowboys simply could not afford any further injury – as has been
the case for weeks now. One more roster hit could send the
organization towards their seemingly annual season-ending surgery (and how).
The Cowboys were on their way to Cincinnati to face the Bengals in
their latest round of potential postseason mortality (when they
learned of another NFL tragedy). While fans and prognosticators were
used to America’s Team dissolving into fluff when required to be
mentally tough, expectations went out the windows when circumstances
suddenly became emotionally rough.
Fans – most but not all – figured “that was that.” Against a
healthier Bengals team, a defensive front four playing to the
extreme and former teammates with a vengeful head of steam (the
Cowboys were almost certain to fall flat).
Bengal Bungle
"The Tortured Cowboys Fan" – like any appreciative NFL follower – has
some fond memories of the Bengals when they were led by the
innovative Sam Wyche and the no-huddling Boomer Esiason. The Bengals
– since that time – have been downright bipolar.
This year’s Bengals team, however, is young and filled with more
promising talent than their fans have seen in quite a while. They
have experienced enough success – this year and last season – for
their fans to not want to touch that dial (and with pretty good
reason).
The Bengals – against the Cowboys – had more than a good chance (to further wipe away their history as the “Bungles” and inch
closer to the playoff dance).
The Cowboys – with their inconsistent results and patchwork roster –
were supposed to be emotionally spent. They would have been forgiven
if they had shown up as a game day imposter, but they got it
together towards the end of the game with a perfectly timed
offensive bent.
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- There would have been no shame in
Tony Romo taking a dive – as his offensive line did barely enough to
keep him alive – but Romo performed another series of escapist
dances just long enough to give his team more chances.
DeMarco Murray did his part with a big score early and – while
Dez Bryant’s index finger went from bent to fractured – with his help
a rare late victory the Cowboys captured.
The Bengals had their moments – to be clear – but Ryan’s Roughnecks
used a five-sack attack to keep them reasonably near (holding
them to more field goals and just one touchdown).
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- Dallas mustered enough strength – at the end of the game – to avoid
a Bengal bungle in the Cincinnati Jungle . . . and make fallen
teammate Jerry Brown proud as they left the field (with a 20-19
yield) and headed out of
town.
Raggedy From Tragedy
While the Dallas Cowboys continue to mourn over the loss of Jerry
Brown, an equally injured and highly determined Pittsburgh Steelers
team has come to town.
The Cowboys survived Cincinnati’s spunk, but they will have to steel
themselves (showing greater strength against the Steelers to
avoid returning to their traditional late-season funk).
Mental and physical toughness on the grid iron, however, comes up
rather small to a task inconceivably tall. It takes uncommon courage
– for the families and friends of the victims of the past few weeks
– to avoid an unimaginably emotional rut in
Kansas City, Dallas, and, now, Newtown, Connecticut. Compared to such
devastating human loss, succeeding on football Sunday – even with
less than your best – should be no harder than underhand toss.
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- The once-elegant "human condition" has been downgraded to the "human excuse,”
and when it comes to personal accountability and social
responsibility, people from all walks of life have been increasingly
playing it fast and loose. Josh Brent drank so much juice that – in
his inhibited state – he decided against a safer seat in the back of
a readily-available caboose. Brent was not the first person nor,
sadly, will he be the last to drive drunk and fast (and
the avoidable tragedy – by every stretch – still makes those
affected want to retch).
There are still others in
society who struggle
daily to act "normally" – regardless of how they travel or
which beverage they use to unravel – and they simply end up functioning horribly. They are
sometimes – by coverage-cuffed physicians – only topically
diagnosed or mildly medicated (when support should be far more
dedicated). They are oftentimes by family and friends underserved
(or by society
ignored which
leaves them dangerously unnerved). Some of these folks – fathers,
mothers, sisters, and brothers – are left to fend for themselves,
wandering the land (sometimes, even with weapon in hand).
The Tortured Cowboys Fan – in the
last edition – made a universally-held statement about careless act
abatement:
"Society does not mind if an
individual – with no personal responsibilities – wants to jump off a
cliff and end it all. As long as no one else is physically affected,
that individual can have a ball. If an individual with multiple
dependents – family, employees, even teammates – makes a decision
that goes well beyond that individual’s personal space, society’s
natural inclination is to get in that person's face and demand more protective
constitutional amendments."
People talk a good game with
personal freedom but – when it comes to responsibility and moderation
in our nation – people are increasingly playing dumb. People are
responsible for the upbringing of their offspring (from biological
to orphans ready to adopt, whether they like it or not). This is
contrary to the popular belief – by those who actually could and
should be responsible – but would shun such an honor in favor of
"societal relief."
If such people showed enough
interest in their offspring to teach them just ONE thing – it would
be that the right to consume mass quantities of alcohol is pregnant with
the potential for a terrible fall (and the right to bear a
firearm is only for protection rather than an open invitation to inflict
unprovoked harm).
If people cannot or will not take
responsibility for their offspring, because – somehow – it is their
personal right to be not so bright, then, society will be forced to
install a national idiot alarm that lands their offspring on a funny
farm. The personal freedom so many people have so fervently prized
will continue to collect dust until those freedoms – to teach and to
protect – are fully realized (rather than laced with gutless
neglect).
People need to find a way to forge a
forward-thinking truce – balancing civil liberties with proactive
measures (that reasonably respect an individual's own competence,
right to self-defense, and even consumption of alcoholic pleasures).
Society – otherwise – may continue to gasp for air while wearing a
self-made noose.
No one deserves to suffer and be made raggedy from an avoidable,
unnatural tragedy.
The Tortured Cowboys Fan sends heartfelt condolences in every way (to the families of the innocent children and school staff whose
lives were senselessly taken the other day).
Will They Or Won't They?
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- Will the Cowboys – merely playing a
GAME – show the same strength two weeks in a row (while
continuing to mourn and with the weight of their playoff hopes in
tow)?
Will a clever bandage allow Bryant’s late-season success to linger
despite his now-famous broken finger or will the damage to his
digit cause his teammates and Cowboys Nation to fidget?
Will the Cowboys’ offensive line allow Romo to put up a reasonable
fight by keeping him upright?
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- Will Dez, Jason, and Miles be able to display a sense of style and
flair against Troy Palomalu’s big-hittin’ hair? Will Romo and Co. be
able to endure James Harrison and the Steelers’ defensive garrison?
Will the continued (and potential season-ending) absence of Jay
Ratliff send the Dallas defense over the cliff (or will "the
next man up" continue to help the Cowboys get closer to drinking
from the postseason cup)? Will Sean Lissemore continue to prove that
"Liss is more" (and that he is capable of becoming part of
Ryan's core four)?
Will Rob's Roughnecks to a bite out of a banged-up Roethlisberger, or will Big Ben steal a victory in Dallas like a ruthless
burglar?
We shall see. We always do.
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