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2012-2013 Regular Season: (Self)
Destruction In The District
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- December 31, 2012
At 10:30 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Dallas Cowboys had been through
quite a lot leading up to the last game of the regular season . . .
some obstacles self-inflicted and some challenges unforeseen.
Successfully navigating today’s parody-driven NFL has never been
less simple or clean.
“America’s Team” had a chance – for the second year in a row – to
win the NFC East division title . . . with an equally exhausted
Cowboys Nation in tow.
Their final regular season opponent may have been different this
time around – in the Washington Redskins – but the mission remained
the same. “WIN AND YOU ARE IN” with the reward being a home playoff
game.
While the Cowboys endured a mean season’s worth of mental and
physical breakdown on their way to Sunday night’s showdown, they
still managed to earn their postseason-dipped trip to The District .
. . Redskins Town.
The first time the Cowboys and Redskins faced either other this
season – on Thanksgiving Day – the Cowboys were in the midst of
performing another “halftime” giveaway. Dallas was blown out in the
first half, but they reversed the Redskins’ route in the second half
– only to come up short at game’s end . . . and forcing Cowboys
Nation into a sad, psychotic laugh.
The Cowboys arrived at FedEx Field with even fewer healthy starters
for their kill-or-be-killed contest. They were benefitting from the
return of a couple important offensive team members – missing from
their Turkey Day Tilt . . . and it was enough of an upgrade to win,
to be honest.
Old Habits Die Hard
America’s Team and Cowboys Nation – leading up to this game of games
– had helplessly watched so many important player pieces get
terminally trapped in grid iron creases.
While other teams might have thrown up their highly-paid hands and
said “Why bother?” . . . the Cowboys enrolled a fill-in fleet from
the street – particularly on defense – and managed to do much more
than simply keep their heads above water.
The Cowboys were able to weather a season’s worth of mental and
physical fatigue . . . through a late season surge towards another
division-winning opportunity with plenty of intrigue.
Dallas STILL had just enough to win – until a familiar foil
succumbed to the ultimate football sin . . . ruining another grand
opportunity with an old and painful habit, dagnabbit!
After seeing Rob Ryan’s Roughnecks (and a one-armed Ware) repeatedly
run over by the Redskins’ running game, absorb two of his ill-timed
interceptions, and get a precious late game stop on third down, Romo
lost his lid and successfully followed through on his THIRD
interception bid . . . officially completing his transformation back
into a turnover clown.
Cowboys Nation – in one fell swoop – went from possibly seeing Romo
rise to the occasion to overcome his own mistakes and be cause for
celebration . . . to – instead – seeing Romo scratching his head
after committing an unforgivable mental crime. He might as well have
been breaking into song and dance like Britney Spears . . .
performing his hit single: “Pick Me Baby, One More Time!”
Romo – just prior to his horrible hat trick – had marched the
offense straight down the field . . . without either Miles “Marred
Ankle” Austin or Dez “Damaged Back” Bryant. He forced the Redskins
to yield – connecting with Kevin “Could It Be” Ogletree on a
touchdown and Dwayne Harris on the two-point conversion . . .
turning the game into a three-point contest and remaining defiant.
Ryan’s Roughnecks even managed another third down stop . . . only to
lose it on Jason Hatcher’s unintentional hands-to-the-face personal
foul slop. The Redskins ran it in for an insurance score and – with
no more than a minute left – the Cowboys could do no more. Dallas
lost 28-18 and – once again – Romo finds himself engaged in an
offseason search for a big game vaccine.
Cowboys Nation had hoped – but not blindly believed – Tony Romo had
finally achieved the necessary maturation to avoid his typical
mental flatulation just in time for his latest big game situation.
Romo’s newly-minted mental toughness – rising from the ashes of such
inexplicable roughness – had gone on early vacation right on cue . .
. leaving a suddenly light-headed legion of Cowboys fans to steam
and stew.
Fans and prognosticators – once again – are left to ponder how other
NFL starting quarterbacks of similar stats and scenarios seem to
have “IT” . . . while Romo continues to play tight under the big
game light and making Cowboys Nation madder than spit.
Old habits – for the Cowboys – continue to die hard . . . and until
they find the right psychological solution, they may continue to get
charred.
Play-Callers Or
Footballers?
While some among the Cowboys’ (more myopic) faithful may be crying
foul, The Tortured Cowboys Fan is not on the prowl and could have
been far worse . . . making recommendations – unrequited by Jerry –
that might change Romo’s scenery or land his football career in a
hearse.
Rob Ryan’s Roughnecks were really beaten up, hanging on – against
the Redskins – by a thread . . . and Romo knew if he made one poor
mental move, his deficient defensive teammates would be dead.
Bill Callahan’s offensive linemen struggled for most of the year
with blitz protection . . . and Romo knew if he was forced to hold
onto the football long enough, his pass blocking pups would
irrevocably turn into marshmallow fluff.
Jason Garrett’s play-calling was as stubbornly uncreative as ever –
seemingly inflexible towards the Redskins’ relentless blitzkrieg – and Romo knew he could not simply follow orders without some
effort to audible away from growing fatigue.
Joe DeCamillis’ special teams – outside of Dwayne Harris who did his
best not to energize but not embarrass – had not been special all
season . . . and Romo knew he might have to string together long,
sustained drives – from poor field position – to save the Cowboys’
lives.
Could Ryan – with all of his downright tropical collection of exotic
plays – have reached down deep within to call less complex plays (to
pull his street squad out of their collective haze) to help secure a
late game win?
Could Callahan – with all of his wide-ranging offensive experience –
have reached down deep within to call less complex protections to
help secure a late game win?
Could Garrett – even with his painfully slow but well-intentioned
“process” – have reached down deep within to call plays that more
accurately and creatively fit his available talent . . . to help
secure a late game win?
Could DeCamillis – even with his sometimes spastic special teams –
have reached down deep within to create a little after burn for each
kick and punt return . . . to help secure a late game win?
Did Romo, Ryan, Callahan, Garrett, and DeCamillis have opportunities
– earlier in the season with a healthier roster in the hopper – to
make decisions that could have unblocked their postseason stopper?
YES . . . and they should all confess to their collective mess.
Did Romo, Ryan, Callahan, Garrett, and DeCamillis have opportunities
– through the final game – to “make adjustments” rather than fall
back on the usual . . . and coming up lame? YES . . . and they
caused even more unnecessary duress.
Cowboys Nation watched their favorite team leave FedEx Field on an
all-too-familiar path to offseason vacation.
Cowboys Nation – for the second straight season – was driven insane
watching America’s Team succumb to even more bleeding on the brain .
. . and for the same old no-good reason.
Fans have grown overtired of trying – again and again – to decipher
who deserves to be skinned alive for causing the Cowboys to
experience another season-ending nosedive.
Who is most responsible for sounding the siren – for much of the
past 17+ years – that has provoked the Cowboys’ propensity for
gagging on the grid iron . . . inciting fans into well-earned jeers?
Is it the play-callers or footballers?
Even the most dedicated of Dallas fans know the answer is BOTH . . .
when determining who can accurately be accused of repeatedly
stunting the Cowboys’ growth.
Infection Of Conviction
Fans have heard – time and time again – “Tony Romo is the NFL player
who has been under the most scrutiny over the past few years.” If
one thing is certain, Romo has made some amazing plays to bring on
grateful cheers . . . and he has delivered some disasters to bring
on hateful jeers.
Fans – some but not all – greet this with righteous frustration,
anger, and even tears . . . but that is not always how it has been,
nor does it definitively mean the big one Romo cannot win.
When Bill Parcells – back in 2006 – felt compelled to replace Drew
Bledsoe (much for him over his career) with (undrafted, unproven,
and unknown) Tony Romo . . . he did so with conviction.
Parcells had never been a coach who really and regularly rolled the
dice, but he figured Antonio Romero Romo would suffice. It was up to
Romo to turn The Big Tuna’s conviction into a team wide infection .
. . a belief that – AT (After Troy) – the Dallas Cowboys had finally
found quarterback relief.
Romo had dazzled and frazzled during his time in Big D . . . but
continued belief (not blind faith) in him will be the key.
Some fans think salary cap space, timely-and-talented free agents,
and top draft choices all grow on trees . . . and fans like that –
you can never appease. Others understand – like The Tortured Cowboys
Fan – you better have a solid backup plan if you are determined to
break up the band.
You better be certain you can replace Romo with someone who will
perform at least as well with your existing roster . . . before you
draw the curtain. You need to know you have not been drinking too
much beer before you ask Romo to call it a Cowboys career.
No one is forgetting or ignoring the fact that – even with all their
issues from painfully physical to mentally hysterical – the Cowboys
still had a chance until the very end to beat the Redskins . . . and
leave the game wearing an NFC East Division Championship hat.
It did not matter how banged up they were. It did not matter how
porous the defense looked against Alfred Morris. Even as fans were
about to grab for the flask, the Cowboys were still just barely up
to the task. All they had to do was avoid the most basic, mindless
of mistakes, but that was simply too much to ask.
Romo, his teammates, and coaches may still – deep within – have the
incredible solution to their limitless poor execution.
It is going to take another offseason of uncommon conviction – from
the core of the Cowboys organization to the farther reaches of
Cowboys Nation . . . and the hope of another powerful infection to
recharge the international Dallas obsession.
Will They Or Won’t They?
Regarding Romo, Cowboys fans do not have a choice no matter what
they might voice.
Why is The Tortured Cowboys Fan lumping Romo in with inconsistent
coaches?
The Cowboys have gone from being known as perennial winners to
professional beginners.
He may excel at helping his team escape and survive the beginning
and middle of the regular season . . . but his repeated end-game
failures amount to treason. He knows better – with a practically transparent
offensive line and a cracked rib. If he takes
unreasonable and unnecessary risk, fans and peers alike will
continue to view him with a bib, raise their collective finger, and
say “Tsk-tsk.”
When the decisions and results of other NFL coaches are so tired,
they are usually fired.
Jason Garrett? Some fans can hardly bare it. While his is – indeed –
a (long-term) process, Garrett’s approach was never supposed to be
such a clumsy cranial colossus.
Though he was severely undermanned and having to deviate from what
was planned, fans had to confess that Rob
Ryan got a lot more out of a lot less.
And yet – while Ryan was using less playbook confusion to limit his defensive
contusion . . . he still may end up all wet. Buddy’s spawn may be
gone. This year, Ryan did not talk nearly as much, but his players
still could not consistently come through in the clutch.
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- The Cowboys have plenty of offseason decisions – as usual – and
everyone is waiting to see where Jerry Jones makes the first
incision.
Will Romo receive a contract extension that breathes much-needed
life into the Cowboys’ cap space?
Will Romo reward Jerry’s expected generosity with results befitting
adults? Will he finally be able to deliver a season-ending slap in
the face to a team other than his own . . . ending someone else’s
playoff chase?
Will Anthony Spencer receive an elusive contract extension or
another franchise tag . . . even if it was not that long ago he was
displaying performance lag? After all, just a few years ago, he
would “take plays off” . . . which made life on DeMarcus Ware
unnecessarily tough.
How much fun will Stephen Jones have with all the contracts which
surely have to be redone? Will the contracts with which he might be
dealing . . . cause an unreasonable amount of money to be pushed into the
future? Fans remember “dead money” all too well. It is really
unappealing.
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- Will Doug finally be Free to leave .
. . after another sketchy season of forcing Romo to bob and weave?
While Free came on towards the end of the season, it was only in a
part-time role. Why keep him? Dallas should get him off the
(post-June 1st) dole.
Will certain Cowboys get healthier? Will others become wealthier?
Will still others finally be cut to force Dallas into a fresh
direction and potentially out of their playoff rut?
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- Will Dallas avoid looking daft with
desperate selections in the 2013 NFL draft? Will America's Team do
it right and draft one or two solid solutions for their offensive
line fright? Will they also zero in on a few other positions of need
. . . for which fans, prognosticators, and even members of their own
organization continue to plead?
The Tortured Cowboys Fan – for the next few months – is heading
offline . . . hoping that – when these decisions are finally made –
the right folks get paid, fans are a little less dismayed, and
everything magically works out fine.
We shall see. We always do.
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