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2012-2013 Regular Season: Another
Halftime Show
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- December 1, 2012
At 11:15 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Dallas Cowboys headed into their
Thanksgiving Day game with almost everything going for them . . .
and they had a chance to turn in a timely gem.
They had a chance to win three in a row. They had a chance to deal
the Washington Redskins a crippling playoff blow. They had a chance
to pull within a half game of the New York Giants with just six
games to go.
The Cowboys’ winning streak they could not grow. Cowboys Nation –
hoping to feast on feather-headed foe – was left eating worm-ridden
crow. The Cowboys simply could not help themselves – losing 38-31 by
one faulty touchdown throw – as they just had to put on another
halftime show.
Half And Half
The Cowboys have developed another nasty habit that – for “America’s
Team” – has proven harder to contain than an elusive little rabbit.
Fans continue to shake their heads in their hands and scream
dagnabbit!
The Cowboys have spent the past few years winning and losing in
equal doses – developing a severe case of performance halitosis. The
Cowboys – this season – have repeatedly been slow from the get-go.
They stumbled out of the gate against their rival Redskins and
nearly made amends by game’s end, but they could do no better than a
halftime show.
While the first game of the year – against the Giants – was far from
perfect, it has been the only example so far where the Cowboys put
forth a complete and legitimate effort . . . before succumbing to
their latest and seemingly unstoppable defect.
The Cowboys have seemingly played – at times – with half their
starters, performed for only 30 minutes out of every game day hour,
or accomplished both . . . leaving themselves and their fans
increasingly sour.
Jerry Jones willfully maintained a “glass half full” mentality . . .
until RGIII – with a little halftime help from the Cowboys – altered
his reality. Jerry seemed to have humbly and finally seen the light
– until a few competitors suffered timely losses . . . narrowly
allowing the Cowboys back into the fight for a postseason invite.
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- While most of America understandably believes Dallas is – once again
– already around the bend, Jerry could – by the end of this weekend
– be convinced America’s Team has made it back into the potential
playoff blend.
Dallas – by the end of Monday Night’s game between the Giants and
Redskins – could be in a five way wildcard tie with the Redskins,
Buccaneers, Seahawks, and Vikings. Though current and potential
tiebreakers can and will make the situation unnecessarily
frightening, possible postseason scenarios could still –
unbelievably – work out to the Cowboys’ liking.
Dallas continues to lead an existence of half and half . . . and –
by the slimmest of margins – they may still be able to determine who
gets the last laugh.
Juice Anyone?
It is the imaginative-but-objective opinion of The Tortured Cowboys
Fan that NFL players are still in the process of preparing for the
league’s drug-testing plan.
The NFLPA and NFL owners – as a result of the painfully renewed CBA
– were supposed to have come to a mutual agreement on end-to-end
drug testing . . . comprehensive in every way. The NFLPA (still)
claims it needs more time to study the NFL’s Olympic-standard HGH
testing proposal . . . or to allow any remaining “unnatural” players
to stop using and pour their PEDs down the disposal.
Though players were (probably) told to swear PEDs off by DeMaurice
Smith – their man of the Union cloth – players o’ plenty continue to
struggle through withdrawal of the juice they used to receive with
breakfast . . . so they could compete stronger and last longer in
every game day contest. While PED usage could stop overnight, bodies
no longer recover quickly enough to withstand the next game day
fight.
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- How else can anyone rationally or scientifically explain the
incredible increase in the frequency of player injuries . . .
followed by the growing number of season-ending surgeries? Yeah,
yeah – “football is a violent sport” . . . but a lot more is going
on when the numbers so violently distort.
The players – as ridiculous as this may also sound – may absolutely
want to pound each other into the ground with no remorse and without
recourse. The players may be out to prove a point . . . that
football is simply meant to remain violent in the grid iron joint.
No matter how many penalties – from physical to financial – players
will continue to swing away until the very last play. And fans
thought they were upset when it was free agency that “took their
favorite players away from them” . . . but I digress from this juicy
mess.
What about the recent rash of players – one from the Bucs and two
from Seattle – who were caught . . . basically saying “nobody
cares?” Who ever accused the vast majority of NFL players of being
smart? Some NFL players continue to make “being dumb” an art. When
Michael Vick, in fact, "learned from the NFLPA" that players
officially had to stop using PEDs, he thought he heard "stop abusing
PETs."
And for those who would dare to insist that being on the juice is
the only way to compete . . . The Tortured Cowboys Fan says “not for
the very best natural athletes.” If you are a fake, from pro sports
you should take a permanent break. And for those who say “it’s a
free country,” The Tortured Cowboys Fan says “you are dishonoring
the history of this sport when you play unjustly.”
“Are you also implicating the Cowboys in this theory of PED dread?”
While they can be no more excluded than the next team . . . the
Cowboys – only this year – seemed to have really suffered badly from
this broken player theme.
This may be an old (and misguided) story, but the number of injured
players has gone from grim to downright gory. To all those
talented-yet-impressionable youths out there . . . the next time
someone asks, “Juice anyone?” Show some personal pride in your
skills . . . and just RUN.
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- Insult To Injury
It is troublesome enough that teams must deal with a seemingly
constant barrage of physical misery . . . with the added detail of a
natural / unnatural mystery. This problem is compounded when you
draft clearly talented players who have an injury history.
Sean Lee and Bruce Carter - who are talent wealthy - are supposed to
be a big part of the Cowboys' future at linebacker . . . if they can
just stay healthy.
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- Miles Austin - who while at Monmouth
College apparently avoided the injury bug - just needs a big hug . .
. as he continues to have huge problems - from oblique to hamstring
- overcoming his injury "thing."
DeMarco Murray has a well-known injury history and - with the
Cowboys' anemic running game - his return against the Eagles could
not be more regal. He has all the talent in the world, but Cowboys
Nation is left to wonder how long - this time - he will last . . .
before he is seen in a walking boot or is fitted for a cast.
There are other players like Mike Jenkins and Felix Jones - who have
played through pain with results that still receive moans . . . but
they have been relegated to supporting roles, as there are others
who have better displayed starting stones.
Jerry has certainly made his fair share of draft pick duds that -
with a different philosophy - could have and should have resulted in
long-term studs. Drafting talented players who struggle to remain
healthy, however, has simply added insult to injury.
Will They Or Won’t They?
Almost any other season would normally bring out fantastic fury from
the fan faithful when faced with two straight weeks of a division
enemy. This year’s Cowboys have continued to prove so violently
unreliable, however, even some of the most loyal followers been
thinking “you are dead to me.”
“You get what you demand and you encourage what you tolerate.” –
Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle . . . in reference to the
Mavericks’ still fresh 30-point home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers
that gave Dallas fans a tummy ache. Carlisle also likes to refer to
the Mavericks’ disposition as the core problem to be addressed in
order for them – game in and game out – to be in a better position.
The Cowboys certainly could show a stronger attitude, but their core
problem – even when they have been healthy – remains a lack of the
mental latitude . . . that would help deliver better playbook
knowledge, better technique, and better play-calls that take
advantage of the available talent upon which Dallas – for better or
worse – is currently reliant.
Cowboys Nation is relatively realistic, but they at least deserve to
see America’s Team put forth a complete game effort . . . not more
Herculean half-game statistics.
The Cowboys face the Eagles for the second time in four weeks . . .
and for as bad Dallas has played this season, it has been Philly
that truly reeks.
While the Eagles appear to have molted badly and completely quit on
Andy Reid, they are not about to bow out against the Cowboys. This
broke-beak bunch is not about to shy away from a second chance to do
the deed. They are not about to get trampled twice in a row by this
collective Texas tumbleweed.
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- The Eagles still have Nnamdi
Asomugha, Brandon Boykin, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie . . . who
would love nothing better than to throw a successful secondary
party. Not to be forgotten, rookie quarterback Nick Foles may do
much better in his second chance at finding Cowboys' secondary
holes. And as long as he can avoid putting more balls on the ground,
Andy Reid will continue to role the running game dice with
impressive rookie running back Bryce Brown.
This game – like all others against the Eagles – will come down to
personal pride. Who will stand and fight . . . and who will run and
hide?
If Dallas does not want to hear even more comments that are beyond
the pale . . . they better play out of their minds, they better not
fail.
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- While the Cowboys continue to sustain a ridiculous number of
injuries to their name brand, will they have enough healthy bodies
to make a late season stand?
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- Will Anthony Spencer be able to
relay the defensive signals, help his teammates find their way, and
still be able to make a play?
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- Will Murray return and display some
sorely needed running game after burn – or will the Cowboys'
o-line deny DeMarco by continuing like backups who should be riding
the pine . . . even against a feeble Philly wide nine?
Will the Cowboys continue to be a drag with their win-one-lose-one
zigzag? Will Jason Garrett be able to steer clear of another slow
start smear . . . or will he – once again – give Jerry a game day
photo of himself that reads “Next Cowboys Head Coach – INSERT HERE?”
The Cowboys are fresh off their latest halftime show. If they can
turn it around, they will remain a mildly relevant part of the
playoff show. Will their effort for 60 minutes grow . . . or will
they continue on their downward spiral with five more games to go?
We shall see. We always do.
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