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The 52-17 drubbing of Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVII wasn't as close as the score indicated. It should have been 59-10. Buffalo's Frank Reich was beyond the line of scrimmage when he released the ball completing the pass to Don Beebe for 40 yards and a touchdown. Beebe later stripped Leon Lett of the ball at the last second on a 64 yard fumble return. The ball rolled through the end zone for a touchback. Dammit.

The offseason between '92 and '93 was pretty sweet. Cowboys fans were smiling and smiling big. Super Bowl XXVII was in the books, the Cowboys were on top again. The planets were finally aligned once again. There was no doubt this team would repeat. Who could possibly beat them?

In 1993 Free Agency was a new thing. I don't think fans had a real grasp on how it would change the game. Most players no longer spent careers with one team. But rest assured agents DID know how Free Agency would impact things, especially their own bank accounts. A bitter contract dispute between Emmitt Smith and Jerry Jones was immanent. Most headlines read things like "Trouble In Paradise" and basically predicted a team headed for self-destruction. Smith was offered $2.2 million. He wanted $4 million. He held out. There were rumblings about egos. Mainly Jerry Jones' and Jimmy Johnson's egos. Out of the gate Dallas was 0-2. How could this be happening??

January 2, 1994. Anyone remember that day? Last game of the 1993 regular season. Giants vs. Cowboys. Meadowlands. Winner is NFC East Champs. Ring a bell yet? In the second quarter Emmitt separated his shoulder after a long run. I think it was about a 40 yarder. None of us knew the severity of the injury at the time. But as the game progressed it was very obvious. He couldn't even get up after a tackle without help from his teammates. He was in tears on the sideline. His arm just hung beside his body. He never stopped running. He never stopped fighting.

At the end of that game Emmitt Smith had taken over the game offensively. My memory of that day is pretty vivid but I could be wrong about exacts. I'm sure I have it on video somewhere. Bottom line is, Emmitt was a warrior. The game went into overtime because of Emmitt. The game was won because of Emmitt. The Cowboys didn't lose another game that year(actually they didn't lose another game after Thanksgiving). They started 0-2 WITHOUT Emmitt.

I remember 3 years earlier, Emmitt Smith, the rookie, was holding out in training camp. I sent a letter to The Dallas Cowboys Weekly saying things like "Who does this guy think he is??".. "He's unproven!" You get the gist of it. At the time it felt totally justified. He WAS unproven! Sure he broke like a million records as a Florida Gator but this was the NFL baby! He was not worth the money he was asking! Obviously I didn't have a crystal ball. The letter was printed in the following week's "Letters to the Editor". Therefore I'm immortalized, IN PRINT, saying Emmitt Smith isn't worth the money.

Well, 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns later, I'm pretty sure Emmitt Smith was worth the money.

The moral of this story is this:

We're now asking ourselves is Marion Barber worth the money. Again, I have no crystal ball. I can't compare him to Emmitt Smith. That's not fair to Marion. Smith is a once-in-a-lifetime back. But Marion Barber has earned respect of Cowboys fans across the nation. His reckless style is both scary and inspiring to watch. His desire is unquestionable. His refusal to go down without a serious fight deserves recognition.

Is Marion Barber worth more than $30 million? I don't know. But I don't think the Cowboys can win that 6th trophy without him. With him, I think the Cowboys can not only win a 6th, but probably a 7th as well. Would that be worth more than $30 million? We would all ,in unison, say "YES!!". But Jerry Jones has the bankbook. What we should do as fans is not speculate what Barber is "worth" and just hope an agreement is met and we have "The Barbarian" for many years to come.

 

Posted by Bill Newcomb aka Cowboy Bill at 07:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

We're just over two weeks away from the Big Day. Of course I'm talking about the NFL Draft starting on April 26th. I've written about what I think the Cowboys should concentrate on and I've voiced about what I consider an underrated secondary. But many Cowboys fans believe the secondary needs serious help.

Unless Dallas can trade up to get either Leodis McKelvin(Troy) or Mike Jenkins(S. Florida) then I personally believe they should concentrate on offense(RB and WR) in the 1st and grab a quality BACKUP CB in the 2nd. Although we obviously have to wonder what quality CB's will be available by the 61st overall pick.

Let's take a look:

Brandon Flowers/ VA Tech- It's probably unrealistic to think he'll be available late in the 2nd but you never know. Some consider him the hardest hitting CB coming out in this year's draft. He's a bit small at 5-10 and 189 and his 40 speed is a concern at 4.55 and plays reckless at times. Has been compared to Ronde Barber. As far as I know he doesn't have a twin brother who thinks he knows everything about everything.

Reggie Smith/Oklahoma- This guy will be there late in the 2nd and I think he looks promising. At 6-1 and 199 he has size and then some. His 40 time isn't great at 4.57 but is another explosive hitter that is rarely beat deep. Plus he has good return skills. You listening, Jerry? Wade?Anybody?

 

 

Tracy Porter/ Indiana- He has tons of speed and natural ability. He runs a 4.37 40 and has great hands. Would make an awesome return guy but I'm not sure he could be a starter on THIS defense. Not a great tackler and not very strong. He might be weak but he sure is FAST!

 

 

Just keep in mind how close this team was to beating the Giants in the playoffs. We all know that the defense stepped it up late in that game and put Romo and the boys in the position to win the game. TWICE. Sure, I agree the defense can use some tweaking. But I say those tweaks are minor.

Posted by Bill Newcomb aka Cowboy Bill at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

With the draft just around the corner, some feel it's time to start thinking about a corner. It certainly seems that the deal for Tennessee Titan Adam Jones is inevitable but, considering his past antics, that brings little security at the position.

The Dallas secondary isn't nearly as inept as some "experts" would have you believe. Pro Bowl CB Terence Newman is coming in healthy this year which is huge. Anthony Henry holds his own most of the time. Henry had 6 interceptions in 13 games last season. While not stellar, that is still more than the two previous seasons(28 starts) combined. Newman had 4 INT's in as many games.

This "lacking secondary" had 19 INT's last year. Tied for 4th in the NFL in INT's doesn't seem lacking or inept to me. The secondary was and is above average in every category. Things have a tendency to get skewed because of the occasional big play given up by the secondary. Just keep in mind the injuries suffered by Newman and Henry throughout the season. Newman fought through foot and knee injuries throughout the 2007 campaign. Henry had a nasty ankle late last season. So the alarm about the Dallas secondary- at least the CB's- is much ado about nothing.

We all know Roy Williams isn't a traditional safety. I've been a huge critic of Williams over the last 2 seasons. Williams is a great run defender. He had 30 more tackles in 2007 than in the previous season. But I'm sure everyone will agree that if there is a hole in the secondary. That hole wears the number 31. He can't cover TE's like Shockey or Cooley consistently.

A 2/28/2008 report in the Star-Telegram brings up concerns about Williams' behavior in relations to the players and staff. The Star- Telegram reports: " He has become a bit of enigma in the locker room; the defense normally goes out to eat as a unit on Thursdays during game weeks, but Williams seldom attends. He has displayed a tendency to blame others for pass coverage breakdowns, something his teammates have noticed... Coaches, former coaches, teammates and ex-teammates have tried to talk to Williams, but they often receive the same defiant and defensive posturing he takes with his "friends" in the media."

Why not trade Williams? Nobody is going to take the salary cap hit that Williams would bring to the table. He signed a 4 year, $25 million extension in 2006. Trade him? Not gonna happen.

So as we approach the April 26 2008 draft, do we need go to after a corner? Maybe we consider a safety instead? Maybe use Williams in short-yardage and goal line situations in 2008? I don't pretend to know all the answers to these questions. What I do know is this team is so so close to that illusive 6th trophy. It's there for the taking. Right around the corner.

Posted by Bill Newcomb aka Cowboy Bill at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Rumors are beginning to swirl about the Cowboy’s interest in Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. Jones is arguably one of the best young DB’s/ return specialists in the NFL today. In 2006 he recorded 62 tackles, one sack, 1 forced fumble, 12 deflected passes, 4 interceptions, 130 return yards, one interception touchdown, 14 passes defended (second-team), 440 punt return yards and tied for NFL-high with 3 punt return touchdowns. Those are impressive numbers by anyone’s standards.

Now for the bad news. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 12 months, you know about Pacman’s 2007 season. Or should I say non-season.

Just before the 2007 draft Jones was involved an incident in a Las Vegas strip club that resulted in a fist fight and a shooting that paralyzed one man. On April 10, 2007, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced a 1-year suspension for Jones, to be re-evaluated after the 10th regular-season game. After a meeting between Goodell and Jones on November 5, 2007, it was announced Jones would not be reinstated during the 2007 season.

My advice to Jerry Jones and the Cowboys organization: Don’t be misled to think this player can change. He’s been given second chances before. He will be a "cancer" to this franchise. There are plenty of players available without the baggage/criminal history of Jones.

Adam "Pacman" Jones criminal history:


July 13, 2005 - Arrested and charged with assault and felony vandalism after a nightclub altercation. This began Pacman Jones NFL rap sheet. He already had a lengthy one from high school and college.

September 5, 2005 - Adam was invited to attend the Nashville Sports Council Kickoff Luncheon. Jones went off on a verbal tirade while being told to wait for his car after the event. He then refused to tip the valet service.

October 2005 - State of West Virginia filed a petition stating that Jones had not been contacting his probation officer and that he had not reported his July 2005 arrest. The judge extended the probation for just 90 days.

October 26, 2006 - Jones was issued a citation for misdemeanor assault after a female student from Tennessee State University claimed that Jones spit in her face at a Nashville night club.

Feburary 19, 2007 - Jones was in the middle of a fight and shooting at a strip club in Las Vegas that left one man paralyzed and two more wounded. The fight broke out after Jones showered strippers on stage with $81,000 dollars. The club owner claims Jones was beating a strippers head against the bar while claiming to kill one of the club’s employees.

January 3, 2008 - PacmanFebruary is accused of punching Wanda S. Jackson in the face at an Atlanta strip club called the Body Tap Strip Club. Jackson says Jones reached over the counter and sucker punched her in her left eye.

I love the Dallas Cowboys. All I can do is hope Jerry Jones does the right thing.

Posted by Bill Newcomb aka Cowboy Bill at 05:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

In weeks leading up to free agency, the buzz was the Cowboys would trade up to secure the number one pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and grab Arkansas’ stand-out running back Darren McFadden. Those rumors have since subsided but there are plenty of fans that think this is a great idea. I’m not one of them.

Please don’t misunderstand. I realize McFadden is a great player and is probably worthy of a top 5 spot in this year’s draft. But having him isn’t a necessity for the Cowboys to ensure success in the foreseeable future. In fact, this year’s class of running backs is loaded with talent. Talent that can be obtained easily without any need of changing position in the draft or giving away any picks.

Oregon Duck Jonathan Stewart has tremendous up-side. At 5-10 and 235 lbs this kid still managed to run a 4.44 40, has a vertical leap of 36.5 and benched 225 lbs 28 times at the combine in Indianapolis. Are you kidding me?? This guy is a bruiser and would be an amazing compliment to Marion Barber.

East Carolina’s Chris Johnson was the fastest running back at the combine(4.20 40) and could be easily snatched up in the second round. At 5-11 and 200 lbs he’s not the biggest back out there but could definitely add that "wow factor" Jerry Jones has been talking about.

Of course there are other areas the team needs to address besides running back. We all know the wide receivers are not getting any younger. T.O. is solid but I worry about the oft-injured Glenn. Patrick Crayton is a good-but not great receiver. No worries. That’s the beauty of having two first round picks.

Longhorn Limas Sweed is a no-brainer late in the first round. The 6-4 216 lb receiver ran a 4.46 40 and just imagine him lining up across from T.O.. Now THAT is a "wow factor".

Michigan State’s Devin Thomas. At 6-1 215 lbs he ran a blazing 4.32 40 at the combine. He could easily fall to the second round.

In my next blog I’ll discuss the defensive prospects in this year’s draft. But I’d like to add that I think Jerry Jones needs to get on the phone with Arthur Blank and start working on a deal to land DeAngelo Hall before it’s too late.

Posted by Bill Newcomb aka Cowboy Bill at 06:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)