The Dallas Cowboys and Apathy

[jayhouston12]

My expectations are low now, during the offseason i stated this team could go 14-2 and yes they could have but the problem is discipline, we don't have it

watching the cowboys is the most frustrating thing in the world

- catch hard passes, watch easy ones drop to the ground
- make tough throws in tight windows, then overthrow wide open people
- stop an offense for 3 1/2 quarters, then when it matters let them drive up the field
- move the ball in between the 5 yard line and 10 penalties occur and you settle for field goals


this is a cowboys game at its finest.

have i become numb to it? Aslong as this current regime exist nothing will change

there is no way a professional athlete should false start all the time in scoring position
there is no way a professional athlete should miss the same tackle over and over
there is no way a professional athlete should always suck under pressure
there is no way a professional athlete should not be able the block the man in front of you atleast 75 percent of the time

[DBOY3141]

I've followed the team since 1977, remember the whoop down on the Bronco's. Stayed with them through "The Catch", Landry's last days, 1-15, the dynasty, Campo, Parcells and Wade.

I stopped buying any sort of Cowboys merchandise 3 years ago, got rid of NFL ticket and cancelled my subscription to my Cowboys magazine.

I will not support Jerry Jones from a financial aspect anymore. For folks that remember the 60's, 70's and 80's with Landry and the glory days of the early 90's with Jimmy, those days were good and hopeful.

Jerry has destroyed this franchise. The Cowboys are a laughing stock of the NFL. As they continue down this road, more and more fans will follow other teams. Americans follow winners. The Cowboys are not that. Once the "old timers" pass on and kids pick their own teams, it won't be the Cowboys. Every team is on TV nowadays, so it's easy to see "your team" and the younger generation will continue to do that.

I honestly don't see the Cowboys improving one bit while Jerry is pulling the strings and if folks don't think he is, think again.

I hope I'm wrong, but the last 17 years tell me different.

[slomoxn]

I don't feel a thing when they lose now, my birthday is coming up and my wife bought me a Bruce Carter jersey, I took it back. I refuse to buy or let anyone buy me Dallas merchandise while Jerry is running the team. I feel just how I felt when I divorced my first wife when she asked if I hater her. My response, "no I don't hate you, cause hate is to close to love and I don't love you either, I feel nothing".

[jayhouston12]

I can remember a time when i felt so angry about a cowboys loss, them losing would hurt my week, and them winning would make my week. there is just no emotion left in my tank anymore, for goodness sake we loss to the Redskins and I took it well, i was smiling and having a good time with my family. i remember losing to the redskins as a child and cried, i screamed, i took offense i threw stuff but now i'm just void of all emotion weather it be win or loss

but now i feel like fireman ed, i just get up calmly during halftime and just proceed to walk out.

[Zimmy Lives]

Originally Posted by Hostile

Me and ZL, but 1970 for me.

Thanks Hos!

By the way, I also remember Harvey walking down the tunnel at Texas Stadium
after the 12/16/79 game to deliver the funeral wreath! I still get a kick out of it today. Martin thought the Redskins sent the wreath but it turned out to be a Cowboys fan who sent it to inspire them!

I still remember Diron Talbert calling Harvey a punk when he found out he threw the wreath into their lockeroom.

[zrinkill]

Originally Posted by slomoxn

my wife bought me a Bruce Carter jersey, I took it back.

Wow ...... a great guy and fan.

[erod]

It's not just the losing.

It's that the players honestly don't seem to give a rip. There was a time when you could see the pain in the players' eyes at the end of the game.

Now, I honestly don't think it bothers them past the 30-minute drive home. Just like my kids after a soccer game.

[slomoxn]

Originally Posted by zrinkill

Wow ...... a great guy and fan.

Yep, sure am.. SHE is my wife not you and she was perfectly fine with it so pull your panties out of their bunch, and far as fan... Since 1973 buddy and right now I'm about as good a fan as the Cowboys owner is a GM. Just because I don't support his money making doesn't mean I don't support the team.

[jayhouston12]

Originally Posted by erod

It's not just the losing.

It's that the players honestly don't seem to give a rip. There was a time when you could see the pain in the players' eyes at the end of the game.

Now, I honestly don't think it bothers them past the 30-minute drive home. Just like my kids after a soccer game.

I wonder what would happen if the cowboys took the field sunday night and everyone boo'd them

i wonder what would happen if people stood in the stands in cowboys gear holding up a sign that said "hurry up and choke, its decemeber" and "hurry up and choke i have better things to do"

[Apollo Creed]

Originally Posted by jayhouston12

I can remember a time when i felt so angry about a cowboys loss, them losing would hurt my week, and them winning would make my week. there is just no emotion left in my tank anymore, for goodness sake we loss to the Redskins and I took it well, i was smiling and having a good time with my family. i remember losing to the redskins as a child and cried, i screamed, i took offense i threw stuff but now i'm just void of all emotion weather it be win or loss

but now i feel like fireman ed, i just get up calmly during halftime and just proceed to walk out.

Same here dude.

I used to get sick, let it ruin my week, couldn't watch Sportscenter. Was extremely emotionally vested in this group. It was because I really believed they had what it takes to win.

After watching the Giants walk right through us on their way to 2 Super Bowls I realized that this team didn't have what it takes.

But the more I look back on it this team always had glaring holes somewhere that prevented it from moving forward. Either in the secondary, or along the offensive line, or at ILB. Every year there was a unit that got completely exposed all year long, and you can't put that on coaching - they just weren't talented enough.

This year is no different, our offensive line is arguably the worst in the league, they can't run the ball to save their life, the defense can't force turnovers, entirely too much pressure is put on Romo. It's just not an environment conducive for winning consecutive games against good teams.

I don't care enough to look up the records but I'm curious to know this team's records against winning and losing teams over the past 3 years. Because if I'm not mistaken the only ones I can remember are against the 49ers in OT last year and against the Giants in the opener this year.

So it was always really silly to presume that this group would magically be able to beat good teams back to back, which is exactly what it takes to make runs in December and January.

It's all about tempering expectations and I think we're finally starting to get realistic about what we have here. Which is a .500 football team.

And the sad part is, over the past 5 years the league has become designed for every team to have a chance every year. Parity is what Goodell wanted, and it's what he's gotten. It's not like the 90s when you had to built dynasties, if you have a good QB you can go to the playoffs in today's NFL - and Dallas has one, they just haven't been able to do anything remotely Romo friendly since Jerry made that statement years back. Which would be building him a line to give him time to throw and to give him a running game to lean on when he's not on his A game, because the guy is plenty good enough to win. He just can't do it alone.

[stasheroo]

Originally Posted by jayhouston12

I wonder what would happen if the cowboys took the field sunday night and everyone boo'd them

i wonder what would happen if people stood in the stands in cowboys gear holding up a sign that said "hurry up and choke, its decemeber" and "hurry up and choke i have better things to do"

Until those things stop happening, not much will happen.

[DBOY3141]

Originally Posted by stasheroo

Until those things stop happening, not much will happen.

So true. Folks need to send a real message and stop going to the games and buying stuff.

Think about it. Sunday night primetime and no one is in the stands. That would be a message.

But it's never going to happen, so why should Jerry listen to the fans.

[jday]

Originally Posted by Apollo Creed

Don't get me wrong, before the cliches start rolling in - I'll always be a fan, I'll always watch my team, I'll always bleed silver and blue. No need for that silly 'you aren't a fan' talk.

But walk with me here. As you watch games now, do you find yourself now just waiting for something bad to happen? Find yourself starting to expect that the team will find a way to lose? No longer feeling surprised when they blow it?

I think a lot of it comes down to tempering expectations and hype that come with just being the Dallas Cowboys, as we see year in and year out the same results.

After the Thanksgiving loss it really hit me, I found myself not caring nearly as much as I used to. Not feelin that sick feeling in my stomach, I found myself numb to it. It's been getting that way for a while now.

[View Full Quote]After 06 this team started to earn some well deserved hype once the Romo era began, a 13-3 season, a playoff win, some NFCE titles, the Garrett culture change, etc etc - fans really were starting to expect this this to contend.

But as we watch another year waste away, in a league built around parity - where as long as you have a competent QB you can make the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys look to be on the outside looking in for yet another year.

And as a 25 year old fan, I barely remember the glory days, all I really can associate with the Cowboys of my era is mediocrity.

Never really thought it would get to this point, always loved everything about this organization, I used to analyze schedules back when we were 5-8 during the Campo years to figure out how we could make the playoffs. I've stood by this team through some of it's darkest years and the little flicker of hope I saw between 2006-20012 is starting to burn out.

It's not that I don't care, I'm just becoming numb to it. Anyone else starting to feel this way?

During this season, I have gone from one extreme to another and back. Part of me says, "It ain't that serious...it's just a game. How the Cowboys perform is not a reflection of me." But on the other hand, this season also has me questioning why I bother to watch in the first place. It simply is not entertaining anymore. It feels a bit like punishment watching this team embarrass themselves.

[Hostile]

Originally Posted by Zimmy Lives

Thanks Hos!

By the way, I also remember Harvey walking down the tunnel at Texas Stadium
after the 12/16/79 game to deliver the funeral wreath! I still get a kick out of it today. Martin thought the Redskins sent the wreath but it turned out to be a Cowboys fan who sent it to inspire them!

I still remember Diron Talbert calling Harvey a punk when he found out he threw the wreath into their lockeroom.

Right in the middle of their team prayer no less.

[CosmicCowboy]

Originally Posted by stasheroo

I'm right there with ya.

I just sit back and watch them lose.

I don't ride the roller coaster anymore.

No longer scream at the TV.

No longer expect them to win.

I haven't paid a dime for Cowboys merchandise in over a year and a half - this from a guy with about 20 jerseys in his closet.

Did go to a game last year, but only because everything - ticket, board, and plane fare was paid for.

I do not support the current product and am voicing that displeasure any way that I can.

But you're certainly not alone.

Bingo! my feelings exactly...