The Dallas Cowboys and Apathy

[Zimmy Lives]

Originally Posted by Hostile

Right in the middle of their team prayer no less.

Yup! That was priceless!

[birdwells1]

Originally Posted by Apollo Creed

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.

[View Full Quote]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.

Good post, its funny you mentioned parity because the salary cap is what did JJ in. The salary cap means that the smartest organizations will rise above the others, you can't just spend your way out of your mistakes.

[zrinkill]

Originally Posted by slomoxn

Yep, sure am..

That is what I said.

[Aven8]

Been a fan since the 70's. love the Cowboys more, I've missed weddings, birthdays, etc. watching these guys all these years ( pre DVR).

I was yelling and screaming early on this year just like every other year, but now things have changed. I hate to lose so bad, and usually need time to get over, but now I'm almost hoping we lose because we can free ourselves of this horrible coach. It's the truth, and I've never been that way. That's how bad I want a change.

[zrinkill]

Originally Posted by slomoxn

Just because I don't support his money making doesn't mean I don't support the team.

If you watch the game you are supporting his money making.

Ratings equals dollars in Jerry Jones pocket.

If the realist really want to hurt Jerry ......they will stop watching Cowboy games and stop all internet activities related to the Cowboys.

True Story .......

[ksadler1]

Prior to this year, I could not stand losing to the Redskins. I hate them and the Steelers more than anything. Losing to them would wear on me until we beat them again. During last weeks game I found I just didn't care. Even when we made a late run I knew they wouldn't be able to complete it. This team just can't start or finish anything.

Couple that with the fact that you see guys laughing on the bench while we're getting our butts kicked and I wonder why I should care since they obviously don't.

Do you EVER remember seeing guys laughing or joking around on the sideline when Laundry/Staubach or Jimmy/Troy/Michael/Emmitt were playing? It would not be tolerated as it is now. The losing culture has set in to Dallas and it's going to be around for a while. But we do have the best paycheck collectors of all teams.....

[garrett316]

Originally Posted by Zimmy Lives

No. I have been following this team since 1967 and I get excited about every gave today the way I did back then. The only difference now is that I have a job, a family and life that keep getting in the way of me enjoying Cowboys football. I have learned to put things in perspective so my world no longer revolves around the Cowboys.

This is probably me as well, except my earliest memory of them was Super Bowl 10 in January 1976. My Dad was rooting for them in a house filled with Steeler fans. I liked the star on the helmet and hell, my Dad was rooting for them.

I tried not to care in week 2 at Seattle around the 4th quarter. I tried again with about 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter of the Bears game. I keep coming back here during the week, after the games, whenever. I keep going back to the tv set Sunday after Sunday. It's a lost cause to try and be disinterested for me.

Somehow, with 2 young daughters and a bunch of nieces and nephews, I'm still able to squeeze in 3 hours to watch this team every week, or at least DVR it and watch it late on Sunday. At 42 years old, I doubt being a supporter of this team will change much. Its in the blood now and there is no turning back.

[Fritsch_the_cat]

Originally Posted by Zimmy Lives

No. I have been following this team since 1967 and I get excited about every gave today the way I did back then. The only difference now is that I have a job, a family and life that keep getting in the way of me enjoying Cowboys football. I have learned to put things in perspective so my world no longer revolves around the Cowboys.

So in other words, you don't care whether they win or lose. You just enjoy watching the shiny uniforms run around on the TV.

Well, excuse some of us for giving a damn.

[CaptainAmerica]

I go back to the Ice Bowl. I used to live and die with every play and every game. Now I watch the games when they play but it just doesn't mean much to me.

The Dallas Cowboys used to mean something in the NFL. Even though they didn't win the Super Bowl every year, they were always relevant .

The bottom line is we are not relevant anymore. We are the Titans, the Bills, the Jaguars, The Browns.

[kirkjrk]

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?

Absolutely.

[DEA_dad]

Originally Posted by CaptainAmerica

The bottom line is we are not relevant anymore. We are the Titans, the Bills, the Jaguars, The Browns.

I think this is spot on, i feel the exact same way.

[17yearsandcounting]

I'll completely agree with the OP. I think I can pin point it too.

The 06 fiasco was the gut shot, the 07 NYG game was the nut shot, and the 44-6 game was soul destroying with that stupid double pass being the icing on the cake. Ive been watching between my fingers with my hands over my face ever since.

I flat out told my family to not buy me a single piece of Cowboy gear this Christmas, and they know thats usually the fall back option when they cant think of anything else.

[birdwells1]

Originally Posted by CaptainAmerica

I go back to the Ice Bowl. I used to live and die with every play and every game. Now I watch the games when they play but it just doesn't mean much to me.

The Dallas Cowboys used to mean something in the NFL. Even though they didn't win the Super Bowl every year, they were always relevant .

The bottom line is we are not relevant anymore. We are the Titans, the Bills, the Jaguars, The Browns.

Lets clarify "relevant", they are still the biggest draw for tv and the media continues to talk about them, so they are relevant as far as popularity goes.

The "relevant" we want is football relevant and that they are not.

The Cowboys at 5-6 get more press than the Texans who stand at 10-1, but I'd trade places with the them in a heartbeat. They can have all the media attention just give me a quiet under the radar 10-1 Cowboys team and I'll be fine.

[lonestar6]

I've been a fan since 1990, but I can't say I've been emotionally invested in this team since 2009. I'm still cheering them on, but I haven't let their poor play and losses get to me (more resigned than anything else).

I'll say this though. I've also been a Mavericks fan since 2000, and in 2011 I thought the window for Dirk had passed, and was pretty much in the same boat with them in terms of emotional investment (the 2006-2007 debacles pretty much sucked out all the hope in me). Then they made that unbelievable playoff run, while I was in disbelief the entire way, and kept expecting them to lose eventually.

I was ecstatic that they won it all, but by not being "all in" as a fan, I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have, nor did I think I deserved to enjoy it to that degree. I just hope I don't miss out on same experience if the Cowboys ever go on a magic run, because I would like to see Romo get a ring as much as I wanted Dirk to get one.

[nablives]

At this point, I find a feed online to watch the games, I don't expect much out of them, and I'm not against tuning out.

It's not worth getting invested into something like this. We all know it's flawed, yet some of the key flaws will never be addressed. So until they do, I won't buy merch, I won't go to games, I won't watch with my cable box. I haven't even been to DC.com this season at all. I'll always be a Cowboys fan, but I'm not going to support the Jones family if I can help it.