Sullivan: Some of the Thoughts That Run Through an Oversized, Bald Head

[WoodysGirl]

Posted 2 hours ago
By Jeff Sullivan

• Two words that have rarely been associated with the Dallas Cowboys are likeable and underdogs. That has changed, dramatically so, in the last few weeks. Not sure there has been a team this likeable roaming Valley Ranch since Jimmy Johnson’s third year here, in 1991.

• That team was young, hungry, confident and on the cusp of greatness. This time around, it’s more a team left for football dead, and/or 6-10, by the media and fan base alike, with a plethora of built-in excuses at its disposal, injuries first and foremost. Instead, they’ve somehow, against reason, won five of six and have salvaged the season.

• And by likeable, let’s stress, we’re talking more about on a national level. This isn’t a team of Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, even Emmitt Smith, saying look at me, we’re the best. This isn’t a team of overpaid underperformers. This is the ultimate no-name defense, next man up, off the couch. These aren’t the Cowboys of the 1970s, who were supposed to win every Sunday. These are a bunch of guys who love playing football who don’t realize, or simply don’t care, that they’re not supposed to be winning. Even the most pessimistic fans seem to like this team.

• Just look at the Steelers game. Eight players, who earlier this season were at home, unemployed, possibly finished with professional football, made significant contributions. On defense alone, corners Sterling Moore and Michael Coe, linebackers Brady Poppinga and Ernie Sims, safety Eric Frampton, end Brian Schaefering and nose tackle Rob Callaway played 102 combined snaps, a number which would’ve been closer to 150 if Sims didn’t suffer a concussion early in the first quarter.

Read the rest: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/ar...0-9d1565a40338

[MichaelWinicki]

The number of defensive players getting more than a 100 snaps this season for the Cowboys as compared to any other team in the NFL is staggering.

The number of injuries the Cowboys have suffered on defense is mind boggling. An it's not like the offense has been injury free. Here's hoping that next year returns to a more normal number of starters being sidelined due to injury.

[Wood]

It does prove that is more about connecting (jelling) as a group of players instead of just bringing in the most talented guys.

[ravidubey]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

The number of injuries the Cowboys have suffered on defense is mind boggling. An it's not like the offense has been injury free. Here's hoping that next year returns to a more normal number of starters being sidelined due to injury.

I get the feeling Lee and Carter are going to get dinged and miss games their whole careers. We should get used to it and strive to appreciate any time we can get with the two of them healthy and on the field.