Admit It Deep Inside. You're Glad That The Romo-Witten-Dez Era is Over

[Sarge]

To suggest this current team has no talent is ri-damn-diculous. There is enough talent on this team to win the Super Bowl. The question becomes can the coaches get it done.

 

[DasSchnitzel]

It's bittersweet. I won't say I'm glad because I'll never forget the day Witten retired, but I won't say I'm upset because it did need to happen. It's good for the cap, the roster, and old 82.

Eras end, but legends never die.

 

[Jumbo075]

This is what is known as "the day after Christmas" syndrome. The NEW toys are more exciting than the OLD toys. Says nothing about the quality of the toys.

So, I admit it's more exciting. But I'm not sold that it will be better in the long run. It took me a year to start believing in Romo. I was cautiously optimistic Dak would win me over last year after his stellar rookie season. But he didn't. I'm not seeing some key things I look for in QB's just yet. I haven't given up on him, but I haven't bought in yet, either.

I'm kind of the same way about DeMarcus Lawrence. I am suspicious of his one good year. I actually have more confidence that David Irving will become a very good player - if he can avoid suspensions and injuries. Again, I am not predicting disappointment from Lawrence; but it wouldn't shock me if he regreses this coming season. If he can duplicate his 2017 season performance, then I will start believing in him more.

There are some players who I believe in, but it doesn't mean so much, because I believe they are limited. That doesn't mean I want to cut them, but their peak of ability is lower than that of a star player. I am confident they will continue to be mediocre to good players. Based strictly on my FEELINGS, which have been known to be wrong before, this is how I FEEL about the Cowboys roster.

The players I have high confidence in their performance are:

Ezekiel Elliott, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, La'el Collins (he will be reliably average), Terrance Williams (he will be reliably average), Cole Beasley (he will be reliably average), Byron Jones (he will be reliably above average, but not great), David Irving (he will continue to get better), Maliek Collins (he will be reliably average), Damien Wilson (he will be reliably below average), Rod Smith (he is a very solid backup RB), Jeff Heath (he will be reliably below average on defense, but excellent on special teams), Tyrone Crawford (he will be reliably durable and slightly above average utility Dlineman, but both underappreciated and overpaid.).

Two players I have confidence in if they remain healthy are Sean Lee, and Tyron Smith. But I'm not convinced they will stay healthy.

Young players that are intriguingly talented, but still need to prove it to me.

Dak Prescott, Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, Anthony Brown, Geoff Swaim, Rico Gathers, Michael Gallup, Connor Williams, Jihad Ward, Tavon Austin, Xavier Woods. Duke Thomas, Mike White

Players I have a "Meh" feeling about, and if they left, I'd soon forget their names.

Taco Charlton, Dorance Armstrong, Dalton Schultz, Chris Covington, Bo Scarbrough, Cedrick Wilson, Marquez White, Noah Brown, Charles Tapper, Kony Ealy, Datone Jones, Brian Price, Joe Thomas, Lewis Neal, Jamize Olawale, Joe Looney, Cameron Fleming, Marcus Martin. Blake Jarwin, Dorance Armstrong, Allen Hurns, Kavon Frazier, Cooper Rush

Players that need to be released after training camp.

Chaz Green. Marquez White

I don't know enough about the other players signed after the season, or the college free agent class to have any feelings about them at all.

 

[Texas_Pete]

Upset that Garrett / Dak were unltimately chosen over Romo , Dez , Witten.

Not really. Romo's body failed him. He no longer could take a hit. By choosing 13 and 3 Dak, he basically saved Romo from himself. We know he would have kept going out there if Red let him.

Imagine the horror in Cowboy Nation if he had gotten injured really bad and had to be carted off. After seeing the Playmaker getting carted off the field (for good) in Philly back in the day, I couldn't bear to see Romo possibly go out like that too.

 

[dragon_mikal]

Yea the team is so much better with the mighty Hurns/Swaim/Dak combo. Mediocre receivers catching passes from a mediocre passer. Yay. Oh and the main issue with the team is still clapping on the sidelines so there is that, too. And we have Rod's bend until you break defense to look forward to for one more year.

Seeing Zeke a whole season and watching how the defense gels is the only thing keeping me interested. Sorry but I don't see this team winning a SB as long as Jason Garrett is HC.

Know I'm coming off a little pessimistic but watching this team for the last 20+ years will do that to you.

 

[gimmesix]

Hear me out...I said the era not the players. I totally blame the lack of playoff success on the FO and bad coaching Not the players. But we didn't win a thing. Now with new players a new energy and focus., Garrett and the coaching staff should be on notice, win or get out. Plus I enjoy watching a young team mature and grow into winners. To many times Dallas has taken a punch and laid down. I'm excited to see what this team can do when adversity hits.

Same coaching staff, so no. Dak, Zeke, whoever could be just as good and it won't matter.

The only way we can win with Garrett is if the defense is great because the offense can beat up on bad and mediocre defense but is too predictable to beat top defenses.

 

[Dwight]

Jason didn’t get it done with those three what make us think he will get it done with lesser talent at the QB, WR and TE positions?

I hate that Romo is gone. If the FO invested in a better head coach and oline in the past Romo still would be playing.

 

[Pantone282C]

Not happy that they are gone and were mismanaged on top of it. Things do change - I will root for the team and the new regime like always. It will definitely be interesting to see what they can do. I hope the FO is up to the challenge.

 

[Tangle_Foot]

I can't say that I'm glad it's over that trio was pretty productive in Dallas. I am so pro Cowboys that I do not get attached to players because I know some will have to move on and some will have to be sacrificed for the better of the team. No one comes before a Cowboys win not even those that were responsible for a large amount of them

Now the Garrett era coming to an end would be different

 

[sideon]

Is Garrett still here?

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

I’m the furthest thing from glad. Those 3 were not the issue. Those 3 kept us relevant amidst poor coaching

 

[8FOR!3]

Losing Romo was the toughest for me he was just the most exciting player on the team to watch imo. He couldn’t stay healthy and it was time, but Dak doesn’t bring the same excitement to the game that Romo did imo. Maybe that will come with time, I’m not trying to insult Dak who is also a very exciting player to watch

 

[Jumbo075]

Why would I be happy that they're gone? Compared to Romo, Dak is boring. Even if he wins a SB, he'll be boring doing it. He's simply not as exciting to watch. Same with Bryant vs. some committee of average receivers. Witten was entertaining against opponents in the NFC East because he consistently burned them. Elliott is the most fun to watch RB since Emmitt, so I will rejoice that he's a Cowboy. Lee is the most fun defender to watch, followed closely by David Irving.

But am I glad the era is over? Heck No!! I wish the 90's era never ended. Now THAT was a fun team to watch. I'm not going to celebrate the ending of careers of players I enjoyed watching play the game. Doesn't mean I can't find new players to enjoy, but I don't understand the sentiment of rejoicing over the end of the careers in Dallas of Romo, Bryant and Witten.

(I would sure love to watch big Larry run over defenders to this day, if he could still play. I never will forget coming up off the couch cheering when he ran down that Saints linebacker in 1994. I've never seen a more astonishing athletic football play before or since.)

 

[StylisticS]

I’d feel better if Garrett was gone.

 

[GMO415]

2 out of three were Dallas icons....yes I'm happy for the future, but I was sad to see them go....if that makes any sense.

 

[JoeKing]

What era is over? If you blame the lack of playoff wins on Romo, Dez and Witten then yes, that era is over. We still have talent on this team and great deal more than the OP is willing to admit. The current version of the team will win playoffs games and I believe a SB or two. But the truth is, the version with the guys that are gone now were good enough to do the same.

 

[GMO415]

I’d feel better if Garrett was gone.

X2

 

[Shinaoi]

Romo I still wish was playing, but I’m okay with dez and Witten gone.

 

[SoupcanSam]

Hear me out...I said the era not the players. I totally blame the lack of playoff success on the FO and bad coaching Not the players. But we didn't win a thing. Now with new players a new energy and focus., Garrett and the coaching staff should be on notice, win or get out. Plus I enjoy watching a young team mature and grow into winners. To many times Dallas has taken a punch and laid down. I'm excited to see what this team can do when adversity hits.

I'm glade. Even at their healthiest together they wernt enough to get the job done. Ready to see if these new guys can bring home the hardware.

 

[DasSchnitzel]

We're in the beginning of a new era. The longer you hold on to the end of the last one, the less memories you'll have regarding the start of this one.

Personally I think the concern is over the top. OLine, LBs are now better than they have been in a long time. Def. backfield is filled with developing rookies and looks pretty good, DL looked like it was turning a corner. Got Zeke behind that OLine. WR hasn't been this deep in forever. Dak could be a franchise QB still.

All these positives and people are freaking out about a TE and a WR. They say we don't have a clear #1 at WR but go look at Dez's numbers and his dropped catches and tell me that we had a clear #1 the last couple years in Dez. Witten is great and we all knew he'd be hard to replace but weakness at TE isn't exactly an Achilles heel with all these good things going on.