The Cowboy's World According to an Old Man

A lot has changed (most definitely NOT for the best), in the League since I began with it in 1965. However, I believe there's a basic philosophy that is still as true as it ever was. The team is built from the trenches outward. A great OL and DL are integral to success. We had it for years under Landry and then Jimmy built that monster on offense while rotating 8 studs on the DL which included Charles Haley. To Garrett's credit, he (or someone), managed to put together what was recognized as THE OL juggernaut until Fred got sick, injuries and age took their toll. The OL isn't solid right now and we'll go no further than it's ability to dominate a game.

The DL is woeful and our backers are continually getting pushed around. It'll be good to see if things improve as we get some of the starters back .. I don't know. Until we're able to control the line of scrimmage, it's not going to matter much who the marquee players are.

With age comes wisdom.

I have no explanation for senior citizen Rockport.

I’m curious to see if they’ll give this coaching staff a ‘pass’ this season due to the fact they didn’t have a real offseason to prepare this team “properly”, and the massive amounts of injuries this team has suffered through. Not having Tyron, La’el, or FredBeard all year is an extremely big deal. Not having a healthy secondary at any point so far has really thinned out an already bad [“on paper“] secondary. Lee, Jaylon, and LVE have yet to play a game together since the middle of last season? The DLine has never played together and it just looks really bad so far. And then we get to Dak. What a situation this could turn out to be.... if Dalton plays well and we win the division, go on to win a playoff game or 2 or 3 or 4.... this board will probably be 70/30 in favor of moving on from Dak. If this team just craps the bed like 15/16 and goes 4-12, they’ll likely get a top 5 draft pick and could have a serious chance at Justin Fields or one of the top 2 or 3 QBs in college rn on a ~4yr/26mil w/a team option as opposed to a ~4yr/$160mil QB that some feel isn’t worth that kind of money.

It’s really a crazy situation all the way around for the Cowboys; however, it’s crazy to think we’ll never see #4 in a Cowboys jersey again..... possibly.

Risen Star said:

With age comes wisdom.

I have no explanation for senior citizen Rockport.

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No explanation needed, I stopped kicking car doors and throwing full beer cans through patio glass doors decades ago. I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then ..

IceBowler said:

A lot has changed (most definitely NOT for the best), in the League since I began with it in 1965. However, I believe there's a basic philosophy that is still as true as it ever was. The team is built from the trenches outward. A great OL and DL are integral to success. We had it for years under Landry and then Jimmy built that monster on offense while rotating 8 studs on the DL which included Charles Haley. To Garrett's credit, he (or someone), managed to put together what was recognized as THE OL juggernaut until Fred got sick, injuries and age took their toll. The OL isn't solid right now and we'll go no further than it's ability to dominate a game.

The DL is woeful and our backers are continually getting pushed around. It'll be good to see if things improve as we get some of the starters back .. I don't know. Until we're able to control the line of scrimmage, it's not going to matter much who the marquee players are.

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Well said Ice man. Agree 100%.

Risen Star said:

With age comes wisdom.

I have no explanation for senior citizen Rockport.

Click to expand...

Sometimes it doesn't stick... lol

ultron said:

I’m curious to see if they’ll give this coaching staff a ‘pass’ this season due to the fact they didn’t have a real offseason to prepare this team “properly”, and the massive amounts of injuries this team has suffered through. Not having Tyron, La’el, or FredBeard all year is an extremely big deal. Not having a healthy secondary at any point so far has really thinned out an already bad [“on paper“] secondary. Lee, Jaylon, and LVE have yet to play a game together since the middle of last season? The DLine has never played together and it just looks really bad so far. And then we get to Dak. What a situation this could turn out to be.... if Dalton plays well and we win the division, go on to win a playoff game or 2 or 3 or 4.... this board will probably be 70/30 in favor of moving on from Dak. If this team just craps the bed like 15/16 and goes 4-12, they’ll likely get a top 5 draft pick and could have a serious chance at Justin Fields or one of the top 2 or 3 QBs in college rn on a ~4yr/26mil w/a team option as opposed to a ~4yr/$160mil QB that some feel isn’t worth that kind of money.

It’s really a crazy situation all the way around for the Cowboys; however, it’s crazy to think we’ll never see #4 in a Cowboys jersey again..... possibly.

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Well..

One of the biggest issues right now is that Dallas has been very lucky.

They did not sign Dak past his Tag.

They are not committed to him past 2020.

They can step back and see how the season plays out.

If Dalton succeeds with his opportunity we have an affordable alternative in Dalton if he wants to stay.

Or we can look for another Dalton and play DiNucchi if needed.

Draft high on a rookie in the Draft and let Mikey and Moore start to groom him on a fast track.

Sure they can roll the dice on Dak and hold their breathe he is going to last going forward. They could make him the backup until it is determined he is OK then redo his contract and restore some of his contract he might have received if healthy..

that might mean he is again going to have a prove-it year in 2021 before they go back to doing a big contract.

Or Dak and Dallas can agree it's in Daks best interest to let him test the FA market and see what other teams would risk with Dak to sign him. If he wants to stay in Dallas then do a 5 year deal and go forward.

If not..he will bet on himself and be a FA.

So I still see a lot of options open to both sides and both sides can get what they want.

Stephen Jones was right. Nothing has changed in the negotiations on Daks contract. But the foundation for both parties has.

A lot.

ultron said:

I’m curious to see if they’ll give this coaching staff a ‘pass’ this season due to the fact they didn’t have a real offseason to prepare this team “properly”, and the massive amounts of injuries this team has suffered through. Not having Tyron, La’el, or FredBeard all year is an extremely big deal. Not having a healthy secondary at any point so far has really thinned out an already bad [“on paper“] secondary. Lee, Jaylon, and LVE have yet to play a game together since the middle of last season? The DLine has never played together and it just looks really bad so far. And then we get to Dak. What a situation this could turn out to be.... if Dalton plays well and we win the division, go on to win a playoff game or 2 or 3 or 4.... this board will probably be 70/30 in favor of moving on from Dak. If this team just craps the bed like 15/16 and goes 4-12, they’ll likely get a top 5 draft pick and could have a serious chance at Justin Fields or one of the top 2 or 3 QBs in college rn on a ~4yr/26mil w/a team option as opposed to a ~4yr/$160mil QB that some feel isn’t worth that kind of money.

It’s really a crazy situation all the way around for the Cowboys; however, it’s crazy to think we’ll never see #4 in a Cowboys jersey again..... possibly.

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Give them pass give the players pass..... before you know it... another 25 years or so pass on and we are back at square one stuck in a vicious circle of mediocrity..I think if the Jones back off a little we might see improvement but we know that's not gonna happen anytime soon.

Something that has always irked me is that, it is my belief that a salary or compensation package is not set by what someone else makes or signs for. They are invariably in a completely different set of circumstances and, "All things are never equal." I also do not believe that a salary is determined by what a person "wants" to do the work for but rather, what someone, somewhere is "willing to do" the work for to the satisfaction of the owner.

I've always thought that, after a player's contract was completed, the player should have the option of going out and getting actual binding offers from other teams to establish real value. Then the current team would have the first right of refusal to match the current binding offer. If the current club wants to retain the player, they match the offer (or improve on it). If they do not wish (for whatever reason), to retain the player, he leaves with the binding offer in his hand and goes to ply his trade elsewhere. No harm done -

But to say that, "because some guy in KC is making $40M means I should be making that much or more" is .. well, ludicrous in my mind. That is how values have become bloated beyond sensibility and, by virtue of the cap, means less to spread around to other positions which in turn, hurts the team and diminishes the product.

I must confess that I have never been in a union and believe firmly in the Right to Work. While I believe firmly in labor's right to organize, I do not believe in kneecapping those who would come do the job for compensation you have rejected. In the NFL, ownership and "labor" cannot survive without each other and the adversarial atmosphere sometimes baffles me.

Risen Star said:

With age comes wisdom.

I have no explanation for senior citizen Rockport.

Click to expand...

LOL

I have no doubt that what IB is saying is just fact. In fact, the game from whence his moniker comes is more famous for an OL, Jerry Kramer, than any of the star skill guys on the team and that game is considered by football purists to be the best trenches game ever played. Those guys looked like they'd been through hell after that game.

However, if football had stayed at that level where it was really all about the game, it wouldn't be where it is today.

I predate him by 5 years on getting into the NFL and even as a teenager found excitement in a 13-10 game because every play mattered and I never knew when that play would happen. I also didn't have a way to pause the action or see replays, if I missed it, I missed it. And not having so many games, each one became special.

I realize one thing having gracefully matured thus far, the game is not created for me. It has transcended sport and is now entertainment and more designed to satisfy gambling and Fantasy players and Fantasy players don't care about the trenches. Individual play is celebrated more than team play and I do miss that. Guys just doing their job, getting up and getting ready to do it again.

I do give Garrett credit, but he only gets half credit for getting half the job done. He was successful in convincing Booger that those guys that allowed his beloved triplets to become stars were just as important and that needed to be addressed. He failed to get that far with the defense and Booger still doesn't realize the real reason he has those 3 rings.

A fan...you root for who is on the field playing and who is on the sidelines coaching, regardless of all else.
You don't have to like the player, coaches, owner for whatever reason, which most are for personal reasons. But whining and complaining does nothing but raise your blood pressure. You still root for the team as a fan. If you don't because of one or two players, then your fan-ship should be questioned.

Pull for them to make the playoffs no matter what, and if eliminated, then each their own. But for me I will want them to continue to try to win, as it builds more going forward than getting a draft pick one spot higher. Unless you know that one player will change everything. Such as getting Troy in 1989.

I do not get into all the salary cap crap. It has a way to work itself out. Can anyone name examples where a team was truly hurt by paying a large contract and therefore had to let talented players go because of it, then the team slide because of it. It does not matter. Like I said, root for wins regardless.

ultron said:

I’m curious to see if they’ll give this coaching staff a ‘pass’ this season due to the fact they didn’t have a real offseason to prepare this team “properly”, and the massive amounts of injuries this team has suffered through. Not having Tyron, La’el, or FredBeard all year is an extremely big deal. Not having a healthy secondary at any point so far has really thinned out an already bad [“on paper“] secondary. Lee, Jaylon, and LVE have yet to play a game together since the middle of last season? The DLine has never played together and it just looks really bad so far. And then we get to Dak. What a situation this could turn out to be.... if Dalton plays well and we win the division, go on to win a playoff game or 2 or 3 or 4.... this board will probably be 70/30 in favor of moving on from Dak. If this team just craps the bed like 15/16 and goes 4-12, they’ll likely get a top 5 draft pick and could have a serious chance at Justin Fields or one of the top 2 or 3 QBs in college rn on a ~4yr/26mil w/a team option as opposed to a ~4yr/$160mil QB that some feel isn’t worth that kind of money.

It’s really a crazy situation all the way around for the Cowboys; however, it’s crazy to think we’ll never see #4 in a Cowboys jersey again..... possibly.

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The coaching should definitely get an injury pass, and not? Garrett was always given that excuse and it extended his stay here to 10 long years.

jazzcat22 said:

A fan...you root for who is on the field playing and who is on the sidelines coaching, regardless of all else.
You don't have to like the player, coaches, owner for whatever reason, which most are for personal reasons. But whining and complaining does nothing but raise your blood pressure. You still root for the team as a fan. If you don't because of one or two players, then your fan-ship should be questioned.

Pull for them to make the playoffs no matter what, and if eliminated, then each their own. But for me I will want them to continue to try to win, as it builds more going forward than getting a draft pick one spot higher. Unless you know that one player will change everything. Such as getting Troy in 1989.

I do not get into all the salary cap crap. It has a way to work itself out. Can anyone name examples where a team was truly hurt by paying a large contract and therefore had to let talented players go because of it, then the team slide because of it. It does not matter. Like I said, root for wins regardless.

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Most of that cap crap isn't about the cap at all. It is more about people not wanting certain people to make that much. I get that too because I am tired of all the damned money talk within the sport.

Used to be, I could watch a game without any of that being brought into it but not any longer, it permeates the presentation of the games.

If we didn't know what any of these players made, how different the evaluations would be but that enters into it too much. His salary always has to be a part of the discussion.

Risen Star said:

With age comes wisdom.

I have no explanation for senior citizen Rockport.

Click to expand...

Perhaps nothing more than Impaired Cognitive skills or dementia.............it doesn't seem to be a disqualifier this year

jazzcat22 said:

A fan...you root for who is on the field playing and who is on the sidelines coaching, regardless of all else.
You don't have to like the player, coaches, owner for whatever reason, which most are for personal reasons. But whining and complaining does nothing but raise your blood pressure. You still root for the team as a fan. If you don't because of one or two players, then your fan-ship should be questioned.

Pull for them to make the playoffs no matter what, and if eliminated, then each their own. But for me I will want them to continue to try to win, as it builds more going forward than getting a draft pick one spot higher. Unless you know that one player will change everything. Such as getting Troy in 1989.

I do not get into all the salary cap crap. It has a way to work itself out. Can anyone name examples where a team was truly hurt by paying a large contract and therefore had to let talented players go because of it, then the team slide because of it. It does not matter. Like I said, root for wins regardless.

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I agree with your premise absolutely. Wasn't really carping on what the qame is nowadays .. (well, I suppose I was). It's just sad to me, having seen the game presented and played the way it was, there's just so much the fan is missing. Now, of course, if the fan doesn't know what he's missing - is he really missing it at all? It became a terrible reality to me after free agency took hold - we're all just basically rooting for "your clothes against my clothes."

And that sucks.

acr731 said:

The coaching should definitely get an injury pass, and not? Garrett was always given that excuse and it extended his stay here to 10 long years.

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I don’t disagree, if they get canned I could careless. A coaching staff in my opinion will impact a team immediately & you can tell really fast if they’re good or bad right away.

jazzcat22 said:

A fan...you root for who is on the field playing and who is on the sidelines coaching, regardless of all else.
You don't have to like the player, coaches, owner for whatever reason, which most are for personal reasons. But whining and complaining does nothing but raise your blood pressure. You still root for the team as a fan. If you don't because of one or two players, then your fan-ship should be questioned.

Pull for them to make the playoffs no matter what, and if eliminated, then each their own. But for me I will want them to continue to try to win, as it builds more going forward than getting a draft pick one spot higher. Unless you know that one player will change everything. Such as getting Troy in 1989.

I do not get into all the salary cap crap. It has a way to work itself out. Can anyone name examples where a team was truly hurt by paying a large contract and therefore had to let talented players go because of it, then the team slide because of it. It does not matter. Like I said, root for wins regardless.

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Yes, when Deion Sanders signed, it expedited the loss of mass of cowboys talent. If you don't understand the salary cap implications, you don't understand the modern game of football.

lockster said:

Yes, when Deion Sanders signed, it expedited the loss of mass of cowboys talent. If you don't understand the salary cap implications, you don't understand the modern game of football.

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Much of that talent left before Deion arrived. Then Jerry went into draft back ups mode.

Starting watching Boys in 66....the defense might be better served, if they just go man to man....and blitz more..