Thank goodness for Brooking. A vet, a leader, a guy with passion for winning and playing the game, and he's SMART and ARTICULATE. Smarter and more articulate than many of the reporters.
I agree. If the Giants game happened last year players might be piling onto the pile against Phillips. That is why I think TO, PacMan, Ellis, Tank, Roy Williams, all being gone is a good thing. Basically same record, facing the same music, BUT at least this team is playing for each other still (at least it sounds like it).
Now they DO need to go out and show it on the field.
One thing I will say, in this entire season, I don't feel there is ONE game that we couldn't have won, quite easily. We haven't given up or been blown out in ONE game. That makes you at least a decent football team, and at 8-4 probably a good one. There is room to grow better, with a lot of young guys still learning and a lot of "vets" now in bigger roles. Our QB has matured, I really challenge any reporter or fan to challenge that. This last game was proof, as was his play during the big winning streak. Far less picks and fumbles.
I think we are in better position to be tougher and smarter, but the team needs to step up still. I was worried they might crumble. That SOS text thing was an "oh oh, tip of iceberg, here we go again" BUT that is the extent of grumbling and finger pointing reported so far. GOOD. I'd rather go down swinging with this team than a bunch of Deion Sanders' Divas.
We could use a few more Brooking's but for now, I do think this team has a chance to rally and get over the hump (for me that is getting in playoffs first and winning a playoff game). Different team at the same cross-roads.
As other posters have pointed out, if this team turtles, there will be changes, primarily at the coaching level, as we tried shuffling the players last year.
I LIKE the makeup of this team better, because it is a TEAM. Now we'll see if they are able to step up!
LarryCanadian
