ESPN Pre-Preseason Rankings - Cowboys #4

[TheCount]

You can't necessarily hold 10 years of playoff disappointment against this year's team.

However, there's going to be some "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me" with this year's team and the national media.

An awesome regular season isn't going to be enough to get everyone on board with this year's Cowboys team. For some, if not many people, the Cowboys can only prove themselves come January. August-December won't really mean a lot given our recent playoff history.

Can't argue that reasoning, I'd rather welcome the hate and prove the doubters wrong than to have the media champion us like they did the Patriots to their ultimate downfall.

 

[theogt]

To answer my own question:

Carter goes to town on Cowboys
5:27 PM Mon, May 12, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Albert Breer E-mail News tips

All day long, the Worldwide Leader has been flexing its considerable muscle -- through television, radio and the internet -- to promote its first set of power rankings for the 2008 season.

In doing so, the network had its analysts break down the list. One of the questions posed to them was "who is overrated?" You're not going to like former Buckeye great Cris Carter's answer.

"I think the Cowboys have a huge problem, and that is with character in the locker room," Carter said. "If the Cowboys season goes well, it's not going to be because of Pacman (Jones) transaction. It going to be because of another transaction that got little headlines, that's in Zach Thomas, because you need character to go with these characters on the field.

"He's gonna be some glue to keep some of those guys steady and focused towards the end of the season, when we have known the Dallas Cowboys to lose their foucs."

Just as that was said, someone chimed in with ... "13 wins, 13 Pro Bowl players, zero playoffs." Although just who it was escapes me right know.

Carter just reiterated his point on Sportscenter.

When asked the same question, he quickly said, "The Dallas Cowboys. The 'Boys. Thirteen Pro Bowls, 13 wins during the regular season. But also in the last two years, zero playoff wins. And my thing is people talk about Pacman joining this team, this circus, the most popular team, America's Team. But I concerned about the characters.

"And I believe the biggest transaction that was made this offseason was Zach Thomas because you need a character with some glue around these other characters down in Dallas."

So he feels pretty strongly about Pacman, Zach and glue.

Also, I'd like to applaud Mark Schlereth, who in a short explanation of why he ranks the Chargers No. 1 found a way to shoehorn the term "football team" in four times. Very impressive.

 

[Skinsmaniac]

We're certainly more talented than the Chargers. The only area in which the compare to us is front 7 and running backs. Yet last year we had more sacks and an equal YPC rushing. Romo is lightyears beyond Rivers. Our receivers are better and our secondary is much better.

I actually like the Chargers secondary better. I certainly wouldn't call your secondary much better. Their safeties are solid, and as a tandem I would take theirs over yours. Their CBs are excellent, with a top rookie to play nickel, much like you guys, although I think their top two corners are better than your top two (Newman and Henry or Newman and Pacman). Pacman is a special returner (INTs included) but he isn't an elite CB in my mind, plus there's no guarantee how much he'll play.

 

[TheCount]

I actually like the Chargers secondary better. I certainly wouldn't call your secondary much better. Their safeties are solid, and as a tandem I would take theirs over yours. Their CBs are excellent, with a top rookie to play nickel, much like you guys, although I think their top two corners are better than your top two (Newman and Henry or Newman and Pacman). Pacman is a special returner (INTs included) but he isn't an elite CB in my mind, plus there's no guarantee how much he'll play.

What? A Skins fan thinks a team not named the Cowboys is better? How is that possible?



Oh by the way, did Freddie ever make it to work?

 

[theogt]

I actually like the Chargers secondary better. I certainly wouldn't call your secondary much better. Their safeties are solid, and as a tandem I would take theirs over yours. Their CBs are excellent, with a top rookie to play nickel, much like you guys, although I think their top two corners are better than your top two (Newman and Henry or Newman and Pacman). Pacman is a special returner (INTs included) but he isn't an elite CB in my mind, plus there's no guarantee how much he'll play.

Uh....ok.

Terence Newman > Antonio Cromartie
Anthony Henry > Quentin Jammer
Pacman Jones > Antoine Cason
Mike Jenkins > Cletis Gordon
Orlando Scandrick > Dejuan Tribble

I couldn't even tell you who their starting safeties are now. But I guarantee you they don't have 2 pro bowlers.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I actually like the Chargers secondary better. I certainly wouldn't call your secondary much better. Their safeties are solid, and as a tandem I would take theirs over yours. Their CBs are excellent, with a top rookie to play nickel, much like you guys, although I think their top two corners are better than your top two (Newman and Henry or Newman and Pacman). Pacman is a special returner (INTs included) but he isn't an elite CB in my mind, plus there's no guarantee how much he'll play.

howso? because Cromartie led the league in INTs?

PacMan is a surer thing than Cason, and his '06 metrics (his last season) were very good

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Did he offer any other reasoning? Because that reasoning alone is pretty ********.

He stated basically what I said... He referred to the fact Dallas has lost in the 1st round of the playoffs the last 2 years, you can't argue with that, stop being a homer.

 

[theogt]

He stated basically what I said... He referred to the fact Dallas has lost in the 1st round of the playoffs the last 2 years, you can't argue with that, stop being a homer.

Yes, you can argue with that. It's completely irrelevant what happened 2 years ago.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

he's probably pissed because he's been on our jock for the last 2 years, and we haven't won a playoff game

Can you blame him? It's put up time come playoffs! See my SIG below...

 

[Bob Sacamano]

the character of your lockerroom determines whether you are overrated or not?

that sounds a little wack to me

 

[Skinsmaniac]

Uh....ok.

Terence Newman > Antonio Cromartie
Anthony Henry > Quentin Jammer
Pacman Jones > Antoine Cason
Mike Jenkins > Cletis Gordon

I put it more like this:
Terence Newman > Antonio Cromartie
Anthony Henry < Quentin Jammer
Pacman Jones > Antoine Cason
Marlon McCree/Clinton Hart > Ken Hamlin/Roy Williams.

If Pacman works out then, I'd say you're equal. If he doesn't, then I think the Chargers are better in back. These are the "starters" you can include backups if you want.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Yes, you can argue with that. It's completely irrelevant what happened 2 years ago.

I said the PAST TWO YEARS (consecutive years), not 2 years ago...

 

[HoosierCowboy]

I agree. I hope it is time for a Patriots fade.

not with their cupcake schedule

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I put it more like this:
Terence Newman > Antonio Cromartie
Anthony Henry < Quentin Jammer
Pacman Jones > Antoine Cason
Marlon McCree/Clinton Hart > Ken Hamlin/Roy Williams.

If Pacman works out then, I'd say you're equal. If he doesn't, then I think the Chargers are better in back. These are the "starters" you can include backups if you want.

you got to be joking, McCree is terrible

 

[theogt]

I put it more like this:
Terence Newman > Antonio Cromartie
Anthony Henry < Quentin Jammer
Pacman Jones > Antoine Cason
Marlon McCree/Clinton Hart > Ken Hamlin/Roy Williams.

If Pacman works out then, I'd say you're equal. If he doesn't, then I think the Chargers are better in back. These are the "starters" you can include backups if you want.

Yeah, so um....Marlon McCree doesn't even play for them anymore.

And Quentin Jammer is terrible.

 

[theogt]

I said the PAST TWO YEARS (consecutive years), not 2 years ago...

 

[Skinsmaniac]

Yeah, so um....Marlon McCree doesn't even play for them anymore.

And Quentin Jammer is terrible.

Oh I didn't know that. Who's their other safety?

 

[theogt]

Oh I didn't know that. Who's their other safety?

Kinda blows up your argument doesn't it?

 

[TheCount]

Oh I didn't know that. Who's their other safety?

Does it even matter? Whoever they got is better than what the Cowboys have, right?

Weddle will be starting for them at FS, for your info. And he's in his 2nd year, but I'm sure he's better than Hamlin or Roy. Why not.

 

[theogt]

Skinsmaniac on why the Packers are better than the Cowboys in '08:

Favre > Romo
Ahman Green > MB3
Javon Walker > TO