Holding onto fading/fraudulent dreams (Troy, Emmitt, Moose, Owens, Dez, Zeke, Luepke)

[T-RO]

It's inevitable in the world of fandom: A bond forms. You buy a guy's jersey, or for whatever reason you feel emotionally connected to a player. Your fav was epic once and lifted you to football heaven... or he's destined to do so soon. Maybe he plays the same position you did in high school. You really like his style on the field, or the tough expression on his face. Perhaps he reminds you of an old favorite! Or maybe he said say something that utterly convinces you: This guy coulda/shoulda been my brother...part of the family.

This is all natural and good...with one hook: From that point forward to the end of time: you can't let go. Past all thought and reason, you can't let go.

-In the late 90's Troy had lost it. While still exquisitely accurate, his movement inside or out of the pocket was stiff as hell. Fans like me held on.
-In a similar timeframe Emmitt had gone from elite to great to good. Fans held on.
-Moose left without much fuss, but we've labelled many fullbacks since as his heir. Fans hold on for the next Moose-like fullback. The fire for the next Moose is so bright around Cowboys nation, it can spontaneously combust.
-Owens and Dez were gone, yet years later heart-strings were still plucked. "Please bring him back" some pleaded.
-Oh... and Zeke. Have you read a single word I've posted?

A hundred thousand posts on this very forum have centered on this single issue: Some just can't say goodbye to a favorite player, or a cherished dream to resurrect him in another form.

 

[big dog cowboy]

See avatar.

< Captain America

 

[jazzcat22]

So all that to bash Zeke?



What about Tony Romo?

 

[acr731]

Zeke who?



I won't miss Dak either.

 

[stinkface]

Clickbait. Reading the Zone is like reading Heavy.com these days.

 

[T-RO]

What about Tony Romo?

My handle is T-Ro because I'm a massive Romo fan.

But I let go my fandom and pushed for Dak in 2016. I knew Romo's health had finished him. Over the years I have tried to learn some prudence. Seems like most fans can never, ever learn the simplest lessons.

But I see it every where with friends and family...and here. People flat refuse to learn from life and what happens around them, no matter how many lessons they get served.

 

[T-RO]

Clickbait. Reading the Zone is like reading Heavy.com these days.

Too much Cog Dis, eh?

(Cognitive Dissonance: we immediately reject truths we don't want to hear)

 

[Acheman08]

My cats breath smells like catfood

 

[T-RO]

My cats breath smells like catfood

Appreciate the growing pile of Cog-Dis. (rhymes with things, doesn't it?)

Thread is just half-an-hour old and its going just as expected.

 

[Captain-Crash]

:/

 

[nate dizzle]

It's inevitable in the world of fandom: A bond forms. You buy a guy's jersey, or for whatever reason you feel emotionally connected to a player. Your fav was epic once and lifted you to football heaven... or he's destined to do so soon. Maybe he plays the same position you did in high school. You really like his style on the field, or the tough expression on his face. Perhaps he reminds you of an old favorite! Or maybe he said say something that utterly convinces you: This guy coulda/shoulda been my brother...part of the family.

This is all natural and good...with one hook: From that point forward to the end of time: you can't let go. Past all thought and reason, you can't let go.

-In the late 90's Troy had lost it. While still exquisitely accurate, his movement inside or out of the pocket was stiff as hell. Fans like me held on.
-In a similar timeframe Emmitt had gone from elite to great to good. Fans held on.
-Moose left without much fuss, but we've labelled many fullbacks since as his heir. Fans hold on for the next Moose-like fullback. The fire for the next Moose is so bright around Cowboys nation, it can spontaneously combust.
-Owens and Dez were gone, yet years later heart-strings were still plucked. "Please bring him back" some pleaded.
-Oh... and Zeke. Have you read a single word I've posted?

A hundred thousand posts on this very forum have centered on this single issue: Some just can't say goodbye to a favorite player, or a cherished dream to resurrect him in another form.

All good points. Funny thing about the Moose and Zeke points IMO is that if Zeke would have taken a big paycut to remain as a FB, we would have had the next Moose.

 

[T-RO]

All good points. Funny thing about the Moose and Zeke points IMO is that if Zeke would have taken a big paycut to remain as a FB, we would have had the next Moose.

Maybe. Has the build and strength for it. Just not sure Zeke has much experience leading in the hole and clearing the way. And that woulda been quite a pricey fullback.

 

[nate dizzle]

Maybe. Has the build and strength for it. Just not sure Zeke has much experience leading in the hole and clearing the way. And that woulda been quite a pricey fullback.

Like I said, a BIG paycut .

 

[Cmac]

It's inevitable in the world of fandom: A bond forms. You buy a guy's jersey, or for whatever reason you feel emotionally connected to a player. Your fav was epic once and lifted you to football heaven... or he's destined to do so soon. Maybe he plays the same position you did in high school. You really like his style on the field, or the tough expression on his face. Perhaps he reminds you of an old favorite! Or maybe he said say something that utterly convinces you: This guy coulda/shoulda been my brother...part of the family.

This is all natural and good...with one hook: From that point forward to the end of time: you can't let go. Past all thought and reason, you can't let go.

-In the late 90's Troy had lost it. While still exquisitely accurate, his movement inside or out of the pocket was stiff as hell. Fans like me held on.
-In a similar timeframe Emmitt had gone from elite to great to good. Fans held on.
-Moose left without much fuss, but we've labelled many fullbacks since as his heir. Fans hold on for the next Moose-like fullback. The fire for the next Moose is so bright around Cowboys nation, it can spontaneously combust.
-Owens and Dez were gone, yet years later heart-strings were still plucked. "Please bring him back" some pleaded.
-Oh... and Zeke. Have you read a single word I've posted?

A hundred thousand posts on this very forum have centered on this single issue: Some just can't say goodbye to a favorite player, or a cherished dream to resurrect him in another form.

????

 

[InPhiltraitor]

Luckily, I’ve never really had an issue saying goodbye to possessions or short-term emotions/feelings, so when players exit for greener pastures or the inevitable loss to father time kicks in, I’ve been able to turn the page quite easily.

However, traits they leave behind I do miss and look for in other players. To me, Troy had a post-season laser focus that let you know you were going to win, Irvin was absolutely fearless (I see some Irv in Micah) and so on, and so on.

The on-the-field characteristic from Zeke that I’m looking for from the current crop is his willingness and ability to block. It’s a selfless trait that doesn’t require you to be exceptional but does require the commitment of giving yourself up for the sake of others. The current crop hasn’t been asked to demonstrate this yet, but I have a feeling it’s coming the week. We’ll see who’s got Zeke’s minerals.

 

[plasticman]

I don't know that you want somebody just like your previous football hero, you just want somebody capable of similar results.

All indications from this forum seem to indicate that today's Cowboys fans find it quite easy to "let go".

 

[pancakeman]

On the other hand, there is a case to be made that formerly great players who are now just good, are still (by definition) good players to have on your team (depending on contract obviously). LVE once looked elite: he doesn’t anymore, but it’s rational to still want him on the team.

 

[erod]

The one that hurt was Emmitt. He's my favorite of all time.

 

[jterrell]

Not sure where this stream of consciousness argument is going... but it's nowhere productive.

Pets cats in the draft process and training camp have exactly zero to do with proven stars who fade.
Not even in the same realm.

Most pet cats lack actual NFL talent. It is just a weird dream. Easy to root for the underdog and little guy.
Luepke looked good in the 3rd pre-season game where we held out everyone who we were certain had made the roster.
But prior to that he looked like a stumbling oaf.
Maybe they can cobble some mix of ST/HBack guy out of that, but it is indeed a long shot.

Troy didn't fall off; he was knocked out. His retirement was unexpected and shocking but made sense.
Romo was a good QB who couldn't stay healthy. And you can't pay franchise QBs to sit on the bench... or else Jerry would have.
Both those guys post NFL careers have proven they got the nod from Jerry and were made men. We should all be so fortunate.
Zeke was the least popular Cowboy since essentially the day he signed his massive contract.
A small handful of people felt sorry for the shots he took and the unceremonious dumping, but we all knew he wasn't worth even 8M a year much less 16M.
He still has NFL talent that guys like Luepke will never have but it has fallen off to tandem back level and he might actually make more money calling Ohio State games.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I don't know why Luepke is lumped in there.

FWIW, he looked good lead blocking for all of the 2 snaps I saw him in there.