Normally, after a crushing loss in OT in a game our boys had a chance to win, I often transition through a range of emotions (anger, disappointment, despair, etc.) and seek immediate therapy by commiserating with fellow fans on the collective couch of Dr. Norm Hitzgez on the Ticket.
Last night was different. Even during the game itself, I felt no such emotional range - the injuries have taken their toll.
"I have become comfortably numb."
Even though we got 2 key pieces back, one on offense, one on defense (Leary/Mincey), we then go ahead and lose 2 more key pieces (Dunbar/Lee).
"There is no pain, you are receding."
I understand the "no excuses" and "next man up" mantras; I really do. But there comes some imaginary tipping point with injuries beyond which none of these tenets apply. We are way beyond that point - you simply cannot achieve victory by fielding a bunch of replacement players.
"A distant ship smoke on the horizon."
To those of you who insist on blaming the coaches, I just don't understand the logic. I don't think that if you put together the best coaching staff of all time, they could overcome the gravity of this set of injuries. I have been watching this team for over 40 years, and I cannot honestly remember anything like this!
Please consider flipping the perspective 180 degrees. Would the existing coaching staff have won that game last night if we were at full strength? I'd even argue that right now, we'd be sitting at 4-0 if we only had just 1 or 2 of our missing pieces back (Romo being one of them), and we'd be praising the coaching staff like we did last year. But there is only so much coaching you can do with a decimated team, playing 3rd and 4th stringers.
"Hello,
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at home?"
But the weird thing is, I'm not furious, I'm not hopeful, or excited, because it seems like we just can't seem to get over the injury hump. And even though it's continuing to kill us ...
I have become comfortably numb.
