Maybe, just maybe, it's preseason

[Alexander]

But Ellis' little rant validated the naysayers, or that something was "amiss." We know we have the physical talent to win 12+ games; I'm more worried about the mental makeup of the team.

You should be worried.

Wade Phillips, Greg Ellis and Tank Johnson have all repeated the same type of mantra post-game: they were tired and wanted to go home.

Tony Romo alluded to it in an interview, indicating that some players were not excited to be playing. Greg Ellis certainly validated the homesickness angle when he went through his nauseating interview as well.

The mental edge that this team doesn't have is what should concern everyone. The physical talent is there. But until that edge is developed, or those keeping it from showing are gone, this team will never fulfill its potential.

 

[Alexander]

Bill Parcells ran as tight a ship as there was in the NFL. Where did that get the Cowboys in December? Did you burn your Cowboy flag at the end of the first quarter to?

Coach Parcells also stated that at times, getting this team to step up was like beating stubborn mules. That is back to the players themselves and the culture they perpetuate. A coach can only do so much prodding, screaming and coddling. Eventually the players have to step up and take charge mentally. Until they do, they will be nothing.

And when the same issues plague the team after he is gone, you cannot rationally blame him. We had a similar collapse last year where we simply died off in December.

If you can watch a couple edited Hard Knocks episodes and decide there's a internal culture problem on the team, by goddness , you are an NFL insider.

I think you can watch the performance on the field and listen to the quotes after losses to get a very good perception of the cultural problem facing this franchise. Nobody needs Hard Knocks.