Philip Rivers is the anti-Romo

[rcaldw]

I find that many of us (Cowboys fans), just don't want to face the truth unless it is a positive, sunshine and lollipops truth. If it has to do with late season gutless losses (can you say 44-6?), we have to either completely ignore it, or act like it was an aberration (despite the fact there is now a pattern), or find excuses for it.

I, for one, would feel much better if Phillips, Romo, and anyone else who keeps denying the December pattern, would just say, "yea, we've been lousy late in the season for too long, and we plan to change it."

Be honest about it, don't excuse yourself or play mind games with it, and then go out AND MAKE IT DIFFERENT.

It is doable, and I think it is even more doable when you are honest about it and then set out to change it.

 

[Doomsday101]

I find that many of us (Cowboys fans), just don't want to face the truth unless it is a positive, sunshine and lollipops truth. If it has to do with late season gutless losses (can you say 44-6?), we have to either completely ignore it, or act like it was an aberration (despite the fact there is now a pattern), or find excuses for it.

I, for one, would feel much better if Phillips, Romo, and anyone else who keeps denying the December pattern, would just say, "yea, we've been lousy late in the season for too long, and we plan to change it."

Be honest about it, don't excuse yourself or play mind games with it, and then go out AND MAKE IT DIFFERENT.

It is doable, and I think it is even more doable when you are honest about it and then set out to change it.

The truth is we are 8-4 we are in 1st place in the NFC East with 4 games to play. If the team goes out and wins these game we have a good shot at winning the division and making post season. If the team fails they won't that is the truth. As for Romo thus far in his only Dec game thus far he threw for 395 yards with 3 TD and no ints, pretty damn good

 

[rcaldw]

The truth is we are 8-4 we are in 1st place in the NFC East with 4 games to play. If the team goes out and wins these game we have a good shot at winning the division and making post season. If the team fails they won't that is the truth. As for Romo thus far in his only Dec game thus far he threw for 395 yards with 3 TD and no ints, pretty damn good

Who is denying any of that? I'm not. I already posted in 2 or 3 threads, how much I thought of Romo's performance last week. Can we be honest about the fact, though, that that was really a change for Romo in his career to this point? He has not had his best games in December until last week. That is what I'm talking about. ROMO CHANGED IT. He went out in a big, last month of the season, on the road, division game, and played like a champion. Now we need the rest of the team (Witten is already there) to join him.

Dallas has done well to put themselves in a position to have a great season, but if they play poorly down the stretch again, to say this isn't a pattern is the height of Ostrich behavior.

 

[Doomsday101]

Who is denying any of that? I'm not. I already posted in 2 or 3 threads, how much I thought of Romo's performance last week. Can we be honest about the fact, though, that that was really a change for Romo in his career to this point? He has not had his best games in December until last week. That is what I'm talking about. ROMO CHANGED IT. He went out in a big, last month of the season, on the road, division game, and played like a champion. Now we need the rest of the team (Witten is already there) to join him.

Dallas has done well to put themselves in a position to have a great season, but if they play poorly down the stretch again, to say this isn't a pattern is the height of Ostrich behavior.

I think Romo has been showing that type of play for most of the year, Heading into the game he had only 7 ints on the season and when you think about it 3 of those 7 came in week 2 of the season so Romo has been showing these improvements for much of the season. I don't think he is spending as much time thinking about Dec as people on the outside.

 

[rcaldw]

I think Romo has been showing that type of play for most of the year, Heading into the game he had only 7 ints on the season and when you think about it 3 of those 7 came in week 2 of the season so Romo has been showing these improvements for much of the season. I don't think he is spending as much time thinking about Dec as people on the outside.

I agree with you that I've seen a change in Romo this year. I love what I've seen in interviews. It is almost like he has grown up a little bit. I don't think "concentrating" on December is the point. I think making the changes necessary not to fold down the stretch is the point. It seems to me he has done that all year long.

And for those who want to suggest that there has never been any "fold" in this team, I just refer them again to the 44-6 game. You can say whatever you want, but that was a PATHETIC performance that went far beyond just getting physically beaten. That was a mentally weak football team that day, and that is what has to change this year.

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree with you that I've seen a change in Romo this year. I love what I've seen in interviews. It is almost like he has grown up a little bit. I don't think "concentrating" on December is the point. I think making the changes necessary not to fold down the stretch is the point. It seems to me he has done that all year long.

And for those who want to suggest that there has never been any "fold" in this team, I just refer them again to the 44-6 game. You can say whatever you want, but that was a PATHETIC performance that went far beyond just getting physically beaten. That was a mentally weak football team that day, and that is what has to change this year.

I think he is just being more careful in what he is saying in interviews that comes with experience of dealing with the media but even at that he was getting slammed by some after the Irvin interview.

For me the change I see has more to do with Romo protecting the ball, willing to take the sack if need be than to throw the ball up wildly and keeping 2 hands on the ball as he is moving around in the pocket.

 

[NeonNinja]

I really don't know why you even bother. You are better off speaking Spanish to a Chinese.

This.

 

[JBond]

http://www.examiner.com/x-14770-Dal...dips-Cowboys-and-Chargers-are-polar-opposites

15-0 vs 5-9

Like I say in the last paragraph though, it's not all Romo. In fact he was quite good last week. The team just can't provide a complete performance like the Chargers do.

AFC west. Plus losses to very questionable teams such as Baltimore and the Steelers. They are not near as a complete team as you may think. Rarely do they have a hundred yard rusher and the QB play has been up and down if you use the standard Romo is held to. They have also given up points at a higher rate than us.

 

[rcaldw]

I think he is just being more careful in what he is saying in interviews that comes with experience of dealing with the media but even at that he was getting slammed by some after the Irvin interview.

For me the change I see has more to do with Romo protecting the ball, willing to take the sack if need be than to throw the ball up wildly and keeping 2 hands on the ball as he is moving around in the pocket.

Oh, I agree with you about him being more careful, but to me, that is not just experience, it is also the maturity to CARE what the impact might be of what you say. Heck, Aikman was absolutely vanilla while he was the QB in Dallas. It was on purpose that he just kept spitting out the same dry lines.

And I also agree with you on ball protection. Tony has done an outstanding job this year. To me, it is the best season he has had as the Cowboys QB.

 

[JBond]

Dear Lord, not this again.

Last season it was Cutler. Same crap different year.

 

[rcaldw]

AFC west. Plus losses to very questionable teams such as Baltimore and the Steelers. They are not near as a complete team as you may think. Rarely do they have a hundred yard rusher and the QB play has been up and down if you use the standard Romo is held to. They have also given up points at a higher rate than us.

I watch almost all of their games because I like Norv Turner and hope to see him do well, and in my opinion, it is a VERY good football team offensively and a very average team defensively. (Maybe even below average) And I think Rivers is an outstanding QB even though he represents a style that isn't my favorite. It is a team that often times gets off to a slow start but then seems to work into the rhythm of a game.

I think Dallas has to jump on them early. If we let the Chargers hang around, I think we will lose it in the end, because that team has learned to finish games.

But who knows? Maybe this is the week that we demonstrate WE know how to finish games. I hope so.

 

[Doomsday101]

Oh, I agree with you about him being more careful, but to me, that is not just experience, it is also the maturity to CARE what the impact might be of what you say. Heck, Aikman was absolutely vanilla while he was the QB in Dallas. It was on purpose that he just kept spitting out the same dry lines.

And I also agree with you on ball protection. Tony has done an outstanding job this year. To me, it is the best season he has had as the Cowboys QB.

Well as we saw after the Irvin interview some came down on Tony because he said he did not know what it took to win the SB but felt what they were doing felt right. Thing with interviews people will take out of them what they want to take.

What matters is what Tony does and as far as leadership it has nothing to do with what you are talking about with the media it is in how you deal with the men around you in the locker room. I think by now most players understand how things get twisted and turned in interviews but they see 1st hand what is going on inside the team which is something none of us see or what the media sees.

 

[viman96]

http://www.examiner.com/x-14770-Dal...dips-Cowboys-and-Chargers-are-polar-opposites

15-0 vs 5-9

Like I say in the last paragraph though, it's not all Romo. In fact he was quite good last week. The team just can't provide a complete performance like the Chargers do.

Before you post something like this you should do some research. Consider the opponents and their respective records when they played. The Cowboys played a several teams that were either the eventual SB winner or played in the conference championship game. The Chargers played a bunch of stiffs.

This is not defending the Cowboys because they had their opportunities. And kudos to the Chargers for beating who was on their schedule. Just comparing the two records is not apples to apples.

 

[rcaldw]

Well as we saw after the Irvin interview some came down on Tony because he said he did not know what it took to win the SB but felt what they were doing felt right. Thing with interviews people will take out of them what they want to take.

What matters is what Tony does and as far as leadership it has nothing to do with what you are talking about with the media it is in how you deal with the men around you in the locker room. I think by now most players understand how things get twisted and turned in interviews but they see 1st hand what is going on inside the team which is something none of us see or what the media sees.

I understand what you are saying, and I agree that talk is cheap and it is how you play that ultimately matters, but I don't agree that your star players don't have to be wise in what they say. (If that is what you are saying) I think we see at least 1 example every season of teams distracted by what gets said by players or coaches. I think Aikman handled himself like a pro, and I think Tony has handled himself like a pro this year more than ever.

I think anyone criticizing his interview with Irvin is an idiot. I appreciated what Tony said. To say you don't know because you haven't been there yet came off to me as GREAT HUMILITY and I loved it. To say that what they have this year "feels right" was also encouraging. I agree that team unity is very important for a great season.

So my thoughts about those critics is that they are just looking for something to criticize at that point.

If Tony had said "here is what it takes to win a Super Bowl", then everyone would have been on his back saying "how would he know, he's never won one?"

 

[JBond]

I watch almost all of their games because I like Norv Turner and hope to see him do well, and in my opinion, it is a VERY good football team offensively and a very average team defensively. (Maybe even below average) And I think Rivers is an outstanding QB even though he represents a style that isn't my favorite. It is a team that often times gets off to a slow start but then seems to work into the rhythm of a game.

I think Dallas has to jump on them early. If we let the Chargers hang around, I think we will lose it in the end, because that team has learned to finish games.

But who knows? Maybe this is the week that we demonstrate WE know how to finish games. I hope so.

I would love nothing more than a complete game by the Cowboys. Playcalling, execution, penalties etc. We have the talent to beat anyone.

 

[rcaldw]

I would love nothing more than a complete game by the Cowboys. Playcalling, execution, penalties etc. We have the talent to beat anyone.

I agree with you, that is what I'm hoping for as well. Man, if we can win this game I really believe it will totally transform this season. I really do.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I've said this for a while not but Rivers is the one QB I'd happily trade Romo for in a second. Of course that's assuming as well that we'd have a better pass blocking O-Line cause unfortunately behind our line Rivers would be mauled to death.

 

[Doomsday101]

I understand what you are saying, and I agree that talk is cheap and it is how you play that ultimately matters, but I don't agree that your star players don't have to be wise in what they say. (If that is what you are saying) I think we see at least 1 example every season of teams distracted by what gets said by players or coaches. I think Aikman handled himself like a pro, and I think Tony has handled himself like a pro this year more than ever.

I think anyone criticizing his interview with Irvin is an idiot. I appreciated what Tony said. To say you don't know because you haven't been there yet came off to me as GREAT HUMILITY and I loved it. To say that what they have this year "feels right" was also encouraging. I agree that team unity is very important for a great season.

So my thoughts about those critics is that they are just looking for something to criticize at that point.

If veryone would have been on his Tony had said "here is what it takes to win a Super Bowl", then eback saying "how would he know, he's never won one?"

All I'm saying is leadership is not what you say in the media it is how you deal with the people around you. Interviews all to often come out the way the people doing the interview want it to be. I think Tony trys to be a bit more careful in what he says because things can gets spun into a negitive light but the guys in the locker room know what the real deal is

 

[rcaldw]

All I'm saying is leadership is not what you say in the media it is how you deal with the people around you. Interviews all to often come out the way the people doing the interview want it to be. I think Tony trys to be a bit more careful in what he says because things can gets spun into a negitive light but the guys in the locker room know what the real deal is

Again, I hear you, but I disagree. Leadership is not just what you say in private, it is ALSO what you say in public. What motivates you may be different (i.e., making sure that I give the media what I'm required to, but making sure I don't stir a hornet's nest), but it still is a mark of leadership to do what is needed to put your team in the best possible position to focus on football.

 

[Idgit]

When you picked the screen name 'royallypwned' was it meant to refer to yourself? Or is that just a happy coincidence?