Something I Miss In This Team

[Hostile]

I remember fondly all the people whose face T.O. got into when the going got tough. He went toe to toe with tough guys like Ray Sherman, Todd Haley and Jason Garrett.

Bingo. The truth shall set you free.

That kind of crap is not needed, welcome, or missed. Good riddance.

 

[CATCH17]

My biggest problem isn't our teams toughness.

Its finding the most off the wall ways to lose games.


We can beat, pound, and bang on our chest for 3 1/2 quarters and then we will find the most unbelievable ways to lose.

We went toe to toe with the Steelers and found some crazy way to lose in the end.

VS the Ravens we went toe to toe and found a crazy way to lose.



We can be as physical/tough as anyone. Just stop finding ways to lose.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Usually this kind of talk suggests to me that a team is doing poorly.

Can't get respect through your play, then get it through brute intimidation.

The Steelers and Raiders franchises of the 70's would disagree. They got respect not only through winning but through kicking people's teeth in.

The Bears in the 80's, as well as the Giants, would punch you in the mouth. You respected them because they were good and because if you screwed around you got knocked silly.

The Cowboys in the 90's had several players like this, including Erik Williams, who'd make people pay when they acted like fools.

The Patriots dynasty of this decade is full of players who will put a lick on people for acting foolish or talking a bunch of junk.

There is nothing wrong with that. I don't think anyone is talking about going out there and hitting people late, or being a jerk off, but simply making people pay when they talk trash, or disrespect, their team.

You throw a ball into the star behind the endzone, acting all cool and tough, the next time you touch the ball you get your lights knocked out for your trouble. Nothing wrong with that, IMO.

 

[Future]

Well Kevin Burnett wanted to be that guy when he drilled Jacobs...then he got a penalty.

This team gets penalties for everything, I don't blame them for having no attitude.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Well Kevin Burnett wanted to be that guy when he drilled Jacobs...then he got a penalty.

This team gets penalties for everything, I don't blame them for having no attitude.

That's true. I remember Burnett and James both got Penalities in that game for stuff involving Jacobs. Good point brought up there.

 

[Future]

I mean I hated the incident with Furrey and the star as much as anybody, but what was anybody supposed to do?

Would you hit a guy if you knew you were going to get a penalty, a fine, and maybe a suspension? This league is only made for the tough guys to do talk and act aggressively behind the scenese. Unfortunately, there is no behind the scenes with Dallas.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I remember fondly all the people whose face T.O. got into when the going got tough. He went toe to toe with tough guys like Ray Sherman, Todd Haley and Jason Garrett.

Andre Gurode too.

In the end I'd rather have a guy that cares too much, than guys that don't seem to care at all.

 

[Future]

Andre Gurode too.

In the end I'd rather have a guy that cares too much, than guys that don't seem to care at all.

T.O. did that for himself, not for the sake of the team, let's not get it confused. Granted he wanted to win, but he thought the only way to do that was to get him the ball. If he didn't get in people's faces there would have been way less pressure on this offense and we wouldn't have seen Tony force like 100 passes to him.

 

[theebs]

That's true. I remember Burnett and James both got Penalities in that game for stuff involving Jacobs. Good point brought up there.

So did hamlin. James backs up his play and burnett did most of the time at least, hamlin on the other hand, well he needs to go to tackling school 101.

 

[Alexander]

The Steelers and Raiders franchises of the 70's would disagree. They got respect not only through winning but through kicking people's teeth in.

The Bears in the 80's, as well as the Giants, would punch you in the mouth. You respected them because they were good and because if you screwed around you got knocked silly.

The Cowboys in the 90's had several players like this, including Erik Williams, who'd make people pay when they acted like fools.

How many times have we heard other teams whispering that we don't respond well to being punched in the mouth? Too often.

 

[theebs]

How many times have we heard other teams whispering that we don't respond well to being punched in the mouth? Too often.

I dont buy that. That comes from the media mostly and from teams after they have beaten us, the teams that lose to us sing a different tune.

The giants were saying we dont respond well to being hit in the mouth and eli said we didnt know how to come back, meanwhile we beat them three straight times all having to come back at some point.

Keyshawn runs around on espn saying that and all of a sudden it becomes a fact...

last year Aaron kampman and barnett in GB were talking about Dallas before we played them and how they were going to hit us first because we dont hit back and we kicked their behinds. Kampman was even joking about barber...None of them said squat after the game.

This team is tough enough to me, they just are not focused enough. I think we have some guys that drift mentally during games and we had a bunch of guys who thought they were going to win because of the jersey they were wearing. You can see guys who look like they are in cruise control sometimes and then other times are going 100 mph.

I hope that this mindset has been purged but I dont know how we will know until we see it. Our we going to have terrible penalty problems and a bunch of missed assignments again? Hopefully not. The team has issues for sure, I just dont think it is a toughness issue. We have come back plenty of times, we dont seem to put people away very well and maybe that gets back to the focus thing also, get a lead and exhale like the job is done.

oh well. 3 more months.

 

[Alexander]

This team is tough enough to me, they just are not focused enough.

Regardless of what you think about how genuine the comments are, I have yet to hear anything from anyone to dispute it. Not once since Parcells left has anyone talked about being in a dogfight with us. They did when Coach Parcells was here, even the Giants would comment (Pierce had stated that several times). Now we have cake-eaters and players who think a bye equals a win (we all know where that comes from). We have developed a nauseating case of entitlement that I hope has gone away.

I think we have some guys that drift mentally during games and we had a bunch of guys who thought they were going to win because of the jersey they were wearing. You can see guys who look like they are in cruise control sometimes and then other times are going 100 mph.

See, that's what I mean by mental "toughness". That means not allowing yourself to take your reputation or your press clippings into a game and instead play physical hard-nosed brand of football. We just don't play with the same sense of violence you see others play us and too often we wilt from a physical fight. It might seem like a lack of focus, but being intimidated can often show up that way. It is about the mental attitude. We can beat the false bravado types or those teams that lack a physical nature, but you can see the results for yourself late in every season. We don't want it badly enough and frankly appear to fold at the first sign of adversity and then have to rally, which isn't the same.

Thinking someone is just going to take one look at you and roll over isn't tough. It's soft and arrogant. That was how we approached last season. Then when we decided to man up, it was too late (Cardinals, Ravens) or we never did it at all (Eagles). The only game I saw what I considered both toughness and resiliency was against the Steelers, but we let that slip away also because Romo couldn't execute.

I hope that this mindset has been purged but I dont know how we will know until we see it. Our we going to have terrible penalty problems and a bunch of missed assignments again? Hopefully not. The team has issues for sure, I just dont think it is a toughness issue. We have come back plenty of times, we dont seem to put people away very well and maybe that gets back to the focus thing also, get a lead and exhale like the job is done.

You don't think being able to put the final nail in the coffin is a sign of toughness?

I don't disagree per se with what you are saying and perhaps we simply have different definitions. To me, toughness is being physical and imposing your will, not reacting to what comes about. We are resilient, but to me that's not the same as being tough. If we were boxers, we'd be getting knocked down but keep getting up instead of being the ones who are throwing the knockout punches.

 

[50cent]

My signature says it all and has for about the past 3 years. We don't have a man on this team, just a bunch of front running popular prom queens. Roy lost his tag as enforcer as soon as his wedding was called off and confirmed by Brandon Jacobs on numerous occasions. Our closest men are Ratliff, Barber and Columbo. Everyone else is more interested in their radio show, contract or endorsements that comes along with wearing the Star. EVERYONE ELSE, including your favorite Cowboy not named Barber, Ratliff or Columbo. 0 toughness/fight = 0 chips for a long time. I hope Jerry drafted ST players that are afraid to fight. Legally of course, because the estrogen count outweighs the testosterone level in our locker room by a wide margin.

 

[Alexander]

My signature says it all and has for about the past 3 years. We don't have a man on this team, just a bunch of front running popular prom queens. Roy lost his tag as enforcer as soon as his wedding was called off and confirmed by Brandon Jacobs on numerous occasions. Our closest men are Ratliff, Barber and Columbo. Everyone else is more interested in their radio show, contract or endorsements that comes along with wearing the Star. EVERYONE ELSE, including your favorite Cowboy not named Barber, Ratliff or Columbo. 0 toughness/fight = 0 chips for a long time. I hope Jerry drafted ST players that are afraid to fight. Legally of course, because the estrogen count outweighs the testosterone level in our locker room by a wide margin.

I think Greg Ellis has been supplying this team with estrogen supplements for the last ten years.

 

[cowboyjoe]

I totally agree Hostile, but remember Barber cant use the stiff arm anymore, they made a rule against it right? Yep, this team needs some attitude and swagger, that this is our house, you dont come in and disrespect our house.

I want to see a little George Teague from someone. I'd like to see someone shut Brandon Jacobs up next year when he opens his festering gob about the Cowboys. I'd like to see some guy who celebrates a 1st down get the taste knocked out of his mouth.

I'd like to see a player who looks at that magnificent new stadium and sends the message to the other teams that you will not come in our house and disrespect us.

I think that the most frustrating thing for me the last few years has been the Mike Furrey breaking the star incident a couple of years ago. I think someone should have rang his bell.

The toughest player on this team in terms of making someone pay is probably Marion Barber and I love his smashmouth, stiff arm from hell style. If we could clone any player my vote would be him. If everyone gave his kind of effort we would be a great team. Not a good team, a great one.

Teague wasn't here for our great teams, so why do I want someone like him? It's real simple. I want someone who has pride in winning. I want someone who is an enforcer. Truth be told I want a Cliff Harris even more than a George Teague. If Owens had pulled that crap when Harris was playing I don't believe he'd have left the field under his own power. I'd put money on that.

Losing that last game at Texas Stadium has stuck in my craw all off season. Far more than the 44-6 season finale in Philly. It just seems to me that what this team could really use is someone who takes stuff just a little bit personal. Maybe a Kevin Gogan who would fight at the mere suggestion of a disagreement. Columbo has a little of that. I'd love it if he amped it up a notch or four.

It's a new house. There needs to be a new attitude. One that says, disrespect us in any way, and you will not like the way we make you pay.

68k

 

[FCBarca]

Along those lines, honestly, I'd just like some defenders who can actually punish a ball carrier and tackle...Wrap them up and make them remember the hit.

At this point, outside of Ware, I gotta imagine that most offensive players don't hear footsteps in the open field when playing the Cowboys

 

[Alexander]

As a side note, the ****ty Commanders franchise and their idiot fans are HUGE into this mentality. Their franchise is a joke, so they try to take solace in some cheap shots by Landry or Taylor hitting a punter. Then they all puff up their chests about what beasts they have. It's loser talk. Can't earn respect by being good, try to claim respect by brute force. It doesn't work.

When Roy Williams was knocking people's blocks off five years ago, we were exactly the same way.

 

[50cent]

I think Greg Ellis has been supplying this team with estrogen supplements for the last ten years.

Can't disagree, but when you're the overwhelming enforcer of the defense (Roy W.) and you get drug around like a rag doll by several opponents, I tend to think other teams notice and lose respect. Thus becoming less itimdated while the estrogen is still on the team. Estrogen boosters that need to go:
Flo
Ellis
Crayton
Brown
Carp

 

[CATCH17]

Regardless of what you think about how genuine the comments are, I have yet to hear anything from anyone to dispute it. Not once since Parcells left has anyone talked about being in a dogfight with us. They did when Coach Parcells was here, even the Giants would comment (Pierce had stated that several times). Now we have cake-eaters and players who think a bye equals a win (we all know where that comes from). We have developed a nauseating case of entitlement that I hope has gone away.



See, that's what I mean by mental "toughness". That means not allowing yourself to take your reputation or your press clippings into a game and instead play physical hard-nosed brand of football. We just don't play with the same sense of violence you see others play us and too often we wilt from a physical fight. It might seem like a lack of focus, but being intimidated can often show up that way. It is about the mental attitude. We can beat the false bravado types or those teams that lack a physical nature, but you can see the results for yourself late in every season. We don't want it badly enough and frankly appear to fold at the first sign of adversity and then have to rally, which isn't the same.

Thinking someone is just going to take one look at you and roll over isn't tough. It's soft and arrogant. That was how we approached last season. Then when we decided to man up, it was too late (Cardinals, Ravens) or we never did it at all (Eagles). The only game I saw what I considered both toughness and resiliency was against the Steelers, but we let that slip away also because Romo couldn't execute.



You don't think being able to put the final nail in the coffin is a sign of toughness?

I don't disagree per se with what you are saying and perhaps we simply have different definitions. To me, toughness is being physical and imposing your will, not reacting to what comes about. We are resilient, but to me that's not the same as being tough. If we were boxers, we'd be getting knocked down but keep getting up instead of being the ones who are throwing the knockout punches.

To sum this post up.... Winning cures all.


Romo becomes a great leader, team becomes tougher, blah blah blah.

 

[Alexander]

To sum this post up.... Winning cures all.


Romo becomes a great leader, team becomes tougher, blah blah blah.

We won 13 times in 2007 and I didn't see that getting us a single thing except a bloated ego and the idea that gosh darn it our luck was just bad.