The Long View of the "Non-catch"

[followthestar]

We can debate how the season might have turned out till the cows come home, but to me there is an even deeper issue that will resonate for years. It has to do with how the media and the football fan in general view not just Dez but Romo as well.
Tony has the reputation of not being able to win the big game, or throwing the INT when the game hangs in the balance. We know this is not deserved, but there it is. The fact that catch was overturned takes away one of the great plays of the entire season by any team. 4th down. Time is running out. Tony doesn't bother trying to squeeze out a first down - he sees Dez in single coverage and hears destiny calling. He throws a perfect strike downfield. Dez makes a catch that only a handful of WRs in the league can even think about going up for.
Even if we end up losing that game, the image of Romo completing that pass to Dez when the season was on the line would be burned into every football analyst's mind, and no Cowboy hater could say Romo choked at the end without having to admit he can make the big play when called on.
That to me is an even bigger issue - shedding the loser image. We had a great season and played a great game, but years from now the stat line will simply show "Romo pass to Bryant - incomplete." People won't remember the rest of the story... and that's a shame.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

We can debate how the season might have turned out till the cows come home, but to me there is an even deeper issue that will resonate for years. It has to do with how the media and the football fan in general view not just Dez but Romo as well.
Tony has the reputation of not being able to win the big game, or throwing the INT when the game hangs in the balance. We know this is not deserved, but there it is. The fact that catch was overturned takes away one of the great plays of the entire season by any team. 4th down. Time is running out. Tony doesn't bother trying to squeeze out a first down - he sees Dez in single coverage and hears destiny calling. He throws a perfect strike downfield. Dez makes a catch that only a handful of WRs in the league can even think about going up for.
Even if we end up losing that game, the image of Romo completing that pass to Dez when the season was on the line would be burned into every football analyst's mind, and no Cowboy hater could say Romo choked at the end without having to admit he can make the big play when called on.
That to me is an even bigger issue - shedding the loser image. We had a great season and played a great game, but years from now the stat line will simply show "Romo pass to Bryant - incomplete." People won't remember the rest of the story... and that's a shame.

Mentioned this in another post. All the crap Romo has been through. All the crap Dez has been through. All the crap we take as a fanbase from the media and other fanbases. All the agony this organization has gone through to get back to the top. This organization and players have fought and fought. As a fanbase we have defended the blue and silver until we were hoarse. And as a 'family' (front office, players, fans)...we finally EARNED our way back to the top. And it was STOLEN. So as far as I am concerned....the NFL let me down. They are an 'entertainment' machine. And it is far more 'entertaining'...to advance the narrative of Romo the choker...of Dez the flashy hothead.....of Jerry the bumbling hill billy.....of Cowboy fans living off the past. It is far more entertaining for them to keep Cowboy Nation in that "box"....so that is what they did!!!

 

[CowboyGil]

Mentioned this in another post. All the crap Romo has been through. All the crap Dez has been through. All the crap we take as a fanbase from the media and other fanbases. All the agony this organization has gone through to get back to the top. This organization and players have fought and fought. As a fanbase we have defended the blue and silver until we were hoarse. And as a 'family' (front office, players, fans)...we finally EARNED our way back to the top. And it was STOLEN. So as far as I am concerned....the NFL let me down. They are an 'entertainment' machine. And it is far more 'entertaining'...to advance the narrative of Romo the choker...of Dez the flashy hothead.....of Jerry the bumbling hill billy.....of Cowboy fans living off the past. It is far more entertaining for them to keep Cowboy Nation in that "box"....so that is what they did!!!

It's more lucrative to "help" Aaron Rodgers go farther. He is the NFL's cash cow right now. He's the illegitimate love child of Bart Starr and Brett Favre.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Mentioned this in another post. All the crap Romo has been through. All the crap Dez has been through. All the crap we take as a fanbase from the media and other fanbases. All the agony this organization has gone through to get back to the top. This organization and players have fought and fought. As a fanbase we have defended the blue and silver until we were hoarse. And as a 'family' (front office, players, fans)...we finally EARNED our way back to the top. And it was STOLEN. So as far as I am concerned....the NFL let me down. They are an 'entertainment' machine. And it is far more 'entertaining'...to advance the narrative of Romo the choker...of Dez the flashy hothead.....of Jerry the bumbling hill billy.....of Cowboy fans living off the past. It is far more entertaining for them to keep Cowboy Nation in that "box"....so that is what they did!!!

Sorry. While we have made improvements.
We didn't earn our way out of Detroit.
We needed to play better and we didn't.
If not for that call we might be down too much to come back and win the game.


Next year! Let's do it right!!
No uncertainty!

 

[daveferr33]

Sorry. While we have made improvements.
We didn't earn our way out of Detroit.
We needed to play better and we didn't.
If not for that call we might be down too much to come back and win the game.


Next year! Let's do it right!!
No uncertainty!

Putting aside the issue of the picked up penalty flag in Detroit, the play of this team in those two playoff games really left a lot to be desired. Seems as if there was more intensity for the Washington game than either of the playoff games.

 

[Frozen700]

We just can't be in those situations.

 

[btcutter]

It's more lucrative to "help" Aaron Rodgers go farther. He is the NFL's cash cow right now. He's the illegitimate love child of Bart Starr and Brett Favre.

Not true. Nothing makes NFL happier than dallas having success. Love them or hate them. Dallas generates controversies and viewers. That means more money for the league.

I hate that Refs in NY is making decisions now for the game officials. The officials in this game should have the ultimate say. Or else you don't need live refs. Just have multiple cameras and some guy in the field to throw the yellow flag.

 

[Danger]

In late game situations refs should attempt to not intervene unless a penalty is egregious. Dez and Romo would have made one of the most clutch plays in playoff history if not for the subjective interpretation of a terrible rule by an NY Bozo.

 

[LittleLexodus]

In late game situations refs should attempt to not intervene unless a penalty is egregious. Dez and Romo would have made one of the most clutch plays in playoff history if not for the subjective interpretation of a terrible rule by an NY Bozo.

I agree. I just don't see how you overturn the field ruling. Romo's record could easily be 3-3 right now with a shot at the SB but some bumbling moron in NY caused it to be 2-4

 

[ConstantReboot]

I wish that Jerry would lash back at the league and come to defend the star. The world knows that was a catch and even those that despise the Cowboys have come to acknowledge honestly thats a catch.

Something is fishy with the NFL. They have all reason not given us the benefit of the doubt in many games. But the Green Bay game has reared its ugly head and has come to show us that there are other opponents besides the ones on the field of play. The decision has biased written all over it and I hope and pray that Jerry does something about it.

If he doesn't I can assure you history will repeat itself. No matter how obvious a play will be the NFL will take that away in the future as well and we will never reach the Superbowl because of it.

 

[big dog cowboy]

That to me is an even bigger issue - shedding the loser image. We had a great season and played a great game, but years from now the stat line will simply show "Romo pass to Bryant - incomplete." People won't remember the rest of the story... and that's a shame.

I'm not so sure. While that play not rank up there with "The Catch" or The Tuck Rule, people will remember.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I think the Cowboys answered some critics. I don't think anyone thought we "choked" this year by any stretch.

Not that facts ever really got in the way of the Romo narrative of him being a choker, but I don't know how anyone could look at the Green Bay game, even without the catch by Dez counting, as a choke. He threw 1 incompletion that entire half and it was that awesome throw to Dez.

 

[Blackspider214]

It's more lucrative to "help" Aaron Rodgers go farther. He is the NFL's cash cow right now. He's the illegitimate love child of Bart Starr and Brett Favre.

We all know Dallas/Seattle was the matchup most wanted to see, though. Especially after we proved we go could up there and not only win, but out physical them on both sides of the ball. Green Bay already got destroyed up there and I feel it will happen again, especially with Rodgers being gimpy. NFL isn't stupid. Cowboys bring ratings and generate a buzz like no other. And seattle is the defending champs. What better matchup? Especially the storyline from the game in October all the way back to redemption from 2006 and the fumbled FG snap in that same stadium.

I don't believe it was some kind of conspiracy. If that was the case, Dallas would be in it every year for ratings purposes. Every single person who watches football has an opinion on Dallas, good or bad. No one is neutral.

We just didn't put them away early when we had many chances. The catch is the last thing on my mind from this game.

 

[pancakeman]

Putting aside the issue of the picked up penalty flag in Detroit, the play of this team in those two playoff games really left a lot to be desired. Seems as if there was more intensity for the Washington game than either of the playoff games.

Of course, the energy and talent of the opposing team plays a role...

 

[nathanlt]

Terminology is extremely important here. This thread should be titled Long view of Dez's CATCH. It was a catch, 6 football moves were made. Both elbows were on the ground, and the ball had not contacted the ground at that nanosecond. The process was complete when the first elbow or knee was down at that point. Think about it, in any case when the knee is down, going to the ground is complete. And the NFL stole it plain and simple.

As some have pointed out the NFL wants to kill any Tony Romo success narrative. In response, I think the phrase "non-catch" should be treated like a banned word on Cowboyszone. It's profanity, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Clove]

We just can't be in those situations.

Agree. The thing is, the football gods do not care about who we are. The football gods don't owe us anything. If you want to get places in this NFL, you have to GO GET IT! Just go and get it. Don't rely on luck and things like that, GO FREAKING GET IT! When Aikman threw that slant to Alvin Harper as a back breaker to San Fran back in 93, they just went an got it. Very similar to this game against Green Bay.

On the road, terrible field, we're huge underdogs, we had them where we wanted them. But that Dallas Cowboys team just STOOD UP, and punched the 9ers right in the face. They didn't do stupid things down the stretch to get them beaten. You have to kick the bully in the lower parts and go take their lunch money, and we simply relied on luck to win it for us. Lesson to Garrett and the rest of the team, next year, go take it from EVERYONE.! My motto is for next year "LEAVE NO DOUBT"

 

[JDSmith]

Agree. The thing is, the football gods do not care about who we are. The football gods don't owe us anything. If you want to get places in this NFL, you have to GO GET IT! Just go and get it. Don't rely on luck and things like that, GO FREAKING GET IT! When Aikman threw that slant to Alvin Harper as a back breaker to San Fran back in 93, they just went an got it. Very similar to this game against Green Bay.

On the road, terrible field, we're huge underdogs, we had them where we wanted them. But that Dallas Cowboys team just STOOD UP, and punched the 9ers right in the face. They didn't do stupid things down the stretch to get them beaten. You have to kick the bully in the lower parts and go take their lunch money, and we simply relied on luck to win it for us. Lesson to Garrett and the rest of the team, next year, go take it from EVERYONE.! My motto is for next year "LEAVE NO DOUBT"

So if an official came in and said the slant to Harper didn't happen, called some fake holding or maybe an invisible offensive PI since the defender fell down, would that mean the Cowboys back then didn't STAND UP? Would we then argue that they were relying on luck? To say this team relied on luck is ridiculous - going for and executing a fantastic play on 4th and 2 is not relying on luck. It's going and making a play. It goes beyond standing up, it was jumping up taking the ball and lunging for the goal line.

This team left some plays on the field, and they had some opportunities that they couldn't exploit. But they were not relying on luck, they were relying on skill and effort. Don't diminish them while you wax nostalgic about a game that could have easily turned in the first half when the Niners scored a TD and had it called back for holding Russell Maryland. No call, and we may not ever win that game. Then maybe people would talk about how that team relied on luck instead of making a play.

 

[Clove]

So if an official came in and said the slant to Harper didn't happen, called some fake holding or maybe an invisible offensive PI since the defender fell down, would that mean the Cowboys back then didn't STAND UP? Would we then argue that they were relying on luck? To say this team relied on luck is ridiculous - going for and executing a fantastic play on 4th and 2 is not relying on luck. It's going and making a play. It goes beyond standing up, it was jumping up taking the ball and lunging for the goal line.

This team left some plays on the field, and they had some opportunities that they couldn't exploit. But they were not relying on luck, they were relying on skill and effort. Don't diminish them while you wax nostalgic about a game that could have easily turned in the first half when the Niners scored a TD and had it called back for holding Russell Maryland. No call, and we may not ever win that game. Then maybe people would talk about how that team relied on luck instead of making a play.

Listen, you put your season in the hands of 1 play, it's a 50/50 chance of surviving. You put a foot on their throat earlier, which we had ample time to do, then it doesn't come down to a 50/50 play. By 50/50, I mean the degree of difficulty, and if the refs get involved.

 

[Clove]

Let me add this JDSmith.

What happened on the series leading up to that play? We put up 7 points in the 2nd half? Why? These are the things we should be more worried about. We could have put up another 17 points in that half, yet we fumbled around, fumbling the ball, taking unnecessary sacks, so on and so forth.Our defense had time to actually stop them and we didn't. If you want to gamble with your future by relying on low percentage plays, then the Super Bowl is not for us.

 

[JDSmith]

Let me add this JDSmith.

What happened on the series leading up to that play? We put up 7 points in the 2nd half? Why? These are the things we should be more worried about. We could have put up another 17 points in that half, yet we fumbled around, fumbling the ball, taking unnecessary sacks, so on and so forth.Our defense had time to actually stop them and we didn't. If you want to gamble with your future by relying on low percentage plays, then the Super Bowl is not for us.

And none of those things mean we were relying on luck. It simply means our guys didn't make the plays. It wasn't for a lack of trying, they simply didn't get it done. On the defensive side I'd say it was more about not having enough talent than anything else. On the offensive side there were some costly mistakes. I won't argue that they needed to make more plays, but when you say they were relying on luck that sounds to me as if you believe they weren't doing all that they could do - I feel that they were doing their best, and were not relying on anything but their own efforts and ability. They just didn't succeed enough.