The Silver Lining Thread

[jjktkk]

Well, before you get in the playoffs, you have Zeke back, so that situation is basically the same as it was. We were always only going to go as far as our defense took us, and we didn't do enough the last two seasons to address the defensive playmaking deficiencies, anyway. That leaves us with hoping the offense can outscore other good offenses or for a ball to break our way on a turnover or something if we're going to advance farther than we have previously.

The one advantage our offense has, is the ability to control the clock, albeit with Zeke in the offense. This was proven to be pretty effective last year and a good way to keep our iffy defense from getting exposed.

 

[jjktkk]

Well I will say this if, and yes it's a big if, this team somehow stays in contention it will mean the defense has stepped up and come together in a big way.
We get Zeke back and get a big lift there and who knows if we get in the tournament.
Sorry jday that's all I got

Just having Lee back and the addition of Irving has already paid dividends for the defense.

 

[Idgit]

Zeke helped out the entire team including the defense. And without Zeke its going to be much tougher all around. Whenever this team went away from the run this year and tried to get cute it wasnt pretty. I dont expect that to change. And if anything, it will be another excuse for Garrett and Linehan to get cute and pass happy. Time of possession will change, ect....ect....

We'll see. They have the QB and the personnel that there shouldn't be any excuses.

 

[jjktkk]

We'll see. They have the QB and the personnel that there shouldn't be any excuses.

I agree. I got to believe McFadden still has something left in the tank, and Morris and Smith both have flashed this year, albeit briefly.

 

[ShortRound]

Really nice post JDay. I like how you set up Cinderella man. Nice touch.

Your point about Dak is one I'm hopeful for... I want to see the young man (and the Cowboys) succeed. Eagles are hot right now, and we face some tough games in the next month. But that's why we watch isn't it?

Keep writing man!

 

[irving]

A few posters have said Dak will have to step up if there is no Zeke, well it's not just Dak that will have to take up the slack of Zeke being out of the line up. It won't mean a thing if Zeke plays well and other members of the offense do not , or if the defense and special teams do not play up to snuff. That goes for the coaching also. With Zeke being out the entire team with have to play well.

 

[jday]

Really nice post JDay. I like how you set up Cinderella man. Nice touch.

Your point about Dak is one I'm hopeful for... I want to see the young man (and the Cowboys) succeed. Eagles are hot right now, and we face some tough games in the next month. But that's why we watch isn't it?

Keep writing man!

Thanks for the kudos and taking the time to read!

Call me crazy, but I think Philly is going to fall off....

 

[cityochamps]

Dude! War and Peace!

I promise to read it later though

 

[Jake]

I agree. I got to believe McFadden still has something left in the tank, and Morris and Smith both have flashed this year, albeit briefly.

Well, he's certainly not worn down this season. Dallas will plug him into Zeke's role, leaving Morris and Smith in theirs, and probably extract as much as he has left.

 

[dthahn]

This does truly suck on so many different levels. The corruption aspect of this story is quite possibly the most disconcerting because if ever I truly believe that this league is rigged and games are in fact fixed (as the absence of holding calls against the opposition for the last 16 quarters and the no-helmet to helmet call against Dak in this past game, already suggest), I will likely stop watching. After all, the absolute best part of the NFL versus any other sport in existence is that the team we follow always has a chance….any given Sunday. The parity, in my opinion, is the principal reason behind football’s popularity nationwide. If a fix indeed ever comes to light, regardless of the intent or motivation behind it, professional football will likely concede the national crown for collective viewership.

Do you remember Tim Donaghy, an NBA referee that was caught betting on NBA games and taking payoffs from gamblers? After he was caught, he confessed that other referees were doing this too and claimed that the NBA was involved by encouraging referees to manipulate the outcome of games by calling or not calling fouls.

In the case of NFL referees, I do not believe that the NFL is involved with fixing games. However, it is very clear to me that certain parties responsible for sports betting in Las Vegas are paying off referees to manipulate the final scores of NFL games to favor the sportsbooks in Vegas.

The big question is why does it seem that Dallas Cowboys games are targeted more than most. The simple reason is this: Dallas Cowboys games consistently bring in the most money wagered in sports betting in the U.S. All you have to do to verify this is go online and bring up sports betting websites that keep track of what teams people are betting the most money on. Therefore, these sportsbooks in all the Vegas casinos stand to lose a ton of money if many bettors are putting big money on Dallas to cover the spread and the Cowboys end up covering the spread.

This brings us to the last Dallas game against Washington. At least 1 or 2 referees in this game were paid off to throw flags on Dallas more than Washington to keep the score close. Do you actually think those were just terrible calls on Dallas that took points off the board?? or put points on the board for Washington??? It was Vegas gambling outfits manipulating games to win huge money. Fortunately for us Cowboys fans, Tyrone Crawford and Orlando Scandrick threw a monkey wrench in those plans when Crawford blocked the kick that Scandrick returned to the Washington 5 yard line. Without that play, Washington either wins or the Cowboys scrape by with a 1 or 2pt victory. That would have meant that Vegas wins millions while every bettor that put money on the Cowboys loses. While watching this play, I was actually surprised that no flags were thrown to call the play back. That leads me to believe that only 1 or 2 referees were involved and were not in position to throw a flag. If all referees had been involved then you better believe a flag would have been thrown against the Cowboys (I know some of you might be remembering a few egregious offsides penalties against the Cowboys that wiped out big plays earlier this season).

I know many of you will choose not to believe this but it is very unfortunate that this is extremely likely to be the truth. Tim Donaghy was just the tip of the iceberg. If the NBA and Boxing can be fixed, which is undoubtedly the case, why on earth would these outfits refrain from cashing in on NFL betting when it generates so much more money than these other sports.

Now another big question is: Why won't the NFL do anything about this? The plain truth is that it boils down to what everything else boils down to... MONEY!!! NFL will never admit this but one of the main reasons why the NFL is so popular is because of sports betting. If the NFL cracked down on this and crippled the Vegas sports books and other outfits and entities then the NFL would lose significantly more fans that it is already losing for other reasons.

In conclusion, I can only offer this advice to all of you.... whatever you do, do not bet on Cowboys games!!!!! LOL!!!

By the way, Patriots games are a close second to Cowboys games so don't bet on them either!!!!!

 

[Macnalty]

I'll give you one more silver lining:

Cheaper second contract for Zeke.

Eh, right? RIGHT?!?? *sobs into beer*

Honestly with Zeke a second contract needs to have a pause before initiating unless his maturity improves. Hoping six weeks off the team does not land him in any major media stories about his off field antics. Running game is going to suffer for he is truly blessed in that dept. We will be average not sure how that adds up with our WR play this year. Maybe WR Brown becomes special in this stretch.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I agree. I got to believe McFadden still has something left in the tank, and Morris and Smith both have flashed this year, albeit briefly.

Why would you believe McFadden has something left? He hasnt really played in a year and a half and hasnt even been active. I would have more faith in Morris and the Smith.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Thanks for the kudos and taking the time to read!

Call me crazy, but I think Philly is going to fall off....

Easy schedule and they just picked up one of the best RB's in the NFL.

 

[noshame]

He tests me this one.

Let me do my simpleton answer at least to the Dak part of it.
We over the decades I have seen many excellent quarterback start out with two even three years looking like hot garbage and on decent teams I might add
Dak is played at an All-Pro level for the vast majority of his games I've seen all I need to see he is that guy for years to come.

 

[LOBO7]

The only way a fix could be set up would be to form teams of refs that had tendencies that the fixer wanted. Example team of refs that call alot of holding or interference or home and away tendencies or even teams that for what ever reason call alot of penalties against certain teams. Then use the particular team with the best tendencies to deliver the outcome wanted.
This isnt really a fix but could give the league the best chance at the outcome wanted.
I cant believe any ref is in a back room some where being told who to favor in a game. Someone would eventually sell out and spill the beans.
Who decides which team is reffing which game? Id start there.

 

[cowboyblue22]

the catch rule and other rules are setup so that the outcomes of games can be changed to suit what the league wants the catch rule pass interference holding on the offensive line all of these rules are setup to get the results the league wants

 

[stiletto]

Zeke helped out the entire team including the defense. And without Zeke its going to be much tougher all around. Whenever this team went away from the run this year and tried to get cute it wasnt pretty. I dont expect that to change. And if anything, it will be another excuse for Garrett and Linehan to get cute and pass happy. Time of possession will change, ect....ect....

If they do we will lose 4 out of 6 of the next games. If they continue to play smash mouth/pound the rock, this team is still capable of winning. Let the Oline earn their keep. They're good. They can open up some running lanes for these guys. If we run for 100+ a game, I think we will still give teams issues. If they come out trying to have Dak pass 60 times a game, I don't like our chances.

 

[jday]

yah I just think that is a huge stretch. More than likely it might get Dak killed back there having to do everything. And what is the point of proving anything? Zeke will be back. Maybe getting creative in the passing game and going pass happy may have some benefits. But whatever they are, they pale in comparison to the negative.

But what if, without the benefit of this trial by fire, the Cowboys would never know just how good they can be and would fall short in the end? It's not likely...I accept that...but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

Easy schedule and they just picked up one of the best RB's in the NFL.

Jay Ajayi is one of the best running backs in the NFL? News to me.

 

[jday]

Do you remember Tim Donaghy, an NBA referee that was caught betting on NBA games and taking payoffs from gamblers? After he was caught, he confessed that other referees were doing this too and claimed that the NBA was involved by encouraging referees to manipulate the outcome of games by calling or not calling fouls.

In the case of NFL referees, I do not believe that the NFL is involved with fixing games. However, it is very clear to me that certain parties responsible for sports betting in Las Vegas are paying off referees to manipulate the final scores of NFL games to favor the sportsbooks in Vegas.

The big question is why does it seem that Dallas Cowboys games are targeted more than most. The simple reason is this: Dallas Cowboys games consistently bring in the most money wagered in sports betting in the U.S. All you have to do to verify this is go online and bring up sports betting websites that keep track of what teams people are betting the most money on. Therefore, these sportsbooks in all the Vegas casinos stand to lose a ton of money if many bettors are putting big money on Dallas to cover the spread and the Cowboys end up covering the spread.

This brings us to the last Dallas game against Washington. At least 1 or 2 referees in this game were paid off to throw flags on Dallas more than Washington to keep the score close. Do you actually think those were just terrible calls on Dallas that took points off the board?? or put points on the board for Washington??? It was Vegas gambling outfits manipulating games to win huge money. Fortunately for us Cowboys fans, Tyrone Crawford and Orlando Scandrick threw a monkey wrench in those plans when Crawford blocked the kick that Scandrick returned to the Washington 5 yard line. Without that play, Washington either wins or the Cowboys scrape by with a 1 or 2pt victory. That would have meant that Vegas wins millions while every bettor that put money on the Cowboys loses. While watching this play, I was actually surprised that no flags were thrown to call the play back. That leads me to believe that only 1 or 2 referees were involved and were not in position to throw a flag. If all referees had been involved then you better believe a flag would have been thrown against the Cowboys (I know some of you might be remembering a few egregious offsides penalties against the Cowboys that wiped out big plays earlier this season).

I know many of you will choose not to believe this but it is very unfortunate that this is extremely likely to be the truth. Tim Donaghy was just the tip of the iceberg. If the NBA and Boxing can be fixed, which is undoubtedly the case, why on earth would these outfits refrain from cashing in on NFL betting when it generates so much more money than these other sports.

Now another big question is: Why won't the NFL do anything about this? The plain truth is that it boils down to what everything else boils down to... MONEY!!! NFL will never admit this but one of the main reasons why the NFL is so popular is because of sports betting. If the NFL cracked down on this and crippled the Vegas sports books and other outfits and entities then the NFL would lose significantly more fans that it is already losing for other reasons.

In conclusion, I can only offer this advice to all of you.... whatever you do, do not bet on Cowboys games!!!!! LOL!!!

By the way, Patriots games are a close second to Cowboys games so don't bet on them either!!!!!

First, you never bet on a team you are fan of...that's rule #1 of gambling. Emotional bets will put you in the poor house. Second, despite the fact that I made reference to many of the questionable aspects of football, for the most part, this is an issue where I like to keep my head firmly planted in the sand. I really don't want to know because following football is a passion of mine and I'd hate to leave it behind.

 

[CowboyRoy]

If they do we will lose 4 out of 6 of the next games. If they continue to play smash mouth/pound the rock, this team is still capable of winning. Let the Oline earn their keep. They're good. They can open up some running lanes for these guys. If we run for 100+ a game, I think we will still give teams issues. If they come out trying to have Dak pass 60 times a game, I don't like our chances.

Morris is in great shape and he is a very good runner. Good vision. He wont be going for 90 yards but he can get the big chunks.