To my fellow realists... Are you as encouraged as me?

[CalCBFan]

He's the new 5countem5.

I cannot figure out why when I click "Quick Reply" I get a quote response window, but I guess it doesn't really matter.

I am very encouraged about this team. But we need to wint at GB and keep studying and practicing. This new-found humility is doing wonders for this organization and I for one, am delighted. I really did not think we'd win that game, especially after the Eagles drove the field to open the 2nd half. But we made on the fly adjustments (I did not think Wade could do that!) and held on to finish, although it was God looking out for his favorite team that got Butler that shoestring tackle on (an ageing McNabb).

One of my biggest comp[laints about this team was how often they looked completely unprepared against good opponents, and I was very happy to hear Brady James (I think) talk about how hard they studied this week in prepration for Andy Reid because of how smart he is. That study paid off big time. I think if we do that for Jan 3rd, we'll have the same great result.

I still think we'll have to prove ourselves in December and I think if we can take our the Saints, we can win the SB. I mean we have the talent to do it, because they seem to be doing very well. MN will also be a big challenge, but if we can continue to take it one game at a time, and everybody stays healthy, I like our chances for a good December and January...

 

[Arch Stanton]

Most fans -- and certainly on this board -- tend to overreact ... when things are going well, and when things are going bad.

The team is probably never as bad as we think it is, or as great as we think it is.

I find this team much more likable than in recent years. The bad apples are gone, and this is a team that appears to have pretty good chemistry. I see great effort each week, and that hasn't always been the case in recent years.

As fans, many of us wanted Owens and Adam Jones, and Terry Johnson, and Greg Ellis, and OU Roy Williams gone. We wanted grinders ... tough players who played hard and would lead. We wanted a safety who could cover, make plays and not point. We wanted a new special teams coach. We wanted Wade to run the defense. For the most part, we got the changes we wanted.

I'm not sure Jerry bought into all these moves originially, but Stephen and maybe Wade and Garrett helped persuade him. And maybe in some cases, Jerry got his way (Stewart's exit?)

The other change I wanted was Wade gone. I still don't think he's the guy to get Dallas to the Super Bowl, but he has made an effort to be more involved in things and hold the players more accountable. I still don't think he'll get a new contract and I think Jason Garrett is going to replace him in January.

I'm encouraged by what I see, but I'm not going to start pounding the table and yelling "Super Bowl." they will stumble at some point in the next few weeks and lose a game they probably should have won. The mood of the fans will swing wildly the other way when that happens. And of course, December looms.

But we'll deal with December when it gets here. I really like this team and am hoping for the best.

This is it for me in a nutshell. I don't think we can underestimate the influence that JoeD and Keith Brooking have had on the team. I'm enjoying the ride at the moment.

Nice post Chief.

 

[Bleu Star]

With the exception of the sword fighting (which is also somewhat entertaining), I appreciate the thoughtful responses to the OP. Most of you seem to also be encouraged by what you see but are keeping a watchful eye based upon previous trends. Hopefully we don't trend downward as the season progresses. There's a different feel in the air. It revolves around the players bucking trends and defying odds to rally around each other at all costs. That's a very good sign that bodes well for the future of this team. One cannot underestimate the impact Keith Brooking has had on this team. It's truly profound that a FA can come in and pretty much will most every one else into seeing things his way. Gotta love it.

 

[Hoofbite]

No dice. When you deliberately shadow the same person from thread to thread and shower them with nothing but negative attention day after day, that is de facto stalking. Believe it or not, I have rights around here too. The next time you pick a fight in an unsolicited/unprovoked manner, it will be flagged. Toodles.

I have always known about the flag feature but never actually thought about it. You've light bulbed me. I'm gonna go on a flaggin spree!

 

[Hoofbite]

With the exception of the meat-sword fighting (which is also somewhat entertaining), I appreciate the thoughtful responses to the OP. Most of you seem to also be encouraged by what you see but are keeping a watchful eye based upon previous trends. Hopefully we don't trend downward as the season progresses. There's a different feel in the air. It revolves around the players bucking trends and defying odds to rally around each other at all costs. That's a very good sign that bodes well for the future of this team. One cannot underestimate the impact Keith Brooking has had on this team. It's truly profound that a FA can come in and pretty much will most every one else into seeing things his way. Gotta love it.

Little adjustment.

 

[Silver N Blue]

Well I thought this was a realist topic and have us realist changed our mind...well I predicted 7-9 8-8...based on the fact they have not played as a team since the early 90's and they dumped alot of "pro bowl" players. I am pleased to say this entire team is playing for one another and it shows from top to bottom. The players they dumped have been not only replaced but their production has been equaled in all areas except the production Ellis provided. I am a Spencer fan and he is always almost right there...Butler has had few snaps but the ones he has had have been right there...maybe as many of you have said its time to unleash him more...for me there are so many players you can point to...Austin, Brooking, Romo, Jenkins...just to name a few..but for me its the attitude this year..you can sense it in the air..you can feel it in your bones...this team imo has came together and something clicked...it feels like 91 when that "young" team came together and you just knew as a fan things were only going to get better...I love being totally wrong in this case and feel this team is on the verge of something special only time will tell what that is. As far as the coordinators...I have been a Wade supporter from day one and jumped off that boat last year..I'm not about to jump back on but he is doing a good job in his role as DC/HC. His emotion has changed this year as well...Garrett who I have never been a supporter of is starting to win me over in his role as OC/HC. To me this is the first year he is proving he can run his side of the team on his own...no Saprano or veteran coach walking beside him..its all him and he is getting the job done. So with my realist revised prediction at the halfway point would be 12-4. This week is a tough game and I don't like the fact that GB lost to TB...we should win though...then we should win the next two...the giants are a team that should be healthy when we meet again and that game could go either way...I think NO is the team to beat right now and that game could be for home field adv....so sit back boyz fans enjoy the ride and listen to all the naysayers..err..realists...eat some crow...fyi..give emmitt a break..his overall opinion of the team was based on them not playing as team up till now...would be nice to hear what he has to say now...GO BOYZ

 

[BIGDen]

"Realists"...hmmmm...

I question the use of that term Bleu. The so-called "realists" on this board fancy themselves as such because they often harp on negative things which they deem to be the be-all-end-all of "reality". You are different than some of them in that I think your opinions are generally more balanced and thought out (except for the TO topic of course ) than the other "realists".

Although I criticize this team at times, I would be considered more of a "Kool-Aid Drinker/Romo Apologist".

Well, let's see. Which group's opinions have been more "realistic"? Those who thought that Dallas was a .500 team and Romo was an overrated joke OR those who felt Dallas had a legit shot at around 11 wins and that Romo (with or without certain players) is a special QB that can certainly be ranked in the top 5-10 in the league?

Hey, we're all fans and we're all happy right now. THAT'S what matters. But there is a certain level of arrogance that comes with the whole "Realists" thing that I find interesting and flat out incorrect.

Many of us said that things "felt different" this offseason and pre-season and REALITY (not rose-colored glasses) are showing that things are indeed different.

I didn't post this to widen a chasm on this board, but just to make an observation.

I think we can all say together "GO COWBOYS!"

 

[DallasEast]

Which group's opinions have been more "realistic"?

That's the central topic. Case in point: the front office makes an in-season move in 2008 and an offseason move in 2009 which directly impacts the receiving corps. In March, the receivers were evaluated and deemed either:

A: Not NFL-level competitive

or

B: NFL-talented enough

Which was the more realistic opinion? Only the complete season itself will dictate which was the most accurate, but an example was presented at the midseason mark which cannot be ignored. Tony Romo threw for 307 yards against the league's #11 passing defense primarily to:

http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/Week9RecevingBreakdown.png​

Is that fantasy football pretty? Nah. Is it something to brag on Madden video game forums? Nope. Is that more than good enough at the NFL level? Of course.

Why?



Because it's still N-F-L FOOTBALL, people!



It was maddening (no pun intended) last March. It was crazy throughout the offseason. It is still insane through the first eight games, but the one true constant remains:

It was always about the receivers and never was about just one. It still isn't. It probably never will be. Again:



It's still N-F-L FOOTBALL, people!



Dang! /rant

 

[skinsscalper]

"Realists"...hmmmm...

I question the use of that term Bleu. The so-called "realists" on this board fancy themselves as such because they often harp on negative things which they deem to be the be-all-end-all of "reality". You are different than some of them in that I think your opinions are generally more balanced and thought out (except for the TO topic of course ) than the other "realists".

Although I criticize this team at times, I would be considered more of a "Kool-Aid Drinker/Romo Apologist".

Well, let's see. Which group's opinions have been more "realistic"? Those who thought that Dallas was a .500 team and Romo was an overrated joke OR those who felt Dallas had a legit shot at around 11 wins and that Romo (with or without certain players) is a special QB that can certainly be ranked in the top 5-10 in the league?

Hey, we're all fans and we're all happy right now. THAT'S what matters. But there is a certain level of arrogance that comes with the whole "Realists" thing that I find interesting and flat out incorrect.

Many of us said that things "felt different" this offseason and pre-season and REALITY (not rose-colored glasses) are showing that things are indeed different.

I didn't post this to widen a chasm on this board, but just to make an observation.

I think we can all say together "GO COWBOYS!"

I disagree with your description of the "realists" on this board. For the most part, anyone who REALLY considered themselves "realists" on this board (and, no, I'm not talking about the guys who spewed negativity with every keystroke) hoped for the best but were posting in guarded optimism AND negativism.

I've been critical of Romo (Wade, Jerry, Garrett, Williams, etc.). I've been critical of EVERY single facet of this team that has held us back from reaching our potential. I've questioned every single move this team has made, lately. Why? Because for the last 13 years I've been sold a turd that was promised to be a Mercedes. Some can eat a plate full of **** every year and smile just to be a part of it. I'm not that guy.

Unfortunately, the sunshine crew decided to label anyone who didn't see EVERY SINGLE THING about this team as the greatest in the world as "gloom and doomers" or "realists". Unless you didn't sing the hymns of Cowboy greatness with every post, you were dubbed a negative nancy, told to go root for another team, or applied whatever other chicken**** tactic that seemed to be the flavor of the day.

The fact is this team had a lot of question marks going into it. That is undeniable. They have answered a lot of those questions (though not all) in a positive way. As Cowboy fans we're ALL happy about that. But, to sit here now and say "I knew it all along" is a joke. NOBODY knew it all along. Not Jerry, not Wade, not Romo, NOBODY. When it rains for 45 days straight and you claim from day one "Tommorrow's the day that it stops raining", you'll eventually be right. That's one thing. To run around and yell at all your neighbors on day 46 "See I told you! I told you!" is about as lame and chicken**** as it gets. To come in and thump your chest (and no I'm not singling YOU out, per se, just the general premise) in thread where someone is posting about their satisfaction with the direction of the team is a coward's move, at best.

We're ALL happy about how the team looks and the new psyche that has permeated through the locker room, and it's translation to the field (atleast any REAL Cowboys fan). There are still questions to be answered, however. We'll all hang on the edge of our seat and await the outcome, but I think it's safe to say that even deepest rooted "gloom and doomers" are seeing a different team than we've seen in the past (if not, then their agenda is an agenda, itself). Alas Championships aren't won in November. They can be lost, but they can't be won. That's about as "realist" as it gets for me.


Go Cowboys!

 

[WoodysGirl]

Perception is reality.

So some people's perception makes them come from a place of glass half-full and other's a place of glass half-empty. Either way, the glass isn't full.

 

[skinsscalper]

Perception is reality.

So some people's perception makes them come from a place of glass half-full and other's a place of glass half-empty. Either way, the glass isn't full.

Can't argue that, WG.

 

[Doomsday101]

Realist? Seems to me many so called realist wrote this team off after week 4 of the season. Now they are encouraged? I guess it depends on which way the wind blows from week to week. I would think a realist understand the NFL season is a 17 week season with a lot of highs and lows around the league and the landscape changes often. Teams like the Giants who got off to a fast start is now on a 4 game losing streak and a team like Dallas who was 500 is currently on a 4 game with streak. Realist? I would say wishy washy fans who turn at the drop of a hat.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I'm just curious what one needs to do to join the realist club.

I predicted before the season we'd be a 9-7 or 10-6 season.

That probably puts me in the extreme homer category according to these self proclaimed realists.

All you need to do is extremely over react to absolutely everything negative that happens and that will make you a realist.

Fortunately we don't have too many folks on these boards that are like that but there are a few.

 

[skinsscalper]

All you need to do is extremely over react to absolutely everything negative that happens and that will make you a realist.

Fortunately we don't have too many folks on these boards that are like that but there are a few.

See that's my point. They may label themselves as a realist, but it's probably as far from truly being a realist as there is. I hate that the term has been high-jacked (by a few that never have anything good to say about the team) and tagged with a negative connotation.

What can ya do? Oh well.

 

[Idgit]

See that's my point. They may label themselves as a realist, but it's probably as far from truly being a realist as there is. I hate that the term has been high-jacked (by a few that never have anything good to say about the team) and tagged with a negative connotation.

What can ya do? Oh well.

There are ton of rational posters who had legitimate criticisms and who get lumped in with the 'realist' crowd because they happened to be pessimistic about the season based off of what they'd seen last year and in the offseason.

Then there's the long-tail of wangstaz and whip-lash prognosticators who orient themselves emotionally based off of the last thing they see or think they see and then head off full-speed ahead in that direction until they feel an emotional tug the other way. These are the people who have, to-date, been wrong about nearly every assessment they make on the team but who are feckless enough to welcome themselves back into the fold by either spitting out a happy 'my bad' or by noting how much this team as changed and how happy they are they the coaches and players are finally paying attention.

Having this group back on board is for the best, since it's inevitable and it's much better than watching them outside on the lawn throwing turds at the house; it's hard to blame the rest of us, though, who've been quietly seething about their wild rumpus all along.

 

[DallasEast]

Perception is reality.

So some people's perception makes them come from a place of glass half-full and other's a place of glass half-empty. Either way, the glass isn't full.

I would normally agree, but there are owners of officially self-proclaimed Romo Sucks, Roy Sucks, Garrett Sucks, etc., dribble glasses. Their gin-and-juice leaked out long ago, leaving their glasses neither half-full nor half-empty.

Granted, some do turn around and ask the barkeep for refills at some point down the line, but I can only ask if the same analogy fits those constantly asking for seconds, thirds, fourths, etc? I mean, when is it time to cut someone off and call for a cab to drive them home?

 

[bbgun]

Granted, some do turn around and ask the barkeep for refills at some point down the line, but I can only ask if the same analogy fits those constantly asking for seconds, thirds, fourths, etc? I mean, when is it time to cut someone off and call for a cab to drive them home?

If you get any more folksy, you're gonna have to pay Silverbear royalties for stealing his act. :

 

[Hostile]

Perception is reality.

So some people's perception makes them come from a place of glass half-full and other's a place of glass half-empty. Either way, the glass isn't full.

I actually think that reality is what ends up really happening. I don't know how either side of the coin can call themselves realists, because neither side has any earthly clue how things will turn out.

The homers were saying this team was okay.

The negative posters were saying we were in trouble.

Based on 6-2 and first place in the NFC East right now, aren't the homers more entitled to the title of realists than the negative posters?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Guarded optimism.

Thats where I am right now.



This team is going back to where it was 2 years ago.... a 13-3 type team BUT they masked some of their flaws and were exposed late in season and playoffs. So I need to see more... basically I need to see the Dec/playoff run. It really is all about THAT.

I dont know that we know more than this... they MAY be back to that type of team. Win the games you should win, play the tough teams tough and get some wins there BUT where are they really?

I dont know yet.

 

[DallasEast]

If you get any more folksy, you're gonna have to pay Silverbear royalties for stealing his act. :

That's good advice. I already owe him $*,***.** <--Thank goodness for patented CowboysZone censoring software. Whew!