I recently contracted a case of the Cowboy blues.
In recent weeks, God's existence oscillated in my world, especially in Sunday's 30-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. One minute - when Nick Folk hit a 52-yard field goal to send the game into overtime - there was no doubt in my mind, God subsists. A blocked punt less than two minutes later shook my foundational beliefs. After the game, I came to the conclusion that I couldn't reject the presence of God - it's just not in me. However, I was convinced that God took pleasure in seeing me suffer or that he was teaching me a lesson in humility.
It's safe to say these past few weeks have been troubling.
Terrell Owens complained about having 19 plays called for him in a loss to the Washington Redskins.
Tony Romo is out four weeks with a broken pinkie.
Terence Newman is out until at least mid-November after sustaining a sports hernia.
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A strained hamstring will likely sideline Felix Jones for two to four weeks.
Pacman Jones is suspended indefinitely - again.
But, as always with the Cowboys, I take the glass-is-half-full approach. Allow me to dispel some myths and criticisms about the Cowboys, starting with the most important: T.O.
First and foremost, allow me to proclaim my love for T.O. To draw in a more mature crowd, remember Billy Joel? Remember that song, "She's Always a Woman to Me"?
Joel's words epitomize how I feel about the Dallas receiver: "(T.O.) will promise you more than the Garden of Eden. Then (he'll) carelessly cut you and laugh while you're bleedin', but blame it all on yourself 'cause (he's) always (T.O.) to me."
T.O. can complain all he wants because he's T.O., and possibly - I can't believe I'm admitting this - the best wide receiver in the NFL, aside from Randy Moss.
I think I relate to T.O. better than anyone on this planet. I'm not saying I am as gifted athletically or anything of that nature. But I can relate to how he presents himself and his demeanor. At the surface, T.O. and I appear to buy into an I-love-me-some-me philosophy. But upon further review, that's not necessarily the case. It is the outermost shell that encases the true T.O. and Isaac.
Enter the following as evidence.
Sam Alipour, an esteemed columnist for ESPN, was plowed down by a car outside of the 2008 ESPY Awards. T.O. immediately rushed to Alipour's side.
To make a long story short, Alipour claims T.O. was so kind and caring that he was so "touched that I think my lip is quivering."
You're probably wondering what this anecdote has to do with anything.
I looked to this as proof in my theory on 19 Looks and Unsatisfied.
I will go out on a ledge - probably more like a dislodged balance beam dangling over a cliff - and say T.O. complained about not getting enough touches to absolve Romo of all responsibility for the loss to the Redskins. Don't believe me? Check out his oft-made-fun-of news conference where he cries that "we lost as a team, man" after the Cowboys were stunned by the New York Giants in last year's playoffs.
We are so accustomed to looking at Terrell through negative opticals that when he does something decent, we fail to recognize it.
I'm not saying that he doesn't deserve some of the blame for his past troubles. I'm just pointing out the fact that T.O. is not the worst person who has yet to commit a crime. That award, according to Bill Simmons, belongs to Scott Boras.
Back to my point.
Is it out of the realm of possibility that a wily veteran, who has been in the league for 13 years, is incapable of shrewdness? That is to say, why do we have such a problem saying Owens curtailed criticism of Romo? Why must we constantly inject and reaffirm the notion that Owens was and is constantly guided by selfishness? Is it because he is always complaining about touches?
Last I remember, it was Owens who signed an injury disclaimer so he could compete in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Yes, he did do sit-ups in his driveway. Yes, he threw Donovan McNabb under the bus. But let me remind you, McNabb blabbed about how the Eagles could get to the Super Bowl without T.O. Has McNabb gotten there since T.O. departed?
I'll let you make up your own opinion on T.O. I'm just here to present an alternative opinion.
Next item on the agenda:
True or false: Romo's injury will be good for the Cowboys.
Some sports pundits point to Romo's injury and say that the team dynamics are crumbling faster than Pacman can empty his trash bag full of dollar bills at a strip joint.
Respectfully, I disagree.
Right now, the Cowboys are unbalanced, calling 201 passing plays and just 161 running plays - a 56:44 pass-to-run ratio. Romo is in love with the big play. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was a quarterback. Quarterbacks love to throw. But without Romo in the lineup, Garrett will be forced to convert to a more conservative attack - meaning a heavier dose of Marion Barber. The Cowboys are eighth in the NFL in rushing, averaging 128 yards per game on the ground.
Romo got injured because Garrett didn't run more draws and screens to alleviate the pressure on the front five. Therefore, having Brad Johnson start for the next four weeks isn't as dire as it seems. It will give the Cowboys a chance to level the scales when it comes to playcalling.
But do the Cowboys have a change-of-pace back with Felix Jones out of the lineup?
Anybody remember the name Tashard Choice? We'll be all right.
And will Pacman Jones spend $1 million in the next four weeks on lap dances?
No. Pacman won't rake in any money since he was suspended indefinitely without pay by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. But hey, maybe TuPacman, as Jason Whitlock calls him, has merited a couple dances on the house. You know what they say: Can't keep the hustler from hustlin'. Yup. And you can't keep the cornerback off the corner.
The way I see it, the Cowboys will win the Super Bowl.
