Why Dallas’s Preseason Game Is A Must-Watch

Good day, Dallas Cowboy fans who read this article. Wherever you are, I hope you can watch this upcoming preseason game against the Oakland Raiders.

Why? That is a good question. Normally preseason games are boring because they have third string players playing, and the quarterbacks are unpolished backups that throw errant passes.

However, this is a must game because of the Dallas draft class of 2009.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted 12 players.

Again, 12 players. 12 rookies to address depth.

For more, please go to: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/why-dallass-preseason-game-is-a-must-watch/

 

Breaking News: Plaxico Burress Indicted, Antonio Pierce Not

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

Oh wait, it was his thigh. (sigh)

Anyway, Plaxico Burress, former wide receiver to the New York Giants, was indicted on three criminal charges today, according to MSN.com.

His former teammate, Giants linebacker, Antonio Pierce was not.

Plaxico Burress said to the grand jury: “I was truthful, I was honest, and I’m truly remorseful for what I’ve done and for what happened.”

Burress was indicted on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment.

If convicted, he could spend up to three and a half years.

He entered a plea of not guilty to the weapons charges and was released earlier this year on a $100,000 bail.

The incident in question, was at a club where a gun that Plaxico Burress was carrying, went off in his pocket, and the blast hit his thigh.

The gun was apparently not licensed, and no one called the police, which is required by law in the state of New York, when the gunshot accident occurred.

Burress is 31 years old, and a sentence of three and a half years would effectively, end his career.

He was the receiver who caught the winning touchdown throw from Eli Manning in one of the greatest upsets ever over the New England Patriots.

He was released from the Giants this past April and currently, does not have a spot on an NFL roster.

More to come later. This is James Williamson.

The NFC Team of the Decade: The Philadelphia Eagles

Everyone is talking about how the Patriots are the team of the decade, or how if the Steelers repeat, they should be the team of the decade.

Yet, both of those teams are from the American Football Conference. So, who would represent the National Football Conference if the question was asked about who was the most dominant from that conference?

Out of nine Super Bowls, the National Football Conference has won only two, in the 2002 and 2007 seasons. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the first one and the New York Giants captured the second one.

However, are either of these teams the team of the decade? Not in my opinion. The Buccaneers never repeated the same success they had in 2002 or even came close to it.

The Giants make a great argument since they won the Super Bowl and went to one in 2000, so it is tempting to put them there. Very tempting actually, but I’m going to pass on them and go to a bird that has given me a lot of pain.

The Philadelphia Eagles have been the best team in the National Football Conference this past decade barring New York wins another Super Bowl this final year.

I mean really, how can you not pick them? Let’s start with some numbers for those stat-addicts out there.

1.  92-51-1 in the regular season. The second best in wins is Green Bay with 84 and third goes to the Giants with 80. They beat every team in the NFC by at least half a season.

2.  Seven winning seasons to one .500 season and only one losing season in which Donovan McNabb got severely injured for a large portion of the season.

3.  Six winning seasons with 10 or more wins.

4.  Seven playoff appearances.

5.  Ten playoff victories, five championship game appearances, one Super Bowl appearance, and the team they have now is definitely a contender.

6.  Five times they have been in the top 10 ranked offenses, and seven times they were in the top 10 ranked defenses.

7.  Twenty of their players have been selected to the Pro Bowl at least once.

If you look at the numbers by themselves, that’s quite a list of accomplishments.

But, how about we look at where this all started?

To use the famous lines, from Sophia Petrillo of the hit comedy, Golden Girls. “Picture it!”

Philadelphia, 1999. It is early January and the championship games for a berth in the Super Bowl are between the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons for the NFC, while the Denver Broncos are looking to repeat as champions as soon as they dispose of the New York Jets.

Meanwhile, there will be a week of waiting for these games, and the Philadelphia management makes big news for Philadelphia fans to get their attention.

They have decided to hire Andy Reid, the former quarterback coach for the Super Bowl Packers, as the new head coach for the 3-13 Eagles.

Now, after conversing with good friend and Philadelphia fan, Dan Parzych, I have gotten a personal viewpoint as to the events of this time.

To paraphrase Dan, the Philadelphia fan base was disappointed to say the least. They were not thrilled with Andy Reid because he had never been a head coach. This guy was just Brett Favre’s babysitter in a sense.

Dan wanted Mike Holmgren, who had been the head coach of that Packer team. Also, Brian Billick had been available.

So, to sum up the reaction of Philadelphia in one word: “HUH?!”

That was just the beginning though. This was around the time that the University of Texas was in the spotlight for having the best player in college football and arguably, in its entire history.

Ricky Williams had won the 1998 Heisman Trophy and had broken the NCAA Division I-A career rushing record previously held by Tony Dorsett with 6,279 yards.

He had run for 318 yards and six touchdowns in one game against Rice University. All the scouts were giving him high marks. Even former running back, Eric Dickerson, said that this guy reminded him of Earl Campbell, except faster.

Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, and Earl Campbell. All three of these men are in the Hall of Fame as the three best running backs of their generation.

To put it simply, the city of Philadelphia wanted Ricky Williams, period. No one else.

The Eagles had the second overall pick and everyone was praying that the Cleveland Browns, who had the first pick, would pass over Ricky Williams.

However, Andy Reid wanted a quarterback, and this was the year to get one.

The 1999 draft had five quarterbacks taken in the first round, and Philadelphia chose the best one of the five with Donovan McNabb.

When he was first drafted, the city of Philadelphia booed so loudly that Paul Tagliabue, the commissioner announcing the draft choices, could barely finish his sentence because of the noise from the Philadelphia fans at the draft wearing jerseys that had Ricky Williams’ number on it.

No one knew or even thought that these few decisions were the start of something truly great.

To go along with Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb, the Eagles also hired the recently deceased Jim Johnson, as their defensive coordinator. He was the man who turned the defense around.

The Eagles already had Brian Dawkins on the roster since 1996, but his first Pro-Bowl came in 1999, the year all these changes happened. Coincidence? I think not.

Because of Jim Johnson’s teaching at defense, the Eagles have a definite Hall of Famer in Brian Dawkins. Dawkins has been a complete free safety.

I learned from Paul Zimmerman that there are two basic kinds of safeties. One that is a great hitter, he puts fear and intimidation into the receiver every time he tries to catch a ball and after the catch is made, puts pain into their body.

The other is a ball hawk. He’s the kind that doesn’t scare the receiver; he scares the quarterback who doesn’t want to throw the game away. Very great at playing the ball in the air and probably played receiver in school, so he has great hands.

Brian Dawkins is both. He is a free safety that shows leadership to the front seven by his deadly collisions and then to the secondary by his ability to take the ball out of the air and possibly return it for six points.

From the 1999-2008 seasons, he has been to the Pro-Bowl seven times and made first team All-Pro four times.

21 sacks, 34 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, three defensive touchdowns and 723 tackles.

If that is not a Hall of Famer then I’m in the wrong business.

After the 1999 season that was a 5-11 season, to break the new team in, the Philadelphia Eagles exploded onto the NFL in 2000 with an 11-5 record, and a trip into playoffs. They became the saviors instantly.

What happened to Ricky Williams? Ricky Williams had too many personal problems with himself and drugs that he never truly became the player he should’ve been.

Donovan McNabb has played at a level of excellence to the point where he would get my vote for the Hall of Fame, Super Bowl or no Super Bowl.

Jim Johnson took the defensive players, no matter who they were, and made them successful with his ability to change blitzes and cause pressure from anywhere.

Through his amazing skills, the Eagles have had one of the deadliest defenses in the past decade, and he was the only coach that I can truly say scared me.

He had these dead eyes when on the sidelines, and those eyes told me that he was going to hurt the offensive players on the other side of the ball, and I mean really hurt them.

Andy Reid was named Coach of the Year in 2002 for his work in Philadelphia and despite family problems; he still has come through for the Eagles.

Without any great receivers, he and Donovan McNabb have reset the Eagles’ franchise records with 97 wins and 29,320 passing yards.

Then there are the great highlights like 4th and 26, or the McNabb scramble against Dallas, or the 24 consecutive completions record or even the game where McNabb played on a broken ankle.

Also, being 14-6 against the Cowboys doesn’t hurt either.

There you have it folks. The NFC Team of the Decade and going. For all we know they could complete Philadelphia’s dream and win the Super Bowl this year. They certainly have the talent.

All I can say is that these men have made football fun in Philadelphia for the past decade, and they are ready for another season.

In memory of Jim Johnson (1941-2009)

Dallas Cowboys Rookie, Robert Brewster, Likely Out For Season

If I have said it once, I’ve probably said it more times than I can count. Injuries is what ruined the Dallas Cowboys season in the long run as much as anything else.

Teams are supposed to get over injuries and still find a way to the postseason, but the sad fact is that the starters are your starters for a reason.

Because they are better and it is easier to win with your best than with your second-string best.

Well, the Cowboys have lost a member of the second-string in the form of our third round draft pick, offensive tackle Robert Brewster, out of Ball State.

For more, please go to http://www.nfltouchdown.com/rookie-robert-brewster-likely-out-for-season/

Is Darrius Heyward-Bey The Next Cliff Branch?

When Al Davis first selected Darrius Heyward-Bey, it really threw me for a loop for about a minute.

I live in Texas so I have to deal with the rivalries between Texas Tech, Texas, and Texas A&M Universities.

One of the most amazing players to watch was Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech. He had been the only receiver that really got any Heisman Trophy thought to him. It was amazing because only one receiver ever won the Heisman Trophy was Tim Brown.

Who drafted Tim Brown? Al Davis, that’s who.

I was with my semi-pro football team going to a playoff game around five hours away. We were huddling around our phones waiting for the big news.

When Oakland selected Heyward-Bey, I was immediately confused until my buddy J.D. told me that Heyward-Bey had the fastest 40 time at the combine.

I snapped my fingers and realized that Al Davis was going after one thing; speed.

Darrius Heyward-Bey ran a 4.30 40-time at the combine. That was the best time out of all the receivers.

Who does that sound like? Sounds like Cliff Branch to me.

“Branch committed highway robbery without a gun!”

Branch was the fastest guy on the field when it came to the Raiders. No one in the league could consistently run with the guy on a regular basis.

Pat Haden: “Everytime you think about Cliff Branch, did he ever go short? No, he was always going for 80 yards.”

There were signs at the stadium that said, “SPEED KILLS! 21”

Heyward-Bey did not have great statistics in college, but he did not really have a supporting cast at Maryland.

The Raiders needed a receiver on the field. Their number one receiver was Zach Miller with 778 yards. The receiver in second was Johnnie Lee Higgins with 366 yards.

The Raiders threw only 13 passing touchdowns the entire season. They ranked 32nd in pass offense. That is last place people.

The Raiders need a deep threat to have on the field. It adds a dimension to the team and the more dimensions a team has, the more effective that team is.

The Raiders desperately need a receiver that will require double coverage threat and Heyward-Bey is the guy they are banking on with his speed.

He’s the guy they want to run down the field to take pressure off the run game or the short pass game.

Is Darrius Heyward-Bey the next Cliff Branch? I don’t know, but for Al Davis’s sake, let’s hope he is.

 

Who Is the Dallas Cowboys’ Weakest Link? The Safeties

I will never forget it.

No sir, I will never forget that horrific day.  December 20, 2008 was easily one of the saddest days of my life.

The last game played at Texas Stadium was a defeat by the Baltimore Ravens because of mainly two runs.

For more, please go to:

http://www.nfltouchdown.com/who-is-the-dallas-cowboyss-weakest-link-the-safeties/

Do The Bears Have A John Elway? I THINK NOT!

Steve Watson, Butch Johnson, Vance Johnson, Clint Sampson, Mark Jackson, Steve Sewell, Rick Nattiel, and Mike Young.

Anyone recognize those names?

I knew one, Butch Johnson, because he had been a receiver who caught a touchdown in Super Bowl XII for the Dallas Cowboys.

The other guys were simply names to me. Just names.

Do you know who they are? If you do, pat yourself on the back because these men were the wide receivers that John Elway had throughout his career before 1994.

These were the guys that actually had close to 500 yards receiving or more in a season. None of them ever made it to the Pro Bowl with Elway (Watson made it once in 1981), none will ever be given a thought towards the Hall of Fame, and only two ever had a 1,000 yard receiving season.

There you have it folks. You are looking at the weapons that John Elway had throughout his career in the 80s when he took the Broncos to the three Super Bowls in four years.

After further research, I found out that in the 80s, John Elway was the only offensive Pro Bowler the team had except for Sammy Winder, a running back who made the Pro Bowl in 84 and 86 and left guard Keith Bishop, who made it in 86 and 87.

When you look at John Elway’s numbers throughout his early career, they are not flashy, but rather pedestrian.

1986:   

• 280/504, 55.6% completion, 3,485 yards passing, 19 touchdowns, 13 interceptions.
• Leading receiver, Mark Jackson, with 738 yards.
• Second leading receiver, Steve Watson, with 699 yards.
• QB rating was 79.0 and win-loss record was 11-5.

1987:

• 224/410 54.6% completion, 3,198 yards passing, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions.
• Leading receiver, Vance Johnson, with 684 yards.
• Second Leading receiver, Rick Nattiel, with 630 yards.
• QB rating was 83.4 and win-loss record was 8-3-1.

1989: 

• 223/416, 53.6% completion, 3,051 yards passing, 18 touchdowns, 18 interceptions.
• Leading receiver, Vance Johnson, with 1,095 yards.
• Second leading receiver, Mark Jackson, with 446 yards.
• QB rating was 73.7 and win-loss record was 10-5.

Those three years above are the years that John Elway took the Broncos to the Super Bowl and lost. He led them to victories they were not supposed to get.

This is why John Elway is a legend. He took a team, that had no real offensive fixture and he became the core of its power. This is why he has 47 fourth quarter comebacks, he took a team that was not supposed to win and made miracles on a regular basis.

Looking at these statistics, looking at these supporting casts and realizing that he took them to the Super Bowl three times, it just leaves me speechless with amazement.

This is what legends are made of. To take something that is scraped from the barrel and make it top quality. That is what John Elway did.

Now, lets go on to our Mr. Cutler. The former Denver Broncos quarterback who was traded to the Chicago Bears.

Whiny, arrogant, and has said he has a better arm than John Elway.

Who is he kidding? Is he really that stupid? Or does he think we are?

Do we dare compare? Yes, we do.

Jay Cutler has played two full seasons in the NFL, 2007 and 2008, and he has made one Pro Bowl selection and has a QB record of 17-20

Geez! I am impressed. Yessir, I am very impressed with a losing quarterback record.

Of course, I’m going to give him some slack for the defense. The defense with Elway was very good, top 10 in those Super Bowl years, while Cutler’s defense has been less than helpful.

And, he did lose like what? 12 running backs last year to injuries.

Well, he can’t blame them now if he screws up. He is now with the Chicago Bears because of a major dispute between him and Bronco’s management.

So, I have a few words for the new quarterback of the Windy City.

You are responsible for the offense. The Broncos in 2008 were ranked 2nd in total offensive yards, yet 16th in scoring. What does that tell me?

It tells me that you didn’t find a way like Elway did. It tells me that you didn’t become a leader like Elway was and find a way to get that ball into the endzone.

Don’t blame the rushing attack fully. The Broncos still had 1,862 yards rushing with 15 touchdowns to be ranked 12th in total yards and 14th in touchdowns.

That isn’t elite, but it isn’t like you were the Cardinals who were 32nd in rushing, and yet they made to the Super Bowl.

If they can make it to the Super Bowl with that rushing attack, and that inconsistent defense, you certainly are capable of making playoffs in a division that had two teams with a combined total of six wins.

I’m not going to say you aren’t good Jay. On the contrary, you are very good, but you are not John Elway. John Elway would not let a bad defense stop him from leading his men down the field.

John Elway would not have let himself be beaten as badly as you were in the regular season finale against the Chargers that decided the playoff spot.

John Elway would have taken those two great receivers you had named Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall and found a way. The two guys that had a total of 2,245 yards receiving.

If you want to be better than John Elway then do what he could not. Win the Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears as they are now!

This Chicago Bears team reminds me of Elway’s team.

Great defense, good special teams, good running back, and average to sub-average receivers.

The Bears leading receiver was Devin Hester, who was inconsistent, with 665 yards.

There is also tight end Greg Olsen, who had 574 yards.

Matt Forte (running back) and Rashied Davis with 477 and 445 yards respectively.

Desmond Clark (tight end) and Brandon Lloyd with 367 and 364 yards respectively.

Should I go on?

Elway got a team like this to the Super Bowl three times and was blown out in all three.

Show me you can do better. Show me you can take my father’s old team (He was born in Chicago) and restore their former glory. Be the top quarterback the Bears haven’t had since Sid Luckman, who played in the 1940s.

If you can do that, not only will you be cemented as a legend in Chicago, but you will be a legend to me and that is something that does not happen easily.

I’m waiting Jay.

Breaking News: Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson Reportedly Split

According to MSN.com, the couple of Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson have officially broken up.

The reason why is unknown, but a source told People: “She is heartbroken. She loves Tony But it’s been difficult lately. He’s busy with his career and she’s getting ready to shoot her show (“The Price of Beauty”). They decided to part ways.”

 

For more information, go here. 

Greg Ellis Talks to the Press; DeMarcus Ware Responds

Finally. Something to talk about.

It has certainly been a quiet off-season for the Dallas Cowboys. Except for mindless speculation, there has been very little to talk about.

But now we have something to mention. A very bitter Cowboy is ready to vocalize his distaste for the management of the Dallas Cowboys.

On Wednesday, Oakland Raiders defensive end Greg Ellis vocalized his distaste for the way things were handled in the Big D on the defensive side of the football.

He went on the Michael Irvin Show—a talk radio program featured on ESPN 103.3—and vented his feelings for the Dallas Cowboys’ staff.

For more, check out http://www.nfltouchdown.com/greg-ellis-talks-to-the-press-demarcus-ware-responds/

Air McNair Found Dead From Gunshot Wound

The great Tennessee Titan quarterback legend, Steve McNair, has had his life snuffed out too soon.

Today, Independence Day, was the final day of his life.

McNair was involved in a shooting earlier today, which police responded to, but were too late to prevent his death. Police are still investigating the circumstances of the shooting, but I highly doubt that McNair brought this upon himself.

He was 36 years old and had just retired last year from football after a thirteen year career with the Oilers/Titans first, and with the Baltimore Ravens later. He was a three time Pro Bowler, and a co-MVP with Peyton Manning in 2003.

He passed for 31,304 yards, with a 60.1 career completion percentage, and 174 touchdown to 119 interception ratio.

He rushed for 3,590 yards on 669 attempts, to have a 5.4 yards per carry average.

However, his greatest achievement came in 1999, when he helped led the Titans to a Super Bowl berth and barely lost to the St. Louis Rams in the most historic Super Bowl play, where linebacker, Mike Jones, tackled wide receiver, Kevin Dyson, 18 inches from the endzone.

More to come later.

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