| Randolph Charlotin. 16th October, 2008 - 2:21 pm
 They say the hole in the roof of Texas Stadium is in case God wants to look in on the Dallas Cowboys. Right now it is best if He shields his eyes and looks away.
The team featured in the behinds-the-scenes show “Hard Knocks” is now starring in “Worst Week.” The bad news emerged one after another:
• Cornerback Adam Jones relapsed into “Pacman” last week when he fought a bodyguard assigned by the team to keep him out of trouble inside a hotel bathroom.
• On Sunday the ‘Boys came from behind to tie the Arizona Cardinals and force overtime, only to lose on a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown, the first time in NFL history an overtime game ended in such fashion.
• A day later the team revealed starting quarterback Tony Romo broke his pinkie finger. Initial reports said Romo would miss four weeks, but he is pushing to play Sunday.
• Punter Mat McBriar suffered a main fracture and two hairline fractures in his right foot when his punt was blocked on Sunday. He could miss six to eight weeks or the rest of the season if placed on injured reserve.
• The league suspended Pacman Jones indefinitely for his involvement in last week’s bathroom fight. The suspension is for at least four games. The full length of the suspension will be determined after the November 16 game against Washington.
• Big play rookie running back Felix Jones is expected to miss several games due to a hamstring injury.
It wasn’t all bad for the ‘Boys, as they pulled off a trade for WR Roy Williams, exchanging three draft picks for the former Detroit Lions Pro Bowler. But how much help will Williams be to the league’s third best passing offense when the pass defense is struggling (17th overall)? What will this move do for team chemistry when receiver Terrell Owens wants the ball more after a game he was thrown to 17 times and ran the ball twice?
Injuries happen, but off-field altercations can be controlled by not having troublesome players on the roster. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants to win and he’s willing to gamble in hopes the risk gets him to another championship. But at some point the risk should outweigh the reward.
He signed Owens even though T.O. has a history of throwing the hand that feeds him under the bus. Terrell doesn’t get Christmas cards from quarterbacks Jeff Garcia (they were teammates at San Francisco from 1999 through 2003) nor from Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles 2004, 2005 seasons) and for good reasons. Some consider Owens a ticking time bomb that eventually turns on his teammates.
An even riskier decision was the trade for Pacman Jones. He was suspended for the 2007 season after six arrests and about a dozen total incidents that police intervention was called for. Yet Jerry Jones ignored the warning signs and acquired the corner with the potential to create big plays and bigger distractions.
So it comes as no surprise that after Adam Jones declared he matured beyond the childish nickname that Pacman shows he’s still Pacman. Jerry Jones should had made a stand and disciplined Pacman, or even cut the problem child. But Jerry Jones did nothing, delivering the message that he accepts behavior detrimental to the team as long as you can play.
Which leaves head coach Wade Phillips in a precarious position as he plays ringmaster, chaperone, and psychologist. And Phillips is supposed to do all that without looking over his shoulder, knowing the next coach of the Cowboys is on the coaching staff, waiting for Jerry Jones to dismiss Phillips.
Dallas is still in second place, but with the injuries and the suspension putting a strain on the roster, the Cowboys have a real challenge staying competitive in the NFC East, arguably the toughest division in the league.
In last week’s Sports Illustrated, former Cowboys running back Calvin Hill attributed a quote to former Dallas coach Tom Landry: “You can get away with [certain behavior] and play in the National Football League, but you can’t get away with that and be a Dallas Cowboy.” If it wasn’t for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the reverse would be true.
For more by Randolph Charlotin, check out his blog at http://www.newenglandpatriotsnews.com/randolphc/weblog/. He can be contacted at lordrc@netzero.net. |
