Most Pro Athletes Are Given Free Pass, Like Josh Brent, For Example

On the day the Dallas Cowboys paid tribute to the fallen Jerry Brown with a No. 53 decal on the back of helmets and held a moment of silence before the game, Josh Brent was invited to join the team on the sideline Sunday as if he's done nothing wrong.

There's a side of me that just didn't feel right about him being present. There's a side of me that feels this was wrong, though Brown's mother forgives Brent, a third-year defensive tackle, who selfishly took the life of a man who was not just a teammate but a friend. There's a side of me that makes me frown and shake my head in shame after seeing him on the sideline when he was responsible for the alcohol-related, one-car accident that killed Brown. In other words, Brent should not have been on the sideline for the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. He was spending time locked up, but walked out of jail in Irving, Texas, barefooted after his release on $500,000 bond.

There's no way, just no way in hell.

Rather than honoring the fallen linebacker with Brent on the sideline as an awkward tribute and allowing him to even step foot onto the premises, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones should have mandated that he stay away from the team until further notice, until the healing process shrivel or until Brent's verdict. It's time to stop supporting those who commit crimes. And just because Brown's mother doesn't want Brent prosecuted after he was charged with intoxication manslaughter for her son's death, it's not what she or anybody else wants. It's what's right. Right is right. Wrong is wrong.

Brent, whose blood-alcohol level measured at 0.18 reportedly, was more than double the legal limit in Texas. So while the Cowboys are willing to stand by someone who perpetrated this senseless act, Brent could still face a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted. He's the epitome of athletes and celebrities getting away with crimes, a glaring image of what's seen so often in today's world. Money and fame defeats the court of law. Money and fame protects celebrities. Money and fame don't bring justice, but more problems within itself. At this point, it's not about ethics and moral values.

There are, for those who are unaware of our troubled society and how a biased justice system functions nowadays, no hidden agendas for famous people in the sports or entertainment industry. So of course, as a public figure and not an ordinary citizen, Brent can show his face in public and could potentially even avoid a prison sentence because of the name on the back of his jersey and because he plays for America's team. The most gruesome case was when Michael Vick bankrolled a dogfighting ring, and as a nation forgot that he viciously murdered defenseless, immaculate animals, Vick amazingly was exonerated and given the starting quarterback job in Philly, when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sensed he had already paid his debts to society.

Jamal Lewis, after pleading guilty in federal court for drug trafficking, quickly made his return to drive down the field for the Baltimore Ravens. Years ago, Rafael Furcal, found guilty of his second DUI offense, returned hours later and belted a game-winning homer in Game 2 for the Atlanta Braves. It was O.J. Simpson who was found not guilty of double-murder charges, with the help of the most expensive attorney in the late Johnny Cochran. Jayson Williams, who pled guilty to assault for fatally shooting a hired limousine driver, was freed after serving eight months in jail at Rikers.

Millions of people around the world were around when NFL wide receiver Donte' Stallworth was behind the wheel drunk and tragically struck and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes on a Miami street. It amazed me that he won over the disgraceful justice system, and only had to serve 24 days of his 30-day jail sentence.

The matter of domestic violence is fairly common today and could be tough to control, but when Chad Johnson head-butts his ex-wife, he must serve time to pay the price for his foolish behavior. When Adam "Pacman" Jones face two felony charges alleging he set off a nightclub skirmish that escalated into a shooting and left a man paralyzed, he must spend time behind bars and stare at four walls to pay the consequences for his senseless actions, quite like a typical human being would in the wake of unlawful activity.

A forgiving country, America is known to be. But sometimes it's too forgiving to be quite frank. With all the reluctance this nation has in punishing pro athletes, putting a foot down so it won't happen the next time around, some players from every league don't take their lives seriously and think they can abuse their fame at one's own discretion. Fame is powerful, which can be rather hard to handle if celebrities aren't used to recognition and publicity.

There are no boundaries for pro athletes, at least not in courtrooms where they are granted a free pass, even though they are culpable. That's not likely to change any time soon, sadly, and athletes continuously get away with misdeeds as if they are ever so perfect and mistake-free.

It's morally wrong and it sends a bad message to our troubled society, to our children and our unborn athletes. It's not only a slap in the face to those who are seeking justice, but also a slap in the face to those who have been in trouble with the law and had to serve a longer sentence for something minor or even just as bad as a disturbed pro athlete. Folks, in our prejudice society, grasp a sense that non-celebrities aren't treated equally when it comes to dealing with ethics and ghastly crimes. The point is that the actions are just as repulsive and horrifying as would be with normal people committing the same criminal offenses.

I don't care that you are the next million-dollar man. I don't care that you have megabucks to get you out of trouble. I don't care that you are this well-known doctor, attorney, celebrity or a magic chef with your own cooking TV show on Food Network.

The latest tragedy should be enough to wake up America, but apparently it's not enough to alarm a shameful, impaired civilization. The social structure of America is in so much disarray, and the recent incident that involves Brent, who faces a charge of intoxication manslaughter, is a clear illustration that the legal system is unrighteous, prejudice and disingenuous in a sense.

If you do the crime, you must do the time.

Whose Fault Now, Cowboys? Tony Romo, No Doubt

A person can only give Tony Romo the benefit of the doubt for so long. By now, we are long past extending our sympathy to an unskilled player who is not reaching standards with a demanding, heavy scrutinized franchise, as we should be with a man who continues to make the same mistakes and not learn from his boo-boos.

Romo is playing for the wrong team, an organization not committed to failure and instead perfection. But we never see perfection from Romo, and if Cowboys’ fans happen to witness a paragon of excellence, it’s never during a critical time in the game. That’s usually when he blows it. Late in the game.

When he’s under pressure and needs to make a statement, Romo chokes on damn applesauce. The worst he’s ever choked on was Gerber’s baby food. Over the past few seasons, as Romo quarterbacked the Dallas Cowboys to early postseason exits or horrifying collapses, which usually comes no later than December, he’s rarely been blamed or vilified following embarrassing losses that were a disgrace to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who spent top-dollar to assemble the best product.

Maybe Romo can pioneer the Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory, but he’d have to minimize the number of turnovers, cease making poor decisions with the ball and stop being so careless and play with more assertiveness. Sometimes watching Romo makes me cringe. Sometimes watching Romo makes me less interested in watching the Cowboys. It’s the same old routine, the same tired absurdity each week and Romo is so predictable, that fans don’t have to even watch to get the 411.

Be consistent and protect the ball. That’s all we ever ask of Antonio Ramiro Romo, the choking quarterback who is overpraised and defended by his peers, fans and bosses. For almost six years, Romo wasn’t keeping up with the Joneses, not then, not ever. It’s well established that Romo, who threw four interceptions on Sunday in a disastrous 29-24 loss to the New York Giants, is not the next elite quarterback. He’s not even close to what Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach were. It’s troubling enough that Romo, whose inability to complete and deliver a pass to his wide receivers, cannot ever advance further than the first round or even escape the first round with a postseason victory. And if he’s not mistake-free and persists on blundering week in and week out, Romo will always be victimized by a defensive back and will have the ball picked.

One day, eventually, Jones will come to his senses and replace him with another quarterback. No one in pro football, after having an awful performance, has been appreciated more than Romo. He thinks he’s one who should be anchoring the Cowboys. And, of course, just by his body language and frantic looks, which has become old news lately for Cowboys fans, Romo does not take accountability for his team’s failures. Like so many tortured fans, mad with the world and disappointed at the organization, they surely could run Romo out of town, burn his expensive jerseys and stage a funeral outside of Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

It’s hard to believe in a guy when each week he repeatedly turns over the ball to cost the Cowboys and his teammates a victory. It’s hard to believe in a guy who is frequently shaky and vulnerable for attack every time he takes a snap. It has become common to watch Romo gag each week, like a man gagging on a T-bone steak. The Heinrich maneuver could in all probability save that man’s life, whereas for Romo, not even an emergency rescue procedure could rescue him from hell. In fairness, Romo is likely less blameless, with a team that consist of an aging core, with a team that lacks an offensive line. It doesn’t help that Jason Garrett is on the sideline as Cowboys head coach, as his bad clock management and unsuccessful play calling could have an unwanted effect on Romo.

If people would just look at the offense, they’d see an aging group of players who were recruited by Bill Parcells – Miles Austin and Jason Witten. As they approach the end of their careers, DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff are only getting older and cannot run as hard as they once did to rush the opposing quarterback. But before the Cowboys are described as a mediocre team for the next few years, which makes sense if Romo is still quarterbacking the team, let’s not forget that Dez Bryant is the star of the future. And, in fact, he should be the only player worthy of wearing the star logo helmet, after making what appeared to be a spectacular game-winning catch Sunday.

Sadly enough, the Cowboys are a staggering 3-4 and are in tremendous disarray, with another season in jeopardy of nothing more but a waste. If Jones doesn’t care much, then apparently no one else cares much, either, when in fact all of his players are paid and overly pampered. This is a huge problem for the Cowboys and Romo, about as worst as it can get for a famous team that has failed to reach expectations and is bothered by fiascoes, which has crippled Jones’ ‘Boys for years. What should have been an eye opener a long time ago was Romo, who was given more than enough time to correct his throwing mechanics, his weak spots and find ways to eliminate costly mistakes that normally results in an intercepted pass. Romo can’t breathe, nor can he dodge the scrutiny, after throwing to men wearing blue uniforms instead of those wearing white. What I know is, and you should know this as well, is that the Cowboys won’t ever again see triumph until Jones part ways with a fluctuant quarterback.

I don’t care that he becomes the first ever Cowboys quarterback to throw for 500 yards in a game. I don’t care that he’s signed through 2013. I don’t care that Bill Polian, a former Panthers and Colts executive, advised the Cowboys to stick with him. And I certainly don’t care that Romo wasn’t the center of attention or even blamed for most of the team’s misfortune, during a time in his life when he was dating starlet Jessica Simpson and jetted off to a romantic trip to Mexico before a playoff game. I don’t even care whether or not Terrell Owens was a detriment to the team and divided his teammates. That’s all irrelevant now. Talk about what’s relevant.

Romo has won only one playoff game in his six seasons as the Cowboys’ starting quarterback. Romo, sad to say the least, is really not much of a difference from Ryan Leaf, Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde or Drew Bledsoe. This season alone, he has nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions. As we are midway through the NFL season, Romo is declining, retrograding and deteriorating. Where he stands now is far from elite. Where he stands now is far from a Super Bowl winner. If they could, the Cowboys would snatch Aikman from the broadcasting booth and sign him to a deal to take snaps on Sundays. If you think this is a joke, it’s really not a joke, it’s not a laughing matter. It’s a disgrace to a well-respected franchise, which is now America’s most scrutinized franchise, as Romo and company makes a damn mockery out of a team built of champions, good character and grace.

If Romo is their guy, ‘Boys won’t be ‘Boys.

Truth is, he’s not a franchise quarterback, he’s a franchise disgrace, but Jones doesn’t see it. Then again, maybe he does and just doesn’t want change and rather continue to head down the wrong direction, delaying success and keeping an impatient Dallas fan base waiting for different results.

If the Cowboys are to escape misery and win a Super Bowl title, Jones must get rid of Romo.

No other solution.

Dez Bryant Needs to Get It Together, Before It Goes to Waste

Given his background of troubles off the field, Dez Bryant is not a spotless well-behaved guy. He is a wide receiver who represents the most storied NFL franchise, the Dallas Cowboys. Owner Jerry Jones is not reluctant ever in taking a risk on renegade players, gave his unsettled wide receiver a chance when the general public questioned Bryant’s character and behavioral concerns.

It can actuate a needless distraction, as the Cowboys enter another season of hell and questioning about their defiant wideout. For a rash of troubles Bryant has had with the law in the past, it should be taken into account by the front office, particularly after his latest run-in with the law. It comes at the wrong time as training camp looms and Bryant’s arrest Monday was disturbing, with his thug-like behavior, and a demeanor that badly humiliates Jones and the Cowboys. A team devoted to him after a police report alleges that he turned angry during a verbal dispute.

If there’s any truth behind a domestic dispute, aware of a preceding incident from Bryant’s run-in with an off-duty police officer about his pants sagging too low at NorthPark Center Mall, he grabbed his mother by her shirt and slapped her in the face with a baseball cap and pulled her hair. If there’s any truth behind a physical attack on his mother, up to date with Bryant receiving a criminal trespass warning a year ago for arguing and refusing to leave the mall, his own mother avowed that her son “tried to kill me,” terrified and in distress at the time of the disturbing call.

That means he could be a detriment and a rogue, which is not good for the Cowboys, and spells doom for a franchise already having shortcomings and wrecked by futility that has inhibited Dallas from success lately. At least, unlike others jumping to conclusions on a fresh story making national headlines, I’m reserving judgment and I’m not so fast to say he needs to be punished or dismissed.

Only time will tell about Bryant’s foreseeable future and how much longer he will wear a helmet emblazoned with a star logo. But for now, until there are further details, you cannot run him out of Dallas, not when he allegedly fought his mother and not when she was heard in a harrowing 911 phone call that maybe wasn’t as horrifying as it sounded.

Though it had to be rampant for her to call the police on her own son, horrified and aghast by Bryant’s actions that resulted in physical violence, Bryant might be innocent of assault. Then again, judging on his poor character and wrongful conduct, he might be guilty of grabbing his mother’s hair and hitting her. The Monday night outburst, as Bryant was irate and livid with his mom for an argument, began between Bryant and his half-brother. He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor family violence. It’s disappointing that it seems, since his arrival to the NFL where expectations are large, Bryant is always ending up in trouble. The vibes are bad now that he’s embroiled in plights from his incident a year ago to his recent happenings. But without enough facts, it’s hard to really fathom what to believe in the wake of his domestic violence charges.

The fathomable thing here is, because Bryant had a rough upbringing in his childhood, he’s digested emotional stress and dysfunction that has mentally corrupted his state of mind and destroyed him, having an influence on his out-of-control NFL career. As a kid, he went through a time of difficulty that his mother, Angela Bryant, had a battalion of unlawful troubles, including spending 18 months in prison during her son’s childhood for selling crack cocaine.

And who’d have guessed Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland would kick up controversy at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine for asking Bryant if his mother was a prostitute?

It only seemed like yesterday. And then came a firestorm, including African Americans playing the race card, and this almost jeopardized Ireland’s job status in Miami. Bryant, despite the recent arrest, is scheduled to play for Dallas next season, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could hand down a lengthy suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. It’s now time he turns himself around and mature into one of the cleanest athletes in pro football, and only he can turn it around, not his teammates, not his coaches, not his family, not even Jones.

Only he can make it better. Whatever it takes for Bryant, a prodigious talent and gifted wide receiver, he can’t let it go to waste — by choosing to make stupid decisions. He must defuse poor judgment that can hinder him from becoming a top receiver in the National Football League. And in fairness, we must be true Americans and reserve judgement.

What Dez is doing is only hurting him, and he’s slowly ruining his NFL livelihood, by being unable to control his emotions. It would be a major blow to him and his family — as well — now that he’s risen in his football career to finally reach a lifelong dream — an absolute waste if he somehow throws it all away for misbehaving and having off-field issues.

By offering unsolicited advice, although he’s a grown man and should be able to help himself when practically no one else can, he needs to seek anger management counseling to resolve his ostensible anger outbursts that can later make him self-destruct.

But he’s the only person who can take hold of his career and get a grip on life.
Dez has to make it possible. Dez has to do whatever it takes. Dez has to quickly turn his life around… or else.

Tony Romo Is Still the Same Guy We Once Knew

The other night, while it was supposed to end as one of the remarkable classics for Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys, wasn’t a breakthrough night but a nightmare in hell. And who can ever forget that he’s known for making poor decisions, known for his stupidity and dumbfounded mind with possession of the football?

There’s a new season, but the same results for arguably the most careless and clumsy quarterback to ever start for the Cowboys. That said, he never had the potential to become one of the game’s finest quarterbacks and he continues to engage in mental lapses and those silly damn mistakes he pulls each season.

We’ve no longer have sympathy after giving Romo the benefit of the doubt, honestly judging that he could adjust and bypass the blunders by his mobility, mental ingenuity and physical abilities. But he can’t. He doesn’t have the intangibles and has no potential to be the Cowboys star quarterback, unless he can lead Dallas to a victory without a collapse but he stumbles too much in huge moments of huge ramifications.

That’s just Romo. It should come as no surprise that he found ways to make a boo-boo and relapse in the final quarter when he almost reached a point in his shaky career in capping his biggest fulfillment. His Sunday night turned into Horror night, of course, as if he was cursed on the turf or either faltered in the final moment of the most crucial point of the game when a star-studded performance mattered and determined the outcome.

So here we thought his ex-girlfriend Jessica Simpson, a famous starlet with too much baggage, was a distraction and had affected Romo causing the Cowboys to lose practically every game. The fact he even dated her, upon hearing that she created unnecessary drama, was a disaster waiting to happen but he kissed and stayed in a relationship with a diva focused more on his Mexico vacations, a romantic Valentine’s dinner and a birthday party that publicly featured on the front page of tabloids.

We can’t blame Simpson.

This is not what we envisioned right now after the egomaniacal owner Jerry Jones parted ways with his controversial receiver Terrell Owens to end a destroyed marriage. It might have slightly been a problem, a factor of lacking chemistry and harmony in the Cowboys’ locker room when Owens was unsatisfied and cried that he wasn’t getting enough touches.

But we can’t blame Terrible Owens.

He was also shrinking and weakening under the Wade Phillips regime. The simplest measure was to chastise Phillips, a low-keyed, nitwitted head coach who definitely coached poorly and never motivated his players. There was no shortage of knowledge to describe Phillips as being soft and passive.

But we can’t blame Phillips, either.

It would be absurd to not directly point fingers at Romo, a major figure in America when he is precisely a celebrity bust and verified as an unpredictable and overhyped quarterback, leading a much-scrutinized franchise in Dallas. There is, of course, much gossip surrounding the quarterback as if he’s in the latest version of a motion picture after Sunday night at MetLife Stadium turned into a movie.

He blows huge games regularly and duplicates a poor performance again and again. The pressure often never bothered Romo and the Cowboys, but eventually he stumbled, he blew it and smeared a promising season-opener. This time, he was sharper and passed for 342 yards with two touchdowns, finishing the night with a 101.9 passer rating, but he was anything but flawless in the end and turned into a travesty, a comedic celebrity with no sense of awareness or no experience at the hardest position in the team sport.

We could be senseless and laugh and ridicule Romo. It’s classy of Romo to blame himself and accept the liability for the loss, but he is the scapegoat every time the Cowboys fail to gallop to the finish and be victorious. Sadly enough, he has the talent but he’s overshadowed by the immense expectations and national attention given all to one franchise and blinded for making silly mistakes with the ball.

We’ve seen this before, over and over again, season after season and we are still flabbergasted. Why? When he makes his mistakes, he normally trots near the sideline in despair, wearing frustrated and depressing facial expressions in a game that he had blown by his poor decisions and awful passes that quickly shifted the complexion of the game.

Because of his late interception that dropped into Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis’ arms, New York won 27-24 as the game was lost by Romo. Had he not fumbled with Dallas leading 24-17 midway in the fourth, he wouldn’t be catching heat in the aftermath of his foolish errors. Late in the game, the Cowboys had the ball at their own 41 with 59 seconds left, enough time to drive into field goal range for potentially the game-winner, but as usual he muffed and forced a pass to Dez Bryant that Revis picked off.

He’s not learning from his mistakes but he seems to be getting worse, becoming the weakest link in the Cowboys offense and never was a consistent or dependable quarterback and instead a wannabe celebrity seen on TMZ with his ex-starlet. Even though he’s been selected to multiple Pro Bowls, even though he’s in his fifth season as the Cowboys starter, it doesn’t mean he’s superior or adequate – just 1-7 in his past eight games as a starter and has only accounted for one playoff win.

Romo is at fault. Nobody else. He threw the ball. He made the decision. He poorly executed an awful play and, after all, he’s still not a sound quarterback. He does what he does best. Make mistakes and act like he’s a celebrity.

Deion High-Steps Into Hall for Being Great

He should be sculpted onto a wall in Canton or even have a bronze statue unveiled in front of Cowboys Stadium, where he once played and bloomed into a star during his 14-year career in the league. You don't have to be a fan to admire or dislike Deion Sanders.

If there ever was a proper time to honor Sanders, it does seem we've reached the point in which the flamboyant cornerback is scheduled to emerge onto stage tonight at the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremonies. All of us eventually become attach to a legend, even the pompous stars of the finest franchises in football.

All of us eventually embrace a legendary player when his career is over, recalling what he brought to the game and what he carried out that entertained people the most. The man ran hard as a versatile cornerback on the football field, but Sanders was clearly ignored for exposing arrogance, taunting opposing teams with his signature dances and offering his dynamic talents, attributes to personify one of the former NFL greats.

Why else would anyone despise or adore Sanders, seemingly an electrifying defender, a do-everything corner, a fearsome legend -- if you believe it -- and a game-changing performer? The diehards even knew Sanders was that damn remarkable, a dangerous threat as they cheered lustily back in the '90s era to increasingly boost the controversial star's ego and popularity in America's famous sport.

In fact, he changed the culture of football as we perceive the sport differently after he brought much athleticism and intense drama to the game and had risen as a virtuous legend in football today, and now, he'll be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

What sets Sanders apart from past Hall of Famers are his unique exploits and psyche, an individual who had a peculiar mindset, separating him from the other legends. If hard work defines a blue-collar player, then it's obviously Sanders.

So here comes Sanders, high-stepping, flirting and accepting an honor to be enshrined into the Hall, when he really deserves the recognition for what he has accomplished on the field in his prime, back in the glory days of his gratifying career. This is the world telling Sanders thank you much for enriching the beauty of football -- for reaching a crescendo to become one of the best playmakers in football.

Sanders, appreciated more than ever these days, was the main event in his prime and he intrigued viewers. There was talk of Sanders possibly being the best cornerback ever, to write a nice story of his legacy, even when the average person was shortsighted. For all the focus on Sanders, a banner that features the likeness of former NFL great was hung Friday at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

There's no reason to believe that Sanders shouldn't be enshrined into the Hall. Before he'd catch the ball for interceptions, he'd read the play efficiently, cut off the errant pass and return it back, taunting the players giving chase behind him, then pranced and high-stepped into the end zone for a dazzling touchdown.

It isn't striking to admit, after he'd pick off passes and race toward the end zone to finish on a highlight play, that he ascended his notoriety and quickly became an all-encompassing icon everybody adored, gratified by his work ethic and enthusiasm for the game.

It would be an insult, not to mention a dreadful mistake, if Sanders wasn't voted into the Hall of Fame. There is believe it or not, as his football image enlarged, an understanding that Sanders' first-ballot induction became more certain as the years progressed.


It's almost inevitable to not applaud Sanders and downright prejudice not to acknowledge the high-stepping buffoon, the cocky imbecile who poured water on a broadcaster. Back in the era when he dominated the turf, Neon Deion had a sense of perception that he could earn celebrity if he became a clown, a trait defining his on-field personality.

He may have been a haughty clown at times, but he was loved by his teammates for giving advice and encouraging each player inside the locker room, taking on the leadership role as a modest individual off the field. If anything, he flirted with the bad ramifications and stretched the rules a bit, to see what he could possibly get away with in the game and relished making a fool out of other teams, just so he can have the last laugh.

In the meantime, as it seems inescapable to deny, he paved the way for himself by working hard to reach a pinnacle in his wondrous football career, where he was Prime Time or even the showman, wearing a do-wag and styling the faddish Jheri curl.

The precious honor of being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, really -- is an overdue journey to Canton on Saturday, when Sanders -- at last -- will be enshrined with a respectable class that includes the likings of Shannon Sharpe, Marshall Faulk, Richard Dent, Chris Hanburger and the late Les Richter.

In early childhood, as a 7-year-old from Fort Myers, Fla., he pledged to his mother, Connie Hicks, that he'd become rich and she'd never have to take on a laborious task. Sure enough, he made it to the professional rankings and was blessed with a gift to run fast and leap into the air, having much agility and leaping ability.

For a man who was sterling at his craft, to some, he was the best athlete ever produced from his native state. It's quite possibly acknowledgeable that he's the epilogue for achievements, even in his post-career of the weekend he'll be celebratory for a memorable induction into the Hall of Fame, an accomplishment that has punctuated a noteworthy career.

One can still recall that the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the fifth pick of the 1989 draft. Because of his dedication and brilliance, we've all seen Sanders pick off 54 passes, a number of interceptions higher than usual. Because of his craft and agility, he clearly established himself as one of the greatest playmakers and was very fun to watch regularly, scoring 23 touchdowns that resulted in individual accolades.

This is how he qualified for defensive player of the year in 1996, defining Sanders as the best defensive player of all time, presumably atop the rankings to only stand in the company of Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor. No matter what the naysayers believe, he is easily the best cornerback of the '90s era, a generation when he dominated more than any other defensive player.

We all know by now, that he'd thrive for greatness and never took a day off in practice or studying. It was too often that he'd be the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave. With that in mind, he studied film thoroughly. He even studied the coordinators, to learn their schemes.

He knew how to study a play, which made Sanders seem smarter than the next player. At Florida State, where he played in college, he followed a similar philosophy. And all the way until he retired, he routinely studied the player's footwork and hand motions, typical habits he followed to gradually improve and it worked during his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys where he'd split time as a wide receiver, alongside Michael Irvin and running back Emmitt Smith.

For much of the weekend, he is the focal point of the 2011 Hall of Fame festivities, an all-purpose player and NFL custodian, finally accepted into football's most hallowed landmark. At last, he is eligible when all the hard work, devotion and talent paid off for one of football's most versatile and inspiring players.

There was much to like about Sanders, which was his swagger and even sometimes his silliness that never settled too well with many. So now, by tonight, he can finally wear something other than the brash outfits and can walk onto stage and perform his premature celebrations when he tries on his mustard jacket before thousands tonight.

By now, we should have a better understanding of Deion Sanders, an extraordinary Hall of Famer.

Cowboys, Vikings Fragile Farce Calls for Vital Culture Change

If we can feel sorry for a wealthy owner who mostly morphed into an egomaniacal weasel, just so he can control the most successful franchise in football now in disarray, then we are currently mandated to feel some sympathy for Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.

In Minnesota, of course, it was unawareness and desperateness that diminished the Minnesota Vikings, tarnishing the favorable team in the NFC North division as a crisis in the locker room lurks and recklessly has doomed chemistry.

Consider it a fragile disaster, the worse storm to ever hit a pair of franchises with traditionally plenty of fortunate and good history. So now we gaze at each team, currently mired in turmoil for travails that have turned inevitable at a time when we are pathetically watching the Cowboys and Vikings self-destruct and fade out of the postseason equation. It is, without a doubt, the most unfamiliar dilemma involving two franchises in the history of the sport.

There’s a glaring understanding as to why the Vikings are suffocating in these circumstances, while the absurdity and tension draws unnecessary drama. It’s as if owner Zygi Wilf barely noticed the discontent of fans loudly begging for a change in leadership in order to salvage a miserable season from toppling entirely.


It’s clearly a lot of pressure on Brad Childress, now that the Vikings are falling apart. By the time Childress emerged from the tunnel on Sunday, the malcontent Vikings faithful serenaded boos and chanted “Fire Childress!” unpleasant choruses heard throughout the afternoon.

All true.

Now is the time to fire Childress, just as it’s time to jettison Phillips, two coaches who have lost control of their players and no longer can emphasize a precise message or enlighten their teams to play with urgency. This is how it will be for Minnesota, until Childress is canned by his loyal boss.

It took almost half of the season before team executives running the Vikings realized that Childress is too passive and soft in taking charge within a franchise in vital need of discipline and motivation. The bearing concept of losing self-confidence is because of Childress’ liberal demeanor, allowing his players to enact too freely.

“I think they came expecting to see an execution,” Childress said. “And it ended up a pretty good football game at the end.

And on Sunday, fans were hoisting signs that said “Fire Chilly”—with crowd waiting anxiously for Childress to be fired, an overwhelming population distraught ever since he was involved in a screaming and verbal dispute with receiver, Percy Harvin, who also applauded New England.

There’s a sense that most of the Vikings players weren’t enamored with Childress after he inadvisedly dumped gifted receiver Randy Moss. At that point, he and Moss were unable to coexist, but now it’s certain he cannot flourish with the rest of his players.

In all honesty, the guys’ respect level has tapered. And eternally, of course, they have lost trust in Childress, just as well as the disgruntled supporters. With exactly 10,000 signatures imploring for Childress’ ouster, firing him instantly rids all the interruptions and havoc. So, as much talk escalated when Childress carelessly cut star receiver Moss, brought in 26 days earlier and then fabricated what took place following his unexpected release, Wilf was circumvented by Childress.

What is pathetic is that he wasn’t manly and had never discussed the issue over with his team owner. In the most nauseous week, Wilf was incensed and considered keeping Moss and firing Childress. After all the craziness in the past week, he seems a bit livid and unhappy with his coach.

If so, then firing Childress resolve troubles that has pernicious a flawed team.

As for the Cowboys, the logical assumption of a fragile team on the brink of mischief is that firing Phillips is merely the remedy for resuscitating America’s team. This has been a season like no other, bothered by tremendous shame and disgrace.

This is a peculiar age in the history of the Dallas Cowboys, a famous team traditionally known for winning and advancing atop each season. It seems the concept is losing each game, as we gather a national avowal and ridicule the Cowboys, renaming the over praised franchise the girly Cowgirls.

We clearly know that times are fragile because we almost witness the Cowboys being toppled against any opponent these days. By the time it all ended Sunday night at Green Bay, where the ‘Boys were embarrassed and discovered sitting on the sideline wearing long faces in despair, Jones stared down onto the field from the press box in distressed. By the time the Cowboys were trounced in a 45-7 demolition to the Packers, Jones was swarmed by reporters and unhappily talked about an unavailing season.

“There are a lot of people here who are certainly going to suffer and suffer consequences,” a bleak Jones said. “I’m talking about within the team, players, coaches, who have got careers. This is certainly a setback. I know first hand what it is to have high expectations.”

Afterward the dreary annihilation, Phillips admittedly said it was paltry coaching.

“We looked like a bad football team—with bad coaching.”

No, the Cowboys looked like a girly football team, with no guidance.


The theory here is that Jones desires bringing aboard a jellyfish as his head coach. And so, he’ll likely be smarter by phoning Bill Cowher to restructure a poorly coached franchise, albeit he refuses to address the team’s necessities and hasn’t corrected the unquestionably problems.

Turns out, from listening to Jones, he sounds like a person guilty for putting together a brand of talent but hiring a phlegmatic coach with a dense mindset, which has eradicated the morale and the positive disposition of a dispirited team.

“But we have so many things that we need to correct and address, as this game so vividly exposed and previous games have,” Jones said. “I’ve got a lot of work to do, got a lot of decisions to make. And it’s not just one, two, three or four. There are several decisions. I think everybody in this country would agree that there’s a lot wrong with this team that we’ve got to address, and I’m certainly the one to address it.”

In our lifetimes, this is by far the worse Cowboys team we’ve ever seen. A lot of football lords are shedding in tears, worried about the welfare of Jones and his Cowboys.

For now, however, Jones stands by Phillips and has urged everyone that he’ll retain him as head coach until the end of the season. By now, Cowboys fans should be staging a funeral for Phillips outside of the colossal palace that Jones invested billions in creations.

Are the Cowboys done? Certainly. The only thing worth playing for is pride, if that.

Just so you know, Phillips is the equivalent of Childress. But once a upon a time, Phillips seemed like the right guy for the job earlier during his regime, but he already had a fundamentally sound core that future Hall of Famer Bill Parcells assembled. Aside from all this drama in Dallas, courtesy of the soap opera transpiring in the land of 10,000 lakes, Childress is just as bad.


He wasn’t always doomed, though, but now his job security just like Phillips is called into question. He is, indeed, a spongy mentor and allowed Brett Favre to selfishly hold the Vikings hostage in his offseason charade. Remember the time when he chastised his star running back Adrian Peterson for missing a mandatory practice, but allowed the veteran Favre to skip out on training camp and minicamps.

Needless to say, this is now the time for the ‘Boys and Vikes to react.

This calls for a vital culture change.

Dallas Cowboys: Mired in Dysfunction, Rename to Girly Cowgirls

It hasn’t been a spectacular season for America’s team, the team suddenly known as America’s Disgrace. If you actually like the Dallas Cowboys when the franchise is declared as a laughingstock, bigger than its massive palace that seems like an atmosphere of ignominy and mortification, nowadays you are rallying behind a dysfunctional franchise.

The face of the Cowboys is stuck in a hideous storm, a state of mortality when it was once renowned religiously for excelling in triumph and experiencing joy and exhilaration. There are plenty of reasons to dislike the renamed Cowgirls at a moment when the team is almost as scary to watch as the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and now it seems any team is competent and savvy in embarrassing the girly franchise residing in the heart of Texas.

For years, this national precept that we’re supposed to verify a disoriented team as America’s team is overblown, particularly when the Cowboys are mediocre and soft. As long as stubborn owner Jerry Jones keeps a soft, nitwitted Wade Phillips as head coach, the Cowboys will perpetually be maligned and ridiculed. Years ago, the Cowboys were nearly unbeatable and were allowed to be worshipped as the winningest franchise in sports, worthy of dignified prestige in the gratifying days.

But as the years progressed, the Cowboys are now football’s ugliest joke as Jones squandered millions of his player’s payroll to pamper his star players and has wastefully spent on megastars in his current roster. Whatever he does, it backfires in his face and pathetically casts gloom on a franchise forecasted to win the Super Bowl this season, long overdue in capturing a championship and uplifting a football-oriented town with happiness.

This was supposed to be the year the Cowboys ended a dreaded streak of anguish, but it won’t happen unless Jones, who is the primary diplomat in football, stops demanding control of a franchise that needs discipline and guidance from a stringent and intellectual voice to mend the lacking chemistry. Doomed by all the melodrama involving a head coach with a low-keyed demeanor, the Cowboys have yet to address the weaknesses and still bypass the pursuit of a Super Bowl title.

Assuming that Jones likes controlling his coaches, he has no intentions on firing Phillips. He notoriously made a mistake when he extended his contract, perhaps the most foolish move by a classy owner who desires winning. Until he cans Phillips, he’ll have a formidable team and won’t ever win a title. If he’s thinking wisely, he’d dismiss a cowardice Phillips and interview Bill Cowher for the coaching job and hire the future Hall of Famer to rebuild an inferior team.

The biggest leader in the room, however, is a useless and injured Tony Romo. But in the meantime, his inspirational voice isn’t enough to enkindle or encourage a demoralized team that cannot desert long-lasting fiascoes. It must have been painful on the first play of the second quarter drive for a colossal stadium packed with 91,000 fans. A night nearly fell silent and collectively people cried when Giants linebacker Michael Boley charged towards Romo at full speed and drove the starting quarterback into the ground.

He clearly delivered a vicious hit that left a fracture. As fans collectively worried with solicitous facial expressions, he sustained a heartbreaking injury, adding to the affliction for a franchise badly attempting to put aside the disillusionment. It was a play that shifted the complexion in a hurry, and everyone from the cheerleaders, to the coaching staff, to the fans looked onto the field and witnessed Romo grimacing on the turf in pain.

For several minutes, he laid on the field in distress and slowly rose onto his feet gingerly. Over on the sideline, he was swarmed by medical personnel, and he was removed from the game. As much as he tried to stay in the game, he was replaced eventually by backup Jon Kitna. But this being a horrid season, the year was practically over for the Cowboys and without their franchise quarterback, this basically ended the miserable year for good.

It’s a devastating blow, and Romo knew it as well, leaving the field in despair. On the sideline, he tried to return to the game, but a trainer escorted the ailing quarterback back to the bench. This would provoke frustration in which he tossed his helmet and departed to the locker room to be examined, having been diagnosed with a fractured left clavicle in his left throwing shoulder.

“It was part of our blitz package,” Boley said. “The guard stayed in his three-technique on the tackle and they just didn’t see me coming. I showed coverage and then came. I guess it was a big play.”

It was a big play all right. In fact it was the biggest play of the game.

“When he hit the ground,” Boley said, “I heard he let out a little scream. So I knew something was up.”

According to Jones the doctors informed him that Romo may not opt to undergo surgery but would likely miss six to eight weeks. That is practically the rest of the season. And already, the Cowboys are a staggering 1-5 in the season, following a mind-blowing 41-35 loss to New York in a contest Dallas struggled to adjust to the Giants vehement pass rush. If this game dictated the Cowboys fate, it certainly wasn’t a pleasing ending, but a porous letdown that defined the hapless franchise.

And as the most hyped team in the league, the Cowboys were credited as the most talented team in the league but hasn’t proved worthy amid a struggling offense and mismanaged coaching. There’s no denying that defense is the critical element and the Cowboys forced three turnovers early but had difficulty compiling points. As the Giants assembled a comeback in the second quarter, Miles Austin played as if he was an unfocused T.O. and dropped a pair of critical passes early on.

All season, he has been a primary target in inadequate and bizarre offensive tactics, an indication that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett needs to be dismissed to renounce blunders. If the Cowboys wish to return to championship-caliber, Jones must part ways with the worse play-caller in the game—Garrett.

Most significantly, he has diagramed and called schemes poorly, and no player is functioning well in his discombobulated schemes. As a result, Jason Witten botched a play on a mental lapse that benefited New York. In a bewildered game, he had a fumble that led to a Giants touchdown. And Cowboys’ overrated wide receiver Roy Williams was held without a catch. Suffice it to say that the rookie Dez Bryant outplayed his teammates in a signature game and provided much energy with the remarkable kick return.

The boorish crowd serenaded boos in the third quarter and suddenly a crowd turned angst and irate with the Cowboys performance. Just describe it as a Cow Girlish shocker. Pretty soon, the Cowboys will be run out of town by the Rangers. Pretty soon, the fans will be asking for Cliff Lee to take over at quarterback, or else, fans could clearly arrive next time wearing paper bags over their heads and protesting in the demise of Dallas.

Dallas Cowboys' Melodrama Is Needless: They Are America's Most Overrated Team

In the midst of all the overhyped rubbish and melodrama heard this season, the Dallas Cowboys are still faced with absolute anxiety. The celebration of their 50th-anniversary is beginning with a disappointing loss, a contest in which the storied franchise was ineffective against its archrivals the Washington Redskins, committing careless miscues that defines the Cowboys as America’s Most Overrated Team. At the beginning of a spirited quest, the ultimate intent was escaping the suburbs near the nation’s capital with a win and mustering assurance in a bitter territory.

If there is any optimism long-awaited fans rely on this particular season, it’s clearly because the Cowboys are playing with much at stake, and realizes Super Bowl XLV is played in their domain. This year, already, America’s team is greatly anointed as a superior franchise, widely projected as one of the premier teams to win the NFC Championship and advance to the biggest stage at home. But, of course, it’s too premature to judge whether or not the Cowboys are making such a transition and reforming into elite contention.

With the notion that this team isn’t mentally or physically built to scare or even petrify opponents, it’s simply the most overrated franchise in America, an overhyped organization worshippers praise for its mystique, legends, and elegancy, and well, riches. It’s almost mutual we live in a country that disdains the heart and pride of traditionally the star logo, especially when it has merely signified failure over the last few years as the subpar Cowboys either suffered a regular-season heartbreaker or a postseason letdown.


It doesn’t take a genius to fathom that Dallas, the much-scrutinized pro franchise in the country, is disrupted by dismay and lingering soap operas without even measuring up to standards. Although it’s only one week, the Cowboys aren’t America’s team, but a sense of belief is still in existence. He wore a Dallas cap backwards on the sideline and stood nervously waiting to return on offense and change the complexion of a dramatic game between a pair of hostile rivals.

Surely, Tony Romo is used to hearing all the criticism after a devastating performance, unworthy of the hype for excelling only once in the postseason, which came last season when he finally won his first playoff game as the starting quarterback. It wasn’t beautiful, a 13-7 primetime loss Sunday to rival Redskins, but they almost pulled off a miraculous defeat in a jaw-dropping bout. If there was one noticeable flaw, the Cowboys weren’t cohesive on offense and unwisely committed penalties in the game.

In my mind, Jerry Jones knows his team is a working progress and also knows they aren’t ready to likely contend for a title, unless they make vital improvements in the upcoming weeks and strengthen the vitality to be a potent team with a strong mindset. You can see why the Cowboys have only had very little glory in the last few seasons, known for collapsing in the month of December and dropping a bundle of games on the schedule to miss the playoffs. You can see why Romo takes the blame on the team with strong expectations and demands.

If something frails, then Romo is responsible greatly for any miserable meltdowns, and plays with tremendous work ethic and a desirable outlook on the game to tensely lead an equivocal offense that normally stumbles late in the season. Much has been made over a probable revival, but as much as you’d love to see the Boys return to charming fashion at home, it seems Dallas won’t ignite a party in their backyard after all.

Thus, the languished era doomed the Cowboys they are aiming to overwhelm the population at Cowboys Stadium. But it’s common to think that they are faced with adversity when owner Jerry Jones invested $1.3 billion in stadium creations, a well-designed and colossal palace built as the world’s largest venue with limestone rocks and fritted glass. And these days, with modern technology, the building has a humongous high-def screen. It’s fittingly a nice site for the sporting festivities, and better yet, it would be perfect for the Cowboys to host the Super Bowl at home come Feb. 6.

But as we revered the beloved team, perhaps we badly overstate Jones’ business and overlook a longtime nemesis, including the state of a well-balanced NFC East division. The problem is that Jones stuck with head coach Wade Phillips, whose soft, low-key demeanor dismantles chemistry. There’s not enough inspirational leadership or unity, when a weak-minded coach has much authority and doesn’t inspire mental toughness. As the Cowboys lacks toughness and empathy, Wade is derelict and his personality isn’t fittingly perfect for a franchise in need of compatibility and motivation. So there were the Cowboys trailing by six on the final play of the game when Romo orchestrated a drive at FedEx Field.

It was certainly an awful penalty down the stretch when a yellow flag decided the outcome of a heartbreaking defeat on a play Romo stepped forward to avoid the sack and connected with a wide open Roy Williams. Few believe the Cowboys are the most talented team in the NFL, but in perspective that’s an unknown assessment.

The assumption is that Miles Austin, who caught an electrifying pass in midfield for a 30-yard gain with 12 seconds remaining, is evidently Romo’s primary target. Not to argue that he has other offensive weapons in a loaded receiving core with Williams and Dez Bryant, a rookie who potentially is an impact player and has the stamina and quickness as a top receiver. However, the Cowboys are a different team without Patrick Crayton, traded to the San Diego Chargers for financial deputes and without Flozell Adams.

There were feelings that they were destined to win, but uneducated offensive coordinator Garrett unfortunately blew it for the Cowboys. There are times we can actually fault the quarterback, especially if he makes a costly throw that is easily picked off or botches one on a fumble.

But this time, Garrett is at fault in a predicament where he unreasonably called and designed a passing play to cost the Cowboys. With four seconds left in the first-half, Romo fired a short pass to Tashard Choice and it allowed Redskins versatile cornerback DeAngelo Hall to strip the ball, recover the fumble and return it for a 37-yard touchdown.

Neither team played well.

This game specifically was about momentum and turnovers. The clumsy mistakes demoralized the Boys. The awful play calling doomed the Boys. And the final minutes killed the Boys.

Hall-of-Fame Game Shows Something Special, Shows Football Season Has Finally Started

 

Many things were to be seen and to be talked about on the Hall-of-Fame game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys last night.

First, it was the Hall-of-Fame game as seven players were honored. The inductees had to enjoy watching the game, as the Cowboys cruised to a 16-7 win. It also showed that Terrell Owens faced his old team and he said a bunch of other stuff that his release from the team was prematured. Adding to this, it also showed that the football season has finally started. It's finally here as people fight for spots on the team while others are ready for the regular season to just goddamn start already.

The Bengals honored the Hall-of-Famers by wearing gold shoes on a couple of plays. It seemed that Chad Ochocinco came up with the idea of the shiny-looking footwear. It was a question asked by many of why they wore gold shoes. But it was later answered by OchoCinco.

"That's exactly what it was, how did you know?" he said. "That's exactly why I did it."

Terrell Owens was asked if the team or just OchoCinco will be fined. Most probably, Chad will. I have a deep feeling that No. 85 will break the NFL record for the most league fines. Maybe he has already done it due to the many he had last season, too.

"Chad has so many different-colored shoes he is like a woman," Owens said.

The Bengals played sloppy, however, as they allowed eight sacks. The defensive inductees: Dick LeBeau, Rickey Jackson, and John Randle were happy to see the many takeaways, low-scoring and the recovered fumble by Cincinnati. Defense was the main reason to winning here. And as the saying goes: defense does in fact win championships. But this wasn't a championship. It was just the start for the first game of the season.

There were many penalties in the game. Along with that, there were 16 overall, most of them going to the favor of Cincinnati. This isn't really something to be happy about. They had twelve penalties for 90 yards. I just wish they had Hard Knocks for this season with the Bengals instead of the last season. No need to have the New York Jets here for this season. I mean, come on, you get to see OchoCinco and OchoUno show off their personalities. Along with that, they videotape Marvin Lewis's reaction after the game. Boy would he be pissed.

But this game was just the pre-season. However, Wade Phillips has a good saying about it, even though it is just the pre-season.

"The best thing about it," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said, "is you see what you did and what you need to improve on."

Tony Romo led the Cowboys on a nice opening drive. He was completed five passes out of ten attempts and passed for 59 yards.

"You just have to continue to work on the things we've been doing through the offseason and in training camp," Romo said. "You're never sure until you get into a game-like mode, and some of the new stuff, it was nice to see it work out really well. It's a start. We have to build off of it, but we still have a ways to go, and we're on the way."

Team kicker David Buelher did most of the scoring in the game, hitting three out of four field goals. At least this was better than last year's kicker who missed a bunch of easy field goals. Rookie linebacker Brandon Sharpe had the only touchdown for Dallas, returning an interception for six points the other way. For the Bengals, their only touchdown was a one-yarder Darius Hill caught from third-stringer Jordan Palmer.

This NFL season looks to be fun.

Can't wait.

Let it begin!

Cowboys Fiascoes Vanish? Jettison Phillips, Jones

Why is the richest franchise in the NFL so mindless, if the intent is to win a Super Bowl in the near future? Logic is, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is too loyal when he needs to renovate a motionless coaching staff. Yet, I’ve tried to figure out the egomaniacal weasel for the last few years.


I’ve tried to guess the initiative plans of a classy owner who is more focused on ego and prima donnas rather than bringing in a charismatic coach to brighten the moods of players and a team missing felicity or direction. Ever since building the world’s largest venue, a creation that cost $1.3 billion and consists of a high-def screen low enough to interfere with punts, Jones has aimed the attention to selling out a capacity crowd and producing profit from a fan base.

But the world’s greatest creation is irrelevant, with the Cowboys' failures. And still, the most scrutinized organization is advertised as America’s team, even though its last Super Bowl victory was 14 years ago. Much of the proclivity is awful for an enigmatic businessman, willing to follow the similar routine by holding on to a low-key, soft coach.

It spells trouble and could backfire on Jones, who elaborated he was hungry to win a title. But if he retained a dull Wade Phillips, clearly the last thing on Jones mind is a Super Bowl championship, otherwise he wouldn’t be drifting backwards. Keeping the weak-minded coach is like keeping a gallon of old milk in the refrigerator, but in this example, keeping Phillips is like keeping a lousy record-player. So when the owner/general manager determined his fate, Jones made the worst mistake and will regret issuing paychecks to a numskulled coach.


Reports confirmed that he’ll bring back Phillips as coach for the 2010 season. What in the hell is he thinking? Doesn’t he understand the no-good wannabe doesn’t have the personality to discipline or enlighten a winning franchise? He isn’t an ideal suit for propelling the world’s greatest franchise, the world’s famous franchise and the world’s admirable franchise. The former boss gained popularity and built a dynamic team, assembling useful ingredients worthy of making a strong case for the Super Bowl.

He was fortune to possess an architect and Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, but fled and had problems working for an egomaniac and scrutinized market. Or else the old boss wouldn’t have a coaching dilemma, the Cowboys may have even advanced and a quantity of issues would’ve been addressed. It’s utterly amazing and ridiculous Jones is sticking with a mediocre coach whom he can control.

That’s a problem any time an owner is comfortable maintaining the leverage. And if he was to hire an intellectual coach with experienced, like a Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan or a Jim Fassel, he’d have to give up personnel decisions and allow the results to come from the sidelines. He’ll have to allow someone with experience to bring in a satisfying staff, and maybe even a sterling quarterback they could cultivate.

These days, Phillips is frustrated and unsatisfied with all the failures in the postseason. Good thing is, the Cowboys recovered and managed to avoid December doom. Bad thing is, they collapsed when it counted. If you think Phillips is satisfied with the postseason relapses, think again.

“Our goal was to win it all, and if not, then that’s not a success,” he said softly. “It’s like the elevator is falling from the top. It’s tough when it’s over. If you don’t win it all, you have not reached your goal."

I hope Jones heard Phillips speak. If so, the goal is to win a Super Bowl, which means he needs to make a coaching change. If planning to avoid all the miserable collapses, Jones may want to call Cowher or Fassel. It’s too bad he missed out on a pair of top-of-the-line names. After all, he was better off landing Shanahan, who signed with the lousy Washington Redskins, which could be hurtful being arch-rivals. Jones has insisted that he has had too many coaches, since Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith impacted a high-powered offense dating back to the mid/late ‘90’s.

If he was to find a new coach, it would make sense to believe Jason Garrett wouldn’t return as offensive coordinator who has been criticized for his absurd play-calling. He doesn’t have a genuine notion on how his organization deteriorated, simply for the faulty managing. During a dismantling period, the Cowboys need tweaks in the coaching staff, a weakness that has delayed the rebirth of a venerable era. The Cowboys aren’t a team of amateurs, and there’s no question the talent exists. Let’s realize all the attributes are insubstantial, unless Jones starts phoning the next coach to mend unattractive postseason misadventures.

In the meantime, Wade Phillips continues to embarrass himself. Unlike his father, Bum, he’s not NFL coaching material. Go check out the track record, where you’ll notice a 1-2 record in the playoffs. Backtrack to the days he was the Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator. He failed to win, and finally, owner Ralph Wilson and general manager Russ Brandon said good-riddance.

But where there’s a loyal owner with ego, he keeps Phillips.

Why, Jones?

Dallas Cowboys Collapses Are Bigger Than Tony Romo

Eight days ago, the Dallas Cowboys felt like the unbeaten, invincible team of the NFL. It's obvious that anyone affiliated with the organization believed booking a trip to the Super Bowl was possible following a 34-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles to clinch the team's first playoff berth since 1996. Except on different turf, in a louder environment, in front of a blistering Minnesota Vikings' defense that couldn’t be denied on nearly each possession, Dallas collapsed.

The scoreboard rendered ugly results, and players' body languages evinced fatigue. Bruised and exhausted bodies sat on the sideline, literally ready to burst into tears. None of this was even imagined for the tough-minded, driven Cowboys. Not because they're recognized as America's team or as one of the wealthiest franchises in pro sports, but because of their high confidence level and unstoppable swagger that presented problems for the shaky Vikings.

In all fairness, a winning streak meant nothing and was unable to terrify Minnesota's defensive package. The four-game winning streak was a positive notion based on awful collapses, allowing frailty to dictate a wasteful season. But notice that Dallas was successful in passing their biggest test this season by avoiding December doom, a predicament that routinely dismantled the taste of Super Bowl triumph.

Although genuine vibes were felt, a three-hour contest turned into a three-hour horror fest and the Cowboys took gigantic steps backwards instead of advancing further. It would have been enough to banish the unpleasant anguish, which has delayed prosperity to an eternity in a town where football is a priority on any given Sunday.

No one had an ugly collapse in mind, anxiously awaiting the Cowboys to jump onto the saddle and gallop closer to the Super Bowl, a national holiday and prime-time fame that owner Jerry Jones has waited for patiently. From the long-awaited droughts and late season failures, Jones is distraught of all the downfalls tantalizing a franchise he truly invests millions in.

For all the haters and critical media outlets all have reason to criticize the Cowboys. But there is one positive thing to say about this Dallas team. After proving he's among the elite, you can’t blame Tony Romo or his latest performance on turf. Why even label Romo as a celebrity bust when he quarterbacked the Cowboys past the first round? Critics may want to stay silent.


He’s not a celebrity bust, and he proved it as he realized starlet and ex-girlfriend Jessica Simpson was a distraction and dumped her.

Romo also had to fend off all the paparazzi and was drained of the beleaguering photo shots. When alienated receiver Terrell Owens' temperamental traits started to drag down morale, the T.O. drama was dismissed, and it bolstered Romo's capacity.

So Romo is not the one to blame. It isn’t his fault that the Cowboys teetered and deflated. It isn't Wade Phillips' fault, either.

The last few years, Jones, the wealthiest owner in the league, shifted directions in the way he runs an unorganized business. So much has been said regarding the Cowboys' talent and its fragile seasons. It’s time to face the truth and understand that Mr. Jones is an egomaniac, a weasel concerned with divas and dramatic, action-packed football rather than addressing the missing pieces to help form an elite franchise.

Sunday afternoon, the signs were there. The Cowboys suffered a 34-3 loss to the Vikings, just short of reaching the NFC Championship game for a rematch against the New Orleans Saints. As the brink of elimination quickly approached, Romo sat frustrated on the bench and reflected back on what had became a miraculous season. He was furious after he was sacked six times and fumbled twice.

You can grasp a sense of what happened. The poor guy was severely abused by a vehement and uncontrolled Vikings defense. In previous weeks, Romo's superb footwork was an instrumental piece to damaging a defense on the ground. But this time he was smothered and harassed on nearly every possession by an energetic Ray Edwards, who wouldn't stop aggravating Romo.

It's too bad that Romo is to blame for the team's poor ability to orchestrate critical plays. I almost feel sorry for him, especially when he tried to direct this team to the grandest stage before the Super Bowl. But the deficient offensive line bailed out, absent in the biggest game of Romo's playing career as he watched his first playoff victory fundamentally break down.

On this day, he finished 22-35 with 198 yards and never lacked poise as he tried everything in his own power to keep the 'Boys in the game. They entered the game hoping to celebrate and win a playoff matchup on the road for the first time since the NFC Championship game in '92.

Glorious years could return with offseason turning points. Considering their inability to find a sturdy place kicker, the Cowboys need to find a reliable kicker, someone who could boot a long shot in critical moments. On a 4th-and-1 at the 30, embattled coach Wade Phillips summoned Shaun Suisham for a 49-yard attempt, but he hooked the kick wide left.

Often, Phillips has been on the coaching hot seat. I believe he's not the right coach for the Cowboys. His low-key, soft demeanor doesn't provide inspiration, but I guess they could leave the role of inspiration to a charismatic Keith Brooking, a veteran linebacker who has inspired teammates with his sideline speeches.

For now, the afternoon win is a nice one for Brett Favre. Though it may seem that he returned to the game seeking vengeance against Ted Thompson and Green Bay, he returned to win, and today he outplayed Romo by feeding off the turns.

At 40, Favre completed 15-24 passes for 234 yards thanks in large part to the emergence of wideout Sidney Rice, who played like Jerry Rice. He caught three touchdown passes, forcing us to forget Dallas' talented core of receivers like Austin Miles, Patrick Crayton, and Jason Witten.

If only Jones would realize the talent he has, he could start building around it and return Dallas to the title of America's franchise. Keep in mind that this is Jones' problem. Maybe he saw what we all did: a weak offensive line, a paltry kicker, and a soft coach. Maybe he realized this only after his 'Boys were so close.

NFL Is Your Sport, but Who Is Super Bowl Bound?

This was a season of suspense, a season that defined a team’s longevity and willpower.

We are witnesses of an incredible journey from a league that has paranoid our senses.

If you’re wondering why we suffered greatly and have impatiently waited for the season-opener of a 16-game regular season, well, it’s because we grasp the mindset of intense, non-stop drama.

Isn’t this what we live for, a dramatic year that could magnetize our minds and raise our self-consciousness? Aren’t fans essentially infatuated with football until the Super Bowl?

Despite a potential lockout in the 2011 season and merciless concussions and head injures that have raised much concern throughout the year, fans are in for football.

As sports depart from a relentless age of sleazes who cast shame on a league, our society truly admires an indelible season that expunges a dreadful period of DUI criminals, dog-killers and psychotic goons.

It doesn’t take long to cure a league where rebellious players try to get away with their despicable actions.

Whenever there’s a stern, narrow-minded commissioner willing to eliminate touchdown celebrations and constitute a personal conduct policy, crimes vanish and much tension mitigates.

Besides cracking down on mischievous megastars, the Indianapolis Colts excited us with their successive streak, a franchise that almost reached a historic plateau.

On Bourbon Street, the New Orleans Saints intrigued the hearts of avid fans as the home team achieved the improbable and captured an historic milestone by finishing the entire season unbeaten.

Early on, the Denver Broncos were in conversations for their incredible streak, and were unbeaten before collapsing midway.

But now, teams such as the New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers are surprising us, as we sit back and relish an engaging postseason.

Any team can win the grandest prize on the biggest stage at this point. It’s impossible to ensure that any of these teams are ultimate champions. This has the makings to be a riveting postseason.

There’s no telling if the Minnesota Vikings are worthy of flying to Miami, even though they have arguably the most weapons, entering the playoffs.

There’s no telling if the shaky Saints deserves to dance in South Beach, after losing three consecutive games. And there’s no telling whether the Colts would falter in the AFC Championship game if they meet the San Diego Chargers, the villains and hottest team making it to the playoffs.

Until further notice, we don’t know which team will dominate. It depends on the environment, weather conditions and momentum, though.

Football is a sport of momentum, and vital fundamentals are required at a time when winning is meaningful.

By the end of the first round, maybe it would be easier to forecast. But until then, analyzing the likelihood of a franchise’s status is unpredictable.

Where tailgate parties reside, the Jets played their final game at Giants Stadium in the frigid climate

Amid a night of playoff ramifications, die-hard Jets fans renamed the venue, “FINAL GAME AT JETS STADIUM."

What turned into an exhilarating site, Jets coach Rex Ryan’s mental toughness and inspiration paid off. Whether he’s portrayed as a sensitive moron or someone who’s just ill tempered, he has cultivated an adverse group.

As we all know, media personnel in New York are critical of underperforming sports teams.

So clinching a playoff berth is huge for the Jets, a franchise that has coped with much scrutiny and mediocrity. Sure enough, the Jets can beguile us all by advancing to the AFC Championship game.

There’s no need to place a hot team on the backburner when Ryan has been specialized in defense.

Don’t forget there’s a rookie quarterback by the name of Mark Sanchez, who was willing to take on a steep challenge and implored the Jets to select him in last April’s draft.

Isn’t it fair to refer to him as Sanchize?

But more so, credit the lethal defense for elevating the intensity level in the late weeks.

In a rematch against the inspirational Cincinnati Bengals, who they routed in a 37-0 win, the Jets will have to attempt to win two games in six days.

In general, I’m impressed by the Jets’ tenacious defensive core.

On any given week, a forceful defense could spoil an opposing team’s optimism.

The NFL’s best defense happens to be the Jets, despite their 9-7 record that barely qualifies for a legitimate taste of the postseason.

Mind you, Darrelle Revis and Dwight Lowery are shutdown cornerbacks, with quickness and awareness. That hurts for an explosive wideout as proficient as Chad Ochocinco, when these two teams meet again for a significant matchup.

The Bengals are practically ailing in the receiver core, and Ochocinco is nursing a sore knee. That raises concern, especially when prolific quarterback Carson Palmer could use his primary target to exploit an unparalleled passing game.

Either way you view it, the best team, the scariest team and the team nobody wants to play are the Chargers.

Turns out they are the Super Chargers, exposing an outlook that defies logic with their ability to move the ball efficiently on the ground.

LaDainian Tomlinson is a decisive factor in the Chargers' chase for a potential Super Bowl appearance, as is a sturdy Philip Rivers. Late in the season, Coach Norv Turner has relied on the growth of Rivers’ passing game.

His powerful throws are significant, if the Chargers expect to pass the test of wills, which includes advancing to the Super Bowl.

In recent weeks, the masses have anointed San Diego and have given the Chargers the edge.

If so, tight end Antonio Gates must play a large role. To be honest, he has been, by far, the most productive star in the receiver core and amassed 79 catches for 1,457 yards.

Near the goal line, Tomlinson is lightning fast and he’s not to be reckoned with.

He has 12 touchdowns and isn’t easy to slow down inside the 20.

Doesn’t that remind you of Ravens’ running back Ray Rice?

There’s no doubt that he’s the difference in the Ravens’ entertaining offense.

The arrival of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has improved the Ravens' offense mightily, offsetting a typical 3-4 defense. His offensive recipe is designed to force the 3-4 into a nickel or dime formation, making life easier for Baltimore’s running game to explode.

No wonder Rice is the biggest star of an emerging offense and discards all of the weaknesses.

He’s the most entertaining and dangerous runner in the AFC, lethal with a remarkable 1,338 yards and a 5.3-yard average.

This should be enough to put a scare on the faces of New England.

Yes, Bill Belichick and the Patriots are well experienced, but they’re deteriorating before our very eyes.

After losing all its veteran leaders, New England is amid a rebuilding stage and has been dealing with road woes.

Wipe away an effortless win at a neutral site in London, and the Patriots would’ve officially been 1-6 on the road this season.

Because they have much mystique and dominated in the prior decade, the Pats aren’t forgotten just yet.

Then again, they might be out of the picture for good. The last thing New England needed was a severe injury to change the complexion, especially when it involves a speedy receiver.

Wes Welker, a primary target and a dynamic weapon, sustained a left knee injury. It’s believed to be a torn ACL and MCL.

That could cost New England a trip to Miami. He was a receiver the Pats relied on heavily, in what appeared to be Welker’s breakout season.

He led the league with 123 catches for 1,348 yards and four touchdowns, but Belichick is now forced to rely on a temperamental Randy Moss, who not long ago, created a distraction when many acknowledged that he had quit on his team.

Good luck facing a tough-minded Baltimore defense.

Seems safety Ed Reed is healthy enough to disrupt and frustrate Tom Brady in the first round of the postseason. This season, Reed was sidelined for four games with a groin injury, but his presence intimidates any team's offense.

There’s also the hard-hitting Ray Lewis, the veteran linebacker who applies unsympathetic hits to players.

Let’s not leave out the Dallas Cowboys, a franchise that owner Jerry Jones has earned his money from a new and colossal venue.

For once, Dallas avoided derision and further doom in December.

For the rematch, the Cowboys will face the Philadelphia Eagles next Saturday. For the longest time, they were fragile in December and couldn’t steer clear of letdowns.

Still, Dallas is a much-scrutinized franchise, until it captures its first playoff victory.

After escaping T.O. drama and after Tony Romo dumped Jessica Simpson to leave alone the celeb lifestyle, he's focused on improving as a quarterback and the Cowboys started performing at a high level.

Wade Phillips is delighted and confident he has salvaged his job status by winning a playoff game.

Like anything else, we try our hardest to guess which team will survive the next few weeks, leading up to the Super Bowl.

Did you know nothing is guaranteed?

How about you just watch and see what happens.

After all, it’s the NFL where drama lives.

'Boys Will Be 'Boys, If Romo Excels Merely With Fewer Tosses

My inclination each season is to imagine the Dallas Cowboys, getting past unnecessary futility that has suffocated high expectations in the past.

But in a juncture, when it seems Tony Romo isn’t beleaguered with paparazzi snapping endless snapshots of him and ex-girlfriend Jessica Simpson vacationing at a pool party a week before a pivotal playoff game, he might have a better possibility at avoiding a late collapse and advance to the playoffs.

In likelihood, he might presumably have better luck, attaining the big one that he has yet to win. Without an egotistic and psychotic Terrell Owens yelling loudly in his ear for not getting enough touches, there shouldn't be any diversity or rebellious chemistry sabotaging a spacious locker room inside a new colossal stadium, in which owner Jerry Jones nearly invested most of his payroll in.

Simply, Romo is expected to guide the Cowboys away from long-suffering failures, which has done nothing but deflowered mystique and expectations. After all, he’s one of the lovable and scrutinized figures in our country, portrayed more as a celebrity than an actual quarterback.

It’s the most-scrutinized position inside the Cowboys organization, and if the ‘Boys expect to be ‘Boys, they’ll need more consistency from the enigmatic superstar who wears the star logo on his helmet.

He has been granted privileges to guide the Cowboys, and reach expectations instead of underachieving on the big stage. No excuses, his focus level should be at an all-time high, and his gusto should be more instrumental. He, indeed, played with all essential components Monday night, responding to all the critics who have bashed him for underperforming early in the season.

Shockingly, most of the criticism came from former legends that largely had a decisive impact on the Cowboys glorious seasons formerly. Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, and Troy Aikman all took blows at Romo, admitting that he hasn’t done much in the toughest role in the NFL.

Tonight, the flaws weren’t easily discovered or deficiencies weren’t much of a problem. Deemed as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, Romo was well deserving of those remarks responding to all negative bias said this week.

Although it wasn’t a breakout game, finishing the night with no touchdowns, the key point skeptics were watching to point out was Romo’s consistency and smart plays.

From my perspective, he was flawless and played well in the best game yet. As many anticipated, he stayed focus and managed the game, enough to minimized boos from disgruntled fans and increased cheers. For the first time, the Cowboys won at their $1.15 billion stadium after a last-second loss in the home-opener turned disappointing and now is erased out of their minds.

But not all props belong to Romo. Credit the defense for coming up huge, when a convincing Terrence Newman returned an interception to Carolina’s 27 with 5:07 left to secure a 21-7 victory in front of 90,588 fans that were tense until things officially came to a close.

The masses can debate that the Cowboys prevailed off the Panthers miscues, when Jake Delhomme made a few bad tosses and defaulted in another dreadful game, leading the league with seven interceptions.

Romo, of course, was more consistent with making less throws, but was still harassed and pressured. The Panthers defenders never allowed Romo many advantages to escape the pocket with his nifty footwork, and he wasn’t permitted enough time to make perfect throws on each possession.

With more completions and hand-offs, Romo didn’t throw ill-advised passes or committed any interceptions. Unlike before, he was more patient and relaxed, painfully avoiding overthrows and lofting it into traffic. But mostly, he relied on the Cowboys unstoppable and pugnacious running game.

More serious than in previous letdowns, Romo played with more sense rather than inanely surrendering or giving away one. They could’ve easily seen a 0-3 deficit to start the season, of which Romo would’ve had to take in more heat. But now, he is sighing relief and relinquished jitters that encouraged him to increase productivity.

In Week Three, I think fans weren’t concerned with Romo completing touchdown passes. They were more concerned with his consistency, as he managed holding on to a comfortable lead. Romo finished with more suitable results, and was 22 of 33 for 235 yards, finding reliable tight end Jason Witten, who had nine catches for 77 yards.

Goodness, all the weapons Romo had. He was surrounded with a sturdy rushing attack, such as Felix Jones rushing for 94 yards on eight carries before leaving with a strained left knee in the third quarter. But Tashard Choice ran faster than anyone else on this giving night.

Without an ailing Marion Barber, who is nursing a bruised thigh, Romo handed the ball to a stellar and hasty Choice. He was solid finishing the night with 82 yards on 18 carries, including a touchdown and caught four passes off Romo’s intelligent reaction to disbelievers. But the key play came when Newman stepped in front and cut off a pass intended to Steve Smith and raced to the end zone diving in.

Even though he’s merely a celebrity bust in most people’s minds, the Cowboys are still convincing—if Romo can manage to accumulate victories and doesn’t derail in the playoffs. Even if he doesn’t loft it deep, he has strong depth to relay on, which is helpful for forcing opposing defenses to focus strongly on an indomitable ground game.

The remaining unanswered questions—can the Cowboys win in December? And can Romo win his first playoff game—are queries that should last until the month’s approaches. Around then, games are meaningful, and Romo’s consistency is counted on.

His resume displays he can’t win big games—sudden death games specifically—which usually results in mindless gaffes. He’s 5-10 lifetime in December and January combined, failing to capitalize in critical moments and relapses in bad timing.

With a strong running game, Romo prevailed, too. If it continues, expect ‘Boys to be ‘Boys.

Manningham, Smith Emerge As Playmakers In Historic Game Vs Cowboys.

For the past few months analysts have been saying that the New York Giants lack the Recieving game that they would need to really contend.

After lasts nights historic defeat of the Cowboys expect to never hear that again.
Two wide recievers emerged as great targets for Eli, Steve Smith and Mario Manningham had 10 catches each combining for 284 yards.

Smith ran perfect routes and would have had an even bigger night if it werent for Eli missing him on a few wide open plays.

He found ways to get open and caught everything within reach.
On one play early in the fourth quarter he ran an excellent route and shook a defender so hard he fell on the floor leaving Smith open for a 22 yard touchdown strike over the middle.

Mario Manningham stayed mostly to the outside and seems to be Eli's deep threat. He breaks tackles with ease and makes huge plays.

After the Giants were hurt by a bad call that would not allow Kenny Phillips interception for a touchdown count, Manningham treated our anger with a nice dose of highlight reel material. He dove and caught a ball in the end zone, when he landed the ball popped out but he stayed cool and performed an amazing juggling catch.

Instead of everyone talking about the Giants lack of a number 1 reciever they should be talking about the fact that we have 2 number 1 recievers.

I expect these two to become one of the best recieving duo's in the league, as Chris Collinsworth said in the booth last night, "Steve Smith might not be known as the "other" Steve Smith for much longer." Lets hope that he's right.