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.

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.

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.