The Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor

I know it's been a long time since my last post, but I had finals, then Lappy (my laptop computer) died, then I went down to Mexico for a weekend before the Cowboys game and things really got out of control...

But I sit here writing, finally recovered from my Giants induced hangover, and believe that time has given me some perspective on things. So let's take a deep breathe and realize something Cowboys' fans.

THINGS AREN'T ALL THAT BAD!

Yes, it's been 12 years since the franchise's last playoff win, and yes our head coach and quarterback have combined for 0 career postseason wins: but other than the Patriots there is not a team in the National Football League in better position for the future.

• Romo is locked up long term! I have complete and total faith that our Jedi leader will be better than ever next year. He really didn't play that poorly vs the G-Men (minus a few times where he held onto the ball too long looking for a big play.) He'll take some time to party with several Hollywood starlets, tour with Metal Skool, and continue adding highlights to what can be a Hall of Fame career. Very few teams have a QB of Romo's caliber on their roster, much less at slightly below market rates for the majority of his career (Indy, New England, Cincy...that's about it - Guys like Cutler, Quinn, JaMarcus, etc have that kind of ceiling but are not proven)
• Boys have 2 picks in the upcoming draft. True the Browns success made that pick be about 20 spots higher than I thought it would be prior to opening day, but having two picks in the bottom third of the this draft actually fits Dallas' needs very well. The Cowboys are extremely talented but could use youth and depth at corner, receiver, and tail back. How does an Aqib Talib, Malcolm Kelly, Ray Rice trio look? Or what about Limas Sweed, Felix Jones and Terrell Thomas? DeSean Jackson, Leodis McKelvin, Jamaal Charles? Corner and Wide Out both have high upside fairly low risk guys that should come off the board in the 20-30 range while the running back class is as strong as I can remember - good players can definitely be had in the late second or third rounds.
• Dallas should still be $20,000,000 under the cap. Jerry will be able to retain important free agents (Flo and Kenny Hamlin) while strategically targeting a key free agent or two without jeopardizing the future financial well being of the team.
• New Stadium is on the horizon. Effects on the field will likely be minimal but I'm sure Jerry will like adding a few hundred million dollars to the value of the club. Honestly, Texas Stadium is a dump and it's embarrassing America's Team plays there. The Cowboys should have a gorgeous stadium and the new Whoever-Pays-The-Most-For-Naming-Rights Field will be world class.
• Cowboys are still young. Dallas was the 4th youngest team in the League this season. Of guys that play important parts only TO, Glenn, Flo, and Ellis are on the downside of their careers. I fully expect TO to remain a valuable player until he's 40 - the guy may be in the best shape of any person on earth - but we do need to find his replacement (see: draft, 2008 or Williams, Roy in free agency in a couple years.) Glenn has been a great addition to this team but Crayton can replace his production...and did this year. Flo is still one of the 5 best LT's in the game but finding his eventual successor will be important (could be Doug Free or James Marten who were drafted last year, I just hope Jerry doesn't move Leonard Davis back out to tackle the man is a guard and a fantastic one but he's a liability on an island against a speed rusher.) Greg Ellis played at an All-Pro level (note I say All-Pro as opposed to Pro-Bowl because one is a much higher indication of actual skill level than the other) when he was on the field but I have faith that Anthony Spencer could fill his role next season and barely miss a beat. EVERYONE ELSE IS JUST ENTERING THEIR PRIME OR STILL HAS A COUPLE YEARS LEFT IN IT. The only possible exception would be T-New but he would have to fall off a cliff to not be one of the 10 best corners in the league.

I know I got the feeling that this year could be special too. In reality, this year is special for one team and they play in freakin Boston (who I'm completely sick of now, I can't wait for the Mavs to beat the C's and the Rangers to beat the Sox...ok...how about the Tigers?) New England has to lose sometime next year or the year after and Dallas should be right, as well positioned as any team in football going forward.

We're not going to roll over and die!

Nothing is over until we say it is!

I'm off to a Toga party, and to bask in the warmth of the Mavs magical season.

peace!