By Lenn Robbins
America’s Team has become a punchline.
The Dallas Cowboys aren’t even safe from the one-liners of a sports reporter turned fill-in weatherman in an obscure market. Ethan Bird was doing the weather report for WTOK-TV in Meridian, Mississippi, which is near, well, nowhere, when he poked the Pokes but good.
“Now we look at our 10-day forecast,” Bird said. “It’s lookin’ a little bit like those Dallas Cowboys—peaking in the ’90s.”
Ouch! But Bird is correct, much to the chagrin of every momma who let their baby grow up to be a Cowboys fan. Since winning three Super Bowls in the 90’s, Dallas hasn’t even reached the NFC Championship game since 1996. They won just three playoff games since 2000. Only the Commanders (1), Browns (1) and Dolphins (1) have won fewer.
If everything is bigger in Texas than this is huge embarrassment to Dallas owner Jerry Jones, who has built a shrine to himself in Texas Stadium, had a custom-built super yacht that is 357-feet long and cost $250 million, and spent a good portion of the last year fighting off accusations that he was the father of a 25-year-old Texas woman, who recently dropped her suit.
And you thought the other NFL team in Texas, the Houston Texans, had problems.
On the field, the most recent problems focus on a dreadful offseason. The Cowboys had to trade away star receiver Amari Cooper for a bag of peanuts, lost tackle La’el Collins in free agency, and had star defensive end Randy Gregory agree to a deal only to back out at the 11th hour and sign with the Denver Broncos.
So why all the expectations for 2022? For openers, the Cowboys play in the worst division in the NFL, the NFC East.
They have a healthy Dak Prescott who is in the upper tier of quarterbacks. And if, (IF) the Cowboys can stay healthy on the offensive line, the roster doesn’t lack for talent.
If the Cowboys are going to be the first team to win back-to-back NFC East titles since the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003-2004, several young players are going to have to step up. Coach Mike McCarthy, who remains on the host seat after the Boys were ousted at home by the 49ers in Wildcard game, needs to show he truly has command of this team.
Because if the Cowboys don’t advance to the NFC title game, Jones will look to make changes. And it’s only a matter of time before the lifestyle reporter in Meridian starts taking shots at the Cowboys.
Major Moves: There weren’t any, which was a bit of a surprise. Jones didn’t fire McCarthy. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn pulled his name out of contention for a head coaching job. And offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who has gone from wunderkind to question mark, wasn’t hired away. Maybe some stability will help.
Free Agency: When Gregory chewed and screwed, the Cowboys signed Dante Fowler, Jr. who has worked with Quinn and had some of his best seasons together. The Cowboys need him to be a counter to DeMarcus Lawrence. Wide receiver James Washington, who never broke out in Pittsburgh, should the third or fourth receiver.
Draft: Usually first-round picks are expected to play right away but OL Tyler Smith from Tulsa will likely serve in a backup roll unless injuries strike. If Fowler doesn’t generate a pass rush, the Cowboys took DE Sam Williams out of Ole Miss in the second round. After trading away Cooper, the Cowboys have Michael Gallup, who is recovering from ACL surgery, as their No.2 WR. Third-round pick Jalen Tolbert from South Alabama could win the third WR spot. The intriguing pick was LSU LB Damone Clark. He underwent spine fusion surgery, which is why he fell to the fifth round. Had he been healthy, Clark likely goes in Round 2.
Warning: The Cowboys defense was much improved in its first season under Quinn, leading the league in takeaways with 34 and tying with the Colts for turnover differential (+14). Cornerback Trevon Diggs led the league in interceptions with 11 but also got caught ball hawking. He epitomizes the Dallas defense which is “Risk it, No Biscuit.” (Copyright, Bruce Arians).
Key Early Game: The Cowboys host the Buccaneers in Week 1 and considering the way the 2021 season ended, McCarthy and Co. need to beat an elite team immediately or every sportscaster in the country, led by my man, Stephen A. Smith, will be dissing the ‘Boys.
Record: 11-6. But the Eagles win the division tiebreaker based on head to head.
Fantasy: Since coming into the league, CeeDee Lamb has joined Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle as young receivers who are tearing it up. Lamb has 153 receptions and 11 touchdowns. With Cooper off to Cleveland, Lamb could be looking at his first 100-catch season and 8-10 touchdowns.
BetBasics.com Bite: After rushing for six touchdowns in each of this first three seasons, Prescott only rushed for one last season as he made his way back from ankle surgery. More than a year removed from the injury, and with reports out of Dallas saying Prescott has slimmed down, we like four rushing touchdowns as the over/under. We’ll take the under and say, three.