FWST JFE: Big Bill says it's time to roll
IRVING -- Go ahead, scream about how coach Parcells has underachieved as Cowboys coach.
Call for him to be fired.
Opine that this NFL has passed him by and how his Cowboys team has zero shot to be playing deep into January.
Dive in head first, just do so knowing you are going to be wrong.
When coach Parcells whispered "It's time to roll" to cornerback Aaron Glenn late in Sunday's game, he was not simply tossing around a cheap T-shirt slogan. He knows.
This was not just another win we witnessed when his Cowboys defeated a pretty good and previously undefeated Colts team, 21-14.
This is a springboard, a jumping-off point, however you want to describe a start to what could be a rather phenomenal finish.
"It can do us a lot of good if we can keep going," a surprisingly subdued Coach Parcells said afterward. "We have played our best football in the last month. ... We've got a long way to go, but I think if we keep playing like this, I think we have a chance to do something."
"Something" is the playoffs.
Something is a playoff victory.
Something may very well be a date at the NFC championship game, as I originally predicted back in September. My prediction was based on defense and Parcells.
Both finally showed up Sunday.
Go ahead, doubt Big Bill. Just prepare to apologize later.
And while I try to figure out how this Cowboys team defied the laws of physics and defeated Indy with a relatively quite day from No. 81, check out this week's edition of The Hate Index.
Nobody asked me but ...
1. The Cowboys' defense finally delivered a performance worthy of Owner Jones' significant investment.
Mucho free agent dollars have been spent on defense. Likewise, almost every draft pick of note in Coach Parcells tenure has been used on defense.
Defense, defense and more defense has been his Cowboy mantra.
Of the Cowboys' defensive starters against Indy, 10 were handpicked by Parcells.
"I've got some real good interest and let's say 10 out of about 70 installments, if you were making payments," Jones joked. "I feel like the defense 'substantuated' the commitment we've made to defense."
I am pretty sure 'substantuated' is a combo of substantiated and validated, much like he combined titillating and tantalizing for titalizing a couple of weeks ago.
Funny Jerry-ism aside, he has a point.
I have been ripping into this defense all season, including Sunday.
Rightfully so. Not so much because they were bad, but because they were not better. The Cowboys have too much talent to be just OK.
What we saw Sunday was a flash of that potential, with Peyton Manning being reduced to a bumbling, stumbling mess.
"I hate this is a short week because Bill tells you, 'Don't eat the cheese,' " linebacker Bradie James said. "But the defense has to be patted on their back after this."
What was funny was, as James was saying this, Romo walked up to him and gave him a semi-man hug.
"How about the defense?" he screamed. "How about the defense!!!"
2. Time to start stuffing that Pro Bowl ballot box for cornerback Terence Newman.
He played phenomenal against Indy, despite probably being slightly concussed or at least very head-achey.
He took a nasty shot on a punt return that caused him to wobble and lean on Anthony Henry as he walked off. He didn't return immediately. Once back, though, he played exceptional.
So how does this concern you?
Go here: http://www.nfl.com/probowl/ballot and vote for Newman. I'd suggest also voting for Romo, except he's not on any ballots.
Apparently, somebody in NFL-land needs to start paying attention to Cowboy football.
3. Speaking of Romo, he has turned Owner Jones into a believer.
Not too long ago, like four weeks, when Coach Parcells decided to bench Drew Bledsoe and go with Romo, Owner Jones admitted to dialing back his Super expectations for this season.
He is close to re-dialing. Especially after Sunday.
"This win is about that defense first, but I could have never expected Romo to come in (and play like he has)," Jones said. "I'm hopeful we may end up with a quarterback without having to have taken the risk at the top of the draft."
4. Coach Parcells is screwing up this Mike Vanderjagt thing ... whatever the thing is.
Obviously, he missed two huge field goals Sunday.
Double obvious is, Vandy has been only average this season.
What is crazy is how Coach Parcells has decided to handle this, with a heaping dose of tough love. He intimated he had a serious kicker issue, leaving media types to ponder whether Vandy is gone.
"He keeps telling me I don't have to worry about him," Parcells said. "Well, I'm worried about him now."
Me, too.
For different reasons.
Vanderjagt strikes me as Stuart Smalley-esque. He is all hat and no cattle, as my daddy likes to say. Guys like him, when things go wrong, need somebody to say "I believe in you."
Vandy looked like he needed a hug afterward.
"It sucks," he said. "It sucks to let your team down. It sucks to let the fans of Dallas down. I apologize. There's nothing more I can do other than to say I'm sorry."
Parcells needs to do what defensive tackle Jason Ferguson did after halftime. Walk up to Vanderjagt. Put his arm around him. Remind him the Cowboys won. Tell him there are six more games and they are going to need him.
Because they are, and right now his brain is mush.
5. DeMarcus Ware 1, Shawne Merriman 0.
With Merriman absent again for 'roids issues, Ware had a statement game Sunday.
He played huge. Even without Greg Ellis on the opposite side, Ware was turned loose against Peyton Manning. And there is zero doubt that the pressure Ware and Co. put on Manning had a little something to do with his two interceptions and two fumbles.
"He's good," James said. "But once you get in his head, you can rattle him a little bit."
6. Boom goes the dynamite for another NFC East contender.
Bye, bye Philly.
Have fun missing the playoffs. Again.
Because this Eagles team is going nowhere now without QB Donovan McNabb. His season ended Sunday when his ACL ripped in half. That leaves the Cowboys and Giants slugging it out for the East.
Give me the Cowboys.
Actually, right about now, the Cowboys are the second-best team in the NFC, by my estimation.
In order of playoff potential:
1. Bears. Can't argue with 9-1.
2. Cowboys. Beating Indy makes them legit.
3. Panthers. Starting to really come on.
4. Seahawks. Beware when they get Hasselbeck back.
5. Giants. Injuries holding them back.
7. Stupid question of the day: Does anybody buy Sunday's Colts-Cows game as a possible Super Bowl preview?
Me neither.
I'm not sure Peyton and the Colts are good enough yet.
8. Speaking of rematches, Michigan deserves another shot at Ohio State in the National Championship game.
Listen, I hate this college football system as much as anybody. They need a playoff almost as much as Katie Holmes needs an annulment from Tom "Freakshow" Cruise. Neither is happening.
So we have to settle for computers "determining" the two best teams in college football.
Why?
It was clearly evident Saturday that Michigan and Ohio State are the two best teams. By far. And this makes Michigan the best one-loss team in the country. They should not be punished for when and who their loss came against.
9. It was good to see Terry Glenn back and involved.
He had become a lesser target since Romo took over. Not that anybody heard him complaining about "Who's pulling the trigger?" That is not his style. He prefers to wait quietly, then strike with a big game.
And he delivered against Indy.
His catch on third down, with about two minutes left, prevented the Cowboys from having to give the ball back to Peyton and the Colts. It was huge.
10. Who is back to "Trusting in Big Bill"? As always, e-mail me your thoughts?
Call for him to be fired.
Opine that this NFL has passed him by and how his Cowboys team has zero shot to be playing deep into January.
Dive in head first, just do so knowing you are going to be wrong.
When coach Parcells whispered "It's time to roll" to cornerback Aaron Glenn late in Sunday's game, he was not simply tossing around a cheap T-shirt slogan. He knows.
This was not just another win we witnessed when his Cowboys defeated a pretty good and previously undefeated Colts team, 21-14.
This is a springboard, a jumping-off point, however you want to describe a start to what could be a rather phenomenal finish.
"It can do us a lot of good if we can keep going," a surprisingly subdued Coach Parcells said afterward. "We have played our best football in the last month. ... We've got a long way to go, but I think if we keep playing like this, I think we have a chance to do something."
"Something" is the playoffs.
Something is a playoff victory.
Something may very well be a date at the NFC championship game, as I originally predicted back in September. My prediction was based on defense and Parcells.
Both finally showed up Sunday.
Go ahead, doubt Big Bill. Just prepare to apologize later.
And while I try to figure out how this Cowboys team defied the laws of physics and defeated Indy with a relatively quite day from No. 81, check out this week's edition of The Hate Index.
Nobody asked me but ...
1. The Cowboys' defense finally delivered a performance worthy of Owner Jones' significant investment.
Mucho free agent dollars have been spent on defense. Likewise, almost every draft pick of note in Coach Parcells tenure has been used on defense.
Defense, defense and more defense has been his Cowboy mantra.
Of the Cowboys' defensive starters against Indy, 10 were handpicked by Parcells.
"I've got some real good interest and let's say 10 out of about 70 installments, if you were making payments," Jones joked. "I feel like the defense 'substantuated' the commitment we've made to defense."
I am pretty sure 'substantuated' is a combo of substantiated and validated, much like he combined titillating and tantalizing for titalizing a couple of weeks ago.
Funny Jerry-ism aside, he has a point.
I have been ripping into this defense all season, including Sunday.
Rightfully so. Not so much because they were bad, but because they were not better. The Cowboys have too much talent to be just OK.
What we saw Sunday was a flash of that potential, with Peyton Manning being reduced to a bumbling, stumbling mess.
"I hate this is a short week because Bill tells you, 'Don't eat the cheese,' " linebacker Bradie James said. "But the defense has to be patted on their back after this."
What was funny was, as James was saying this, Romo walked up to him and gave him a semi-man hug.
"How about the defense?" he screamed. "How about the defense!!!"
2. Time to start stuffing that Pro Bowl ballot box for cornerback Terence Newman.
He played phenomenal against Indy, despite probably being slightly concussed or at least very head-achey.
He took a nasty shot on a punt return that caused him to wobble and lean on Anthony Henry as he walked off. He didn't return immediately. Once back, though, he played exceptional.
So how does this concern you?
Go here: http://www.nfl.com/probowl/ballot and vote for Newman. I'd suggest also voting for Romo, except he's not on any ballots.
Apparently, somebody in NFL-land needs to start paying attention to Cowboy football.
3. Speaking of Romo, he has turned Owner Jones into a believer.
Not too long ago, like four weeks, when Coach Parcells decided to bench Drew Bledsoe and go with Romo, Owner Jones admitted to dialing back his Super expectations for this season.
He is close to re-dialing. Especially after Sunday.
"This win is about that defense first, but I could have never expected Romo to come in (and play like he has)," Jones said. "I'm hopeful we may end up with a quarterback without having to have taken the risk at the top of the draft."
4. Coach Parcells is screwing up this Mike Vanderjagt thing ... whatever the thing is.
Obviously, he missed two huge field goals Sunday.
Double obvious is, Vandy has been only average this season.
What is crazy is how Coach Parcells has decided to handle this, with a heaping dose of tough love. He intimated he had a serious kicker issue, leaving media types to ponder whether Vandy is gone.
"He keeps telling me I don't have to worry about him," Parcells said. "Well, I'm worried about him now."
Me, too.
For different reasons.
Vanderjagt strikes me as Stuart Smalley-esque. He is all hat and no cattle, as my daddy likes to say. Guys like him, when things go wrong, need somebody to say "I believe in you."
Vandy looked like he needed a hug afterward.
"It sucks," he said. "It sucks to let your team down. It sucks to let the fans of Dallas down. I apologize. There's nothing more I can do other than to say I'm sorry."
Parcells needs to do what defensive tackle Jason Ferguson did after halftime. Walk up to Vanderjagt. Put his arm around him. Remind him the Cowboys won. Tell him there are six more games and they are going to need him.
Because they are, and right now his brain is mush.
5. DeMarcus Ware 1, Shawne Merriman 0.
With Merriman absent again for 'roids issues, Ware had a statement game Sunday.
He played huge. Even without Greg Ellis on the opposite side, Ware was turned loose against Peyton Manning. And there is zero doubt that the pressure Ware and Co. put on Manning had a little something to do with his two interceptions and two fumbles.
"He's good," James said. "But once you get in his head, you can rattle him a little bit."
6. Boom goes the dynamite for another NFC East contender.
Bye, bye Philly.
Have fun missing the playoffs. Again.
Because this Eagles team is going nowhere now without QB Donovan McNabb. His season ended Sunday when his ACL ripped in half. That leaves the Cowboys and Giants slugging it out for the East.
Give me the Cowboys.
Actually, right about now, the Cowboys are the second-best team in the NFC, by my estimation.
In order of playoff potential:
1. Bears. Can't argue with 9-1.
2. Cowboys. Beating Indy makes them legit.
3. Panthers. Starting to really come on.
4. Seahawks. Beware when they get Hasselbeck back.
5. Giants. Injuries holding them back.
7. Stupid question of the day: Does anybody buy Sunday's Colts-Cows game as a possible Super Bowl preview?
Me neither.
I'm not sure Peyton and the Colts are good enough yet.
8. Speaking of rematches, Michigan deserves another shot at Ohio State in the National Championship game.
Listen, I hate this college football system as much as anybody. They need a playoff almost as much as Katie Holmes needs an annulment from Tom "Freakshow" Cruise. Neither is happening.
So we have to settle for computers "determining" the two best teams in college football.
Why?
It was clearly evident Saturday that Michigan and Ohio State are the two best teams. By far. And this makes Michigan the best one-loss team in the country. They should not be punished for when and who their loss came against.
9. It was good to see Terry Glenn back and involved.
He had become a lesser target since Romo took over. Not that anybody heard him complaining about "Who's pulling the trigger?" That is not his style. He prefers to wait quietly, then strike with a big game.
And he delivered against Indy.
His catch on third down, with about two minutes left, prevented the Cowboys from having to give the ball back to Peyton and the Colts. It was huge.
10. Who is back to "Trusting in Big Bill"? As always, e-mail me your thoughts?
posted by The Gryphon at 6:48 PM
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