Cowboys Insider: Players need to know when to keep mouth shut
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Some people just don’t know when to shut up.
That certainly seems to be the case with the Cowboys’ Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams.
Earlier this week, Crayton continued to foolishly bash the New England Patriots, calling them the “so-called best team” in the NFL during an interview with ESPN.
Reminded by Trey Wingo the Patriots downed the Cowboys 48-27 last month, Crayton said, “The sun shines on a dog’s (rear) every once in a while. It shined on them.”
Then Roy Williams decided to get into the act.
Asked Thursday about Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb’s assertion that the road to the NFC East title still goes through Philadelphia, Williams said, “Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. Right now, they’re in no position to talk about (how) everything goes through Philly. Some teams went to Philly and they beat them.
Continued Williams, “No one is worried about ‘You have to go through Philly.’ You have to go through Dallas, you have to go through Washington and you have to go through New York, too. Everybody (in the division) feels they’re the best. Right now, it’s just about how you play on the field that proves you’re the best.”
Back in the Super Bowl days of the1990s, there was plenty of chest thumping in the Cowboys locker room. Much of their swagger in those days emanated from Jimmy Johnson, who boldly predicted a victory for Dallas before it played San Francisco in the 1994 NFC Championship.
The result? The Cowboys routed the 49ers 38-21.
But Dallas was that good back then. The players could say whatever they pleased because they knew they could back it up.
This team isn’t in that class. So why needlessly stir up an opponent, especially one as good as the Patriots and one as familiar as the Eagles?
Philadelphia will be fighting for its playoff life on Sunday at home before fans who absolutely despise the Cowboys. With that in mind, it’s just foolish to say anything that might wind up on the Eagles’ bulletin board.
Until Williams opened his mouth, the Cowboys had played it perfectly, respectfully nodding in agreement with McNabb.
Philadelphia is a battle-hardened, tough team that knows how to win when it matters most. Since 2000, the Eagles have the NFL’s second-best November-to-season end record (43-18).
The Cowboys, meanwhile, stumbled badly down the stretch last season. And the worst loss of all was to Philadelphia, which essentially won the division title on Christmas Day with a 23-7 victory at Texas Stadium.
On Sunday night, Crayton faces two tough cover corners in 2006 Pro Bowl choice Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown, not to mention safety Brian Dawkins, another Pro Bowl selection last season.
Williams, likewise, could have his hands full with McNabb.
Bottom line: Their task is too tough to complicate matters with troubling talk.
Five reasons the Eagles will beat the Cowboys:
1. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will come up with another blitz-heavy game plan to baffle Tony Romo.
2. Romo will press too hard in an effort to justify his six-year, $67.5 contract extension.
3. Donovan McNabb is finally 100 percent.
4. The Eagles desperately want to climb back into the playoff hunt.
5. Since 1998, the Cowboys have won only once in Philadelphia.
Five reasons the Cowboys will beat the Eagles:
1. The Eagles’ protection problems will continue as edge rushers Greg Ellis, DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer come in waves at injured right tackle Jon Runyan.
2. The Eagles beat Minnesota last week, but they haven’t won back-to-back games all season.
3. The Eagles had trouble defending tight ends Chris Cooley, Desmond Clark and Visanthe Shiancoe. What makes them think they can stop Jason Witten?
4. The Cowboys are 14-5 in games played after an off week.
5. The Cowboys’ next three games are against division foes, so they’ll be determined to start that stretch with a victory.
Prediction: Cowboys 20, Eagles 13. This will be a physical, hard-nosed game dominated by the defenses. With Runyan playing with a broken tailbone, the Cowboys should be able to get to McNabb. The Eagles may lead at halftime, but they average just 6.4 points in the second half. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have scored 149 of their 227 points in the second half. The bottom line: Dallas’ front seven will hound McNabb into a bad game and the Eagles don’t have enough offense to compensate.
Express-News Staff Writer
Some people just don’t know when to shut up.
That certainly seems to be the case with the Cowboys’ Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams.
Earlier this week, Crayton continued to foolishly bash the New England Patriots, calling them the “so-called best team” in the NFL during an interview with ESPN.
Reminded by Trey Wingo the Patriots downed the Cowboys 48-27 last month, Crayton said, “The sun shines on a dog’s (rear) every once in a while. It shined on them.”
Then Roy Williams decided to get into the act.
Asked Thursday about Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb’s assertion that the road to the NFC East title still goes through Philadelphia, Williams said, “Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. Right now, they’re in no position to talk about (how) everything goes through Philly. Some teams went to Philly and they beat them.
Continued Williams, “No one is worried about ‘You have to go through Philly.’ You have to go through Dallas, you have to go through Washington and you have to go through New York, too. Everybody (in the division) feels they’re the best. Right now, it’s just about how you play on the field that proves you’re the best.”
Back in the Super Bowl days of the1990s, there was plenty of chest thumping in the Cowboys locker room. Much of their swagger in those days emanated from Jimmy Johnson, who boldly predicted a victory for Dallas before it played San Francisco in the 1994 NFC Championship.
The result? The Cowboys routed the 49ers 38-21.
But Dallas was that good back then. The players could say whatever they pleased because they knew they could back it up.
This team isn’t in that class. So why needlessly stir up an opponent, especially one as good as the Patriots and one as familiar as the Eagles?
Philadelphia will be fighting for its playoff life on Sunday at home before fans who absolutely despise the Cowboys. With that in mind, it’s just foolish to say anything that might wind up on the Eagles’ bulletin board.
Until Williams opened his mouth, the Cowboys had played it perfectly, respectfully nodding in agreement with McNabb.
Philadelphia is a battle-hardened, tough team that knows how to win when it matters most. Since 2000, the Eagles have the NFL’s second-best November-to-season end record (43-18).
The Cowboys, meanwhile, stumbled badly down the stretch last season. And the worst loss of all was to Philadelphia, which essentially won the division title on Christmas Day with a 23-7 victory at Texas Stadium.
On Sunday night, Crayton faces two tough cover corners in 2006 Pro Bowl choice Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown, not to mention safety Brian Dawkins, another Pro Bowl selection last season.
Williams, likewise, could have his hands full with McNabb.
Bottom line: Their task is too tough to complicate matters with troubling talk.
Five reasons the Eagles will beat the Cowboys:
1. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will come up with another blitz-heavy game plan to baffle Tony Romo.
2. Romo will press too hard in an effort to justify his six-year, $67.5 contract extension.
3. Donovan McNabb is finally 100 percent.
4. The Eagles desperately want to climb back into the playoff hunt.
5. Since 1998, the Cowboys have won only once in Philadelphia.
Five reasons the Cowboys will beat the Eagles:
1. The Eagles’ protection problems will continue as edge rushers Greg Ellis, DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer come in waves at injured right tackle Jon Runyan.
2. The Eagles beat Minnesota last week, but they haven’t won back-to-back games all season.
3. The Eagles had trouble defending tight ends Chris Cooley, Desmond Clark and Visanthe Shiancoe. What makes them think they can stop Jason Witten?
4. The Cowboys are 14-5 in games played after an off week.
5. The Cowboys’ next three games are against division foes, so they’ll be determined to start that stretch with a victory.
Prediction: Cowboys 20, Eagles 13. This will be a physical, hard-nosed game dominated by the defenses. With Runyan playing with a broken tailbone, the Cowboys should be able to get to McNabb. The Eagles may lead at halftime, but they average just 6.4 points in the second half. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have scored 149 of their 227 points in the second half. The bottom line: Dallas’ front seven will hound McNabb into a bad game and the Eagles don’t have enough offense to compensate.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:44 PM
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