Monday, November 26, 2007

Cowboys Mailbag: In chat with reporters, Favre right about one thing, wrong about another

Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News

Brett Favre's conference-call interview Sunday was easily the most entertaining of the season.
In a lively, lengthy session with reporters who cover the Cowboys, the Green Bay quarterback answered every question in what seemed a forthright manner, including one about whether he's having an MVP-caliber season.

"I think I'm playing as good of football as I've ever played up to this point," the three-time MVP said. "But I've never seen numbers like what Tom Brady's putting up, most important being that he's undefeated. And I've told people this all year, especially with every week that passes, I think the only one who beats the Patriots is the Patriots themselves, and I don't foresee that happening. I may be wrong, but I think their play across the board – offense, defense, special teams – really has no flaw.

"On top of that, I think Tom's play now, is as good as anybody who's ever played the game. So with that in mind, I need to be MVP. No, I think I'm playing well, my game totally, but Tom, it's just unbelievable."

I agree with Favre about Brady being the MVP, but we part ways when it comes to the Patriots being unstoppable. The Eagles proved Sunday night that a team that pressures Brady and slows down Randy Moss has more than a chance to knock them off. And the Cowboys would be capable of doing both in a Super Bowl rematch.

The one thing Philadelphia didn't have was someone to check Wes Welker in the slot. Welker torched the Eagles for 13 catches and 149 yards in a performance similar to his 11-catch, 124-yard, two-touchdown outing in New England's 48-27 victory over Dallas on Oct. 14.
With Anthony Henry inactive for that game, the Cowboys were unable to put Terence Newman on Welker in the slot. In a Super Bowl rematch, Newman would draw Welker, get in his face and prevent him from going wild.

But first things first: Dallas needs to beat Favre and Green Bay on Thursday night for the inside track to gain home-field advantage. Without it, the Cowboys can forget about meeting New England in Arizona.

Now on to this week's mail:

You said in your Cowboys Insider last week that the Cowboys need to draft a receiver. What other positions do you think are high on their list of needs?
-- J.R. Routh, Uvalde, Texas

Receiver and cornerback are running neck and neck. Jacques Reeves has done a solid job filling in first for Terence Newman and then Anthony Henry, but I think the Cowboys can do better. Same goes for Nate Jones, the No. 4 corner.

What is the main reason why Brett Favre is 0-8 at Texas Stadium and do you think that will affect him Thursday night?
-- Rob McPeak, Richmond, Va.

Favre said it best in his conference call Sunday: "Every time we played, for the most part, they've had a damn good football team." Those previous outings won't hurt him as much as edge rushers DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis will, especially if Ellis is going up against a backup right tackle.

Do you think Bill Parcells looks at this team with some ambivalence because he found and assembled much of the talent but also hears criticism from some of the players about his coaching style?
-- Steve Strassman, Heathrow, Fla.

Knowing Parcells, he probably feels a great deal of pride, and he should. His fingerprints are all over this team, especially when it comes to the core of Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Newman and Ware. By the way, two of those who grumbled about Parcells holding them back – Julius Jones and Marcus Spears - haven't improved much under Wade Phillips.