Giving Thanks A 40th Time
Mickey Spagnola - Email
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
IRVING, Texas - This 40th edition of Thanksgiving Day with the Dallas Cowboys is turning into a real-life family affair, more so than a national television audience gathering around the flat screen after dinner or 63,000 flooding into Texas Stadium after a little turkey and dressing tailgating in the parking lot.
The tradition dating back to 1966 at the Cotton Bowl when a club-record 80,259 people showed up to watch the Cowboys beat the Cleveland Browns actually will have a family feel on the field when the Cowboys (9-1) meet the New York Jets (2-8) at 3:15 p.m. (CST) to also help kick off The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign, highlighted by Kelly Clarkson's halftime performance.
Why, you will have father and son coaching together on the same sideline, Wade Phillips and son Wes. You will have brothers coaching together on the Cowboys' sideline, Jason Garrett along with brother John. You will have brothers playing on the same team, Cowboys linebacker Akin Ayodele joined by his younger brother Remi. And you will even have brothers playing against each other, the Cowboys' Julius Jones meeting up with older brother Thomas, the Jets' starting running back.
And none of this even takes into account the Jones Family, owner Jerry employing sons Stephen and Jerry Jr., along with daughter Charlotte, not to mention wife Gene being involved in the organization's charitable endeavors, as well as other members of his extended family's involvement with the franchise.
"It's a moment in time to be thankful for," Julius Jones said. "Everybody's thankful for their family and all that during Thanksgiving, and our family gets to be here and watch us play the game we love. They're going to celebrate it with us and it's a special time not only for me and (Thomas), but for our whole family."
So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, let's look at what the Cowboys, tied for the NFC lead with Green Bay and only one game behind New England for the best record in the NFL, have to be thankful for heading into the 11th game of the season:
Health: OK, they still are awaiting the hopeful return of Terry Glenn, and did have their problems at corner with Terence Newman and Anthony Henry. But come on, past the halfway point of the season all they have lost is starting nose tackle Jason Ferguson and rookie fullback Deon Anderson to injured reserve. Some teams lost that many guys in the first game. Rather incredible.
Greg Ellis: He was able to recover from last year's season-ending torn Achilles injury to not only resume his starting outside linebacker role but also impact this defense, sitting here with 6½ sacks in just seven games played (four starts) - just 2½ sacks short of his career high.
The Steelers: How nice of Pittsburgh to remind the Cowboys that no matter an opponent's record, you had better be ready to play. The 1-8 Jets defeated the 7-2 Steelers last Sunday, causing Cowboys defensive end Chris Canty to say, "They just confirmed what we already knew, if you are not prepared to play . . ."
The Jets: No, not the fact the Jets will be making their first Thanksgiving Day appearance at Texas Stadium with the 29th-ranked offense and 29th-ranked defense and starting a rookie quarterback, but the becoming better-known fact that five of their eight losses have been by no more than seven points. "They are playing with a lot of confidence," said Canty, who went on to point out how Phillips has emphasized "don't let them outwork us in a short week."
Nick Folk: After deciding Martin Gramatica was too injured to start the season and placing the veteran kicker on injured reserve, just think about where the Cowboys would be today if the rookie kicker had not come through to make 15 of 18 field-goal attempts, two of his misses for 50 yards and the other blocked. They'd once again be playing that maddening game of kicker roulette as they have for far too many of the previous seasons.
Ray Sherman: Right from the start last year Terrell Owens and former Cowboys wide receivers coach Todd Haley co-existed about as well as kerosene and a lighted match. But here comes Sherman this year, a wise veteran offensive coach with enough savvy and people skills to manage the mercurial Owens. And do not interpret that as being some sort of push-over baby sitter. He's not. And now we got Owens saying, "I know I don't mention his name enough. Coach and I have our own relationship . . . I even texted him (Monday) to tell him how much I appreciated him."
Jay Ratliff: If not for the third-year defensive lineman's transition to fulltime nose tackle, this 3-4 defense might have been heading upstream without a paddle after losing Ferguson the first quarter of the first game of the season. Ratliff not only has filled in, he has excelled at the position, his versatility and high motor possibly keeping the recently-activated Tank Johnson no more than a role player. "He's played really well all year," Phillips said of Ratliff, who not only starts at nose but stays on the field as a pass-rushing defensive tackle on the nickel.
Leonard Davis: We hear all the time about the "last piece to the puzzle". Well let me tell you, the last piece to the Cowboys' offensive line puzzle also happened to be the biggest piece - maybe the best. Davis has been nothing short of a Pro Bowler, giving the Cowboys a powerful presence when running the ball to the right and rarely seems to get beat in pass protection.
Courtney Brown: No, I haven't lost my marbles. This kid with some raw athletic ability and big-time speed might just become a needed answer on the coverage teams which have struggled all season. Brown, active the past two games, is being used on the outside on kickoff coverage and as one of the gunners on punt coverage. He had not handled that particular duty in college, but there he was this past Sunday on McBriar's final punt, pinning down Washington's Antwaan Randle El at the 27 for no return yardage. Keep an eye on No. 27.
Wade Phillips: After Jerry Jones seemingly interviewed every Tom, **** and Harry looking for Bill Parcells' replacement, he instinctively chose Phillips, who seems to be just what the doctor ordered for this team. In fact, me thinks Jones knew all along Phillips was his guy after that interview, but wanted to see if anyone afterward talked him out of his first notion.
John Weber: For just knowing him.
**** Nolan: For having such a quality guy in the organization for 14 seasons as an assistant coach, and actually serving as a secondary coach mentor of sorts to Dave Campo when he arrived here in 1989 on Jimmy Johnson's staff.
Soulja Boy Superman: The beat more than the somewhat offensive lyrics has served as the defensive team's theme song and a vehicle to lighten up some of the pre-practice stretching, causing even Phillips to do the arm-in-the-arm, listing-to-the-side hop step with the guys.
Jason Garrett: For keeping that pedal to the metal on offense, which the way this defense plays at times, will be a necessity if this team is going to win its first playoff game since 1996. Garrett has done a wonderful job of weaving together the many offensive weapons the Cowboys possess. He also has not inhibited the somewhat flamboyant quarterbacking style of Tony Romo while keeping him somewhat in control.
Mat McBriar: The best weapon a defense could ever have, possessing not only the ability to turn over field position when the offense fails, but also hit the ol' flip-flop-eroo to pin teams deep in their own territory.
Tony Curtis: Sure, Jason Witten is a Pro Bowler and Anthony Fasano might be the best role player on the team, but when you can get three catches out of your third tight end for three touchdowns you ought to genuflect to a higher being.
Tony Romo: Now this is not to say the Cowboys were lucky to find the top-rated quarterback in the NFC after 10 games in a relative quarterbacking manger, but just goes to show you there are no shortcuts in this business to finding a franchise quarterback. A lot of fist bumps are in order for all those who contributed to the Cowboys remaining patient with the relatively unknown quarterback's development over that first three-year period. Yeah, the Cowboys will be the first to give thanks to this godsend which has ended the longest quarterback drought in franchise history.
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
IRVING, Texas - This 40th edition of Thanksgiving Day with the Dallas Cowboys is turning into a real-life family affair, more so than a national television audience gathering around the flat screen after dinner or 63,000 flooding into Texas Stadium after a little turkey and dressing tailgating in the parking lot.
The tradition dating back to 1966 at the Cotton Bowl when a club-record 80,259 people showed up to watch the Cowboys beat the Cleveland Browns actually will have a family feel on the field when the Cowboys (9-1) meet the New York Jets (2-8) at 3:15 p.m. (CST) to also help kick off The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign, highlighted by Kelly Clarkson's halftime performance.
Why, you will have father and son coaching together on the same sideline, Wade Phillips and son Wes. You will have brothers coaching together on the Cowboys' sideline, Jason Garrett along with brother John. You will have brothers playing on the same team, Cowboys linebacker Akin Ayodele joined by his younger brother Remi. And you will even have brothers playing against each other, the Cowboys' Julius Jones meeting up with older brother Thomas, the Jets' starting running back.
And none of this even takes into account the Jones Family, owner Jerry employing sons Stephen and Jerry Jr., along with daughter Charlotte, not to mention wife Gene being involved in the organization's charitable endeavors, as well as other members of his extended family's involvement with the franchise.
"It's a moment in time to be thankful for," Julius Jones said. "Everybody's thankful for their family and all that during Thanksgiving, and our family gets to be here and watch us play the game we love. They're going to celebrate it with us and it's a special time not only for me and (Thomas), but for our whole family."
So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, let's look at what the Cowboys, tied for the NFC lead with Green Bay and only one game behind New England for the best record in the NFL, have to be thankful for heading into the 11th game of the season:
Health: OK, they still are awaiting the hopeful return of Terry Glenn, and did have their problems at corner with Terence Newman and Anthony Henry. But come on, past the halfway point of the season all they have lost is starting nose tackle Jason Ferguson and rookie fullback Deon Anderson to injured reserve. Some teams lost that many guys in the first game. Rather incredible.
Greg Ellis: He was able to recover from last year's season-ending torn Achilles injury to not only resume his starting outside linebacker role but also impact this defense, sitting here with 6½ sacks in just seven games played (four starts) - just 2½ sacks short of his career high.
The Steelers: How nice of Pittsburgh to remind the Cowboys that no matter an opponent's record, you had better be ready to play. The 1-8 Jets defeated the 7-2 Steelers last Sunday, causing Cowboys defensive end Chris Canty to say, "They just confirmed what we already knew, if you are not prepared to play . . ."
The Jets: No, not the fact the Jets will be making their first Thanksgiving Day appearance at Texas Stadium with the 29th-ranked offense and 29th-ranked defense and starting a rookie quarterback, but the becoming better-known fact that five of their eight losses have been by no more than seven points. "They are playing with a lot of confidence," said Canty, who went on to point out how Phillips has emphasized "don't let them outwork us in a short week."
Nick Folk: After deciding Martin Gramatica was too injured to start the season and placing the veteran kicker on injured reserve, just think about where the Cowboys would be today if the rookie kicker had not come through to make 15 of 18 field-goal attempts, two of his misses for 50 yards and the other blocked. They'd once again be playing that maddening game of kicker roulette as they have for far too many of the previous seasons.
Ray Sherman: Right from the start last year Terrell Owens and former Cowboys wide receivers coach Todd Haley co-existed about as well as kerosene and a lighted match. But here comes Sherman this year, a wise veteran offensive coach with enough savvy and people skills to manage the mercurial Owens. And do not interpret that as being some sort of push-over baby sitter. He's not. And now we got Owens saying, "I know I don't mention his name enough. Coach and I have our own relationship . . . I even texted him (Monday) to tell him how much I appreciated him."
Jay Ratliff: If not for the third-year defensive lineman's transition to fulltime nose tackle, this 3-4 defense might have been heading upstream without a paddle after losing Ferguson the first quarter of the first game of the season. Ratliff not only has filled in, he has excelled at the position, his versatility and high motor possibly keeping the recently-activated Tank Johnson no more than a role player. "He's played really well all year," Phillips said of Ratliff, who not only starts at nose but stays on the field as a pass-rushing defensive tackle on the nickel.
Leonard Davis: We hear all the time about the "last piece to the puzzle". Well let me tell you, the last piece to the Cowboys' offensive line puzzle also happened to be the biggest piece - maybe the best. Davis has been nothing short of a Pro Bowler, giving the Cowboys a powerful presence when running the ball to the right and rarely seems to get beat in pass protection.
Courtney Brown: No, I haven't lost my marbles. This kid with some raw athletic ability and big-time speed might just become a needed answer on the coverage teams which have struggled all season. Brown, active the past two games, is being used on the outside on kickoff coverage and as one of the gunners on punt coverage. He had not handled that particular duty in college, but there he was this past Sunday on McBriar's final punt, pinning down Washington's Antwaan Randle El at the 27 for no return yardage. Keep an eye on No. 27.
Wade Phillips: After Jerry Jones seemingly interviewed every Tom, **** and Harry looking for Bill Parcells' replacement, he instinctively chose Phillips, who seems to be just what the doctor ordered for this team. In fact, me thinks Jones knew all along Phillips was his guy after that interview, but wanted to see if anyone afterward talked him out of his first notion.
John Weber: For just knowing him.
**** Nolan: For having such a quality guy in the organization for 14 seasons as an assistant coach, and actually serving as a secondary coach mentor of sorts to Dave Campo when he arrived here in 1989 on Jimmy Johnson's staff.
Soulja Boy Superman: The beat more than the somewhat offensive lyrics has served as the defensive team's theme song and a vehicle to lighten up some of the pre-practice stretching, causing even Phillips to do the arm-in-the-arm, listing-to-the-side hop step with the guys.
Jason Garrett: For keeping that pedal to the metal on offense, which the way this defense plays at times, will be a necessity if this team is going to win its first playoff game since 1996. Garrett has done a wonderful job of weaving together the many offensive weapons the Cowboys possess. He also has not inhibited the somewhat flamboyant quarterbacking style of Tony Romo while keeping him somewhat in control.
Mat McBriar: The best weapon a defense could ever have, possessing not only the ability to turn over field position when the offense fails, but also hit the ol' flip-flop-eroo to pin teams deep in their own territory.
Tony Curtis: Sure, Jason Witten is a Pro Bowler and Anthony Fasano might be the best role player on the team, but when you can get three catches out of your third tight end for three touchdowns you ought to genuflect to a higher being.
Tony Romo: Now this is not to say the Cowboys were lucky to find the top-rated quarterback in the NFC after 10 games in a relative quarterbacking manger, but just goes to show you there are no shortcuts in this business to finding a franchise quarterback. A lot of fist bumps are in order for all those who contributed to the Cowboys remaining patient with the relatively unknown quarterback's development over that first three-year period. Yeah, the Cowboys will be the first to give thanks to this godsend which has ended the longest quarterback drought in franchise history.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:32 PM
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