Bettis: Don't worry about the Cowboys
By Lance Lahnert
lance.lahnert@amarillo.com
One future NFL Hall of Fame running back says Dallas Cowboys fans should calm down.
Even if injured Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo doesn't play today, or during the next month, Dallas will not only survive, but thrive in the NFC East.
That's from the mouth of Jerome Bettis, an NBC analyst who ranks fifth on the NFL all-time rushing list with 13,653 yards.
Bettis, who retired after the Steelers 2006 Super Bowl champion season, visited the Boys Ranch football team last week for an upcoming halftime feature scheduled to be aired by NBC on Dec. 14 and Dec. 21.
Bettis said the Cowboys won't miss suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones for a second, and Dallas fans shouldn't frown because Brad Johnson is under center rather than the popular Romo.
"Obviously, losing Tony Romo is a bigger issue than ''Pacman''," Bettis said while watching Boys Ranch players practice. "But Brad Johnson has been around and is a veteran. He knows how to win. He can make every throw. He's a wily veteran so he knows what to do with the football.
"I don't see the Dallas Cowboys in that bad of shape."
Bettis said with Romo sidelined, look for the Cowboys to rely on their running game anchored by Marion Barber.
" A lot of people are saying 'Oh, this is the doom,''' Bettis said.
"But now, with Tony Romo out they can really get down to Cowboys football, which is running the football. That's the part of the Cowboys game that has been lacking. And it wasn't because they couldn't run, they didn't have a commitment to running.
"Tony Romo is the star so you are getting T.O. passes and all these guys the ball. But there is only one football, so you can only do so much."
Bettis dismissed the fact the Cowboys defensive backfield is depleted by injuries and left almost bare of depth without the suspended Jones.
"I don't think losing "Pacman'' was that significant," Bettis said. "He hasn't done anything. From a defensive standpoint, he had been a solid cornerback. Nothing special. So I don't think they lose a lot there. Then on special teams, he hadn't made an impact.
"The "Pacman" Jones situation, in my opinion, will probably help them more than hurt them. It will take away a distraction they don't have to deal with. They understand the situation, and it's full speed ahead."
Bettis said running the football is where it's at for any NFL team desiring to win consistently.
"Now, this (Romo) injury forces the Cowboys to do what they should have been doing in the first place, and that's run the football," Bettis said. "Everything comes off of the running game. Play action pass. Deep balls in the throwing game. It all happens if you can run the ball.
"The problem has been Dallas couldn't run the ball. Washington comes in there and beats them because they can't run the football. When you have to throw it like that you aren't going to win. Look at Arizona. Now they are forced to run, and in essence, that's better for them."
lance.lahnert@amarillo.com
One future NFL Hall of Fame running back says Dallas Cowboys fans should calm down.
Even if injured Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo doesn't play today, or during the next month, Dallas will not only survive, but thrive in the NFC East.
That's from the mouth of Jerome Bettis, an NBC analyst who ranks fifth on the NFL all-time rushing list with 13,653 yards.
Bettis, who retired after the Steelers 2006 Super Bowl champion season, visited the Boys Ranch football team last week for an upcoming halftime feature scheduled to be aired by NBC on Dec. 14 and Dec. 21.
Bettis said the Cowboys won't miss suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones for a second, and Dallas fans shouldn't frown because Brad Johnson is under center rather than the popular Romo.
"Obviously, losing Tony Romo is a bigger issue than ''Pacman''," Bettis said while watching Boys Ranch players practice. "But Brad Johnson has been around and is a veteran. He knows how to win. He can make every throw. He's a wily veteran so he knows what to do with the football.
"I don't see the Dallas Cowboys in that bad of shape."
Bettis said with Romo sidelined, look for the Cowboys to rely on their running game anchored by Marion Barber.
" A lot of people are saying 'Oh, this is the doom,''' Bettis said.
"But now, with Tony Romo out they can really get down to Cowboys football, which is running the football. That's the part of the Cowboys game that has been lacking. And it wasn't because they couldn't run, they didn't have a commitment to running.
"Tony Romo is the star so you are getting T.O. passes and all these guys the ball. But there is only one football, so you can only do so much."
Bettis dismissed the fact the Cowboys defensive backfield is depleted by injuries and left almost bare of depth without the suspended Jones.
"I don't think losing "Pacman'' was that significant," Bettis said. "He hasn't done anything. From a defensive standpoint, he had been a solid cornerback. Nothing special. So I don't think they lose a lot there. Then on special teams, he hadn't made an impact.
"The "Pacman" Jones situation, in my opinion, will probably help them more than hurt them. It will take away a distraction they don't have to deal with. They understand the situation, and it's full speed ahead."
Bettis said running the football is where it's at for any NFL team desiring to win consistently.
"Now, this (Romo) injury forces the Cowboys to do what they should have been doing in the first place, and that's run the football," Bettis said. "Everything comes off of the running game. Play action pass. Deep balls in the throwing game. It all happens if you can run the ball.
"The problem has been Dallas couldn't run the ball. Washington comes in there and beats them because they can't run the football. When you have to throw it like that you aren't going to win. Look at Arizona. Now they are forced to run, and in essence, that's better for them."
posted by The Gryphon at 10:15 AM
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