The shine off Dallas’ star has lost a bit of its luster in the past few days. It’s been a madhouse of activity, with major injuries, a possibly career-ending suspension, and an interesting new arrival.
The loss to Arizona embarrassed the ‘Boys, but the mental pain it caused won’t last nearly as long as the physical pain it brought about. Franchise quarterback Tony Romo sustained a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand. Depending on where specifically the break is on the finger could mean the difference between playing with pain and sitting out for a month. It means back-up Brad Johnson, “fresh” off of his 2002 win in the Super Bowl, is now forty years old. He is being asked to fill in for one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the league in Romo, who has been under pressure behind a struggling offensive line. Johnson can’t possibly stay upright, as he won’t take more than 3 steps away from the pocket. Luckily during the month Romo is suspected to be sidelined, the Cowboys have their bye week, so Johnson may only need to start three games for Dallas. 2-1 would the ideal record during that time, but 1-2 may not hurt them too bad. Unfortunately, Romo wasn’t the only injury. Another casualty was punter Matt McBriar, who has been one of the better punters in the NFL, expected to miss at least six to eight weeks. Felix Jones rounds out the last injury report with a hamstring strain that could have him out for a month at most.
Of course, the big Cowboy news of the day was the “indefinite” suspension of corner Adam “Pacman” Jones. Jones had been suspended the entire 2007 NFL season for violating the league’s conduct policy on numerous occasions. Entering 2008, he had no room to wiggle with the fans, his team, or more importantly, the commissioner Roger Goodell. After his latest “bathroom in a bar brawl” with one of his own bodyguards, the troubled Jones may have played his last snap in the NFL. The suspension is for at least four games, with the implication that it will more than likely extend much further. Jones won’t have any second chances after this, as Roger Goodell will not tolerate being embarrassed by Pacman’s antics. For a banged-up secondary, the timing is awful. Starter Terence Newman will be out for about a month after undergoing a sports hernia surgery. Two of Dallas’ top three opening day starters will be missing from action. The word around the NFL is that this suspension would give Jones to opportunity to become in an alcohol treatment program, which is what he needed all along. If after this rehabilitation he is deemed fit to return by Goodell, then and only then should owner Jerry Jones even consider bringing him back. As far as I’m concerned (and I’m really not), Pacman should be immediately released and never get another chance to play in the NFL. It is a privilege to play in the NFL, not a right. Adam Jones hasn’t earned the privilege.
Now that the bad is out of the way, possible positive news came out of Dallas before the trading deadline ended on Tuesday. Disgruntled Detroit wide receiver Roy Williams is headed to Dallas in a very lopsided trade (in my opinion). Jerry Jones gave up a first round, a third round, and a sixth round pick to land Williams and a pointless seventh round selection. That’s a ridiculous price to pay in the NFL, as draft picks are usually more coveted than players. (Dumb, yes. But that’s the way it is.) Jerry has mortgaged his team’s future to try and win the Super Bowl this year and he has added a player to an already loaded position to do it.
Dallas then had to give Williams a new contract, as he was scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season. The new deal included twenty million in guaranteed money, which is the second most among NFL receivers. It’s a bold move for Jerry Jones, bringing in another big physical receiver opposite Terrell Owens. Roy Williams has always been talented, but after seeing his attitude twice a year in the NFC North I consider him a bigger problem in the locker room than Owens. His screaming and complaining about his quarterbacks in Detroit distracted the team weekly. It’ll be a combustible environment with two ball-hog receivers. Even further, the football must find a way to reach T.O. Roy Williams, All-Pro tight end Jason Witten, and Marion Barber. There will be an odd man out each week, and every once in a while it will be Owens. I can’t wait to watch the post-loss explosions from either receiver when they aren’t seeing the ball enough. Though when T.O. is done, he will leave a core of young established players behind.
All of this makes for a very important three game stretch for the Cowboys, where they play St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and the New York Giants before they get the bye week. They’ll have to make do without some of their top performers in Tony Romo, Felix Jones, and Terence Newman. Going 0-3 would be a disaster, but if Brad Johnson can get the ball out quickly to any of his now numerous targets they should at least come out at 1-2. For Dallas’ sake, that better be enough to get them in to the playoffs, or their Super Bowl hungry owner may drop the dead weight.
