I am just looking at what the Cowboys have been doing, and I must say it makes little to no sense. This was a pretty decent team last year, with a good defense and average offense. They won 10 games, most likely they overachieved. They went into the offseason knowning that their biggest need is a franchise RB. The first thing they do is "waste" a third round pick on a QB who has not played football in forever (didnt they sign Chad Hutchinson with the same premise). Then they have chance to get one of the best RB's in the draff, and they trade down, it's nice that they get a 1st rounder next year. How much do you want to bet, that next year the pick will be lower (bills are gonna be a good team) then the pick they gave up. In the processes they must have hurt Quincy Carters confidence. I think he's a good player, they should just stand by him and build a team around him. The way this offseason has gone, they have not improved at all, infact with the harder schedule, they might have taken a step back. This year they will not surprise anyone. It's not like PArcells is going to coach the next decade, What are they thinking???
Parcell's isn't one for the "quick fix". He's thinking long term and why not trust his judgement now? I don't think the Cowboys will be much improved in '04, but watch out over the next few seasons. In a "win now" league, he's definitely old school. The Cowboys will be very good again, watch and see. It should happen right about the time the Eagles begin rebuilding.
The eagles have one starter over the age of 30 (Terrell Owens), I dont think they will be rebuilding anytime soon. As long as McNabb is the starting QB, thats 10 wins right there (akin to Elway in Denver and Favre in Green Bay)
We will be in every game till the end this year. We only got blown out twice last year(I think). As long as the defense is its usual stifling self and the offense is even marginably better than last year then there should be measurable improvement. Whether that translates into a better record is anybodys guess. Our schedule is way better than last years. We dont play on the road back to back any this year. Whew! Later
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Eagles4Life)</div><div class='quotemain'>This was a pretty decent team last year, with a good defense and average offense. They won 10 games, most likely they overachieved.</div> I agree that they overachieved. But look what you wrote. You say they won 10 games and they overachieved. To me, that means they should have won between 7 and 9? That doesn't sound like a team that is one player away from the Superbowl, and certainly not a rookie at that. We have more problems on the line right now than you can see. I don't think Carter is the answer either. We won 10 games partly due to good coaching using the teams strengths to pull out a couple games. Don't expect the opposition to fall for the same tricks this year.
Yes, but so were the Patriots the first time they won the Super Bowl. In todays NFL you got to strike the iron while it's hot. I think that with the Cowboys inability to commit to one QB will really hurt them this year. If Carter is not the answer, then go with someone else. Having Drew HEnson behind him the whole time is not a good thing. Carter is still a very young QB, and this will just hurt his confidence. When you have 2 QB's, you really have none. And with a lack of a dominant RB, and Meshawn as the WR. There is potential for some huge problems this year.
listen up the cowboys some might say look better than last year but just because you get a wr does not mean that that makes you good they need to get a vetran quater back until then they will never make it to the playtoffs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Eagles4Life)</div><div class='quotemain'>Yes, but so were the Patriots the first time they won the Super Bowl. In todays NFL you got to strike the iron while it's hot. I think that with the Cowboys inability to commit to one QB will really hurt them this year. If Carter is not the answer, then go with someone else. Having Drew HEnson behind him the whole time is not a good thing. Carter is still a very young QB, and this will just hurt his confidence. When you have 2 QB's, you really have none. And with a lack of a dominant RB, and Meshawn as the WR. There is potential for some huge problems this year.</div> I disagree. Are you telling me that Manning, Rothlisberger, Rivers, and Losman should all start this year instead of their projected starters??? (OK, Manning WILL probably start)....or that rookie QBs should always start? That's crazy. Henson is a rookie. He is a third round rookie. Carter played OK, but not great. He can be a free agent after this year. That means he's been in the league a little while. If he plays like a QB that can lead his team to the Superbowl, why wouldn't we keep him as our starter. Then Henson stays a backup or eventually becomes trade bait. If not, then Henson becomes the starter after getting his rookie education like any other drafted rookie. I guess I dont see the difference. If we had a QB we felt we could totally commit to, we would do it. We haven't found that person. And to your point about the Patriots, they didn't exactly have a dominant RB...just a reliable one that did a specific job besides carrying the team. It worked out OK for them I think.
Antwain Smith was dominant the first year that they won the Super Bowl, after that he wasn't. Drew Henson, traid bait?? After they gave up a 3rd round pick for him, they would have to get 2nd or 1st just to save face. What if he becomes another Chad Hutchinson??? IMO they could've picked up a veteran backup QB (i.e. Warner, Collins, etc..). Try to get a good RB (i.e. Staley, Dillon). They are not as far from being a good team as they make themselves out to be. They got a good defense, a good set of WRers, they got a decent QB as a starter. Its just a waste to trade a 1st round pick this year (with top 2 rb's on the board) for a pick next year (when you dont know where and how high it's gonna be, and who's gonna be there). I just understand why they are so tenative to get anything done. So unlike Jerry Jones, maybe he's senile???
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Eagles4Life)</div><div class='quotemain'>Antwain Smith was dominant the first year that they won the Super Bowl, after that he wasn't. Drew Henson, traid bait?? After they gave up a 3rd round pick for him, they would have to get 2nd or 1st just to save face. What if he becomes another Chad Hutchinson??? IMO they could've picked up a veteran backup QB (i.e. Warner, Collins, etc..). Try to get a good RB (i.e. Staley, Dillon). They are not as far from being a good team as they make themselves out to be. They got a good defense, a good set of WRers, they got a decent QB as a starter. Its just a waste to trade a 1st round pick this year (with top 2 rb's on the board) for a pick next year (when you dont know where and how high it's gonna be, and who's gonna be there). I just understand why they are so tenative to get anything done. So unlike Jerry Jones, maybe he's senile???</div> Smith wasn't too dominant at Buffalo before that either. Maybe he had a good year out of luck, or maybe he just fit in the system. They won last year without a dominant back though. Henson is not trade bait at this time, and I didn't need to imply that. At this point, Carter is not the QB for the franchise. He is the starter this year, unless Henson would somehow beat him hands down. If that happens, the discussion is over. If Carter starts, and performs really well, he keeps his spot. If Carter does turn into the QB for the next 5 years, then we have Henson as a decent backup while under contract. If someone wants him bad enough, they can trade us for him, but a 3rd rounder at a low base salary doesn't sound like a bad backup. Staley is a good RB, but not a feature back. He wasn't with the Eagles and wasn't the type of back Parcells wanted for the money. I think he can get Jones to be the same kind of back for a lot less if he wanted. Dillon would be a one-year upgrade, but not the long term solution. He turns 30 this season, and it is hard to tell what he has left. For the money, and the contract length needed, we are better to take a shot with Jones and pick up a quality lineman to block. You have no idea how unstable we are on the OL. As far as the trading of picks, I am OK with it. I believe if Jackson was unquestionably a strong franchise back, he wouldn't have lasted until #24. Teams are too smart for that. Sure, I would have loved to have him. However, we did pick up an extra round 2 and round 5 out of it, which we used to address other holes. As for the #1 pick next year, you are exactly right. I am betting, as the Cowboys obviously are, that the Bills don't suddenly make it into the top 10 of teams this year, so we should have an improvement over this year's #1.
Not to beat a dead horse but... If they were so good, why did both backs fall to the Cowboys at 22, and why, if Detroit had not traded back into the first round, would Kevin Jones have fallen into the second round? Everyone in the NFL just a bunch of big dummies? To me, if a back is considered great, he goes in the top 10. Example: Detroit needed a running back. But the Lions took a "great" receiver first, right? And did they have that great a need for another receiver after drafting Charles Rogers last year? Denver needed a back, but took a linebacker and waited until the second round to address its running backs need. I will agree that Jackson will probably be better...but how much better? I guess we'll find out in a few years. By then....even if I'm lucky enough to be right...I won't be able to go back and say I told you so.
They are all calculated risks. Also, the scouts see things differently because some it comes down to personal opinion. Some will pan out, others will fail miserably. Once you get out of the top 10, it becomes a crapshoot. There were no backs worthy of a top 10 pick this year so one could be as good as the next with marginal difference.
Let me ask you a question Cowboy, do you as a Cowboys fan feel that they did enough in the offseason to be the best possible team this year??
Parcells has one of the better track records, so, I will give him the benefit of the doubt. As for why Jackson & Jones fell who knows? I can say that the mock drafts are full of hot air and to be made fun of. The "experts" like Mel Kiper have no more a clue (probably less) than the average fan.
Now Dawk; Everything that follows is sarcasm. I even threw in 2 Double entendres all for the low low price of one <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>As for why Jackson & Jones fell who knows? I can say that the mock drafts are full of hot air and to be made fun of.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Eagles4Life)</div><div class='quotemain'>Let me ask you a question Cowboy, do you as a Cowboys fan feel that they did enough in the offseason to be the best possible team this year??</div> Very good question, but how do you know? I would tend to say no. While they may have done a good job of building a team for the future, they did not do the best they could do to have the best team this year. However, after watching Daniel Snyder play this game for a few years, I can say that it is probably a good thing we didn't put everything into one year. Am I understanding your question? I guess I can look at the NYG. Eli Manning will probably turn out to be a better QB than Kerry Collins, but not this year. That change did not make the Giants a better team this year. It has a better chance of making them better in the long run though. It all comes down to how good you think the Cowboys were last year. We both agree they didn't have a good back last year. We agree on the defense, although a ball-control offense contributed as much to the #1 defense ranking as their talent did. Our offensive line is in horrible shape, which may not be evident unless you watch a bunch of our games. And we disagree on how good Carter was. The way we are building, we have a reasonable chance to expect a Superbowl soon and often. If we went after overpaid veterans, we would have one or two weak shots with Carter at the helm and then be in salary cap hell again. We've been there before. If the Redskins win a couple titles in the next 3 years, I will eat my words.
The only reason Jimmy Johnson took Emmitt Smith was because San Diego took Junior Seau before we picked. Now, who could have known then what would happen throughout these two guys careers? And another good thing to remember is an old saying that is true today: Opinions are like buttholes, everybody has one and they all stink! Later