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SIDELINE ARCHIVE Santa's Sackings January 01, 2009 Ready for the Turkey November 27, 2008 Making it to the Big Dance November 26, 2008 Brighter Days Ahead for Chargers? November 5, 2008 Unnecessary Hits To The Pocket / Upset: BYU October 17, 2008 Romo's Pause / Seattle Seahawks October 15, 2008 Weekend Prep: Red River and More October 10, 2008 College Football's 'Crossroads' Weekend October 9, 2008 Gramatical Error October 7, 2008 Turning The Page September 30, 2008 So Cal 'Quizzed — But Who Will Answer? September 26, 2008 3rd Tuesday Panic Button / Forté Yard Dash September 23, 2008 Two and Oh; Oh and Two September 22, 2008 No More NCAAffeine September 11, 2008 Week 1 College Football September 6, 2008 How To Spell Heisman / Chad Ocho Cinco September 1, 2008 Why the Favre story STILL won't go away August 18, 2008 Olympic Notes / Ricky's Still Relevant August 14, 2008 Committee Meetings August 9, 2008 Let the QB Battles Begin August 8, 2008 Slinging The Slinger — More Favre August 6, 2008 Welcome to the 2008 season July 28, 2008 Plus One May 27, 2008 Draft: The Morning After April 28, 2008 Draft: Thinking the Unthinkable April 25, 2008 Draft: Ready For The Long Haul April 23, 2008 Sofa–bound Sport April 16, 2008 Post–Winter Wonderland April 11, 2008 Six Impossible Things February 4, 2008 Brady's Misdirection Play February 3, 2008 Colorful Language January 23, 2008 Let the Romo–bashing begin: Dallas lost January 14, 2008 Bowl Bites: The Wrap January 10, 2008 All About The Coaches January 1, 2008 Bowl Bites 3 and A Communication Breakdown December 29, 2007 Bowl Bites 2 December 27, 2007 Bowl Bites 1 December 23, 2007 The Empty Chair - Coach Situations Vacant December 22, 2007 For Some, The Playoffs Are Now December 15, 2007 A Certain Lack Of Welcome December 13, 2007 Unrelated Notes November 29, 2007 Two Thanksgiving thoughts November 22, 2007 Halftime: NFC November 9, 2007 Halftime: AFC November 8, 2007 London, Part 2 / A Tale of Two Chads / A Game of Intimidation November 4, 2007 Damp Squib / Other London Notes October 29, 2007 Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em / Dolphins – The Aftermath October 23, 2007 The Dolphins Did What? October 18, 2007 Notes on the Defenses October 13, 2007 Habits to be Broken October 12, 2007 Overtime October 13, 2007 This Week's Starters October 6, 2007: USF: Covering The Spread / Fantastic Football September 27, 2007: Grossman: The Final Act? / McNabb, the Epilogue September 24, 2007: Eagles QB in Slight Controversy September 21, 2007: Leftwich's Parting Gift to Jacksonville? / Boos cruise September 18, 2007: Notre Dame M.I.A. September 16, 2007: Looking Beyond NFL Wk. 1 September 12, 2007: Best Hope For Heisman September 10, 2007: Coaching Hot Seats / AP Poll Feeling ’Appy September 7, 2007: The NFL’s Prime Cuts September 5, 2007: Michigan Falls to Killer Apps September 3, 2007: Look Out Couch / The Taint's On You, Bud September 1, 2007: |
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SPORTS SIDELINE 
Observations, Opinion & Occasional Silliness by Richard L Gale Let the Romo–bashing begin: Dallas lost Tony Romo was set up to take the blame again the moment he set off for a (presumably) romantic vacation with Jessica Simpson last week. The media were quick to interpret his trip to Cancun as a dereliction of Tony Romeo's footballing duty, even if they did travel with Dallas tight end Jason Witten (...and his wife, before you get any funny ideas). It doesn't help that the final image of the Cowboys' loss to the Giants was Romo throwing an interception in the endzone rather than the touchdown that would have seen Dallas in the NFC Championship game. But that was a desperation pass in a game where the Cowboys passing attack had indeed seemed desperate at times. But don't go blaming Romo. In the playoffs, it's about putting everything on the line, leaving everything out on the field, and while Romo's usual emulation of Brett Favre's playing style looked like one of those wild Favre days when interceptions become the theme, it was Romo's line and above all his receivers that just didn't earn that NFC title berth. Eleven penalties were called against the Cowboys, and when the line wasn't setting off early, it was reacting late to the pass rush. Yes, Romo should have been getting rid of the ball when he was running from a wave of Giants pass rushers, but why was he running from that wave in the first place? And where were his receivers? The stats may say T.O. had a touchdown, but I can hardly remember him being in the game. If he was playing 'decoy' like Randy Moss did for the Patriots on Saturday, then decoy for who? Tight end Jason Witten apparently (7 catches 81 yards), because Terry Glenn and Patrick Crayton put in lackluster performances if they were supposed to be the true targets (5 yards combined). Glenn clearly wasn't back from his injury in any meaningful way, while Crayton... well, you know, sometimes it's easier to catch the ball if you actually reach for it. Stretching out your body for a catch is the kind of thing great receivers do in the playoffs. A couple of times it seemed like just stretching out their arms was something of a burden for the Cowboys receivers. Catch. The. Ball. Romo wasn't completely on target, and he was rushed, and he was flustered. The balls went a bit high, and they went a bit wide (as were center Andre Gurode's snaps for much of the day, which doesn't help settle a QB). But they were catchable. If Romo's receivers had just shared Romo's zest for the dramatic. That's the thing about a pass – it needs a little work at both ends. If a QB throws a catchable, on–target ball, anybody should be able to catch it; star receivers are supposed to catch some of the trickier ones too – that's why they earn the money. Do I sound like I'm frustrated that the Cowboys lost. Yes, I am, and I'm not even a Cowboys fan, not remotely. But the thought that the New York Giants – the same Giants that helped stink up Wembley with their halfheartedness – are now to be counted amongst 'the NFL's best' is hard to reconcile. Honestly folks, did they feel like a 'contender' that day? At least we can laugh at any future suggestions that traveling to the UK during the regular season disturbs a team's playoff aspirations. For the Cowboys, the off–season starts here, and everybody can blame the quarterback who only threw for 201 yards, though it might have been around 350 with a little more desire from the receivers. Jason Witten excepted — HE seemed ready to play. Maybe next time Romo heads to Mexico, he could take T.O. and Crayton with him too. |
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