5 Questions with the Cowboys

It's Dallas Week here in Washington, the rivalry is back and better than ever with the 5-4 Cowboys coming to play the 6-3 Redskins tonight in a nationally televised game on NBC. So why not unretire one of Curly R's original and best features, 5 Questions?

So we partnered up with the guys over at upstart Cowboy Nation, head over there and check out my answers to his questions and drop a comment to keep these huge Cowboys fans honest!

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Curly R: Going into this season everyone was favoring the Cowboys to win the division and now even though Dallas is still above .500 it seems like everyone in Big D is freaking out. What the hell is going on down there?

Cowboy Nation: Freaking Out? Highly concerned yes! Freaking out? No! Except for New York there is not another (NFL) market that is more difficult on their team than the Dallas market. Either win or lose this team hears about what they should have done better. In the 90’s when we were rolling (greatest team ever assembled) if they won a game by 10 points but the perception was that they should have won by 20, they heard about it. We expect this team to be the best year in and year out, and when they do not fulfill those expectations we tend to take it personally. You must understand in Texas football is not something to fill your time on Sunday, it is our way of life!


Curly R: Is Roy Williams really the difference maker this year? How about next year? Is it better to have Roy or those draft picks? Is Terrell Owens now expendable?

Cowboy Nation: The difference maker on this team is Tony Romo, end of story. This team will only be as good as Tony takes them. If you have seen any of the games the last 3 weeks you should understand this. Roy Williams is a great addition and major upgrade to our receiving corp. and just him being on the field is going to open things up more for not only T.O. but Jason Witten, and Marion Barber. It also allows Patrick Crayton to move back to his natural position in the slot. As far as the draft picks, we needed a receiver as T.O. is getting old and we have no one on the roster that could come close to being a number 1. Generally speaking receivers drafted at the end of round one or round two take a few years to become #1 options, if ever at all. We had extra picks via the Pac man deal, and other draft day trades. So we essentially traded a mid 20’s first round selection for a proven #1. I make that trade all day. Will Devin Thomas become a #1 option for the skins? Maybe but it will not be this year or next. As long as T.O continues to demand double teams he will never be expendable!


Curly R: Do you have any idea how pissed off Dan Snyder will be next year when the Cowboys open their new stadium and the Redskins no longer have the largest venue in the league?

Cowboy Nation: I think I speak for all of us here in Cowboy Nation when I say, great! We could not think of a better person to piss off than that guy! I dare say that that may be the exact reason why Jerry decided to build it that big.


Curly R: Be honest. Did you think Wade Phillips was the guy? Give me your percent chance Wade is here next year. Wade and TO both still here next year?

Cowboy Nation: Yes! He is exactly what this team needed with the exit of Parcells, just as Parcells was what this team needed with the departure of Dave Campo. It seems as though coaches come one of two ways now a days, Tyrants or Push over’s! It is difficult to find that middle of the road guy that actually knows football. The redskins appear to have found one in Zorn. T.O. will be back next year! I don’t feel there is any scenario in which T.O. is not a member of this team next year. As far as Wade goes if this team does not make and go deep into the playoffs, there is about a 2% chance he returns. If they make a deep push into the playoffs that drastically changes, to probably 50 – 75%


Curly R: Both teams are struggling with injuries and lack of execution. Which matchup(s) are going to create the biggest problems for the Redskins? For the Cowboys?

Cowboy Nation: For the Redskins it’s simple can they stop Tony Romo and this now much deeper receiving corps? I do not believe they can double team T.O. all night without getting beat by Witten, and Williams. I know the Redskins have the self proclaimed best secondary in the league! But they will have to walk a tight rope in order to slow this group down. For the Cowboys it is the same as it has been all year long, can their front seven handle the skins front seven? Dallas must be able to stop the run and get pressure on Jason Campbell without having to run a jailbreak all the time. If the skins run and protect like they did in the first meeting the offense of Dallas will have to make a lot of plays in order to win.


Curly R BONUS QUESTION: Better to give up two fourth quarter Santana Moss touchdowns in 74 seconds and lose a la 2005, or better to commit a special teams facemask on a fumbled return and give the kicker an untimed shot to steal the game a la 2006? Are you slowly losing the battle to bitterness?

Cowboy Nation: That’s a tough one man! This is the biggest rivalry in all of football (maybe in sports) as far as I am concerned, and to lose like we did on those two games is absolutely devastating! So I am going to choose to only remember the 14 games in which the Cowboys beat the Redskins by double digits! Oh by the way I hope you are ready to receive a good ole Texas size ass kickin!

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Anyone else wondering if The Rivalry is still alive and well? Thanks playing guys, there is no question you love your Cowboys. Bring on the game!