Mike Leach fall out boy

Pirate looks at 40

Boy, what a story.

Mike Leach has a video statement out.

Craig James' kid released a video of the closet he was banished to.

In case you were enjoying a holiday girls' basketball tournament and don't know, Leach was fired by Texas Tech University this morning following the allegations that he locked James' kid in a closet after the player wouldn't play with a concussion.

Several things:

1. If it wasn't a concussion, this wouldn't be a big deal. Concussion are hotter than a two-dollar pistol. You don't downplay concussions.

2. Local TV news had former Leach players testifying how great Leach was and how much he cared for them. Bullllllllllllllllsssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttt. Athletes always take up for their coaches. Rarely will you find a guy who won't. I hope those guys on the news enjoy gumming applesauce in 20 years when they're 45 years old because their fucking brains are like Ramen noodles.

3. Frankly, most coaches are dicks. They get what they want. They know how important they are to the school or university. They grew up, probably, as players getting what they want and being gigantic bullies. Leach and former Kansas coach/fat guy Mark Mangino aren't the only asshole coaches in this nation. They're in every middle school, high school, junior college and university in the United States.

4. Alumni, boosters, fans and whatnot are really made that the university acted hastly in firing Leach. I don't think they're seeing this clearly. Firing Leach and possibly going back to winning four games a year doesn't hurt fans nearly as much as it hurts the university. Leach means money. This hurts the university far more than it does any alumni or fan.

5. At least one blogger notes that the Craig James kid ordeal was just the straw that broke the camel's back and that Leach might not have been back anyway. Kinda hard to believe, but worth a read.

Roy Williams is kind of a whiney bitch

Hook 'em

Over the summer, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams claimed that he was going to boycott the media.

He obviously didn't follow through. He probably should have.

The receiver ran his mouth again to today letting the media that he hates know that he's "pressing" and that he feels Tony Romo and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett havel ost confidence in him after dropping a pass in the first half against Washington and not seeing another throw the rest of the game.

Guess what, asshole?! Nobody even remotely familiar with Dallas Cowboys football has confidence in you.

Garrett and Romo, foremost, shouldn't have any confidence in you because you drop passes, look half-assed on other throws and fail to make the necessary adjustments on balls to make a play.

Remember, it's not just the drops. It's not coming back for a ball or putting all the effort in the world to get to the ball.

Maybe he should focus all his efforts on practice and catching a ball or two and less time thinking about the Texas Longhorns or how he's perceived in the media.

Mike Leach free to find another job

Texas Tech University fired head football coach Mike Leach today amid allegations that he locked up Craig James' kid in a closet because he had a couple of marbles knocked loose.

I think we can go ahead and dispell the "allegation" part of this story. Good coaches are fired due to "allegations." They're fired because the shit has or will hit the proverbial fan.

Leach will find little trouble in finding a new job. Remember a year ago when Leach's return was semi-doubtful because the school was waffling on paying him?

Oh, how the tables have turned.

A decade of Dallas sports, Part I

In honor of the decade. It was a good decade. Let us remember our decade, in our cities with our favorite teams, players and scandal!

50. Momma Bears
In 2005, the Baylor Bears women’s basketball team won the national championship. Finally, Baylor knew what it was to win.

49. Josh Howard Acts A Fool
He was just keepin’ it real. We all need to take a chill pill.

48. Magic In The Air
The Texas Rangers have had very, very little to be pleased about between the years 2000-2009. However, there was a bit of a bright spot in 2004. Win-wise, it was their best season with 89 victories. It was also the closest they came to the playoffs. It was a young team with the oldest regular being David Dellucci at 30. Their infield looked like a masterpiece. Buck Showalter was turning things around. Their bullpen was just nasty with Frank Francisco, CoCo Cordero, Carlos Almanzar, Brian Shouse and Ron Mahay. It took ‘til the end of the season to eventually knock them out of contention. However, it wasn’t about 2004. It was about 2005. That turned out to be sadness and disappointment. But that summer was pure magic.

47. BBFs: Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford
It was a good four years. McCoy, the quarterback of the Texas Longhorns. Bradford, the quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners. Both sons of former players. Both good kids with deadly arms. And both found solace and unity in each others’ arms. Together, they will take on the beast of the NFL. As best friends.

46. Arch-Enemas: Don Nelson and Mark Cuban
Nelson sued Cuban for back pay. Cuban sued Nellie for using his Golden State Warriors to ruin the Mavs’ 67-win season. I doubt either is on each other’s Christmas card list.

45. The Mark Teixeira Trade
In sports, certain moves (or moves not made) that could define a franchise. It’s almost unfair. Look at how the Braves stealing John Smoltz from the Tigers. Or the Astros nabbing Jeff Bagwell from the Red Sox. The Mark Teixeira trade could very well define the Texas Rangers for the next decade. Mark Texiera and Ron Mahay for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Beau Jones and Matt Harrison. If it doesn’t work out, the Rangers still make that trade in a heartbeat.

44. The Saga Of Dallas Sports Radio
With The Ticket anchored firmly into the sports media consciousness, ESPN Radio entered the fray. Three years ago, The Fan put its hat into the ring. Three years later, they’re still third in the ratings with

43. The Sean Avery Episode
A mammoth free agency disaster that might have sunk and entire season of Dallas Stars hockey. I don’t know what a guy can do to entirely alienate a locker room of professional hockey players, but Avery succeeded in doing just that and the franchise could not wait to cut the guy. Amazing. And that’s why Brett Hull is currently back as Ambassador of Fun.

42. Tony Romo
He had us at hello. Romo is so fucking hard not to like. Even me, a vehement Cowboys hater, just loves the socks off the guy. He’s smart and boyish. He offends no one, but still carries a devil-may-care attitude. Apparently, playoff losses are the worst thing that will happen to him. He’s from a small college so he’s an underdog. Still, he’s got those Hollywood looks. So goddamn handsome. Romo’s done what few players in this town have failed to do: Give us, the slobbering public, something to talk about that has zero to do with football. I love him for it.

41. The 2007-08 Dallas Stars
It was another innocuous Stars season. Sitting in the middle of the playoff discussion, probably not as good as the San Jose Sharks or Anaheim Ducks (both division foes). At the time, the Stars were not unlike the Dallas Cowboys in terms of getting over the proverbial playoff hump having been ousted in the first round (mainly to the Vancouver Canucks like a trillion times) for several years after their last Stanley Cup trip in 2000. There were questions about goaltender Marty Turco being good enough and about this team’s age as many of its stars (Mike Modano, Sergei Zubov, Jere Lehtinen) were old as shit. Then it clicked. Playoff series upsets of the Sharks and Ducks and they were staring another Stanley Cup trip in the face as they faced (and lost to) the eventual champs, Detroit Red Wings, in the Western Conference Finals. For a split second, the Stars had the attention of Dallas-Fort Worth.

40. The 2005 Dallas Cowboys Draft Class
Where would the Dallas Cowboys be without DeMarcus Ware, Marion Barber, Marcus Spears, Kevin Burnett, Jay Ratliff and Chris Canty?

39. Tom Hicks Goes Broke
From what I understand, Hicks made his fortune by using other people’s money to buy businesses, build them up and then sell them. This is what happened when he purchased the Texas Rangers. Not unlike a normal person borrowing a loan they can’t pay for, Hicks was in over his head and debt piled up. After a while, he had to declare bankruptcy. What would ruin you or me created a scenario where Hicks, in theory, could buy the team from himself. Anyway, Hicks has pissed off Rangers fans for the last decade with his eye on profits and not wins while the profits (see: fans) have an eye on wins. Someone has to change their attitude and it won’t be the fans, what little of us are left.

38. The Death Of Reunion Arena, Texas Stadium And The Cotton Bowl
Two archaic structures make way for newer, bigger gargantuas with state-of-the-art scoreboards and bathrooms to meet game-to-game need. So overrated. Reunion is dead. Texas Stadium will be soon. The Cotton Bowl has a big more legs.

37. All Of The Dallas Cowboys Playoff Wins
And a most glorious decade of futility it was.



Part II coming soon ...

A little fight in their fists

Good times

The lil' Dallas Stars -- a team with no rudder and competely off the barometer as to who they really are -- stood tall and proud in beating a very good Chicago Blackhawk squad last night, 5-4.
It wasn't pretty, but they all can' t be 2-0 wins. The Stars were terribly outshot, lost face-offs, allowed two goals on four power plays and were down 1-0 with five minutes barely into the affair. But they weren't outplayed, and that's what the Stars will need as the new year arrives and the meat of the schedule starts.

Our hero last night was a fan fav, Steve Ott. Very quiet offensively this season, Ott is achingly slow behind the pace of last year when he wound up with 19 goals and 46 points. Still, his two goals, assist and energy propelled his team against, arguably, the best team in the league. Big wins even in December should not be overlooked or disregarded.

Notes:
1. At 17-11-11, the Stars are fourth in the Pacific Division and ninth in the Western Conference.

2. Brad Richards has two more assists than last year in 19 less games.

Bowled over

My three-year-old daughter saw a preview for the Rose Bowl today and said, "Football!"

Out of the mouth of babes.

Independence Bowl
Georgia 44, Texas A&M 20
A&M is right there. If Jerrod Johnson can clean up the mistakes, they can win important games. Georgia would do well to move out of the SEC and into the Big XII where'd they'd be the third-best team.

Holiday Bowl
Nebraska vs. Arizona
Arizona made a brief stand in the Pac-10 before the Oregons took control. Nebraska, after disappointing losses to Virginia Tech and Texas Tech roared back in the second half of the season to take total control of the Big XII North. Seemingly, Nebraska is the team on the upswing here. I would expect a Huskers win, should they be motivated.

Sun Bowl
Oklahoma vs. Stanford
Very interesting game. For one, you get to see the great Stanford great white hope Toby Gerhart. Second, it’s the Sooners in the less-than-awesome Sun Bowl in stinky El Paso. I’m sure they had higher hopes. It’s also the official end of Sam Bradford’s college career. Not that he’ll play, but he’ll be on the sideline bidding his adieu to officially not getting paid to play football. I doubt OU’s attitude and an upstart, motivated Stanford team could take this one.

Texas Bowl
Navy vs. Missouri
It’s good to have the Texas Bowl without any Texas teams in it. Or teams from an adjacent state. Navy’s an interesting team only because they run the ball almost exclusively. If Mizzou can do that, they’ll win.

Insight Bowl
Minnesota vs. Iowa State
This, honestly, should be an annual Big X game. Iowa State had a good season and it’s a shame no one outside of Ames, Iowa is talking about it. The Big XII media could care less about the Cyclones.

Cotton Bowl
Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss
Too bad Dez Bryant isn’t around to play in this game. The NCAA is in the mood to suspend fibbers while John Calipari continues to coach. Despite the NCAA’s retarded nature, this is a really cool game. Both teams have playmakers. I suspect Ole Miss might come out on top.

Alamo Bowl
Michigan State vs. Texas Tech
How’d the Alamo Bowl get scheduled for Jan. 2? And the GMAC Bowl (featuring heavyweights Troy and Central Michigan) on Jan. 2? Something’s out of place here. Another good Big XII/Big X match-up. I think Mike Leach wants to win every game he plays and I think Tech is lucky to be playing any bowl game. The Raiders should roll.

Who ever said anything about playoffs?

Whiplash

Wade Phillips and his Dallas Cowboys will have at least one more opportunity to prove themselves in the post-season.

With yesterday's 17-0 win over the Washington Redskins, the Dallas Cowboys officially stamped a ticket to the NFL playoffs securing, at the very least, a wild card invitation. And putting themselves in position for the division next week and, if things should go haywire for the Minnesota Vikings, a first-round bye.

This accomplishment should be laid at the feet of the defense and the defensive coordinator, Philips. They put together another great performance to put the December swoon to rest for one season pitching the shutout and allowing just 218 total yards and completely befuddling Jason Campbell and the Washington offense.

If playoff games come down to defense, the Cowboys are looking incredibly good.

Grades:

Quarterback -- A
I thought Tony Romo was really good. He finally threw an interception, but in general he was really accurate and made good decisions almost all game. He drove the Cowboys all day and if it wasn't for two fourth-down stuffs, the Cowboys score a lot more. But that wasn't Romo's fault.

Running Back -- C
Can't anyone get a yard? Stuffed twice on fourth down. They were good gambles, and I think the coaching staff expects his offensive line and running backs to get a yard!

Wide Receiver -- C
Miles Austin keeps this corps afloat. Otherwise, it was two catches for 20 yards from Pat Crayton and Roy Williams. Those guys are worthless.

Tight End -- A
Jason Witten has one touchdown this season. However, he has about three dozen gigantic catches, including about four last night to keep drives alive. He'll probably break the 1,000-yard mark next week with an outside shot at 100 catches.

Offensive Line -- C
One stinkin' yard. Surely you can get one stinkin' yard. That yard comes in handy in the playoffs.

Defensive Line -- A
Trouble all night long. Accounted for 2.5 sacks and allowing a paltry 43 rushing yards to the Redskins.

Linebacker -- B
The sacks didn't come, but they were bugs all night in the Redskin backfield. Great against the rush and pass. Bradie James was everywhere.

Secondary -- A
They've gotten better and better with every week. Loved Orlando Scandrick on the blitz. He's one of the few corners/safeties that gets to the quarterback.

Special Teams -- B
Shaun Suisham made his only field goal attempt. Mat McBriar continued his Pro Bowl season pinning the Redskins in the 20 yard line on all three attempts.

Coaching -- B
Loved the fourth-down attempts. I wouldn't give Suisham the opportunity to suck if I were them. Also, I loved that Jason Garrett took what the Redskins were giving in the third quarter, running the ball as the Redskins focused on stopping the passing game. The Cowboys were ready to play, win.

Mavs roll Nuggets

JET getting all bench-y

I think the Denver Nuggets, at full strength, is one of the best teams in the NBA.

Right now, they're not healthy so they're not as good and serve as easy fodder for our Dallas Mavericks to the tune of 104-96 yesterday.

The Chauncey Billups-less Nuggets were buoyed by double-digit scoring from six guys, but shot 38 percent overall, nothing compared to the 50 percent the Mavericks put up.

Again, the Mavs were fueled by the bench. No starter scored more than 13, but Jason Terry, Josh Howard and Drew Gooden scored 49. The five starters scored 55.

Another good win, nonetheless.

Notes:
1. The Mavs are now 10-4 in The Vibrant Middle. I considered the Denver game a loss as it was on the road on the ass-end of a back to back.

2. Dirk Nowitzki did not shoot a free throw. That's two straight games without a free throw ... both coming after having Carl Landry's dental work lodged in his elbow.

3. The Mavs are creating quite a rotatino scenario. All three bench players logged more minutes than three starters.

4. Will Roddy Beaubois see the court again?

5. Shawn Marion worth it? Carmelo Anthony goes 5-19. J.R. Smith, 3-12. That's a good tactic toward winning.

Grizz and Dot-Com

Take off

If you're not smart enough to figure this out by yourself, if there's stock to buy in the NBA, the Memphis Grizzlies are cheap and on the rise.

The Grizz fell short against the Dallas Mavericks today 106-101, but it was close and it comes weeks after the Grizzlies handed the Mavs a surprising loss. Memphis has dabbled with .500 just about all season and they've got talent.

Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol absolutely pounded the boards against the Mavs (36 of the 49 Grizz rebounds ... the Mavs only double-digit guy was Erick Dampier with 10). Should the Grizz' guards shoot a little better (Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo combined for 6-24) and this game might turn out a little different.

Nonetheless, it didn't work out like that. The Mavs depth proved the difference as did 52 percent shooting and double-digit scoring from every starter. An efficient, post-Christmas effort at home.

Notes:
1. The win pulls the Mavs to 5-4 in the division.

2. The Mavs are now 9-4 in The Vibrant Middle.

3. Erick Dampier's averaging 10 rebounds, two blocks and eight points a game. All recent season highs. He's also shotting a salty 67 percent from the field. That too a recent season high.

4. Dirk Nowitzki didn't score in the fourth quarter. Mavs took it anyway 27-24.

Hell hath no fury like a woman Jim Zorned

Ear of Zorn

With all this Christmasing, family, celebrations, no work, drinking and all of my fantasy teams dead, it's easy to forget that there's still meaningful NFL football to be played.

To simplify the playoff equation for the Dallas Cowboys, let's boil it down: They just need to win as many games as possible.

If that should happen, they'll be sitting pretty and win the division and roll into the playoffs with a set of circumstances not known by this franchise since the early 1990s: A three-game winning streak heading into the post-season.

Cowboys win and seeding and momentum and all that jazz works itself out ending any speculation by the mean, nasty ol' media and fandom.

This week, the Washington Redskins. Five things:

Tony Romo vs. Redskin Secondary
The Redskins have the fifth best pass defense in the league. Of course, the Cowboys have the 21st best pass defense. And we all know who's going to the playoffs and who isn't. So maybe pass defense ain't all it's cracked up to be.

Redskins Pride vs. Cowboys Complacency
The Redskins had their November game won until Romo hit Patrick Crayton in the end zone for a touchdown and the win. The Redskins may suck, but they always play the Cowboys tough and Washington, D.C. in December is not going to be easy anyway.

Shaun Suisham vs. Shaun Suisham
Again, the guy sucks. You don't get cut from two teams and remain a good placekicker. Then again, what does it say about the one team that cuts him once and brings him back after drafting two kickers in three drafts? I wouldn't bet a plug nickel on Suisham with the game on the line tomorrow.

Jason Campbell vs. DeMarcus Ware
In the November match-up, Campbell simply outplayed Romo and the Cowboys were damn lucky not to find themselves on the shitty end of a loss. In the game, Campbell was sacked once, by Keith Brooking. Ware and Anthony Spencer got close, but never got Campbell down. He's a big guy, for sure, but his strength is standing in the pocket with time and being able to step into a pass. Without time, he gets sloppy.

Tiebreaker vs. Tiebreaker
Should the Cowboys start losing and find themselves in the gaggle of teams vying for the division or even the wild card, it'll come down to division records. Well, the Cowboys better hope they win out. They're 2-2 in the division against the Giants (4-2) and Eagles (4-1). Cowboys desperately need this game for the division, wild card and any and all tiebreakers.

Prediction
Cowboys 14, Redskins 12
Suisham doesn't see the field. Thankfully.

SMU puts a little butter on its roll

Horse is a horse of course, of course

Prediction: The SMU Mustangs will be ranked in the top 25 some time next season.

I don't think voters take into account bowl victories because if they did Boise State, Utah and TCU would get more love in the pre-season rankings. However, SMU showed itself as a force tonight with a 45-10 drubbing of the Nevada Wolfpack to win the illustrious Hawaii Bowl.

It was never close. It was 31-0 at halftime. The Mustangs kept the Wolfpack rushing offense (362 yards a game) to 137 and Kyle Padron racked up a silly 460 yards to cap off the 24-year drought of the SMU football program.

It's a proud moment if you're a fan of Dallas sports because it's always a better feeling around town with SMU is playing well at something other than women's soccer.

There isn't nothing like good college football and I would hope next season that sports fans and Dallas folk take in a game at Ford Field because it's a different bag of sand in the college ranks. You've got kids playing their balls off because in a year or so they'll be selling insurance or filling out TPS reports.

There's a select group of SMU seniors that will walk off campus this spring knowing they participated in the greatest season of SMU football, a quarter century tale of woe and want that preceded most if not all of the current team.

Go Mustangs, thanks to every alumnus who ponied up the money for June Jones.

Cruise control

I'm sure they're discussing healthcare or the weather

Give the Dallas Stars another four days and they'll have squandered any momentum or good feelings its fans might have about this team.

They've gone from a win in San Jose, to a loss in Los Angeles, to losses against Carolina and Atlanta, to a win against Detroit, a loss against San Jose and, tonight, a 3-1 win over the hapless Columbus Blue Jackets.

One team's mediocrity is another team's success. It'd be nice to win every game, but that isn't in the books. Instead, you try to win the winnable games, sneak some good road wins in with some good wins against the cream of the crop. That's kinda what the Stars are doing. Kinda.

Still, they're the eighth seed and it's not yet January. Time to freak out or even worry is not yet nigh.

Notes:
1. Brad Richards, in 35 games, has 32 assists and 42 points this season. This compared to 32 assists and 48 points in 56 games last season.

2. Didn't realize that Stephane Robidas had already tripled his goal total from last season, from three to nine.

3. James Neal notched goals 17 and 18. Is he an all-star?

4. Four points in December put Steve Ott at nine points for the year. Not that he's Wayne Gretzky or anything, but you've got to expect more from him. He was pointless in all of November.

Pony up, bitches

Kicking ass

Tomorrow will mark the first time in 24 years that the SMU Mustangs competed in a bowl game when they go jock strap to jock strap against Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl.

First off, getting to go to Hawaii has to be an absolute treat for the Mustangs. I mean, it beats Alabama, Illinois or Seattle.

Two, this represents a rebirth of a once great program that was made an example of by the NCAA despite the fact that every college and university aren't playing by the rules. Maybe SMU was just too blatant and cocksure to stop. Maybe the NCAA thought it could nip the obviousness of illegality in college sports by putting SMU on the cross. Either way, there's nothing June Jones and Co. can really do about the last 25 years of Mustang football. They can only control the present.

Nevada is a nice opponent for the Mustangs and, should they win, they'll be able to put a nice little feather in their caps as they look toward 2010.

Nevada is 8-4 overall and 7-1 in the WAC, which is an awful conference with Boise State and a crew of awful, awful football programs.

Nevada actually strated 0-3 with losses against Notre Dame, Missouri and Colorado State. Their fourth loss came at the hands of Boise State.

The Wolfpack score. And they score a lot. They posted at least 60 points four times (70 against Idaho) and basically didn't score below 30 as they cruised through the WAC rabble. Only in their losses did they score less than 30.

Nevada runs the ball, averaging 362 yards per game. They had three guys with 1,000+ yards rushing.

The biggest news is that Nevada will be without four players -- two of which are guys who helped notch those 1,000-yard seasons. Backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott are hurt. Safety Duke Williams and linebacker Andre Davis were dismissed from the team.

However, this ain't about Nevada. It's about June Jones -- the coaching guru who causes dead football programs rise from dead like an anecdote out of the New Testament. Jones took a hapless and disastrous program in SMU and turned them around in two seasons, basically less than a year.

I mean, it's to the point that seeing the Mustangs inch up the rankings next season would not be a surprise and, frankly, it might be expected by some. What Jones has done is beyond belief. Most I think never thought the Mustangs would see success ever again. Now if Jones could only coach basketball, the 'Stangs would be set.

Uwe Blog's NFC Power Rankings, Vol. IV

I'm sorry, DeSean Jackson

It's nut-cuttin' time in the NFC. Actually, this conference isn't near the traffic jam as the AFC. Frankly, if the NFL is indeed the best professional sports league in the history of the world, this is why. To have 10 teams vying for two playoff spots in the AFC, or having four or five going for it in the NFC (including three in the same division) is what makes this league great and the day that (see: parity) goes away, they will sink down to MLB level where the Yankees and Red Sox simply rule the roost.

To the rankings:

New Orleans Saints
I realize they needed to help their fans recover from a hurricane that happened five years ago, which didn't affect any of the 80,000 fans in the Superdome, but losing to Dallas last week will be the best thing for them. They didn't need the burden of an undefeated season on their shoulders if they want to succeed in the playoffs.

Philadelphia Eagles
Losses: New Orleans, Dallas, San Diego ... and Oakland. Think they want that one back? That could mean the division. Nonetheless, they've won five straight and they blew out San Fran and Atlanta two of the last three weeks.

Minnesota Vikings
Why does it feel that Brett Favre and Brad Childress hate each other? Especially on Childress' part. What about Favre saving his coaching career doesn't he get? If Favre wants to use his desk as a toilet, Childress should just clear his papers and pencil cup and let Grandfather Time drop trou.

Arizona Cardinals
Has to be the easiest schedule in the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys
My, what a difference a week makes. Still, can't drop them nor can I keep the Packers above them.

Green Bay Packers
A loss highlights the fact that they have two decent wins: Dallas and Baltimore. Unless they've got Detroit in the playoffs, they might find January hard to deal with.

New York Giants
Getting swept by Philly is killing them. Frankly, their four-game losing streak doesn't look as bad with all four team probably being in the top eight in the league. I will not bury them until they are mathematically eliminated.

Washington Redskins
Let the battle of Shaun Suisham begin!

Atlanta Falcons
I went into Tuesday thinking the Falcons had lost that Jets game. I was disinterested that I took the halftime score as being the final score. Atlanta should roll off two straight to finish 9-7 to somehow put lipstick on this pig of a season. Got to start thinking defense for the draft.

Carolina Panthers
Former Cowboys great Matt Moore looks good and like the heir apparent to Jake Delhomme. The Panthers haven't quit and they've got a good enough running game to beat anyone on any given week. Them finishing 8-8 is not out of the question despite the Giants/Saints to finish the season.

San Francisco 49ers
Do you think they remember 2-0? Then football happened.

Chicago Bears
How crazy would it be seeing Lovie Smith fired on the field and then the Bears hold a press conference announcing Mike Shanahan as the head coach and general manager? Could happen. Kinda.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
How is this team going to get better?

Detroit Lions
Kevin Smith ain't the answer at running back. I think if they had Glen Coffee they'd win three more games than they have.

St. Louis Rams
Need to permanently go to the 1970s, bright yellow/blue threads.

Seattle Seahawks
They might have more wins, but Seattle is not better than Detroit or St. Louis.

Trailblazed

Ol' Roy

If I had to have a secondary favorite NBA team, it would have to be the Portland Trailblazers. I've always kinda liked them dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.

I also have a crush on them now with Brandon Roy (who I loved in college), LaMarcus Aldridge, Travis Outlaw, Jerryd Bayless, Dante Cunningham and Rudy Fernandez.

Nevermind that three of those four final guys didn't see the court in last night's 85-81 win over Dallas (in Dallas!). Last night was the Roy and Aldridge show. Those guys are really great and I think the Blazers are great. I honestly don't know what is holding them back in terms of the playoffs and being a top seed in this conference. Probably defense.

Not that Dallas didn't give them some help. Tim Thomas, Jason Terry and Drew Gooden went a combined 4-23 off the bench. Jason Kidd shot like crap. Shawn Marion missed all seven of his shots. Erick Dampier went 2-8 from the line. Dirk Nowitzki went 10-13 for 27 points, but somehow J.J. fuckin' Barea wound up with 16 shots.

Here's a made-up stat: Any time J.J. fuckin' Barea leads this team in shot attempts, the Mavericks will lose. Just a hunch.

No biggie. I guess. The Mavs aren't going to shoot 38 percent every game this season. And hopefully Barea's not going to hoist 16 shots a game either.

Per my "Vibrant Middle" assertion, I predicted they go 12-3 through this stretch ending with the new year. They are now 8-4.

What the hell happened to Nick Folk?

The Dallas Cowboys cut kicker Nick Folk yesterday and signed Shaun Suisham.

The team just needed to do this. It's tough letting a draft pick who was so stinkin' good go, but this is nut-cuttin' time. If the Cowboys need a field goal late, they can't handle the possibility that Folk will miss a 33 yarder and then hang himself from an overpass on I-30.

Here are some facts:

1. Nick Folk, when all is said and done, will latch on somewhere else and make a career out of it.

2. Suisham sucks. Sucks hard. Trust me, Cowboys fans will be ready to run him out on a rail soon enough. The Cowboys cut him because he sucked. The Redskins signed him because they suck and they cut him because he sucked.

Folk's story is a fairly common one in professional sports. A master of his craft is unable to perform even the menialist of tasks: Like throwing to a catcher, throwing to a pitching, making a routine toss to first base or kicking a 20-yard field goal.

It's the yips. It happens. Kickers get extra chances because they all get the yips and get cut and some other guy comes in and kicks until he gets the yips. Suisham had the yips. Gets cut. His predecessor gets the yips, gets cut and Suisham is back. It's cyclical.

Why does this happen? Surely psychologists and whatnot are researching this trying to find the million dollar answer.

It's entirely mental and one small, stupid thing seeps into their brains and fucks it all up.

But we'd be remiss to entirely ignore Folk's tenure as a Dallas Cowboy in lieu of the reason for his dismissal. Folk was drafted in the sixth round by the Cowboys in 2007. Remember, this was a gigantic coup for Jerry Jones and the franchise. They've infamously found kickers on the scrap heap since Jimmy Johnson's days and rolled with it. Once the kicker lost it, they were throw out and a new guy brought it. A draft pick on a kicker was a wasted draft pick.

Then Folk happened. He was taken before hotshot Mason Crosby and he did not dissapoint. He won the starting job and just basically nailed every kick there was to kick. He just didn't get his 33 yarders and collect a paycheck. He was hitting monstrous 45 and 50 yarders in crunch time. See the Buffalo Bills video above.

Folk was a hero, not just another kicker. He was a mighty weapon primed to be in this organization for the next decade with Mat McBriar, both of whom would turn the special teams on its head and cause havoc for opponents.

Wanted three points before half? Cool. Get it to the 35 yard line and let Folk have it. It was automatic and no one (no one!) doubted that Folk could hit it. He was a ballsy dude. And he'll be missed.

Oliver!

The other Darren

The Texas Rangers are set to sign lefty reliever and Ranger great Darren Oliver to a one-year deal with a vesting option for 2011.

Oliver, 39, has, frankly, kept it real. Five years ago the veteran made the permanent switch to the bullpen and has been fantastic ever since.

Since 2006, he's pitched 64 or more innings per season. His ERA's been under 3.00 the last three seasons.

Oliver's allowed just 15 home runs the last three seasons. Last season, he was most effective against righties (.217 BAA), but he had 34 K and just four walks against lefties).

Oliver obviously fills the left-handed reliever role left vacant by Eddie Guardado's apparent retirement and the stark possibility that C.J. Wilson could be in the rotation next year. Not a bad signing at all.

****
In other news, Mike Lowell has a thumb that needs surgery and he won't be traded to the Rangers. Don't think anyone's missing any sleep on this one. Lowell was probably a nice pick-up but game changer he is not.

The Rangers will shift attention back to Vlad Guerrero or Jermaine Dye to fill a right-handed, middle-of-the-line-up guy.

Dirkless

King James version

The Dallas Mavericks had to do something last night that they've rarely had to confront in the past:

Dirklessness.

The big German sat out with Carl Landry's teeth lodged in his elbow, but the Mavs rolled 102-95 over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

All thanks, of course, to replacement Dirk, Tim Thomas. He had 22 points, but the 45 points from the bench (Drew Gooden, Josh Howard and Jason Terry) were major factors in the win.

I think the key in a game where the Mavs were outrebounded and the Cavs shot 45 percent is turnovers. The Mavs had only six. The Cavs 12. Also, the Cavs missed six free throws (two each from LeBron James and Mo Williams) and the Mavs missed just one.

I would think the Cavs without LeBron, the Raptors without Chris Bosh, the Lakers without Kobe Bryant and the Magic without Dwight Howard would all consider themselves fortunate to win any and all games.

The Mavs should feel fortunate to have capable enough guys to go out and not necessarily beat a good team, but to play one of the cleanest games in recent Mavs history.

Spencer for hire

Hurt neck? What hurt neck?

I would come here and act all contrite that I predicted that the Dallas Cowboys would lose by 30 to the New Orleans Saints tonight.

However, I wasn't alone. Every stinking media member in Dallas-Fort Worth predicted a Cowboys loss. I might be one of the few to think the Cowboys might give up 50 and lose by four touchdowns. What can I say? I can't stand the Cowboys.

Then again, as little reward as there was to see the Cowboys succeed, it was nice to see the Saints lose. I'm sure all those fans sitting in those $250 seats were just super affected by hurricane Katrina.

The key to this game -- and why no one believed they'd win the game -- was playmaking. The Cowboys had spent 13 weeks not doing it so we only assumed they wouldn't do it one the road against the best team in the league (or so we think).

The difference between an 8-8 team and a 12-4 team is playmaking: Converting 4th-and-1s; falling forward for an extra yard on a run; sidestepping rush to make a throw; making a big sack on third down; forcing a fumble; recovering that fumble; making a quick tackle on a crossing route which otherwise ends 35 yards down the field.

The Cowboys did all of this tonight. They really hadn't done it with any consistency the first 13 weeks.

Grades:

Quarterback -- A
Tony Romo was really, really good. I typically criticize the guy when they lose and even in those games he'll have two touchdowns, no interceptions and 300 yards. However, he didn't do much to actually win the game that was on the field. If you put up those numbers and score 14 points and lose by two touchdowns, what good are those numbers? What I loved most about Romo tonight was his willingness to tuck the ball and run. That short run (diving head first) on the backbreaking third-quarter drive made the game. He passes for 100 yards and no touchdowns, but makes that play and the Cowboys will win games.

Running Back -- A
I hate the argument that the game controls whether you run the ball. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has notoriously waffled on the run game. Tonight, he ran and ran some more and it worked. Not only that, but it made the pass game entirely more effective. No one's saying you need to run the ball 40 times, but what does it hurt to run 25 or 30?

Wide Receiver -- B
Kevin Ogletree's sideline catch in the third quarter, tippy toeing while making a phenomenal catch in bounds was, by far, the best catch for a Cowboy this year. That dude has something. Entirely more than Roy Williams (1 catch, 14 yards), but still quite a bit less than Miles Austin (7 catches, 139 yards), who is explosive.

Tight End -- A
Hypothetical: Jason Witten and John Phillips run a 100-yard dash. Who wins and which happens first: paint dries, grass grows or Joe DeCamillis shaves his sideburns?

Offensive Line -- B-
Not that bad, actually. Felt Romo was on the run some, but overall they kept lanes open for passing and running and how many hard runs did they help convert?

Defensive Line -- B
Didn't heart their name a lot and the Saints didn't run too much for it to matter. They showed up and that's about it.

Linebackers -- A+
The two best guys on the field were Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware. By a country mile. Spencer resembled Bill Murray in "Rushmore" when he runs up and blocks that third-grader's basketball shot without barely jumping vertically. Men vs. boys. Ware was the biggest X factor. He doesn't play and the Saints may win this game. To quote Tiger Woods, "Huge."

Secondary -- A
Best game of the year. When they were intercepting passes or getting hands on balls (gross), they were playing great coverage, making Brees try silly passes and tackled. Question: What if Devery Henderson catches that gimme touchdown in the third quarter that he dropped and the Saints settled for a field goal? Almost bit them in the ass.

Special Teams -- C
I'll be shocked if Nick Folk is still on this team Monday. Shocked. Coverage got shakey at times.

Coaching -- A
The Cowboys defense need a near-perfect game plan and performance. They got it. Credit Wade Phillips. The guy's back is against the wall. He's a bumbling redneck who doesn't know any better. All he knows is coaching defense; not media relations. I thought Garrett's play calling was fantastic. Great all around.

Let the bloodletting begin!

Easy Breesy

I will be put in harrowing straits this Saturday night as the Dallas Cowboys face off against the New Orleans Saints.

On some level, both teams are considered "America's Team," which is just nauseating. The Cowboys because they win all the time and the Saints because a hurricane hit the city in which their stadium is situated and the next day the flood waters spilt over the levees and just wiped the city off the map. Millions were displaced, some killed or injured. Tragic moment.

But let's not confuse things here. Devery Henderson doesn't live in the Fifth Ward. Reggie Bush is in Los Angeles more than he's in the Big Easy. It's sweet that there are people in New Orleans who lost everything who are rooting for the Saints, but let's not pretend that these mercenary football players are playing for free because of a city.

Don't mean to sound callous, but it's disgusting how we gush over that stupid football team as if they somehow represent a city that was ravished. Barf.

In lieu of five things folks need to watch, I am going to name five Saints who are going to help absolutely crush the Dallas Cowboys. For the record, I hate both teams, but I'll be pulling for the Saints because one loss will not crush them like it would the Cowboys.

Drew Brees
Do you watch the American "The Office?" The interesting dynamic now is that Jim Halpert is a sort of co-manager in the Scranton branch along with the maddening Michael Scott. Halpert is the voice of reason; Scott is buffoonery personified. However, Halpert finds himself unable to appropriately manage the office because it's a group of people used to the madness of Scott and once reasonable systems are put in place, they rebel. For whatever reason, the idiot Scott is able to manage those employees and succeed. Brees -- despite having none of the typical tools of a great quarterback -- runs that system to perfection. He dodges pressure, zones in on no one and is super accurate.

Jeremy Shockey
Seems like Shockey is a Cowboy killer. Had 11 catches and 125 yards (I believe as a Giant) the last Cowboys game. He averages about four catches and 50 yards against the Cowboys. Gerald Sensabaugh will be busy.

New Orleans
Did everyone see that New England game? I'm going to be honest. Here's the deal: If this game were at noon or 3 p.m. on Sunday, I think it could be a game the Cowboys win. Seriously. I think they can stop the run, get pressure and if they can keep it in the 20s, they have a shot. Unfortuantely, it's on Saturday night. Those crazy-ass cajuns will be drinking, snorting, pounding, double-fisting, fisting, screwing, chugging all day long. Then they'll paint their bodies and enter into the Superdome. It's going to be loud and crazy as shit. Flozell Adams will have 10 false start penalties.

Reggie Bush
Last time the Saints faced the Cowboys, Bush had six carries for 37 yards. Unfortunately, he catches the ball and that last game (a Saints blowout) he had six catches, 125 yards and touchdown. He's also coming off a two-touchdown game. Recently, the Cowboys have had trouble (ahem, Anthony Spencer) covering backs out of the backfield.

Darren Sharper
I think it's going to apeshit and Tony Romo will be chased around all night. Sharper is the quinessential ballhawk. Romo and ballhawks don't get along.

Prediction
Saints 47, Cowboys 16
Again, I give the Cowboys a shot if it's at noon, Sunday. They don't stand a chance this week, however.

Our Kam Loe update

The Milwaukee Brewers signed giant righty, former Ranger fav Kam Loe to a minor-league deal.

The Pirates were apparently interested. Pirates ... Brewers? Yeah, Brewers.

If you're not rooting for Loe, then you're an asshole.

Fake Gerry Fraley predicts death, gives Twitter a bad name

A side story to the unfortunate scene surrounding Chris Henry and his untimely and tragic death yesterday involves one of our favorite local reporters, right here in Dallas, Texas.

Apparently, about 12 hours before the Cincinnati Bengal wide receiver was officially pronounced dead, a Twitter account apparently owned and run by Dallas Morning News reporter Gerry Fraley (Biodome10) reported that Henry had indeed died.

Late, another Twitterer (DMNGerryFraley) reported talking with a doctor further confirming the death.

Neither Twitter account is run by Fraley nor was Fraley reporting any such things. Furthermore, it's really unclear as to whether Fraley has an actual Twitter account.

I don't know who reported the death based on the Fake Fraleys. Everything that I read leading up to the real death didn't indicate any erroneous reports or waffling on the idea that he did die.

Sucks because there's jackasses hijacking the good names of actual reporters (especially excellent ones like Fraley) and abusing their reputations by putting out these fake online rumors. What's worse is that there's probably more than one media outlet that ran with these Tweets without first confirming them with the News.

It's also paying Twitter and all online media (including blogs) any favors. Not that blogs deserve any credit -- especially this one -- because most are largely reactionary. But it hurts really good sports sites like Deadspin and The Big Lead because they're lumped in with the goobers that make fake accounts and wrongly attribute sketchy stories.

Staring reality in the face

Matt Niskanen: Trying to get a little respect

Dallas sport fans should probably sit down for a come-to-Jesus talk, me included.

We're playing host right now to two pretty talented teams that for whatever reason (probably mental) can not put things together and are, thus, probably underachieve this season.

I'm talking about the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Stars.

More specifically, the Dallas Stars.

Right now, this team couldn't get more ordinary. And, yet, they are so very close to being -- standingswise -- an elite team in the Western Conference. They blew another road game last night to the Atlanta Thrashers in overtime, 6-5.

In their last 12 games, they have five overtime losses, four wins and three losses. For the season, they've got a league-high 11 overtime or shootout losses. Just a kick in the nuts.

Ironically, two of their most recent wins have come against stout division foes San Jose (there) and Anaheim.

Not being a hockey expert by any stretch of the imagination, I have no real idea what's happening. What I've seen and considering the late-game goals and overtime losses, they don't have the legs or the head to compete late. At least for the moment.

Also, I think the blue line is suffering (thus, hanging the goaltender out to dry) and, of course, the Stars are one of the worst penalty-killing teams in the league. The Thrashers went 3-4 with a man advantage. The Stars improve by 33 percent there and they win the game.

What's killer is that this is a really likable and talented team. Arguably, pound for pound, the most talented Dallas team right now. Yet, they find themselves on the losing side most nights when they could very, very easily be on the winning side. When it comes to tied games late or in overtime, you'd think the most talented team would win. Instead, we're learning the strongest team wins.

Big XII football hodgepodge

Turner Gill, about 30 years ago

The Kansas Jayhawks quickly made a move on the coaching vacancy bringing in Turner Gill from Buffalo.

Gill is actually a local product having graduated from Arlington Heights over in crazy Fort Worth and went to Nebraska for college. He was a grad assistant at the University of North Texas in 1990 and eventually to his alma mater in a variety of coaching roles.

Since 2006, Gill has been the head coach at Buffalo where he's turned a 2-10 MAC punchline into a 7-5 decent team, taking home MAC Coach of the Year honors in 2007 and 2008.

His goals, according to his first press conference in Lincoln:

“Recruit. Beat Missouri. Recruit. Win the North. Recruit. Win the Big 12, and in most cases if you win the Big 12, then you're playing for a national championship. And then we're going to recruit.''

Kansas is Gill's big opportunity. Gill famously has been regarded as the best coaching candidate in college football and yet he's been passed over for arguably less qualified (and whiter) candidates. Needless to say, we're rooting for Gill.

****
The biggest new out of college football the last five days is the idea that the Big X (actually, the Big XI) is thinking of adding a team.

Notre Dame makes entirely too much money to join a conference.

However, Big XII's own Missouri is in the mix. And it would definitely help Gary Pinkel make a step up in terms of contending for a national championship.

The Big XII is log jammed. Texas and Oklahoma aren't going anywhere. Nebraska looks back. Texas Tech is still decent. Plus, the Big XII North sucks ass and any team from that division will not be taken seriously.

Mizzou fans had better watch what they wish for, however. Big X ain't what it used to be, but I don't know if they're better than Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa or Michigan State. And what if Michigan or Illinois ever come back up for air?

One team the Big X should take is Iowa State. They're a marginal program that could benefit from a change out of the Big XII and, plus, they're just an oddball in the conference. They'd have the intra-conference rivalry game with Iowa still and it'd just be best for everyone. I doubt, though, that the Big X really wants them. The Cyclones don't make headlines.

Thunder struck

The good German

It's nights like last night that make close critics and fans of the Dallas Mavericks feel like their team might have a shot at doing something bigger than a second-round playoff appearance.

The Mavs dismantled the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-86 in OKC. Although Dallas has won five straight games, they haven't been very pretty. There's a subtle divide between winning and how you win. Winning is key. But at times it's how you win that is the true barometer of a professional sports team.

Last night was a sweet win. Against a good, young, athletic team that can go toe to toe against any team in this league and the Mavs just bashed their brains in during the second half -- two quarters in which the Mavs outscored the Thunder by 19 points.

It was simple: an 8-man rotation; 50 percent shooting; 42 percent shooting allowed; the best five guys on the court were Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Erick Dampier, Josh Howard and Jason Terry.

It's cut and dry. Nothing out of the ordinary except Nowitzki's 35 points on an extremely efficient 13-18 shooting, plus 11 rebounds, two steals and a block. Of course, anymore, that's not out of the ordinary for Dirk. Just another brick in the wall of his potentially best year ever.

Notes:
1. Marion's been sort of a ghost this season. Certainly filled up the box score against OKC: 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

2. Jason Terry shot like shit (2-12), but being the cagey veteran that he is, knowing his shot wasn't going down, he dished out five assists and turned the ball over just once in 33 minutes.

3. If you hold Kevin Durant to 4-18 shooting and Russell Westbrook to 6-19 shooting, you will beat the OKC Thunder.

4. It's sad seeing Shaun Livingston play. So much promise at one point.

5. Love what James Harden has become for the Thunder. A sweet player to watch in college.

6. Mavs are 10-4, so far, on the road. Light years from the 18-23 debacle from last season.

Just win, baby

What's going on here?

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams made minor waves yesterday with some quotable quotes insinuating that if the Cowboys show up Saturday night in New Orleans, they will win.

And that the Saturday match-up against the Saints is just round one of a two-round fight as he (and the Cowboys, we guess) expect to meet the Saints again ... in the playoffs.

Ironically, and this hasn't been reported on, Williams made a crack about New Orleans already being crowned the champions and the Cowboys had already lost the game and that the media had the story already written.

Then he comes out with the ultra-confident notes about "showing up." Williams isn't a smart person. Fifty bucks says Williams bitches about the media taking the "showing up" remarks "out of context." Forget that it was recorded.

All of this is fine. I have no problem with the remarks or the confidence to roll in during the week and say this, especially with the undefeated Saints playing host ... on Saturday night ... amidst 70,000 drunk cajuns. Frankly, you don't play a football game under those circumstances "saying all the right things." You've got to be at least a little attitudinal.

I do have some advice for Williams and the Dallas Cowboys: Win a fucking game in December.

All this talk, all the media go the way of the buffalo if you win in New Orleans Saturday night things look completely different. Now, you might drive some fans crazy and you'll need to show up in Washington and against Philly, but winning cures all ills.

Making others better

Manning: Making others better for a decade

There are a ton of things wrong with the Dallas Cowboys.

Their quarterback is probably the least of their worries, honestly. Tony Romo, I don't think, is the reason their reeling nor is he the sole reason they've stunk it up in December the last three years.

On the other hand, is he the reason they win games? And why isn't he capable of grabbing his team by the scruff of their neck and dragging them to victory?

The fact is, he's probably incapable of doing this. This ain't a Romo bag session. However, it's important to place the guy in his rightful place. He's nowhere near a top-tier quarterback. He might not be a second-tier quarterback. This isn't all bad. The truth is that there's not a ton of guys just all-out better than Romo despite his pockmarks.

A lot of talk this season as revolved around Romo's ability to connect with certain receivers and inability to connect with others. It is frustrating -- even as a guy who revels in a Cowboys loss -- watching this offense play the last six weeks. All the throws in the ground, four feet behind a receiver or six feet over their 6-5 frames.

It has to be further frustrating for fans to see guys like Tom Brady, Brett Favre or Donovan McNabb win a ton of games, division titles and Super Bowls with a seemingly endless cavalcade of nameless rabble of pass catchers.

Let's explore.

Super Bowl Winners
Since 2000 (the decade this practice will take part in), there have only been six different quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl. What we have learned over the last decade is that you don't need a great quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Only two of those six quarterbacks, I think, would be considered great: Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

With that said, who are those other quarterbacks and who were they throwing the ball to?

Trent Dilfer
Baltimore Ravens
Key Receivers: Shannon Sharpe, Qadry Ismail, Travis Taylor, Obafemi Ayanbadejo
Pretty spare. Sharpe is a Hall-of-Fame tight end, but he's not breaking off 90-yard catch 'n' runs. He moves chains. Otherwise, Dilfer had very little to work with. Most boggling isn't that Dilfer led a Super Bowl team, but that Ismail (not Rocket) was the leading receiver on a Super Bowl team.

Brad Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key Receivers: Keenan McCardell's corpse, Keyshawn Johnson, Joe Jurevicius, Ken Dilger
Four possession receivers, basically. Like Dilfer's Ravens, however, Johnson's Bucs won with defense. Not a lot was asked of these guys. But as I remember, if they needed a 3rd-and-8 converted, they could get it.

Eli Manning
New York Giants
Key Receivers: Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer
Remember, Jeremy Shockey was out a lot of that Super Bowl season for the Giants. Manning had two good targets (great, if you consider Burress as such, which I kinda would) and little else.

Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers
Key Receivers: Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, Nate Washington, Antwaan Randle-El, Heath Miller, Cedrick Wilson
I would grade Big Ben's targets a grade above everyone else's. If Randle-El's your third receiver, that ain't bad.

The Greats
Right now, the NFL hosts a cadre of quarterbacks that define the sports and position for our generation. On some level, at least.

This dominance or astuteness has translated to wins, division titles, conference titles and Super Bowl victories. At the end of their careers, they're probably looking at a Hall of Fame invitation. At the very least, two are probable locks. Surely these all-time greats were throwing to All-Pros ... or were they making others around them better?

Donovan McNabb
Philadelphia Eagles
Key Receivers: Charles Johnson, Torrance Small, Antonio Freeman, James Thrash, Chad Lewis, Freddie Mitchell, Todd Pinkston, Terrell Owens, L.J. Smith, Donte Stallworth, Reggie Brown, Greg Lewis, Brent Celek, Jason Avant, Kevin Curtis, Hank Baskett, DeSean Jackson
Say what you will, but McNabb's led the Eagles to a shitload of division titles and countless conference title games with two good receivers at different stretches: Owens and Jackson. Otherwise, it's been guys off the street. And if you want to play the guessing game, put Jackson on the Raiders or Rams coming out of Cal. And some say Owens was at his best with McNabb, but I think TO would be pretty great with me as quarterback. To me, some of those names are shocking as I remember their small burst onto the scene and then their swift decline.

Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts
Key Receivers: Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Dallas Clark, Ben Utecht, Anthony Gonzalez, Anthony Moorehead
What must kill opposing defenses is that Manning has little fear in throwing the ball to just about any eligible receiver on the field. In fact, none. Look at Colt statistics over the last decade and you'll see a dozen different names with 10 or so catches. Guys out of Butthead State, nondrafted guys getting big-time opportunites at the hands of equal opportunity passer Manning.

Now, Manning might get knocked because he did have Harrison and Wayne, two fantastic pass catchers. But look at Harrison's career arc versus Manning's. Harrison was a good receiver before Manning. He was otherwordly after Manning's rookie year. Furthermore, the Colts have done a fantastic job over the decade in drafting and signing tight ends and receivers with great hands. The idea is that you don't need to be fast or necessarily good. Manning will put the ball there. The question is if you can catch.

Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints
Key Receivers: Marques Colston, Billy Miller, Eric Johnson, Donte Stallworth, David Patten, Lance Moore, David Thomas, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem
Brees is a rare duck because he's probably one of the most highly regarded quarterbacks in the league and, yet, he's actually done very little. I mean, McNabb's had 10 years of utter success. Brees has puttered along with so-so, one-and-done playoff teams, putting up monster stats. What Brees doesn't have that Manning does is the premium quarterback frame. Brees is 6-0, incredibly short for the NFL. But the dude gets it done. And he gets it done with no-names.

He's essentially made the careers of Lance Moore, Robert Meachem and Marques Colston. Moore was undrafted. Colston, a seventh rounder. Meachem's the first rounder and he hasn't had the success of the other two. Check out a Saints box score some time. Brees is liable to sling the pigskin around to eight or 10 different receivers. The guy gets blood out of turnips.

Tom Brady
New England Patriots
Key Receivers: David Patten, David Givens, Deion Branch, Ben Graham, Troy Brown, Christian Fauvia
Brady may be the modern-day miracle worker. He's never ever had a decent receiver in this three Super Bowl seasons (the irony of the Randy Moss acquisition is that it's not resulted in a Super Bowl ring) and his running game's been largely crap outside of Corey Dillon's final gasp.

The fact is this: Tom Brady was by a million miles the best player on his team and he just willed them (thanks to some timely kicking, defense) to three Super Bowl victories. Can you believe Troy Brown had 1,200 yards receiving? If Romo had Brady's receivers, the Cowboys would be 3-10 right now.

Brett Favre
Green Bay Packers/New York Jets/Minnesota Vikings
Key Receivers: Sidney Rice, Visanthe Shiancoe, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, Jerricho Cotchery, Dustin Keller, Donald Driver, Bill Schroeder, Donald Lee, Koren Robinson, James Jones, Bubba Franks, Ruvell Martin, Terry Glenn, Javon Walker, Antonio Chatman, Robert Ferguson, Antonio Freeman
Although I don't think Favre is better than Manning or Brady, I think he's the best in making those around him better. Every season -- especially as a Packer -- he rolled in with a bunch of receivers that looked like a corps from some mid-major university and padded stats and won games.

Ruvell Martin? Antonio Freeman? Bill Schroeder? Are you kidding? Furthermore, I think Sidney Rice owes Favre his 2009 salary. Rice was a guy with all the tools to be great stuck on a team with Adrian Peterson and one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league, Tavaris Jackson. The greatest moment in Rice's career was when Favre officially quit waffling and signed with the Vikes.

The Receivers

Never The Same
Antonio Freeman, Deion Branch, Javon Walker, Antwaan Randle-El, Brandon Stokley, James Thrash
Remember how big those guys were to their teams? Almost all of them left looking for more playing time, better opportunities. All of them found that when Manning, Roethlisberger, McNabb, Favre or Brady aren't throwing you the ball, success doesn't come as easy.

Repeat Offenders
David Patten, Donte Stallworth, Antonio Freeman
These guys, on some level, might be the smartest of the bunch. Except Stallworth, who's a dirty, disgusting drunk driver who kills people. However, all three went from one of these quarterbacks and wound up wiht another, finding success with two different quarterbacks.

Our Conclusion
Tony Romo is a nice quarterback. The Cowboys are married to him and, frankly, they could do a ton worse.

However, any debate as to whether Romo is a first- or second-tier quarterback should be extinguished as quickly as possible, because he's no where near these other guys.

And it doesn't have to do with his height (as we see with Brees), his receivers, his running game, his defense, his coaches (well, maybe a little), his college, his vacations, accuracy (how many poorly throw balls have we seen McNabb make?) or his gunslingerness (see: Favre).

What hurts Romo the most is his inability to make everyone around him a better football player.
And it's not just receivers. How many crappy running backs looked good on a Brady, Manning or Favre-led team? How many poor offensive lines did they have? What came first: the good offensive line or the good quarterback that made his line look good?

Quarterbacks get a ton of criticism, praise and money because they are the most important guy on any given football team. Mostly because it's not coincidence when you look at a good team and quarterback that you find everyone else looks better.

Romo can't do this. Not his fault. It's not something you practice or can perfect. Romo just doesn't have it and it's something the Cowboys need to overcome ... somehow.

Going, going, gone

Tom Hicks has chosen his heir.

The embattled owner of the Texas Rangers chose the group headed by Chuck Greenberg. Greenberg and his group will be the sole group to negotiate a deal with Hicks (within a 45-day window) in order to officially buy the team. The price tag is projected a$530 million, or so.

Greenberg is a Pittsburgh-oriented sports attorney who helped Mario Lemieux buy the Penguins and owned a minor league team in the area. Nolan Ryan is apparently a part of his group (which should keep the Express in as prez) as is Hicks himself, as a minor partner.

Rumors swirled the last 24 hours that Jim Crane, the Houston trucking magnate, got back in the mix upping and reworking his originally half-assed bid. Then another rumor hit that Bruce Gilbert upped his bid today. However, neither move mattered as Greenberg was a better deal for Hicks for obvious reasons.

Hopefully this ends sooner than later. And maybe the Rangers will get to spend a couple more bucks this off-season. Either way, the tyrannical rule of Hicks on this ballclub -- for all intents and purposes -- is over and we can all breathe a little easier.

Go no tech

Unhealthily obsessed with the brunette.

The Ticket Line of the Week

Yesterday, during Hardline.

Corby Davidson: "Does anyone throw a better deep ball than Phillip Rivers?"

Dan Balis: "I'm pretty good."

Again, the funniest guy on The Ticket is a producer.

The worst of wins, the best of wins

Jason Kidd wants everyone to know: "Most definitely"

In an 82-game NBA season, you don't sweat the bad losses. In the NFL, it's different. There's zero time to recover and possibly stop a long stretch of bad play.

But in the NBA -- NHL, MLB -- there's plenty of time to right the ship and by April nobody will remember one of the most hideous games I've ever seen: A 94-90 Dallas Mavericks win over division foes, New Orleans Hornets.

The Mavs turned the ball over 23 times and Dirk Nowitzki scored 10 measly points, but it didn't matter. J.J. Barea played, by far, the best game of his season (23 points, 10-13 shooting).

They don't have to be pretty to go in the win column. But I think it's a game they'd soon forget.

Fourteen days ago, I asserted that from now through January the Mavericks could create separation in the division and conference. I called it "The Vibrant Middle," the time after the start of the season before the winter doldrums.

They are 5-2 in the Vibrant Middle now with a four-game lead in the division and a top-three seed in the West. I predicted 12-3, which they'd need to win some big games to match.

Notes:
1. The Mavs are 4-3 in the division. 0-1 against Memphis.

2. If I knew Chris Paul would have 20 points, 16 assists, five steals and four rebounds, I'd almost pick the Hornets to win. Instead, he shot 9-20 from the field and 0-4 from the arc.

3. Most promising stat for Josh Howard is his rebounding. Another eight boards last night. Makes me think his movement and jumping ability is alright.

4. Four points and five boards for Kris Humphries in eight minutes. Not bad production.

5. Roddy Beaubois, Tim Thomas and Quinton Ross all sat. What happened to their roles in the rotation?

6. Remember, like, two years ago when New Orleans looked like the team of the future? Now, they're ordinary, at best, and bleeding money and probably gonna start another dump of players sooner than later.

The Dallas Cowboys are D-U-N, done!

Sadness

I took some extra time this morning to process the attitudes of Dallas Cowboys fans and Dallas sports media.

I think it's safe to say that the 2009-10 Dallas Cowboys are finished. Even if they trip into the playoffs, it won't matter. They're not beating the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles or Green Bay Packers.

It's Dec. 14, 2009 and the Dallas Cowboys are done.

It's safe to look at the most recent abortion (versus San Diego) and say that was the biggest blow. However, I think the sun started to set with that Giants loss. That game set the pace for the Cowboys in December and they just blew it. I realize that it was a road game against a desperate division team that was going to play hard against the Cowboys no matter if they were 11-1 or 1-11.

But it was a huge game. If the Cowboys win in New York, losing to San Diego doesn't sting as much. They get to nine wins and, in theory, all they would need to do was win one more (Washington or Philadelphia) to make the playoffs. Not ideal, but real.

The point here is that the Cowboys can't beat anyone. All to the tune of 1-5 against winning teams this year. They're an 8-8 team like many (including me) predicted.

What is an 8-8 team? It's a team that can't beat a good team, but will surely snatch wins against bad teams. This defines the current state of the Dallas Cowboys.

There's a ton wrong here and it is extremely apparent that this team doesn't have what it takes between the ears to win games. With or without Terrell Owens.

The embattled receiver was ousted after last season and immediately fans and media predicted the Cowboys would get better ... the ol' addition by subtraction idiom.

Instead, this team isn't any better. And the attitudinal issues they had with TO are still there.

Why would Nick Folk place blame on him missing kicks on Mat McBriar? Why is Terence Newman bickering with Dave Campo on the sidelines? Why is head coach Wade Phillips constantly going toe to toe with the media wrongly and oddly defending him and his team during losses?

All of this tells us something.

I don't know anything about the professional team sports dynamic. Maybe none of this means anything. If it doesn't, that means that the Cowboys are inferior football players. And no matter who you bring in to coach or play, the Cowboys will always be 8-8 or worse.

I watched half the San Diego game with family, two of whom are gigantic Cowboys fans and just love the team to no end. They're beaten down. Men and women around this area and nation are tired of this team crapping the bed and then telling everyone that it smells like roses.

Until there are monumental changes in management and the coaching (Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett) staff, this team will not get any better and they will forever be stuck in this rut of 8-8, 9-7, 10-6. Forget playoff wins, let's get this team good.

So, again, can we talk about December now?

It was pass interference

Starting today the Dallas sports media will begin asking Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips and members of the team about losing another December football game, this time to the San Diego Chargers 20-17.

I have no doubt that stand-up players like Jason Witten and Keith Brooking will probably give the generic answer that they are facing big obstacles in December and its affecting their ability to make the playoffs.

Their asshole coach will ramble off stats from Buffalo or San Diego that showed how awesome his teams were in December.

All I know is that Phillips is liable to be on the street in a month and everyone will point to the last three years of lackluster December and January play and blame these games for his demise. What I think kills him the most -- at least in the media and, thus, the public -- is his lack of desire to just own up to some real trends and issues with his teams. If he comes clean three weeks ago and admits the December swoon and talks honestly without guile or condescension, then the media treats him well. And the public has a different view. And maybe the owner would too.

Well maybe not.

All I do know is that no matter what happens at Giants-Eagles, this is now a goddamn race. And the Cowboys aren't riding momentum.

Awesome.

Grades:

Quarterback -- D-
The king of bullshit touchdowns. Tony Romo sucked and in December you just can't have your quarterback half-ass in any given game.

Running Back -- B
It was there, but Jason Garrett ain't interested in running the ball. More on that. Felix Jones looked like a new guy.

Wide Receiver -- B
OK. Quite a few dropped passes, but even more passes that weren't on target. Those guys weren't going to win this game.

Tight End -- D
Marty B hurt and Jason Witten was a non-factor for most of this game. Again, if Witten is your main ingredient toward winning a game, the Cowboys are in big trouble. He's a chain mover, not a game changer.

Offensive Line -- B
Gonna be honest here: I didn't really notice them. Except for the penalties. However, they opened up the running game with huge gaps and I felt Romo had ample time to throw the ball.

Defensive Line -- C
The game ends in the third quarter and they get an A. Unfortunately, there was still a quarter to play and when they desperately needed a stop, they couldn't get it and that's where most of the Chargers rushing comes from. It was eerily similar to the Baltimore Ravens game from last year. At home, you make the stop and force Phillip Rivers to win the game. Stephen Bowen made the defensive play of the game with the sack on Rivers just before the half. Helped keep it 10-3.

Linebackers -- F
Seemed to be doing a lot of chasing all day. Their coverage sucked. They looked as gassed as the D-line late. Here's to DeMarcus Ware. There's a ton to hate about the Dallas Cowboys. Ware ain't one of them. Not that anyone deserves a neck or head injury, but I'm certainly hoping Ware's back sooner than later.

Secondary -- D
At times, they looked there and ready to make a play. Other times they looked lost, out of position and out-muscled. Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates and Malcolm Floyd looked like giants against Terence Newman, Gerald Sensabaugh and Mike Jenkins.

Special Teams -- F
Maybe Nick Folk's missed field goal turned the game. Maybe it was going for it on fourth down instead of the easy field goal. What was most distressing is that Dallas was seemingly perpetually up against their own goalline. Whilst the Chargers were always at midfield. Dallas' second-half possessions started at their own 4, 1, 14 and 14 yard line. Somewhere that field possession had to turn. It didn't.

Coaching -- F-
Where to start? I love going for it on fourth down. I just don't know if I feel the same way in a close first half.

The Cowboys rushed the ball 27 times for 108 yards at 4.0 per pop. At times, Jones and Marion Barber gashed the Chargers defense. It was there all day. Still, 14 of those 27 rushes game on one drive. Of the Cowboys eight possessions (not including the kneel down at the half), six started with the pass. On the two possessions they started with the run, they scored a touchdown (Miles Austin's touchdown) and got to the 1-yard-line (where they were stuffed). See, it's not about running 40 times, it's about running at the right times and if the game dictates running 60 times, you run it 60 times.

No one wants to talk about the December swoon and that's unfortunate because I get that feeling that this denial runs throughout the organization. But who stops it? Who's going to stand up and force this snowball to stop rolling down the hill? Not the coaches. Too busy padding their resume and their game tapes for future gigs.

Charged up

Out of town so I'm doing this the morning of in order to say that I did, indeed, promo the Dallas Cowboy-San Diego Charger gigantic match-up today.

Five things.

December
Gotta bring it up. Especially because the Cowboys are so bad and the Chargers and Norv Turner are so good. Remember, Turner was Wade Phillips' main competition when he was given the head coaching job in Dallas. Either something's got to give here or the trend continues ... depending on who wins.

Offense
I think San Diego scores at least 30 today. And if we learned anything from John Madden, it's that the team with the most points, wins. As good as Tony Romo's been, I wouldn't consider the offense "fixed" over the last two weeks. Moving the ball between the 40s but not scoring is not a good offense.

Holding
No, not necessarily holding calls on the offensive line. But holding extra points and field goals. Last it's Tony Romo's job to lose and I think we all remember the last time he attempted a kick hold.

JerryWorld
Other than the first Giants game, this is the new Cowboys stadium's first test. Home crowds show up for big games like this. Home crowds typically make the difference, often, between a road team coming in and taking over or a road team losing steam. We'll see.

The Big Game
The Cowboys have failed at many things this season. They're 0-2 against desperate teams (Giants, Packers). They've laid three stinkers the last four weeks (Giants, Packers, Redskins). They've lost the biggest game of their season as of date (home opener, Giants). This is a gigantic game for both teams. The Chargers need the win to keep pace on Denver and home-field in the AFC. Dallas needs it for obvious reasons. If they lose and the Giants win, it's a three-way atop the NFC and then nothing's safe, they're on a two-game losing streak, in a tough December with two division games left. Can the Cowboys handle that pressure?

Prediction
Chargers 34, Cowboys 24
Not even that close. I think the Chargers sock them in the jaw enough times in the second and third quarters that the Cowboys wilt.

I was a little wrong and Jon Daniels may be a genius ... maybe

In the clubhouse now

Early today I intimated that the point of the Texas Rangers trading Kevin Millwood to the Baltimore Orioles for a broke reliever was merely for the sake of saving money.

And that any rumor that the Rangers were trading Millwood to free up money in order to spend it elsewhere was bunk.

Well, I was wrong. And the Rangers proved me wrong pretty quickly.

Hours after the Millwood trade went down, the Rangers signed free agent starter Rich Harden to a one-year, $6.5 million contract. The deal has $3.5 million in incentives (if he hits 195 innings pitched) and an $11 million mutual option for 2011. If either side opts out, there's a $1 million buyout.

And I think it's a fantastic move ... and gutty as hell.

Harden's tough-luck career's been well documented. In seven MLB seasons, he's started more than 30 games just once and more than 20 just twice. Injuries have hampered him throughout.

However, when he's gotten on the hill, he's dominated. Talking 50-29, a 3.39 ERA and 783 strikeouts in 753 innings.

Harden had one of his best seasons in 2009 as a Chicago Cub where he started 26 games and had 171 strikeouts in 141 innings. So the Rangesr are catching him after a pretty full season ... for him.

GM Jon Daniels, I think, struck a pretty nice balance with Harden's deal. The Rangers are committing very little while provide a fantastic venue for Harden to put his career back on track. Harden craps out this season, and he's gone. However, Harden, being 27, has a much higher ceiling than Millwood and if he can find his career again before 30 he'll be the ace of a really young and good team.

High risk, really high reward.

****
Back to rumors, the Rangers and Boston Red Sox are allegedly talking a trade of Rangers prospect Max Ramirez for third basemen Mike Lowell.

I never minded Lowell. However, with no real proof, I always thought of him as a steroid guy. For five seasons, he hit 20 home runs a season. Then, he was hitting closer to 30 and then, in 2004, he dropped down to eight and never made it back to the 30s.

Lowell's home run power dipped, but his run producing didn't. He had 120 RBI in 2007.

Typically very durable, Lowell played in 113 and 119 games, respectively, in 2008 and 2009. He'll be 36 at the start of the season, so injuries may be an issue.

He'll play third, first and DH and probably help protect Josh Hamilton in the line-up. He's the big right handed bat the Rangers were looking for. I wonder if Jermaine Dye or Vlad Guerrero are still in the cards?

To me, all of this means one thing: The Rangers, even on a shoestring budget, are serious about winning in 2010. I can appreciate the effort.