18
Aug
2010
VIDEO: New Dallas Cowboys fight song
This video comes to us from Mathias, a 50-year-old Dallas Cowboy fan from southern California, who decided it was time that the Cowboys got themselves a new fight song.
Apparently Mathias is not a fan of shirts, haircuts or melody, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s about the lyrics, and the sheer passion oozing from his pores:
WHOOOO!!! I am FIRED UP! Shoulder SMACK!!!
Note to Jerry Jones: pipe this song through the sound system at Cowboys Stadium, and you’re sure to go undefeated this year. No doubt about it.
10
Aug
2010
VIDEO: Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston in Brokeback Mountain
In case you missed the NFL’s Hall of Fame ceremonies from Canton over the weekend, one of the highlights was Emmitt Smith‘s emotional acceptance speech, where he tearfully thanked his former Cowboy teammates Daryl Johnston, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin. It was genuine heartfelt moment in a sport where emotions are usually downplayed in favor of bravado; one that gave chills to even the most cynical football fan.
Well, it was only a matter of time before the internet took that moment and turned it into a trailer for Brokeback Mountain, right?
I don’t know, it’s still pretty touching to me.
[Via HotClicks]
16
Jul
2010
Oh yeah, the Supplemental Draft happened
Once again, mid-July rolls around, and we here at ReadAndReact are settling nicely into our summer, blissfully unaware that the NFL’s annual Supplemental Draft is taking place. Which it did, yesterday.
For those who don’t remember (or care), the Supplemental Draft is intended for players who failed to declare for April’s draft, or had other issues affecting their eligibility. This year, there were a grand total of 4 players eligible for the draft, and the Chicago Bears played it crafty, waiting until the 7th and final round to select RB Harvey Unga from BYU. They were quickly followed by the Dallas Cowboys, who pounced on Illinois DT Josh Price-Brent later in the round.
BYU Running Back Harvey Unga is now a Chicago Bear (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel/US Presswire via ESPN.com)
As we’ve discussed here before, the Supplemental Draft is something of an enigma, in that it holds very little significance, even for draftniks like ourselves. Hell, it doesn’t even seem to be a real event — more likely a conference call or online draft, a la fantasy football. But do you think that they make some poor sucker sit through hours of calling out team names and waiting for their time on the clock to run out? I mean, there were only four players entered in this thing, and the first one was taken with the 12th pick in the 7th round!! Even if there’s only 2 minutes on the clock per pick, that works out to over SEVEN HOURS before the first pick was made!!! I guess that’s why this isn’t a televised event. Goodell certainly isn’t hanging around and watching it unfold.
Of course, every time I think about the supplemental draft, I always wonder how many players taken here have really made an impact in the NFL. Read the rest of this entry »
13
Apr
2010
VIDEO: Drunken Jerry Jones trashes Bill Parcells and Tim Tebow
Deadspin brings us this AWESOME (if blurry) cell phone video of an obviously drunken Jerry Jones spouting off at a bar about Tim Tebow and Bill Parcells. Watch for yourselves:
The full transcript of Jones’ wonderful ramblings is at the Deadspin article. Among other gems, Jones says Parcells is “not worth shit”, but that he hired him to help generate enough money for the new Cowboys Stadium. And after being prodded (by these obvious Florida fans) about drafting Tebow, Jones states that he’d “never get on the field” with the Cowboys.
Quite frankly, none of this is particularly shocking stuff. I mean, it’s about how you’d expect a boozed up Jones to act. And it’s wildly refreshing to hear someone finally call out Parcells, who hasn’t won a thing in a generation. It’s certainly no revelation that money is Jones’ primary motivation in his management of the Cowboys. And we already know the man loves his hooch:
As for Tebow … well, he’s pretty much on point about that too.
Wow. The most surprising thing to me is that I’m defending Jerry Jones right now. But there ya go.
17
Jan
2010
Tony Romo Saves Greatest Fail for Last; Favre puts on a Clinic as Vikings defeat Cowboys (video)
When you see the Romo Face, you know the game is over (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images via ESPN.com)
It was only a matter of time, really. All through December, as the Dallas Cowboys finished the regular season uncharacteristically strong with 3 straight wins, culminating with their first playoff win in 13 years last week, you (or, at least I) just couldn’t shake the feeling that it would all come crashing down sooner or later for Jerry Jones’ club. And today in Minneapolis, oh boy did it come down on Wade Phillips and the ‘Boys, who were embarrassed by the Vikings 34-3 in the NFC playoffs.
Dallas QB Tony Romo once again crumbled in the biggest game of his life, with 3 fumbles (2 lost), 1 interception, 0 TDs and less than 200 yards. Much credit goes the Vikings defense who, led by DE Ray Edwards, harassed Romo all day, getting constant pressure and finishing with 6 sacks. But Romo, who apparently dipped his hands in butter before the game and whose turnovers cost his team the game, is clearly the goat for Dallas. You can just see it in Romo’s eyes when he is playing scared. The proven recipe for success against him is constant pressure … once he’s rattled, you see the “Romo Face”, and the game is won. And early on today it was obvious that Romo had lost it.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images via ESPN.com)
On the other side of the ball, the old man Brett Favre put on a clinic for the Vikings, throwing for 4 TDs – 3 to Sidney Rice - and no interceptions in leading his club to the win. Favre, at 40 years old, still plays the game like a kid, and his passion elevates the play of everyone around him. And oh yeah, he can still make all the throws and drop the ball on a dime for his receivers to make plays.
For all the flack he received over the whole un-retirement saga (including a healthy dose from this site), Favre has put to rest any remaining doubts as to his ability to still play the game better than almost anyone in the world. After the game, Favre had this to say:
“Today was like this season — it’s been wonderful,” Favre said. Asked if it was an emotional game for him, he said, “I’m kind of worn out right now, but it is. It was emotional before the game.”
After the game, it was all smiles in the Vikings locker room, as Favre led the team on a rendition of pop hit “Pants on the Ground” from American Idol.
CONTINUE AFTER THE JUMP FOR HIGHLIGHTS OF FAVRE SHREDDING THE COWBOYS DEFENSE
12
Jan
2010
Hey, it could be worse … you could be a Redskins fan (video)
The playoffs can be an emotional time for football fans. While Packers fans have been crying themselves to sleep these past few nights, and Eagles fans are attacking female Romo fans, we thought it would be good to give everyone a little bit of perspective on things. So before you go throwing yourself in front of a bus because you won’t get to watch Tom Brady’s chin any more this season, please try to keep in mind that a) it’s just a game and b) it could always be worse … you could be a Redskins fan.
Comedian Danny Rouhier – of Redskins Anonymous fame – is back to recap the painful experience that was the Washington Redskins 2009 season. Love this guy.
27
Dec
2009
Cowboys, Redskins, Live Blog
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
I am late to the NFL party today, having missed most of today’s games (except for some highlights) because of holiday stuff. I am going to blog tonight’s Cowboys-Redskins game (just underway) . . . .
7
Dec
2009
Flozell Adams is an unqualified “dirtbag”
Cowboys OT Flozell Adams and Giants DL Justin Tuck have a long and heated rivalry, as two pro-bowl players who face off twice a year in the fierce NFC East. Earlier this season in the teams’ first match-up, Adams injured Tuck when he blatantly tripped him after getting beat, prompting Tuck to say that he would “punish” Adams the next time they met. And there’s no doubt that he and the NY defensive line came to play … but within the rules.
Yesterday, Adams continued to prove himself as a classless punk when he took a cheap shot on Tuck while his back was turned at the end of the first half, which sparked a sideline altercation when the Giants stepped in to defend their teammate. Strangely, Adams went un-penalized, but the play is now under review by the NFL, who will undoubtedly be handing out a fine.
Here’s video of the incident, including Adams’ previous indiscretions along with Tuck’s post-game comments, in which he pulls no punches in calling Adams a “dirtbag”:
6
Dec
2009
Brandon Jacobs tip-toes his way to 74-yd TD
The New York Football Giants finally showed signs of life in completing a season sweep of the Dallas Cowboys, and put themselves right back into the playoff hunt with a 31-24 win at the Meadowlands this afternoon.
During the Giants’ recent slide, Giants RB Brandon Jacobs has been criticized for tip-toeing at the line of scrimmage, and not running with the straight-ahead power that he’s known for. And while he only had 39 yards rushing, Jacobs reached the end zone twice, including on this critical play toward the end of the 3rd quarter. Manning hits Jacobs in the flats and he goes 74-yards to the house for a go-ahead score. Watch the burst of speed in the open field, and then watch Jacobs use those very same tip-toeing skills along the sideline to keep himself in bounds and finish off the run:
6
Dec
2009
HASSELHOFF-LIKE WEBINAR-OFF
Like Baywatch and Knight-Rider before it, this week’s Webinar-Off is a timeless match-up between the forces of good (Cowboys) and evil (Giants). Dallas puts the flailing, frailing, and failing Giants out of their misery today because:
1. The Giants don’t have Vince Young to bring off the bench- The first time these two teams played, the Giants played with the same confidence that the resurgent Tennessee Titans are playing with now. Mario Manningham ate the Cowboys’ secondary for lunch, catching 10 passes for 150 yards and a score on a 49 yard bomb from a sharp Eli Manning. Steve Smith added 134 more yards and a score. That game was emblematic of the Giants 5-0 start as they answered every punch the Cowboys threw with one of their own. The Giants were a down-hill running, aggressive in the passing game, confident team on offensive that played well-enough on defense to corral the Cowboys’ big play threats. Evenly matched in terms of talent, the difference was that the Giants imposed their will on the Cowboys when it counted. The Giants simply aren’t that team anymore. Since that game, Manningham has put up pedestrian numbers (only one game with 100+ yards receiving), Manning has regressed, Brandon Jacobs has become “tip-toe” Jacobs, and the Giants’ defense has been so lackluster that Usi Umenyiora and Fred Robbins are being benched. The Giants are morphing into what the Cowboys were: soft. Injuries are part of it, but whatever it is, this team has lost its edge and there are no signs that the Giants will get it back in time to win today’s game or salvage what was once a promising season.
2. Mike Jenkins has reported for duty- The last time they matched up, the Cowboys started Orlando Scandrick opposite Terrence Newman. That was the last game Scandrick started, in part because of how he performed against the Giants but also because of the emergence of Mike Jenkins. Jenkins has, in the eyes of many, usurped Newman’s role as the best corner on the team– flashing the ability and aggressiveness that made him a first round talent two years ago. Jenkins has every reason to be motivated for today’s game if for no other reason than to avenge his much-discussed terrible tackling effort against Derrick Ward in his rookie season. Though Jenkins’ and Newman’s ability to cover has not resulted in as many turnovers as one would expect, it has allowed Dallas the opportunity to put more pressure on the quarterback. It has also allowed Dallas to simplify its schemes on defense, which has allowed the Cowboys to avoid the big play breakdowns that killed them against the Giants. Without a legitimate running threat, look for the Cowboys defensive to be more stout today as Jenkins and Newman make matters tougher on their receiving counterparts.
3. The Cowboys have Miles to go- As with Jenkins, Miles Austin has emerged since the Cowboys-Giants first match up. Austin leads the NFL with six touchdown catches of 20 yards are more and has helped take the heat off of Roy Williams. Coupled with the Barber, Choice, and Jones triumverate in the backfield, and the ever-reliable Witten, Austin gives the Cowboys the stretch-the-field weapon that they need to test the Giants’ thin secondary. Also look for Dallas to do more of what they did against the Raiders on Thanksgiving– crossing patterns with Austin– to see if Aaron Ross & Co. can keep up with the speedy Austin.
4. It’s December- The Giants need this win to save their season. Believe it or not: the 8-3 Cowboys do also. Dallas’ struggles in December are well-documented. If Dallas wants to be a team that matters in the playoffs they need to start by showing that they can put teams like the Giants away. Dallas has been focused on their performance in this season’s final month all year– as Bradie James said this week, the time is now to show everyone that this is not the same old fold ‘em Cowboys. Look for the Cowboys to match the Giants intensity today.
5. The Giants will be tighter than Tiger Woods on his wedding anniversary- The Giants look and feel like a team on the verge of imploding. While I don’t think that will happen today, I do think the Giants remind me a bit of last year’s Cowboys. When the going get tough, they play tight, fall behind, and just don’t have enough gumption to win in the end.
Dallas 24, Giants 21.
Fufkin: you agree?
