Roy Williams is all the rage these days in Dallas. First, the Cowboys traded Although, the consensus is (and, yes, by "consensus" I mean "me, Ryan and Deion") the Cowboys kind of egged on this whole thing, considering that not only did overpay him, but they proceeded to also overpay for him.
So, here's the thing: why? Seriously. Was a somewhat finicky albeit talented wide receiver really what the Cowboys needed? Were they basically floating dead -- take away the injuries -- with just Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, Jason Witten and Miles Austin catching passes in the high octane Dallas O? Was it so imperative to improve their offense right now that they mortgaged a chunk of the future to pick up Williams? Does it really matter who Brad Johnson has to throw to? Are you sick of my questions yet?
And the answers, in my humble opinion, are: No, No, No, Not particularly, and Most likely. That's not to say that Roy Williams will hurt the Cowboys. He won't. He makes them a better team. But unfortunately, it was a hefty price of four draft picks.
And this is where the conspiracy comes in. See, Pacman Jones is now suspended the next four games. (Shocking, I know.) And Jerry Jones is snacking on some crow for having brought the troubled cornerback into Dallas only to see him get suspended (again).
Now, when I'm in trouble, and publicly embarrassed -- and this happens quite frequently -- my secondary reaction is to snivel away and cry in a corner. But I only do that if my primary reaction -- causing a distraction to change the subject -- doesn't pan out. This is usually in the form of a snarky reply to a comment calling me out.
But if I owned a professional football team, I would simply make an outlandish trade that incited our fanbase into a perplexed riot, made every media outlet question my sanity, and had people asking the question "Is this is the only good move by the Detroit Lions front office since drafting Barry Sanders?"
Because, folks, when the Lions front office succeeds(at anything) and manages to yank wool over the eyes of the Cowboys and Jones, then you know -- know, I say -- that something is afoot.
I know, I sound insane. That's okay, because I'm talking about Jerry Jones. Think about it though; the Cowboys are in such dire straights that even their punter can't stay healthy/on the field. At any moment, you almost expect TO to wig out and start screaming at reporters while dressed up like a traffic cone. Oh right, he already did that.
So, in order to combat that, Jones has gone out and made an outlandish trade. We are all talking about it, we are all questioning Jerry's sanity and the immediate future of the 'Boys, and at the same time, we are all completely finished with talking about Pacman getting suspended.
Seems a little too convenient, doesn't it?
/cue X-files theme
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-15-2008 @ 5:14PM
Not Even a Fan said...
That doesn't even make sense. Why would JJ not want us talking about Pacman so much that he distracts us? I expected your article to take one of two directions:
1. JJ actually WANTS the public looking at the Cowboys, so he had to come up with something quick to keep the focus on his organization where he wants it - before he LOST the lime light
2. (given the word "conspiracy" in the title, I thought for SURE you would go this route) JJ knew that he would get multiple draft picks if Pacman was suspended. So they shopped around and found that they could almost neutralize all effects of this trade if they could ensure a suspended Pacman. By "neutralize" I mean that the picks they gave up were mostly replaced by the picks that they GOT for making sure Pacman was suspended.
Other than the above two directions, I don't think you even made a point in your article. You only stated that JJ wanted to divert our attention from Pacman's issues. But who cares about Pacman? Did anybody really NOT expect this outcome sooner or later? Do you really think that JJ cares if people have one more example of his players being clumsy, drug addicted, or media hungry? His team has a past for all of those, and I think in light of the way his organization now looks like it can turn players around (TO was a menace in PHI, but only recently has he even opened his mouth in DAL), this issue is a non-issue. You can't win every battle, and this one obviously was not won. Cut your losses, get a player who can excel in your organization, and make the cost almost nothing. Pacman isn't even worth the picks that they get for his suspension.
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10-15-2008 @ 5:29PM
Not Even a Fan said...
One more thing - making sure that a player is penalized for doing something idiotic only INCREASES your integrity as an organization. You're publicly announcing that this will not be tolerated; that your organization wants to have class, and this is not how to do it. It sends a message that no player is above the team - that no player's shenanigans are worth I think this is something that JJ would want in the media.
10-15-2008 @ 7:02PM
bsmalle said...
T.O. is 35 in December. Except for Whitten, none of those other receivers draw a second glance on game day. Do the math. How many first round draft busts have there been at the receiver position. This guy is a known commodity. He can play another 6 or 7 tears at the top of his game. Good trade.
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10-15-2008 @ 8:20PM
Fair & Annoyed Cowboys Fan said...
We actually did need a Roy Williams because if you take your head out of your ass long enough to remember when we had a healthy Terry Glenn, we were a lot more efficient offense. Stay off Jerry Jones back too. He's a great GM and owner and knows whats best for this football team. As for Pacman, they need to leave this guy alone... You gave the man a second chance I understand but people are going to be people and that means disagreements and altercations in some cases!!!!! Don't act like you ain't never had one READER!!!!!! He got into it with his bouncer NOT a STRANGER!!!!!........ By the way - T.O. Please Stop Crying!!!!!!!!
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10-15-2008 @ 8:34PM
Steel Wheel said...
X. Wrong answer bsmalle! Bad trade for the boyz but good -FINALLY- for the Lie-downs. I live in Detroit and I've witnessed first hand the lack of effort from Williams. Alas, it's perhaps the same reason Barry's light extinguished (lack of management dedication) but none-the-less a lack of devotion to his craft. I site the pinnacle of wideouts at their craft i.e., Hines Ward. A professional in the truest sense that catches clutch passes, blocks with devestating tenacity and leads both emotionally and physically.
You're so willing to dismiss T.O. and usher in Williams; I submit it will be a substantial downgrade. Albeit Williams is talented but no where near the breakout receiver T.O. is. Let me also state that I am NOT a T.O. fan but I recognize (as a football fan) that T.O. is perhaps the closest thing to "complete receiver" the boyz will ever have. And this move, despite the on paper strength, has just damaged the fragile ego of T.O.. What does this spell? Anxiety for T.O., A pist away #1 & #3, and a mortgaging of the future of a franchise completely rejuvenated by the genius of Bill Parcells.
As a Detroiter and a casual Lions fan I can say "Thank-you" to J.J. for his inept management and perhaps, just maybe The Hershell Walker trade has just been reversed for a franchise that needed a break.
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10-15-2008 @ 10:09PM
tony said...
Will Brinson is an IDIOT! Dallas has been after Williams for some time. Now they have 2 top notch wide recievers! TO has maybe 2 or 3 years left and Williams has many! So they are looking towards the future when they picked up Williams. Dallas is pretty deep at most positions and can land free agents to meet their needs even if they did lose draft picks. Only an IDIOT would tink they spent that kind of money to take the heat from pacman Jones who is a thug!!!!! Williams pick up is an excellent move! I'm sick of the media writing stupidity just to write something
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10-16-2008 @ 3:26AM
Lex said...
Bad trade, but Cowboys deserve the headache since they sold their souls along time ago when they got people like K. Johnson, then...T.O. ( Cancer...), then Pacman, 'make it rain$$$' and have your friends cowardly shoot people in the dark in Vegas ( Liar ! ). In all the years in the league, certainly can't remember too many Sunday afternoon highlight shows with Williams on any of em' ? Trade pacman to Canada now...
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10-16-2008 @ 4:18AM
Kevin said...
This was a good move for Dallas. Williams will open up the passing game and free up T.O. Trying to cover T.O., Williams, Witten and Crayton not to mention Felix Jones when he's back in 2 weeks will be a huge nightmare for defenses.
The big irony is that Jerry hasn't had this much talent since their glory days with the triplets, and he has Wade Phillips for a coach. That's like giving the keys to a Ferrari to a 12 year old. Phillips is way over his head.
Here's Jerry's master plan: He's got the players and talent alone to get to the playoffs. Win at least one playoff game. He knows Phillips won't cut it. Phillips is fired at the end of the season. Garrett is being groomed to take over-precisely when Jerry opens his new stadium. Fresh start, new coach, great talent-stadium extravaganza. It's marketing. Bottom line with Jerry is bottom line. I'm sure he envisions a new stadium with the Next Big Thing as Head Coach and a Superbowl title to go with it.
Williams is a great pick up. Owens isn't getting younger. I'd expect them to draft a WR in the early rounds next year. They are loaded. Only thing Jerry has to come to terms with: Romo. Romo is fun to watch, but until he proves he can win when it counts-the 'Boys' will be the Mavericks of the NFL-talented, entertaining, but not able to win the big one. Romo=Dirk Nowitzki.
Sad. Love Barber and Felix Jones, Witten, Ware and Ellis. These guys deserve better. Close, but no cigar.
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10-16-2008 @ 2:23PM
john said...
williams could be a good thing...maybe not...at any rate, they DIDNT need a receiver, they need some help on the other side of the ball....or maybe on their o-line judging from the way arizona dogged them all day...guess jerry "the moron" is counting on free agents 2 fill all those holes next year...lol..sorry cowboy fans but everything parcells put 2gether 4 that team is being dismantled by your idiot owner......
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10-17-2008 @ 2:37PM
kRaZyEdDiE said...
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE TALENT TO PLAY ANYWHERE YOU WANT SOONER OR LATER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET TIRED OF THE SAME OLD TALK,IF YOU CANT KEEP YOUR MOUTHSHUT FOR ONE SECOND ,JUST BECAUSE YOUR TEAM IS GOING THRU SOME ROUGH TIMES THEN MAYBE YOU SHOIULD GET YOUR OWN TALK SHOW,THEN MAYBE PEOPLE WILL LISTEN TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ,TEHN MAYBE NOT ,THEY JUST MIGHT GET TIRED OF THE SAME RHETORIC THAT YOUVE BEEN SAYING OVER AND OVER, SO TERRELL KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT AND PLAY BALL AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE NOT BY WHINNING
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10-17-2008 @ 5:20PM
jeff said...
He did the trade fast enough that Goodell couldn't take away any draft choices in lue of his new policys, got it?
Sure he can have a 2nd rd pick, but wouldn't that just leave little Jerruh crying and whining that its to harsh of punishment for his team as a whole?
Chalk one up for Jerruh here folks, he just shafted Goodell, bigtime!
So now Goodell can go out a punish another team someplace else with a harsh punishment, " or " he could call off the trade alltogether, since he has the authority to do so and take away that first round draft pick and punish the Cowboys for even signing Pacman.
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10-19-2008 @ 1:04PM
brownpride57 said...
i for one think the experiment will not work ,there is to many cry babies that need to be burped, there isnt enough nannies to cover all the spoiled little crybabies , hwy i have an idea goober should open a daycare for all the little crybabies he has to take care of hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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