Round 4 pick 18

Kyle Wilber, OLB Wake Forest

Dec 30, 2011; Nashville, TN, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons linebacker Kyle Wilber (97) rushes the quarterback against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half of the Music City Bowl at LP Field. The Bulldogs beat the Demon Deacons 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE

6-4 249 4.86 40 25 bench reps

Grade entering the draft: 60.5

My Grade: Player potential/impact C- Draft value D.

Wilber was a top recruit out of Florida. He has good size and speed for the position. He is my idea of a ‘poor mans outside linebacker’. He has a good motor. He didn’t play much on special teams in college because of the teams needs, but he should be able to contribute immediately on ST for the Cowboys.

The 4th round is too early to draft projects. Wilber’s grade of 60.5 indicates that he was projected to be a late round pick. I know Jason Garett is looking for the ‘right kind of guys’ and Wilber has all the right character traits, but I still fail to see the logic in using a 4th round pick to draft a special teams players who might eventually be a starter.

One of the biggest problems the Cowboys linebacking corps had in 2011 was an inability to cover opposing receivers. Wilber was the 12th ranked OLB in the 2012 NFL draft. The one thing that immediately sticks out about Wilber’s performance in college, is that he isn’t very good in coverage; he also struggled getting off of blocks. He wasn’t playing against top tier OL at Wake Forest, so the question is: how will he fare against NFL linemen?

He is also lacking in his ability to ‘read and react’ to plays as they develop . He is unnecessarily hesitant at times, almost as if he is unsure of what to do; it looks like he has to consciously think about what his assignment is, rather than just responding to what he sees.  NCSU doesn’t have an elite OL: when I watched that game, it seemed like the only time Wilber got in to the backfield was when he went in untouched. He wasn’t able to apply any type of pressure consistently. This is obviously a huge red flag – NFL linemen are much better than what he was facing.

“Strengths: Smart, instinctive player always around the ball. Has smooth hips to turn and run in coverage. Good at using long arms to disengage from blockers and make plays. Is quick off the snap and an effective blitzer. Covers a lot of area in zone and uses long frame to defend passes. Good athlete for frame.

Weaknesses: Is neither a great edge rusher nor good at anchoring against OLs on running plays, and hence does not project well as a 3-4 OLB. High cut and long legged, and does not possess elite acceleration. Has not demonstrated good ball skills in man coverage. NFL Comparison: Ben Leber – Minnesota Vikings” –Brad Noel

I have to say I was perplexed by the Dallas Cowboys decision to pick Kyle Wilber. There were a lot of solid players still on the board at that point in the draft. Based on the NFL grading system, the range of 50-69 means: Draftable Player 4th-7th round; a prospect with the ability to make a team as a backup/role player, but needs to be a special teams contributor at applicable positions. Players in the high range of this category “might” have long-term potential.

Oct 8, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback David Ash (14) fumbles in the third quarter from a tackle by Oklahoma Sooners defensive end Ronnell Lewis (56) for the red river rivalry at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

If the Cowboys wanted an OLB,  they should have drafted Ronnel Lewis who was still available and had a grade of 83.5, which is a late 1st to 3rd round grade. The Cowboys have been lacking an effective pass rush; that is Lewis’ specialty. They nicknamed him “The Hammer” for a reason. He brings more speed (4.68 40), more upper body strength (36 bench reps), and a whole lot more nasty. Most experts had him ranked as one of the top 5 OLB’s in the nation.  My mock draft didn’t expect Lewis to get out of the 2nd round.

Lewis can play OLB in a 3-4, and he could play DE in a 4-3. He would be a solid special teams contributor too; he was a beast covering kicks in college. There were questions about his academics in college which affected his stock, but Claiborne had the same label. The Cowboys drafted a project in Wilber when Lewis was a day 1, solid pass rusher, who dominated the competition in college. The film doesn’t lie, you will see for yourself.

All you need to do with a guy like Lewis is say, “Get the QB!”

When you consider that other players like Jared Crick (a solid pass rusher with a grade of 83.7), CB’s Ron Brooks and Brandon Boykin were still on the board, I have to give the Cowboys 113th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft a D for value.

Now I will move on to a readers question:

Jake from Chicago wrote:  Is the first game of the season a must win?  Where do all the expectations go if they get blown away and how will the team react?  Will they finally quit talking about how good they are if they do choke again?

I think the biggest problem with all of that is the media. The Cowboys are constantly under a microscope.  All that the fans hear is the media talking about all of the talent the Cowboys have.  But, you never hear them talking about the weak offensive line etc. It’s much easier for them to throw all the blame on Romo and/or talk about all of his weapons. Even the most dangerous weapons are not of much use when Tony is running for his life all of the time. The expectations are high for Dallas every year because of the Landry era and the early 90′s.

I think it is imperative that the Cowboys beat the NYG week one. They need to get some momentum early. It seems that when the Cowboys start out slow, it continues for a while. I am afraid JJ may just find out how important addressing the OL was when they face the Giants pass rush in Week 1. Every year since Romo got sacked 6 times in the playoff  game against the Vikings, I have been waiting for Jerry Jones to fix the OL. As much as I hate to say it, maybe the Cowboys need to get dominated in the trenches in week one (to send Jerry a message) while their is still time to get a couple decent players via trade, free agency or whatever works. If the Cowboys get beat for the 3rd straight time by the NYG, I would hope that’s enough to stop all the hype. This team needs to come down to earth and get hungry.

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The Kings lead their conference final series with the Coyotes 1-0 thanks in large part to Jonathan Quick, continuing to be a brick wall in net for them, but also thanks to their offense.  They had forty-seven shots in game one.  That is a lot of pressure to put on a goalie to stop them all.  Unfortunately for Coyotes goalie Mike Smith, he wasn’t able to stop them all, giving up three goals (Dwight King would add an empty netter late in the game).  The Kings have found their mojo on offense and that is bad news for the Coyotes.  As good as the Coyotes have played this postseason, the Kings have played better.  They are 9-1 this postseason, and they are not looking back.  Dustin Brown is leading the charge on offense for the Kings and not even a stellar goaltender like Smith will be able to help.  The Kings will win this series in six games.

The Rangers, like the Kings, lead their series 1-0 following their 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils.  Scoreless through two periods, Dan Girardi got one by Martin Brodeur less than a minute into the third period, the only goal the Rangers would need though they tacked on two more.  The Devils may have had more rest, but the Rangers were far more focused and physical.  Henrik Lundqvist was brilliant in net once again.  He has been all postseason.  The Rangers are not the best team ever to get the one seed in the east.  In fact, the Washington Capitals should have won the series in my opinion.  But the Rangers are very physical and have to great leaders who can score in Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik.  The Devils have good offense; Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk have played very well this offseason, but Lundqvist proves to be a tall task in front of them.  And if the Devils ever get a lead, there’s a good chance they blow it, because the Devils have struggled to keep a lead in the playoffs.  Brodeur has had very good games, but also has had his moments where he’s given up a few soft goals.  The Rangers, though not the greatest, will win this series in five or six games.

One Stars note to pass along.  The team has hired former head coach and general manager Bob Gainey as a team consultant.  Gainey coached the team from 1990-96, gaining the GM role in 1992.  He was the GM when the Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999.  Gainey stepped down as GM in 2002.  He most recently was the Montreal Canadiens general manager from 2003-10.  The Stars need that extra voice, that extra opinion, that extra experience when it comes to infusing this team with more talent.  Gainey will work with current general manager Joe Nieuwendyk.  Given what the Kings and Coyotes have done this postseason, the Pacific Division is going to be tough next year and the Stars need more talent to be able to beat the top teams and make it to the playoffs.  Gainey is already a proven winner and you hope he will be able to get the Stars back to the playoffs and get more excitement around the Dallas area about Stars hockey.

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Nov 24, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys fan cheers during the game against the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving day at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

I have never been able to stomach the idea of cheering for a player that doesn’t wear a star on their helmet.

The first time I contemplated playing fantasy football, they told me I was an idiot if I only wanted Cowboys players. I couldn’t conceive of cheering for anyone else. Even today, if I was given a choice between cheering for a few marquee players (even if they play in the AFC) on my fantasy team to have big days or having flaming bamboo forced under my fingernails, you still wouldn’t see me cheering for someone not in Dallas.

I believe that cheering for a non-Cowboy player to have a good game is a treasonous act of disloyalty, even if they are not playing the Cowboys. There is no prize that I could win that would make up for the shame and dirtiness I would feel if I had to cheer for a fantasy player that wasn’t in Dallas. The very idea of cheering for Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, or Adrian Peterson to have a good day for the sake of my fantasy team gives me a rash and boils; I can’t even fathom the idea of cheering for a player in the NFC East.

The other thing that has always bothered me about fantasy football is the simple fact that it is premised on individual performance and achievement which is kinda the polar opposite of everything I have ever thought, learned, or taught about the game of football. Professional football is the ultimate team sport. I think that having any game that rewards individuals is contrary to the principles and ideals of the game itself.  I also think it is illogical.  Miles Austin doesn’t deserve the credit for 3 TD’s in San Fran – no, he deserves part of it, along with Romo, the OL, Jason Garrett, and lots of other people.

The popularity of fantasy football suggests to me that people don’t understand or appreciate the game any more. They just want more slam dunks. They care about stats, but not about who wins and loses.  Like much consumer choice in the 21st century, people prefer flash and pizzazz over substance.

I hate the focus on individualism because it mirrors a change in the NFL and our society. People care about themselves much more than their communities. The players care more about getting good stats so they can get big contracts when they become free agents than they do about winning and losing. It’s all about “Me”, not “team”. I am sick of seeing players run away from team-mates trying to celebrate after a TD so that they can go and engage in their own individual and solitary spectacle of a celebration.

(I have a prediction that all TD celebrations will be banned sometime in the 2012 NFL season. After a WR pulls out a can of spray paint, paints a sets of breasts on the upright and then humps it, Rodger Goddell will decide that all TD celebrations must be prohibited.)

Anyway, what got me thinking about how much fantasy football sucks, was something that happened during the season opener against the New York Jets. You remember. The Cowboys looked like they were going to win, then they had a blocked punt and INT; they lost.

Dec 11, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys fan cheers on his team during the game against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

At one point, some $#%@ says, “Who cares who wins, how many TD’s does so-and-so have?”.

Of course, I wanted to punch this guy for so many reasons (by “punch” I kinda mean “smash his face”). If you don’t care who wins, why are you watching the game? It is NFL football, how can you not care who wins?

As I am walking over to this troglodyte to lecture him about interrupting real football fans with his meaningless tripe, it occurred to me that if I got kicked out of the bar for being rowdy, I would miss the end of the game. I didn’t say anything to him, but I did watch to catch his name when he used his debit card: don’t you worry, his name is on a list.

The second comment that reminded me why I hate fantasy football was the next week against the 49ers: as they were getting ready to begin the over-time period, some jackass (who had been claiming to be the ‘biggest Cowboys fan ever’) says, “If they lose, at least Austin got 3 TD’s!” I had never felt such indignant outrage. I will never understand how someone who claims to be a supporter of a team can be happy about an individual performance when that performance resulted in a loss for the team. I did more than lose respect for this poser of a Cowboys fan, I had my Grandmother visit from New Orleans so that she could practice her hobby of doll making. She made one that looks remarkably similar to the bloke who was happy about Austin’s TD’s.

It still blows my mind that people would take football, the ultimate team sport, and turn it into personal achievements that have nothing to do with winning or losing.

Anyway, I loathe fantasy football and what I perceive it is doing to the average NFL fan. It is yet another example of our rampant and reckless championing of individual achievement. But, what do you think?

Being a Rabid Dallas Cowboys Fan means Fantasy Football Sucks - Sports Dallas Fort-Worth - Sports Dallas Fort-Worth - A Dallas Sports blog

May 4, 2012; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys draft picks Caleb McSurdy (56) Morris Claiborne (24) Matt Johnson (37) and Danny Coale (81) walk off the field after rookie mini-camp practice at Dallas Cowboys headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Tyrone Crawford vs. Kenyon Coleman

Tyrone Crawford, the dynamic Defensive End out of Boise State, received  the phone call from Jerry Jones for two reasons: one, the Cowboys love his upside, and two, the defensive line was awful at rushing the passer last season. Pathetic really. Jason Hatcher had a decent season with 4 sacks, but the rest of the main defensive line rotation-Kenyon Coleman, Jay Ratliff and Marcus Spears, combined for the same number.

Backups Sean Lissemore and Josh Brent have flashed potential (and Clifton Geathers’ size is intriguing), but the group as a whole under-performed, even accounting for the lesser role in pass rushing the Defensive Line has in a 3-4 defense.

There’s no point in drafting a player in the third round to have him continuously sit on the bench, and it would stunt his growth as a player to have him in the back of the rotation, so one of the veterans may get released.

Kenyon Coleman had 1 sack all of last year, and at 33 years old his time wearing 99 is coming to a close. Save for two fluke seasons, he has averaged less than 25 tackles and 8.5 sacks a seasons. He simply doesn’t have much in the tank, if he ever did, and is a waste of 1.75 million dollars.

If Marcus Spears hadn’t signed an extension, he would be on this list too, but with the cap penalties imposed by the NFL there isn’t any room to make a move. If the penalties get overturned, then Marcus Spears could see his time as a Dallas Cowboy end too, as there are simply two younger, cheaper, possiblly more effective players ready to take his job.

Danny Coale vs. Kevin Ogletree

Kevin Ogletree, though injury prone (an ailment he has never lost) seemed like a decent player with enough upside to be a solid contributor if he could ever stay healthy, and he has succeeded in a way few undrafted players do.

That does not mean he is a good player.

Like Martellus Bennett, inopportune drops seemingly by the dozens have plagued his tenure as a slot receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, a position that hasn’t been rectified since Patrick Crayton went to the Chargers for a seventh round pick. Danny Coale, who other than one supposed “drop” in the Orange Bowl had displayed good hands, was drafted in the fifth round, breaking a string of four straight defensive players drafted.

Most scouts question his break away speed, but seeing as that isn’t Ogletree’s specialty either, the issue shouldn’t hamper Coale’s chances as much as it would on other teams. Another added bonus: Coale played punter too, so if Chris Jones has issues, Coale could serve as an emergency substitute.

Morris Claiborne vs: Mike Jenkins

Saving the most obvious for last, Morris Claiborne likely spells the end of Mike Jenkins’ time as a Cowboy, though that will likely culminate at the end of this season, as there seem to be no trade takers. Claiborne, like Jenkins, topped (or nearly topped) the cornerback list in their respective drafts, and both have the potential to win multiple pro-bowls (Jenkins has already won one.) The problem with Jenkins, and the reason that his job will inevitably be gone at the beginning of next year, is that he is injured so much that he is rarely at 100%, and is much less effective near the end of the season. This phenomenon could be a reason that the defense was so awful in the last few games-with both Jenkins and former Cowboy Terrence Newman banged up, there ability to do anything diminished greatly. In other areas, such as coverage ability or size, Morris Claiborne is just better than Mike Jenkins. Both are good in coverage, but Claiborne has been compared favorably to Patrick Peterson (last year’s consensus number one player) in coverage ability, something that Jenkins never sniffed in his own class (astoundingly, that title went to Leodis McKelvin.) Claiborne is also taller, an issue that has plagued the Dallas cornerbacks over the years, and faster. Basically, anything Jenkins can do, the rookie Claiborne can do better, a scenario that has shown itself in two other position battles, and a scenario that will eventually cost Kenyon Coleman, Kevin Ogletree and Mike Jenkins their jobs as Dallas Cowboys.

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Jan 1, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) runs with the ball after a reception during the second half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alan Maglaque-US PRESSWIRE

From a career perspective through the lens of both everyday fans, as well as knowledgeable NFL lifers, if Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant wants to be mentioned in the same sentence with the elite WRs in the NFL, in 2012, he must Cowboy Up!  More importantly, if the Cowboys are going to sniff the playoffs and have any opportunity to make a run at the title, Dez, the new #88, has to Cowboy Up!

Dec 24, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) is unable to catch a pass during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson, Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald, and Houston Texans Andre Johnson represent three-fourths of my current Mount Rushmore for the top WRs in the NFL.  They are my clear choices for the top WR threats in the league and are at least a few rungs above the next tier of receivers.  Heading my next tier are New England Patriots Wes Welker and Green Bay Packers Jordy Nelson.  There are some very productive WRs in the next group that includes Dez.  Production, game impact, big-play threat, and consistency are a few of the areas I look when ranking players across the league; it’s not an exact science.  The bottom line is that Dez absolutely can be the fourth member and thus complete my Mount Rushmore of WRs, but he has to Cowboy Up.  Whether the opposing defenses are shading coverage, rolling coverage, or straight up double-teaming, he has to find a way to make game changing plays in every game.  That’s what great players, and in this case, great WRs do.

Everyone knows who they are, the types of routes they like to run, where they normally line up, and how they are schemed in the offense, but what makes them truly great is that knowing all those things doesn’t stop the elite WR’s from making big plays in every game.  Teams can have all the information at their fingertips and in many instances, be in the proper position, but it doesn’t matter.  It doesn’t matter if it’s the New York Jets Darrell Revis, The Kansas City Chiefs Brandon Flowers, or the Cleveland Brown Joe Haden, it doesn’t matter.  The great WRs find a way.  For Dez Bryant, it can’t matter and every Sunday during the upcoming season, he has to find a way to Cowboy Up!

As for the overall team success, too many times, the people make excuses for the Dallas Cowboys poor play, but the only thing that really matters are wins and losses.  Forget what you hear in press conferences and interviews, the 2012 Dallas Cowboys believe they can win the Super Bowl, period.  Everyone from Dallas Cowboys owner and General Manager Jerry Jones, down to the athletic trainers, are working towards a Super Bowl run this year.  There are other players that will be put in the Cowboy Up spotlight prior to the season, and especially during the season, but for now it’s on Dez.  There is absolutely no way the Cowboys are going to sniff the playoffs or have a chance to make a run at the title if Dez doesn’t play great.  All the reasons to prevent that from happening are irrelevant and won’t be taken into account at the end of the season; W’s and L’s are the bottom line.  Whether it’s timing with Quarterback Tony Romo, utilization within the scheme of Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett, or any off-field issues that creep up, they are all outside of what will matter in the end.

December 17, 2011; Tampa, FL, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Laurent Robinson (81) is congratulated by wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) after he scored a touchdown during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

There are many reasons why Dez Bryant will/won’t be mentioned in the same sentence as the best WRs in the NFL.  There are many reasons why the Cowboys will/won’t be Super Bowl contenders this year; I contend that a significant role in that determination is the play of Dez.  As I fan, I don’t care how it gets done; only that it gets done.  To sum it up the best way I know how, I simply say…Dez Bryant, Cowboy Up!

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One unique aspect of soccer compared to other team sports is that groups of hardcore fans called supporters groups work with the front offices of teams to secure specific sections of the stadium to sit in for every home game.  At FC Dallas matches, The Inferno always sits in sections 120 and 121 in the southeast corner of the stadium.  Red Shamrock sets up camp in section 101 and Dallas Football Elite make their home in section 103.  Then there’s the Dallas Beer Guardians.

DBG is one of the newer supporters groups and has quickly grown to be one of the most popular.  They have a special set of bleachers that are actually at field level just behind the north-end goal.  The large, open area that is the stage for concerts gets converted to the Budweiser Beer Garden for FCD matches.  You read correctly, it is an entire garden whose purpose is the pouring, delivery and consumption of beer (AKA heckle juice).  So as one can imagine, the proximity to both the goalie and the beer leads to some masterful heckling.

At FC Dallas’ match against Seattle Sounders this past Wednesday, the Toros were missing several key players due to injury and red card suspension.  The game was 0-0 at the half, but Seattle subbed in their star striker, Fredy Montero, to start the second half and immediately began dominating the run of play.  With Seattle attacking towards Dallas’ goal in the south-end (and eventually getting two goals), the Dallas Beer Guardians had little choice but to begin a one-way, highly-insulting conversation with the Sounders’ keeper, Bryan Meredith.

The Younger Brother

One of the more popular methods of heckling was to yell out the keeper’s last name in a very sing-songy, “MEEEEEEEEEEREDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITH!!!!!!”  The obvious benefit of this method is that it is fantastically annoying and it is also very easy for other fans to quickly join in and amplify the cacophany.  And just like any proper younger brother who’ll say the same joke forty-seven times in a row (because knock-knock jokes get exponentially funnier every time you say them), sustained repetition is the key to making this heckling technique particularly effective.

Monkey-fighting Snakes on a Monkey-fighting Plane

The all-time classic.  If you don’t have anything nice to say, then you are in the right place.  Every single one of Carlin’s seven words and ones you hadn’t even heard of before can be hurled at the hapless goalie.  There are definitely points for creativity here: combine your favorite words at will, use curses from another language, throw in random nouns to form compound words.  Whatever your bleeping heart desires.  The following are a few examples in true dubbed-for-tv form:

“Go fight yourself, Meredith!”    “Eat shishkabab and slurpee my cookies!”  “You fantastic cutlery!”

A Tribute to Bill Hicks

While there is no denying the effectiveness of The Younger Brother or the verbal bludgeoning that can be delivered with monkey-fighting colloquial language, the truly discerning fan will go for the very difficult to achieve Bill Hicks Tribute (if you don’t know who he is, go here. You’re welcome and be aware that language is NSFW).  This is heckling that not only berates the target at hand but also tries to entertain the crowd by saying something clever, yet insulting.  The thinking man’s heckle, if you will.  The key here, just like in a comedy act, is timing.  You have to wait until there is a quieter moment in the game and then go for it.  Be loud, enunciate and nail the delivery of a gem like, “HEY MEREDITH, I BET YOU PEE SITTING DOWN!!!!”

The ultimate prize is to get to the goalie enough that he starts yapping back at you.  This means he’s paying more attention to coming back at you than he is to manning his penalty area.  And at the end of the day, isn’t that the most important service the fan can provide?  Just that little bit of motivation for the home team or distraction for the road team can make the difference in the result of the game.  This is what gives teams their home-field advantage.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go Dallas’ way on Wednesday night as Seattle won the game 2-0.  But the goalie hecklers did their part and will be back at it again next Saturday, May 19 against the Philadelphia Union.

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As I explained in Part One, the Dallas Cowboys are a part of my life, in at least some small way, in almost every waking moment. Here are a few more of the things I do in my pursuit of loving the Dallas Cowboys:

• I have been away from home several times at Christmas. When I send gifts home, I wrap one daughter’s gifts all in metallic blue paper with silver bows and the other’s all in silver paper with dark blue bows. I don’t put any name tags on the gifts. The first year I did this, I got a frantic call from both of them concerned that I had absent-mindedly mixed up their gifts (imagine the drama if one of them had to endure the tragedy of opening something that wasn’t for them). I explained that all of the gifts with blue paper were for one of them, and all the ones in silver were for the other. I told them that I wouldn’t tell them which was which until they figured out the significance of the colors. It only took about 2 minutes for them to figure out. Now they immediately call and blandly ask, “Who is away and who is home?”
• Before I tell the next story, I want to make one thing very clear: I do not condone violence.  Fighting is for troglodytes and idiots; it is juvenile, immature, and even women of average intelligence find it repulsive.  That being said, the last time I actually got in a fist fight was shortly after the Thanksgiving Day game when the Miami Dolphins beat the Cowboys on the blunder by Leon Lett.  Some Dolphin’s fan I barely knew kept teasing me and teasing me, even after several warnings.  A few days later we were drinking, he started chirping about the Cowboys again, and eventually it got ugly.  I ended up facing disciplinary action from the school, but I didn’t get expelled, so it was worth it! If I had it to do over again, I would probably just bitch-slap him the first time he said something disrespectful, that would have ended things before they escalated into something worse.

• I worked as a waiter all through university; I can’t even remember how many different restaurants I work at. I do remember that Sunday is considered a regular working day in the service industry, so I quickly learned that I had to tell them all the same thing during my interview: “I am devoutly religious and therefore can not work Sundays.” This may seem reprehensible to some, but I really do worship the Cowboys, and football is not unlike a religion to me. It is certainly based on blind faith and unconditional devotion.
• In the days before the NFL Sunday Ticket on cable, I packed up two young kids every Sunday that the Cowboy game wasn’t televised on regular cable and drove from bar to bar, often in the snow, until I found somewhere that was showing the game. I went years without missing the second half of a game.

• When I was much younger, I had a relationship end because after I was supposed to be ‘listening’ to some out-pouring of her heart and soul, she asked me some extremely important question and all I could come up with was, “What? Pardon me? Sorry. I can’t believe that Chan Gailey just called a draw play on third and 8.”  I still blame her.  Seriously, who tries to have a conversation DURING a game?
• I once skipped my cousin’s wedding because it was on a Saturday and the Cowboys were playing. In hindsight, I blame him: who is selfish enough to schedule a wedding when there is a Cowboy game on? I regret nothing, even if his wife still holds a grudge.
• Anyone who has worked with me for more than a short time has inevitably listened to the explanation of why every tough decision or disagreement is ineluctably settled by a thorough consideration of “W.W.C.L.D.?” (What would Coach Landry do?)
• When I was about 8 or 9 years old, long before the days of satellites and cable sports packages, my parents took us to the same Italian restaurant every Sunday after church. The highlight for me was every week when the owner, Julio, would hand me the remote so I could look for the Cowboys game. Watching the Cowboys, eating pizza, drinking cola with shaved ice, church was over for another week, school was not until the next day – those were the days.

If you have done something unusual or outrageous in your support of the Dallas Cowboys, tell me about it by email and I may include your anecdote with a future article

erasmusTLH@hotmail.com

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Life as a Rabid Dallas Cowboys Fan, Part Two - Sports Dallas Fort-Worth - Sports Dallas Fort-Worth - A Dallas Sports blog

May 7, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus (1) at bat in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Rangers defeated the Orioles 14 - 3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

One of the reasons I love watching the Rangers play the past few years is seeing Elvis Andrus do what he does in the field and on the base pads, and become an all-star caliber shortstop at such a young age. The one thing that people have always wondered about with Elvis is whether he would ever be able to become an impact hitter or if his batting average would sit in the .260-.270 range the rest of his career. Its hard to remember that Elvis is still such a young player, and he’s still developing as a hitter, but I have always believed that he could develop more power and plate discipline because of flashes that I’ve seen at the plate.

Over the past 8 games, Elvis Andrus is hitting .471 (16-34) and that has taken his batting average up all the way from .256 to where he is now 9th in the AL in batting. One thing that Elvis is continuing to improve on is waiting for the right pitch and going with it; 29 of his 37 hits this season went up the middle or to the opposite field.  Michael Young is one of the best professional hitters in baseball; one thing he excels at is taking the ball the other way when he has to, which is something the young Elvis appears to be learning.  Elvis was also on base for all 4 of Josh Hamilton’s home runs during tuesday nights 10-3 win over the Orioles. Now anyone can go on a hot streak, but in his 4th season we can only hope that Elvis is figuring out how to hit at the Major League level; if he can do that, his potential is endless.

Josh Hamilton

May 10, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton (32) hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

In case you’ve been away from all sports media within the last few days, Josh Hamilton had the best night by a hitter in American League history Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles.  Hamilton went 5-5 at the plate with a double, 4 homers, 8 RBI, 18 total bases and 4 runs, making him only the 16th player in MLB history with 4 homers in a game and breaking the American League record for total bases.

I had the privilege of watching Hami’s historic night Tuesday and I was amazed by the show that he put on, and the fact that even the opposing teams fans gave him a standing ovation after his 4th home run.  I was also amazed that Orioles manager Buck Showalter continued to pitch to Hami after he hit 2 home runs and nearly took a 5th inning double out of the park as well, one that would have put him in a league of his own with 5 homers if it would have went out.  Hamilton leads the league in home runs with 14 even after missing a few games with a back injury, and is making a lot of people bring up the possibility of winning the triple crown (leading the league in Home Runs, RBI’s, & batting average) for the first time since 1967.

I brought up Hamilton’s contract in my first story for this website and received a lot of reaction from fans about if they would choose to sign him to a long term deal, his price has to have gone up since the begining of the season even with the injury scare and its been reported  that it will cost the Rangers $20 million for 5 years to get the deal done.  At any rate Hamilton is a special talent and will be making plenty of money this off-season whether it be in Texas or somewhere else.

Upcoming Games

May 5, 2012; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson (33) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-US PRESSWIRE

The Rangers face the Angels for the first time this season starting a 3 game series tonight in Arlington, the first game features Yu Darvish against former Rangers C.J. Wilson in what is sure to be a fun game.  The Rangers decided not to sign C.J. after last season and instead gave that money to a younger and unproven Darvish.  Darvish  has been impressive through 6 starts, going 4-1 with a 2.54 ERA.  After the Angels series the Rangers have some soft games in the schedule playing 2 games against the Kansas City Royals & Oakland A’s before hitting the road to play the Battle for the Silver Boot in Houston.

What do you think about Elvis’ play lately? Do you see it continuing? How much would you pay to keep Hamilton around? How do you see the Angels series going?

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Texas Ranger Elvis Andrus’ Growth and Josh Hamilton’s Historic Night - Sports Dallas Fort-Worth - Sports Dallas Fort-Worth - A Dallas Sports blog

- When I put something in the microwave, I never set the timer for a round number of seconds. If it needs 30 seconds, it gets 33 (Tony Dorsett), if it needs 20 seconds, it gets 22 (Emmitt Smith), if it needs a minute and a half, it gets 88 seconds (Michael Irvin), if something needs 1 minute, I will Sean Lee it and then Romo it (50 an 9 seconds respectively).

- When the woman who eventually became my wife moved in with me, I made it a point to get a prior agreement that there would be no Christmas Tree in my house. My problems with the holiday and the way it is celebrated are not the point. In mid-December, our third year living together, I came home late one night after being out with the boys and was horrified to see what appeared to be the silhouette of a Christmas tree in my living room. I was furious! I momentarily lamented the fact that I did not own a flamethrower and then stormed to the bedroom ready to unleash a barrage of indignant ultimatums. She was awake and waiting, after I ranted for few minutes, she calmly got up, went into the living room and said, “I don’t know what you are talking about. There is no Christmas tree in this house.” I flew to the light-switch as I accusingly demanded, “What the hell is that then?” When the light came on, I saw a tree with dark blue and silver garland wrapped around it, a few dark blue and silver glass balls, and a bunch of silver stars. She smugly informed me: “This is not a Christmas tree. It’s a “Good-luck for the Dallas Cowboys Playoffs tree.” We have the same tree every year, even when the Cowboys don’t make the playoffs; it stays up as long as there are more games.  And yes, I finally agreed to presents being placed under it.

- I used to travel a lot for work. When I had to visit other NFL cities, I always took 10 or 15 Dallas Cowboy bumper stickers with me. I would skulk around parking lots and affix them to cars. One word of advice: men who drive big pick-ups are likely to resort to violence if they think you are ‘effing around’ with their trucks.

I also tried to leave a few on the vehicles used by the public transportation. There is nothing as enjoyable as watching the horror, disgust, anger, and bewilderment of dozens of onlookers when they see a Dallas Cowboys emblem on one of their public buses or subways. (By far the most amusing place I did this was Buffalo during Super Bowl week the second time the Cowboys beat the Bills.)

- For several years, I worked abroad. The only way to watch a Cowboys game when you are on another continent is to stream it live; this is often in the middle of the night or Monday morning local time. I have canceled work on Mondays because of a game far more times than my employer could be expected to understand or tolerate.  It is a risk I will take again when need be.

- When Emmitt Smith broke Walter Payton’s All-Time rushing record and then went and found Daryl Johnston on the sideline, I cried.

- When Tony Romo botched the snap on the field-goal against Seattle in the playoffs, I kicked the coffee table so hard that I broke bones in my toes.

- For years when I was a kid, I would use my own money to buy the newspaper every Monday. When I could afford it, I bought more than one. I would cut out any story, stat, or picture relating to Tony Dorsett and put it in a scrap-book. The few times he made the cover of Sports Illustrated were major events in my life (the one when he was on the cover as a Denver Bronco still haunts me: I couldn’t accept that Tony’s career was really over).

- In week 10 of the 2010 season, I was lucky enough to see the Cowboys play the Giants in the New Meadowlands Stadium. The Cowboys won 33-20 to improve their record to 2-7. All I could think about during the game was how Eli Manning had autographed a Dallas Cowboy Stadium wall the year earlier during the inaugural game in Dallas. I left the stadium happy that the Cowboys had beaten the Giants in the their own building and content in the fact that I had desecrated their ‘house’ far worse than Eli’s now rather innocent and uncreative looking signature.

If you have done something unusual in your support of the Dallas Cowboys, tell me about it by email and I may include your anecdote in my next article.  erasmustlh@hotmail.com

Life as a Rabid Dallas Cowboys Fan - Sports Dallas Fort-Worth - Sports Dallas Fort-Worth - A Dallas Sports blog

Darrell Scott, RB S. Florida

6-1  240  4.48  40

Scott played for Moor Park High School, where he had an outstanding career, helping his team to reach the section championship game 2 consecutive years in 2005 and 2006. In his junior year, Scott rushed for 3,194 yards on 337 carries. He also scored 45 TD’s. He wanted to play against tougher competition in his senior year and it is rumored his parents shopped him to different private schools in an effort to better his chances of getting a scholarship. It worked. He ended up at St Bonaventure High School where he rushed for 2,433 yards and had 34 TD’s as a senior. Leading them to a 14-1 season. He played in the Army All American Bowl, was a 5 star recruit coming out of HS and had 40 different schools offer him a scholarship. He decided on Colorado but after 2 years he decided to transfer to S. Florida because he felt he wasn’t getting enough carries. Sharing carries in Fl he led the team with 814 rushing yards in 2011.

Scott is a powerful runner with good thickness throughout his legs. He can carry piles and punish linebackers at the second level, albeit only at times when he chooses power over agility. When he is decisive, he hits the hole well and accelerates through the line of scrimmage. He can run through arm tackles and is serviceable as a blocker in pass protection. NFL.com

If there is one thing the Cowboys have been missing it is a big strong back for 3rd and short or goal line situations. Scott fills this need in so many ways. He is strong and can use his size/strength  to power his way in to the endzone. .  Due to his small school label he has slipped through the cracks and I believe he was a steal as an undrafted player. He could be the next Bus. There is some question about his vision (the ability to see holes), but his upside is tremendous. I give this pick a B + for value.

Adrian Hamilton,  LB Prairie View A&M

6-2  255  4.7  40

Adrian Hamilton had an opportunity to catch the eye of NFL scouts by participating in the Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game at Kino Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. He was the nation’s sack leader with 20.5 sacks and the 2011 co-SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. He was one of 16 players from the FCS selected to play in the Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game and the only representative from the SWAC. He competed against a solid group of players from across the country from leagues such as the SEC, Pac-12, Big 12, WAC, Big East and Big Ten. This was  the second all-star game Hamilton participated in since completing his career at Prairie View. Hamilton was named to The Associated Press FCS First Team this past season and became the third consecutive Panther to earn All-American honors. He also finished third overall in the 2011 Buck Buchanan Award voting which is the top defensive honor on the FCS level.

Hamilton led the nation with 20.5 sacks; he  joined Chris Gocong and Robert Mathis as the only players to record more than 20 sacks in a season… Looks like an NFL player, has a chiseled physique with little body fat; also helped his cause by running a 4.70-40 at his pro day… Great athlete; is definitely athletic enough to play in a 3-4 defense and of course has the pass rush ability that teams look for… Excellent speed rush, has a great first step and can bust past any tackle that stands in his way… Has a nice spin move that could be fine tuned but should do the trick as well… Has a good shoulder dip move when going around an offensive tackle; his athleticism allows him to get really low but still maintain his balance and speed… Has a great motor; relentless pass rusher and tore up his competition using it… When he gets a sack the quarterback feels it the next day; a vicious but clean hitter. Sideline Scouting

When I watched the tape on this guy I was amazed that he went undrafted. He has a non stop motor and the ability to play sideline to sideline. This may very well be the best undrafted prospect the Cowboys acquired in a long time. I believe the small school label was the primary factor in his going undrafted.  I give this pick an A+ grade for value.

George Bryan, TE N.Carolina

6-5  265  5.14  40

George Bryan was a three sport star in high school – football, basketball, and baseball. Bryan was all conference in high school football at DE and TE.

Inserted into the lineup in 2008, Bryan has been a brilliant, record-setting receiving TE, as well as a quality blocker. Stats were 18 catches for 201 yards and 4 TDs in 2008, 40/422/6 in 2009, 35/369/3 in 2010, and 33/331/4 in 2011. Bryan has won too many awards to count. Considering the limited role for TE’s in college these are some very impressive numbers. I feel he has excellent potential to be a solid #2 behind Jason Witten. He does need to work on his upper body strength to take on pass rushers at the NFL level, but I feel a yr with Woicik can take care of that. I had him mocked to the Cowboys in the 6th round. I love the fact that they were able to get him as a FA.  I give this pick an A- for value.

Bryan is a bit high hipped in his frame and, well, slow. Bryan’s game is finding soft spots in zones and using his frame to exploit his greatest asset: world class hands. As an NFL Draft prospect, he is clearly a traditional blocking and receiving TE. He has good technique and bend as a blocker and some power in his hands, and blocks well enough for #1 TE duty. However, his frame keeps his center of gravity high, preventing Bryan from getting a top blocking grade. As a receiver, the main issue is whether Bryan has the agility to get open against tighter coverage at the next level, including man. Bryan can turn and cut well, and if a strong armed NFL QB can gun the ball into his hands, he will almost always catch it.

Hands are about as good as you’ll see in the sport of football – glue. Excels at finding soft spots in zone coverage and using his large frame to shield the ball from defenders. Quality blocker. Has enough power and bend combined with good technique which consistently results in successful blocks. Productive, durable, experienced leader – top intangibles. Brad Noel CBS Sports

There are several more of the  undrafted guys that I really like. In a future article I will touch on some of them.

” I have to say I think JJ out did himself on some of these undrafted rookies. To me, some of these guys are better prospects than the guys he drafted!”

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Did The Dallas Cowboys Strike Gold With Rookie Free Agents? - Sports Dallas Fort-Worth - Sports Dallas Fort-Worth - A Dallas Sports blog