Forget the Dallas Cowboys—America Needs a New Team

Bryan Specht — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:17:32 -0500

Let's be clear right up front: I don't like the Dallas Cowboys. They're over-hyped, over-covered and fundamentally over-blown. I am a Redskins fan, with high respect for the other teams in the NFC East...except this one.

Obviously I'm far from an unbiased source, but I've heard from enough friends of different NFL persuasions to know that there is no love for the "America's Team" moniker continuing to live with Mother Jones and his Ego Ranch in Dallas.

America needs change. Say it with me friends: Yes we can!

First, the four undeniable reasons the Dallas Cowboys are no longer America's Team...

1) Adam "Pacman" Jones

I'm as sick of hearing about it as you are, which is precisely why this guy should no longer be in the NFL. If the league won't see fit to boot him, then the owners should blackball the guy and not sign him. But not Mother Jones. In America we believe in second chances. This guy has had twelve.

2) When The Going Gets Tough

In America, we are at our best when the chips are down. This team folds, fumbles and grabs the microphone. Whether it's Romo's playoff chokes, T.O.'s media mouth or Jones's meddling into the decisions of a subpar coaching staff, this team caves under pressure, plays dirty and points fingers at others. That ain't how we roll in America.

3) 301,139,947 Americans Can't Be Wrong

Jessica Simpson's foray into her Country Music "roots" yielded sales of a paltry 65,000 records in its first week. And it only went downhill from there. If she wasn't good for Tony in key games last year, and he ain't helping her sell records, then...I'm just sayin...maybe America isn't buying what they're selling.

4) Rampant Self-Obsession

The only thing Jerry Jones loves more than plastic surgery is the spotlight. Take Pacman and then add the likes of Tank Johnson, the "Eddie Haskell-ish" Tony Romo, the self-obsessed Terrell Owens and the dirtiest players in the league like safety Roy Williams and you have a rogue's gallery of all that is bad in the NFL. Clearly this is an owner who lives for drama-filled headlines, which may seem very American to some, but is a sad side effect of a celebrity-obsessed culture that is not very American in my book.

And the nominees for the new America's Team...

1) The Tennessee Titans

Nothing flashy, just solid football and a 10-1 record. America appreciates a solid running game and Kerry Collins is the kind of redemption story we love. And, incidentally, this is the team that gave Pacman the boot and they know a thing or two about country music.

2) A New York Team

Pick one, they're both great. With Favre at the helm, the Jets definitely feel like a candidate for America's team—from Louisiana, by way of Wisconsin, now rockin' the Big Apple? That's pretty damn American. And Brandon Jacobs, Eli Manning and the rest of the G-Men? That's All-American football.

3) The Washington Redskins

How could I not? But honestly, it's the nation's capital and they're constantly under-appreciated by analysts and media (five to stay alive in '05 and '07, no respect for Zorn, Campbell can't lead, etc.). Overcoming the Taylor tragedy and fighting black and blue wars every week to stay in the hunt. Portis, Cooley, Moss, Fletcher, Horton, Zorn...you have to love this team!

4) The New England Patriots

Calm down. They deserve consideration. They ARE the "Patriots" after all and they play in one of the most important cities in the founding of our country. And they may have been almost annoyingly dominant in recent years, but let's not forget this is the team that was a perennial cellar-dweller for decades (save their Super Bowl appearance against the '85 Bears).

5) The Green Bay Packers

You can't get any more American than the smallest market in the NFL. Sarah Palin says so! But seriously, THIS is what the game is all about. Lambeau Field, Cheeseheads and Snow Bowls. After all the preseason Favre-gate drama, Aaron Rodgers is doing yeoman's work in his first season as a starter. And these guys can claim Lombardi. That's huge.

I'm sure my Chicago brethren are offended and, although the Bears have a rich tradition in so many ways, I refuse to celebrate the most overrated coach in the history of the NFL (spelled D-I-T-K-A) and ONE super bowl win. We could start counting pre-merger championships but then we need to talk about Cleveland and even...gulp...Detroit.

Apologies to the Steelers as well. They're just too dark and ominous. That would be like us sending Darth Vader to the UN. It just wouldn't work.

And to the Indianapolis Colts—Peyton Manning is everybody's All-American and you have so much to love, but you ARE in Indianapolis, after all. Maybe if you'd stayed in Baltimore...

So let's go America! We all know the Cowboys aren't "America's Team" anymore.

Change has come to the NFL. One more time:

Yes we can!

Redskins-Giants: Washington's Playoff Hopes Don't Rest with Clinton Portis

Bryan Specht — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:50:43 -0500

Yeah, I said it. Clinton Portis will not be the key to the Redskins' postseason hopes.

Portis, Jason Campbell, and Head Coach Jim Zorn have helped the Redskins' offense gain a lot of ink this year, but the real story is on the other side of the ball.

Now, before the "Portis Posse" starts lighting up the comments, let me be clear: There's no question he's having a stellar year. But the key to the Redskins' winning ways in tight games this year—and their hopes of hanging onto that sixth NFC playoff spot—isn't in the hands of an offense averaging 18.3 ppg with Portis who has a very, very talented and capable backup in Ladell Betts.

The Redskins' postseason plans rest with their defense, currently ranked third in the NFL, holding opponents to 18.1 ppg.

The critical stretch for the Redskins so far this year was a 6-1 run between Weeks Two and Eight, during which time Washington secured road wins at division foes Dallas and Philadelphia, as well as a tight win over Cleveland at home and a key win over NFC West leader Arizona at FedEx Field.

Linebacker London Fletcher and safeties LaRon Landry and Chris Horton (a sensational rookie) have combined career seasons with solid play on the line and an injury-plagued but capable rotation at the corners and outside linebackers to get the Redskins through their toughest contests.

Against Cleveland, Fletcher and crew stuffed Jamal Lewis and shut down the Browns' offense on four consecutive attempts from the one yard line. Washington won by two points.

In a 24-17 win over the Cardinals, Portis only gained 68 yards, but Kurt Warner was held under 200 yards passing and the Cardinal's rushing game was shut down by Fletcher and company.

Against the Eagles, the explosive Brian Westbrook was held to a mere 33 yards, while Donovan McNabb was, like Warner, limited to under 200 yard passing.

And in a two-point win over Dallas, the Redskins held the entire Dallas rushing attack to under 50 yards, including only 26 yards for Marion Barber. Fast-forward to the second Dallas-Washington matchup just a couple weeks ago: Dallas leaves FedEx Field with a 14-10 victory thanks to a 114 yard rushing performance by Barber.

Fletcher's leadership has been key all season, but Horton may be the most critical addition. His emergence as a consistent performer at strong safety has freed up LaRon Landry to show his athleticism and exceptional field speed, roaming the deep middle.

Less than a year after the tragic loss of Sean Taylor, Horton has restored the Redskins' safety tandem to one of the best in the NFL.

Gutsy performances have come from a crew of solid corners—Springs, Smoot, Rogers and now the controversial DeAngelo Hall—battling various injuries. A similar mix of consistent contributors have delivered at outside linebacker, including Rocky McIntosh, Marcus Washington, H.B. Blades, and Khary Campbell.

There is no better opportunity for the Redskins defense to show their colors than this Sunday when they host the 10-1 defending Super Bowl Champion Giants. Keep an eye on Fletcher, Landry, Horton, and company when the Giants have the ball.

If they can hold the Giants to 16 points, as they did in Week One, then Portis (or Betts), Campbell and crew need only post their (rather pitiful) season average of 18.3 points to pull off a critical upset.

Bleacher Report - Articles by Bryan Specht

Forget the Dallas Cowboys—America Needs a New Team

Redskins-Giants: Washington's Playoff Hopes Don't Rest with Clinton Portis