"America's Table," A Dallas Cowboys Roundtable Discussion: Offseason Edition

Welcome to the first installment of the new Dallas Cowboys’ Roundtable, America’s Table.

Our goal with this roundtable is to be different; to stand out. We are looking for real honest and intelligent debate over Cowboys related topics, not just a bunch of homers vomiting their love of their team all over your computer screen.

In effort to accomplish this goal, we have taken a different approach in choosing the panel of writers for this table. Of the three writers, we have two Cowboy fans and one Cowboy hater. For more information on the individual writers, or to check out their other work, please check out their profiles (linked below).

As this is a roundtable that welcomes healthy debate and disagreement, we welcome comments with your own opinions on the conversation topics, as well as suggestions for future discussions.

And now, let’s get this roundtable started:

Bob Hayes is the lone Dallas Cowboy of this year's 17 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists. Do you believe that he belongs in the Hall, and if so, should he be inducted this year?

James Williamson: Bob Hayes has really been long overdue for the Hall of Fame. He changed the way the game was played on defense because of his speed. They need to do zone defense because that speed was impossible to keep up with man to man.

However, he is not just a game changer. He had 371 receptions, yes, but he also holds the Dallas Cowboys receiving touchdown record with 71. So, he averaged a touchdown every five catches and with 7,414 yards, he had a 20 yards per reception average that is still a record to my knowledge.

Incredible. If Tom Landry had used him more instead of the running game, Jerry Rice would not have the touchdown record.

Andrew Nuschler: Yes and yes. Remember, I'm no fan of the Dallas Cowboys. They are—without a doubt—my least favorite team in the National Football League. But Bullet Bob deserves the NFL's highest honor and it seems looooong overdue.

As with any hall of fame, the selection criteria are vague—a bunch of stuff that usually amounts to an outstanding contribution to whatever sport. The wording may be different, but the bottom-line is that the player must have been very good and in a unique or spectacular way.

So let's see....

Bullet Bob entered the 1964 NFL Draft fresh off Olympic gold in the '64 Games (incidentally, I'd vote for him because of this clip alone).  The 'pokes took a flier on him in the seventh round and he proceeded to become the first Dallas player to ever surpass 1000 receiving yards.  Hayes did it in his rookie year.

In his 11-year career, the man amassed 371 receptions for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns.  That's no typo; Hayes averaged 20.0 yards per catch for his career.  He wasn't a bad return man either—23 kickoff returns for 581 yards and 104 punts for 1158 yards (and three TDs). 

In 1968, he was actually the best punt returner in the NFL with a 20.8 yard per return average and two touchdowns, including a 90-yarder.

Bullet Bob enjoyed great individual and team success.  He garnered three Pro Bowls (something I don't put much stock in) and four All-Pro team inclusions (something I put a great deal of stock in).  His Dallas teams won five National Football Conference East titles, two NFC crowns, and the first Super Bowl in franchise history.

Still not unique and/or spectacular enough for you?

OK, how about this: Many respected historians of the game credit Bob Hayes with the invention of the zone defense.

The Bullet was so fast that defenses were forced to abandon the traditional man coverage because no single individual could keep up with him.  He revolutionized the game and, in the process, opened the field for the rest of his teammates. As the defense was perfected on the fly, teams (focused on Hayes' every move) were vulnerable to the other receivers and rushing attack.

Bob Hayes is the only NFL player to have a Super Bowl ring and Olympic gold.  He put up dazzling numbers until the entire League adapted to stop him (and future echoes of him) and still finished with some impressive totals.  Hayes made his teams better and helped them reach great heights.

His list of personal accolades is long and should get one longer with enshrinement this year.
Robert Allred: I absolutely believe that Bob Hayes belongs in the Hall of Fame, and if I had a vote, he would be inducted this year.

While his numbers are not phenomenal by today’s standards, you also have to remember that he was playing in a time when “airing it out” was not a common offensive strategy. Football teams ran the ball more back in the ‘60s and ‘70s than they do today.

If Hayes was playing in a modern offense, his numbers would rival any receiver to every play the game.

That being said, he still finished in the top 10 in receiving yards in six of his 11 seasons, top five in receiving touchdowns in six of 11 seasons (including No. 1 twice),  was a three-time Pro-Bowler, two-time first team All-American, and was a part of the Cowboys’ first Super Bowl. Those are Hall of Fame credentials.

Oh yea, and he also has an Olympic gold medal to go with that Super Bowl ring of his. Yes, this belongs in the Hall of Fame, no doubt.

The Cowboys enter the offseason after finishing one of the most, if not the most, disappointing seasons in franchise history. It would probably be naive to think that there is one sole reason for their failures this past season, but if you had to identify the Cowboys' biggest problem-area, what would you say that is?

James: The press has been trying to analyze why the Cowboys have failed this year, and I have to agree on leadership with them. This team has more talent than any team in the NFC. It lacks discipline, it lacks a true leader.

They have emotional leaders, but as for one guy that you would follow into a pit of lava like Roger Staubach? No. This team needs discipline in the form of a leader.

Andrew: Easy, it's the locker-room.

There's no way there's anything wrong with the talent or effort. I don't believe either of those can get much better.  Sure, the offensive line under-performed and there were other frailties that came to light on the field. But I just don't buy that it was a problem with the talent side of personnel.

Maybe I'm naive, but I truly believe that talent—even supreme talent—cannot get the job done in a team sport when brought to bear in an individual way i.e. because it's your job and you want to do it well for your own pride.

Since football is the ultimate team sport, it stands to reason that this statement is truest in football.

And I think there was so much nonsense going on that the only way guys could show up for work was to put their heads down and just do their jobs.  That's fine except your opposition is coming to work as if it's showing up for battle—all for one and one for all (or at least much closer to that than Dallas).

I'm not advocating the removal of Terrell Owens from the picture (as much as I'd like to). What I am advocating is the removal of all the cheaper imitations of Owens e.g. Pacman Jones (check), Tank Johnson (check), and Jerry Jones (just kidding). I'm also suggesting that Tony Romo needs to take Troy Aikman's surprisingly profound words to heart.

I'm paraphrasing, but he said that perception doesn't matter except when you need to rely on it to get through the hard times that are sure to come in Dallas.  That was amazingly concise and eloquent for a guy who made a career out of blunt force head trauma.

The Cabo trip was a perfect example—of course it wasn't the reason Dallas lost the subsequent game, but it did lose and Romo was in Mexico with his sexpot.  That's a rough time and Tony couldn't rely on the perception that he did everything he needed to do.

With only Owens as a distraction and Romo playing the good general, the Cowboys are just fine.

Robert: It would be easy to make the injury excuse, but I am not a fan of excuses. It would also be easy to peg the entire season on one player or one coach, and say that if that one person was gone, the Cowboys would have won the Super Bowl.

But again, I don’t believe in that philosophy, so I am going to talk about the play on the field.

The weakest link for the Cowboys this past season was their offensive line. Whether it was false starts, holding, or just letting the pass-rush get by, the offensive line was a major disappointment the entire year.

They did not give up as many sacks as some other O-lines in the league, but Romo was constantly under pressure, and his elusiveness made them look better than they really were. A good offensive line doesn’t let their quarterback suffer three separate injuries in a single season.

If the Cowboys are going to be a contender in 2009, the offensive line needs to be addressed.

What are your thoughts on the Cowboys draft? What is their biggest need, and will they need a first round pick in order to get it? If so, what should they be willing to give up for the first round pick?

James: I think the Dallas Cowboys are pretty much covered in the draft. I can't think of a real need except maybe nose tackle and offensive linemen. We could use another playmaker nose tackle to help out Jay Ratliff, and we need an offensive lineman that can do a better job than Cory Proctor.

Our line is set, but we need to be prepared if, like this past season, one of those guys falls to injury.

Unless Dallas craves Andre Smith, they won't need to move up to draft a player in the first round. First round picks cost a lot of money, and I don't see Jerry Jones drafting a guy with a big contract, if we can't put him in now. It’s free money to the player.

I suspect the second-round pick to be used on a tackle or guard, but Jerry Jones is a horse of a different color. He could trade someone, move up in the draft, or a multitude of things. So, expect the unexpected.

Andrew: Since baseball is my area of expertise (in my opinion), I'll go there for this one. The Dallas Cowboys are like the New York Yankees:  the draft is really just a bonus since they can go out and buy whatever they want anyway.

With that in mind, I'd say Dallas should always be drafting for highest immediate upside regardless of how slim it is or more offensive linemen since those are like pitchers—you can never have too many good ones because they always go down to injury.

Of course, I have a non-sexual-male-crush on Nate Davis from Ball State. If I were Dallas (depending on who were available when my pick came), I'd snag Davis as a two-year project in case Romo's bout with big-game jitters doesn't end as well as I expect it to.

My ultimate answer—the best offensive lineman available, then the best athlete available, and I'd take Nate Davis a little early (within reason).

Robert: I do not think they need a first-round pick. If this were the NBA, I would argue that they do, but in the NFL there are countless first-round draft picks that turn out to be busts, and there are countless stories of late round picks turning into stars (cough Tom Brady).

Depending on what is out there, the Cowboys’ first pick needs to be an offensive lineman or a safety. The Cowboys are pretty well set at skill position players. Yes, they need a backup quarterback, but I would prefer that they fill that need in day two of the draft or acquire one through free-agency.

The Cowboys do not need wide receivers, halfbacks, or cornerbacks, and their front seven on defense is pretty solid.

This leaves the O-line, which I already mentioned was the weak link last year, and the safety, which has been a weakness for the past several years. Both of these areas need to be addressed in the draft.

In the early weeks of the Cowboys' offseason, we have seen both Bruce Reed and Brian Stewart collect their pink-slips. Many experts and fans alike still maintain that the Cowboys will not get any better until Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett, or even both are shown the door. What are your thoughts on the Cowboys' coaching staff?

James: Wade Phillips's failures are all the people who watch ESPN focus on. They do not know that the Dallas Cowboys led the league in sacks. They do not know that it was his playcalling that made DeMarcus Ware do even better. Wade Phillips has had bad luck in his coaching career, but that does not mean he is incompetent.

Furthermore, Jerry Jones is smart to keep him, because when you get a new head coach, you get a new system. How many coaches have won a Super Bowl in their first year of coaching that team? The answer is one. Just because you get rid of a coach does not guarantee success. Sometimes it can guarantee failure.

Jason Garrett has been a topic in my mind for weeks. He's young, and was predictable last year. I personally, like him, but he needs to get help, do it right, or get out of Texas. If he did leave, I would suggest getting Mike Martz, offensive coordinator for the Greatest Show on Turf, but I think his playbook is the norm in Dallas now, and another training camp should get the players back in the groove.

Andrew: This goes back to the locker-room being the biggest problem. Personally, I don't see how Garrett goes from illuminati one year to a moron the next. I put the offensive problems on the players so this question boils down to Wade Phillips, should he stay or should he go?

I say he's gotta go unless you can bring in a player (a la Ray Lewis) that can take over the team and move it in a positive direction (i.e. the anti-TO). I don't see Lewis coming to Dallas and I don't see Romo becoming that guy, so I say Phillips must walk the plank.

Too bad since he seems like a good dude, but a tiger's not gonna change his stripes this late in the day.

Robert: At this point, I prefer that the Cowboys just stand pat. If they were going to make a coaching change, then in my opinion, it should have already been made.

Wade Phillips is still an excellent defensive coach, and I would like to see him back for at least one more year to see if he can finally get this defense to a championship level. They were starting to move in that direction late in the season.

In a dream world, I would love to have him as a defensive coordinator and get another head coach in here, but that is not going to happen.

Jason Garrett frustrated me this year, but I still think he has the potential to be a great coach one day. We saw him have a brilliant year as offensive coordinator last year. We saw him has a dismal year this year. Let’s see what an offseason of evaluation and adjustments (and hopefully reconciliation!!) will do for the young coach.

If the Cowboys are sitting in this same position next year, then it will be time for a change. But for now, let’s play wait and see.

The Cowboys have made the news again this week. It has been announced that the Cowboys will have their own reality show similar to American Idol, hosted by none other than ex-Cowboy, Michael Irvin. In this show, six defensive backs and six wide receivers will compete for a roster spot in the Cowboys' training camp this summer. Does this move help or hurt the Cowboys?

James: I love the idea of this reality show really. It makes us more of America's Team, because we give anyone in America a chance. Also, Bill Bates walked on for Dallas and was the Special Teams Captain for years.

It is a long shot to really get a great player, but what does Dallas have to lose? The winners could easily get cut from the training team if they are not up to par.

Andrew: This is ridiculous. Absolutely freakin' ridiculous.

And it makes me thing that the core problem in Dallas is Jerry Jones and his ego. I'm honestly beginning to think the man lusts after attention and publicity more so than victory (which he's already had).

Seriously, the consensus around the NFL is that your team had more talent than just about anyone else and yet you missed the playoffs because of all the off-field bullsh*t.

So what do you do? Pledge not to change coaches, cut a little of the distraction, and then sign-up for what could turn into an even bigger one than Dallas ever saw in 2008.

You'll have a reality show where the winner actually gets to try-out for Dallas.  Hmmm. Think that'll drum up interest in Dallas Cowboy training camp? Think that's gonna make it feel like getting down to basics or an episode of whatever that tripe on HBO is called?

Bring in the clowns and prop up the tent. Jerry Jones is bringing the circus back to town. Idiot.

Robert: I have mixed emotions. As someone who loves anything Cowboys’ related, I will definitely tune in to watch this. However, I think that this is yet another unneeded distraction.

It gives the media yet another reason to talk badly about the Cowboys organization, and believe me, we will hear about this show all season long, especially if the Cowboys are doing poorly.

After a season where there was media distraction after media distraction, you would think that Jerry and Co. would try flying under the radar a little bit. Of course, that has never been, and will never be, Jerry’s way of doing things, so shame on me for being surprised by this.

Plain and simple: How will the Cowboys do next year?

James: It is hard to predict the Cowboys because of their inconsistency, but if these changes do happen, then anything is possible. Optimistically, we take back the NFC East for sure.

Andrew: Why bother? This is the most unpredictable team in the entire League.  I was convinced they would make the playoffs until the very last day. I thought the talent would finally get the wakeup call in time to face the Philadelphia Eagles. Guess not.

I'd say they'll compete for the NFC East crown since they figure to at least run in place while the other East teams are taking on water. That puts them in the playoffs and, from there, I'd figure the talent has to show up.

I say they finally win their first playoff game next year with an inspired Tony Romo putting the kibosh on Owens' attempt to derail yet another Super Bowl contender.

No Super Bowl title though; I say they bow out in the NFC Championship game. Gotta walk before you run.

Of course, I wouldn't mind seeing them miss the postseason again ;-)

Robert: I believe the Cowboys will improve next year. I do not think that they will win the Super Bowl, but I think that we will see them in the playoffs, and I think that they will win one or two once they get there.

I mentioned earlier that I hate making excuses, but I do think that injuries played a factor in the disappointing season this year. Had Romo not injured his hand, it is easy to argue that they would have beaten St. Louis, maybe even New York, and then who knows what happens with this team.

I do not think they will be a favorite next year, but they should certainly be a contender. And really, in today’s NFL, that is all you can ask for.

Short and sweet: Super Bowl Prediction?

James: I think the Cardinals have an excellent chance to win, but I don't want to pick them because I've been off in my picks.

Andrew: Hmmm, my head says Pittsburgh Steelers and that defense finally puts the clamps on the Arizona Cardinals. But I'm going with my heart and gut, which lie in the NFC. I say Kurt Warner gets another shot of divine inspiration and keeps throwing it up to Larry Fitzgerald, who nobody can stop.

If a secondary were going to blanket Leapin' Larry, it would've been Philly's.

Arizona Cardinals 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 24

Robert: This is tough for me. Pittsburgh has been a consistent favorite all year, and the Cardinals are the surprise team of the season. I have picked against the Cardinals in every playoff game thus-far and they have obviously proven me wrong.

In a game that truly could go either way, I am going to pick against the Cards one last time in hopes that my trend of being wrong continues. Give me Pittsburgh 21-17.

Regardless, this should be a great game.