The Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo Will Let Their Fans Down Again

Dallas Cowboys' fans have been waiting for Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys to finally step-up and win a Super Bowl. This year, Jerry Jones is hosting the Super Bowl in his new stadium, and has made it known that he wants to see his Cowboys playing there in February. So, the pressure is on Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett, Tony Romo, and the very talented Dallas Cowboys roster to win it all this year.

All of these lofty expectations, in reality, are delusions of grandeur, and not manifest destiny. While the Cowboys may be the most talented team they have had since their last Super Bowl victory, in 1995, the people running this team are bound to let them all down again.

Starting at the top, Jerry Jones has assembled this team of under achievers, and can't put the blame on anyone else for this bunch. Their regular season record over the last four years has been 11-5, 9-7, 13-3, and 9-7. They have won one playoff game during that span, and that win was over a demoralized Philadelphia Eagles team. The Eagles had just lost their shot at a home playoff game and a NFC East Division Title, one week earlier against Dallas, and they wanted no part of returning to Dallas to play a fired up Cowboys team. The next week, they got steamrolled by a 40 year-old quarterback, by an embarrassing score of 34-3. In 2008, they found themselves with a winner-take-all game in the season finally at Philadelphia. That game ended in their most lopsided loss that year, with Philadelphia cruising to a 44-6 victory. In 2007, after putting up a 13-3 record, they lost their playoff game at home to the New York Giants. 2006 netted them a road loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Jerry Jones is the Owner, President, and General Manager of this team. The blame for the personnel and coaching staff that have choked the last four years is squarely on his shoulders.

Jerry Jones has also hired a head coach, Wade Phillips, who is known more for losing playoff games than being a good defensive coach. He hired Jason Garrett to be his offensive coordinator before he hired Phillips, which never works out good for a team. The head coach should always be able to bring in his own assistants, and not have to be force fed the owner's pick. With the exception of the year when they went 13-3, Jason Garrett's play calling has been suspect, and called into question on several occasions. Phillips is as much of a motivator as Droopy the dog. Every time I see him answering questions after a Cowboys game, I want to go slit my wrists - and that is after the wins! The Cowboys' players don't want to win for Phillips out of fear and/or love. No, they seem to want to win games for him out of pity, so they don't have to be witness to that sad face. Why Jerry Jones doesn't realize that his best bet to win a Super Bowl is with a coach that the players either fear and/or love (Jimmy Johnson, Bill Parcels) is beyond me.

Tony Romo seems like a fun guy to hang out with. His personality is care-free, he dates beautiful women seeking attention for the advancement of their careers, forgoes extra off-season film study and workouts to play a lot of golf, and loves to vacation in the bye week before the biggest playoff game of his life. Romo is the kind of guy you want to watch a game with, not watch him try to win a game that matters. Tony Romo will never win a Super Bowl. He has the arm, he has the legs, but there is something missing above the shoulders and in his chest. He lacks the mental fortitude, heart, and desire to win the big game, but loves soaking up the limelight. Dallas Cowboys' fans have been very patient with him, but make no mistake that they will turn on him if he doesn't get the Cowboys to the Super Bowl this year.

The Cowboys' regular season schedule is not as easy as people are making it out to be. Their schedule is loaded with talented teams that can beat them. Best case scenario, they will sweep the NFC East, and in the remaining games go 7-3 with loses at Minnesota, Green Bay, and Indianapolis. A 13-3 record would guarantee them home-field advantage, and probably a spot in the Super Bowl. Worst case scenario, they will have a series of injuries and poor play, and limp to a 6-10 record, after starting off the season 0-3. Most likely, they will finish the season 10-6, with loses at Washington, Minnesota, Green Bay, New York, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia. This will be enough to get them into the playoffs, but with Philips, Garrett, and Romo leading them, they aren't going to get to the Super Bowl.

At the end of this season, Jerry Jones will be forced to face the facts, and fire Wade Phillips and his staff. A strong, confident, motivator will need to be hired at coach. Someone who can light a fire under Romo's behind, and finally get him to take his role as the Cowboys' quarterback seriously. Until Romo is completely dedicated to his craft, the Cowboys are doomed to be the most talented group of under-achievers the NFL has ever seen.