Humble Me Now: Dallas Falls 17-9 to the Raiders

OK. I need to vent. Watching this second preseason game for the Cowboys elevated my blood pressure to dangerous levels at multiple times during its three agonizing hours.

But from this anger and disappointment comes maturity and wisdom.

OK, maybe not wisdom; but lets take a look at what we can deduce from the preseason happenings thus far...

1. Like millions of other people in this country, I have TiVo and constantly exercise the capability to rewind live TV. But in this case, I didn't even need TiVo, it was so obvious that Nick Miller did NOT get his f****** (pardon my French) left foot inbounds.

What made it worse was the fact that I live in California and had to put up with the Oakland Raider announcers, JT, Jim Plunkett, and one other bozo, try to say that they saw his foot come down; when, in that Slo-mo replay, you could obviously see that Miller's entire upper body and thigh were out of bounds before that foot ever touched.

My rage peaked after a brief sigh of relief, when the call on the field swapped to NO CATCH, only to be overturned during the challenge.

EDIT: here is a video link to that play for proof that it was not a catch with two feet inbounds.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-preseason/09000d5d819b5e34/Pre-WK-1-Nick-Miller-4-yard-TD

Where is the indisputable evidence!? I definitely have a dispute; these challenges are b!@#s%&^!

WOOOOSSSAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. Let's put this David Buehler issue to rest, we have bigger problems. He was perfectly down the middle on all 3 of his attempts. From 27, 28, and 42, Buehler looked smooth and effortless in his kicks.

Buehler has the confidence that any team would seek in a kicker; the question now is, how long before he breaks the NFL's longest field goal record?

3. Is there any possible way that we can just get a new backup offensive line? Seriously.

Brewster, Costa, Young, McQuistan, and Tepper looked atrocious. There has got to be better guys on the street right now than these doorknobs.

Because of these five, I feel like there is no way to properly assess the other backup skill players on the offense (i.e. QB's, RB's, and WR's). A true shame; more so disappointing...'cause that hurts more, right?

4. The Golden Child has never been golden in my eyes. Jason Garrett should not even be worthy of any precious metal, stone, or even mineral.

The guy has been resting upon laurels that he established in '07 and never lived up to again.

To most people in pop-culture, we call that a "one-hit-wonder."

Also, it almost appears as if he is getting worse...and by worse I mean predictable. Tonight I sat in my house and called run or pass as they walked up to the line; my accuracy was discouragingly accurate.

If I can accurately predict what kind of play Garrett is going to call, I can only imagine the fun defensive coordinators have game planning against the 'Boys.

5. Despite what I just mentioned in the former, I can't help but think the Cowboys have too many good receivers.

Holley, Hudgins, and Manny are three guys I have payed close attention to this preseason.

Tonight's game solidified in my mind that those three guys are/can be starters on most other team in the NFL. It may seem far fetched, but if there is one position that I know extraordinarily well, it's wide receiver.

But in any case, there is something certain to be said about these guys: none of them will make it to the practice squad...because none of them will pass the waiver wire. They are that good.

But, let's hope I'm wrong.

6. My last rant, directed at the backup QB's, should be taken with half the gravitas I have exerted thus far; because of point No. 3.

Nonetheless, it needs to be said that Nichols and McGee did not try to effectively move the ball north/south rather than east/west.

Of course, they were running for their lives most of the time, but they need to have trust that awesome WR's will make a play as long as you get it into their vicinity.

Heck, we saw it nearly every time they attempted to throw it to them (i.e. Hudgins' big play at the end, Holley's circus catch out of bounds, and Manny's two tipped receptions over the middle).

During a game like this, you want to see your team pull out the victory against adversity; but instead, a loss like the one tonight can become a great teaching tool and effective attitude adjuster.

And better a loss now, when it can't hurt your chances of playing in February.

Good Luck, Cowboys.