Are the Dallas Cowboys Still "America's Team"?

The Dallas Cowboys will travel today to Minneapolis to take on Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. 

Like the Cowboys, the Vikings are struggling and so is Favre. Off the field he’s engulfed in controversy, and on the field he’s playing like an old man.

We’ll see later today which team will prevail and avoid going 1-4 to start the season.

One thing is certain though, the Dallas Cowboys are no longer “America's Team.”  Furthermore, I’d venture to say they are the most overrated team in the NFL.

Yes, that’s right. They are overrated.

The talk before the season was the Cowboys are the most talented team in football.  The experts, particular on ESPN Countdown, for years have anointed the Cowboys as the toast of the NFC and will end up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy because they are so talented.

Please.

The Cowboys are an average team lead by a below average coach with players who are underachieving.

Furthermore, the Cowboys are too controlled by a visible owner in Jerry Jones.  I know they do it big in Texas, but ultimately it’s about what you do between the lines on Sunday. Up to this point the Cowboys have disappointed.

Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips, while he has a solid record as a head coach, he isn’t a true leader. Phillips is a puppet. He’s a figure-head to the general manager and owner in Jones.

I knew the Cowboys were doomed when Jones hired Phillips. When I see him I instantly think of the music of the “Music City Miracle.” 

The Buffalo Bills ended up losing to the Tennessee Titans because of Phillips coaching.  After quarterback Doug Flutie lead the Bills to a 10-5 record in the regular season in 1999, Phillips opted to start back-up Rob Johnson the final game of the season to rest Flutie. 

Then the playoffs begin and Phillips announces based on what he saw “in practice,” and Johnson’s “big arm” he would get the start of over Flutie.

Can you say "psych ward?"

While many think the “Music City Miracle”  was won by the Titans on the last play, it was due to Phillips not starting the guy who gave the Bills the best chance to win in Flutie that caused them to lose.

Now Phillips is doing the same thing with the Cowboys. He’s buying into what the media is saying about his team being so talented, yet he’s not putting players in position to truly help the team.

The Cowboys are doomed. It’s Karma.

It’s hard to embrace how some of these coaches are really trained professionals. Ray Charles can see what the Cowboys need to do, and he’s dead and blind.

It is obvious Felix Jones gives the Cowboys the best chance to win if he has the ball. His new nickname should be “The Menu” because he can serve you up in a multitude of ways. 

Jones can hit you with an appetizer on special teams with his ability to return the ball.  He can feast on the main course by running the ball out of the back field, and end with dessert by catching the ball as well.

Can you say “The Menu?”

Every team that’s won the Super Bowl has had three key elements. They run the football, play great defense and force turnovers. The Cowboys haven’t done the latter, therefore they are struggling.

Listen up Cowboys. You don’t have an identity. You can have one in No. 28. Feed him the ball. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett needs to put the ball in the gut of Jones instead of the pass-happy hands of Tony Romo. Marion Barber is your third-down back, and Tashard Choice will spell Jones when tired.

Yes, it’s that simple.

Running the football establishes your identity. It’s the foundation of championship football. Only then can the likes of Miles Austin, the overpaid Roy Williams and Dez Bryant shine.

Romo is a reflection of the head coach. He’s put up some impressive numbers, but hasn’t delivered in the crunch.  The facts are, up until last season the Cowboys hadn’t won a playoff game since 1996. 

Romo has been handed the keys to the car to drive solo, but he needs to have Felix Jones in that passenger’s seat.

It’s all about balance Cowboys. Establish your identity as a running team and all other facets of your game will logically fall into place.

If you don’t run the ball today against the Vikings, you will continue to struggle in the future with Romo throwing the football.

Make sense?

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