11/27/12: D-FW sports chat with columnist Tim Cowlishaw

Are we going to see any hockey at the AAC next month?

by Tim 12/27/2012 8:00:44 PM
Good question. I think next week is big. I think -- still think but barely -- that the owners will be smart enough (using term loosely) to figure out they aren't going to shove a bad deal past Fehr. They will make one final offer that is somehow marginally better than what they have put out there in the past. Then it will be up to players to say we will take this "not great" deal or we will sit for an entire season.

by Tim Cowlishaw 12/27/2012 8:02:16 PM
The Boys had better beware about going into DC in December as the ghost of George Allen will surely be swirling around that haunted stadium. The Cowboy Star and white Jerseys should take care of it. With that said, who did you pick as the winner?

by Old Cowboy 12/27/2012 8:02:35 PM
Think the ghost of George Allen never left RFK. If it had come to FedEx, the Redskins wouldn't be one of two NFC teams with longer NFC championship game drought than Dallas. We will get to my prediction in a bit. There are some things that favor Dallas. Not as many as those that favor the Redskins but still could be important.

by Tim Cowlishaw 12/27/2012 8:03:44 PM
In order to prevent the Cowboys from going to perdition (losing to the DC club) in my opinion, three things need to happen. 1. Shut down Santana Moss as in the past he has done more damage to the Cowboys than cheap whiskey sold in strip joints. 2. Shut down RB Morris as he killed them last time. 3. Miles Austin has to step up and have a great game.

by Diablo 12/27/2012 8:04:06 PM
I think your No. 2 is very big. For all the talk about RG III -- deservedly so -- to have a rookie running back with more than 1,400 yards on what had been a mediocre team is remarkable. He really gets outside quickly. The Cowboys had one horrible quarter against the Redskins -- 28 points -- and played some degree of OK the rest of the time. If they shorten that quarter to maybe half a quarter, they can win.

by Tim Cowlishaw 12/27/2012 8:05:08 PM
The Cowboys and Redskins game is full of mystery and intrigue. With the DC club being a 3 point favorite is there a chance that the Cowboys may try some plays, tactics and strategies the DC club has not seem before?

by James Bond 12/27/2012 8:05:24 PM
Always good to hear from James Bond, hope you saw that Skyfall checked in at No. 8 on my top movies list this morning. I don't know if it will be noticeably different play-calling but it's pretty obvious to everyone, this team's best chance is to open it up for Romo and let it rip. As Jerry Jones pointed out, that's also how bad plays come about as well, but I don't think a conservative approach will do anything but get Dallas killed Sunday night. Cowboys don't have enough healthy bodies on defense to survive that way.

by Tim Cowlishaw 12/27/2012 8:06:53 PM
Cheers to the Boys! Given the lack of success of the Cowboys annual draft, we should cheer the team for its success. Yes, it is made up of free agent signinees, undrafted free agents, guys picked off taxi squads, guys picked off tractors (Sims), and others. Yet, they are playing for the division title. Hats off to them, to the scouts, and the coaches!

by Cliff Clavin 12/27/2012 8:07:10 PM
I think you are selling the Cowboys short on a couple of recent drafts but certainly agree the scouts have done remarkable job plugging holes this year. I would say with some of these players like Frampton they have come alive but I wore that joke out weeks ago.

by Tim Cowlishaw 12/27/2012 8:08:12 PM
The barflies over at my place don't seem to be upset that Marty B is playing a little better with the GMen than he did with the Cowboys. It looks like he is going to get about 650 yards for the year but that is just so so for a number 1 TE. I know of no one who has regrets about him leaving, do you?

by Joe The Bartender 12/27/2012 8:08:37 PM
Think it was good for everyone. Bennett needed to get a slap in the face and respond, and I think he did. Meanwhile Jason Witten has 200 catches. OK, not quite that many but an NFL record is pretty impressive at this point in his career.

by Tim Cowlishaw 12/27/2012 8:09:23 PM
It now appears that the 2012 draft may rank down there with the 2009 draft. Yes, Mo Clairborne is a starter and then there are Crawford and Hanna who appear to be fill ins for the foresable future and that is it. Anyone that you know of taking responsibility for this?

by Charter Member of Cowboy... 12/27/2012 8:09:34 PM
Wait, are you supposed to get seven starters in seven rounds each year? I think Claiborne by himself will make it a good draft. Multi-year Pro Bowler they traded up to get. Obviously it helps if a couple of the others can play, and Hanna has been given a couple of shots and delivered lately.

by Tim Cowlishaw 12/27/2012 8:10:29 PM
Call me what ever you want to but what sticks in my craw is the Lambeau Leap. If there is anything that is an excessive end zone celebration this is one. Not only is it old and tired it could be a safety hazard to the folks in the stand if a 280 lineman who picks up a fumble and scores jumps into the stands where there is a 40 pound 6 year old. Why is this thing grandfathered?

by Gladys The Cowgirl 12/27/2012 8:11:00 PM
Is there a realistic chance of a 280-pound lineman jumping up and someone holding up their infant to let crushed? Think a league with as many major on-field problems as the NFL has -- the hit on Vernon Davis by Seatte that was callled a penalty on a defenseless receiver coming quickly to mind - the Lambeau Leap is not a concern.

by Tim Cowlishaw 12/27/2012 8:12:13 PM
Will Sir Callahan activate Ron Leary and give him a few snaps this Sunday against the Redskins?

by Sir Galahad 12/27/2012 8:12:32 PM
I have no clue and don't honestly care that much because there's no way to know what that would mean. I'm not being flippant but I often wonder about the backup offensive line questions that come in here. No one really knows if these guys can play and except for friends and relatives, no one watches them once the ball is snapped.

by Tim Cowlishaw 12/27/2012 8:13:40 PM
Is the team developing depth on defense, considering how well the backups have played?

by Smurf 12/27/2012 8:13:56 PM
Certainly think Frampton, Moore, Sims -- players that were nowhere near the top of the chart if they were even here at start of season -- have moved up the ladder. That's one plus from having so many injuries at same positiions this season.

by Tim Cowlishaw 12/27/2012 8:14:42 PM