The Dallas Cowboys have gone from 3-0 to 4-2 in the last 3 weeks. They entered the season as one of the favorites in the NFC, and started 3-0, but the team now appears in disarray after the overtime loss to the Cardinals on Sunday. That was only the beginning of their strange week.
Tony Romo broke his right pinkie on the first play of overtime and could be sidelined for up to a month. Cowboy’s coach Wade Phillips said the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback won't need surgery, and the timing of his return "depends on how fast that heals." The Cowboys have three games before a bye in week 10.
Rookie runner Felix Jones, who has an 8.9 yard per carry average and 4 touchdowns, is out 2-4 weeks with a hamstring injury. A hamstring injury is a tough one to get over if you're a burner like Jones.
Adam "Pacman" Jones was suspended Tuesday for a minimum of four games for again violating the league's personal conduct policy. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will determine the full length of the suspension after the Cowboys play Nov. 16 at NFC East rival Washington. The commissioner said a lifetime ban remains a possibility.
Punter Matt McBriar was put on injured reserve Tuesday, ending his season two days after he sustained a broken foot on the last play of Sunday's defeat. McBriar had to be carted off the field after his punt was blocked by the Cardinals and recovered in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
The Cowboys tried to negate some of the bad news by acquiring receiver Roy Williams from Detroit on Tuesday. "I'm more happy to be a Dallas Cowboy than when I got my first bike," said Williams, who starred at the University of Texas before becoming the seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft by Detroit.
What will all this mean for the Dallas Cowboys?
It means that Roy Williams will line up opposite Terrell Owens, giving Dallas a pair of tall, athletic receivers that could open up the field. With Tony Romo, Roy Williams, Terrell Owens, Marian Barber, and Jason Witten, Dallas will have one of the most explosive offenses in the league. That is, when they get Romo back.
Until Romo is back, Brad Johnson looks to start at quarterback for the Cowboys. Johnson is 40 and in his 17th season. He'll be making his first start Sunday since December of 2006. He does not have a big arm, but he manages the game well and will get the ball out of his hands quickly. He will not hold the ball. If he does not have an open receiver, he’ll check it down to a back.
Johnson's opportunity comes against a St. Louis team that is 1-4. In their first game under new coach Jim Haslett, the Rams got a 49-yard field goal from Josh Brown on the last play of the game to give them a 19-17 victory over Washington and their first win.
The Cowboys will run more than they have been without Romo. That may be a good thing for the rest of the 'Boys. The Cowboys have a huge OL and will be giving it to Marian Barber a lot the next few weeks. Barber will get more check down passes as well. Upgrade Barber.
Brad Johnson is very good at play-action passes. With Barber making plays on the ground, it should open up the play-action game for Johnson. Owens, Witten, and now Williams, will not go deep as much without Tony, but Johnson will find the open man quickly and get rid of the ball. Upgrade Johnson and Williams. Downgrade Witten and Owens a little until Tony gets back. Downgrade Patrick Crayton with Williams now ahead of him on the depth chart.
Tony Romo practiced on a limited basis this week and the Cowboys are saying he has not been ruled out just yet. I really don’t see him playing this week, but make sure you keep an eye on the situation. It would be a big risk to let him play. If he gets a big hit on the finger, he could be out for the year. They really don’t need him this week as the Rams are giving up 403 yards and 32.8 points per game.
I’m really looking forward to finding out what this offense can do down the stretch
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