What America really needs, is a NEW America's Team.
With tonight's loss, Dallas has eliminated themselves from the Playoffs. Tony Romo will be, and has been, cussed and thrown under the bus by pundits and armchair quarterbacks alike for his entire run in Dallas. Some may be warranted, but only at times. With the amount of blame Romo gets for Dallas' recent ability to get to the playoffs, Terrel Owens is probably crying "that's my Quarterback!"...or doing sit-ups in his driveway.
Romo, while not really having the best head on his shoulders in regards to decision making at times, is not to blame for Dallas' woes alone. It's been a chorus of internal decision making, poor judgement by the coaching staff and front office. It's Jerry Jones. It's lack of drafting or acquiring an offensive line. And yes, it's Tony Romo.
Romo did take the blame for the loss Sunday night. He owned up to his shortcomings this night. What he also owns, is an abysmal record in games that truly matter. He's 0-3 in win or go home situations in his last three times out. Overall, he stands at 1-7 in games of this type in his career. This game was being touted as a defining game in the career of Tony Romo. He threw 3 INT's and once again, found himself to be the goat in another Cowboy short-coming. Romo is the QB, it's his team, and he couldn't get it done...again. The bull's eye for blame on his back is as big as that star at midfield at Cowboys Stadium. He faltered, and he failed.
Unfortunately for Romo, as of this moment, no matter his overall stats and rating, his inability is his legacy.
However, While it may not be too safe to say 100% in favor of any of the aforementioned factors as the cause of all this, it is safe to say this: Dallas is no longer America's Team.
And if there was ever a time when a team was needed in America, it's now.
After Katrina, The Saints became, or more appropriately pushed as, America's new team. Then, they had a little thing known as 'Bounty Gate" made public.
The Steelers have for years been the also-ran when it comes to labeling a team as America's. These aren't the 70's Steelers anymore, folks. They have a QB who may or may not be some sort of sexual predator. The 'Blue-collar' moniker in no way shape or form applies at all. If anything, labeling a professional sports franchise riddled with millionaires and prima donnas as such is one of the finest examples of an oxymoron if there ever was one. The romanticism of having fan's such as Hank Jr. and Charlie Daniels has to be overlooked here... and yes, even if Coach Cal is a fan, too.
The Giants had the same effect on our sporting consciousness after the events of 9-11 that the Saints had during Katrina. It was a feel good idea, it was tugging on the heart strings, and it was a sign of solidarity. And... It couldn't, and didn't last. Now, they have become the team who is playing under the recognition of being the favorite of the children of Newton, CT, which SHOULD make them OUR team by default.
So, what will it take to have a team become, and remain, America's Team?
The Packers with their symbolism of a by-gone era? The Patriots with their winning ways?(They already currently enjoy the America's Bandwagon Team moniker) Or how about the Houston Texans with their very name that hearkens to a notion of Texas pride?( a sense of not wanting to be part of America anymore pride, mind you)
Could it be the Denver Broncos with their embodiment of never count someone out?(even with a broken-neck of sorts) Or should we look towards The Colts, who have tugged on our heart strings with a head coach battling leukemia and a young rookie QB showing that maybe the kids are alright after all and turning around a team who discarded their identity and only won 2 games the previous season?
Or are we to look towards are nation's capitol, at another rookie QB who is dazzling audiences and bringing respectability back to the franchise who share a city with various elected officials who have lost all respectability?Not to mention leading the Native Americans to their first NFC East title since 2009, and being the catalyst to a whole new batch of Romo hating.
Perhaps we should take head to "The South will rise again", and bestow the tag onto the Atlanta Falcons, with their play-caller who is known as Matty Ice?
We all love second chances, so should we take the kings of second chances and rehabilitation opportunities, the Cincinnati Bengals and their roster of castoffs mixed with promises of a brighter tomorrow?(who ironically, replaced Dallas as the Land of Second-Opportunity after those days of rap sheets and saddling up on that white horse having some fun with that devil's dandruff.)
Or is all this just pushing the panic button prematurely and writing the 'Boys off too soon?
Whatever the case may be, America needs a team. Whether or not it's Dallas is completely up to them.
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