As expected, the decision of the Dallas Cowboys to bench Brandon Weeden irritated the quarterback who admitted he was “pissed” over the change. And while you’re kicking back, remember, if the Eagles happen to beat the Giants Monday night, both would be 3-3, and so would the Redskins if they beat the Jets, with the Cowboys, even on this three-game losing streak, just a half game back of the pack. He completed 71-of-98 passes for 739 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. It’s time for a fresh arm.
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If they didn’t Tony Romo would still be healthy and playing. After the game on Sunday, Jason Garrett, Jerry Jones, and even Brandon Weeden himself would not endorse who the starting quarterback will be after their Week 6 Bye.
The defense allowed 95 points in the three games, and the Cowboys aren’t nearly as productive running the ball as they were last season with DeMarco Murray, but the quarterback is always the focus when it comes to winning or losing in the NFL. This is the highest-profile move, but should actually be the least controversial.
The Cowboys are also promoting rookie guard La’el Collins, a projected first-round pick from LSU who wasn’t selected because his name surfaced in the investigation of a woman’s death days before the draft. They’ll be without Tony Romo for the next four games. As Muth observed, no one really respected his ability to hurt them by going over the top.
And then there is the vow to bump C-Mike (Christine Michael) into the running back rotation, maybe powerful enough to plow through some of those tiny creases. We’ve had some temporary setbacks with some guys that we kind of rely on, our quarterback, our receiver.
Garrett said the other receivers need to do a better job of getting open. “He’s been a backup before, so he’s coming into this situation”. That would mean Romo would have to engineer six wins in the final 7 games – and that’s a tall task. “We are going to take the reins off and let him rock”.
He has been the starting quarterback of 10-win teams with New England (2008) and Kansas City (2010). “I think we are good at a lot of things….” Different team, different decade, but you can’t blame the Cowboys for mixing it up and giving the 33-year-old a shot.
He was penalized twice against the Patriots and was manhandled frequently in the trenches.
I think that Weeden’s criticism is too harsh.
On the other hand, this just became an extremely young line, with four of the five starters 24 years old or younger.
Hardy played 41 of 59 defensive snaps against the Patriots, tying for the most among Cowboys defensive linemen. I’ve got my feelings, I’m going to keep them to myself and go from there.
If he is just more of the same, or fails in a different manner, such as throwing more interceptions, then it will be a long season for all of us.
Leary, though, returned to the starting lineup the last two weeks.
RB Rod Smith was claimed on waivers from the Seattle Seahawks. In his past 11 starts, Weeden is winless, but the numbers don’t do him justice yet again. With the combination of replacement players and returning players, the Cowboys are hoping that this new mix of players can produce a check in the win column against the rival Giants.
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RB Darren McFadden has taken over the third-down back role from injured Lance Dunbar. His impact on the football team is important. Given how many there are, that does not necessarily doom Dallas, especially in a division as tight as the NFC East. But is there one thing in particular that has to work out for things to go well for the Cowboys? “Just taking that approach every day”. He only had 425 yards and was averaging a mere 6 yards per attempt.
