Seymour93
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2004
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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9824901
Benching Bledsoe is basically the only thing '01 had in common with these guys. Before the season, even with Bledsoe at the helm, the Cowboys were one of the favourites to go to the SB whereas the '01 Pats were expected to be the whipping boys of the AFC East. They have superstars like TO, while we were just a boring "Get the job done" team. During SB week nobody paid any attention to us, we were fodder for the Rams. If they Cowboys were to make it the media would be drooling over them. And do you really think, if they had the choice (which they no longer do), TO, Glenn, J. Jones, Roy Williams and the rest would choose to come out as a team in the introductions or would they each like the be personally recognized just like the Rams and everyone else before us did?
I can't wait until they lose in the playoffs. Whether this current crop of Pats will meet them there is undetermined, but at least we'll get the chance to shut the Cowboys up next season.
Vic, looking at the resurgence of the Cowboys under Tony Romo, I can't help but think of the success the Patriots had when Tom Brady replaced Drew Bledsoe due to injury. Of course, it is too soon to tell whether the Cowboys will go all the way this year, but do you see any parallels between the 2006 Cowboys and the 2001 Patriots? -- Jim H.; San Luis Obispo, Calif.
I see some.
There's signs that Drew Bledsoe might be watching another Super Bowl run from the sidelines.
I think the mentality of the rest of the Cowboys players has changed with Romo at quarterback the way the mentality of the rest of the Patriots players changed after Brady took over. With Bledsoe under center, it seemed that everyone else often waited for him to make a play. He was viewed as a security blanket, as someone who was always there to bail the team out of any jam. That undoubtedly caused Bledsoe to feel additional pressure, which sometimes had a negative impact on his play. However, with Brady at quarterback, the other players knew they had to step up and help him rather than wait for him to do something. To a great extent, I see other Cowboys players doing the same for Romo.
I also think, as the Patriots coaches did after Brady replaced Bledsoe, the Cowboys coaches are asking the other players on offense to accept more of the responsibility, which they have. Some of that comes in the form of a direct message the coaches regularly deliver to the players in meetings and practice, and some of it comes indirectly through the design of game plans that don't place too much pressure on the quarterback.
Another similarity between the '01 Patriots and the '06 Cowboys can be found on defense. Both play schemes that involve enough variety to cause confusion and frustration for opposing quarterbacks
Benching Bledsoe is basically the only thing '01 had in common with these guys. Before the season, even with Bledsoe at the helm, the Cowboys were one of the favourites to go to the SB whereas the '01 Pats were expected to be the whipping boys of the AFC East. They have superstars like TO, while we were just a boring "Get the job done" team. During SB week nobody paid any attention to us, we were fodder for the Rams. If they Cowboys were to make it the media would be drooling over them. And do you really think, if they had the choice (which they no longer do), TO, Glenn, J. Jones, Roy Williams and the rest would choose to come out as a team in the introductions or would they each like the be personally recognized just like the Rams and everyone else before us did?
I can't wait until they lose in the playoffs. Whether this current crop of Pats will meet them there is undetermined, but at least we'll get the chance to shut the Cowboys up next season.