It’s been 3 weeks since I wrote in my NFL recap that Terrell Owens would soon be crooning for Donovan McNabb and I get the notion that soon is not that far off.
Four games into the season, Drew Bledsoe is already under fire, the subject of sports radio banter that started immediately after the meltdown in Philadelphia, in which the 14 year veteran of the NFL fired a misdirected missile into the end zone that was returned 102 yards in the other direction by Eagle DB Lito Sheppard. By virtue of the interception, Bledsoe’s third of the game, the Eagles turned away the Cowboys’ late threat as they rang up a 38-24 victory.
Two years ago, when the Dallas Cowboys signed Bledsoe, I commented in an article entitled ‘Nostalgic Tuna’, that Parcells’ acquisition of the journeyman quarterback was the result of drunk dialing, which, if you don’t know, goes something like calling your old girlfriends after inhaling one too many shots of Jagermister. The tunas’ tendency to recycle players from his past is well documented as ex Jets Keyshawn Johnson, Vinny Testaverde, and Richie Anderson all had their careers resurrected by the coach whose claim to fame is a pair of Super Bowl wins during his 8 year tenure with the Giants. One resigning that has worked out favorably is that of Terry Glenn, who Parcells coached when he was with New England during the 96 season which was his last of a 4 year stint with the Patriots. Glenn put up solid numbers with the Boys last year as he hauled in 62 balls for 1136 yards and is well on his way to exceeding that in 2006 as he already has 20 catches.
Even though it was Bledsoe who took New England to the Super Bowl in 1996, the same year Glenn caught those 90 passes, I struggled with the Cowboys’ decision to sign.the Washington State product as to that point he compiled a career passer rating of 76.7, which is considered a far cry from Super Bowl type numbers, unless you happen to be Trent Dilfer. Bledsoes’ best year to date is 87.7, which happens to be a few percentage points from Brett Favre’s career average. Both Chad Pennington and Daunte Culpepper had ratings of 93 during their first 5 years in the league.
Bledsoe had just come off a tumultuous 2 years in Buffalo, capped off by a season ending loss against a Steeler team that already had their playoff seeding determined while the Bills were in a must win situation in order to advance to the post season. Bledsoe fumbled twice, was intercepted once, absorbed 3 sacks, and produced a 53.3 rating as the Bills were eliminated by virtue of their 29-24 defeat at the hands of Pittsburgh.
With the Cowboys at 2-2, and TO showing visible signs of frustration, one has to wonder how long TO can keep his sideline theatrics in check. During Sundays’ game, TO could be seen pacing the sideline and spewing a few unpleasantries in the direction of Bledsoe and anybody else that cared to listen. It seems pretty obvious that it is only matter of time before Owens goes postal.
Clearly, the problem lies with Parcells, his signing of Bledsoe, and his decision to go to battle with talent that has proven itself as time tested ordinary. Dallas will eventually pay the price for putting all of its’ eggs in the Bledsoe basket as Tony Romo has never thrown a regular season pass, reflected in the fact that Bledsoe took all 499 QB snaps in 2005.
The piper must be paid as the Cowboys cannot win with either QB, Bledsoe due to his limitations, and Romo because of his inexperience. No doubt, Jerry Jones 5 million dollar signing bonus that he bestowed upon Bledsoe may have played a role in all of this.
Parcells’ place in coaching history will be defined by his 2 Super Bowl victories, to which he must be given credit. But at this juncture, Parcells is talking a better game than he is coaching, and if one were to delve deeper they would evidence that the common denominator in the Tuna’s success is his affiliation with the now legendary Bill Belichick, the only coach to have won 3 Super Bowls in 4 years. Belichick was defensive coordinator for the 1986 and 1990 New York Giants, the same years the Parcells was able to put those championships on his resume. When the Jets reached the 1998 AFC Championship game under Parcells, it was once again Belichick that spearheaded a defense that allowed but 266 points, second best in the NFL that year
So as the drama unfolds, and the impending eruption of the NFL’s version of Mt. St. Helens draws closer, one has to wonder what’s on the horizon in Big D, whose soap opera like atmosphere may yet take on Luke and Laura type proportions. Anyway you slice it, there’s a lot in store. All I can say is who needs Desperate Housewives, when I’ve got reality TV. It should be fascinating.
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