DALLAS/NYG

[Jeff]

Salary cap.......


The NFL has been after parity for years. Now, they have it.

10 years ago, and prior, the NFL was closer to college football in structure.

You had some top tier teams. Some middle of the pack teams, nd some bottom of the barrel teams.

There was an obvious gap between each level.

These days that gap is much more narrow.

[jpehl]

Thats what i was thinking.

[jpehl]

I think with all this said this game will be based on one persons performance. Manning. Now dont think that i have thrown the idea out the door that Romo is due. The last time these two teams played I said that for the cowboys to win it all depended on Drew (The Statue) Bledsoe. He failed. Now its all on Mannings shoulders. How will he react? I guess we will find out tomorrow. With all the trash talking coming out of Shockey I think that it is guranteed that both teams will show up to play. Cant wait.
jpehl

[Boone Moone]

I ditto what you say in your post Jeff.......The NFL is not nearly as enjoyable as it was 20-30 years ago.......and that's for a lot of reasons.............T.V. owns the league now to the point that we have to pay for the games that we use to be able to watch for free.........That's well and good because of the selections made available to us, but I just think that since we're paying for it (Sunday Ticket and NFL Channel), that we wouldn't have to deal with so many freakin' commercials...........There's the kickoff and then five minutes of commercials, then a set of downs and five more minutes of bullshit, then the reviews and so-on and so-on.........It's hard to get into the flow of any game..........Scan through the Sunday menu during the games this week, and I'll guarantee you that if there ar 8 games on at once, 5 of them will be on a commercial break at the same time, check it out............It's to the point where I rarely sit through a whole game anymore......I make my plays and head out to the racetrack................This way I don't have to watch all of the "goofy" and "wierd" things that seem to take place right before halftime, and in the last two minutes of the game.........never fails, and always has to do with the outcome in pertinence to the point spread.

Another thing, along with the parity in the league you pointed out, is all of the rule changes..........Somebody in this forum spoke of this on a thread earlier in the week, referring to the New York Giant defensive player that allowed Vince Young to escape his grasp because he was worried about a "roughing the passer" call, and it changed the outcome of the game.............This is just one example, and my post is already too long to site them all, but it's just not the same "rough-house" game that I grew up watching when I was a kid (I'm 48 years-old and became an avid fan when I was 7, bet my first "parlay card" when I was 9)........Review on every other catch, every fumble, it's become no fun to sit through anymore............I don't know if anyone caught Jim Brown's comments earlier in the week, but I couldn't agree with him more.........Let 'em play FOOTBALL for crying out loud!!

Finally, I too agree with the fact that the playoffs are much more playable and figurable than the regular season, in any sport..........Hey, there's no tomorrow, each team is gonna bring it............I LOVE the playoffs, and World Series and and the "future props" that come along with them...........During the regular season, teams are trying different things to see what works and such, some games are expendable (if you've got home field, or court advantage wrapped up) and players are rested and so-on.........All of these things add up to an already tough job that us handicapper's face on a daily basis, and with the inconsistent play of 80% of the NFL teams out there, it just makes it that much tougher...........Good Luck guys.

[jpehl]

Calls are seeming a little one sided so far.

[jpehl]

Man Parcells seems to make all the right calls this year. I bet Vanderjadt is not to happy.
jpehl

[Carpet]

JEFF...........

I read your post concerning this game and
you were DEAD BALLS CENTER.........CORRECT

Thanks for your insight and feedback, it
helped me take the Giants and 3.5, I was really
worried how he Giants would show up and
your were right they gave it all and came to play

Covered by the Hook.....

[jpehl]

Well did not take a side, but you guys did save me a few pennies. Thanks

[widestrides]

I couldn't find +3.5. Should have bought the extra half point. I thought I might need it. Giants could have, should have won, but as I feared, they had trouble covering all three Cowboys receivers - T.O., Glenn and Whitten. How did the Giants allow Whitten to be matched against a LB when they had their prevent with 6 DBs in there?!!!!!!!

Shoulda, coulda, woulda. That's what separates good teams from great teams.

[jpehl]

I think its safe to say that the better team won. Giants really never had a chance

[Boone Moone]

The Giants played as good as they could today (or at least far better than they had in any recent game), and still couldn't get it done in their own stadium.............Goes to show you the poise this kid Romo (and the whole Dallas team) have at the moment...........Gonna be one hell of a game next week against the suprising Saints on Sunday night........Good Luck Jpehl.

[jpehl]

The saints will be a big hurdle. Theres more to this game then meets the common eye. Peyton came from Parcells system. Now who can you tip your hand to in this game, the teacher or the pupil. I really believe for the Cowboys to succeed that they need to lose at least one game before the playoffs. I just picked up 12 tickets for my family and friends for the Christmas day game against Philly. I would hate for them to lose that game. I hate Philly and I hate the Giants. All this said no matter what happens this year I think we have found our guy, and that is more then we can say for the last 8 years. I love this guy. He has shown everything you want in a QB. Its odd because Romo reminds me so much of Brady and i hate Brady. Cowboys opened up favored by 7. Wow thats alot of points to cover. Have to look this one over. I actually believe that the Cowboys are the best team in the NFC, hands down. The bears are going to encounter alot of problems in the playoffs if Grossman continues to play the way he has the last couple of games. So what do i say bring on da bears. Hopefully it will be in our future.
jpehl

[widestrides]

Parcells' teams usually show up more often than others. We talked about how in the NFL it's hard to konw who is going to show up each week. Parcells knows he has to motivate and light a fire under his guys each week or they will slack off some weeks. That may be his greatest advantage. You're right, Dallas is the better team on paper, but you could see how if they had been a little slack, they would not have won this road game. Parcells and the new enthusiasm of Romo carried them through.

Also, it is obvious to me that you need a mobile QB to win big in this league. Not necesssarily a running QB, but at least a mobile QB. Montana, Elway, even Brady and Farve can move enough to avoid a sack and make a play. If Vince Young couldn't move, they would not have won their last two games. Mobile QBs keep drives alive and make the difference in a game. Romo vs Bledsoe is the latest proof.

[vegasbreaker]

how bout them cowboys

think I'm gonna put down a futures bet for cowboys to win superbowl 12 to 1. shot in the dark but hey whats 50 bucks!