THE MANSION

A lot to get to this week so here it is:

1. Wow is all I can say. The Bears were a game I marked as a loss early in the year in trying to predict how the Cowboys will do. What a statement game. The Cowboys responded by being aggressive on offense and taking advantage of the mistakes of Rex Grossman, which is what I said would they would have to do but I was wrong about it being a nailbiter.

2. Keep in mind the 1999 Cowboys went 3-0 and then finished the season 8-8 and a first round loss to the Vikings. That season also marked the firing of Chan Gailey and the retirement of Michael Irvin. In fact Irvin got hurt in the game following the 3-0 start. Why am I being a pessimisst you say? I am not. I am just saying try to keep it real. The real test will be in December. The Cowboys usually start strong and then in December, the fade begins. Can they keep this up for a season? I hope so.

3. One thing I am sure of is Tony Romo is the man. He will be the guy, Super Bowl or not that will probably leading this team to the ups and downs for the next ten years. He made great decisions, showed great poise and was able to move out of the pocket and get open receivers. Plus TO loves the guy. How many QBs have maintained a good rapport with Owens in his career. How many stil talk to him? This is an area that is sold on. We are set. No more talk of that botched snap.

4. Running game really sagged if you wipe out that long run at the end of the game, we really did not do well. Marion Barber is still the best back. I keeep hearing that the Cowboys will not break away from their current system of splitting the carries. I also hear Julius Jones will not be back next year. So what happens next year? Is Barber the feauture back or are we going to go get another back to complement him? And don't say Darren McFadden, refering to the Browns number 1 pick. It is still too early to be monitoring that. All I know is that Barber needs to get more carries.

5. Terance Newman looked good being a nickel back but from the looks of things he was in pain afterwards. Not a good sign.

6. Hey, Flozell Adams was his usual reliable self, a hold, a sack allowed and a false start.

7. 10 penalities called for nearly a 100 yards. I mean I know some of the penalties were questionable but man, we will not win the Super Bowl playing this way. It needs to stop.

8. Back to the questionable penalties. Let them play ref! I mean that block in the back call on Jason Witten or the stupid pass interference call on TO. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Plus ignoring the rule on stopping the clock on change of possession at the end of the half. I hope this ref crew will be fined.

9. Tommie Harris and Lance Briggs injuries sure helped a lot. I don't know if the Cowboys would have won if those guys had not gone out.

10. There is still a lot of people saying that the defense has still not proven it can shut down a good team. They take into account that the teams the Boys beat were mediocre offenses. Granted that is true. But a good defense is supposed to make a bad or mediocre offense look bad. Remember, Rex Grossman has looked good before. So pretty much, the Cowboys were the team that finally sacked Grossman to the bench. Force him to make mistakes and make a mediocre back like Cedric Benson look mediocre. I don't think the defense is great yet but it is not bad. I would say it is a good defense.

11. It sure looks good that Stephen Jackson and JP Losman will be out for the next two games the Cowboys play. On paper it looks good but lets not look ahead to that game on October 14th.

12. You know you would think Roy Williams would learn how to wrap up on a tackle instead of looking for the big hit all the time.

13. Well Matt McBriar seemed to win the battle as Devin Hester did not make any big plays on returns and was no more than a decoy on offense. Hester also muffed a few bad kicks. Maybe all that kicking away from him made him forget how to catch the ball.

14. I don't know what is the big deal on Brian Griese, he has not been that good in the NFL, not being able to take the pressure of replacing John Elway in Denver, so I don't know why people love this guy only for the reason that he is not Rex Grossman.

15. I don't think Donovan McNabb will get criticized as much this week as in previous weeks.

16. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt can say it all he wants but when you lift your starter who is not playing well for your backup, you have a QB contoversy.

17. The Patriots really look great. Scary great.

18. What is Michael Vick thinking? Now I wonder if that apology was sincere. You smoke pot right when you are awaiting sentencing for the dogfighting charges?

19. I got tired last year of the Dallas media saying we let go of the wrong coach when Sean Payton went on to lead the Saints to the NFC championship. Now his team is o-3 and looks really bad. I know it is still early but so much for his genius.

20. The baseball races are really hitting up in the national league. We know who is playing in the AL but man what a trip in the NL. We could have as many as 3 one game playoffs on Monday.

21. What Greg Ryan did to Hope Solo was bad. You don't bench your hot goalie based on what your older goalie did against a previous team from a long time ago. That said what Solo said was stupid. You don't go after your teammate. Go after your coach but don't attack your teammate. And your apology on your myspacew account, stupid.

22. I don't know why people are in an uproar over James spader winning the Emmy. If you ever seen Boston Legal, he is good.

23. Who did not buy Halo 3?

That is it see ya.