Big Blue Huddle

I long wondered how the Dallas Cowboys ended up in the NFC East, which from a geographical position makes zero sense. So I did some research and found a few tidbits of interest

From Gene Williams on Quora

Why won't NFL move Carolina Panthers to NFC East, and Dallas Cowboys to NFC South? From Gene Williams on Quora

"The Cowboys have a long-standing agreement with the NFL stretching back to the mid 60s. The agreement was consummated by Pete Rozelle and his long time friend Tex Schramm, then President and General Manager of the Cowboys.

The impetus of the agreement was centered around Rozelle's desire for a late afternoon game on Thanksgiving as a compliment to the traditional 12:00pm CST Lions' game. Rozelle (and Schramm) were former CBS executives with keen vision concerning the symbiosis between TV and the rapid ramp up of the popularity of pro football going on at the time. The majority of team owners resisted an additional Thanksgiving game for fear of disruption of any circadian rhythm, so to speak, for teams in the playoff hunt in what at the time was late in the season.

Schramm seized the opportunity for nationwide exposure of the young Cowboys franchise and approached Rozelle with a deal. The deal was that in exchange for willingly hosting a late Thanksgiving game each year, the Cowboys would be assured a positioning in the NFL/NFC East or it's equivalent indefinitely. The NFC East is home to 4 of the top 10 TV markets in the US. The rest is history.

Is the agreement contractual? I do not know. Would the NFL break the agreement? I do not know that either. But if at some point the NFL through whatever science or emotional mechanism were to convince itself that realignment of the Cowboys would better feed the bulldog, then I'd see the league doing it.

The NFC West would make sense in that it contains 4 of the top 12 markets and, if you are to include Dallas/Ft Worth, 5 of the top 12..."

I have long wondered how this happened, and I guess this answers the question. My question to everyone else is, "What can fans like us do to force (or at least encourage the possibility) this to happen?" I suspect the Cowboy fans wonder the same thing about why they are stuck in the NFC East requiring a heavier travel log than if they were in the south with Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and New Orleans

It makes too much sense to ignore. I know that the NFL plans on expansion of more teams in the future; however, in international cities (Mexico City, UK, Germany, etc.), but I don't know if they are thinking in the U.S. But it would seem to me that, as the NFL ponders expansion, they would also consider realignment. I'm sure Mexico City would prefer to be in a division with Dallas and vice versa

This old "gentleman's agreement" over cocktails between two buddies who are long dead (Rozelle nearly 30 yrs in the grave and Schramm 21 yrs ago buying the farm), should not be the "gold standard" of how football teams are aligned. And the argument that it "fits the time zone standards for two games on Thanksgiving", is no longer relevant in any possible reasoning. And as far as market reach goes, television has made that argument irrelevant. Regardless, nothing would make me happier than to see Carolina be a part of our division and be gone with the miserable Cowboys. I suspect Philly and DC would heartily agree...maybe even Dallas as they'd probably dominate the NFC South

And the other thing I'd love to see go to the grave is the moniker "America's Team" as it insults every fan who loves their home team that isn't in Texas. That started because many years ago, now retired sports writer and analyst Bob Ryan (who I actually really like his take on things) inadvertently mentioned that you'd think this was America's team the way the fans cheer. Then Pat Summerall (who overheard Ryan mention it that one time) repeated the sentiment on a Monday Night Football televised event and the Cowboys' marketing team latched onto it like a pond full of blood suckers and proliferated it all over the airways for the next several decades

Now I'm a guy who loves nostalgia and tradition (one of the reasons my love of baseball has waned, but I digress), but why are we staying loyal to a bunch of past talking heads and drinking buddies who made backroom handshake deals over glasses of 20 yr old scotch while smoking Cuban cigars, when it's frigging 2024???

There! got that off my chest. I just felt llike bitching about an old problem I've been annoyed with for years   

Any thoughts?

Quote from: Fletch on Today at 01:58:33 PMJust stop with this xxxxxxxx already. Daniel Jones on the Lions would look like Daniel Jones. A low skilled passer who cannot make decisions in the pocket. The day Daniel Jones is ever considered a pro bowl player in either college or the Pros will be the first time. The day Daniel Jones is considered a top 10 QB in Passing yards per game; passing TDs; Passes completed like Goff has in several seasons will be the first time; both college and pros.

Russ Wilson has little to do with Goff. He is much younger and has already had success on another team. The whole idea of building around Stafford is really puzzling to me. They decided to build around Goff by trading Stafford for boat load of picks. The Lions were not a good team instantly but, eventually they are hitting their stride after developing talent and lots of it they got in the trade.

THe book is not closed on Goff because he got traded and had a bad year on the Rams. The Rams were in win now mode with a QB in a slump or at worst and in a bad contract. That is neither here nor there.

The Lions have little choice but to pay Goff. They are a playoff team. The Giants are not and had every reason to move on from Jones.

He puts up the yards but he's averaged 23 TD's a season, had three years with the Rams and Lions where he had avg. 20 TD's a season and his career Rating and QBR are just ok. He's one of the better middle of the pack QB's but this contract is ridiculous. He's the second highest-paid QB in the league.

"Tonight, do the Panthers put the Bruins away? doesn't look good for Beantown."

because the Panthers/Brennet stabbed the Bruins in the heart when he punched him. They went to the Finals last year, know what it takes, and taste blood.

Quote from: Trench on Today at 01:34:37 PMThis is factually incorrect. Not ONE PERSON has PUT "ALL the blame" on his shoulders!....not ONE SINGLE PERSON HAS DONE THAT. Ever.

Well sure... but are you considering how much easier it is to argue (and take the high ground) against an imagined, wildly-unreasonable person?

Quote from: MightyGiants on Today at 01:35:39 PMTwo must-win games where Jones did the opposite of choke

Almost 500 yards rushing in those three games where the Giants lost one against teams that have up 25 points a game average. The Vikings had one of the worst passing Defenses in the league that year giving up 4500 yards.

Not bad for a game manager.

Nicely done, Larry, and many thanks for this post.  Bob

Quote from: Ed Vette on Today at 10:47:43 AMDaniel Jones would thrive there too. He will win games and choke in the playoffs. His story has been rit and read.

Just stop with this xxxxxxxx already. Daniel Jones on the Lions would look like Daniel Jones. A low skilled passer who cannot make decisions in the pocket. The day Daniel Jones is ever considered a pro bowl player in either college or the Pros will be the first time. The day Daniel Jones is considered a top 10 QB in Passing yards per game; passing TDs; Passes completed like Goff has in several seasons will be the first time; both college and pros.

Russ Wilson has little to do with Goff. He is much younger and has already had success on another team. The whole idea of building around Stafford is really puzzling to me. They decided to build around Goff by trading Stafford for boat load of picks. The Lions were not a good team instantly but, eventually they are hitting their stride after developing talent and lots of it they got in the trade.

THe book is not closed on Goff because he got traded and had a bad year on the Rams. The Rams were in win now mode with a QB in a slump or at worst and in a bad contract. That is neither here nor there.

The Lions have little choice but to pay Goff. They are a playoff team. The Giants are not and had every reason to move on from Jones.

Makes no sense to me. Our team stinks and yet our schedule is harder than teams who are clearly better.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on Today at 10:58:19 AMI''m not heartened by Daboll's comments about not throwing too much at them and spending one hour on the field (although to be fair I don't know the rules about what the limits are for on-field practice time in rookie camp).

There is a funny series of YouTube shorts about the contrast between how American parent interacts with her kid compared to Asian mom.  When it comes to all of the camps, I want Daboll to be an Asian mom.

You are 100% correct AZ