Carolina STILL better than Dallas
October 28, 2008
by Greg Bailey
Alright, Dallas fans. Fire away. I’ll pretend like I deserve it. Tell me your ‘Boys showed heart and toughness and grit in the thrilling win over the Bucs. Tell me leaders stepped up. Tell me you could just tell from the sofa how much they wanted it. Tell me Jerry Jones wore the exact same sideline ensemble that he was going to wear to the Super Bowl last year.
And in 30 seconds I’ll tell you exactly why the Panthers are still light years ahead of the Cowboys:
1) Good teams beat the Cardinals. Always have. Always will. It was true when Jim Hart played quarterback for the Cards and its true now.
2) Brett Basanez is better than Brad Johnson. The Panthers practice squad quarterback is familiar with the term “forward pass.” That’s more than we can say for Johnson. The 40 year old back up took a picture with his family after “throwing” for 122 yards in the win over Tampa. We assume the caption in Johnson’s trophy room will read:”10/26/08 The day I defied mathematics.”
3) Is this Irving, Texas or is this Philly, circa 1972? (I tried to pick an angry year in Philadelphia.) Cowboys’ fans rallied behind their back up quarterback by booing him all day. (I know. I know. Most Dallas fans watched in bars and you can’t really hear the sound from the TV anyway.) If you’re struggling to scrounge up a prom date do you boo your last chance to save face? In Dallas the answer is a loud, lusty, booing “yes.”
4) Steve Smith is MUCH BETTER than T.O. Last year with My Cousin Vinny, rookie Matt Moore, and white glove service from David Carr, Smitty churned out another 1,000 yard season. Stunningly remarkable. In 2 games with the back up QB in Dallas, T.O. has averaged 3 1/2 catches for 32 yards. The true greats don’t always need rhythm or reps or that “he knows what I’m gonna do before I do it” connection. They just make plays. Smith does that. T.O.? Apparently not.
5) DeAngelo Williams is better than Brad Johnson as a quarterback. Williams lined up in the Wildcat formation Sunday the Panthers offense moved the ball crisply. Johnson and the Dallas offense staggered around, staying upright just long enough to watch the defense escape late. And don’t give me the “Brad Johnson played mistake free football that allowed us to win” deal. When DeAngelo took over the offense as the desperation quarterback against Atlanta back in 2006, Carolina ran for 183 yards in a convincing 10-3 win.
