You Talkin' to Me? Is this the 'Boys' year, or just another tease?

You guys have been around for these dog days of the Cowboys, Jacques as a columnist (and former Cowboys beat writer) at the Dallas Morning News and Clarence as a beat writer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Have either of you actually covered a playoff victory? Think you'll get to this year? Or are you done making any sort of prediction when it comes to that team until they actually show up and play in December?

From: Hill, Clarence

To: Fox, Ashley; Taylor, Jean-Jacques

Re: Dog days

I have not covered a playoff victory as a beat writer. I got a late call-up in 1996 to help out late in the season from the high school beat and watched the Cowboys beat the Vikings before losing to the Carolina Panthers. The next season I joined as a full-time beat writer. The Cowboys are winless in the playoffs since. I recently told this to owner Jerry Jones and said if I would have bet him in 1997 that the Cowboys would not only not win a playoff game but not have another Super Bowl, I could have had all of his money.

As far as this year is concerned, I am taking a wait-and-see attitude. For more than a decade, I have seen this team tease its fans during the regular season, only to leave them hanging in the end. The Cowboys are playing well now, but the toughest part of their season is in December. Until proven otherwise, their track record is all I have to go on.

From: Taylor, Jean-Jacques

To: Fox, Ashley; Hill, Clarence

Re: Dog days

I covered a Super Bowl champion in 1995 on my first year of the beat, and I thought it was going to be like that forever. I even covered a playoff win in 1996 against Minnesota before Carolina beat the Cowboys in the divisional playoffs. Then Clarence Hill showed up, and the Cowboys have had five coaches and four playoff losses but no postseason wins.

Am I blaming Clarence? Not really, but there does seem to be a correlation. I'm just sayin'.

When a team hasn't won a playoff game in 12 seasons, it's not up to me to believe this year will be the breakthrough season. They must prove it to me. This team has talent, but it must prove it won't choke in December. The Eagles' 44-6 win was the most gutless performance in franchise history.

From: Fox, Ashley

To: Hill, Clarence; Taylor, Jean-Jacques

Re: Dog days

Blame it on Clarence. I like it. Have Cowboys fans made the correlation? If Clarence had had that effect on the Eagles, I would fear for his safety. He wouldn't make it out of the Linc parking lot after a game.

Seriously, though, who does get the blame? It's got to be Jerry, right? T.O. wasn't there all 12 of those years.

From: Taylor, Jean-Jacques

To: Fox, Ashley; Hill, Clarence

Re: Dog days

No owner in pro sports wants to win more than Jerry. That said, no owner in the NFL - aside from William Ford - would keep a GM who didn't win a playoff game for 12 seasons.

He's spent the money, though not always wisely, and the Cowboys' failure to develop offensive linemen they've used premium picks to acquire in the draft has been laughable.

From: Fox, Ashley

To: Hill, Clarence; Taylor, Jean-Jacques

Re: Dog days

I bet Jerry wants to blame Clarence instead.