Ex-Cowboys Weigh In On Team’s Woes

Ex-Cowboys Roger Staubach and Emmitt Smith are standing by Dallas’ star-crossed NFL team, sort of. “Expectations were very high, and everybody in the city has been hit in the mouth, because the team hasn’t lived up to their expectations,” Smith said today at a Dallas charity luncheon, where he, Staubach and billionaire T. Boone Pickens were the main attractions. The Cowboys “are hurtin’ more than you are, because they’re puttin’ in the work, but they’re not gettin’ the results,” the Hall of Fame rusher went on. Then he added: “Last year I said they’d go 7-9. I was a year off.”

Staubach, for his part, said before the luncheon that he’s “sick” about the team’s flagging fortunes, especially after last night’s injury to Tony Romo. “I don’t get it,” he said. “The early schedule wasn’t that tough. I’m shocked that they’re 1-5.” So, is it time for Coach Wade to go? “It’s not up to me to say,” Staubach replied. “A real Cowboy fan doesn’t knock ‘em when they’re down.” Later, the ex-QB stood on stage and whipped a couple of footballs to luncheon attendees–one hard spiral traveled maybe 30 yards–and then joked: “I was trying to get warmed up for the Jacksonville game next week.” At least, I think he was joking.