Monday, September 13, 2010

Can't Get A Break

When the Cowboys traded for Roy Williams in the 2008 season, he was supposed to come in and be the savior of the team.  A big play threat.  Someone to take the pressure off of Terrell Owens.  Someone to stretch the field.  Someone to make the team all but invincible.

After a lackluster finish to the 2008 season, followed by an even more disppointing 2009 season, much of his shine had tarnished.  Yet, here in this game, he had the chance to redeem himself.  He finally had the chance to be the hero.

He'd already shown flashes of brilliance, using his size and strength to snatch a seemingly uncatchable ball out of mid air, and converting a key third down.  Now, here he was, with 4 seconds left in the game.  All alone in the end zone.  In a position to score the game winning  touchdown. 

It had been a game riddled with mistakes.  The Redskins' defense had taken advantage of an offensive line plagued by injuries, bringing blitz after blitz.  Tony Romo, unsure of his pieced together protection tossed quick dump off passes and check downs to receivers who weren't always ready.  And there were penalties.  Too many penalties, and at the wrong times.  Penalties that stalled Cowboy drives, or extended  Redskin ones.  The biggest mistake came just seconds before the first half ended, when Tashard Choice fumbled the ball, which DeAngelo Hall recovered and returned for the Redskins' only touchdown of the day.  What would have been a 3-0 lead at halftime suddenly became 10-0.

By the time the second half started, the Cowboys had settled down some, looking more like themselves.  But it was to be no cakewalk.  It is always tough to play the Redskins, especially at Fed Ex Field.  This game, this one game each year when they play the Cowboys at home, this game is their Super Bowl.  They weren't going to just give it away.  When Miles Austin scored a touchdown, the Redskins answered with a field goal (assisted by three Cowboys penalties).  All seemed to be lost, but then...

The Cowboys got the ball back with less than two minutes in the game.  Tony Romo did what Tony Romo does best.
 
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo passes during the Washington Redskins vs Dallas Cowboys NFL football game in Landover, Maryland, September 12, 2010.  REUTERS/Jason Reed  (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)


He drove them down the field, and with just 4 seconds left on the game clock, threw the game winning touchdown to none other than, that's right, Roy Williams.

Roy stood tall and proud in the Redskins endzone.  Marion Barber jumped on his back.  Miles Austin came running over to join the celebration, and over on the sideline, Tashard Choice breathed a sigh of relief.  But the celebration would be short lived, for there on the field, like a discarded handkerchief, lay

CHICAGO - AUGUST 28: A penalty flag lays on the ground during a preseason game between the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cardinals defeated the Bears 14-9. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)


a little scrap of yellow cloth.

A holding penalty.  A clock reading 00:00.  And Roy Williams watched his chance to be a hero slip ignominiously through the fingers of one Alex Barron.

Aug 15, 2010; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Roy Williams (11) at training camp at River Ridge field. Photo by Image of Sport Photo via Newscom


Even when he does it right, the poor guy just can't seem to get a break.

.

2 comments:

Dale said...

Only a momentary set back for the Cowboys and Roy. He is going to have a great year....I hope!

Becky G said...

I hope so, too. If he doesn't, I think he will be out the door at the end of the season, especially with Dez coming on.