Championship windows and how dynasties are beyond difficult: The Morning After

 One game is left. The entire NFL show now travels two weekends in a row. The ambitious types head to Mobile, Ala., this morning for the Senior Bowl week which gives us the full approval to begin wall-to-wall draft preparations immediately. Because you have kindly asked, this week will be my first week of 12 Draft Digests to get you to late April with a fair appreciation for the top prospects who will be factors as soon as this fall. Just ask Micah Parsons about how quickly you can go from a prospect to a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

Others will also go prepare for the Pro Bowl — which apparently still exists, despite the indifference of everyone but those playing in the game and their families — before a much larger portion of the traveling show emerges in Los Angeles in one week’s time for Super Bowl 56.

https://theathletic.com/3102610/2022/01/31/championship-windows-and-how-dynasties-are-beyond-difficult-the-morning-after/

The ground and pound of the Kyle Shanahan attack wins the day and likely ends the Cowboys’ Dan Quinn era

 As I stated Tueday, I would absolutely assign the “loss” for this gutting playoff defeat with San Francisco on the offense. The lion’s share of blame must go to that side of the football and it rightfully will in this space. There is no question where the Cowboys have prioritized their budget and expectation level. The offense was given plenty and on Sunday delivered little.

https://theathletic.com/3079694/2022/01/19/the-ground-and-pound-of-the-kyle-shanahan-attack-wins-the-day-and-likely-ends-the-cowboys-dan-quinn-era/

Preparing for an epic battle against a familiar foe with plenty on the line: Cowboys playoff riffing

 The playoffs are one big ice-cream headache of glorious anxiety. Not knowing if you are about to enjoy the ride of a lifetime or another trip to the heartbreak hotel. It can be the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

Unfortunately, for anyone involved with Dallas Cowboys football, it is the feeling that it will never be their year again. We doubt that dubious fatalism is productive, but just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, we can safely tell you neither was Cowboys cynicism.

You know the story. They have gone way too long.

https://theathletic.com/3070190/2022/01/14/preparing-for-an-epic-battle-against-a-familiar-foe-with-plenty-on-the-line-cowboys-playoff-riffing/

Dan Quinn is with the Cowboys (for now) and he definitely wants another Super Bowl run before he goes

 This is the end, my friend.

Sunday starts the end. That end could take either a month or a few hours. We certainly don’t know which, but we also know what we would all prefer.

And whether the season ends this Sunday or in one month in the Super Bowl, we are getting a pretty clear message that Dan Quinn’s era as the architect of this defense will come to an end. Who could have imagined that the year he spent here would have gone so well?

https://theathletic.com/3066555/2022/01/12/dan-quinn-is-with-the-cowboys-for-now-and-he-definitely-wants-another-super-bowl-run-before-he-goes/