Thursday, December 31, 1998

Thursday, December 31, 1998

Cowboys' success will be measured by Cardinals' game

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas -- Let's just get it out of the way.

A loss to the Cardinals on Saturday and this season would have to be considered a huge disappointment.

It's that simple.

There has, however, been a lot of warm and fuzzy talk around the team's Valley Ranch headquarters about the 10-6 record, the sweep of the NFC East and the division title.

A popular question/accusation in the locker room lately has been, "What record did you pick us to have before the season?" Which begs the question: Have the Cowboys already exceeded expectations for the season?

I think not -- no matter what anybody expected before the season.

Who knew before the season that the NFC East would be such a cake walk?

Though it's not a surprise that a tougher schedule would catch up to the Giants, who knew the preseason favorite Redskins would be so awful, not to mention the Eagles?

Once play began, it was a foregone conclusion that the Cowboys, though 6-10 last season, were the class of the division, especially with the guidance of a new coach, a new offense and early standout play of Deion Sanders.

Not to win the division this season would have been an embarrassment. However, the Cowboys should get credit for taking care of business in record fashion. It's hard to go 8-0 in any division.

But Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman has said it and so has coach Chan Gailey: The Cowboys will be ultimately evaluated on how they do in the playoffs.

And a loss to the still-lowly Cardinals shouldn't be acceptable.

Consider this statement by Cardinals vice president of player personnel Bob Ferguson:

"We're not that good right now," Ferguson told the "Arizona Republic" on Monday. "The league kind of came back to us this year and we stepped forward and seized the opportunity."

A peek at the Cardinals' season concurs. They played the league's worst schedule. Their opponents had a combined record of 101-155 (.395). Yet, they barely made the playoffs, needing game-winning field goals to beat the mighty Eagles (3-13), Saints (6-10) and Chargers (5-11) in each of the past three weeks to qualify for Saturday's game.

The question is, have the Cowboys come back to the Cardinals?

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said before the season that he would have made different decisions about the makeup of the team if he didn't think competing for a Super Bowl was possible.

While that might be far-fetched at this point, a loss to the Cardinals might signal the changing of the guard in the NFC East and result in a severely altered Cowboys roster for next year.

GODFREY SHOWS ABILITY

Cowboys strongside linebacker Randall Godfrey, who'll be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, had a forced fumble and pass interception to key a strong defensive against the Redskins.

That might make a new contract for Godfrey an off-season priority of Jones.

The team is raving about the pass interception, in which Godfrey trailed Redskins tight end Stephen Alexander into the end zone and made a leaping catch.

Godfrey, who is being looked at as a possible pass-rushing end in the future, said people shouldn't sleep on his pass coverage skills. He credited the play to his background as a basketball player. Godfrey was the most valuable player of his high school basketball team as a senior in Valdosta, Ga.

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM

The Cowboys' draft position for 1999 has been set -- almost. Unless they win the Super Bowl, the Cowboys will pick either 22nd, 23rd or 24th. The actual number will be determined how they fair in the playoffs compared to the Bills and the Dolphins. If they win the Super Bowl, the Cowboys will pick last. . . . As the Cowboys looked to the future by signing two players for next year yesterday, keep an eye on two players on the roster as future possibilities. Wide receiver Zebbie Lethridge has dazzled with his speed and improved hands on the practice squad. And punter Toby Gowin might be a option down the road as a kicker if Richie Cunningham leaves via free agency. Cowboys kicker coach Steve Hoffman said Gowin has the talent and mentality to be a good kicker.

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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