A lot of things have happened with the Dallas Cowboys since January 11th, 2015. Unfortunately, the majority of these events have not gone the team’s way – including yesterday’s ruling that the NFL now unanimously considers Dez Bryant’s catch from that faithful and frigid afternoon at Lambeau Field to be just that, a good catch.
Ruled an incomplete pass after review, Dez Bryant went on to become the poster child for the ridiculous confusion that remains the league’s catch rules. The Cowboys’ most promising season yet under Tony Romo came to an abrupt end, as the Packers fell the following week at the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
“Dez Caught It”
This phrase has become a rallying cry in Cowboys Nation. It has carried the connotation of fact for over three years now, even without yesterday’s report.
Unfortunately, the Dallas Cowboys have done little to turn the phrase into anything but another example of why their loyal fans are forced to live in the past so damn often. Dez Bryant remains the only player still on the field out of the three involved on this infamous play, as Tony Romo has of course moved on to broadcasting. Packers CB Sam Shields was released prior to the 2017 season.
The Cowboys missed their opportunity at revenge against the Packers in 2016, hosting Green Bay as the NFC’s top seed. Aaron Rodgers calmly ripped the soul out of AT&T Stadium that day, knocking rookie QB Dak Prescott out of the playoffs by orchestrating a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.
Under Prescott, Bryant has never come close to the 88 catches and 1,320 yards he accumulated in 2014, also snagging a career-high 16 touchdowns. His very status on the team moving forward may be in question, as injuries have caught up to the aging Bryant in his efforts to be Prescott’s top target.
“Here’s one down the sideline. Pass caught…by Dez Bryant!”
This play is dangerously close to being a distant memory for the NFL. It’s inexcusable that it took this long to cite the injustice done to the Cowboys in this moment as a reason the catch rules need to be reconsidered.
The Cowboys have of course spent plenty of time in a league spotlight since 2014 as well, with this past 2017 season being a two-part story in football mediocrity and off-field drama thanks to Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension.
If the Cowboys’ goal was to avoid all distractions heading into 2018, prior to unleashing Elliott on the league once more (with hopes of producing a “2014 DeMarco Murray” type of result), they have already failed thanks to Jerry Jones being fined by Roger Goodell in a continuation of the Elliott saga.
What Happens Now?
As the Cowboys have been forced to accept since the end of their 2014 season, life goes on in this league – faster than any other. The Cowboys are coming off of a 9-7 season that fell short of the playoffs, but proved the overall strength and depth of this roster.
This team is close to avenging the Dez Bryant catch the only way possible – capturing an elusive sixth Super Bowl victory. Whether or not the Cowboys would be leading the NFL with six Lombardi trophies, while pursuing a seventh at the moment, will never be known after 2014’s success was unfairly terminated.
However, every single time you’ve ever said, “Dez caught it”, you’ve been speaking in fact. Perhaps an offseason moral victory?
