The second worst half-season in Cowboys history

The second worst half-season in Cowboys history produced the franchise's first mid-year coaching change. It's Jason Garrett's task to begin the turnaround in the Meadowlands, where the club endured the start of what remains its worst half-season ever.

The Cowboys were 6-2 when they went to Giants Stadium to face their most formidable NFC East foe, but one they had beaten in the season opener at Texas Stadium. Quarterback Danny White suffered a broken wrist in a 17-14 loss to the Giants. At 7-9, the Cowboys' winning ways – the envy of every other NFL franchise – had ended. After two more losing seasons, Tom Landry would leave the Cowboys' sideline never to return.

For me, the 1986 season has to rank ahead of 2010 on the list of all-time disappointments for Cowboys fans because of what had preceded it. After playing in five Super Bowls during the '70s, the Cowboys had still managed to reach three NFC Championships Games in the '80s.

Go back to Week 3 of the current season.

The Cowboys were back on track, and the Giants were gasping on life support. Right?

Five-game streaks for both teams have obliterated those end-of-September impressions. The worst of 2010 is behind the Cowboys.



Jon Gruden. Garrett surely watched Thursday night's Baltimore-Atlanta game with interest. Bill Cowher. If he stays out any longer, the former Pittsburgh Steelers coach

The Cowboys lack toughness and heart. Leslie Frazier. The Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator will make the rounds again this offseason and will be someone's head coach.

John Fox. Jim Harbaugh. Rob Ryan. The Cleveland Browns have conquered the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots in consecutive weeks with an opportunistic, stifling defense and coordinator Ryan has been getting the big push as a candidate from Cleveland coach Eric Mangini as well as his brother Rex.

If Jones was jealous seeing how Rex Ryan put the New York Jets in the spotlight on HBO's "Hard Knocks," imagine a Jones-Rob Ryan combo.

Mike Heimerdinger. # Wonder if Jeff Garcia is regretting pushing aside inquiries to be an NFL backup after Omaha Nighthawks coach Jeff Jagodzinski benched him in favor of De La Salle High product Matt Gutierrez last week in a UFL game.

In last week's NFL column, I left out the Raiders' Richard Seymour in listing potential candidates for Defensive Player of the Year.

Game of the weak: Detroit at Buffalo. Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Lions' Shaun Hill have good numbers but have combined for a 1-10 record.