Sports Thread #1 for 12/12-14/08: The Right Choice For The Cowboys

Photo from the Associated Press

Tashard Choice wasn't the primary reason why the Cowboys scored a clutch victory over an ailing New York Giants team on Sunday Night Football. The defense, led by DeMarcus Ware, Greg Ellis, Bradie James, and Terence Newman, were the clear stars of the game, harassing Peyton Manning and both Tom Coughli and Giants fans all over question how stagnant their offense is without Brandon Jacobs to go along with the already self-inflicted absence of Plaxico Burress.

But damnit, the little known rookie is a close second.

That was certainly evident in the fourth quarter, and particularly, in the final scoring drive of Dallas' crucial 21-8 victory over the reigning Super Bowl champs.

Lost in Choice's 38 yard, first career touchdown run is the fact that despite Tony Romo still ending up on his back, Choice at times provided valuable blitz pickup against the locomotive like front line of the title holders. But that key, "incognito to the box score detail" can easily be overshadowed when you perform the way Choice did on the ground.

He took all the carries down the stretch away from the banged up Marion Barber, outside of a big third down that Barber was able to pick up to keep the drive alive. That one third down conversion lead to another satisfying one, as Jason Witten put behind any of the rumors of being in the middle of the Romo /Terell Owens triangle of controversy this week by out muscling safety Michael Johnson to move the chains for Wade Phillips' side. That set the stage on the next play for the right "choice": I delayed handoff to Mr. Choice. Great blocking by the offensive line and good vision by the little known ball carrier led to the Boys bumping their record to 9-5 and avenging the ugly 35-14 lost to the Giants on Week 9.

In a year where the much more highly touted rookie back, Felix Jones, was supposed to be the change of pace option to complement Barber before his season ending injury, the Georgie Tech alum has provided great value as a fourth round pick for the Cowboys (no where near the level that Jacobs has provided for the Giants of course, but still). It is a lesson to always back up your first round selection in the draft with a later round pick at the same position, providing a needed cover if something bad befalls your top choice.

And no matter what happens the rest of the way with the circus that is Jerry Jones' bunch (the Ravens and the Eagles still could easily make this an utterly disappointing year for them), or when Jones comes back next season to take away the carries that he is getting now, one thing is for sure in Dalls (and really cheesy simultaneously).

Tashard isn't a bad choice, at all.