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Bucs, Cowboys In Different Worlds

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2008

TAMPA - The dateline for today's matchup between the Bucs and Cowboys says Irving, Texas.

It should read: Bizarro World.

Even though the NFL season is only seven weeks old, Dallas and Tampa have already established distinctly opposite personas.

The Cowboys are bulging with Pro Bowl players; the only Buc who made the trip to Honolulu in February was QB Jeff Garcia, who has his starting job back after being benched in Week 2.

Dallas owner Jerry Jones likes to win, but he loves to talk. The next TV interview request he turns down will be his first.

Meanwhile, the Glazers remain comfortably ensconced in their cone of silence.

The Bucs have won five of their past six games following an opening-day setback at New Orleans. The Cowboys opened 3-0 before losing three times within a four-week span, dropping into third place in the NFC East.

Rarely does a day go by without an ESPN "SportsCenter" segment on the Cowboys, whether it's the latest league sanction against Pacman Jones or a fresh outburst by mercurial WR Terrell Owens.

Despite the NFL's overwhelming popularity in the state, the Bucs have been largely overshadowed in recent weeks by the Rays.

"I don't care about being under the radar," DE Kevin Carter said. "All I know is I like our chemistry. We rally around each other. It doesn't matter if no one else believes in us - we play hard for each other."

Two universes collide today at Texas Stadium and the Cowboys are understandably edgy. The world as they know it could end in the next few weeks.

A loss today, coupled with a road setback against the Giants on Nov. 2, would leave Dallas at 4-5 heading into the bye week.

At that point, Coach Wade Phillips could be looking for another job as QB Tony Romo returns.

No such worries abound in Tampa, where Jon Gruden has a shiny new contract extension and the full backing of ownership.

The Bucs enter this game as a loose, confident bunch, while the Cowboys figure to be tight. A bad start may turn the crowd against the home team, adding pressure on backup QB Brad Johnson.

It's hard to believe America's Team hasn't won a playoff game since 1997, but you can bet Jerry Jones is well aware of the prolonged drought.

Four coaches have come and gone in the interim and Jones is getting antsy.

Gruden keeps talking about how many Pro Bowlers roam the Dallas sideline, but it's Tampa Bay that sports the better team, in terms of camaraderie.

Regardless of today's outcome, the only thing we know for sure is the Glazers will depart quickly and quietly, while Jerry Jones searches for the next microphone to talk up his beloved Cowboys.

Maybe the frustrated Cowboys will decide to abandon the glitz and adopt Tampa Bay's grinder mentality.

Yes, that would be bizarre.

It would also be overdue.

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