NFL: What's all the hubbub, bub?

Sometimes, I just don't understand what all the hubbub is about.

Right now, the hot rumor in DFW seems to be that the Dallas Cowboys may try to relive the past yet again under the continually misguided Jones administration. Who’d a thunk it! George W.’s administration has a better grasp of reality right now.

"Whispers" have Steve Beuerlein targeted for a possible return. It seems that the hierarchy at Valley Ranch believes that Beuerlein, who passed for 4,000 yards two years ago, can step in and deliver the ball to the big strike receivers they have returning from injuries this year.

Cowboys' fans shouldn't put too much stock into this or any other rumor regardless of the validity (or any spin the Jones family may concoct) concerning the upcoming season.

Beuerlein may have a home in Frisco, TX (near Dallas), but there are several things that will prevent him from being successful with the Cowboys including a Kansas City Chiefs team that might be inclined give up on a potential draft day deal with the St. Louis Rams for “lost in the shuffle” QB Trent Green. The Chiefs could decide that a Beuerlein on hand is worth more than a maybe regarding Green from the home of Busch. Rock Me!

If Jones does bring Beuerlein back for a bargain as he hopes, what are the chances that Joey Galloway or Raghib Ismail can still finish a season healthy, let alone play a full 16 game schedule? This team's luck with receivers recently indicates that they still need a great deal of help at that position if they hope to see anything but eight man fronts all year.

This will be a hard year for Emmitt Smith and fans. Dallas has no first round pick. They don't really have the cap room for the draft this year and will have to renegotiate some veteran contracts to sign the picks they get. Maybe that wink in Jerry’s eye means he’ll go after Weinke, or Wienke or however he spells it. Who cares? There’s not much Jones can do this off-season that will help them win this year or help Emmitt chase the record.

Smith's yards will come hard as they did most of last year. It's really a shame but whether Dallas tries to patch the holes in an effort to win, as Cowboys.Com writer Mickey Spagnola believes Jones will do, or not, this is going to be a barren season highlighted only by the development of youngsters like Ebenezer Ekuban and the defensive backs taken last season.

The DBs were beaten up pretty badly last season, both on the field and off. Look for them to make strides as the defense regains the focus of head coach Dave Campo. Still they are soft at linebacker and will be porous until they keep players like Randall Godfrey instead of these little hopefuls they have targeted recently. Greg Ellis will be another bright spot as he continues to regain his health.

The O-Line will improve with the removal of Williams but not enough to make any kind of real significant difference.

Dallas will be a mess to watch this year and totally unpredictable for fantasy players. Expect to see plenty of empty seats at Texas Stadium this season.

If Dallas really wants to improve, they can start by hiring a talent expert for a permanent position on the staff, you know, just to give Jerry a rest. Next, they can buy Larry Lacewell a couch in Oklahoma next door to Barry Switzer.

It suffices to say that the Cowboys will be little more than a blip on the NFL radar until then. Oh well, GO STARS!