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Dallas may look the part, but doesn't sound like champs

By PATRICK McMANAMON

Scripps Howard News Service

LANDOVER, Md. -- Emmitt Smith wore a white suit, Michael Irvin a black check suit with a gold chain connected to a Superman-like emblem made of diamonds.

The Dallas Cowboys looked the part of the brash, confident team. But they didn't talk that way.

Not after the Washington Redskins had beaten them 21-16 and knocked them into third place in the NFC East. Not after they had started 3-3 -- after looking so impressive in a season-opening 37-7 win at Pittsburgh.

There was Smith saying: "If we're not careful, this could be a very ugly season."

And Irvin saying: "It could be a great season. It could be any damn thing. Anything we make it. But we have to get it in our minds to make it something."

And Deion Sanders adding: "The Giants are in first place. Something is wrong with this picture."

Something is definitely wrong with Sanders' picture -- the Redskins are in first, the Giants in second.

And the Cowboys are limping along, reduced to un-Cowboy-like statements from some of the players who have been the team's heart and soul during its best years.

"That wild card thing is still out there," guard Nate Newton said.

The wild card thing? Did anyone ever hear Jack Nicklaus say he was satisfied to finish in the top five?

"We've lost three ballgames, all close," coach Barry Switzer said. "But that's the way it is in this league. All the games are close."

In the past, though, it was the Cowboys who always seemed to make the plays in close games to win. Monday night, it was the Redskins, confusing Dallas with blitzes, double-covering Irvin and hemming in Smith.

When the Cowboys had their final chance, they took over at the Redskins 49 with 4:41 left. The drive ended after Dallas had gained 10 yards.

"We got the ball at midfield, 50 yards from a touchdown," Irvin said. "Let's be real. We all want to talk about how we got to improve in this and that. If we can't go 50 yards, then we're wasting our thoughts thinking we're going to go any farther."

It doesn't take long to see and understand why Dallas is struggling. After years of good drafts under Jimmy Johnson, the team's weak drafts under Jerry Jones and Switzer are showing -- especially since so many talented players (Darrin Smith, Russell Maryland, Alvin Harper, Jim Jeffcoat) left as free agents.

Defensively, the Cowboys have two new, young linebackers, and a patchwork defensive line.

An offensive line that used to be big and brawny and strong now is just big, and unable to consistently open holes for Smith, who admits he is not the same as he was three or four years ago.

The passing game suffers because Anthony Miller scares nobody. A signing that seemed smart in preseason now looks suspect. Too, Aikman has lost his safety valve at tight end; the dropoff from Jay Novacek to Eric Bjornson has been severe.

With no other threats, defenses load up on Irvin.

On Dallas' last-chance fourth-and-11 play, Aikman wanted to go to Irvin but he was double covered. With a blitz coming, he had to throw a deep post to Miller, but the pass was overthrown.

Irvin showed the frustration. On the sidelines after the play, he seemed to gesture to coaches and teammates that he was open. After the game, though, he referred all questions about the play to Aikman.

Asked a question about how much cornerback Cris Dishman helps the Redskins, Irvin snapped: "I don't know. I would have liked to have played more one-on-one to find out."

He paused a second and continued.

"I'm sick of hearing how great these corners in the NFC East are. And every time I line up they still have a safety helping them. Come on. Give me a break."

The words become more resolute when the future is discussed, but even then there is a tone of doubt. Smith talked of staying strong and believing in one another, but also called the Cowboys situation "the biggest challenge I can recall having since 1990."

"True champions come out fighting." Irvin said. "We have three losses in six games. There is no way anybody and their mother could have told me we'd be here. And we are."

(Pat McManamon is the national sportswriter for Scripps Howard News Service.)