Parcells' magic can't help Dallas

When you've won championships and turned losers into winners and led your latest woe-begone team to the playoffs in your first season, you have to expect all eyes to fall on you when you hit a bump in the road. All Bill Parcells must do is work his usual tricks and the Cowboys will be fine ... right?

I don't think so, Parcells seemingly could do no wrong when he coached the Giants, Patriots and lets, but he doesn't have any magic dust to sprinkle on the Cowboys. This is an old, slow team; a group that certainly isn't any better than its 3-5 record indicates.

Parcells is known for surrounding himself with veteran players, but he's a bit overstocked in that department. He traded for wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, a former No. 1 draft pick who can't outrun much of anybody at age 32. He signed running back Eddie George, 31, who hasn't averaged 4.0 yards a carry since 1999. And he brought in Vinny Testaverde to back up Quincy Carter.

When the Cowboys released Carter (reportedly for off-field reasons) in August, they were left with an aging starting quarterback. And when rookie running back Julius Jones, the team's top draft pick, broke his shoulder in Week 2, the rushing load fell to George, 33-year-old Richie Anderson and somebody named ReShard Lee. It hasn't been pretty. And while Testaverde has had his moments, he generally looks like someone who is about to turn 41. Which he is.

What's worse, the league's top-ranked defense from 2003 has slipped badly. Second-year cornerback Terence Newman has regressed, free-agent pickup Marcellus Wiley has not been an impact pass rusher at left end, and the secondary sorely misses cornerback Mario Edwards (lost as a free agent) and strong safety Darren Woodson (injured back). This is a team almost devoid of playmakers.

Starting Monday night against Philadelphia, the Cowboys play three games in 11 days. It's too early to pull the plug on this season, but if Dallas comes out of that stretch with two or three more losses, it's Drew Henson time. Henson might not be the answer at quarterback--he started only eight games at Michigan before leaving to pursue a baseball career that stalled--but the Cowboys need to find out.

At that point, Cowboys fans must sit back and wait while Dallas develops some young players. Parcells is a great coach, but he isn't a magician.

Brian Baldinger, an offensive lineman for 12 NFL seasons, can be heard on Sporting News Radio and seen on FOX Sports. Listen online at radio.sportingnews.com.

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