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Will the real Dallas Cowboys please stand up? Please stand up? Okay, I'll only say it twice. I'm no Eminem.

Okay, they have. And will continue to. The Cowboys that are "standing up" are a middle-of-the road team. Against a quality team, as in Jacksonville and Philadelphia, down they go. Against toilet bowl teams Houston and Tennessee plus the 2-4 Redskins, up they go.

We can say they beat who they're "supposed to". But can they elevate against better teams? Perhaps their next two games against the unpredictable Giants and the undefeated with Steve Smith Carolina Panthers will tell us more.

Perhaps the following two games could reveal even more? Against Arizona and Washington.

The Cowboys will still have games remaining versus quality opponents in Indianapolis, the Giants again, New Orleans, Atlanta (quality?), and Philadelphia again. They will also have games remaining versus un-quality teams in Tampa Bay and Detroit.

According to the trend they've set five games into the season, a line can be drawn down the middle. Beat the bad teams, lose to the good ones.

Was this the year that Cowboys fans everywhere were sold a bill of goods from the entire NFL community, led by the venerable Jerry Jones? It was Jones' idea to bring in the biggest clown the NFL has ever known, Terrell Owens. Cowboys fans were shown how he would stretch the defense, allowing single coverage on either he or fellow receiver Terry Glenn. Cowboys fans were shown how the addition of a second tight end, Anthony Fasano from Notre Dame, could eliminate the fullback and allow the running back better options to either side. Cowboys fans were sold on the emergence of the second-year development of their 3-4 defense. Cowboys fans were sold on how this could be "their year". "The Dallas Morning News" SportsDay front page featured a half-page picture of the Lombardi trophy during pre-season.

What was left off the invoice was the offensive line. A line who in Flozell Adams' absence for the last five games of last season, led the way to massive pressure on quarterback Drew Bledsoe en route to a 1-4 non-playoff finish. What was left off the invoice was any mention of the subject. Like the departure of Larry Allen to San Francisco. Or his replacement, Kyle Kosier. No shoes to fill there, huh? What was left off the invoice was any help from the draft. The Cowboys waited until the seventh and final round to draft any lineman when they finally took Pat McQuistan from Weber State.

The Cowboys have no room for error. Or injury.

Roper