Just a year ago, Miles Austin was on a torrid pace. In fact, over a 16-game stretch, he was at or near the top of the NFL in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Then, in the off-season, he landed a big contact and was locked up for maybe the rest of his career to be played in a Dallas Cowboys uniform.
Hmm, so what happened, Miles?
This season has been highly underwhelming for Austin, who has 826 yards and five touchdowns this year on 58 catches. Dez Bryant has, without question, outperformed him, and you could make a solid argument that the goat of the Cowboys receiving corps over the past couple of years, Roy Williams has too.
For starters, Austin has eight drops this year, not to mention a few key deflected balls this year that have found themselves into the hands of defenders. He just isn't the same guy that was fighting for playing time and a big pay day. Now that he got it, the concern is that he will never find that version of himself again.
I'm not so sure I'd go that far yet, but the idea is creeping around in my mind.
Speaking on his radio show on KRLD on Friday, Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones said he wasn't too concerned with Austin's drop off in performance.
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"I think he'll have his chances,'' Jones said. "We've seen him make some big plays. I'm not at all disappointed in his play in any way and don't want to sound even defensive about it. He gives us one of the strengths of our team relative to him and our receiving corps. I'm glad we've got him under contract."
Sure, Jerry. Whatever the case may be, the Cowboys need to get the Miles Austin of 2009 back in 2011.
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