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For decades, the most iconic image of America has come from Texas.
Hollywood loved the cowboy, working silently in the cold and cold, watching the danger and ready to face any challenge.
But with time, industrialization and modernization, the cowboys left the national consciousness, or at least the movies and television screens.
As things evolved, however, another Texas icon appeared: the quarterback.
Friday night lights, first in the form of a book, then a film, then a television, raised the awareness of high school football in a small town in Texas. The sophomoric Varsity Blues helped too.
As this mythology grew, a real QB of real life came to fit the storybook cast: Colt McCoy.
Blue eyes and a humble voice, McCoy came from the small town of Tuscola, Texas, a city of less than 800 inhabitants located about three hours west of Dallas. He then excelled as a quarterback leaving the University of Texas, becoming the longest QB Longhorn of all time.
So the storybook has finished.
In 2010, he was selected by a terrible team of Browns. In two seasons, he started 21 games, but 6-15.
His career stumbled, he then landed on some bad teams in San Francisco. He often battled injuries and did not play very well in spurts.
His chance to become an NFL star, as he had found at the university, fainted. Finally, he met the Redskins in a strange situation.
McCoy joined the team in 2014, the same year Jay Gruden was named head coach. Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins were already on the list and a clumsy dance of several years followed.
The three QBs started in 2014, but in 2015, Cousins got the starter position, McCoy became the replacement and RG3 took office. In 2016, Griffin went to Cleveland, with McCoy firmly established as a replacement for Cousins.
In Washington, for two years, the Cousins took all possible measures and McCoy worked hard with the scouting team to put pressure on the defense.
Things seemed to be going badly as the Cousins contract situation reached a critical point in 2018. Finally, maybe McCoy would have a chance.
And then Washington traded against Alex Smith.
McCoy seemed destined for the spectators' bench again, but much like the fictional characters Johnny Moxon or Matt Saracen, the backup was put in the spotlight.
After 10 games and a 6-3 start, Smith sank his leg last week against Houston. Today, after a very long wait, it is McCoy 's team.
"For me, it's not the time to really think about what has brought me to this point here," McCoy said Tuesday. "Now it's time to play."
That said, a small town is an important part of his story and for McCoy, he can not forget it.
"I certainly would not change where I grew up, from where I come from," McCoy said. "Everyone counts a lot for me and it's a part of me, for now I'm focusing on this team and how I can help this team this week because I know that they count on me. "
What McCoy might ignore or not realize is that his story is part of what makes him so attractive.
The hero of the small town, the Texas gunman, McCoy, suits all these bills.
Redskins running back Chris Thompson attempted to describe the unyielding confidence that comes from playing with McCoy.
Looking at McCoy entering the Redskins game last week at FedEx Field, there was an undeniable electricity that went through the stadium. It was palpable, and several Redskins players reported feeling it as well.
And now, after four four-year debuts in Washington, McCoy has the chance to lead a good NFL playoff team in a league where a quarterback was named MVP of the Super Bowl last season.
"This opportunity is great for him," said Gruden.
"We have nothing to change with Colt at the quarterback.We continue as planned.I know that the players have a lot of respect for Colt and that they will play hard for Colt and that they know that the ball will happen. " be thrown in the right place. "
Of course, it starts on Thursday, on national television, and of course in Dallas with the Redskins installed as big underdogs.
McCoy met with success once before playing against the Cowboys in Dallas on national television. It was a captivating win, until over, and the Redskins also entered the game as big underdogs.
That was in 2014, in the middle of a lost season for Washington, but the victory still sounds for many fans, in the same way that Colt McCoy resonates with a lot of fans.
The story is easy to root and the person makes it even easier. McCoy, despite some circumstances in which other players complained, in public or in private, never did. He never really got the chance to start, but continued to persevere.
"It's not easy, but at the same time, I'm grateful for what I've experienced and what I've lived in. Fortunately, some of the ups and downs of my career are going help me now, help me in this situation.I think that if I did not like football, if I did not like football, I probably would have experienced that, but I love the process. I love the challenge every week. "
This week's challenge is very different from McCoy's.
The challenge is no longer to stay engaged in meetings or practices when playing time is not on the horizon.
The challenge is the Dallas Cowboys for a short week with a blistering defense and a dazzling pass.
The challenge is to offend Redskins and maintain a one-game lead in the east of the NFC.
For years, the challenge has been mental. Now the challenge will be very, very real.
This game is huge for the Redskins. For their playoff hopes. For the job security of their coach. For the direction of the organization in 2019.
And it's also huge for McCoy. To validate his hard work. His patience To validate Tuscola.
"I'm grateful for this opportunity but I think it's even more than that, it's time to go play and put all the rest aside," he said.
"We have a huge game this week – it's a huge game."
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