Dallas Cowboys Blog

2007-08-05T11:43:00.000-05:00

Site News: We're Moving this Blog

We've been on blogger since 2003, and we're going to be moving to a new host, one that offers a bit more and will make your fan experience even better. The new site has launched, and fully operational. See you there.

CowboysBlog.Net has moved HERE

Please be sure to update your bookmarks, and thanks for everyone that visited and emailed me!

2007-08-05T00:52:00.000-05:00

Look Up. Get Up. Don't Ever Give Up.

All I can say is WOW... Michael Irvin delivered one of the best HOF speeches of the night. I'll be the first to admit, I cried. Irvin's speech reflected on a whole spectrum, from on-the field, to off-the field.
Irvin touched us all tonight. Whether you're a Dallas Cowboys fan, or just a casual fan of football, this was a speech for the decades. I'll remember this for a long time, and carry it with me:

"Look Up. Get Up. Don't Ever Give Up"

Three times a charm for Irvin was well worth the wait. Being a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and a fan of Michael Irvin makes me proud. His speech was top notch, moving, and it offered advice to anyone that would listen.

Very moving speech indeed.

2007-08-02T16:22:00.000-05:00

Irvin, Its Canton Time!

That's right, time has just crept up on us. Some of you may have forgotten, but our own Michael Irvin is getting enshrined into the NFL Hall of Fame this Saturday (Aug.4th). Irvin's presenter will be Jerry Jones. Jerry has completed his speech for Irvin's induction and here what he said:

“One thing I really want to guard against is to not get too emotional with it,” Jones said. “But I don't know that I've ever been able to talk about him without getting emotional.”

Irvin is also one of the 17 players in the team's Ring of Honor. Jones said there are no plans to add anyone this year. (mysa.com)

What time?
6:00 p.m.: ENSHRINEMENT- Class of 2007 - Gene Hickerson, Michael Irvin, Bruce Matthews, Charlie Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Roger Wehrli (Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium)

The Numbers
Pro Career: 12 seasons, 159 games
Drafted: 1st round (11th overall) in 1988 by Dallas Cowboys
Uniform Number: #88
Conference Championships: 3 (4 appearances)
Super Bowl Championships: 3
Receptions: 750
Yards: 11,904
TDs: 65

Here are some recent articles on Irvin, they are good reads:
Michael Irvin HOF Bio (NFL.com)

Hall Recall: Michael Irvin (NFL.com)

Welcoming Committee: Michael Irvin (NFL.com by Aikman)

Reflection from a Die Hard Fan
I grew up watching the Cowboys on the back end of Landry's coaching career, and saw the downside of the Cowboys Dynasty that came before me. The Jimmy Johnson era was the best of times for so many Cowboys fans. I remember watching the Cowboys going 1-15, and getting picked on for following the Cowboys after that horrible season, then the Cowboys turned it around in 1990. I remember that year, the Cowboys went 7-9. Emmitt Smith was a rookie, and the Cowboys looked good, especially Emmitt, but this was the year the "Triplets" were born. (Irvin came in 1988, Aikman in 1989, and Emmitt in 1990)

I remember vividly watching the final regular season game between the Saints vs. Rams game that year (1990). If the Rams would have won that game the Cowboys could have squeaked into the wild card game. This was my first glimpse of excitement for my team, for my generation.

The year after that was exciting as we went 11-5, then 13-3, then 12-4 in Jimmy's final season as coach of the Cowboys. Michael Irvin was a dynamic part of the Cowboys turnaround. He helped get the Cowboys back to glory, he helped shape the Cowboys into what we are today - Champions. Watching Irvin get those first downs was a treat, he would slam the ball or point in the direction of the 1st down, Who can forget that? His on the field theatrics were top-notch. He was physical, and played against the best corners in his day, and he made them look like fools on any given Sunday.

Thanks Michael, you deserve being in the Hall of Fame in my book and by many Cowboys Fans worldwide!

2007-07-29T15:20:00.000-05:00

There's Jason Ferguson, and then...

Besides Ellis being out due to injury, and Henry getting beat in practice, what's the other subject forgotten about? Nose Tackle. NT should be a great concern, because after Jason Ferguson, we have NO ONE. After going to camp I was not impressed by our backups on the team. We'd be one injury away from an unstable defensive line if Ferguson goes down. He's has a few bumps here and there, but he is aging and we should continue to keep our options open.

Jason Ferguson
Ferguson is the obvious starter, we know this, so we won't go much into him. He should strive in this attacking 3-4 defense. Ferguson is a load for any offensive lineman to handle, just ask our own Pro Bowler, Andre Gurode.

Montavious Stanley
Drafted by the Cowboys last year and then cut, and reacquired in the offseason, has too make some big plays to make the team. He probably looked like the bigger NT of the group besides Ferguson. But appearance don't make players, plays make players, and I didn't see much.

Remi Ayodele
Same thing for Ayodele, he got destroyed by Gurode the times I saw him in the offensive/defensive line drills. He got some playing time in NFL Europe, but he's back to earth with another level of lineman in front of him. Same issues as Stanley

Ola Dagunduro
Dagunduro is an undrafted rookie, and looked the same as Ayodele. None of these guys could possibly man the NT for a long part of the season if needed. This is a concern.

Other Options
Jay Ratliff has gotten in some playing time at NT, and that could be the answer if push came to shove. and we may even see Ratliff alternate with Ferguson on occasion anyway. Ratliff had his hands full with Gurode, but this guy never stops, he finishes his plays.

Marcus Spears is looking OK, he's not really wowing anybody from what I saw, and the latest reports have Hatcher looking better than Spears in the pass rush. That's what we need, more pass rush. If Hatcher is playing better, then he should be the guy. I saw it last year, Hatcher looked better than Spears did. Maybe its time to move Spears to NT, and groom him there and get him some more reps behind Ferguson.

Who's In
1. Jason Ferguson
2. Everyone else (on the bubble)

2007-07-29T13:18:00.000-05:00

WRs: Who's In, Who's Out

I've gotten some emails in regards to how the WR's looked. And there's not much difference from the starters. Terrell Owens has fully recovered from his finger injury, basically caught everything thrown at him. Yes, he had a drop here and there, but so did Glenn (maybe one, that I saw). We can't be too microscopic on these guys. After watching practice, here's who I think make the team.

Terrell Owens
Owens is the face of the WRs, and one of the major faces of the Cowboys, whether you like him or not. The crowd gets electrified when Owens steps on the field, and when he makes the deep pass catch against the CBs. Garrett has him lining up all over the field. They threw to him on short passes, in the slot, outside deep, inside slant. He's gonna be a big weapon. More than last year if you can imagine that.

Terry Glenn
Glenn is pure business, he looks the part on the field, runs the best patterns on the field, and explosively quick on his feet. Glenn is the clutch receiver, and you can count on Glenn making those tought acrobatic catches. He's a lock.

Patrick Crayton
Crayton looked great on the field, he catches the ball easily, he just plucks it out of the air. He's been described as having the best hands on the entire team, and I would agree with that. Crayton, also looked a bit bulked up. I expect Crayton to get alot more touches this year in Garrett's attacking offense. Crayton will be a free agent after this season, so you can expect Crayton to be playing for a new contract in Dallas or elsewhere. He'll be the #3 WR on the team.

Miles Austin
Right now, I have Miles Austin rated higher than Sam Hurd, and here's why: Austin looked amazing out there. You can tell he took full advantage of Joe Jurasek's offseason program. He's bulked up, big difference from last year in my opinion. He ran his drills very well. He has good catching hands, and after the catch Austin makes plays. Austin ran drills on the return team and looks to be the weapon he developed into last year. Austin has more value and upside right now. He's #4

Sam Hurd
Hurd was a preseason target favorite from Romo last year, and he made a play here and there last year. Sam Hurd is a good receiver. He didn't appear to be any bigger though, he still looks light and he didn't really standout to me. To Hurd's credit, he's a hardworker on the field. After practice I saw him remain on the field and he practiced the tennis ball drill to work on his hands. Hurd's value comes in the passing game. He'll have to have a solid preseason to win out on the 53-man roster, and he's on the bubble.

Isaiah Stanback
Stanback has shown nothing to this point, and his "potential" simply is not gonna cut it for me right now. He hasn't practiced in the position the Cowboys had hoped he would take over - punt returner. He's coming off an injury that takes time to heal. Once he's recovered, he'll be thrown in the mix. But until then, we just don't know. He's on the bubble, maybe a practice squad guy if he never recovers. With Stanback out, we've been seeing Newman on punt returns, and this is NOT where Newman should be, he's way too valuable.

The Other Guys
Jamal Richardson, Jamaica Rector, Jerard Rabb, Jerhame Urban, and Mike Jefferson will be battling it out with Hurd and Stanback for a possible roster spot, and at best a practice squad spot. Rector probably doesn't qualify for the practice squad since he's been on it the last two years, so he may not make the team at all.

Who's In
1. Terrell Owens
2. Terry Glenn
3. Patrick Crayton
4. Miles Austin
5. Sam Hurd (probable, on bubble)
6. Isaiah Stanback (on bubble)
7. The rest (competition for #5-#6 spots or practice squad)

2007-07-28T20:31:00.000-05:00

Training Camp Pics
7-25-7/27

Here are a few pics I got from Training Camp, my three days there. We got some autographs, mainly Jason Witten, Roy Williams, and Coach Sparano. Romo was in our area in the endzone on 7/27/2007 afternoon practice, he skipped over us, which was hard for my son to take, but when Romo was leaving he threw his wrist band in the air and my father caught it midair and gave to his grandson, what a great memory.

2007-07-28T20:00:00.000-05:00

RBs: Who's In, Who's Out?

Some people have been asking me what I thought about the RBs.

Here's what I saw.

MB3 is running like a man on a mission. I never once saw him take a big hit, he's deceivingly elusive, and finishes all his runs. He still rates the highest from the other backs in the passing game. Its usually two-three players to take Barber down on a few drills.

Julius Jones looked really good out there too. He's got burst at the line of scrimmage, and is running instinctively. The offensive line opened up some holes for Julius to cut through the line and past the LBs on several drills.

Tyson Thompson looked pretty good in the return game, and his speed has not dropped off. He's fully recovered from his injury, and looks to making the team as a backup running back, and key player in the return game.

Lousaka Polite looks hefty, he's definitely the biggest back out there in terms of physical appearance. He looked good in practice, and I dont have anything bad to say about him, so we'll see if he makes the team.

Deon Anderson looks small out on the field. I wasn't too impressed with his size, he probably the shortest back we have on the team. He's not very big looking at all. He does catch the ball very well in the passing game. he made some nice over the top catchs, he looked natural catching in the flats. He made some solid blocks and popped the heck out of one player, (which I cant remember) which opened up Tyson in the return. If Deon makes the team it'll be because of his hands and blocking, he'll hit you for sure.

Jackie Battle ran great, he's gonna be a steal if he makes the team, and right now, I hope he does. He impressed the heck out of me. He runs hard, finishes his run, runs with power, and catches the ball pretty good in the passing drills. In one drill Bradie James came rushing at him and knocked him out of bounds with a pretty good smack. Battle got up without incident and ran back to the huddle garnering praise from the coach and his team mates.

Oliver Hoyte is not looking good in my opinion. He dropped several passes, and doesn't look natural on a few drills they ran. I don't think he makes it.

Others, Coleman doesn't have a chance, still injured and just a camp body right now. I may be forgetting some other rookie, but no one else made any lasting impressions.

Who makes the team?
1. Julius Jones
2. MB3
3. Tyson Thompson
4. Deon Anderson
5. Jackie Battle (practice squad)

2007-07-28T11:02:00.000-05:00

Back From Camp - Your Important Guide

Lodging
Now that I'm back from San Antonio, I can give you some details on the experience. The experience was great. We stayed at the Red Roof Inn, which is walking distance on a sunny day, probably about 6 blocks or so. I'll probably stay there next year and I recommend it. I did see a Holiday Inn Express which was even closer maybe two streets closer to the Alamodome.

Alamodome Parking
Parking at the Alamodome is $10 each time you visit. We got there really early Friday and parked for free since there wasn't a parking attendant on site. We parked in Lot C every time. You'll park and go down the stairs, you'll walk under an train overpass, which stinks because there are bats, and you can hear them chirping, so don't hang around there. You'll want to walk briskly through there due to the stench and because who wants to be around bats?

Eating
Depending where you stay, there's plenty of places to eat. If you're not right in the Riverwalk area, you'll need to find a place to park, and that's where the mission begins. I recommend parking in the River Center Mall Parking garage. It costs $5 and $1 each additional hour after your first hour. Its the best place to park in my opinion. You have access to all the eateries inside the mall, which include: Chili's, Tony Roma's Ribs, Dairy Queen, Le Petite, and a few other good places. In addition, the Riverwalk is right there at the mall. The Alamo is right down the street too. So, just remember - park at the River Center Mall Parking Garage.

Autographs
This is a whole mission in itself. If you even want a chance at possibly getting an autograph, you must get to the stadium 3hrs. before the practice begins. Yes, 3hrs! I am deadly serious. There will be a huge line at the front doors, and if you aren't at the front or very close to the front - forget about it.

ie. Practice starts at 9am - BE waiting at gates at 6am
ie. Practice starts at 2:30pm - BE waiting at gates at 11:30am

There will be people there early.
Don't think you can hold seats, cause you won't be able too, be well prepared. Either go with someone as eager as you or go by yourself if you want autographs. I wouldn't recommend bringing small toddlers and definitely don't bring infants/babies in the autograph section. I saw some couple with a small baby in the front row of the autographs, and when Romo came to sign, they practically ran over the baby, it was just a madhouse, pure insanity, with no regard. So yeah, be smart, don't bring your baby to the front row, please. If you have a small kid, make sure they goto the restroom at least 30mins before practice ends or they will not make it back to their spot. Hoards of people will bunch up front.

Where to sit: Section 103 or lower will take you to the endzone. You'll have a good chance of getting someone in the endzone. Section 110-Section 108 will take you to the sideline area, which is another good spot from what I could see.

Also, if you are a True Blue member, you will be admitted 15mins early to the stadium. If you don't have a True Blue Fan Club Membership, you may want to get one just for this chance, it DOES make a difference. You'll get prime autograph real estate. Cost is about $20, you can sign up online or at the Cowboys Pro Shops at the Alamodome and the Pro Shop at the River Center Mall.

Concessions
As in most sporting events, snacks, drinks, and beers are expensive. Food can from $6 and up. Bottled Water/Soda $3.75, Beer $6. The early practices won't have the Pizza and all that, but they do have breakfast tacos (2) for $2.50 which is that bad. Throughout the practice there will be staff selling snacks and beverages up and down the aisles too, so sometimes you don't need to get up and leave your seat.

2007-07-27T21:30:00.000-05:00

Friday Afternoon Overview

I just got home from San Antonio, it was a great three days at Training Camp. Like the first few days, nothing too terribly exciting happened at today's camp. I did like how the defense upped the tempo, yesterday was just nothing to brag about as they could not stop the running backs.

Today was a different story, the defense looked alot better in the run and pass defense. Hamlin made an INT today. The only bad part was Henry getting beat twice from what I saw. I was at the endzone again today, so I got a good look at the defensive line vs. the offensive line.

Most notable things I noticed were Carpenter and Spencer getting manhandled in their first attempts. The goal of this drill was to sack/pressure the pseudo-QB (some asst. coach, not sure) Carpenter composed himself and and improved on his 2nd and 3rd go around. Spencer also improved on his last attempt in this drill. Ratliff also redeemed himself in this drill by getting after it, and making penetration. That was good to see. Demarcus Ware is just a whole tier above the rest, he blew past his guy. I think it was McQuistan or Marten. Marcus Spears looked good in his drills as well.

I didn't see much of the secondary drills from my spot, but I did glance over a few times, and that's when I saw TO beat Henry and Williams in coverage.

Garrett continued to work the passing game, and everything is looking good there. I like what I see with TO, they are moving him around, putting him in motion, putting him in the slot, he's going to be very explosive this year and hard for defenses to cover.

Terry Glenn is money, he makes just about everything thrown at him today. Hurd played better today, and Austin is looking great in my opinion. He's catching the ball with confidence and plucking the ball, reminiscent of Crayton.

From the undrafted players, Jackie Battle has the upperhand. This guy can run! He's looking real good, and runs with power, and finishes all his runs.

Matt Moore looks tiny out there, he needs to add some bulk, he looks brittle too me. Richard Bartel looks physically bigger, but both seem to be doing about the same so far in camp.

Bruce Bowen

2007-07-27T14:45:00.000-05:00

Bowen made a special appearance and the crowd acknowledged him.

Full Pads

2007-07-27T14:11:00.000-05:00

The afternoon practice is full pads. Saw Stanback practicing with the tennis balls again. More to come

Afternoon Overview

2007-07-26T18:26:00.001-05:00

Got here early and even then we barely got seats for autographs. I think I saw Grizz from bloggintheboys in VIP earlier, lucky dawg!

The practice didnt seem as intense as the morning session. Less fumbling around though. I was in the endzone, so I didnt see much of the defense except when they did some drills with the offensive line. Kosier and Gurode shutdown a frustated Jay Ratliff. I didnt see Spencer either, Im not sure when he sneaked on the field.

The running backs continued to work in the passing game. Barber is a natural and catched the ball with ease. Julius and Thompson looked really good too. Hoyte did not look good, he dropped to passes, obviously this is not he strength, but to help make the team it'll be required in Garrett's schemes.

The morning session focused on the running game, and this afternoon was more passing.

The defense did not impress me at all, but again, this could be the tempo early on. The defense ran in basic 34 schemes, no blitzing and nothing exotic. Early on the defense didnt stop the run, the afternoon looked the same. The passing game and Garrett's timing scheme looked effective with Romo at the helm.

Im just hoping this was planned and not the result of poor execution by the defense. I guess we'll see more once practices increase and progress.

Phillips says there was some sloppiness on the field.

All draft picks have been signed. Spencer was on the field on the afternoon practice. More tomorrow. See you then!

Spencer

2007-07-26T16:51:00.001-05:00

It appears Spencer has been signed. I saw #93 on the field opposite Ware.

More Updates

2007-07-26T15:57:00.001-05:00

The afternoon practice is upper pads only. Austin looks alot more polished this year and looks to have bulked up in comparison to Hurd.

Afternoon Practice

2007-07-26T14:55:00.001-05:00

Arrived early in hopes of getting a chance at getting some autographs. We ended up in the endzone right now. If you come to camp you have to get here 1st in line. Get here at the minimum 2hrs before.

Stanback is on the field catching tennis balls from a machine that shoots them out.

Practice Overview

2007-07-26T11:53:00.001-05:00

Overall the practice went well. Both units looked good seperately. However, I gotta give the morning's practice to the offense. Short of man handling the defensive line with regularity the offense looked good. Holes would open up and running lanes were created for our stable of running backs. They all ran great. Undrafted RB Jackie Battle looks pretty good and runs hard.

I'm hoping to see more effort from the defensive line at this afternoon's practice. Spencer is still not on the field, hopefully he'll be there soon, cuz Ellis is NOT ready to return. He walked around slow, did not jog or run. Carpenter ran with the 2nd team at ILB.

The coaching staff is in control here, and very interactive with the players. At one point I saw Phillips coaching Burnett and giving him advice.

More live reports from the afternoon practice.

Run Defense

2007-07-26T10:48:00.001-05:00

The run defense did not look today when the squads played each other. I doubt this was by design. Barber,Jones, Thompson and Battle ran through the run defense. Albeit there wasnt any blitzing, just a base defense.

O vs. D

2007-07-26T10:10:00.001-05:00

Both squads are practicing against each other. Offense seems to be getting after it. Barber running hard, virtually unstoppable at times. Mcquistan continues to look the part at LT most of today. Julius is also looking fast and elusive. Burnett was shaken up, but looks to have walked it off.

Ellis Rehabbing

2007-07-26T09:33:00.001-05:00

Ellis is on the sideline working with the bungee cord. Flozell and Colombo just walked on the field in street clothes, shorts. Flozel sporting a knee brace on his right knee.

Ellis & Stanback

2007-07-26T09:12:00.000-05:00

Both players are on the field, but not practicing. Today everyone has full pads. More to come.

Early AM Observation

2007-07-26T09:02:00.001-05:00

TO still practicing on some punt return reps. He did this yesterday as well. Garrett remains commanding in his instructios.

McLean

2007-07-25T16:30:00.001-05:00

Pat McQuistan is looking big and lean. He' practicing at LT and RT. Looks athletic and quick on his feet.

Miles Austin looks fluid on the field. More to come.

Newman On Punt Returns

2007-07-25T16:20:00.001-05:00

Newman appears to stil be very much part of the punt return game. He had quite a few reps along with Rector. Lets hope this is because Stanback is not practicing. Stanback is on the field,, but he hasnt seen any action yet.

Kicking Drills

2007-07-25T15:42:00.001-05:00

Folk and Gramatica making the chipshots early on. Next, came kick offs. Folk definitely has the stronger leg. Interestin to see TO with Rector and Thompson receiving the kicks. More to come.

Early Observation

2007-07-25T15:04:00.001-05:00

Packed house. Players are looking good in passing drills early on. The defense and offense are practing in jersey and shorts, no pads. More to come.

Onward to San Antonio

2007-07-24T20:49:00.000-05:00

We're onward to San Antonio. Football is officially here and be sure to stop by regularly.

Bookmark us, and feel free to post our instant reports on other Cowboys Blogs and forums, just give us a small plug. I've got my trusty MotoQ and you will get real time blogs from me Wed-Fri.

See you all tomorrow!

2007-07-21T10:29:00.000-05:00

Let the Signings Begin

Deon Anderson, a sixth-round draft pick out of Connecticut, agreed to a four-year deal worth approximately $1.68 million. Anderson, a fullback, is expected to compete with Oliver Hoyte and Lousaka Polite for the starting position and is considered a true lead blocker. He is scheduled to earn base salaries of $285,000 this year, $360,000 in '08, $435,000 in '09 and $510,000 in '10. (scout.com)

2007-07-20T19:09:00.000-05:00

Training Camp Countdown

We're in the final stretch to training camp, and I can't wait! Less than 4 days, and Cowboys Football is BACK. There's nothing to report right now, supposedly, we should start hearing about our draft picks getting signed, sealed, and delivered on time for camp. But as years before, the Cowboys usually wait until the last minute.

The festivities start Tues night, and camp actually kicks off Wed at 2:30.

(AP) - Fans of the Dallas Cowboys might want to be in San Antonio next week as the team opens training camp -- and holds a kickoff party.

The free event will be Tuesday night at the Alamodome.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, new coach Wade Phillips, players, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and team mascot Rowdy will be on hand.

The Grammy award-winning group -- Los Lonely Boys -- will perform.

The Cowboys will begin workouts next Wednesday.

The team will break camp on Wednesday, August eighth.

-
Another reminder that your privacy may not always be so private:
Man locates Aikman's personal info on state Web site

2007-07-19T20:02:00.000-05:00

53-Man Roster Pre-Camp Predictions

QB - Tony Romo, Brad Johnson

RB - Julius Jones, Marion Barber, Tyson Thompson

FB - Deon Anderson, Jackie Battle

WR - Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback

TE - Jason Witten, Anthony Fasano, Tony Curtis

OT - Flozell Adams, Marc Colombo, Doug Free, James Marten

OG - Kyle Kosier, Leonard Davis, Pat McQuistan, Cory Procter

C - Andre Gurode

DE - Chris Canty, Marcus Spears, Jason Hatcher, Jay Ratliff

DT - Jason Ferguson, Montavious Stanley

OLB - Demarcus Ware, Greg Ellis, Anthony Spencer, Junior Glymph

ILB - Bradie James, Akin Ayodele, Bobby Carpenter, Kevin Burnett

CB - Terence Newman, Anthony Henry, Aaron Glenn, Jacques Reeves, Quincy Butler, Courtney Brown

FS - Ken Hamlin, Patrick Watkins

SS - Roy Williams, Keith Davis

K - Martin Gramatica, Nick Folk
P - Matt McBriar
LS - L.P. Ladouceur

Battle and Hoyte will fight it out for a roster spot, it could come down to special teams play. I have Stanley in there right now, but Remi Ayodele could over take him with a solid outing in NFL Europe. Gurode will get some rotation, and that could be one of the rookies, Marten has been talked about being in that rotation.

We will be live at camp opening days, so, be sure to keep it here for the latest on training camp! yeah-yuh!

2007-07-17T18:22:00.001-05:00

NFL News: Falcon's QB Mike Vick Indicted

The party is over in Atlanta. QB Michael Vick has been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in Virginia stemming from the dogfighting investigation. Looks like the Falcon's are kicking themselves in the butt for trading QB Matt Schaub to the Texans.

NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell has been very stern with other players with less serious indictments, you can be sure he will be suspended. There is ZERO tolerance in the league, and this adds another black eye to the league.

ESPN radio is suggesting Vick will not be suspended, and this may take a while. This isn't even logical thinking, I didn't catch the host's name, but he smoking crack. Vick is out of here, get real. You know on draft day, the Commish was talking to Vick behind the scenes, and this will be the last straw.

Joey Harrington is the backup QB in Atlanta, so that means a craptastic year for the Falcons, unfortunately. They will be looking to drafting Louisville's QB Brian Brohm.

2007-07-16T23:32:00.000-05:00

Offtopic: 1-18-08 is Cthulhu

This is definitely off topic, but you may have seen the preview that preceded Transformers. This teaser trailer left many wondering what this is. The only thing we know is that it comes out 1-18-08. If you haven't seen the preview you can check it out here>> 1-18-08

The movie is produced by J.J. Abrams from Lost and Alias fame, along with writter Drew Goddard. 1-18-08 is also being called Cloverfield/Slusho as the movie's codename.

The teaser trailer has offered up a few clues as to what this movie will be about. You have to watch the clip several times and pause it several times to catch a few of these clues.

At first glance, people may think this is a Godzilla remake, or War of the Worlds 2, upon further investigating some people thought this could be Voltron. During the clip there is some confusion when you can hear someone say: "It's alive!" or "It's a lion!" leaving those to believe this could be a Voltron movie, but this wouldn't quite make sense as the Statue of Liberty's head is flung across the street. Another rumor is that this could be based on the game from the 80s called Rampage, which is based on three monsters that destroy cities, but again, this seems like a far fetched rumor too.

The thought line is that this movie is based on a sea monster/creature, one other rumor is that this could be a movie based on Namor: The Submariner, a Marvel Comic, but there is no mention in the trailers credits.

This leaves us with the most likely thought that this movie is going to be based on H.P. Lovecraft's "Call of the Cthulhu" (pronounced Kathooloo) which came out in 1928. Another writer Robert Anton Wilson used Cthulhu Mythos and Zen Buddhism is his writings and he was born on 1-18-32 and cremated 1-18-07. Coincidence that the movies is coming out 1-18-08? perhaps, we'll see.

Let's take a look at the clues I've discovered in the teaser trailer. I may have missed some, but here are a few clues:

Sushi - in the beginning you'll see a party tray with sushi, fish, eel, and some other sea creatures, more for some sort of symbolism than anything else, creatures of the sea.

Buddha - In the same frame you'll see the small Buddha statues on the shelf, Zen Buddhism as related in some of Robert Anton Wilson's writings.

AKM - soon after you hear the first monster noise, you'll see a red paddle on the wall with the label "AKM" There are two thoughts on the AKM anogram: One being that it stands for the honor society frat Alpha Kappa Mu. Kappa meaning legendary creature and Mu has mythical historical value in this context. Mu is a mythical sunken continent similar to Atlantis, but the inhabintants of Mu worshipped the three son's of Cthulu, that's one link. The other thought is that AKM could be short for Arkham, a fictional city used by H.P. Lovecraft in several of his books.

Slusho - during the news report the guy turns around and the logo on the shirt is "Slusho!"When you visit the site, you'll see the relation of Slusho in this context. Mainly, it theme revolves around sea creatures. The only section on this site that has any information is the "history" section, key clue can be found by researching Noriko Yoshida

Statue of Liberty - the head of the Statue of Liberty is thrown across the city, suggests the creature/monster is coming from the ocean sea.

So far, the only official sites associated with this project are:
1-18-08.com
Slusho.jp

1-18-08 has three pics so far, which I haven't gained any solid clues, other than the time stamps on the pics could have some sort of biblical relation, who knows. 12:01,12:36 and 12:48 or 1+1+8+0+8=18 divisible by 3=6, 666.

Some other unconfirmed sites have popped, but some considered bogus by some:
ABZ3293
EthanHaasWasRight.com

What ever the outcome is, hopefully this movie is good, its garnering alot of chatter on the web, including myself. You can get engulfed in researching this stuff.

2007-07-16T21:12:00.000-05:00

Phillips: Hope vs. Hype

CowboysBlog.Net will be there on the onset of Cowboys Training Camp this year, and we'll get to the bottom of the question posed here: Does Wade Phillips provide us with hope or hype?

At the end of the season, all hope seemed lost after we barely made it into the playoffs by losing two important games in a row. No one wanted to go into the Wild Card game in Seattle on a losing streak.

Cowboys 7 Eagles 23
Cowboys 31 Lions 39
Cowboys 20 Seahawks 21 (playoffs)

The Cowboys hit rock bottom after that heart-wrenching loss to Seattle. Who can remember that awful feeling in the lower stomach after Romo lost the snap and ran for the 1st down or game winning TD. What fan was not screaming "NOOOO!!!" at the top of their lungs with watery eyes from the shear disappointment of what should of been. All hope was lost for fans. Fans lost hope that Parcells could get this team to the Super Bowl after his latest debacle by the defense and anemic offense. Fans looked at Parcells defense and called it "bland, vanilla, too simple" and some called the offense "too conservative" I would agree with all that.

So, now Parcells is gone, and then came the whole coaching charade. We saw Norv with Jerry at Irvin's induction announcement, and this looked to be our next coach. Norv would turn Romo into Aikman, and the offense would be explosive. But what derailed this team towards the end? It was the defense, it was horrible. It was the same people getting burned everytime. Roy, Bradie, and no pressure from the defensive line, a complete bust. Mike Zimmer was a 4-3 guru, and could not put his own spin on the 3-4, let alone Parcells bland 3-4 of the late 80s-90s.

Jerry wanted to fix the defense and that means, hire the guru of defense, Wade Phillips. The Phillips 3-4 is what the Cowboys need, and the player personnel is here for instant success. So, is this a bunch of hype or hope? I'm going with the later, hope. Phillips is doing everything to get this group of young players together for a run at the Super Bowl. Phillips has reshuffled the locker room by mixing the defensive players with offensive players, they are no longer segregated by squad. He's brought the team together and brought his family oriented philosophy to the locker room.

With young players eager to display their skills for Phillips, this year, we're gonna see a whole new level of performance from some players considered to be underachievers in years past. Players like Marcus Spears, Chris Canty, and Bradie James all want to get a chance to make their mark on this new scheme, and they will have their chances. But, by no means can you count out young players like LB Bobby Carpenter, who's sideline-to-sideline play make a perfect match for this Phillips 3-4, I see good things to come for Carpenter. Rookie Anthony Spencer has all the makings of the next Demarcus Ware, who can beat that? This is all reason to see hope is on our side.

Much is said about Wade's last outings as a Head Coach, and how he could not get teams over the hump. This is by far the best team, Phillips has ever inherited, and in addition, this could be the best team with the smartest offensive coordinator in Jason Garrett. Phillips never had a decent offensive squad and offensive guru like Garrett. I'm ready to see what these two minds bring to the table. Phillips brings hope that we're going to be the real deal this year.

2007-07-13T21:57:00.000-05:00

Cowboys Named in Top 25 in 25 Years

USA Today is running a weekday report counting down to training camp. They started on 25 and have been moving up to number one. So far, there are three Cowboys in the top 25 in 25 years, according to their column. Its an interesting read.

7. Emmitt Smith - Emmitt Smith surpassed all runners

16. Deion Sanders - Deion played his way into 'Prime Time'

20. Troy Aikman - Aikman rescued 'America's Team'

2007-07-09T21:10:00.000-05:00

Two Weeks 'til Training Camp Fever

Tony Romo and Terrell Owens are by far the undisputed Dallas Cowboys newsmakers each and everyday. The majority of the articles out on the web are either centered around Romo or Owens, and that's not a bad thing. It just shows where the media is focusing on here. You have Romo, the young talented, debonair Hollywood QB that keeps him newsworthy on and off the field. In addition, you have Owens, one of the best receivers in the game today, media proclaimed bad boy, and the media just waiting for his next whatever. How will Garrett use our brightest superstars in his new offense? I expect us to come out swinging on opening day, and people are gonna say "uh oh, these guys are gonna be the team to beat"

ESPN.com ranks our QB roster and gives us their thoughts on Romo and our backup QBs:

14. Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo had a storybook season in 2006, going 5-1 in his first six starts and giving the Cowboys great production at the position. But he struggled down the stretch, throwing too many interceptions and fumbling too many times while the Cowboys finished 1-4 in his final five games. The coaches are hoping that the Romo they saw early in the season is the one they get in 2007. He has excellent physical skills as a passer and his mobility allows him to make plays with his feet. However, he must do a better job of playing under control, being patient and not turning the ball over. Aging Brad Johnson will be the backup and mentor to Romo. Although his physical skills are limited, he still knows how to read a defense and get the ball to the right place. Young Matt Baker will be the No. 3 QB, and although he has good developmental skills, he's a long way from the field.

I think Baker takes the final #3 spot, we'll see him get some reps in preseason to gauge where we're at in his development, the other two guys the Cowboys brought in here, are way too raw, and not even close to being on a 53-man roster.

ProFootballWeekly doesn't think Garrett will employ much shotgun at all with his new offense:

Don’t expect a ton of shotgun formations this season from the Cowboys. It is something the fans clamored for in the past, mostly when Drew Bledsoe was the quarterback, but it appears to be a mere part of the package and hardly a major one. Look for new coordinator Jason Garrett’s offense to resemble the Ernie Zampese school of thought more than anything. The offense is likely to be based on timing, with precise routes based on the different depths of the drops, and frequent use of the shotgun would muck that up a bit. Still, that doesn’t mean the team will utilize a true West Coast offense. In fact, most of the receivers — and even the tight ends — are buzzing about the fact that there appear to be a greater number of deep passes in the repertoire. In Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn, the Cowboys have two strong deep-route runners, but spies say not to forget about Patrick Crayton, who could enjoy a nice niche as a breakout player in the new scheme.

Yes, Garrett's offense will resemble Zampese and Turner's, but I expect Garrett to add his own twist, there's always an evolution in football schemes, and I'm excited to see what Garrett adds. I mean, this guy is no slouch, he's a sports guru, he went to Princeton, and he has the bloodlines:

As a coach, he says he looks for players "who are committed to working hard and will buy into what you are doing."

As a former quarterback, Garrett knows the importance of having a top-notch quarterback. So, what should high school coaches look for when filling that all-important role?

"You want a guy with good character," he advises. "You want a guy with leadership and work ethic, not just a guy who can throw the ball far."

That certainly was true of Garrett during his playing days. He's also aware of the need for the quarterback to fit the system, and vice-versa.

"It's important to get your quarterback on board with what you're doing because a lot of times the rest of the team will follow his example," Garrett said. (NFLHS.COM)

Bucky Brooks from SI.com looks at the Cowboys challenges for this upcoming training camp:

Challenge No. 1: Build the offense around the strengths of Tony Romo.

Romo led the Cowboys to the playoffs and earned a Pro Bowl nomination as a first-year starter. His 65-percent completion percentage and 95.1 passer rating both ranked near the top of the league. With that kind of production, it's obvious that the Cowboys should build their offense around the Romo's strengths. As a polished passer with outstanding poise, patience and athleticism, Romo has the skills to play any style of offense. New offensive coordinator Jason Garrett...

Challenge No. 2: Tweak the 3-4 to feature a more aggressive pass rush.

The 3-4 defense new coach Wade Phillips is installing is vastly different than the one used by his predecessor Bill Parcells. Phillips runs an aggressive package built on the strength of his personnel that features an assortment of games, stunts and blitzes to add pressure. The Dallas defense he inherits has several pieces in place. DeMarcus Ware possesses the skills to be on of the top pass rushers in the league and under Phillips the third-year pro will be used exclusively as a pass rusher. And if Phillips stays true to the philosophy that he used in San Diego, he will find an unsung player on the opposite side with complementary rush skills. Shaun Phillips quietly posted double-digits in sacks opposite Shawne Merriman in San Diego and...

Challenge No. 3: Make Terrell Owens a big part of the offense.

The temperamental super star brings lots of baggage, but no one can dispute the talent or impact that he has on an offense. With 85 receptions for over 1,100 yards and a league-leading 12 touchdown receptions during an off year, he still deserves to be mentioned as one of the top receivers in the game and merits top billing in the Cowboys' offense.

In my opinion, Challenge No.4 would be to get the ball in Witten's hands more and frequently. Garrett will utilize Witten as he was suppose to be used. Witten is a receiving TE, not a blocking TE. Get Witten in the game early, and soften up the field, and let our running back tandem tear it up as a result.

2007-07-07T11:21:00.000-05:00

Drafting Cowboys in Fantasy Football

Football is in the air, and camp is less than 3 weeks away. I've been having football withdrawal symptoms since the Super Bowl ended, and the other professional sports just don't cut it for me.

Fantasy Football leagues have been forming since June and this has helped fill the void between then and training camp. I've already been in a few league drafts, and you can almost script the first round of picks, its the 2nd round and onward that get interesting. Yahoo Fantasy Football is still the best in my opinion. Easy interface, menus, settings, scoring, offense and defense, its complete. So, my review is based on the Yahoo FF System.

I'm going to give my Dallas Cowboys rankings for Fantasy Football(Most value to least value, along with recommended round to draft).

1. Terrell Owens: Owens is a scoring machine, and you can only expect this to be the same if not better with Garrett's new down-the field approach. He'll get you the receptions, the yards, and TDs needed to be a force in any league. (1st-2nd round)

2. Marion Barber III: Barber is another scoring machine, he has a nose for the endzone, runs hard everytime, and he's the man in the redzone. Garrett wants to utilize the RBs in the passing game some more, and Barber has the advantage here, he has better receiving hands, which makes him more dangerous this year. Barber is the running back that will deliver the nail in the coffin with his TDs which is why he's still get the moniker of "The Closer" (6th-8th round)

3. Jason Witten: Witten isn't ranking in the top echelon of tight ends in fantasy football because they are basing this on his output last year. This is not the case this year, and if you're looking for a TE with numbers, its gonna be Witten. Witten will be a solid TE this year, and could be a solid W/T swing player. Expect Witten to be a major threat in the redzone/endzone this year. Witten will be a major beneficiary from Garrett's new high octane system and you can reap the benefits in your league. (8th-11th round)

4. Tony Romo: Romo will have solid numbers, he could have great numbers, so picking Romo could be a top round pick for sure. The thing you have to remember is that you want to stockpile your team with high-end WRs/RBs first, that's been my rule of thumb for years. The only QB you'll probably see drafted in the 1st round is Peyton Manning, and that's because he puts up ridiculous output every year, he's money. Romo has that scoring potential, but you just don't know for sure. Fans and die hard fans could find it hard not to draft Romo with their first pick in the first round, stick to the gameplan. You can get Romo in later rounds and for a steal. Next year could be a different story. (9th-12th round)

5. Terry Glenn: Glenn's scoring potential is underrated in Fantasy Football as it is in the real world, and because of this, you can probably grab Glenn in a mid round and feel good about it. Glenn is someone you can plug in as a starter and not worry about it. Glenn is good for 6-10 TDS this season, along with receptions 60-70 at least, 1100+ yard receiver. Glenn is a solid #2-3 WR or a swing W/R in other leagues. (9-12th round)

6. Julius Jones: Jones situation is the same as the rest of our offensive players, he has the "potential" to be a knockout player this year. But based on my draft experiences this year, Jones has been going in mid rounds and later. Jones is going to be a mega steal this year. MB3 has been going ahead of Jones in most leagues, but Jones will have his true chance to run more instinctively and less robotic as Jones put it. Jones could be a top round pick easily and you'll feel good about it, but there will be alot of value on the board. So, Jones can be stolen away in a later round. (10th-12th round)

7. Patrick Crayton: Crayton will probably be the #3 WR, and he could a bigger role in the slot. He'll be that Kelvin Martin/Kevin Williams type player, and his numbers will be higher. Unfortunately, the roster size of most leagues won't be big enough for you to draft him, tuck him away and hope for some magical numbers from Crayton (last round-undrafted)

Others: Sam Hurd, Tony Fasano, Miles Austin, FBs, don't hold much Fantasy Football prowess at all, so these guys will all be undrafted, but could be valuable if a starter becomes injured for a period of time.

In Leagues that have Defensive Players, these will be your top Cowboys to look for:

1. Demarcus Ware: Ware is ranked high because of his amount of sacks, solo tackles, and assisted tackles, and forced fumbles, and the occasional INT. In leagues that have defensive players, Ware can be drafted in the late rounds, he'll fill the D or Dline roster spot

2. Roy Williams: Roy Williams will be more active in-the box under the Phillips34, and you can expect his numbers to flourish, with solo tackles, assisted tackles, INTS, and maybe a few sacks from the blitz. Roy can be taken in the late rounds too, he'll fill the D or DB roster spot.

3. Bradie James: James gets a look here, assuming he remains the starting MLB, James will give you decent numbers in regards to tackles, don't expect many sacks from James, your points will come from tackles. I would bunch Akin Ayodele in here too. Most leagues with defensive players have 1point per tackle, it all depends on your leagues points configurations.

4. Ken Hamlin: Hamlin is another player in the secondary that will get you points with INTs, tackles, and assisted tackles. He's gonna be the center fielder which means he'll be roaming around and has that potential to be a solid D or DB player for your roster.

5. Newman/Henry: Newman and Henry will garner points on tackles, but not that many, their money comes with INTs. QBs don't throw to Newman much, so his INT opportunities are lowered, and solo tackles too. Henry has more opportunity, since he's the most thrown at DB in the league according to several metrics, so his INT chances go up, and so do his solo tackles.

When drafting DBs for your league, you want the guys that make tackles, solo tackles, assisted tackles, and INTs. That means safeties are your best bet to filling DB spots, they have more scoring value. Don't draft based on a DBs shutdown ability, players like Champ Bailey, DeAngelo Hall, and Terence Newman. They won't give you the same output as league safeties. Keep that in mind.

6. Anthony Spencer/Greg Ellis: he could be your steal when it comes to drafting a player to fill your D or Dline roster spot. It depends on how much time he gets, but his numbers could mirror Demarcus Ware's, so you could save him with a very late round pick if you drafted smart earlier in your draft.

Others: Chris Canty, Marcus Spears, Jason Ferguson, Jason Hatcher, Jay Ratliff could have some value, but they get undrafted. Of course this could all change if any of these guys get hot and become defensive line monsters, forcing fumbles, and sacking the QB.

The key for ANY fantasy football league are the bye-weeks. Be smart with your picks, don't stockpile players with the same bye-weeks, this will hurt you in the long run, you'll lose games, and you'll always be looking for those average free agents to fill your voids; moreover, your roster will be unstable and you'll lose important games down the stretch.

2007-07-05T19:08:00.000-05:00

Newman Overrated? I Don't Think So.

I was perusing some news articles and stumbled across this article by ESPN's KC Joyner, and I could not help but laugh out loud over his notion that Terence Newman is overrated. You gotta be kidding. Yet he has Charles Woodson and Nathan Vasher as underrated cornerbacks? This article is all backwards if you ask me.

Here's what he said:

Terence Newman: He is considered much better than his Dallas teammate Anthony Henry, but Newman's 2006 overall YPA was only .4 yards higher than Henry's. He also ranked 57th in the missed pass percentage category, so luck was on his side.

Newman is a shutdown corner, plain and simple. There isn't a team in this league that would not want Newman as their main cornerback. There is no luck needed in Newman's game.

Yes, this article is entertaining to some degree and so are the rest of Joyner's articles in this series, but this one is not gonna fly for me. You're wrong KC, sorry dude.

One player who is definitely underrated is TE Jason Witten. If you're in fantasy football, you may want to take Witten in the top 6 rounds, he's gonna score and get yards at the same time.

SportingNews is showing Witten some love by ranking him #1 amongst tight ends in the NFC, and I would agree:

1. COWBOYS Jason Witten is too fast for linebackers and too big for safeties, and he has excellent hands. Anthony Fasano lacks speed but has good hands and is a willing blocker.

He works the middle of the field and gives Dallas a good third-down target. Strangely, he scored only one touchdown last season.

Crumpler, Shockey, and Cooley round out the top 4 TEs in the NFC.

Dennis Dillon at SportingNews takes on the role of Nostradamus and has the Cowboys as the #2 Seed in the NFC for the playoffs:

6. Seattle. As long as Mike Holmgren is their coach, the Seahawks always have a chance to get to the postseason.

5. San Francisco. Frank Gore is the league's next big star at running back, and the defense finally has the pieces in place to become a full-blooded 3-4.

4. Philadelphia. As long as Andy Reid is their coach, the Eagles will be one of this conference's powers. Their chances will be much better, of course, if Donovan McNabb can stay on the field.

3. Chicago. All eyes will be on Rex Grossman, but this team has enough talent to win even when its quarterback isn't at his best. The gap between the Bears and the other three teams in their division still looks as big as the Grand Canyon.

2. Dallas. The Cowboys' players are sold on the 3-4 according to Wade Phillips -- and so am I. Tony Romo regressed a bit toward the end of last season, but he has the makeup to become a star.

1. New Orleans. There's a lot to like about this team, beginning with Sean Payton, its young, innovative coach. I especially give the Saints props for already putting last year's improbable season behind them and turning their focus to what they need to do to take that next step -- to the Super Bowl.

Interesting picks in the NFC side, I don't see the Saints as the #1 Seed though, and moreover, I don't see the Bears making it to the tournament this year anyway, but to each their own.

Shoot, I might as well take a shot at it:

6. Cardinals
5. Detroit
4. Seattle
3 .Philadelphia
2. New Orleans
1. Dallas

How's that for some controversial picks! Let's see if this comes true.

2007-07-04T15:55:00.000-05:00

Michael Irvin Officially Picks Jerry Jones as Presenter

Its official, Michael Irvin has asked Jerry Jones to be his presenter at this year's Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony in Canton, Ohio. The event will be on Saturday, August 4th at 6PM.

The article reveals who the other presenters will be:

Thurman Thomas chose his former coach, Marv Levy, to present him at the Aug. 4 enshrinement ceremony. Levy was inducted into the Hall in 2001.

Bruce Matthews will be presented for induction by Hall of Famer Mike Munchak, a former teammate. Matthews was the presenter when Munchak entered the Hall of Fame in 2001...

Fantasy Football is in full swing, check out what NFL.com's Michael Fabiano has to say about our running back tandem:

Julius Jones remains the favorite to start for the Cowboys under new head coach Wade Phillips, and he will be motivated to produce in what is a contract year. In fact, Jones could be a nice draft bargain since Marion Barber is considered more valuable. The former Minnesota standout led the NFC in rushing touchdowns last season, but whether he can duplicate that remains to be seen. Barber is considered a low-end No. 2 fantasy back or flex starter, while Jones is a more of a middle-round No. 3 fantasy runner in most formats.

In most drafts Ive been involved so far, MB3 is getting drafted ahead of Jones, but those that get Jones in later rounds could be in for a treat. I don't think you can go wrong with either pick.

Lastly, Happy 4th of July to everyone!

2007-07-02T21:05:00.000-05:00

Terrell Owens Will Lead Cowboys in TDs

Last year was Owens' first year as a Dallas Cowboy and he met all expectations as he stacked up some Pro Bowl numbers, 85 receptions for 1180 yards with 13TDs. Yes, he had some dropped passes, but his offensive scoring power cannot be denied. So, Owens had pretty good numbers in what is considered to have been a conservative type passing game, can you imagine this year?

Now comes year two with a new "players coach" and a new offensive coordinator with Jason Garrett. Garrett has already said this offense will look alot like the offenses the Cowboys employed in the '90s. This is good news for Owens, and you can expect another solid year from T.O.

It is my prediction that T.O. will lead the Cowboys in touchdowns this year, and according to a poll at our message board, most fans also believe T.O. will lead in TDs:

Terrell Owens %58
Marion Barber III %29
Jason Witten %8
Julius Jones %4
Other %0-1

T.O. is money in the fantasy football realm, but I wouldn't overlook MB3 or Julius Jones for that matter. In several leagues, I've been able to draft Julius Jones in later rounds, and this could be an absolute steal under Garrett's new offense.

Witten should get way more touches in the redzone, and this should make him another solid pick this year.

In other T.O. news, Owens is suing a Manhattan Nightclub for using his name and likeness. Owens is seeking around $600,000 in damages. Check out the article here.

2007-06-28T21:29:00.000-05:00

Marion Barber III and Cowboys News

Some Interesting News Snippets today (Rotoworld)

Marion Barber III can be a restricted free agent after this season.
Barber, a fourth-round pick in 2005, signed a rare "five-year" rookie deal that will void after he plays this year. He could be competing against Julius Jones, an impending unrestricted free agent, for a contract extension.

Looks like both running backs are going to be running their ways to some hefty new contracts this year. We should see some high octane attack from these two stars.

Despite speculation the Cowboys would move second-year OL Pat McQuistan to guard, he has been practicing at tackle this offseason.

McQuistan ran with the first team while Flozell Adams (knee) rehabbed. His roster spot seems safe despite James Marten and Doug Free's additions.

Cowboys claimed C Matt Tarullo off waivers from the Colts.
The Syracuse product is a heady player, but a longshot to make the club.

The Cowboys signed guard/center Steve Franklin.6-2, 320 pounds, spent this spring playing for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europa

Drew Henson is still competing at a high level and wants another chance in Minnesota:

"There are few places in sports you dictate what is going on. I love to compete. It gets back to the reasons why you played when you were younger. You just enjoy the competition."

And some comments from Deion Sanders about Henson's stint in Dallas:

"I don't think the offense was good. I don't think the team was good. He was in a bad situation," Sanders says. "People who know the game of football will say, "Forget Dallas, period. That don't even count.'
"What he went through in Dallas, I wish no quarterback to go through, especially a young quarterback."

Overall, this is a interesting article for those wondering what Henson is up to, you can read the rest here. I definitely wish him well and success in his en devours .

2007-06-26T20:56:00.000-05:00

Tank Johnson Being Considered in Dallas?

Word is, the Cowboys could be in the hunt for the much troubled Tank Johnson. Now, when you hear all the commotion that Pacman Jones, the Bengals, and Tank Johnson are causing, you wish them good riddance from the NFL. Most of these players are playmakers on-the field; however, the off-the field issues are a huge risk for any team looking at acquiring any of these guys.

The only thing about signing Tank Johnson, is his off-the field record, his on-the field work is pretty solid. But you simply can't count on these players. The Bears, in their embarrassment decided to cut their ties, and determined that Johnson, though talented, could not be reliable for the season.

Before being cut by the Bears, Tank Johnson was to serve a 8-game suspension. So, wherever Johnson lands, he will have to serve that league mandated suspension. Could Jerry Jones take a high risk with Tank Johnson? Sure, you can say Jerry takes risks with players like Terrell Owens, but T.O. does not have criminal off the field problems.

Don't be surprised if Cowboys owner-general manager Jerry Jones is at the head of the line. He believes in taking risks on talented but troubled players (see Charles Haley and T.O.), and I assure you he will be tempted to sign Johnson at some point.

In fact, I just talked to a member of the organization who said Johnson would be a "perfect fit" in head coach Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense. He said the Phillips scheme actually works better with inside players who have flourished in the 4-3, as Johnson has, because it requires them to line up at different spots along the line and use their quickness to make plays.(Mosley)

Tempting, but not worth it to me, I'll pass on Tank Johnson.

2007-06-25T17:09:00.000-05:00

Terrell Owens a Top 5 Receiver

SI.com has an article to keep us going while we wait for training camp to get here. The author has Terrell Owens at the #5 receiver in the league:

1. Steve Smith - Carolina
2. Chad Johnson - Cincinnati
3. Roy Williams - Detroit
4. Marvin Harrison - Indianapolis
5. Terrell Owens - Dallas

Not, a bad start; however, for arguments sake I would say Owens and Harrison would rank higher that Detroit's Roy Williams. For me, T.O. is a top 3 receiver. He's a big weapon to have, big, strong, and a major playmaker.

Anquan Boldin at #9 and Randy Moss at #10

Overall, not a bad list to start off, but I would think the much underrated Terry Glenn should get in this list somewhere. Reggie Wayne is in here, and Glenn is at the same level if not better than Wayne. They have have Laveranues Coles at #19 and Mark Clayton at #21. C'mon, Glenn is way better than these two jokes.

Check out the article here

More on Wade Wilson

Name: Wade Wilson
Age: 48
Position: Quarterbacks
Coaching Exp.: 6 years
NFL Exp.: 6 years
Coaching Highlights:
Chicago Bears quarterbacks coach (2004-06); Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach (2000-02).

DC.Com has a new article covering the return of QB Coach, Wade Wilson. Wilson gives us some insight to the coaching strategy that Garrett and himself will rollout this year:

"We're banking on his experiences not only here but with different teams and different offenses, and my experiences throughout the league," Wilson said. "We're kind of blending all those experiences we had, and trying to come up with the best of all those organizations."

2007-06-23T18:10:00.001-05:00

Dallas Cowboys Most Searched NFL Team Online

According to the Yahoo! Buzz Index, Its all about our Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys are the most searched NFL team online, not the Super Bowl Champ Colts, not Da Bears, not the Patriots, but the 'Boys!

Interesting to see the Cowboys are the only NFL team in Yahoo's Buzz Index Top 20 for (323) days and counting, that's almost a year straight. Right now the NFL is ranked at #5, with the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Champhionship) at #6 at (323) days as well, a very strong showing with Boxing no where in the top 20 list.

Other sports topics strong with (323) days are:
MLB, Nascar, NBA (all very boring if you ask me)

I'll take the Dallas Cowboys and some Mixed Martial Arts with the UFC over the other boring junk out there. Go Cowboys!

Only the NY Yankees score higher with 1034 days in the top 20.

Check out the Yahoo! Buzz Index Top 20.

Check out NFLDraftCountDown's Draft Review, Scott Wright gives us a (B). I'll take that, as far as talent acquistion potential goes. The truth will be known in 2-3 years, when we can truly gauge what these young bucks will do for our team.

2007-06-21T18:24:00.000-05:00

Can "Player's Coaches" Succeed?

The 2007 season will see a whole new set of head coaches, and the league has entered an era of the "player's coach," its in vogue right now. A majority, if not all, the new head coaches are thought as being coaches that can relate to players at different levels rather than being the hardcore, stern, disciplinarian type coach.

Wade Phillips (Cowboys), Norv Turner (Chargers), Cam Cameron (Dolphins), Mike Tomlin (Steelers), and Ken Whisenhunt (Cardinals) are all coming into favorable situations with teams with alot of upside.

Turner is coming into a team, that by all accounts could have been in the Super Bowl last year with their explosive offense and aggressive defense; however, the question will be can a player's coach like Turner get this team over the hump? Is he the final piece needed to get this team to the Super Bowl, is this the perfect situation for Turner and his players?

Players have said that change can be good, and some players respond better to different coaching styles than others. Could this be the answer in San Diego? We know Turner can get the offense going, but will the lack of being a disciplinarian make the team lose concentration and cause more penalties? We'll see how the team responds from the hardcore coaching style of their previous coach in Marty Schottenheimer compared to Norv Turner.

The Chargers head coaching change and situation mirrors the Cowboys greatly. Wade Phillips is coming into a situation where the team has improved over the year's with the base of talent coming from the draft. The main difference between the Chargers and Cowboys are the coaches. I believe the Cowboys have assembled the better coaching staff, from the Special Teams coach Bruce Read, WRs Coach Ray Sherman, DC Brian Stewart, OC Jason Garrett, to name a few.

The Cowboys have two major strengths on each side of the ball. Wade Phillips is the defensive-guru, and Jason Garrett is the offensive prodigy who comes from a solid offensive minded lineage.

Both Turner and Phillips could be what their teams need in this day and age in the NFL, this could be their perfect opportunity at the right time.

ESPN has a good article that covers this very subject, they talk about how there's a cycle in the NFL; in where, stern coaches get the boot in favor for mild-mannered coaches. Right now, the league has entered the era of the player's coach.

The two teams in the Super Bowl were coached by player's coaches, Tony Dungy (Colts) and Lovie Smith (Bears)

Those players talked about their preference for coaches who don't rely on intimidation, rigid rules or silly mind games to motivate their teams. They liked the idea of being around head coaches who saw themselves more as teachers than drill sergeants, and it's become apparent that the league's decision makers have recognized the value in that as well.

Players like Julius Jones embrace the change:

The Cowboys were so pleased to have a mild-mannered coach that some -- notably running back Julius Jones -- publicly expressed their gratitude for not having to deal with a daily dose of Tuna any longer.

Charger's players are looking forward to a new regime as well:

"I think Norv has been good to have around because the younger players are learning that there's another way to do the job as a head coach. As much as we liked Marty, it's important for some of these guys to know that not every coach has to give a bunch of passionate speeches or be a tough guy to win games."

The interesting part of the article comes from the end:

The question, of course, is whether all these players' coaches -- and the warmer environments they subsequently create -- will produce more victories than their predecessors. Usually, the knock on such men is they can become too soft, and eventually lose their ability to motivate players. That's what killed Turner when he coached the Oakland Raiders, and it's also been a knock on Phillips and Buffalo's Dick Jauron in the past. They were such nice guys in their previous jobs, their teams never became that tough or consistent.

The theory has been that player's coaches have short term success, and players stop responding and inherently need more structure and discipline. This may or may not be true, depending on who you ask. Colts fans would argue that their coach has been very successful over the years, while others would point out the factor that it took Dungy a long time to get his team over the hump because of the way he coaches.

People are so use to seeing the Patriots in the Super Bowl that was the assumed blueprint for success: get a disciplinarian like Belichick and you too can win a Super Bowl. Well, guess what, there may be some truth to this, and this is why we saw coaches like Gibbs, Parcells, and Coughlin return to coaching, they were the desired type of coach at the time.

Look at the past Super Bowl winners (excluding last year):
XL 2006 Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 10
XXXIX 2005 New England 24, Philadelphia 21
XXXVIII 2004 New England 32, Carolina 29
XXXVII 2003 Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21
XXXVI 2002 New England 20, St. Louis 17
XXXV 2001 Baltimore 34, N.Y. Giants 7

Did the Colts and Bears set the bar now for their coaching style as being the more effective style or is this just a coincidence? We'll see how the games pan out; however, with the league having more player's coaches there's going to be some canceling out of each other somewhere along the line. I like our chances in the NFC East where players are failing to respond to coaches like Gibbs and Coughlin, who are old school disciplinarians. Andy Reid is probably the only consistent coach in the NFC East the last several years, so I would expect them to be in the hunt as usual, despite their diminishing talent on both sides of the ball.

So to answer the question, I would have to say yes. I think our coach, Wade Phillips will have success. A Super Bowl victory being the ultimate goal. He has the staff and hungry players to make a serious run here in Dallas.

2007-06-21T18:00:00.000-05:00

Canty Get Some Love?

Chris Canty was drafted in the 4th round and considered a steal back then, and even today, Canty seems to be the better DE than 1st rounder Marcus Spears. Canty came from a 3-4 system out of Virginia, and his transition to Parcell's 34 was not bad; however, Canty's upside will truly increase under the aggressive Phillips 34. Canty is a big guy, plays hard, and still plays with something to prove.

Fox Sports has a article on 9 breakout stars for 2007, and Chris Canty makes the list:

Chris Canty: The first few seasons for Canty as a pro ball player have been solid. Canty's upside is spectacular. You have to jog the mental rolodex to Canty's junior year at the University of Virginia to remember how explosive he can be. In talking to the Dallas defensive end, he thinks that this will be his breakout season under Wade Phillips. Everyone's talking about the impact Phillips will have on Marcus Spears, but watch Canty become a major disruption to offenses this season.

Other players among the list are: QB Matt Schaub (Texans), LB Chad Greenway (Minnesota), and WR Reggie Brown (Eagles)

2007-06-20T19:50:00.000-05:00

Should the Cowboys Draft CB Paul Oliver?

Considering what the Cowboys have done in this year's draft I would say probably not. I doubt the Cowboys draft Georgia's CB Paul Oliver on July 13th during the NFL Supplemental Draft. Oliver is probably the lone player with a chance at actually getting drafted. Over the last couple of months his draft stock has plummeted and its now looking like Oliver could be drafted in the 3rd at the very highest and more likely between the 5th and 7th round.

Oliver basically quit going to school after the football season ended and didn't have any ambitions of going to class in the spring. So, with Oliver being academically ineligible he'll roll the dice by going into the Supplemental Draft.

Oliver just held his pro-day, and he put in some mediocre numbers. Oliver was clocked between 4.50-to-4.58 seconds in the 40 and his vertical jump was 33.5 inches. The RanchReport is reporting that 27 teams were on hand at the workout as both league scouts and directors of college scouting lined the field.

So, with the apparent lack of self motivation, and his mediocre numbers, you have to wonder if this is even a prospect you'd want on your team. If he can't put in the time for class and stay eligible for the thing he supposedly loves to do, then you could assume this work ethic would not bode well at the NFL level, its a red flag.

Some other reports on Oliver:

Oliver left school before the spring semester, and just as his absence was a big blow to Georgia's defense, his presence in the supplemental draft is getting NFL general managers excited. NFL Network's Adam Schefter has reported that Oliver is expected to be a third- or fourth-round pick in the July 12 supplemental draft.

He might go even higher than that. Matched up with Calvin Johnson when Georgia played Georgia Tech last season, Oliver had an outstanding game, as Johnson finished with just two catches for 13 yards. Johnson was the second pick in the April draft, and if Oliver puts on a show when he works out for NFL scouts on Wednesday, a whole lot of NFL teams will have an interest in the guy who shut Johnson down (NFL Fanhouse)

Oliver measured at 6'0'' 208lbs.

2007-06-18T22:24:00.000-05:00

Spencer's Job to Lose?

Anthony Spencer was the Cowboys target all along, and even after the Cowboys traded out of the first round, then traded back into the first to draft Anthony Spencer. That has to show how much they think of Spencer's talent.

With Greg Ellis still recovering from his achilles injury, Spencer has been deep in study, absorbing everything around him in order to make the transition from college to NFL as smooth as possible. Spencer's been running with the first team in OTAs and in Mini Camps, so, right now you would have to say this is Spencer's job to lose.

In addition, you have to wonder if Ellis will infact be the same player before the injury. Seahawks OLB Julian Peterson had the same injury and he was never a big impact as he was before his achilles injury. So, we'll see where he's at when camp and preseason roll out.

As a fan, Spencer is doing everything right on the field, and looks to be the part. He seems to be up to the task, and has a great attitude (from DC.com):

"I think everyone wants to start," Spencer said. "You want to play and go out there and make things happen. That's what I hope, too. But if I end up starting or playing in other packages, that's fine, too. Right now, I just want to get better."

Despite how some media outlets are reporting the "Ellis Situation" Spencer explains that Ellis has been helpful and offers him tips on the field:

"Greg has really helped me," Spencer said. "He gives me a lot of good tips on what to do in certain situations. He knows where I'm coming from and the things I need to do to get better. He's probably the person I talk to the most because I sit right behind him in meetings. So whenever I have a question about what happened out on the field, I go to him and he's always telling me what I'm doing right or wrong."

So, with Parcells retired, looks like Spencer has escaped water boy duties.....or has he?

"I'm sure it's going to come up in training camp," Spencer said. "I've heard about it. I'm sure they'll come up with something for me to do."

NFL.Com has a small writeup on 15 players with something to prove, and the article cites QB Tony Romo and RB Julius Jones:

Julius Jones, RB, Dallas: Jones is in the midst of a six-year contract but the final two years can be voided based on certain incentives, so he can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2007 season. While his backfield mate, Marion Barber, will be the more attractive choice in most drafts due to his nose for the end zone, Jones seems to be much more comfortable with Wade Phillips at the helm and will look to produce well for his own professional (and financial) reasons.

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas: There has been much talk about an extension for Romo after the Cowboys showed faith in his skills and decided to pass on Brady Quinn in the NFL Draft, but at this time he is still without a long-term deal. Considered the heir apparent to Troy Aikman, Romo threw an impressive 17 touchdown passes in 10 starts last season and should be motivated to prove his success was no fluke. He'll no doubt be a borderline No. 1 or 2 fantasy quarterback in all formats.

2007-06-17T16:51:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the Die Hard Cowboys Dad's out there today. Continue to raise your kids as Cowboys fans!

Not much news today. Here's an interesting article about The Cal Poly Curse and Courtney Brown.

And a very good write up on our own 2nd year player, Jason Hatcher: "Hatcher camp teaches work ethic, positive attitude"

2007-06-16T10:27:00.000-05:00

The Phillips 34 and How it Helps Romo

Wade Phillips was the defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers from 2004-2006 and he put together some solid defense in his tenure there. The big difference we'll see are points allowed under the Phillips 34. Let's look at the rankings with points allowed:

San Diego Year/Rank | Cowboys Year/Rank
2006: #7 | 2006: #20
2005: #13 | 2005: #12
2004: #11 | 2004: #27

Correlation with team's season record:

2006: San Diego (14-2) Cowboys (9-7)
2005: San Diego (9-7) Cowboys (9-7)
2004: San Diego (12-4) Cowboys (6-10)

I expect the Cowboys to have much better numbers with points allowed, and hope the Cowboys could put together a 12-4 season or better, with a Super Bowl as the ultimate goal.

SportingNews has a good article on the difference we'll see between a Phillips 34 and Parcells 34. The main difference being a one-gap vs a two-gap:

It is a one-gap scheme, which distinguishes it from other 3-4 defenses. Movement, pressure and unpredictability are some of the ingredients. The system also has built-in versatility to accommodate the personnel.

"Everybody thinks it's the X's and O's, but it's the Moes and Joes," says Phillips, who turns 60 next week and has been a 3-4 guru since he joined the Houston Oilers as an assistant coach in 1976.

Supports more of what we're learning about the Phillips 34. No more read and reacting, but rather, more attacking with playmakers. I can't wait to see it in live action with the players we have.

The secondary play is where we're hoping to see some improvement. The 3-4 was suppose to allow the defense to pressure the QB and allow for more plays downfield from our secondary. Unfortunately, the front seven didn't pressure the QB much at all, and the offense's meal ticket was directed at Anthony Henry and Roy Williams.

Bill's way: The lack of a pass rush up front put more pressure on these guys. Cornerbacks Terence Newman and Anthony Henry played a lot of press coverage and the safeties split the deep half of the field.

Wade's world: Don't expect to see much cover 2. Strong safety Roy Williams had five picks in '06, but shadowing receivers isn't his forte. He'll line up closer to the line more often and sometimes will be like another linebacker. Phillips still must determine how much zone the corners will play.

X-factor: Free safety Ken Hamlin. In Seattle, he sometimes jumped shallow crossing routes and got beat from behind. But Phillips likes Hamlin's range and thinks he'll be a good center fielder and quarterback in the secondary.

Fanball.com has a small sneak peak at training camp, and they point out more of what I've thought; where, there won't be a position battle per-se at the RB spot between Jones and Barber:

Fantasy owners are probably hoping to read about a wide-open competition between Jones and Marion Barber, but the new staff has given no indication of such a struggle. Garrett will change which types of running plays are used, but Phillips has insinuated that the Cowboys will continue to use a committee approach. Will Barber start over Jones? Will the touches be more equal? Possibly, but don't expect one back to emerge as a clear carry leader

Another position battle of interest from the article is Pat McQuistan. McQuistan is quietly creeping up the ladder, and could be a legitimate starter this year:

We're not quite ready to call it a "battle," but the offensive line could still see some changes on the left side. Second-year man Pat McQuistan has earned a lot of praise during his time with the club, and he spent the summer filling in for Flozell Adams (minor knee surgery) at left tackle. Assuming Adams returns and looks fine, McQuistan could take one step to the right and challenge Kyle Kosier for the starting left guard job.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for McQuistan to battle it out. May the best player win!

And of course more talk about Romo and his contract, but more interestingly is the talk about Garrett's role in Romo's success this year.

Romo is in the final year of his deal, and the Texans upped the price tag by inking Matt Schaub to an absurb, desperate, six-year, $48 million contract. The money is only half of the story with Romo, though. We're also interested to see how he looks in Garrett's new, vertical-oriented passing attack. Romo got off to a hot start in 2006, but he cooled down the stretch. Just how good is he?

I guess this is the benchmark set for Romo, this is what everyone else is writing about too. Those aren't bad numbers. Question is, does Romo and his agent Tom Condon think he's worth more? I'm sure this topic will stick around until camp starts.

Garrett's new offensive scheme is what Phillips new scheme to the defense will be: DYNAMIC. We're going to see both units excel and the playmakers are going to carry the load. We're going to spread the offense around, and be attacking.

This topic of Romo "cooling down the stretch" or "falling apart" is becoming tiring to me. This is a team effort and the effects of everyone will effect the QB play, that's just a fact. The interesting thing about this whole "falling apart down the stretch" subject can be pin-pointed as to when this supposedly started.

I'm going out on a limb by saying the defensive woes came to the forefront once we lost Greg Ellis. And with the defensive woes came the offensive woes, and with the offensive woes comes this whole "Romo cooling down" crap. You can say what you want about Ellis, but he had a big impact on this team last year. Ellis went down in week 8 against the Cardinals, the following two weeks we had home game victories against the Colts, and the Bucs on Thanksgiving, after that, forget about it, the defense fell apart, and the offensive play calling stayed the same without change, teams figured out where to hit us on offense and defense.

With Ellis out, teams down the stretch tore us up by targeting Bradie James, Roy Williams and the whole secondary, the Saints really exposed the weak spots bigtime.

This is why we drafted Anthony Spencer this year, and not a OT or WR. If Ellis is not 100% at camp or during the season, Spencer will be that pressure guy we need in his spot. If not, expect that chink in the armor to get exposed, its a domino effect. What about Carpenter? Don't worry about Carpenter, this guy is smart and dynamic, he'll be out on the field more than you think. He'll be right there pushing for a MLB spot too.

So, with all that being said, this Phillips 34 will help the team as a whole, and with defensive success comes offensive success, they will feed off each other's fortunes.

2007-06-15T19:36:00.000-05:00

Training Camp Dates Set & Other Notes

Training Camp Schedule
(dates & times subject to change)

Tuesday, July 24 6:00-9:00PM (Kick-Off Event)
Wednesday, July 25 2:30-4:30PM
Thursday, July 26 9:00-11:00AM and 3:30-5:00PM
Friday, July 27 2:30-4:30PM
Saturday, July 28 9:00-11:00AM and 3:30-5:00PM
Sunday, July 29 2:30-4:30PM
Monday, July 30 9:00-11:00AM and 3:30-5:00PM
Tuesday, July 31 2:30-4:30PM
Wednesday, August 1 9:00-11:00AM and 3:30-5:00PM
Thursday, August 2 2:30-4:30PM
Friday, August 3 2:30-4:30PM
Saturday, August 4 9:00-11:00AM and 3:30-5:00PM
Sunday, August 5 2:30-4:30PM
Monday, August 6 9:00-11:00AM and 2:30-4:30PM
Tuesday, August 7 2:30-4:30PM
Wednesday, August 8 2:30-4:30PM (Break Camp)

SI.com has an article on 10 veteran players on the decline, and our very own Flozell Adams makes the dubious list.

Despite earning his third Pro Bowl nomination in 2006, Adams fell below his previous playing level. Still recovering from a torn ACL, he lacked the quickness and agility to handle speed rushers. Considering Adams massive size, it's not surprising he struggled with finesse rushers, but in the past he did a better job of overwhelming them with his power.

Drafted in 1998, Flozell has been in the league for 9yrs, and some wear & tear is beginning to show up. So, while Flozell may have some recent nagging injuries, and is he on the decline? Maybe. Adams is still one of the top left tackles in the game.

Lenny P. at ESPN.com expects Romo to get an extension soon.

If the Cowboys were to grab one of the top quarterback prospects in next spring's draft -- like Louisville's Brian Brohm, Michigan's Chad Henne, Kentucky's Andre Woodson or Hawaii's Colt Brennan -- Jones would be forced to lay out huge money for an unproven player at the game's most unpredictable position. (Dallas has Cleveland's No. 1 pick as well as its own in the 2008 draft.)

The Dallas owner would have a hard time reconciling that.

So the question for the Cowboys isn't whether to sign Romo to an extension, but rather, for how much? And that is the primary challenge to hammering out an accord that meets the needs of both sides.

To answer Lenny's question, I would pay Romo a 6yr deal for $40-50 million. Jerry will take care of his QB, Romo is the new face of the Cowboys. I don't buy the whole notion of Romo "slipping" towards the end of the season, you really have to enter other key variables into the equation. For Instance, the play calling, the shoddy defensive play, and bad field position. Your gameplan changes when you can't or won't do certain things on offense or the defense. Let's face the facts, the offensive calls came from Parcells - way too conservative, not enough down the field passing, predictable run calls when Barber entered the game, and you know what I'm talking about.

Towards the end of the year, the running attack slowed down, it wasn't just Jones, but it was Barber too. When Barber came in, the defense knew it was going to be Barber running the ball, no disguises, it became very predictable.Three straight runs in a row to Barber, does that play calling sound familiar? I expect Garrett to change this up quite a bit. Jones and Barber will catch more screens in the flats. Romo is good now, but will be great this year with Garrett at his side. Garrett will be to Romo what Norv was to Aikman, get ready!

2007-06-14T19:45:00.000-05:00

From Rookie to Franchise Player

Cowboys news is slow right now, so let's go back in time to 2003 and look at our draft classes up through 2007. In 2003, Bill Parcells took over a franchise that had been successful in securing (3) consecutive 5-11 season, just horrible.

Only four players remain on the team before Parcells took over in 2003:
2002 - Roy Williams (Campo)
2002 - Andre Gurode (Campo)
1998 - Greg Ellis (Gailey)
1998 - Flozell Adams (Gailey)

The team we have now began its turnaround in 2003. Let's go down memory lane and look back at these recent draft classes and see if we managed to draft some franchise players.

2003
(round)
(1) Terence Newman CB Kansas St.
~~(2) Al Johnson C Wisconsin~~
(3) Jason Witten* TE Tennessee
(4) Bradie James OLB LSU
~~(6) B.J. Tucker CB Wisconsin~~
(6) Zuriel Smith WR Hampton
(7) Justin Bates OT Colorado

Analysis: 3/7 players remain on team, Newman and Witten are clearly the franchise players from this draft. James needs to show more to stay onboard as the starting MLB.

2004
(round)
(2) Julius Jones RB Notre Dame
~~(2) Jacob Rogers OT Southern Cal~~
(3) Stephen Peterman OG LSU
(4) Bruce Thornton CB Georgia
(5) Sean Ryan TE Boston Coll.
(7) Nathan Jones CB Rutgers
(7) Patrick Crayton WR NW Oklahoma St.
(7) Jacques Reeves CB Purdue

Analysis: 4/8 players remain on the team, Julius Jones and Patrick Crayton remain the best of this class.

2005
(round)
(1) Demarcus Ware OLB Troy
(1) Marcus Spears DE LSU
(2) Kevin Burnett OLB Tennessee
(4) Marion Barber HB Minnesota
(4) Chris Canty DE Virginia
~~(6) Justin Beriault S Ball St.~~
~~(6) Rob Petitti OT Pittsburgh~~
(7) Jay Ratliff DE Auburn

Analysis: 6/8 players remain on the team, Demarcus Ware and Marion Barber III are franchise players in this draft. Spears has not lived up to most people's expectations, Burnett has been hampered with injuries, Canty still looks like a steal in the 4th round and Ratliff has been a true steal with the last pick, he's a solid player.

2006
(round)
(1) Bobby Carpenter OLB Ohio State
(2) Anthony Fasano TE Notre Dame
(3) Jason Hatcher DE Grambling State
~~(4) Skyler Green WR Louisiana State~~
(5) Pat Watkins S Florida State
(6) Montavious Stanley DT Louisville
(7) Pat McQuistan T Weber State
~~(7) E.J. Whitley T Texas Tech~~

Analysis: 6/8 players remain on the team, of these 2nd year players, I expect Carpenter to have a great year, and so will Jason Hatcher. Fasano should be good in run support, Watkins will be in the mix at FS this year, and will get solid playing time in different packages. Stanley was cut last year after training camp, be re-signed this offseason, we'll see if he can help out at the NT backup spot. Pat McQuistan continues to show great potential, and its just a matter of time before he starts at guard or tackle, a steal in the 7th round.

2007
(round)
(1) Anthony Spencer DE Purdue University
(3) James Marten T Boston College
(4) Isaiah Stanback QB Washington
(4) Doug Free T Northern Illinois
(6) Nicholas Folk PK Arizona
(6) Deon Anderson FB Connecticut
(7) Courtney Brown CB Cal Poly
(7) Alan Ball CB Illinois

Analysis: I'm projecting at least 6/8 players make this team this year; however, its very possible that all make the team. Anthony Spencer, will be worked into the starting lineup, and will get alot of time at OLB, the rest of the guys will be playing for backup spots for this year; however, their longterm outlook could be very promising. Stanback is a project the Cowboys hope will be a threat in the return game.

The Numbers:
19/53 (~36%) man roster have come from the draft since 2003, this number could rise to 27/53 (~51%) with the addition of the 2007 draft class. The other 64% come from players acquired from trade, free agency, four drafted players from 2002 & 1998, and undrafted rookie free agents, respectively.

BEST DRAFT: 2005
WORST DRAFT: 2004, this class may be gone all together after this season
BEST PICK: Demarcus Ware - 2005, 1st round, #11 overall
WORST PICK: Jacob Rogers - 2004, 2nd round, #52 overall

The Draft is hit and miss, its not an exact science, so we can only hope that the Cowboys can continue to add some franchise type players to the roster under new Coach, Wade Phillips.

2007-06-11T23:14:00.000-05:00

How Much is Romo Worth?

I'm revisiting an article I wrote-up back in February, which discussed recent quarterback contracts in relation to what we could expect in a new deal for Romo, which could be right around the corner. The DMN has a new article quoting Romo in regards to this subject:

"I'd definitely like it before the season began, but you never know how these things go," he said. "I know the Jones family. They know me. We'll come to a conclusion."

Last August, Romo signed a 1 Year, $3.9 million contract extension, which pays out $900,000 for ‘06, $1 million for ‘07 and a $2 million signing bonus. This locks him up through the 2007 season, but what happens after that? Let's not get to that point, there's already talk that getting Romo a new contract is in the works, and rightfully so. I would believe the consensus of Cowboys Nation is that we have our QB for the present and future, he has the often mentioned "IT" factor. The Cowboys will get Romo a new contract, but the question is how much cash will he get?

This year it will cost clubs about $12,615,000 to slap a franchise tag on a QB and this will rise again for the 2008 season, so this is definitely not the route the Cowboys would want to go, nor would they want to let Romo test free agency next year which would, in turn probably mean a bidding war to re-sign him.

So, when you ask yourself how much is Romo worth, or how much and how long would you sign him for there are several factors you must add into the equation.

Let's take a look at some recent contract extensions of "upper echelon" QBs:

In 2002, Donovan McNabb signed a 12yr contract extension in September of 2002, netting him $115 million dollars

In 2004, Mike Vick signed a mega contract of 10yrs for $130 million dollars, there will be many that have an opinion on that, but at the end of the day he got paid huge.

In 2004, Peyton Manning signed a 7yr extension for $98 million dollars which includes the biggest signing bonus to date at $34.5 million dollars

In 2005, Tom Brady signed a contract 6yr deal for $60 million dollars, depending on how the money is spead out that's roughly $10 million yearly, pretty good for a damn good QB

Let's also look at some recent rookie QB contacts:

In 2004, Eli Manning signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $54million dollars, lot of money for minimal production thus far

In 2004, Philip Rivers signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $40.5 millions dollars

In 2004, Ben Roethlisberger signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $22.26 million dollars

In 2005, Alex Smith signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $50 million dollars

In 2006, Vince Young signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $54 million dollars

In 2006, Matt Leinart signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $50.8 million dollars

So, these are the payouts for Veteran QBs that have been extended with new contracts, and some recent Rookie QB contracts being paid out lately.

6yr deals appear to be the preferred length for both Veteran and Rookie contracts, with the exception of a very few.

So what's it gonna be for Tony Romo, a star on the rise for the most covered team in sports, the Dallas Cowboys? Did he prove enough for you, the fan, to deserve a big payout like the QBs mentioned in this piece. For me, I've seen enough to know Romo is the real deal.

Romo is a 4yr Veteran, who has been on the bench behind Quincy Carter('03), Vinny Testaverde('04), and Drew Bledsoe('05 & some '06), so in 2006 he played his first games as a starter, pretty much as a rookie quarterback. Romo was 6-4 as a starter, threw for 2904 yrds with 19TDs and 13INTs, compiling a QB rating of 95.1, not bad at all. Yes, he had a few hiccups here and there, but you're gonna get that from "rookie" QB in Romo, he'll recover and learn from his previous mistakes.

On a side note,What really impressed me was before the Pro Bowl, Sean Payton told Romo he was going to hold on FG/XPs, and he would get more playing time. This is first class all the way from Payton - he got Romo back in the saddle and that's what great coaches do for young players, and even though Payton is no longer with us, he still helped Romo get back and face something that is still fresh in Romo's head. Thank You Payton.

Romo has been blessed to have been mentored and groomed to be the next QB of the Cowboys. Bill Parcells and Sean Payton were instrumental in his progression, and Jerry Jones knows his continued development is needed, and this is why he brought in another of the leagues young rising offensive minds in the game, Jason Garrett.

With all this being said, I think Jerry knows he finally has a franchise QB, one that he hasn't had since Troy Aikman, and Jerry will take care of his guy. Many NFL clubs spend lots of money on early draft picks and free agents that never pan out, and the Cowboys may have missed on a few QB acquisitions, but they have an ultra-steal in Tony Romo. I expect Jerry to pay Romo a pretty good contract, we'll just wait and see how much.

2007-06-10T13:00:00.000-05:00

On My Count, Attack!

What's the common theme you keep hearing over and over again? Attack. Unlike our units from previous years, this team will be attacking on both sides of the ball. No more read and reacting on every single down. We're going to be in people's faces on defense and on offense. What a concept, its music to my ears.

On Defense, the defensive line will not just be big bodies occupying space, but rather, lineman on the attack as well. The linebackers will be attacking from different positions; stuff like 2-4 LBs blitzing at any given moment, with any different player combination: one MLB and one OLB blitzing, coupled with a safety or corner blitz. Obviously, blitzing full time is not what we're going to be doing, but it will be in more frequency and more effective with the Phillips 34.

Several players are looking forward to being in attack mode. Phillips wants to get his playermakers involved early and often. Players like Ware and Williams.

Williams talks about how Phillips has designed some plays around him that could lead him to making more plays at the line (from DMN):

"I get to be more involved," Williams said Saturday, the last day of minicamp for the Cowboys. "I like to be closer to the ball, and Coach Phillips installed some plays for me. I'm looking forward to it. I don't know about blitzing, but shoot, at least I'm closer to the line; that's half the battle."

This is probably something we'll see in Nickel and Dime formations, with Hamlin and Watkins in support in the secondary. Again, more attacking, and what better person than Williams. Williams strengths are to hit someone and hit them hard.

Demarcus Ware is another playmaker on defense that is excited about this attacking defense, and he gives us some insight as to what he likes about this version of the 3-4(from DMN):

"You can create," Ware said. "We can be a lot more aggressive instead of being a passive defense. This year, we'll call our own plays before the offense breaks the huddle so we can be ready."

I think Ware is right. Last year we were way too passive. I didn't feel our version of the 3-4 was doing disruptive things like the Patriots and Chargers were doing. Those squads were aggressive, attacking, and keeping quarterbacks guessing. When our defense is on the field, I want that feeling inside that we will force fumbles, get ints, get sacks, bust people up, and maybe even score some TDs on defense as a result.

The Offense will be in attack mode as well. When you think about the Cowboys and the times they were attacking people and taking over games, you think about the Cowboys of the '90s. And that's what Garrett sees this year's offense looking like(from DMN):

"I think the base for this offense is a lot like what we had in Dallas in the '90s. We did things that worked for Emmitt Smith and worked for Jay Novacek and obviously worked for the quarterback, and those are the things you try to do as a coordinator."

More music to my ears. We definitely have the players at those key positions with Julius Jones, Marion Barber, Witten, and Tony Romo to name a few.

I already did a small write up on "Garrett Bringin' Witten Back" and we're talking about Garrett utilizing Witten alot more in the passing game. Witten excels in the passing game. Last year he scored just (1) TD!, I expect more scoring potential under Garrett's watch. Witten is ready for the new system (from DMN):

"I think we're all anxious to see what kind of a play-caller he's going to be," Witten said. "I know he feels like the running game is important, but I think he's going to be a down-the-field guy."

We're already hearing that Witten is getting more involved in the passing game from reports from the OTAs, and this past weekend's mini camp reports.

This is a good time to be a die hard fan. We have a truly genuine chance at making a serious run this year. Games should not come down to final drive FGs as they have in the past. We're going to have offenses and defenses on their heals until they submit to our high powered weapons. This is Cowboys Football.

2007-06-08T21:47:00.000-05:00

Would Losing Ellis & Adams Be Detrimental?

Over the past week the main focus of news seemed to be centralized around two key players; OLB Greg Ellis and LT Flozell Adams

I discussed the potential for Flozell Adams this upcoming season, thinking this would be another one of his breakout season's, well now comes the news that his knee is flaring up again. In fact, Adams just had some minor arthroscopic surgery which will sideline him until training camp.

So, just when we thought Adams would be fully recovered from his knee injuries, it would appear that he may not be 100% at training camp, and his reliability for the regular season is not guaranteed unfortunately. We're talking about a player that has had some recent nagging knee injuries, and you have to consider the wear and tear on Flo's tires - the guy is 6-7 340, that's a lot mass for his battered knees. Would losing Adams be detrimental to the team's offensive success this year? Right now, you would have to say yes. Who would start at LT? Are we talking starting Pat McQuistan at LT, who would be a virtual rookie since he has no game time experience or moving Davis back to LT, which would in-turn leave a hole at RG. This is not going to happen. The Cowboys just released Rivera, and Davis was brought in for RG all along anyway. Davis feels his more comfortable at RG too:

"I feel like I'm better at guard," said Davis, who played both guard and tackle in six seasons with Arizona. "At tackle in the pass set you might have a guy three to five yards outside you, but at guard you've still got to be quick because the guys right there in front of me. I'm really using my size and strength at either position."(DMN)

It would appear that McQuistan (6-6, 315) would be the answer at LT should something happen to Adams. McQuistan played LT during OTAs in place of the sidelined Adams, and we'll probably see McQuistan start this weekend's mini camp at LT. McQuistan has shown a great deal of versatility on the line, and some believe he is poised to challenge Kosier for the LG spot this year. Whether its this year or next year, McQuistan will be a starter sooner or later, its not a matter of if, but rather when. You just never know, and Pat could end up having the better career than his twin brother Paul would was drafted in the 3rd round by the Raiders.

July '06: "McQuistan played college ball with his brother Paul, a Raiders third-rounder recently dubbed a rookie starter, at Weber State. Pat might have a tougher time securing a roster spot." (USA Today)

Fast forward, and McQuistan is looking to be the steal we had hoped and there's absolutely no worry that he'll make the roster this year and beyond.

So, what about Greg Ellis? This is becoming a yearly event with Ellis, with all the makings of a weekly soap opera, this is just getting ridiculous.

I like the player Ellis, and I can understand where he is coming from, so its one of these things that fans either agree or disagree with. I would believe that last year fans tolerated this subject more than this year. Fans, that backed up Ellis last year, have all but abandoned ship. Looking at his stats, Ellis is averaging 6.27 sacks a season.

Personally, I want Ellis back on this team. He's a solid player, and has valuable experience considering how young we've gotten in the front seven.

However, Ellis is feeling slighted by Jerry Jones. After Thursday's OTA Jerry said (from DC.Com):

"I don't have any plans to meet with anyone who is under contract"

to which Greg Ellis said:

"That pretty much answers all your questions right there," Ellis told a large group of reporters huddled around his locker. "A player that you're serious about keeping, and you don't meet with them? In any kind of job, if you want to keep them around, if that employee has some concern, you meet.

"I was told by Jerry we were going to have a meeting. I didn't even ask for a meeting. He walked up to me and said, 'Greg we're going to have a sit-down.' And then to tell you guys we aren't going to do that, that's fine with me. But by him saying that, that pretty much answers all the questions. I didn't answer them, I think Jerry answered them."

Right now, this impasse is all business. Ellis wants to be smart about his career and his future, but he probably feels stuck with his current contract. He wants it reworked.

Ellis' teammates want him there, Spencer wants Ellis to return, and Spears spoke out on the subject (Watkins):

In team meetings, Ellis sits behind Spencer, telling him what to do as they watch film.

Defensive end Marcus Spears said when his college roommate, New England Patriots defensive end Marquise Hill, died recently, Ellis was one of the first people to call him.

"I know we need him around, that's all that I'm concerned with," Spears said. "Me and G are real close. I want him to be happy and I think whatever it takes to do that, he's proven himself. He's not a selfish guy, and I think they need to find some common ground."

We all saw the drop off on defense last year when Ellis went down with an injury. The defense steadily went downhill and the wheels fell off towards the end. Yes, we have Spencer, and Carpenter, but Ellis still provides solid pass rush and much needed leadership on that young front seven. Spencer is unproven right now, albeit, he "looks" to be ready, and Ware has even said he thinks Spencer is ahead of him when he came in as a rookie 2yrs ago. So, there's some positive things to think about.

Anyway you cut it, its not a good thing to lose a solid player, especially in this aggressive Phillips 34 defense. You can NEVER have enough good solid players at LB. Losing Ellis would be detrimental. Too many unknowns right now, and potential doesn't cut it in this league. Not to say Spencer or Carpenter are not going to be good players, I think they are definitely the future, if not this year, definitely full-on next year. These two LBs are too good to be anything else than starters.

We'll see how this plays out over mini camp. Keep an eye on McQuistan.

2007-06-08T21:39:00.000-05:00

Training Camp, Here We Come

Its official, CowboysBlog.Net will be at Training Camp this year, and we'll have the latest reviews, and analysis on the new crop of rookies as well as the veterans. Keep it here for the latest news.

2007-06-06T16:57:00.000-05:00

Mini Camp This Weekend

OTA – Thursday, June 7th

11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Practice (open to the media)

12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Locker room open to the media

Minicamp -- Friday, June 8th

10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Practice (open to the media)

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Locker room open to the media

1:30 p.m. Wade Phillips press conference

3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Practice (open to the media)

Minicamp -- Saturday, June 9th

10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Practice (open to the media)

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Locker room open to the media

3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Practice (open to the media)

4:45 p.m. Wade Phillips press conference

2007-06-05T10:38:00.000-05:00

Courtney Brown Ready to Rejoin Cowboys

Cowboys Rookie CB Courtney Brown has missed all the OTAs since he is still in school at Cal Poly. Despite missing the OTAs, Brown has been working hard to stay in shape by following a workout regimen given to him by Coach Jurasek. Brown is ready to rejoin the team and make a name for himself:

“You don’t know how eager I am to get back there,” Brown said last week. “I kind of feel like I’ve been missing out on a lot, so I want to get back there as soon as possible. I’ve been working out by myself and stuff, trying to stay in shape, but it’s different when you have a coach there telling you what you’re doing wrong and what you’re doing well.”(TheTribune)

Brown should be able to give us some solid depth at CB, and could be a steal.

2007-06-02T12:03:00.000-05:00

Media Infatuation With TO Continues

To no surprise, the Cowboys paid Terrell Owens his $3million roster bonus, meaning he will be a Cowboy for the 2007 season, which we already knew. Something else we already knew is that the media was going to be all over this and had to throw their little jabs at Terrell and the Cowboys as an organization.

How many article catch lines have you seen floating on the web? Crap like:
"Owen's Gets $3million Bonus Without Practicing"
or
"Owens not practicing but earns $3 million"
or
"TO is a no-show, but gets his raise"
and from ESPN of course
"Despite practice absence, T.O. to get $3M bonus"

Ok, we get it. Not a big deal in my opinion. Terrell isn't the only Cowboy missing the Voluntary practices either JJT at DMN has a good article and some valid points on missing OTAs.

I think its funny how the media had to ride this into their corney little catch lines...lame. Let the man, get his money, and be done with it, get off his jock.

Terrell is going to be here, he's going to be a major force in our new offense, and he'll likely be here again next year.

2007-05-30T19:33:00.000-05:00

Hotel Reservations

Flozell Adams, you love him or you hate him. You love when he blows people off the line and you hate when he goes over the line offsides. The Cowboys find themselves in a interesting position at LT this year and for free agency in 2008. In 2008, Adams becomes an unrestricted free agent and you can bet there's going to be a big market for Adams.

Looking ahead at the market for 2008 and even 2009, there aren't any marquee names at LT, and LT is a difficult position to solidify, teams draft very high to fill the LT spot. A few year's ago the Raiders tried to fill LT with Robert Gallery and he's being moved around that line with no identity - a virtual bust. The Browns drafted OT Joe Thomas, #3 pick overall to block Brady Quinn's blindside. Next year's draft offers two top seniors at OT in Michigan's Jake Long and USC's Sam Baker, but like any year, it's a risk. With Adams available in '08 there's not much risk for teams. Teams are very willing to roll the dice on a LT.

Was this offseason's big free agent payouts an aberition or will this be the norm? If you're Flo its gonna be another player's market and moreover for Adams since he will be atop several teams looking for a LT.

I'm predicting Adams will make his run for the big pay day with a solid season and another Pro Bowl nod. The Cowboys know that if Adams has a solid year, he will be a hot commodity for other teams. The reality is that other teams will target Adams in 2008. We may put some offers on the table, but I suspect Adams will be looking for "Bigg" money as in our very own free agent signing, Leonard Davis ($49.6 million/7yrs) and that's not going to happen.

Adams is going to be virtually unsignable for our taste, and not that we don't have some spending taste, but I think the Cowboys have put themselves in a good position with young guys like McQuistan, Marten, and Free. These are big guys, and I look for all three of these guys to be in the starting lineup as Garrett is bringing Big Back, that is the overall plan.

Its a win-win for Adams and the Cowboys. Expect Adams to be that true Pro Bowl player from a few years ago, run blocking, pass blocking, and blowing people up, too bad we only get this high level of play during contract years. Next offseason, teams could be setting reservations with Hotel Adams for free agency 2008.

2007-05-30T14:48:00.000-05:00

Mark Cuban to Compete with Jerry Jones?

Dallas Mavericks owner is poised to establish a professional football league that will compete with the NFL. Cuban is looking to launch the UFL (United Football League) in August 2008.

Cuban went on to say(FOX Sports):

"(Former NFL coach) Bill Walsh used to tell me that the last 20 players cut from every team were almost interchangeable with the last 20 players to make the team," Hambrecht says.

So far, the UFL has decided to put teams in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Mexico City. Cuban, unsurprisingly, is considering buying the team in Vegas, according to the report.

Like gimmick leagues from the past, this will be a failed venture, see XFL, USFL.

2007-05-28T13:27:00.000-05:00

Happy Memorial Day

I want to wish all of our soldiers past and present, at home and overseas a happy and safe memorial day. The bravest of the brave lay it on the line each day to help protect this great nation, which we should all be grateful for. Thank You.

Not much news today, but I did find this cool article from HOFMag.com named "He Shut Up and Played" by Lessley Visser. Its a good read on Aikman.

Excerpt:
"For as long as I can remember," said Troy, now the lead analyst at Fox, "all I wanted to do was play professional sports. I was able to live that dream, I know very few get the chance. Norv would often remind me, when I'd lost or been sacked a million times, 'This is the job you always wanted'. To win three World Championships and be selected to the Hall of Fame, I am humbled."

Enjoy and Continue supporting our troops!

2007-05-26T12:59:00.000-05:00

To Be a Two Back System or Not To Be

| You can say the Cowboys started this revolution in 2005, when we added Marion Barber III to the backfield. The Cowboys drafted Julius Jones the year before. In 2005, we drafted MB3, and some thought he would be used as a possible back up to Julius Jones, but those weren't the plans. Parcells planned on using a two-back attack, and the Cowboys one of a few teams that paved the way for other teams going to a two back system.

ESPN's Len Pasquarelli suggests that the two back system is on its way out. Pasquarelli points out several teams getting away from the two back system, such as Indianapolis and a few other former two back systems:

Addai, who led all rookies in rushing yards in 2006 despite not starting a regular-season game, also figures to tote a significantly heavier load in the offense this year.

Dominic Rhodes, the nominal starter in 2006, is gone, having defected to Oakland as an unrestricted free agent

Other top contenders that have moved away from the two back system are New England and the Bears. Corey Dillion was released from the Patriots, and is about to retire, the Bears opted to trade Thomas Jones to the Jets. Basically these teams have not moved away from this system, but have been forced to rely on a #1 RB due to player attrition via release, trade, and free agency. There's going to be attrition every year, and teams would like the luxury of having a two back system, but there are all these variables that will come into play. In addition, some players in a two back system aren't going to be happy because in some cases one of the two backs wants to be the #1 and only starting back.

More:

Just when it seemed the pendulum was swinging toward teams that preferred a two-back system, a practice that would have been anathema not too many years ago, the momentum seems to have shifted again. General managers who were justifiably concerned over the effects of wear and tear on their No. 1 tailbacks, and thought that they had found a viable solution by spreading the carries around, suddenly find themselves fretting again about a lack of distribution in the running game.

The system does work well, but when you have two good running backs, one of the two will eventually want the chance to be the #1 sole starter for another team. Its the idea that doesn't work well with young talented players that inherently want the spotlight, recognition, and accolades - its natural, its competition. Everyone wants to be the next Emmitt, Walter, or Barry.

There are still some top contending teams that utilize the system like The Cowboys (Jones & Barber), the Saints (McAllister & Bush) ,the Chargers (Tomlinson & Turner), and Jacksonville (Taylor & Maurice-Drew). With these teams, we'll probably see some attrition with the Cowboys and Chargers, eventually the Saints in a year or two. This doesn't mean the system is dead or does it?. If the Cowboys choose not to extend Julius he'll be a free agent next year, but the Cowboys may already have their eyes set on a few other RBs to come in. The Chargers are going to lose Turner next year, so we'll see what their plans are, Norv's background employs a one back system for the most part, so they may be done with the two back system after this year.

So in the end, its not whether teams want a two back system, teams do want the system, but its more of a "short term luxury" than a need. There are great benefits for a two back system. Your offense is more balanced, you have fresh legs in the game at all times, and the wear and tear is diminished a bit on the running backs. The majority of the teams in the playoffs this year employed the two back system - they had that luxury last year. Will we see these teams return to the playoffs with their loses at RB? We will see.

2007-05-24T23:59:00.000-05:00

Solidifying a Backup QB

It was no surprise when the Cowboys released Drew Bledsoe, but during free agency the question remained as to who was going to backup starter Tony Romo. The Cowboys opted to sign a seasoned veteran in Brad Johnson. Seems like a logical fit.

Move forward to mini camp and there are reports that Johnson looked average at best and lacked zip on his passes. Nothing to be too concerned about I guess, but what if Johnson looks bad in camp and in preseason? For now, let's just hope this won't be an issue once the pads come on.

So you figure Johnson is here for a year, maybe 2 at the very most. The QB to watch is Matt Baker. Baker went undrafted last year, and ultimately out played Drew Henson who was released early. Baker was liked by Coach Parcells, but Parcells opted to just keep two active QBs last year; however, it looks like he could have a place on this team now and the future.

Baker has been working diligently mentally and physically, and appears to be the guy to beat for the #3 QB spot this year, and probably for #2 next year.

Baker remembers how it felt last year, being the odd man out from the active roster:

"It was tough being out there (last year) as the third guy," Baker said. "I prepared every week like I had to be ready to play. That's the way you had to look at it and learn. You go through everything with the team and then not being there in gameday and not exposed to all of that was hard."(DMN)

Physically, Baker spent time working hard under the watchful eye of conditioning guru Joe Jurasek. Baker's arm is stronger and he's exhibited in during this recent mini camp and practices:

"I can make the same throws as last year as I can this year, but it's just being comfortable in taking risks and knowing when to take risks," Baker said. "I have a better feel for the speed of the game."(DMN)

Its early, but as of right now, Baker is making the right decisions on the field and is making his mark at the backup position. Whether or not the Cowboys carry three QBs is too hard to predict right now, but I would say Baker is the guy to beat. Undrafted QBs Matt Moore and Richard Bartel are very raw and green and are probably looking for a practice squad position at best. Baker doesn't mind the competition:

"You've got to compete with anyone, but I was hoping they wouldn't draft one early because in my position it's not too often you let an undrafted guy from the year before compete with a top draft pick,"(DMN)

2007-05-24T14:12:00.000-05:00

Is Keyshawn Canton Bound?

There will be those who believe that Keyshawn is HOF worthy and some that won't, but the truth is that Keyshawn Johnson will probably be nominated sometime soon after he is eligible for the Hall of Fame. Is Johnson a lock or a shoe-in? Not likely, but as Cowboy fans, we know that all to well with Drew Pearson still out there uninducted and with Irvin taking 3 attempts to get in.

For me, Keyshawn has already taken the first step by staying active in the sports arena by signing a deal with ESPN. Keyshawn will stay fresh and upto date in football, he's a likable personality in the booth and he'll make some relationships with other media pundits who ultimately vote people into the HOF. So this is the first step.

Statistically speaking, he has the numbers and the accolades. Let's take a look at Keyshawn's numbers vs. Irvin's numbers vs. Andre Reed:

Keyshawn Johnson
3-time Pro Bowler: 1998, 1999, 2001
1 Super Bowl Victory
167 games Rec 814 yrds 10571 y/r 13.0 TDS 64

Michael Irvin
5-time Pro Bowler: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
3 Super Bowl Victories
159 games Rec 750 yrds 11904 y/r 15.9 TDS 65

Andre Reed
7-time Pro Bowler: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
0 Super Bowl Victories
227 games Rec 951 yrds 13198 y/r 13.9 TDS 87

Michael Irvin is a Hall of Famer after 3 attempts, Andre Reed made it to the finals, but did not get in this year, statistically speaking Keyshawn's numbers are close to Irvin's. So, based on this, would it be so far fetched to think Keyshawn would not be inducted? He's got the Super Bowl victory, the Pro Bowls, and solid numbers, pretty well balanced career when you compare him to Irvin and Reed.

If Keyshawn stays in major media sports broadcasting, and keeps his personal life in-check, then its my estimation that Keyshawn has a legitimate chance of being a hall of fame nominee/inductee.

2007-05-23T19:50:00.000-05:00

Keyshawn Retires from NFL

Keyshawn visited several teams and was offered a contract with the Tennessee Titans, but Keyshawn opted to retire. Keyshawn will now join the guys at ESPN. I wish Keyshawn the best in his retirement, he'll be a good voice at ESPN. I think he did a pretty good job in his draft day coverage, and this should carry over. He did good things in the NFL, and was an exciting player to watch over the years.

Keyshawn had a few comments about his retirement, from The Ledger Independent:

"I've done everything I wanted to do in my career. I tried to find as much as I could to push me back and play football for one or two more years," Johnson said at a news conference on the Southern California campus, where he starred in college.

"I wavered time and time again," he said. "I've lived my dream. Now, I'm going to live another dream. I think today is not as emotional as the last two weeks, thinking about it. There were times there were sleepless nights, wondering if this was the right thing to do."

2007-05-22T07:45:00.000-05:00

CowboysBoard.Com DeMarcus Ware Interview

Thanks to our fellow die hard board member cowboyzadam for landing this exclusive interview for our community. Thanks cowboyzadam! Enjoy!

1. Since the fans already do this, how much do you compare yourself to Shawne Merriman? Does his success play a role in your personal motivation?"

Shawne is a very good player and deserves all the positive credit he gets. I have never understood why he is labeled as being overrated as a player. He does what his Coaches ask of him and he does it well. I understand that fans will always compare the 2 of us but that does not mean I put much importance on it. I do what I do best and Shawne does what he does best. I never use a player to self motivate myself. I look within myself for motivation because every time I step out on the field I am striving to better my game and myself for my fans and my teammates.

2.How do you like the new Wade Phillips' environment?

Yes, the atmosphere with the Cowboys has become a lot looser. The guys are joking around a lot more in the locker room and during practices. We are professionals and we know when to draw the line and get back to work, and Coach Phillips allows us to do that. I think you Cowboy fans are in for a treat this year.

3. What kind of help and tips are you going to give Anthony Spencer, seeing as he is in the same spot as you were in 2 years ago?

Spencer is a great young guy with fire in his eyes let me tell you. He does remind me of myself a little bit because he is hungry. I think he is a little bit ahead of me right now as when I first came to Dallas. He is very smart and has an uncanny natural ability to pick things up really quick. The guys all seem to like him and I just tell him to listen to everything the Coaches say and ask a lot of questions. You cannot let yourself get discouraged because there is a lot to learn for a rookie coming into the NFL. He has to take it one day at a time and he knows I am there for him if he needs help.

4. What do you miss most about Parcells?

Read the rest at CowboysBoard.Com

2007-05-20T19:23:00.000-05:00

Holmgren Re-visits K-Ball Conspiracy

Holmgren recently chimed in again on the k-ball controversy in which Tony Romo bobbled the snap which led to a gut-wrenching Cowboys loss. To me its even ridiculous to imagine Holmgren would confess something if something crooked was done in the first place, who would admit to such a heinous act? You just never know though. Holmgren went on to say:

"Well, the ball looks shiny because of the light. I went to Erik Kennedy, our equipment guy, and he goes, 'Hey, listen, I was in there, the Dallas guy was in there, by the rules of how we did those things.' They both go in there, and they rub them down and inspect them. That was the way it was.

"Now, if you watch Romo, he caught the ball. But then when he went to put it down, he lost it. If it was really slippery, sometimes you'll see it like a greased pig; it will kind of slip through his hands. But he caught it, and then he just got a little casual [putting it down]."(AP)

Let's be real, we'll never really ever know. What we do know is that the K-Ball rule has been tweaked to help combat future controversy.

From AOL Fanhouse:

Now the NFL will mark the 12 K-balls in the game, one through 12. K-ball No. 1 will be used on the opening kickoff and on every kicking play it's available. Then the No. 2 K-ball will be put into play. It, too, will be used on every kicking play until it is no longer available.

The rule used to be that twelve K-balls, marked 1 thru 12, were rotated during a game so that each ball was used the same amount of times. Those balls were fresh out of the box and weren't allowed to be used for anything until they get into the game. However the balls weren't worn enough and would often still be slick and have been a sore spot for kickers throughout the league.

The Cowboys have already tested out some of these new k-balls from the manufacturer, Wilson Sporting Goods. This offseason the Cowboys got with specialist and deep snapper L.P. Ladouceur.

"It is a little sticky," long snapper L.P. Ladouceur said.

The league has made several minor changes to the K-ball rules for next season, at least partly stemming from Tony Romo's botched hold late in the Cowboys' playoff loss to Seattle. (FWST)

Anyway, here's to us hopefully not needing to rely on FGs to win games anymore. I'm hoping that Garrett and the rest of the offensive staff let this group of guys loose. Let's be explosive and lets attack rather than be cautious every single drive.

2007-05-19T20:46:00.000-05:00

Cowboys Enemy Wire: Portis Has Patella Tendonitis

While scanning the web for news, I came across some news on the much hated Washington Redskins. Its always good to keep tabs on the enemy, and there seems to be some concern in DC over RB Clinton Portis' knee or lack there of.

We all know Portis has had some durability issues throughout most of his career, but is looks like the nagging injuries are taking a toll on Portis. Not to say that Portis is not going to play well this year, but it is something to monitor. Portis was unable to practice at OTAs the last few days due to soreness in his knee, its not believed that this will take Portis out of action, but we'll see.

From Rotoworld.com:

After experiencing pain in his knee during OTAs, Clinton Portis missed Thursday and Friday's sessions while meeting with Dr. James Andrews.

Team Dr. Bubba Tyer says Portis has patella tendinitis in the knee. Already rehabbing from shoulder and hand surgeries, the new injury may jeopardize his availability for the rest of the offseason if it lingers. Tyer expects Portis to be "fine" after "some therapy," but this is a situation to monitor. Portis has more wear and tear on him than the typical 25-year-old running back.

If for whatever reason Portis' injury requires time off during the season, and I believe ultimately it will based on his past history, then we'll see back up RB Ledell Betts as the starter. Betts was given a long-term deal last season for this very reason - Portis is simply too banged up and they need someone adequate to help out.

The fans in DC don't seem very upbeat about this latest development some may still be bitter about the Bailey for Portis trade.

From AOL Fanhouse:

Of course, there would be fewer questions about the defense if the team still had Bailey and that second-round pick. Yeah, I know, Bailey didn't want to be in DC, but that had everything to do with money and nothing to do with, well, anything else. Seeing that Portis signed a $50-million deal, I feel like Dan Snyder and Bailey could've worked something out.

I honestly don't see the Redskins as a legimate contender this year by any means, and with all the bad chemisty, players missing, not working out, etc. it could be the Redskins who end up drafting Arkansas' RB Darren McFadden

2007-05-18T19:20:00.000-05:00

Good Camp Battles to Watch

While there's already some great intrigue created by this past mini camp session, the truth always finds a way to come to the surface - once the pads get on, its a different story. Let's look at a few key "camp battles" to watch at this year's training camp and preseason.

The top camp battle for me is going to be in the secondary, Watkins vs. Hamlin

Let's be real here, the Hamlin signing is a short-term insurance policy, that provides us with a good veteran and solid depth at FS. Its still likely that Hamlin will lineup opposite Roy Williams, but don't count out Patrick Watkins. Watkins was miffed when he fell to the 5th round last year, came to camp with a chip on his shoulder, and eventually cracked into the starting lineup. For a rookie he played well, sure he had a few mess ups, but that's to be expected from a rookie.

Either way you cut it though, Watkins will see significant playing time, and should Hamlin falter in training camp or the preseason, you can feel good about Watkins getting back in the lineup.

According to our readership 50% believe Hamlin will be the starter, 44% believe Watkins will be the starter, and 5% are not sure. Those numbers are close. We'll see how this one unfolds, its going to be a good one.

The San Antonio Express recently chimed in on the topic as well:

Dallas believes Pat Watkins can still emerge as a starter down the line.

The Cowboys may have settled for Ken Hamlin on a one-year deal because they're planning on Watkins as their starting free safety in 2008 and beyond. An athletic freak, the 6-5 Watkins should benefit from his season to learn.

Carpenter vs. James

If you look at how the starting LBs in the Phillips 34, its safe to assume the starters will be:
OLB Demarcus Ware
MLB Bradie James*
MLB Akin Ayodele
OLB Greg Ellis*

The (*) meaning those in jeopardy of losing their starting spot. In this discussion we're focusing on James. James is the incumbent, but there's evidence the Cowboys are preparing for a scenario that would have Carpenter overtaking James at MLB. Carpenter worked at MLB last offseason, and again this offseason.

James has had one solid season, and has been adequate, and last year did not help his cause with several busted plays directed right at him. Sean Payton knew the weakness in the LB core, and tore it up. Then came Detroit later, and they tore it up. James was horrible in coverage and got ate up regularly.

Is 2nd year player, Carpenter ready to man the spot. Carpenter ran the 2nd team defense and called the plays on defense during mini camp. According to Coach Phillips, he wants the best players on the field and wants to utilize their skills as best as possible. If there's a chink in the armor then its Bradie James, and it would be ludicrous not to want competition there. Carpenter was rated much higher at MLB than James coming out of college, and is way more athletic. You can bet Carpenter is going to be out there more and more.

Worst case scenario, you'd see Carpenter play extensively in nickel packages. Either way you cut it, you gotta have this explosive sideline-to-sideline player on the field somewhere and I think Phillips already recognizes this.

Ellis vs. Spencer

We've all read the same old news, and its a broken record...Ellis wants an extension, and he wants a commitment from the Cowboys. The stark reality is that the Cowboys are not going to redo the contract and Ellis needs to get over that. Sure he can ask for a trade, but the Cowboys are not inclined to make a trade. Ellis is a solid player, and performed pretty good in his new position at OLB in the 3-4, and this year should be no different, so just get out there and play Greg.

Ellis' latest tirades mostly stem from the Cowboys drafting Anthony Spencer, who right now looks to be the real deal and will indeed provide a dynamic one-two death blow punch as he lineups up opposite Ware.

Ellis is the starter according to Coach Phillips, but this is going to be a camp battle to watch. I expect Spencer to overcome Ellis this offseason, and at the latest sometime early in the season. Spencer was brought here to attack the QB, and its hard to envision the Cowboys holding him back.

Jones vs. Barber

The media wants to make this into something sensational, but the reality here is going to be that these two RBs will contribute similarly as they did last year; however, I honestly believe this will be Julius Jones' season. All his talk about 1600 yards and 20tds can come true in this new offense. Garrett likes how Jones runs and sees the same elusiveness that Emmitt had. Back when Jones was drafted his highlight reel looked like Emmitt Smith, and he looked like that player his rookie year, then came his "robotic" running style, overcoached or whatever you want to call it. Garrett is going to let Jones be that instinctive runner again, and watch out.

Jones thinks he won't be extended; so, not only does he want to play well this season, this is his time to show off his skills for potential teams for 2008. Its not something I personally want to see happen, but its very possible. Some rumors apparently already have Arkansas' RB Darren McFadden penciled in as our starter next season, far fetched? Maybe, maybe not. But let Jones get his run on and see what fans think then. I see the mood changing should Jones have an explosive season.

Barber will be used the same as last year, he too will get his chances to run instinctively, and this can only help Barber.

At the end of the day, there's not a camp battle here, just some interesting topics for fans to argue over.

FACT: Jones and Barber will share the load and BOTH will take this running attack to another level, the best duo in the league. Other teams are installing the two back system, but we have one if the better duos in the league.

Somehow its good to have these type of problems, its good to have this type of depth and competition in areas were it seems incumbents are locks, but not this year. The Cowboys are doing a great job in the scouting department and continue to inject quality players to an already full roster of pretty good players.

2007-05-14T19:38:00.000-05:00

Garrett's Bringin' Witten Back

There's already evidence of Witten getting more action in the passing game, Coach Phillips stated Witten was in motion, and in some wide-out sets. Look for Garrett to utilize Witten in the same vein as Novacek. He can block in the running game but will be more effective in the passing game which will open up more one-on-one matchups and more explosiveness from the running attack.

Last year Witten had (1) TD.... let me say that again, Witten had (1) TD last season. Now, there is something horribly wrong with that statistic, and I expect a lot more usage from Witten this year. Gone will be the 3 straight running plays for no gain with Barber. Rest assured, Witten will get in the game this year as Garrett's Bringin' him back.

2007-05-14T01:04:00.000-05:00

Roy Williams at MLB in Nickel Packages

News from mini camp had Roy Williams lining up at MLB next to Kevin Burnett in some nickel packages. Hamlin and Watkins manned the safety spots interestingly enough. Back in March after we signed Hamlin I envisioned a way that Roy could be closer to the line while Watkins and Hamlin played saftety

Quoting my own blog from march 23:

I see the Cowboys using all 3 safeties during the course of a game. The Cowboys want Roy closer to the line, so we could see some sort of hybrid formation where Roy is indeed closer to the line, and Hamlin moves to SS, and Watkins at FS, this is probably more of what we're going to see.

This is now reality as this was practiced live at mini camp, from dc.com:

When the Cowboys went to their nickel defense in Sunday's practice, safety Roy Williams teamed with Burnett as the inside linebackers in the 4-2-5 package.

The idea is to get Williams closer to the line of scrimmage, where he is more effective, and out of coverage. Williams had trouble at times last season covering tight ends and receivers down the middle as a safety.

Ken Hamlin and second-year safety Pat Watkins manned the two safety spots in the package, while the corners remained unchanged from last season, with Glenn and Anthony Henry covering the outside receivers and Terence Newman jumping into the slot.

Up front it was DeMarcus Ware at right end and Anthony Spencer at left end, with Chris Canty and Jay Ratliff inside at the tackle positions. Ellis, though, said new head coach Wade Phillips has talked to him about rushing from an inside spot once he's healthy.

This might be the type of player Phillips wants at one of the nickel linebacker spots since Keith Davis was manning the same spot on the seconnd-team defense.

2007-05-12T19:56:00.000-05:00

Cowboys Mini Camp Day 1 Notes

Football is in the air, as the Cowboys began their offseason Mini Camp. Let's take a look at the headlines in today's mini camp.

TO
The leading headline of course was Terrell Owens. TO was not expected to participate during this mini camp; however, surprisingly he did participate quite a bit. He caught a couple of passes, including a deep bomb from Tony Romo. TO caught everything thrown to him, no dropped passes.

Ellis Update
Greg Ellis was at mini camp, but he was not practicing on field; instead, Ellis was on the sideline working on his rehab with some intense agility drills. Wade Phillips commented on the future of Greg Ellis, and Phillips said: "He's our starting outside backer," "Everybody saw last year what happened when he wasn't there. He can be a dominant player."(DMN) Ellis looked in great shape and apparently there are no signs of a limp. Good news to hear all around. Several players see Ellis as the leader on defense including 2yr DE Jason Hatcher whom we interviewed a couple of weeks ago.

Carpenter playing at MLB again?
Today the Cowboys worked Carpenter at MLB, and why wouldn't they, he's a very athletic gifted tackler. Phillips keeps repeating the notion that he wants the best players on the field and he wants to utilize their strengths in a way that will benefit the team. Carpenter is not a bust, and did not have a disappointing year. To even think he did, is a farce. Carpenter was held back by Parcells to a degree, but once he was injected at the end of the season and playoffs, you could see the first round talent was the real deal. The question however remains, where is he going to play? MLB or OLB?

I'm confident Carpenter will be on the field on a regular basis. Does that mean Carpenter could replace James at MLB? Yes, its a possibility and to not consider that would be plain dumb. James struggled in coverage bigtime, and Carpenter is a well rounded player that can do a better job. Carpenter could also see time at OLB in the nickel, were his coverage skills could come into play again. Carpenter knows this and says: "It was a rough transition last year," Carpenter said. "But looking at it this year, I feel confident that I can play either/or and be successful at both. I just want to be out on the field making plays."(DMN)

Romo on Fire
Romo has been hard at work mentally and physically. Romo was on fire today when he connected for 16 of 20 during 11-man drills today against the defense. Even though the high pressure packages on defense were not in effect, Romo still looked sharp by several reports from this first mini camp. Romo has been relieved of duty on field goals and Brad Johnson will be the new holder thankfully.

Julius Jones Not Practicing With Team?
From DMN: Julius Jones is getting the majority of the reps with the first-team offense, but he hasn't necessarily made a great impression on Wade Phillips.

Phillips pointed out that Jones is one of the only guys that hasn't been working out at the Cowboys' facility. Jones opted to work out in Arizona instead.

Phillips noted that Jones, who is chiseled as usual, appears to be in great shape and knows the team's new pass protection schemes. But Phillips prefers his players to work out with the team strength coaches. Phillips also believes the off-season conditioning program is important to the "team aspect."

Phillips Differentiates Between Laid Back & Hardwork
I knew this would come into question, but Coach Phillips made it clear today during his press conference when it came to his coaching styles and philosophy. Phillips said: "Hard work and good times go together," Phillips said. "But hard work has got to come first."(DMN)

Isaiah Stanback Still Learning
Last year the Cowboys used a 4th round pick on Skylar Green in hoping he would be the answer in the return game; however, this was not the case and Green is no longer with the team. A year later, the Cowboys are still looking for an answer. Stanback was drafted this year in the same round and is a converted QB to WR/PR specialist according to the Cowboys. Playing WR for Stanback is nothing new, he actually started out as a WR, but was converted to a QB. Kinda sounds like Patrick Crayton who the Cowboys hope to have the same conversion success with Stanback. Today Stanback did field some punts. "Stanback looked like a beginner back there. He had trouble judging a few punts, although he fielded every ball cleanly during the second practice.

The other Cowboys who caught punts today are Terence Newman, Patrick Crayton, Jamaica Rector and Quincy Butler." (DMN)

Rookie QB Matt Moore Looked Bad?
Apparently undrafted rookie Matt Moore looked horrible today, and was outplayed with 3rd string incumbent Matt Baker. From DMN: Moore's first pass in 7-on-7 drills was picked off. He fumbled his first snap in 11-on-11 drills. He didn't do anything too impressive with any of the few other reps he got. Incumbent third-stringer Matt Baker looked much better, but it's not like the job will be determined by the events on the first day of minicamp.

2007-05-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

Cowboys Mini Camp Dates Set

Saturday, May 12
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PRACTICE (Open to the Media)
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. OPEN LOCKER ROOM TO MEDIA
1:30 p.m. COACH PHILLIPS AVAILABLE
3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. PRACTICE (Open to the Media)

Sunday, May 13
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. OPEN LOCKER ROOM TO MEDIA
1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. PRACTICE (Open to the Media)

Monday, May 14
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PRACTICE (Open to the Media)
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. OPEN LOCKER ROOM TO MEDIA
1:30 p.m. COACH PHILLIPS AVAILABLE
3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. PRACTICE (Open to the Media)

2007-04-29T19:51:00.000-05:00

Cowboys Draft in The Bag!

Here's a rundown of the players we drafted with a few quick thoughts on the picks

1st Pick (1st round)
DE Anthony Spencer - Purdue
6-3, 261lbs

Spencer will be in the OLB rotation with Ellis and Carpenter. This is an immediate impact player and could find himself in heavy rotation.

2nd Pick (2nd round)
OT James Marten - Boston College
6-7.5, 309lbs

Marten was the 2nd player the Cowboys drafted, and one of the top LT in this draft. This is a depth pick and future starter pick right here, straight up. Assuming Marten can live up to his dominating prowess he'll be set to be an impact player. This is a big player here.

3rd Pick (4th round)
QB Isaiah Stanback - Washington
6-2, 216lbs

Stanback is the replacement for the pick we missed on with Skylar Green. Same round, same purpose. Stanback will be on special teams and probably utilized in the return game. We did not draft him for a backup QB.

4th Pick (4th round)
OT Doug Free - Northern Illinois
6-6, 324lbs

Free could be the steal at this part of the draft. Free blocked well for the top rushing leader in ncaa last year, and you'll notice he is another big guy at 6-6 324. He'll be plugged in for a backup role and groomed for future spot on the line.

5th Pick (6th round)
K Nick Folk - Arizona
6-1, 225lbs

Folk is a surprise here considering fellow prospect Mason Crosby was still on the board as well. Folk has a strong leg and can kick the ball deep. He'll compete with Gramatica this year. I don't want to waste a spot with (2) kickers. Do you?

6th Pick (6th round)
FB Deon Anderson - Connecticut
5-10, 236lbs

Anderson was drafted to give the Cowboys some options as FB. Garrett is hoping to get more from the FB this year, and Anderson will give Polite some competition for that roster spot.

7th Pick (7th round)
CB Courtney Brown - Cal Poly
6-1, 205lbs

Brown was drafted for CB depth, we didn't draft an impact CB in the early rounds, so this means we'll be rolling with Henry, Newman, and Glenn as the starters, but after that we have Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones who signed their 1yr tenders this year, so this pick protects and gives up depth for this year and especially next year when Reeves and Jones could move on.

8th Pick (7th round)
CB Alan Ball - Illinois
6-1, 175lbs

Ball was drafted for the same reason as Brown, see above*

More Notes
Overall, I like the feel of this draft, and I like how we have positioned ourselves for next year's draft. We have (2) first rounder and this will REALLY help us out, especially if we choose not to re-sign Julius Jones next year, and this will give us some options for a high end WR, if we lose one or both of our receivers.

One thing you'll notice in this draft is the size of the Offensive Lineman, we took. They are BIG. Garrett is bringin' BIG back. Remember the amount of beef we had on our lines back in the 90's, well they could be makin a comeback here pretty soon...

2007-04-27T19:33:00.000-05:00

Cowboys Top Targets for Draft Day

Here are the top targets as of this draft's eve:

DE/OLB Anthony Spencer - Purdue

S/CB Brandon Meriweather - Miami

CB Aaron Ross - Texas

WR Dwayne Jarrett - USC

WR Robert Meachum - Tennessee

WR Dwayne Bowe - LSU

2007-04-24T17:21:00.000-05:00

Cowboys Narrow Draft Target to Three

Unlike previous years, we've known a week or two before the draft who the Cowboys were probably going to draft. This year, there is no clear cut draft prospect that is penciled in. We have learned through a close source to the team that the Cowboys have narrowed their pick to three.

DB - Aaron Ross - Texas 6-0.5 193lbs. 4.50/40

S - Brandon Meriweather - Miami 5-10.5 195lbs. 4.47/40

WR - Dwayne Jarrett - USC 6-4 220lbs. 4.62/40

In addition, there are two teams offering their #1 in 2008, and #2nd rounder, plus another 2nd day pick this year to the Cowboys. This is another option currently on the table and it will be considered, but will not be executed until #22 is on the clock.

2007-04-23T23:40:00.000-05:00

Jerry Jones Rules on Draft Day

First, let me make it clear I am not bashing Jerry Jones, but during Parcells' reign did we ever see Jerry hold a pre-draft declaration as he did today in his latest press conference. I think Jerry was very definitive in this latest PC; moreover, he pretty much let it be known that he is back and in FULL control come draft day.

Sure, we heard there will be input by the scouts, Ireland, and Coaches, but let's be real. Parcells had huge control on who we drafted during his tenure. The only thing that should concern some fans is the history of Jerry Jones' drafts. Jimmy and Bill had their control, but rest assured, the big boss is back in full control. Let's hope he has learned from past draft class busts and lead us with another solid draft.

2007-04-18T21:15:00.000-05:00

Draft Talk: Russell Will Not Be #1 Overall Pick

While the consensus think that JaMarcus Russell will be the #1 Overall pick in this year's draft I don't believe this at all. Here's why: The Raiders need immediate talent on offense and Russell would need a year or two on the bench. He has a big arm, who cares, so what. Russell, in my opinion has "bust" written all over him. LSU simply has not put out very solid players in a long time, let alone at QB.

In addition, its a known fact that Al Davis still likes Andrew Walter, a 3rd round pick a few years ago, but, there is noise in Detroit which could make QB Josh McCown available via trade or from release from the Lions. Davis will take McCown. There's also a possibility that Daunte Culpepper could reunite with Moss in Oakland, his release from the Dolphins is imminent. Even though Culpepper would be a risky acquisition, it could pay off.

My take: The Raiders are going to draft WR Calvin Johnson - Georgia Tech. He's the best player in this draft and a sure shot impact starter. This also protects them in the future should the team decide to cut ties with Moss next year.

2007-04-03T22:46:00.000-05:00

Miles Austin and Coach Read

News is slow right now, but let's get pumped over some special teams talk shall we... As I'm sitting here thinking about the Cowboys, I can't help but wonder how much ass we're going to kick on special teams, coupled with a full year with Miles Austin as the returner, we should be set for a pretty good year overall.

I chose Miles Austin as our Offensive Rookie of The Year at our homesite, and with a year under his belt I'm pumped. We haven't had a solid returner since Kevin Williams and Kelvin Martin before him, so this is something to look forward to.

Special Teams doesn't get the recognition that it should, and I just want to get the fans excited for this upcoming year and look forward to some good field position in our favor.

Coach Read is a well accomplished Special Teams Coach that has developed some top tier units at the collegiate and NFL level and I believe Coach Phillips made a good selection in Read.

Get pumped and Go Cowboys!

2007-03-31T17:32:00.000-05:00

Wade Phillips Wants Michael Turner in Dallas

Well, well, well,... look what the rumormill has brought to the table. RB Michael Turner is a restricted free agent and is garnering some interest from several clubs, including the Cowboys.

"The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Cowboys are one of four teams that have shown interest in acquiring Turner, a restricted free agent. The asking price, according to the report: first- and third-round picks, although the Chargers could be willing to take one of those picks in next year's draft."

Although I love what we have in Julius Jones and Marion Barber in the backfield, I could live with Burner Turner back there too.

Back in this Blog in Jan. 2004, I predicted here first that the Cowboys should take Michael Turner with that #22 pick. Not many people like the idea much, and most were simple sold on the hot names at the time; Steven Jackson, Kevin Jones, and Greg Jones. Of those three, Jackson is probably the solid pick there, the others have been virtual busts unfortunately.

Fast forward to the 2007 offseason, and Michael Turner is a hot commodity, more mainstream now, the only issue is the price to attain him - 1st round and 3rd round picks.

So why would the Cowboys have interest? Wade Phillips, that's why. He saw first hand what kind of player Turner is, and how dynamic he is. Turner really is a starting RB stuck behind LT, this situation mirrors that of Matt Schaub, a starting caliber QB stuck behind another "superstar" in Mike Vick.

If someone does get Michael Turner, they are getting a pretty good RB, with immediate impact play.

So basically, IF the Cowboys wanted Turner, you can guarentee that Jones would be traded for at most a 2nd rounder or at least a 3rd round pick, this would lighten the hit in giving up our 1st rounder this year. We would trade the 1st this year, and our 3rd next year for Turner. Trade Julius for a 2nd, giving us (2) 2nd round picks, not bad actually, considering the talent level that will be available in the 2nd round. It is very doable. The wild card here is Wade's impact on any decision in bringing on Turner. Let's see what happens.

2007-03-28T17:18:00.000-05:00

Cowboys Current Draft Pick Order Thru Round 7

Below are the current picks the Cowboys have available for this year's NFL draft. We've got quite a few 6th & 7th round picks which could be used in some packaged deals to move up a few spots somewhere in the draft, or we may just sit and keep them all.

1st round - 22nd overall
2nd round - 53rd overall
3rd round - 87th overall
4th round - 122nd overall
5th round - 159th overall
6th - 195th overall
6th - 200th overall (from the Jets for Hunter)
7th - 212th overall (from the Jets for TE Sean Ryan)
7th - 234th overall
7th - 237th overall (from the Saints for LB Scott Shanle)

2007-03-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

Ken Hamlin Not a Sure Shot Starter

Before everyone crowns Ken Hamlin the FS starter, let's examine why we signed Hamlin. First, I'd like to say I like this addition, and glad we added depth at the "safety" position. That being said, I'm going on record as saying that Hamlin is NOT a sure shot starter.

Well, some of you may say we wouldn't pay Hamlin $2.5 mil to be a backup, for depth?? and I would say why not? He's a proven veteran at the safety position, and somewhat of a need for US, but he's no superstar at FS by any means. And if Hamlin was a "superstar" FS or even a "really good" safety why then has he lasted so long in free agency, especially in an offseason when average to good players are landing huge contracts?

The reality is that Hamlin will compete for the starting job at FS, but you can bet Watkins will be right there if not better, especially with a season under his belt. Don't be surprised if Watkins is still the starting FS. I do see Hamlin as a decent safety. He's known more for his big hits and not much of a ballhawk, he's probably more like a Keith Davis in coverage to be real. In fact, Hamlin had some major breakdowns in deep pass coverage last season, and not that Watkins had some problems here and there, but he was a rookie, Hamlin is a vet...

Hamlin has had 8 ints in 54 games
Watkins had 3 ints his rookie season, in 1yr.

I see the Cowboys using all 3 safeties during the course of a game. The Cowboys want Roy closer to the line, so we could see some sort of hybrid formation where Roy is indeed closer to the line, and Hamlin moves to SS, and Watkins at FS, this is probably more of what we're going to see.

The signing of Hamlin does kill the idea of Henry moving to FS; however, with his durability being suspect, and an aging Aaron Glenn, we could pull the trigger on a DB early in this draft.

2007-03-12T23:10:00.000-05:00

No, Julius Jones is NOT going to be traded.

Its that silly time of the year, rumormill time, when we are trading players, trading up in the draft, and all that crazyness.

Here's a funny news snippet I found on the web:

Cowboys | J. Jones available at the right price

Paul Domowitch, of the Philadelphia Daily News, reports Dallas Cowboys RB Julius Jones is available for the right price, but the team is not actively shopping him.

OOOOOOOOO, WOW, but isn't that the case for any player on any team in the NFL. Anyone can make these broad guesses, give me a break.

Look, Julius Jones is not going to be traded. Jason Garrett will utilize the two-headed attack; moreover, this ground attack will be devastating to defenses around the league. Why in the world would Jason Garrett want to trade Julius Jones away. Why would Garrett in his 1st year as an Offensive Coordinator want to go another route? It doesn't jive and it wouldn't make sense.

Julius Jones has been very productive and he will continue to do so. How sure are you that Marion Barber could carry the load for 16 games? MB3 runs hard everytime he has the ball in the current system - give MB3 the ball every down with his style and his body will take a toll. Nothing against what MB3 can do, its just the nature of the grueling season. Parcells said this is becoming a two-back league, and you're seeing teams utilize two-backs more and more.

We're keeping Julius and we're keeping MB3. The true tale of the tape will come when these players enter their contract years, this is when we'll see who the Cowboys really want, and which one they'd be willing to cut loose. Until then, Julius is back, case closed.

2007-03-07T23:04:00.000-06:00

Jerry Jones Visits CowboysBlog.Net

Its obvious Jerry Jones took my advice on signing former Vikings QB Brad Johnson as our backup quarterback. Of course I'm joking, but I did call it here a few blogs ago, sometimes we land predictions, but we're wrong most of the time, luckily this time around Brad Johnson was indeed signed.

Johnson brings instant credibility to the quarterback corps and is a very solid #2 which could probably be a starter on a few franchises in this league.

Thank You Jerry Jones. Now, let's get Colombo signed-sealed-and delivered before the weekend. Locking down the offensive line will give us great flexibility in the draft.

2007-03-03T00:10:00.000-06:00

Average Free Agents Setting Benchmarks for 2008

Ok, so free agency kicked off, and WOW! I'm just amazed by how much money is being thrown to average players on the market, good players at best, no one solid. Case in point - Nate Clements deal of $80 million with $22million signing bonus. I mean come one now...get real, you gotta be kiddin' me right?

Clements isn't the only one cashing in big in this year's free agency period. Eric Steinbach, is getting nearly $50million with his new deal, and same for Derrick Dockery. Again, these are not players that wow anyone, they fill voids, but this year, these average free agents are setting the benchmark for very good players in 2008. What kind of payouts are we going to see next year?

One other player, Leonard Davis visited the Cowboys, and wants a big payout as well. The Cowboys seem to be passing on this one, but the bigger question is, how and when can they get Colombo re-signed? Colombo is solid and will garner attention from "smarter" clubs not willing to dish out big bucks for average type players.

If Colombo gets away, we're left with a decimated right side of the line. Rivera coming back is absolutely not a viable option, and why haven't we released him yet is mind boggling. If you keep Rivera, and sign some no name to the RT, we're in serious trouble.

The wild card here, is Cory Procter. Only Coach Sparano knows what we really have in Procter, and for all we know, he could be this year's Colombo. If Colombo or Davis are not signed, and Rivera is released, we're looking at drafting Offensive Lineman with the first pick.

Justin Blalock comes to mind, he can play RT or RG.

2007-02-28T22:02:00.000-06:00

Cowboys Re-sign McBriar, Patrick Crayton will be tendered

The Cowboys signed punter McBriar to a new contract, thus shifting priority signings back to Marc Colombo and Patrick Crayton.

The Cowboys are in deep negotiations with Colombo, so it would appear that he will be signed before free agency starts.

The contract for McBriar gives us flexibility in regards to what we do with Patrick Crayton who is a restricted free agent. Its probable that the Cowboys could use a 2nd round tender on Crayton, in doing this, the Cowboys can buy more time to negotiate a new contract for Crayton, but it would also guarantee a 2nd round pick if a team were to sign Crayton.

As of today, here's our current list of players set to hit free agency-

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
G Marc Colombo
C Al Johnson
LB Al Singleton
DE Kenyon Coleman
K Martin Gramatica
S Tony Parrish

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
WR Patrick Crayton
CBs Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones
LBs Ryan Fowler and Junior Glymph TE Brett Pierce.

2007-02-27T21:19:00.000-06:00

Brad Johnson to Dallas? Get it done.

Apparently the Falcons will continue to stunt Schaub's growth as a legitmate starting QB. The Falcons will tender a qualifying offer to Schaub, which basically means giving up a high draft pick to snatch him away. What a complete gross mis-allocation of resources in Atlanta. The Falcon's rather roll with an overhyped-overrated QB in Mike Vick than Matt Schaub. What a bunch or idiots in Atlanta. It doesn't matter who's coaching in Atlanta, the result will be the same. Vick sucks.

So, who could the Cowboys be targeting for a backup QB?
Here are a few names to watch:

Brad Johnson - Vikings
Tim Rattay - Buccaneers

I like Johnson as the Backup QB spot because he provides year's of experience and lots of knowledge for Tony Romo to pull from.

2007-02-24T14:40:00.000-06:00

Cowboys to Name Brian Stewart Defensive Coordinator

It appears that the Chargers have let Stewart fly for bigger and better things, as he is coming to Dallas. Its believed that Stewart will be named the Cowboys Defensive Coordinator. This addition pretty much completes Wade's Staff.

From Union-Tribune:

Chargers defensive backs coach Brian Stewart has been released from his contract and will become the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator.

Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips was the Chargers defensive coordinator from 2004-06. He has been trying to hire Stewart since he left.

The Chargers had initially balked at letting Stewart out of his contract but relented today.

Stewart joined the Chargers in 2004.

The team on Wednesday hired Bill Bradley to coach the secondary with Stewart. The team plans on hiring a replacement for Stewart.

2007-02-23T22:34:00.000-06:00

Cowboys Eyeing Justin Blalock

I had Justin Blalock pegged as our first round draft choice in our mock draft, and there's reason behind it. Blalock is at the NFL Combines and has turned in some impressive measurables thus far in addition, he managed to bench press 40 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the NFL Combine Friday, Feb. 23, just five short of the event record.

The FWST has this small blurb on Blalock as well:

INDIANAPOLIS - Texas offensive lineman Justin Blalock's experience and versatility are expected to get him drafted in the first round. His 51 starts are the most by any player at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he can play guard or tackle.

"Anytime they can find someone that is capable of playing four or five positions on the line, it's just an added bonus," said Blalock, who measured a shade over 6-foot-3 and weighed in at 320 pounds Thursday.

Some mock drafts have the Cowboys taking Blalock with the 22nd selection. It's not a bad guess. Though the Cowboys haven't drafted an offensive player in the first round since 1997 when they selected LSU tight end David LaFleur, they have concerns about right guard Marco Rivera's future. Rivera recently had a second surgery on his back in two years to repair a ruptured disk.

Blalock, a Plano native, wouldn't be sad if Dallas is where he ends up.

"Being from Dallas, it's hard not to like the Cowboys," Blalock said. "I've been a lifelong fan."

History would say we probably won't draft offense in the first round, but this may finally be the year where we do. The last offensive first rounder was LSU's David LaFleur - a certified bust, and while we're at it, can we please not blow anymore picks on LSU players...

Marco Rivera's status is still in the air, and how confident are you in Procter's ability to take over for Rivera? What we do know is that Blalock can come in and start immediately and provide solid blocking for years to come. We need more youth and more beef on the line and Garrett knows this - this could be the pick at #22 from an offensive needs standpoint.

2007-02-22T21:02:00.000-06:00

GM President's Day Campaign - Ultra Annoying

This is off topic, but is it me or is General Motors (GM) getting desperate. All week I've been tortured by those ultra annoying commercials. GM has obviously fallen by the wayside, and has invested millions of dollars in this President's Day Campaign. The music tune that is in the commercial is horrible as it mixes "hail to the chief" with a carefully orchestrated rearranged rip off of 50 cent's "In da Club" - this crap on the air in itself makes me NOT want to buy another GM product. Who is this campaign targeting anyway? Someone in GM's PR team needs to get the boot. Just horrible.

This is just blantant desperate measures from a failing company, its sad. As I write this off-topic piece, I've seen several other complaints in message boards and other blogs about this horrible GM President's Day Campaign. What a complete bust...

2007-02-20T19:56:00.000-06:00

Gurode Extended, Sparano and Garrett Updates

Andre Gurode was extended to a new contract, thus taking him off the market before free agency begins. Gurode is said to have received a new 6yr deal, which should pay him 4-5million a year, plus a sizable signing bonus.

A decision has been made as to what titles Tony Sparano and Jason Garrett will be given. Sparano has just been given a raise along with a contract extension through the 2009 season - he will be the Assistant Head Coach. Garrett has been named the Offensive Coordinator and now begins the test for the budding offensive mind. Whether or not Garrett will be given 100% control of calling plays has not be fully determined.

from DC.COM:
While both Sparano and Garrett figure to have major roles in the structure and organization of the offense, Phillips said he has not decided who will call the plays next season.

"We're not going to get into that right now," Phillips said. "We're setting up everything for the season. Actually, they just started working on the formations - what formations we're going to be in. It'll be a little while before we proceed there."

Jerry Jones has stated that the offense will not change, while I would agree with Jones, I'm certain we'll see more aggression and a few more schemes for the gameplan. Garrett wants to utilize the fullback, but he will need to find someone he feels comfortable using. Oliver Hoyte was turned into a FB under Parcells. At 6-3 250, he certainly has the size, and was a serviceable back, but I would imagine, Garrett would like a true FB, with solid blocking, bruiser running, and hands. Could soon to be free agent TJ Duckett fit into the mix at 6-0 254 lbs? We'll have to see how this all plays out.

Phillips Coaching Staff still has a few posts to be filled, that being, Special Teams, Defensive Coordinator, and possibly a Quarterbacks Coach. Its believed that Bowles is at the top of the list to become the DC, but nothing official has been announced which makes you wonder what the wait is? Is Phillips waiting to see how the coaching staff works itself out in San Diego? There's still a possibility that some of Phillips understudy's could come aboard if they are relieved in SD.

2007-02-13T20:52:00.000-06:00

Cowboys Add 3 Assistant Coaches

Through the course of the day the Cowboys have inked (3) new assistants. The most notable of the additions is that of former Cowboys LB, Dat Nguyen. In addition, the Cowboys added WR/RB Coach Ray Sherman and Wes Phillips as Offensive Assistant Coach/Quality Control.

Let's examine how these three additions will help the Cowboys:

Dat Nguyen was one of the most productive MLBs the Cowboys have ever had and his instinct in the game was top-notch, his credentials provide instant credibility to the LBs coaching staff; moreover, this fuels excitement for fans everywhere. Nguyen is a proven player who has a lot of respect from players, the organization, fans and he'll bring his cerebral skills to the LB corps. The Dat Nguyen addition is solid, but offers somewhat of a speculative back-drop...was this a true Phillips addition or was this more of a parting recommendation from Parcells. Parcells knew Dat wanted to coach LBs, and he played 3-4 at A&M, so who knows. In any event, whether this is a Phillips plucking or a Parcells recommendation, I love it!

Ray Sherman is steal for us, Sherman has been credited with developing several solid WRs in the game today, such as Jerry Rice, Javon Walker, and Donald Driver to name a few. Sherman also helped Jerry Glanville install the highly explosive Run-And-Shoot with the Oilers and the Falcons. The addition of Sherman bodes very well for our current crop of WRs along with our young promising WRs like Hurd, Crayton, and Austin. Sherman brings a lot of proven experience.

2005-06: Wide Receivers, Tennessee Titans

2000-04: Wide Receivers, Green Bay Packers

1999: Offensive Coordinator, Minnesota Vikings

1998: Offensive Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers

1995-97: Quarterbacks, Minnesota Vikings

1994: Offensive Coordinator, New York Jets

1992-93: Wide Receivers, San Francisco 49ers

1991: Running Backs, San Francisco 49ers

1990: Assistant Head Coach/Offense, Atlanta Falcons

1989: Wide Receivers, Houston Oilers

1988: Running Backs, Houston Oilers

1986-87: Wide Receivers, University of Georgia

1982-85: Running Backs, Purdue

1981: Running Backs/Slot Backs, University of California

1978-80: Running Backs, Wake Forest

1976-77: Tight Ends, Michigan State

1975: Defensive Backs, University of California

1974: Graduate Assistant, San Jose State

Wes Phillips, has been hired on as Offensive Assistant Coach/Quality Control, he'll breakdown game footage and basically absorb the offensive schemes from Jason Garrett, a great opportunity for the young assistant.

These three additions are very solid in my opinion and it exhibits the know-how from Coach Phillips. Phillips is surrounding himself with a solid quality staff. I like the moves this team is doing, and as a fan the excitement is mounting exponentially.

The Cowboys are also looking to interview a few more possible assistants, according to the FWST:

"The Cowboys will also interview Oakland Raiders running backs coach Skip Peete, Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and University of Virginia assistant head coach for offense/wide receivers coach John Garrett.

Peete joined the Raiders in 1998 as running backs coach. He is the brother of former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete.

Garrett is the brother of Cowboys assistant Jason Garrett.

Inside linebackers coach Vincent Brown will not return to the Cowboys staff."

2007-02-11T20:48:00.000-06:00

New Contract for Romo a Top Priority

Last August, Romo signed a 1 Year, $3.9 million contract extension, which pays out $900,000 for ‘06, $1 million for ‘07 and a $2 million signing bonus. This locks him up through the 2007 season, but what happens after that? Let's not get to that point, there's already talk that getting Romo a new contract is in the works, and rightfully so. I would believe the consensus of Cowboys Nation is that we have our QB for the present and future, he has the often mentioned "IT" factor. The Cowboys will get Romo a new contract, but the question is how much cash will he get?

This year it will cost clubs about $12,615,000 to slap a franchise tag on a QB and this will rise again for the 2008 season, so this is definitely not the route the Cowboys would want to go, nor would they want to let Romo test free agency next year which would, in turn probably mean a bidding war to re-sign him.

So, when you ask yourself how much is Romo worth, or how much and how long would you sign him for there are several factors you must add into the equation.

Let's take a look at some recent contract extensions of "upper echelon" QBs:

In 2002, Donovan McNabb signed a 12yr contract extension in September of 2002, netting him $115 million dollars

In 2004, Mike Vick signed a mega contract of 10yrs for $130 million dollars, there will be many that have an opinion on that, but at the end of the day he got paid huge.

In 2004, Peyton Manning signed a 7yr extension for $98 million dollars which includes the biggest signing bonus to date at $34.5 million dollars

In 2005, Tom Brady signed a contract 6yr deal for $60 million dollars, depending on how the money is spead out that's roughly $10 million yearly, pretty good for a damn good QB

Let's also look at some recent rookie QB contacts:

In 2004, Eli Manning signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $54million dollars, lot of money for minimal production thus far

In 2004, Philip Rivers signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $40.5 millions dollars

In 2004, Ben Roethlisberger signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $22.26 million dollars

In 2005, Alex Smith signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $50 million dollars

In 2006, Vince Young signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $54 million dollars

In 2006, Matt Leinart signed a rookie contract for 6yrs for $50.8 million dollars

So, these are the payouts for Veteran QBs that have been extended with new contracts, and some recent Rookie QB contracts being paid out lately.

6yr deals appear to be the preferred length for both Veteran and Rookie contracts, with the exception of a very few.

So what's it gonna be for Tony Romo, a star on the rise for the most covered team in sport, the Dallas Cowboys? Did he prove enough for you, the fan, to deserve a big payout like the QBs mentioned in this piece. For me, I've seen enough to know Romo is the real deal.

Romo is a 4yr Veteran, who has been on the bench behind Quincy Carter('03), Vinny Testaverde('04), and Drew Bledsoe('05 & some '06), so in 2006 he played his first games as a starter, pretty much as a rookie quarterback. Romo was 6-4 as a starter, threw for 2904 yrds with 19TDs and 13INTs, compiling a QB rating of 95.1, not bad at all. Yes, he had a few hiccups here and there, but you're gonna get that from "rookie" QB in Romo, he'll recover and learn from his previous mistakes.

On a side note,What really impressed me was before the Pro Bowl, Sean Payton told Romo he was going to hold on FG/XPs, and he would get more playing time. This is first class all the way from Payton - he got Romo back in the saddle and that's what great coaches do for young players, and even though Payton is no longer with us, he still helped Romo get back and face something that is still fresh in Romo's head. Thank You Payton.

Romo has been blessed to have been mentored and groomed to be the next QB of the Cowboys. Bill Parcells and Sean Payton were instrumental in his progression, and Jerry Jones knows his continued development is needed, and this is why he brought in another of the leagues young rising offensive minds in the game, Jason Garrett.

With all this being said, I think Jerry knows he finally has a franchise QB, one that he hasn't had since Troy Aikman, and Jerry will take care of his guy. Many NFL clubs spend lots of money on early draft picks and free agents that never pan out, and the Cowboys may have missed on a few QB acquisitions, but they have an ultra-steal in Tony Romo. I expect Jerry to pay Romo a pretty good contract, we'll just wait and see how much.

2007-02-10T21:33:00.000-06:00

Parcells Instrumental in Phillips Hiring?

There's a strong notion that former Cowboys Coach, Bill Parcells was instrumental in the hiring process that ultimately lead to Jerry picking Wade Phillips. I thought this all along, and the proof is evident as Parcells stuck around for a week and a half after he declared his retirement. Jerry Jones asked for Parcells' input, his assistance, and he even had Parcells' involved in the screening process for the first couple of major candidates that came through the door. There appears to be other media pundits that think the same:

"Bill Parcells' marinara-stained fingerprints are all over the decision to hire Wade Phillips. Owner Jerry Jones will argue otherwise, and it's somewhat true. But think about it. Do you really think that old-school Parcells' parting advice to Jones was to hire an offense-savvy California guy such as Norv Turner? As owner, Jones felt he had a choice to make. He chose defense over offense. DeMarcus Ware over Tony Romo.
-- Fort Worth Star-Telegram"

2007-02-08T19:34:00.000-06:00

Wade Phillips Plucked as Cowboys Next Head Coach

After weeks of wild rumors and speculation, Jerry Jones has made his decision and Wade Phillips is our next Head Coach. I have to admit when there was speculation of Wade being a candidate I was turned off by the thought. I remembered Phillips as a failed Head Coach in his past en devours, but upon further research, Phillips lead several of his former teams to the playoffs, and Phillips drafted some solid defensive players along the way.

Norv Turner looked to be a lock just a few days ago, but Jerry came full circle and hired the guy he interviewed first. I strongly believe that somehow someway this pick had some influence from our former Head Coach, Bill Parcells. Parcells is a 3-4 guy at heart, and I would think he gave some sort of blessing or nod on Wade Phillips possibly being the next guy in Dallas and Jerry trusts Bill.

Phillips will bring a dynamic innovative 3-4 to the front, and this bodes well for the players we have invested in. Parcells has drafted pretty good players, and Wade will bring his agressive 3-4 pressure oriented schemes to the table -very exciting, and I'm looking forward to the defense this coming year.

You already know what the next topic of conversation is going to be in the coming weeks, and that's Jason Garrett, how does Garrett fit into the scheme of the offense, will he be the top OC, or just positional offensive coach, is he indeed ready? I think we'll find this out soon.

And then there's the NFL Combine and NFL Draft. I fully trust that Wade and with the help of Ireland's Scouting Department he will make a solid pick defensively early if we go that route or will it be Garrett's input that gets us a big offensive lineman, or wide receiver early. What holes do we need to look at filling or upgrade at?

One thing is for sure, the Cowboys offseason is going to be exciting! Get pumped, let's get this thing going baby! Go Cowboys!

2007-02-07T17:30:00.000-06:00

Wade Phillips the Frontrunner Again?

ESPN, is reporting that Wade Phillips is the frontrunner. Can this be substantiated? How good is this intel? The first thing that comes to mind is the news that Turner does not believe Garrett is ready to be an offensive coordinator, and Turner does not want Terrell Owens here. These are bold declarations against moves that Jerry Jones has had a big impact on, mainly on the Garrett acquisition.

Could all this culminate in the reason why ESPN thinks Wade is the frontrunner again? Probably so, and we'll continue to hear more stupid speculation until the big boss makes his final decision.

At the end of the day I still believe this decision is still between Norv and Wade. We should know before the end of the week. Hopefully!

2007-02-04T14:01:00.000-06:00

New Regime Spotted At Irvin's HOF Conference

In one of the high points in Die Hard Cowboys History, Michael Irvin was voted into the NFL Hall of Fame. The voters finally got this one right after two consecutive colossal foul-ups. Irvin deserved to be in the HOF, and now he is among the elite. Irvin called this his "validation" and as fans we had validated his legacy in Cowboys Lore a long-long time ago. Congrats Michael, I look forward to your HOF speech!

The interesting backdrop story was Jerry Jones and "his entourage" in attendance. Behind the scenes, in the green room there was a quick glimpse of Jerry and Norv. Perhaps seeing these two was a coincidence, after all, Norv was a huge piece of the puzzle during those two SuperBowls with Jimmy, and he's a close friend of Irvin. But one could only put one-and-one together and see this as further evidence that Norv is going to be the next HC. Later, when Irvin arrived, the camera got another glimpse of what looked to be the new regime - Jerry was sitting in the back with Turner, and now Garrett. Hmmmmm, this makes a strong case for what sure appears to be the new regime.

This really seals the deal for me, and ends ALL other speculation on the next HC, this leads me to believe that Jerry has 75% of the key parts of his coaching staff in place, that being Norv and Jason on the offensive side, but now Jerry is interviewing for potential stars on the defensive side of the ball. Ron Rivera is that star on the defensive side of the ball, and getting Rivera on board as the DC could indeed bring the 2nd coming of the glory days of the '90s. That's what everyone has been waiting for since Jimmy and Switzer left, and that's what we had hoped when Parcells took over a dismal team, and now we can have some hope if Rivera takes over the defense. Think about what Rivera would bring to the defense: real discipline, proven defensive schemes, accountability, innovation, motivation and more.

Let's get the defensive side of the ball in the bag Jerry. Go Cowboys!

2007-02-03T12:37:00.000-06:00

Packaged Announcement From Jerry Next Week

It looks like Norv is still the preferred the choice, and the wait on the announcement is due to Jerry waiting to interview Rivera for the HC position, but probably more likely as s potential DC. This will bode well for Rivera, the Cowboys are more visible and demand more media attention than the Chicago Bears. A DC position with the Cowboys would continue to elevate Rivera into a HC within the next season or two. If Jerry can bring on Rivera as the DC, then there will be a packaged announcement from Jerry - They will announce the new HC and DC at the same press conference. I could live with Turner, Rivera, and Garrett.

2007-01-31T19:57:00.000-06:00

Head Coach Announcement Delayed, Here's Why

Could Jerry be "bumping" into Jimmy at the Super Bowl?Let me just start by stating what I think could happen is pure speculation. So here we go, why is the announcement of the next Head Coach being delayed until after the Super Bowl in Miami? Two Words - Jimmy Johnson. Some may say no way, "someone asked him, and a friend of his said he said no way" well that's not a strong enough statement for me at this point, we have not heard it by the man himself. So here we are 7 candidates and no one has been chosen yet. The very-very interesting statements Jerry said at his latest media interview just build-up the suspense and offer more intrigue to Cowboys Nation.

Here are some keep quotes from the media interview:

"There is a possibility that there will be more candidates"

Well, that's interesting, I'm sure everyone at some point thought Wade or Norv was a lock, so why wait until after the Super Bowl in Miami?

"We've got a good football and we've got to get this right"

Even more interesting, I mean, this kinda points to some uncertainty with all the candidates, Jerry wants to get this right, and maybe he has not been completely sold.

"Again, its possible I will be interviewing more candidates"

Oh yeah, like who?? Who else could possibly be out there to interview? Ron Rivera AFTER the Super Bowl? Unlikely, if he wanted to, Jerry could have interviewed and hired Rivera, several coordinators have accepted jobs in the past before their last game in the Super Bowl.

"At least one of the candidates will be down at the Super Bowl or two really , we'll probably be bumping into them"

This is where it get extremely interesting, who could Jerry possibly be bumping into, and I would think this has already been arranged, Jerry is just being generically evasive. Question is, who is Jerry going to bump into and interview? hhhmmmmmmm...

A reporter asked Jerry if they (candidate) are on the Colts or Bears staff, "not neccesarily"

More flames to the fire, this person is not neccesarily on the Super Bowl teams' staffs? Then who could he possibly be bumping into? Who does he know could get this team over the hump and to the Super Bowl with ZERO uncertainty?

This smells like Jerry making one last push for Jimmy Johnson. I think Jerry is enamored with Garrett, he spoke with Norv for a very long time, and all the memories are fresh in his mind, he's made amends with Jimmy, and this could be the big headline after the Super Bowl, this would steal the limelight from the SuperBowl completely, and everyone knows it. It just makes sense. Jerry and Jimmy in Miami, bumping into each other. Blam, you heard it here first! If I'm wrong that's fine, its just pure speculation, but man would that be exciting news!

2007-01-29T18:43:00.000-06:00

Norv Turner Wants to Choose His Defensive Coordinator

It's safe to say that Norv is going to be the Head Coach, question now is, who is going to run the defensive. Apparently Norv has someone in mind to run the defense, and it could end up being Rob Ryan, a defensive minded coach who is on the rise according to several NFL sources. When Norv signed on in Oakland he chose Rob Ryan to be his defensive coordinator, and there's a possibility Ryan could be who Turner is thinking of.

But if not Ryan, how about Mike Singletary from the 49ers defensive staff? The interesting twist here is that Jerry has scheduled to interview Mike Singletary supposedly for the HC spot, but what if this is more of a "getting to know you better" type interview. Maybe Turner, recommended that he wants to bring Mike in for a look, and Jones would give his blessing later.

The interview Jones is having with Singletary further supports the idea Turner wants his own person on defense, and who could blame him, he is going to be the HC afterall.

NFL Network's Adam Shefter, is also reporting a similar take on the defensive coordinator outlook for Norv Turner:

"Norv Turner told Jerry Jones he had a specific defensive coordinator and personnel guy that he'd have to bring to Dallas before taking the Cowboys job. The decision may not come for a few days because Jones may interview another coaching candidate. Turner seems to be the favorite for the job, but Jones may want to pick his defensive coach"

2007-01-28T18:29:00.000-06:00

Cowboys Nation: Its Norv Turner

The writing is on the wall, and some of Turner's comments point to him being the next Head Coach of The Dallas Cowboys. Let's just take a look at some excerpts from dc.com:

"Oh, there's no question, this is a great job," Turner said. "This is a good football team. I think the things that Coach Parcells has done have left this team in a position where good things are going to happen for it. It's a great job."

Unlike the other coaching choices Turner has taken on, none would be anything near as good a situation as this one. One would be hard pressed to find any coach that could have turned around the Redskins or Oakland into champions. In this situation, Norv would be coming into a playoff rostered team with a very good core of team players - something Norv did not have in his past ventures.

"The thing that I'm anxious to do is do it right, and get a great staff and do it with someone who wants to do everything you've got to do to win," Turner said. "And that's what I see here."

Most of the offensive assistants under Parcells have bolted for other opportunities, with the exception of Tony Sparano and tigh ends coach Freddie Kitchens.

Other than Sparano and Kitchens, the Cowboys just signed Jason Garrett who is expected to be the new offensive coordinator, and the quote that speaks volumes is this one:

"Well, when I was hired in Oakland, I tried to hire Jason Garrett," said Turner, who coached Garrett for two years here in Dallas. "So that tells you a little bit about how I feel about Jason. He's coached a couple of years now. And even though he hasn't been coaching, he has been acting like a coach for several years now. He's helped a lot of guys get ready to play."

There you have it guys! Turner tried to get Garrett in Oakland, but it didn't happen, well guess what...Garrett signed on a few days ago, and this quote would lend you to believe this is the scenario that fits perfectly for Norv Turner - he has his guy in Garrett. Consider this a done deal. I will now be shocked if Jerry goes with someone else, Jerry is one would likes familiarity, and he has it sitting in his lap with Jason Garrett and Norv Turner, the biggest question now will be - The Defense. Will it be Bowles at the helm, will we keep the 3-4. Stay tuned.

Expect an official announcement by Tuesday, I don't see Jerry holding everyone in suspense, plus this staff needs to get together and get ready for the NFL Draft Combines