NFL: Dallas Cowboys Blog

2008-11-26T10:37:00.000-06:00

Beer: check. Turkey: check. I'm sooooo ready for tomorrow's turkey day game. Go Cowboys!!!!

2008-10-30T13:18:00.001-05:00

Get out there and vote next Tuesday, November 4th, Cowboy fans!

2008-10-16T16:45:00.001-05:00

I hope Tony's pinky finger heals as fast as mine did! I won't bore you with the details, but the injury also involved a football...and beer. Just a slight miscalculation! But damn, typing a, q, and z was tough for awhile!

No More Pacman

2008-07-31T14:51:00.002-05:00

Adam Jones is in the news again, but this time just for trying to lose his nickname. Good luck with that, buddy. If I was famous, there's no way my brother wouldn't spread the word that everyone should call me Dingleberry. Plus, changing the name still won't change his shady past. I don't mean to keep talking trash about our guy, but he's not exactly hero material, you know?

Romo vs. Who?

2008-07-24T14:38:00.000-05:00

This article is about whether Romo or Eli Manning is a better QB. Pshaw! Why even ask the question, when the answer is so obvious. :)

But still, it is an interesting breakdown of their skills.

Show Me the Money

2008-07-10T14:31:00.000-05:00

Every day I'm watching the news about huge drops in the stock market, unemployment rates rising, the mortgage crisis...it's really depressing. But one of the things that I just don't get is the rich celebrities who keep losing their houses. Ed McMahon just lost his (or is going to), and now our beloved cornerback Adam Jones is about to go into foreclosure.

WTF, people? Why do we Americans always insist on living above our means, even when our means are...plenty big! Hopefully Pacman can help us sell some Super Bowl tickets this year and get himself back on track. I'd hate to see him out on the streets.

Let's Hear if For the...Girls?

2008-07-02T13:11:00.003-05:00

I know I'm biased, but seriously, our cheerleaders are the best out there. Not just scoring in hotness (although they are all hot). They are so talented too. I have actually known people who bought Dallas Cowboys tickets just to see the girls. In Dallas, little girls dream of being cheerleaders when they grow up. I'm not sure they're parents are too wild about that, but still.

Somebody else out there obviously agrees and took the time to make this video. You'd be amazed at how many videos there are on the topic...

Owens helps Cowboys beat Redskins

2007-11-20T10:53:00.000-06:00

So whether or not you like him, you have to hand it to Terrell Owens - his performance in Sunday night's game against the Redskins was truly stellar. He caught 8 passes for 173 yards and made 4 touch downs. If the Cowboys can keep it up maybe they'll actually finish the season at the top of the NFC East - which would be a welcome change from the past eight years!

New stadium tour

2007-06-12T14:28:00.000-05:00

Have you seen this?

http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/

Granted, the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium still won't be finished for a while, but it's freaking gorgeous. I can't wait to buy my first game tickets and walk in on that panoramic view from the plaza level...

Super Bowl XLV bid

2007-04-04T09:02:00.000-05:00

The Super Bowl XLV bid submitted by the North Texas Super Bowl Bid Committee to hold the NFL's championship game at the Cowboys' new $1 billion stadium in 2011 was submitted before the Monday deadline. The stadium isn't near complete in Arlington, Texas, and the Cowboys don't expect to play a game in their new digs until the 2009 season.

Ending on a better note

2007-02-16T08:22:00.000-06:00

Okay, it wasn't a part of the regular season, but at least Tony R got to end the 2006-07 NFL season on a happier note than "the snap." He looked pretty impressive at the Pro Bowl, and gave us Cowboys fans a reminder of good things we have to look forward to next season.

Relax now for a bit, Tony, and we'll see ya around August.

Sheer disappointment

2007-01-17T16:51:00.000-06:00

Wow. 21-20 playoff loss to the Seahawks, and don't even get me started on Tony Roma's horrific fumbled snap. I'm almost convinced the cheerleaders practice more than the Cowboys.

Cheerleaders in your room Stadium in your future

2006-12-15T12:41:00.000-06:00

Fathead, the company that makes the life size vynil 3-D sports flats for your wall have announced a partnership with Kalli Finglass and The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. The "America's Sweethearts" as they are dubbed are the first females ever printed by the company. Currently there are only 3 models to choose from Andrea, Becca, and Nicole, with Andrea being so popular the wall hanging is on backorder. More will come in the future as the already popular Cheering and Dance Squad now have a hit T.V. show on CMT entitled "Making the Team". If you want to look into the eyes of a Cowboys Beauty dressed in the world famous star-spangled uniform then visit fathead.com.

The Dallas cowboys website now carries video and virtual tours of the new stadium they plan on having. Opening night will be a kick-off projected in 2009. It is a spectacular structure with 90 foot glass "curtains" around the perimeter and what seems to be about 70 foot TV screens on both sides of the building. Architects have toiled and public relations has polled, the resutls are in and fans have helped with design. The Dallas Cowboys teaming up with HKS Architects and Manhattan Construction plan on this being one of the most recognizable stadiums in the world. This building looks to be one of the most sophisticated football venues around and could attract a Super Bowl as early as February 2011. I cannot wait to see a game in this amazing structure.

Game Winning Gramatica

2006-12-06T12:29:00.000-06:00

The Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Bill Parcells watched his new place kicker Mark Gramatica during pre-game warm-ups. When asked if he was feeling comfortable with what he saw, he unenthusiastically said "not really". It seemed Parcells spoke correctly when Gramatica missed a 44 yard field goal attempt in the first quarter. But Gramatica, it seemed, only needed a warm-up kick. A feel for the field if you will. He went on to nail 3 field goals including a 46 yard game winner which split the uprights with a mere 1 second on the clock. Parcells later said, "He did a good job. I told him he was making me look good". It's great to make your head coah look good. Keep up the fancy footwork Gramatica.

Vandergone

2006-11-30T17:42:00.000-06:00

Cowboy owner Jerry Jones is feeling the crunch after cutting Mike Vanderjagt. They will still have to pay out 1.6 million dollars for a player no longer on the team. They signed the NFL's all time most accurate kicker to a 3 year 5.4 million dollar contract. The reason they kept him around that long, according to Jones, was the amount they had invested in him. Vanderjagt's inconsistency and failure to control his kicks from going wide right led to his removal from the team. Jones has now vowed that never again will such a high price be paid out by his organization for a kicker. The Dallas Cowboys have signed Martin Gramatica to fill some very large shoes and are considering Carlos Martinez of the Dallas Desperados as well. This Sunday the Dallas Cowboys travel to New York to face the Giants who just had a devastating loss against the monster comeback of Vince Young and the Titans. Lucky there is currently a cold front dropping Texas tempuratures into the 30's because the Cowboys need some time adjusting to the cold shoulder of New York.

Dallas Proves Indianapolis Isn’t Perfect

2006-11-20T08:53:00.000-06:00

I have nothing against the Peyton Manning or the Indianapolis Colts, but if somebody had to find their Achilles heel, I’m very happy that it was the Dallas Cowboys. Guess who else must be very happy: Cowboys’ kicker Mike Vanderjagt. We were so ready to give him back to the Colts after those two missed field goals; the extra points he made were his only salvation.

Okay, Pokes, give us another one to be thankful for, when we slice up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday!

Smooth Moves, Emmitt!

2006-11-16T10:56:00.000-06:00

If you have followed the Dallas Cowboys for awhile, or even if you are a brand new fan just picking up on the Cowboys legends and lore, this came as no surprise: the winner of "Dancing With the Stars" was beloved former Cowboy Emmitt Smith, along with his beautiful dancing partner, Cheryl Burke. Why not? The man has always been able to work miracles with his feet!

Congratulations, Number 22! Will you be touring with the "Dancing With the Stars" show, and where do we get tickets?

Don’t Embarrass Us!

2006-11-06T18:51:00.000-06:00

Cowboys, you know we love you. But it’s not necessarily unconditional love. Beating the Washington Redskins is always part of your mission, and yesterday, literally and figuratively, you dropped the ball. The end of the game was, as Bill Parcells said, “a heartbreaker.” But to me what led up to it was the embarrassing stuff--like 11 penalties, including the one T.O. just plain asked for, faking a nap in the endzone! I can’t even discuss it.

All I want to say right now is: Do not fool around and lose to the 1 and 7 Arizona Cardinals next week. Please!

Cowboys Are Psyched!

2006-11-03T12:54:00.000-06:00

Not that they ever need to get “up” to go after their NFL nemesis, the Washington Redskins. But tromping Carolina last week was just the beginning of a roll we want to be on. Tony Romo’s come-from-behind push to victory was not just beginner’s luck. We’ll demonstrate that at FedEx Field come Sunday.

Meet the models

2006-10-27T14:41:00.000-05:00

For those that did not know, the Miller Lite girls have been showing up to party with the tailgaters preceeding every Cowboys home game. The best of which gets featured on the cowboys website. So for those of you that never thought you would get your 15 minutes of fame, pack up a cooler, set up a canopy, and start the grill. Chances are your gonna get some action! Though it will not be until November the 19th when the Cowboys get to play at home again. The Dallas Cowboys set up to take down the Carolina Panthers this Sunday, October 29th at Bank of America Stadium.

There Is No "I" in Bledsoe

2006-10-25T13:48:00.000-05:00

But you can't exactly spell T-E-A-M with his name either. Monday night's game was, well, not pretty. But my least favorite part was hearing that Drew Bledsoe was complaining about being taken out of the game and that he didn't even speak to his replacement, Tony Romo. You know, after getting sacked several times and hurling the football into the eager hands of the New York Giants' Sam Madison, I'd have been ready to volunteer to let somebody else have a try.

Bledsoe probably couldn't have given Romo any advice that would have fixed the mistakes he made. But if all us Dallas Cowboy fans are hollering encouragement to our guys, maybe a thumbs-up or a pat-on-the-back from Drew would have made a difference. Even if it hadn't changed the score, it would have made me happier.

Eagles Claw FTW!

2006-10-12T14:17:00.000-05:00

The Dallas Cowboys fell from the win against the Philidelphia Eagles in front of the home crowd at Philly's own Lincoln Finnancial Field on October 8th. The Texas Stars fumbled 4 times, threw 2 interceptions, and let Drew Bledsoe get batterd and bruised as he suffered through seven sacks. Eagles cornerback, Lito Sheppard, picked off what would have been a TD pass and returned the ball 102 yards to seal the win for the birds. The Cowboys, with a 2/2 record, face off against thier homestate rivals, The Houston Texans, on the 15th. Getting tickets for these games are usually difficult to pull off considering the rivalrly between these 2 cities. Meanwhile the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders recently traveled to an annual USO Gala in our nation's capital to honor Military Heroes.

Cowboys to lasso the Eagles

2006-10-06T15:08:00.000-05:00

As the Dallas Cowboys gear up for another road game, this one in Philly, the boys hope to keep thier wins coming in. The Cowboys, with a current record of 2-1, are going to have thier work cut out for them though as they face a homecrowd team of the currently 11th ranked Philidelphia Eagles.

Dallas Cowboys Back in the Headlines

2006-10-01T20:30:00.000-05:00

And this time it's the headlines of the sports pages, thank heaven! Personally, I don't think a solid 45-14 Dallas Cowboys win over a first-time starting NFL quarterback, particularly the QB of the Tennessee Titans, ought to be anything much of a news story. But the rookie starter for the Titans was Vince Young, who has been known to make headlines of his own, as when he led the Texas Longhorns to the NCAA national championship at the Rose Bowl last January. We'll see some better days from Vince, I'm sure.

Meanwhile, Terrell Owens started for the Cowboys (more news that isn't supposed to be news) and caught a bunch of passes, unfortunately not including one that would have upped the score another six points. But there were plenty of other opportunities--two for Terry Glenn and four more distributed around the crew. Teamwork. Even better than headlines!

A Fearfully Repetitive Catch 22

2006-07-10T13:06:00.000-05:00

Many refugees from New Orleans have settled in the Dallas, Texas area. I have had many conversations at the bus stop about the merit of plans to rebuild the city of New Orleans. Most are mainly concerned about friends and relatives who are still there trying to help rebuild. They say the temporary systems that regulate power and other utilities in the city are so weakly constructed that even a small slow storm could render them irretrievably damaged. In other words: If we can’t make swifter progress in one year of rebuilding effort, each New-New Orleans could be washed away by the next summer’s storms.

It really makes you think hard, doesn’t it?

Adding kick to the Dallas Cowboys

2006-06-30T12:33:00.000-05:00

I'm getting used to the idea of T.O. as a Cowboy, and I'm getting antsy to see Drew Bledsoe and the 'Boys back on the field. But one of the things I'm especially looking forward to next season is watching Mike Vanderjagt in action. He's the most accurate kicker ever in the NFL, and the Cowboys could have used that last year! When the other team is kicking, we may be seeing Skyler Green, drafted from Louisiana State, making the return, and he can move.

Gonna get my Dallas Cowboys tickets and get my kicks at Texas Stadium. (Okay, that was bad, but I really do get a kick out of special teams when they do what they're supposed to!)

Dallas Cowboys Games on the Ticket!!!

2006-05-28T17:17:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about this next season of Dallas Cowboys football. The Ticket (our local sports talk radio station) will be carrying the games in their entirety and hosting them in true Ticket fashion. No holds barred and a lot of trash talking is what we can expect. I personally think it is the smartest thing Jerry Jones has done in the off-season.

I can’t wait to hear the Cowboys on the Little Ticket! I’ll turn the game on the TV, mute the sound and listen to the Ticket commentary instead of the TV’s.

By the way: Go Mavs! Take the Suns down!

Draft Day Results for the Dallas Cowboys

2006-04-30T15:54:00.000-05:00

I am going to reserve judgment on our draft choices until it is all over. I am really biting my nails this year because some of the Dallas Cowboys choices just don’t scan. I see holes on this team and am just hoping they all get filled before the draft is over.

Can this really work for the Cowboys?

2006-04-10T11:47:00.000-05:00

Well the Dallas Cowboys signed Terrell Owens to a contract I can live with. It is really designed as a series of one year contracts that seem to be worthwhile for TO and the Cowboys. If we can keep him happy by throwing money at him then so be it. I am just not sure that we can keep him happy if Drew Bledsoe tanks or has to throw more balls to Terry Glenn who will probably get less coverage than TO come game time. I really don’t want to see him act like a baby because he is not getting the amount of passes thinks he deserves.

Frankly, I am scared of Terrell Owens.

2006-03-17T15:59:00.000-06:00

Nobody in Dallas can escape the tidal wave of media coverage surrounding the Dallas Cowboys acquisition of Terrell Owens. It isn’t official yet but rumor has it we let Keyshawn Johnson go in anticipation of signing T.O. I hope they put a behavioral clause in the contract that protects the Cowboys interests if Owens starts acting like he has been known to act. I am more concerned about the morale of our team than about anything else. Hopefully good feelings can prevail and this move won’t sink this team like many think it will.

What was she thinking?

2006-02-12T22:14:00.000-06:00

Without the Dallas Cowboys playing I didn’t think the Super Bowl was all that important. Apparently some people did. I heard on sports radio that Wayne Gretzky’s wife bet five thousand dollars on the Super Bowl coin toss. I could understand if the Cowboys were playing, but Seattle Seahawks versus Pittsburgh Steelers? Please!

Kick the Ball through the Two Giant Poles

2006-01-21T23:50:00.000-06:00

Bill Parcells will be with the Dallas Cowboys for two more years and I’m glad. Many people are saying they don’t think he has the stuff to take us to the Super Bowl. I think the big issue is with our kicker and other players who didn’t perform to their full potential.

Parcells Back In Action

2006-01-09T18:47:00.000-06:00

Start cheering Cowboys fans! Bill Parcells is returning next season and has signed a new two year contract with the Boys. Dallas is grateful for Parcells efforts with this team and loves his no nonsense attitude. This coach could possibly take this team to a championship next season if we can stay healthy and play even better than we did this season. Parcells is grateful for the opportunity to build on what he has worked so hard to maintain. The Dallas Cowboys are a winning team that has the potential to grow and advance to the playoffs next season. Let’ hope 2006 is Bill Parcells’ year!

There’s Always Next Season

2006-01-02T16:51:00.000-06:00

The Dallas Cowboys did not make the playoffs and did not play well in their final game against the Rams. Their playoff chances were decided before they played the game and I can understand they would be disappointed in the results but it really seemed like they threw this last game. The Rams are not exactly the best team in the league but the Cowboys defense was asleep out there. I would have liked to see them play one of their best games to end the season, and even Bill Parcells sounded disappointed in his team’s performance. I hope the Cowboys can build on this season and grow stronger in the off-season.

Parcells in the Limelight After Dallas Win over Carolina

2005-12-28T16:47:00.000-06:00

The Dallas Cowboys looked like a playoff team in their victory over the Carolina Panthers. Drew Bledsoe was on his game and for the first time in a long time we got a running game going with Julius Jones who actually scored a rushing touchdown for Dallas. Our win has put the pressure on the Giants and the Redskins to win their next games and it looks like we still have a chance to get to the playoffs. Bill Parcells is being really tight lipped about his opinion on the matter and has been busy fielding rumor fueled questions from the press about whether he is thinking about retiring. I wouldn’t blame him if he did at his age, but let’s focus on beating St. Louis, please.

Cowboys Have a Bad Day

2005-12-20T18:50:00.000-06:00

I do not even want to talk about Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins. We need to win the next two games and the Giants need to lose if we are going to have any hope of seeing post season play. If the debacle of December eighteenth is any indication this team may not deserve to go to the playoffs. A loss like this makes you think back to all those close last minute wins and feel we must have been lucky. It is to their credit though that the Cowboys put some points on the board before the game ended.

Glenn and Witten Rule the Roost

2005-12-12T17:34:00.000-06:00

The Dallas Cowboys are the best entertainment around. They make exciting comebacks in the final minutes and are 5-5 for games that were decided by 3 points or less. Drew Bledsoe’s quarterback rating finally climbed this week instead of falling as it had been. We really fought a good battle against the Kansas City Chiefs and superstars like Jason Witten and Terry Glenn were made useful again in this game. Terry Glenn was the big man on campus for most of the game with one receiving touchdown and his first ever rushing touchdown. Glen had six caries for 138 yards. He is now my favorite Cowboy.

Cowboys get Squashed by Giants

2005-12-05T17:45:00.000-06:00

The Dallas Cowboys played a disappointing game against the New York Giants at on Sunday. We could not convert on downs to save our lives. Both teams went 3 and out over and over, exchanging the ball and doing nothing with it. The Giants got lucky and scored a few times in the process of battling an equally matched team. Our offense just played poorly. Drew Bledsoe was poorly protected and there were no lead blockers to protect the run. We succumbed to their pass rush far to many times and made almost as many mistakes as they did. Interceptions, penalties and poor play lost us the top spot in the NFC East. Hopefully we can pick up the pieces and get ready for the impossible schedule ahead of us.

Cowboys Overtime Loss to Broncos

2005-11-30T17:25:00.000-06:00

The Dallas Cowboys loss to the Denver Broncos was another game that came down to the last minutes. The Broncos beat us in overtime, just like we did the Giants, with a field goal. We could say that the Cowboys need to improve their kicking but that is obvious after Billy Cundiff missed the fourth quarter field goal that could have won us the game. The Cowboys defense misses Dat Nguyen sorely, but it looks like he is out for the season and possibly retiring. Our real weakness lately has been our running game. Julius Jones and Marion Barber III have not been finding the gaps they need nor have they had the blockers making holes for them.

The Dallas Cowboys are ready for the Giants and need to win this game to if they want to potentially win the division. The Cowboys should be focusing on the running game this week because the Giants have a mean pass rush on their side.

Lions Lose to Penalties

2005-11-22T11:15:00.000-06:00

The Dallas Cowboys looked pretty good against the Detroit Lions but it was a sloppy game overall. If the Lions hadn’t committed 17 penalties for 120 yards, we would not have won so easily. We had a great first quarter but bumbled around the rest of the game getting lucky here and there with the Lions plague of penalties. In other words the Cowboys could have done better and should be sweating this game with the Denver Broncos hard. They have the number one defense in the league and have been flexing their muscles all year with key wins over New England and the Eagles. Even though we are tied for first with the New York Giants, we are facing a tougher second half of the season than the Giants are. This team is going to have to get serious to make it through the rest of the season and in the playoffs.

Roy Williams Saves the Day

2005-11-16T13:35:00.000-06:00

Monday night was stressful for Dallas Cowboys fans. Julius Jones was playing but not starting and the Eagles had our offense pegged. We couldn’t get any third down conversions. After the half we couldn’t get a running game going nor could Drew Bledsoe get enough protection to find a receiver. In the last three minutes of the game Terry Glenn scored a TD. Trailing by 6 with minutes left, Roy Williams picked off bad lob by McNabb and stole the game for the Cowboys. McNabb suffered a possible season ending injury and the Boys are pretty much playoff material now.

Dallas Cowboys Pull Off a W

2005-09-27T14:19:00.000-05:00

Dallas Cowboys win over the San Francisco 49ers with a 34-31 victory. The Cowboys are looking good, even though Drew Bledsoe looked like he was going to fall into his old ways. Then he redeemed himself in the fourth quarter. It was an exciting game to watch on Sunday--to tell you the truth I enjoyed this game over the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots that came on at the same time. Terry Glenn had a very exciting game with 137 yards receiving, and Julius Jones having two TDs for the game made it look like they are a well-rounded team.

The next game for the Dallas Cowboys will be against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland this next week. If the Cowboys play like they have been, this will be another W for the Boys.

Dallas Cowboys Winning Opener

2005-09-13T09:25:00.000-05:00

Dallas Cowboys beat the San Diego Chargers 28-24. The first quarter had Cowboys fans thinking it’s going to be a long season but when the second quarter came Drew Bledsoe threw two touchdown passes--one to Patrick Crayton and another to Keyshawn Johnson, who would score another touchdown in the 4th to secure the win for Dallas. The next game will be against the Washington Redskins at the Texas Stadium. This should be another W for the Cowboys. With Drew Bledsoe leading the pack, this team should only get better. Who do you think would be the surprising team to have a winning season this year in the NFL? My vote will be for the Cowboys!!!

Dallas Cowboys Showed Up on Saturday

2005-09-01T11:20:00.000-05:00

Drew Bledsoe was trying everything in the book the first of the game. With four drives getting only 37 yards, the fifth drive they started to look like a team. Julius Jones running for a touchdown started a downhill effect for the Houston Texans -- the Dallas Cowboys being up first always puts doubt in any team’s mind. Next game being against Jacksonville Jaguars at Texas Stadium should be a good game, with one team coming from a win and one from a lose. If the Dallas Cowboys find their rhythm, the Jaguars better watch out.

Question for the week--Which team will have the most rushing yards as a team in the NFL?

Dallas Cowboys Are Back

2005-08-25T15:56:00.000-05:00

This team has been building since Troy Aikman left the Cowboys. Give it up to Bill Parcell sticking with this team, even though when he first took this coaching job, they were going down hill. He is one of the best coaches out there and the hardest to work for. He is already having trouble this season with so many injuries. Even though with all these injuries I think the Cowboys will do much better this year than the last two. With Drew Bledsoe taking over QB, the passing game will be much better than last year. Dallas will be exciting to watch, knowing that they are on their way up instead of that downward spiral they were on. Be sure to keep an eye on the Dallas Cowboys this year ‘cause they have the chance to make a couple of upsets.

Iron Man

2005-06-07T19:23:00.000-05:00

We all know that Larry Allen is one of the best linemen through out Cowboy history and the future Hall of Famer can play just about any position on the offensive line. Bill Parcells knows this too which is why is trying out Allen at right tackle this season instead of left guard. The ‘big tuna’ would like to see one of his youngsters emerge, such as rookie Rob Petitt or Ben Noll.

James Looks To Crack Starting Lineup In Third Year

2005-05-26T13:50:00.000-05:00

- from FOXSports.com

Bradie James paid his dues the first two years. Now he believes it's his chance to shine. The Cowboys' former fourth-round pick played behind Dexter Coakley the past two seasons, but with the Cowboys expected to open in a 3-4 scheme at this weekend's veteran mini-camp here at Valley Ranch, James is a leading candidate for the other inside linebacker spot alongside Dat Nguyen. And with the Cowboys getting younger on defense, the 24-year-old James expects to take on a leadership role.

Chris Canty

2005-05-19T17:05:00.000-05:00

Chris Canty, the fourth-round draft choice by the Cowboys, has been through the eye surgery that the Cowboys were well aware of before the draft. Apparently, everything is looking good (no pun intended). Canty underwent the surgery in North Carolina and is said to be ready to go when training camp begins in late July.

Canty is a defensive end from Virginia where he finished his two-year career with 161 tackles, twelve quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Team Report:

2005-05-17T16:41:00.000-05:00

- from FOXSports.com

It's clear the Cowboys don't feel comfortable with FS Lynn Scott entering training camp as the starter because they've worked out free-agent safeties Damien Robinson and Corey Hall in the last two weeks, though they declined to sign either of them. Scott, entering his fourth season, started nine of the last 10 games in 2004 when the Cowboys benched Tony Dixon. Scott has limited speed, but is a sure tackler and is an intelligent player who makes few mental mistakes and is capable of getting the secondary aligned properly based on the offensive formation. He will compete with Keith Davis for the starting job. Davis has more speed and is a terrific tackler, but he never has started an NFL game in three seasons and the Cowboys think his aggressive mentality could be a slight drawback, especially on play-action passes. . . .

Coach Bill Parcells asked first-round pick Marcus Spears to lost about 10 pounds and be at 295 when camp begins. That's the weight he played at in college and that's what Parcells thinks will allow him to have the most success since he'll be able to use his size and quickness to make plays at defensive end. Spears said losing the weight won't be an issue now that he has completely recovered from the arthroscopic knee surgery he had in February to repair minor ligament damage. . . .

Veteran LB Al Singleton, a starter when Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl in 2002 and a starter for the Cowboys the past two seasons, could find himself on the bench if rookie Demarcus Ware is the impact player the Cowboys think he will be. Singleton, a solid starter, missed the final three games with an abdominal injury. Singleton usually makes the plays he's supposed to make, but he didn't have an interception or a fumble recovery. The Cowboys want turnovers and Ware is probably more capable of forcing them than Singleton.

Filling up the Corners

2005-05-12T14:49:00.000-05:00

The Cowboys took into consideration being the team to give away more passes over last season than it has in at least 50 years. For this reason, the Cowboys have been filling up the corners. $11 million was spent solely on filling these positions. But, this has been a pressing issue to address.

Pete Hunter and veteran pickup Tyrone Williams, who were both placed on the injured list last season, were two big factors in the fat holes in the cornerbacks. A lot of pressure was applied to Terence Newman.

Now, after acquiring both Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn, the holes are quickly dissipating. Henry was one of the biggest names on the market, being one of the most respected cornerbacks straight out of Cleveland. Glenn also was a good acquirement having experience already with Bill Parcells and great veteran experience.

Hunter and Williams will also be returning the coming season.

Crowded Backfield Forces Cowboys To Waive RB Lee

2005-05-03T18:04:00.000-05:00

- from the official site of the Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys trimmed their roster to 92 players Tuesday by cutting four players, including running back ReShard Lee, the team's kickoff return leader last year. The club also waived defensive end Tron LaFavor, safety Steve Cargile and tight end Landon Trusty. Lee, who actually led the team with a 4.7 average per carry last year, was the odd man out in a Cowboys backfield that now includes Anthony Thomas, along with Julius Jones and rookie draft pick Marion Barber.

Cowboys Cut Williams and Anderson

2005-04-28T16:32:00.000-05:00

Richie Anderson and Randal Williams were cut from the Cowboys line up recently due to running out their usefulness. Anderson, a 12-year veteran of the game, has had a number of surgeries on his neck. His rehabilitation is set to take approximately five months, but he has not even begun to go through with it. Williams was never that important of an asset to the Cowboys. He only made one catch throughout his career at wide receiver.

SCOUTING REPORT:

2005-04-21T17:27:00.000-05:00

- from FOXSports.com

Torrin Tucker has all of the physical talent needed to play right tackle, but he must become a better technician at the position. At 6-6 and 315 pounds, Tucker is massive, but he doesn't always play with good pad level or leverage, which means smaller defensive lineman can get their hands on him and dictate the play. He must do a better job of initiating contact at the snap so he can be the aggressor at the point of attack and use his size as an advantage. Tucker is not a graceful athlete, so he must be technically proficient or he finds himself off-balance and out of position. His recovery skills are average, so when he gets beaten at the snap, he rarely salvages the play.

DRAFT WHISPERS:

2005-04-17T14:15:00.000-05:00

- from FOXSports.com

With two picks (11 and 20), the Cowboys have a chance to be players in the first round; owner Jerry Jones and coach Bill Parcells both like to trade on draft day. The final decision on a shift to the 3-4 defense won't come until after the draft because the team still needs another end, outside linebacker and inside linebacker to make it work. If Dallas acquires Saints RE Darren Howard, a player the team has been discussing trading for during the past month, it's an indication the club will stay with the 4-3.

Cowboy Updates

2005-04-12T15:39:00.000-05:00

As of now, it doesn’t look like the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a tight end during this draft period. The focus is going to turn nicely to turning out a wide receiver. The Cowboys are currently putting a lot of faith in current tight end Jason Witten, who had a good breakout season.

Dan Campbell is also returning from surgery that he had for torn ligaments.

South Carolina's Troy Williamson, Oklahoma's Mark Clayton and Roddy White from Alabama-Birmingham are among some of the top prospects for the wide receiver draft. This is on account that Dallas will most likely wait until the end of the first round to play a pick. The pick will be the 20th overall in the first round.

Draft Meetings

2005-04-07T13:54:00.000-05:00

It is time again for all of the high head ups to group together and develop some kind of plan of action. As of now, the draft is only a few weeks away and if any rounds need to be traded, this would be about that time.

"You've got the two (first round) draft picks and there's always the strategy that if given the opportunity we could use one of them to push into next year. That's a very real consideration because usually the opportunity is there, and I may do it."
- General Manager Jerry Jones

In the spirit of the draft, we have acquired a new wide receiver. Ahmad Merritt, who spent his last four years with the Chicago Bears, spent most of his time on special teams. He didn’t play much last season, but already has experience with Cowboys receivers coach Todd Haley who held the same position with the Bears previous to his current vocation.

Woody Dantzler

2005-03-31T17:25:00.000-06:00

- from the official site of the Dallas Cowboys

Woody Dantzler might have impressed Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells with his versatility in training camp two years ago, but it wasn't quite enough to warrant a roster spot. Dantzler, a former college quarterback and kick returner for the Cowboys in 2002, got caught in a numbers crunch at the end of camp when he didn't make a smooth transition to safety. But Parcells, who regretted releasing Dantzler prior to the 2003 season, re-signed the former Clemson standout this off-season and has sent him to NFL Europe, hoping he can finally find a niche as a safety.

OFFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS:

2005-03-20T19:37:00.000-06:00

- from FOXSports.com

Look for the Cowboys to use a lot more formations with two tight ends and one back this season since Dan Campbell, one of the game's best blocking tight ends will return after a foot injury that forced him to miss the final 13 games. Julius Jones proved he can be a dominant back -- when healthy -- last season and the Cowboys want to take advantage of his ability. Jones had 149 yards rushing or more three times in seven starts. The presence of Jones also means the Cowboys will probably use a lot more play-action this season. With Jones as a viable threat, most teams are probably going to commit an eighth defender to stop him which should create some one-on-one opportunities for a deep threat like Terry Glenn or TE Jason Witten down the seam.

Marco Rivera

2005-03-13T15:13:00.000-06:00

Marco Rivera has been pieced back together after discovering that he needed surgery on his back. Rivera was suffering with a herniated disk in his lower back. Recovery from this should only span a few months, so Rivera should be ready to rock before season play is back in full swing.

As of now, Rivera just signed a five-year deal with the Cowboys worth $20 million, including a $9 million signing bonus. They are sparing no expense making sure that the veteran of the game will heal up alright. This is something to take into consideration on account of Rivera hitting 33 sometime soon.

All in all, Rivera has more than enough time to come through a recovery with full force.

Jason Ferguson moving to the Cowboys

2005-03-08T13:57:00.000-06:00

This past Thursday, the Cowboys signed three players to the team. Including cornerback Anthony Henry and guard Marco Rivera, Jason Ferguson was signed from the New York Jets. Formerly part of the Dallas Cowboys, Ferguson is returning home. He was originally drafted by Parcells as a seventh round pick during 1997.

"He (Parcells) brought me in this league and a lot of the things he said and taught me in the three years I was with him, stuck. Hard work. When you go through training camp, and I've had two or three different head coaches since then, it just ain't the same. Sometimes when you need a change, you go back home."
- Jason Ferguson

The deal came out to a five-year contract worth $21.5 million, which included a $9 million signing bonus.

Veteran LB Refuses Pay Cut; Will Test Free Agent Market

2005-03-01T19:57:00.000-06:00

- from the Official site of the Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys made it clear to veteran linebacker Dexter Coakley that in order to return in 2005, he must restructure his contract and lower his $4.7 million cap charge for next season. As a result, Coakley will now likely test the free-agent waters, as the Cowboys released the eight-year veteran Wednesday to avoid paying him a $502,000 roster bonus. However, the Cowboys have not closed the door on a possible return for the three-time Pro Bowler.

3-4 Switch

2005-02-15T18:20:00.000-06:00

The Dallas Cowboys have been considering switching to the 3-4 defense strategy, but as of now that decision has not fully been made. Lately, many teams have been switching over to this method. But, why make this switch when only one season ago the Cowboys had the #1 defense in the NFL?

One major factor is Bill Belichick’s ability to win three out of the last four Super Bowls. And, of course, he was using the 3-4 defensive setup. One big thing to remember is that he decided not to use this strategy in the Super Bowl (Belichick, you brilliant bastard). The 4-3 setup gave a stronger push against Donovan McNabb and worked very successfully.

This has helped the Patriots retain strong defensive strategy, but will this work as well for the Cowboys? In some ways, yes, it could work. But, the team as of now is developed for the 4-3. The Cowboys had a few times during season play that they lined up in the 3-4, but their experience falls to the prior. Now, either some drastic change needs to be made (i.e. gaining players to cover the gaps) or the players need to cover their own asses.

Look out! Parcell is out and Scouting

2005-01-27T18:45:00.000-06:00

Bill Parcell, head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, made a surprise visit to the Senior Bowl this past weekend. Parcell, who has not gone in the last two off seasons, made an appearance at this potentially great scouting arena. Although not all potential draft picks would be participating, it gives a good example of what can be expected from those who participate.

One of the greats of coaching, Parcell has been with the Cowboys for two years. In addition, former Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni is added to the staff of coaches. His particular position in the staff is to be announced.

Who's coming back.

2005-01-22T14:17:00.000-06:00

From sports.yahoo.com:

An in-depth look at who the Cowboys have added this offseason.

Offseason Personnel Update
The Cowboys re-signed wide receiver Zuriel Smith to a one-year contract, reuniting with their sixth-round draft pick (186th overall) from 2003.

Smith played in nine games for Dallas in 2003 and went to training camp with the club in Oxnard, Calif., last summer. But he never made enough big plays to get himself out of the numbers crunch at receiver and was released on Sept. 5, a week before the start of the regular season. The 5-11, 166-pound receiver did not sign with another team and was out of football last season.

The Cowboys signed linebacker Kevin DeRonde. DeRonde (6-5, 259) originally signed with the club as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State in 2002, but was released after training camp.

The Cowboys re-signed DeRonde following the 2002 season and allocated him to NFL Europe, where he had four sacks and 24 tackles for the Barcelona Dragons. DeRonde's versatility allowed him to play defensive end and linebacker. He was released by the Cowboys in 2003 and by the Texans in 2004.

DeRonde's size and speed would be a good fit if the Cowboys decide to change to a 3-4 defensive scheme.

Personnel Coming Back
QUARTERBACK : Starter -- Vinny Testaverde. Backups -- Drew Henson and Tony Romo.

RUNNING BACKS : Starters -- RB Julius Jones, FB Darian Barnes. Backups -- RB Eddie George, RB Reshard Lee, RB Richie Anderson, FB Lousaka Polite.

TIGHT END : Starter -- Jason Witten. Backups -- Dan Campbell, Brett Pierce, Sean Ryan, Jeff Robinson.

WIDE RECEIVERS : Starters -- Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn. Backups -- Quincy Morgan, Patrick Crayton, Terrence Copper, Randal Williams.

OFFENSIVE LINE : Starters -- LT Flozell Adams, LG Larry Allen, C Al Johnston, RG Andre Gurode, RT Torrin Tucker. Backups -- T Kurt Vollers, T Jacob Rogers, G/C Tyson Walter, G Ben Noll.

DEFENSIVE LINE : Starters-- DE Greg Ellis, DT La'Roi Glover, DT Leo Carson, DT Marcellus Wiley. Backups -- DE Eric Ogbogu, DE Kenyon Coleman, DT DeVone Claybrooks.

LINEBACKERS : Starters --Al Singleton, Dat Nguyen, Dexter Coakley. Backups -- Bradie James, Scott Shanle, Kalen Thornton, Ryan Fowler and Keith O'Neil.

DEFENSIVE BACKS : Starters -- CB Lance Frazier, CB Terence Newman, S Roy Williams, S Lynn Scott. Backups-- CB Pete Hunter, CB Nate Jones, CB Jacques Reeves, S Tony Dixon, S Keith Davis.

PECIAL TEAMS : PK Billy Cundiff, P Mat McBriar, PR Lance Frazier, KR Reshard Lee, DS Jeff Robinson

Ready for a new start for next season

2005-01-08T20:42:00.000-06:00

From sports.yahoo.com:

Bill Parcells is heading into the offseason knowing what he must change about the Dallas Cowboys.

After all, they've had the same problems since training camp.

Dallas wrapped up its slide from 10-6 to 6-10 in fitting fashion late Sunday, ruining its own dramatic comeback by making a bunch of mistakes in the final minute. So instead of going out in a good way, the Cowboys gave up a touchdown in the closing seconds and lost 28-24 to the New York Giants, reaffirming many of the things Parcells already thought about his club.

``We've been the same since preseason. The team has never changed,'' Parcells said. ``We don't take care of the ball, we're not mentally tough and we're not physically tough enough at certain spots and it transcends to the rest of the team.''

Parcells didn't speak to reporters very long after the loss, saying he was tired and wanted to go home. The 63-year-old coach was not available Monday and planned to take his time before publicly discussing his offseason plans.

That is, his plans for the team. He's expected back for his third season, especially after saying on his weekly television show broadcast Sunday, ``My intention is to continue to coach here.''

Although Parcells knew what had to be fixed six months ago, he couldn't do it. Tweaks to scheme and personnel weren't enough and coaches were unable to get players to break bad habits, such as false starts on offense.

Dallas started 2-1, then won once in October, once in November and twice in December. As bad as the NFC was, the Cowboys still had a chance to make the playoffs with a strong final month, but lost three of their last four.

``A pretty good percentage of the guys fight to do well, then another percentage -- that's more than you can tolerate -- do not,'' Parcells said.

The changes will begin on defense, overhauling a unit that went from giving up the fewest yards in the NFL in 2003 to middle-of-the pack in '04.

The Cowboys allowed at least 30 points five times and struggled to produce takeaways. They didn't have a return touchdown for the first time since 1961; while special teams is to blame, too, they could've used a fumble or interception taken into the end zone.

``It's very disappointing, frustrating,'' linebacker Dat Nguyen said. ``We've just got to figure out what's wrong. Coach will find a way.''

Parcells believes it starts with getting more pressure up front. End Marcellus Wiley was the top offseason acquisition, but was practically invisible this season and probably won't be back.

Dallas also needs a tackle to pair with Pro Bowl pick La'Roi Glover -- unless Parcells opts for a major shakeup, dropping the 4-3 alignment preferred by defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and going to the 3-4 he's used most of his career.

The secondary will be another priority. Right cornerback already was a hole and the retirement of Darren Woodson means the Cowboys need a safety, too.

Other areas of concern are the offensive line and depth at running back behind Julius Jones, who was among the few bright spots in 2004.

Tight end Jason Witten also made that short list by becoming the team's most dependable receiver.

``When guys went down, I had to step up and show my talent,'' Witten said. ``I took advantage of every opportunity I had.''

Quarterback is the team's most talked-about position, but the big decision there will be whether Parcells wants Drew Henson and Tony Romo to spend the offseason in Europe or at team headquarters. Going overseas would provide experience, but might leave them too banged-up to be counted on next season.

Parcells has said one of them could be the starter in 2005, although they'll probably have to beat out Vinny Testaverde. The 41-year-old said Sunday night he wants to keep playing and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones already has said the team wants him back.

Henson threw just 18 passes his rookie season and Romo has yet to take a snap in two seasons. Parcells insisted Testaverde gave the team a better chance to win, but he may find himself wishing the youngsters had played more.

The best news for Dallas is having a lot to work with this offseason: plenty of room under the salary cap and two of the top 20 picks in the draft.

The Cowboys have No. 11 and they own Buffalo's first-rounder, which is 20th. It would improve a spot if St. Louis or Minnesota reach the Super Bowl.

Parcells worries that the available free agents may not play the positions he's looking to upgrade. Considering all the work that's needed, there should still be plenty of good candidates.

The cowboys have recently signed 4 players on to the practice sqaud and Larry Lacewell has not suprisingly retired at the age of 68. It seems as if Parcells is really ready to turn things around with this team, and he shows no sign of qutting soon. We will just have to wait and see what happens in the offseason, as far as retirement and otherwise. Lets hope Parcells lives up to his past and gets a great team together for next year. GO COWBOYS!

After Missing All Season, Safety Expected To Call It Quits

2004-12-27T17:36:00.000-06:00

Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

The Cowboys have had to play all season without their defensive captain and leader Darren Woodson.

Now it appears they'll have to get used to doing so for good.

Woodson, who missed the entire 2004 season after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disk on July 27, just three days before the start of training camp, is expected to announce his retirement later this week.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was rather blunt when asked Monday morning on a local radio station KTCK The Ticket if his career was over.

"Yes," Jones said emphatically. "You know, I think we've got to recognize that. I'm not sure when we and he will make it official."

No official announcement has been planned, but it is expected to occur by the end of the week, and with that will come the end to a glorious 13-year career.

Woodson, the Cowboys' all-time leading tackler with 1,350, has been the vocal leader of the defense nearly since the day he arrived in 1992. The former second-round draft pick needed only one year to assert himself as one of team's top defensive players. Woodson has started 160 games for the Cowboys, earning five trips to the Pro Bowl - only two defensive backs (Mel Renfro 10, Cliff Harris 6) have been to more in club history.

Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells, during his normal Monday afternoon press conference at Valley Ranch, hinted at the possibility Woodson would be hanging it up.

"I don't know, but I think as this week winds down that there might be something on that," Parcells said. "We've talked a little bit. This hasn't been good for him this year, so I don't know. That'd be for Darren to comment on, not me. I haven't had any real formal discussion on it but we probably would at the end of the season."

Woodson appeared ready to play his 13th season for the Cowboys until suffering the back injury, but at the time was projected to miss no more than the preseason games and possibly the first one or two games of the season. But his recovery certainly didn't proceed as well and as fast as anticipated. The surgery caused a problem in his sciatic nerve, the longest single nerve in the body that connects the spinal cord with the leg and foot muscles.

Woodson was initially placed on Physically Unable to Perform (PUP)), which shelved the safety for the first six weeks of the season. He was eligible to return to practice on Oct. 18, but Parcells said that day Woodson was "absolutely not ready" to practice and even the safety himself said he was still limping around.

Being on PUP gave Woodson a two-week window to return to practice, and then another three weeks for him to practice without taking up a roster spot. Still, the Cowboys were hoping he could return for the final part of a struggling season.

But as the weeks went by, and the losses started to mount, not only did it seem unlikely the Cowboys would make a playoff push, but it just didn't make much sense for Woodson to rush back onto the field.

"I think that's one thing Coach Parcells always talks about," Woodson said in an interview on Oct. 18. "If you're gonna play and get out there on Sundays, you're gonna have to practice hard, get a little battle-hardened and then we'll see if you're in shape and then you can go out and play. I know I'm not there just yet."

And as it turned out, Woodson never got there.

And the Cowboys struggled without him. Four-year veteran Tony Dixon was given the chance to fill the void, but he started just six games before being replaced by Lynn Scott in the starting lineup. Scott has been adequate, recording a sack and his first career interception in the last three games, but neither player has come remotely close to adequately replacing Woodson. Especially his leadership.

More than anything, Woodson's absence has affected the play of third-year pro Roy Williams, who has been forced to play more in coverage this season and less around the line of scrimmage. Williams, who was still elected to his second Pro Bowl last week, has not recorded a sack this year and has just four tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

"I think you saw the impact on our defense this year," Jones said on The Ticket of Woody's absence.

But Parcells has tried not to use Woodson's injury as an excuse. But face it, the Cowboys finished the 2003 season with the league's No. 1 in total defense and this year have slipped to 21st heading into the season finale against the Giants Sunday night.

"We haven't had him all year," Parcells said of Woodson. "Other guys have had to step up there. We can't say he's the reason we've struggled on defense. He hasn't been there all year."

As the prospect of Woodson playing again this year started to dwindle, talks of him possibly retiring after this year did start to surface. Woodson would never give a definitive answer on if he would indeed return for another season or call it quits at the end of the season.

But his vagueness all along appeared to be a dead give away, and now for a player who will turn 36 before next year's April draft, Woodson is ready to confirm just that.

The veteran safety can take his 13 years, his three Super Bowl rings, five Pro Bowls and all 1,350 tackles with him and call it a day.

Or make that, a career.

Analysis: After Improvement, Cowboys Divert Into Penalty Mess

2004-12-15T14:53:00.000-06:00

by Nick Eatman DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

Around Valley Ranch, a certain head coach doesn't like to use the "P-word" too often. He didn't like it last year even though his team was in the hunt all year long and eventually clinched a spot in the post-season play.

And he certainly didn't want to use the "P-word" much this year, despite his team having an outside shot of extending its season until Sunday's dismal loss to the Saints.

Now Bill Parcells probably won't have to worry about "playoffs" being mentioned around here much more. His 5-8 Cowboys are on the far outside looking in and will need nothing short of a miracle to sneak into that final wild-card berth. That miracle would include winning three straight games, which means beating the 12-1 Eagles Sunday in Philadelphia where no team has won all season.

Even at that, to win the improbable three straight games, the Cowboys would have to rid themselves from another foul "P-word," one which has virtually plagued them all season, especially in Sunday's loss to New Orleans.

Penalties.

All year long the Cowboys not only have been bitten by the penalty bug, but it's gnawed at their legs and feet in just about every loss this season. Now the Cowboys had made some improvements the past few weeks, committing just 15 penalties in the previous three games. But the penalty party resurfaced at Texas Stadium Sunday, and not just for the Cowboys. The Cowboys and Saints combined for 20 penalties totaling 212 yards, and that's not mentioning five others that were declined.

It seemed every time the Cowboys had decent field position after a punt or kickoff, a holding penalty pushed them back inside their own 20. Parcells said he couldn't recall more than five penalties in the kicking game all season before Sunday's game, in which the Cowboys committed five special teams infractions.

"We had 78 yards in lost field position on special teams penalties," Parcells said. "That's a substantial amount of yardage. That's worth five or six points right there. We'd have a kick off returned to the 44 and we wind up on the 14. Another one is to the 36 and we wind up on the 17. We have holding on a punt return, two of those put the ball inside our own 10-yard line.

"So those things combined with the 2-for-13 on third down, giving up big plays in the fourth defensively, not passing the ball efficiently, sacks - we gave up three sacks - you start putting those combination of things together and you get a poor result."

Poor was an understatement for a lot of things Sunday. Sure the performance the Cowboys put out there on that Texas Stadium field Sunday was poor. Sure quarterback Vinny Testaverde's game wasn't very good, although Parcells was quick to throw the entire offense under the bus right along with Testaverde.

But you want talk about just plain awful? Let's not excuse the officials here, either.

And no, this isn't a place to vent about all the poor calls against the Cowboys on Sunday and blame this lost to a just-as-bad Saints team on them. Because from this view, it appeared the Saints received just as many horrible calls, if not more.

Let's dissect a few, shall we?

For starters, Richie Anderson still hasn't been touched by Saints linebacker James Allen on a play the officials ruled pass interference on the Saints, giving the Cowboys the ball on the 1-yard line. Julius Jones scored the Cowboys' only touchdown on the next play.

Another bad one for the Saints? How about the first drive of the game when the officials flagged Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie for unsportsmanlike conduct when he broke up a pass, then jerking back Quincy Morgan's head and neck? Or what about the Saints getting called for leg-whipping, or the non-call when the Saints ran into Cowboys punter Mat McBriar?

All three of those calls appeared to be questionable from my angle, which was the only one I received. All three plays apparently weren't important enough for the Fox Network to replay. Of course not, when you've got inspiring graphics such as Favorite Juliuses and Favorite Joneses to show.

OK, sorry that's another argument for a different day.

But the fact is, the penalties seemed so inconsistent from start to finish. It's bad enough two below average teams are playing at a below average level, but then you get questionable officiating that prevents any kind of flow, and it spells disaster.

While we're harping on the refs, let's throw a couple of more jabs their way. And these are more personal pet peeves that are just so annoying. First, is it really necessary to mention the illegal contact was made on an "eligible" receiver? If it wasn't an eligible receiver, then the contact wouldn't be illegal, would it?

Second, why do officials feel the need to explain to us why a penalty wasn't called? A quarterback runs outside of the pocket and slings the ball towards the sideline to prevent a sack, which under the rules is a legal play, so why can't the officials just assume we know that and not delay the game even more by turning on their mic to explain this isn't intentional grounding because the quarterback was outside the pocket and throwing towards the line of scrimmage?

What's next? Will we hear the ref after play inform us "There was no foul for delay of game, the quarterback received the snap with two seconds remaining on the play clock. Thank you."

If it's a penalty tell us what, on who, maybe why and let's go. If it's not a penalty, assume we can figure it out.

And it's safe to assume Texas Stadium wasn't the only place where questionable officiating took place this past weekend. Looking around the league, there were a handful of other games in which penalties played a huge role. Chicago and Jacksonville had 21 total penalties. Detroit and Green Bay had 19. Oakland and Atlanta combined for 18. Including the 11 called on the Cowboys, 10 teams this weekend had at least nine penalties.

Now then, let's look at some teams which weren't flagged too often. How about Pittsburgh getting just two penalties for 15 yards, while their opponent - the Jets - get 12 for 84 yards? New England had only two penalties for 13 yards and the Eagles were flagged just five times for only 40 yards. Do you think it's any coincidence those are the three 12-1 teams in the league? Doubt it.

But this much appears obvious. Good teams either don't commit a whole bunch of penalties or they perform at a high enough level to overcome them.

The fact the Cowboys haven't done either very well this year is probably a reason they're not considered very "good" at this point.

Which is a good reason why the "P-word" is still a bad word these days out here at Valley Ranch.

Parcells sets priorities straight

2004-11-29T19:11:00.000-06:00

After pressure from the press and other onlookers, Parcells set Henson to start last Thanksgiving. Parcells had a change of heart midway through the game and I have to say, a win is just one more thing that I could be thankful for. It looked as if the recent controversy might have had some kind of effect on the team and especially Testaverde. The onlookers got what they wanted, and us fans got what we wanted. We got a win and Testaverde managed to get some pretty good numbers for the half he did play. I think we should let Henson play to an extent, but while we have the experienced, we should take full advantage of it. Henson has a whole career ahead of him while the outlook is hazy for Testaverde. Lets put the new found confidence to use against the Seahawks!

Henson going to step in..

2004-11-18T18:34:00.000-06:00

From the silverstardigest.com

Parcells not talking about coaching future.

Dallas coach Bill Parcells has made it clear he's tired of talking about when Drew Henson will make his NFL debut by lining up under center for the Cowboys. But a new topic was brought up this week about which he's even less excited to engage in any serious discussion: whether or not he'll return to coach the Cowboys in 2005.

Speculation has been building that the second-year coach might leave the Cowboys after this season, having realized that his team has less speed (and talent) than last year's record indicated. ESPN analyst Steve Young went so far as to offer to bet everyone on the set of the network's pregame show Sunday morning that Parcells would not return for the 2005 season.

When asked how this year's performance would affect his decision to coach beyond this season, Parcells appeared unable to believe the question was even asked.

"I'm not talking about next year -- that's a ridiculous question," he said. "See how early I get here in the morning, and you'll find out how committed I am (to the 2004 team)."

His players, including some of those who have played with him before joining the Cowboys, said they didn't have any idea what their coach plans to do after this season, but they recognized that the team's 3-6 record has been tough on Parcells.

"That's all speculation," running back Richie Anderson said when asked about the questions surrounding Parcells' future. "I know he's a competitor. But I can't speculate on how the way we've played will factor in his decision.

"I can speculate, but I might be way off. I know he takes it tough. He's a winner, and he's not taking this great."

Anderson added that use of injuries (to players like Julius Jones , Darren Woodson and Terry Glenn ) as an explanation for the team's performance doesn't carry much weight, since injuries are a way of life in the NFL.

"I don't think we're the only team experiencing injuries," Anderson said. "That's why you have other guys who have to step up."

Quarterback Vinny Testaverde said that not only does he not know what the future holds for Parcells, he said it's fruitless to even speculate.

"He's frustrated, like all of us are," Testaverde said. "But he's pretty resilient."

But toughness aside, Testaverde said he learned long ago that reading Parcells' mind is difficult, if not impossible.

"Only he knows that," Testaverde said when asked about what Parcells might do after this season. "I don't see that (Parcells stepping down) happening. One thing I've learned over the years is that nobody can figure him out, so I don't waste my time with that. And I don't think you (media) guys should waste your time on that, either."

Who knows what we will see this week against the Ravens. Lets hope its for the better, so we can see it like we did at the beginning of the season. GO COWBOYS!

October 29th Injury Report

2004-11-01T18:04:00.000-06:00

From the official site of Dallas Cowboys:

The Cowboys will likely need to sign a rookie wide receiver off the practice squad, just to be the fourth receiver for Sunday's game against the Lions. With Terry Glenn out with torn ligaments in his foot, an injury likely to keep him out for another week, and possibly longer, and now Quincy Morgan not expected to play because of strained hamstring, the Cowboys are certainly hurting for receivers . . . Either Dedric Ward or Randal Williams , who has yet to play in a game this year and has never caught a pass in the regular season, are expected to start alongside Keyshawn Johnson . . . As for the rookie, the Cowboys will either sign Patrick Crayton or Terrance Copper from the practice squad, if Morgan indeed is out this week.

Roethlisberger just beat us..

2004-10-22T16:52:00.000-05:00

Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers Quaterback, played phenomally in the last game against us. No, he didn't rack up big yards, but he completed 21/25 passes. They flat out beat us. We couldn't finish off our drives, which led us ultimatley to a small-gapped defeat. I really hope we can pick it up next week against the (2-4) Packers. GO COWBOYS!

Winning sreak cut short

2004-10-11T13:29:00.000-05:00

From Sports.yahoo.com

In addition to 11 penalties, the Cowboys' first fourth-down failure left them with no points after driving to New York's 5 and they squandered a 2-minute drill before halftime with a fumble that led to Christie's second field goal.

With our all-star roster, I thought a big streak was a sure thing this season. It was cut short by the Giants which not only gave them a win but a bigger lead in the division. Although it is stil early in the season, the early winners seem to stay that way throughout the season and vise versa. We have the same sort of schedule coming up so we catch a break this year. Lets get down and dirty and start a new streak with a new team.

Sloppy but a win

2004-09-25T16:45:00.000-05:00

Sloppy is a word that couldn't even begin to describe last weeks game. Although we came out on top, if it was any other day or any other team playing descent, they would have won. We did ok passing, but 3 interceptions won't cut it. Luckily, Jeff Garcia was playing horribly and also threw 3 interceptions. We really lucked out this game, but if it happens again , I have a feeling we won't be so lucky. We are looking towards a pretty evenly matched game against the Redskins and if we don't play our game against them, we won't pull it off. We have to make use of our talent or else we won't make it this year. Go Cowboys!

Season opener Jitters

2004-09-14T16:23:00.000-05:00

For the past 4 years or so, our season openers havn't been looking to good, but hopefully it will lead us to a much better season. We need get Vinny Testaverde even more oppurtunities since he played great with 355 yards and no turnovers. Although Eddie George hasn't quite lived up to his past, with his 25 yard rushing, I'm hoping he'll start playing like he didnt in the early years of the Titans. Now lets get out there and support our Cowboys!

Even better season ahead?

2004-09-03T19:45:00.000-05:00

After the first game against the Texans, the preseason has been all good for us. Even though they have been close wins(Wins are wins nonetheless.) So lets keep it up for the season opener against the increasingly popular Vikings. I am feeling more confident this year, especially after Mr. George displayed his ability to play against any team , even if it was his old team for many years. So lets keep up the streak to the regular season and "LETS GET READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!"

Close but better

2004-08-28T15:48:00.000-05:00

With the extremely close game against the raiders, I am feeling a whole lost more confident in the Cowboys now. After the Oh-So embarassing loss to the Texans a couple weeks ago, I think that game didn't show our ability to play[to the wire] as much as this last game did. Now we have to face the Titans in our next game, and Eddie George will have to very quickly forget his old team if he wants to help us win. Now lets get out there and cheer our Cowboys on!

Not so great start

2004-08-21T10:38:00.000-05:00

With the embarassing start against the Texans, we are going to need to redeem ourselves tonight against the Raiders. I don't know what it was last weekend, but I hope I dont have to see something like that happen again. Lets hope it was just preseaon jitters, anyways Go Cowboys!

Start it up again Cowboys

2004-08-10T13:59:00.000-05:00

Well with last years season as a major improvement, maybe if we continue to improve, we will be seing a gold trophy in the glass case. Anyways, If you guys havnt been keeping up with the NFL draft, heres what happened.

From sports.yahoo.com:

2
11 (43)
Julius Jones
RB
Notre Dame
(from Buffalo)

2
20 (52)
Jacob Rogers
OT
USC

3
20 (83)
Stephen Peterman
OG
LSU

4
25 (121)
Bruce Thornton
CB
Georgia

5
12 (144)
Sean Ryan
TE
Boston College
(from Buffalo)

7
4 (205)
Nate Jones
CB
Rutgers
(from Oakland)

7
15 (216)
Patrick Crayton
WR
NW Oklahoma St.
(from Tampa Bay)

7
22 (223)
Jacques Reeves
CB
Purdue
(from Dallas via Oakland)

If we improve as much as we did last year, then the superbowl is a very realistic hope. Now lets get out there and support our Cowboys!

2004 Schedule

2004-07-28T16:33:00.000-05:00

Here's the Dallas Cowboys 2004 schedule from NFL.com:

2004 Preseason
Date Opponent Time/Result
Aug. 14 at Houston 8:00 p.m.
Aug. 21 at Oakland 9:00 p.m.
Aug. 30 Tennessee 8:00 p.m.
Sept. 2 Kansas City 8:00 p.m.

2004 Schedule
Date Opponent Result
Sept. 12 at Minnesota 4:15 p.m.
Sept. 19 Cleveland 4:15 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Washington 9:00 p.m.
Oct. 3 Open Date
Oct. 10 New York Giants 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 17 Pittsburgh 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 24 at Green Bay 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 31 Detroit 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 at Cincinnati 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 15 Philadelphia 9:00 p.m.
Nov. 21 at Baltimore 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 25 Chicago 4:35 p.m.
Dec. 6 at Seattle 9:00 p.m.
Dec. 12 New Orleans 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 19 at Philadelphia 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 26 Washington 4:15 p.m.
Jan. 2 at New York Giants 8:30 p.m.

All times are Eastern

Construction

2004-07-22T14:18:00.000-05:00

Hey folks, still getting up and running here, so come back soon for regular updates!