Video Tribute to Tom Landry

Here's a neat video tribute I found on my favorite coach:

Terrell Owens: Born-Again Cowboy

Originally posted at Star*Struck

I have always had a hard time picking out a favorite player on the Cowboys. I tend to be a “team” concept kind of guy. It’s all about the team not the individual. Terrell Owens, however, is different. I have to admit that T.O. has definitely become one of my favorite players.

To be honest though, it hasn’t always been this way. Like many other fans, when I heard T.O. was coming to Dallas, I couldn’t help but imagine all the ways this would screw up our team. I knew about his problems in the “City of Brotherly Love” and I couldn’t forgive him for his dance of Red and Gold upon our beloved Star at midfield. For me, the celebration on the Star was a desecration of Holy Ground – the unpardonable sin in Cowboyland. “You can write this guy off – Don’t like him. Never will,” I said to myself.

Then……..we bring him to Dallas. What the…….??????

I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe that a man who once stood on that Star and mocked it would now be wearing it. As the Bible would say, we had “unequally yoked ourselves together with an unbeliever.”

Training camp of 2006 brought on some drama. I knew the distraction had come. I knew I had been right all along. It passed however, and I continued to wait – all season. Despite some obvious discontent between Owens and the Big Tuna, everything went fine. I even began warming to T.O. – not yet a fan, but secretly starting to hope I could be a fan (although I wouldn’t admit it to anyone).

In 2007, somewhere along the way, I admit I realized that I love T.O. (Hopefully, you won’t take that the wrong way. I refuse to defend the idea of one man loving another here in this blog. Ain’t nothin wrong with it.) It’s not about his stats, which if you compare them to previous years, you can make a pretty decent case that his best year was 2007. It’s about his attitude. T.O. has become a real Cowboy. If I had any doubts about this, they were all completely swept away after the playoff loss to the Giants. Many wanted to play the blame game. Not T.O. “We lost as a team,” he said. It wasn’t about T.O., Romo, Jessica, Mexico……..It was, is, and always will be about the team. With that interview, T.O. solidified me as his lifelong fan without any doubt.

Is T.O.’s new attitude for real? He just said recently that he wants to finish his career in Dallas. Many have questioned this. Not me. I’m a believer.

Personally, I think T.O. was once an unbeliever – holding no respect for the silver and blue or the star under which we play, but like anyone can, he changed. The man who once was never happy with the teams he played for has now found his calling. His calling is to be a Cowboy. He was once discontent due to being surrounded by mediocrity and a lack of dedication. In Dallas, he has found a place where excellence and tradition come together – a place where dreams are made – a place where Championships are written in the Stars.

Yes, T.O. was once an unbeliever. Now he is a “born-again” Cowboy. His sins of the past are behind him now. He plays for America’s Team. The team that has a hole in the stadium roof so God can look down and watch His Boys play football. This ain’t the same T.O. He’s a new man, on a new team, headed for a new Lombardi.

Let me say it once more………….I LOVE T.O.

Just admit it – you love him too.

Brad Johnson Comes Home and Gives Back

Cowboy quarterback Brad Johnson came home to the Asheville area this weekend to give back to a community that takes a lot of pride in calling him one of her favorite sons.

Brad attended Owen High School here in Black Mountain, NC from 1983-1987. He was an all-American quarterback for Owen and an all-state basketball player on a team that featured future UNC Tarheel standout and NBA center Brad Daugherty.

He came home to participate in the Brad Johnson/Verizon Wireless Celebrity Golf Classic and the Night of the Legends Auction. These events together are expected to raise as much as $400,000.00 for Eblen Charities – which exists to reach out to the many children, adults and families in Western North Carolina who are battling the effects of illnesses and disabilities.. At the auction, Johnson donated both a signed Cowboys helmet and one of his signed jerseys. He also spoke for the cause and visited with those in attendance, gladly posing for pictures and signing autographs.

Brad begins his 18^th season in the NFL this year. He will turn 40 on September 13^th and once that happens, he will enter some elite company. He will become only the 16^th player in NFL history to play quarterback at age 40 or older.

While Brad is apparently going to finish his career as a backup QB for Tony Romo, we shouldn’t forget his past accomplishments: From 1996-2006 he was starting QB for the Vikings, Redskins, and the Buccaneers when he was healthy. During that 11 year span, Brad started 122 of 136 games and was a member of the Buccaneers Superbowl XXXVII Championship team in 2002.

Throughout his career Brad has been known as a man with a tremendous work ethic both in football and in various community causes. He’s another one of those Cowboy players who realizes that it’s not all about him and is willing to work for the betterment of others around him. By the way, that outstanding work ethic is probably why, at nearly age 40, he is still playing in the NFL while I, on the other hand, already at age 40, get winded just typing here at the keyboard.

I just wanted to take a minute and tip my hat to Brad. True heroes aren’t made just on the football field. We all love great plays and championships for sure, but it’s important to remember the need to give back to others when we ourselves have been blessed abundantly. So Brad, thanks for coming home and giving back.

It's kind of nice to see Cowboy players who spend their weekends doing something helpful rather than squeezing a trigger or punching a stripper.

Clint Longley: The Rise and Fall of the Mad Bomber

Clint Longley. Does the name ring a bell? It may not if you’re under the age of 30. Because if you’re under 30, you never saw Longley play for the Cowboys, although you may have heard about him. Clint’s career with the Cowboys was brief, but not without heroics, not without drama, and certainly earns him a place as one of the most fascinating players in Cowboy history.

Clint Longley came to the Cowboys in 1974 as a rookie quarterback from Abilene Christian College. Longley quickly earned a reputation for being unpredictable and was maddening for both receivers and defenders alike. Cowboy safety Cliff Harris said, “He looks one way and then throws sidearm in another direction. In practice, guys pull muscles trying to go where he throws the ball.” Longley earned the nickname “Mad Bomber” when one of his wayward passes smacked Coach Landry’s tower during training camp. Adding further to Longley’s mystique was the fact that his hobby was hunting rattlesnakes in his spare time.

By Thanksgiving Day of 1974, the Cowboys were struggling. Their record was 6-5 and they were facing the Division leading Redskins on this Turkey Day. The Boys were flat. It was one of those rare days when even Staubach didn’t seem to have anything. A Redskin win would guarantee them a Division Championship. The Skins had already made a boast that they would knock Staubach out of the game, leaving Dallas with only their rookie quarterback (Longley) – and in the Redskins mind, leaving the Cowboys no chance to win the game.

With 9:57 left to go in the third quarter, the Washington boast regarding Staubach proved prophetic, as he was knocked out of the game from a hit by Dave Robinson of the Redskins. With the Cowboys trailing the Skins by 16-3, Coach Landry quickly turned to Longley saying, “Clint, you’re in. Good luck.”

Ummmm. Redskins, meet the Rookie……

While many fans began to move toward the parking lot and the Redskins began to gloat in an apparent victory, the Mad Bomber took control and proceeded to bomb away. He completed 12 of 21 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. The game winning touchdown was a 50 yard strike to Drew Pearson with less than 30 seconds left. The Redskins had fallen 24-23 to “the Rookie” and a new hero had emerged in Big D.

Unfortunately for Longley, he faded into the background during the next season (1975), although he did start against the Jets in the final regular season game when Staubach was again injured. Longley came through again, leading the Cowboys to a 31-21 victory.

During training camp in 1976, the tension was palpable as the Cowboys signed Danny White and it appeared that Longley would be relegated to third string due to White’s WFL experience. After one practice session, Longley made a derogatory remark about Drew Pearson after Pearson dropped one of Longley’s passes. Staubach told Longley that he was getting tired of him talking about people behind their backs and stated, “Somebody is gonna knock those Bugs Bunny teeth of yours in.”

“Are you going to be the one?” Longley said.

Staubach replied, “Yeah, I’d love to do it.”

Staubach and Longley agreed to meet at a baseball diamond adjacent to the practice field. By the time assistant coach Dan Reeves arrived to break up the fight, Staubach had Longley pinned beneath him.

Shortly after this, at another practice session, Staubach had his head down and Longley came up and threw a punch. Staubach was knocked into a set of scales and received a cut that took several stitches to close. Longley quickly returned to his dorm room, retrieved his bags (which were already packed), caught a ride to the airport, and was gone. Needless to say, the Cowboy organization traded Longley almost before the doctor could finish stitching up Staubach.

Longley ended up with San Diego for the rest of the ’76 season but eventually drifted away from football and has been reclusive ever since. He doesn’t grant interviews and talks about his playing days with just a handful of former teammates. Many have speculated on why Longley punched Staubach, with the most popular answer being that he wanted to be traded (Remember that his bags were packed before the punch). We will probably never know unless Longley decides to break his silence and tell us in his own words. It’s been 32 years. I won’t hold my breath for an answer.

Still, it’s an intriguing story in Cowboy history. A relative unknown becomes an instant hero. Shortly thereafter, he becomes an instant villain by punching Captain America. In refusing to discuss the incident, he has become a 30 year enigma for those of us fascinated with Cowboy history.

Below you will find a link to an original article written by Leonard Shapiro of the Washington Post on the day after the Redskins defeat at the hands of the "rookie." I thought it was interesting to read the report from the Skins "hometown" paper.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/redskins/longterm/1997/history/allart/dw1974b.htm

Where Have I Been???????

Hey guys and gals,

Many of my MySpace friends have sent me messages asking where I have been and why I haven't been on here very much. Things have been busy around here lately. Here's a couple of things I have been doing:

1. Following Tony Romo around with a cam corder. I have been filming he and Jessica Simpson as they go on dates. Once I get enough footage, I am going to send it to Tom Brady in an envelope marked "RomoSpyCam" so Tom can learn some plays from a real ladies man.......

2. I have also been trying to put together a company with T.O. So far, the details are yet to be fully worked out. Here's the idea: A new brand of popcorn called T.O.'s Game Ready Popcorn. We would market it as a new flavor under the Orville Redskinbasher label. Honestly, I think it would sell......

3. Lastly, I have been working closely with Pacman Jones. We are trying to figure out a way to get his house arrest ankle bracelet off his leg so he and I can check out some of the local Dallas strip clubs now that he's in town........We will probably take some of the popcorn with us, but I have to remember to be careful when saying the word "pop" around Pacman. He sometimes takes things to the extreme.......

Seriously, things have been rather busy with me lately. I haven't been on MySpace much at all. I have checked my messages and comments but thus far, have not had the chance to reply to them all. I have also been slack in my writing for StarStruck. Hopefully, Kelly won't fire me and I can be back to writing some more blogs in the next few days.

So, for all you folks who have been wondering where I have been, I am still here. Don't delete me. I love all my Cowboy buddies. Keep in touch and I will try to reply as soon as I can.

Wishing everyone the best. Peace, love, and a 6th Lombardi for the Cowboys and all their fans is my wish for this year.

GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!

Dallas Cowboys Game Schedule for 2008

This graphic schedule was designed by my good friend Kelly at www.lonestarstruck.com.
Please visit my friends at Star*Struck and check out the site.

Charles Haley: Five Ring Champion

Originally written Monday, March 10, 2008
posted at www.lonestarstruck.com

After the Steelers had won their fourth Superbowl title in 1980, they came up with a slogan to describe their hopes for the following season. The slogan was, "One for the thumb in 81" meaning that many of the players had earned four Superbowl Rings in the past decade and were planning on getting a fifth one for the following season. Unfortunately for the Steelers, none of those players ever achieved the goal of a fifth ring as a player.

Thus far, the only man in NFL history to earn five Superbowl rings as a player is Charles Haley. Haley earned two of those rings with the San Francisco 49ers and then three more while playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

Haley played outside linebacker for the 49ers from 1986-1991 and helped them earn two championships in Superbowl XXIII (1988) and Superbowl XXIV (1989). After several well-publicized confrontations with his 49er teammates and the coaching staff, Haley was traded to Dallas during the 1992 off-season.

Although Haley gained a reputation as a disgruntled and malcontent player during his first years with San Francisco, he found a home in Dallas. From 1992-1996 Haley filled the position of defensive end for the Cowboys and was an integral part of their success and Superbowl Dynasty of the 90s. During this era, as you know, the Cowboys won Superbowls XXVII (1992), XXVIII (1993) and XXX (1995).

In 1996, Haley made the decision to retire after suffering a herniated disc five games into the season. In 1998, Haley came out of retirement to aid his old team, the 49ers in post-season play. The following year, 1999, he returned and played a full season with the 49ers before finally retiring for good.

Haley's accomplishments during his 12 year career are quite impressive. He had 100.5 sacks, 485 tackles with 13 assists, 26 forced fumbles, and 1 safety. He had 2 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Haley was named to 5 Pro Bowls (88, 90, 91, 94, and 95) and was named an NFL All-Pro in 1990 and 1994. In addition, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

The late Bill Walsh called Haley "one of the greatest players of our era. At one point, he was considered the best pass rusher in all of football." Former Cowboys quarterback, Troy Aikman, said, "In my opinion, we would not have experienced the run of success we enjoyed here if it were not for Charles Haley's contributions."

Many people, myself included, believe Haley's personal accomplishments have earned him a spot in the NFL Hall of Fame, but unfortunately, he has not been able to make the list of 15 finalists in his first few years of eligibility. Hopefully, the NFL will rectify this situation in the near future. Until then, Charles, we Cowboy fans offer up our gratitude and recognize your contributions to America's Team. Thanks.

Note: This blog entry is part of a series called Galaxy of Stars: Cowboy Profiles from the Past and Present at www.lonestarstruck.com

The Cowboys Record Against Other NFL Teams

Originally written Wednesday, March 5, 2008

posted at www.lonestarstruck.com

Just in case you have ever wondered how the Cowboys have matched up against other NFL teams through the years, I have put together something you might be interested in.

Below you can see the Cowboys win/loss record against each team in the NFL since 1960. I snagged the info from the 2006 media guide and updated the records by adding the wins/losses from the 2007 season. The totals below are from the regular season and the playoffs. It does not include pre-season play.

..>..>..>..>..>..>

Arizona Cardinals	55-28-1
Atlanta Falcons	15-8
Baltimore Ravens	0-2
Buffalo Bills	7-3
Carolina Panthers	7-3
Chicago Bears	13-8
Cincinnati Bengals	5-4
Cleveland Browns	11-17
Denver Broncos	5-5
Green Bay Packers	15-12
Houston Texans	1-1
Indianapolis Colts	8-6
Jacksonville Jaguars	2-2
Kansas City Chiefs	5-3
Miami Dolphins	5-7
Minnesota Vikings	14-12
New England Patriots	7-3
New Orleans Saints	14-8
New York Giants	54-36-2
New York Jets	7-2
Oakland Raiders	3-6
Philadelphia Eagles	54-43
Pittsburgh Steelers	15-14
St. Louis Rams	14-14
San Diego Chargers	6-2
San Francisco 49ers	14-16-1
Seattle Seahawks	6-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	9-3
Tennessee Titans	7-5
Washington Redskins	56-38-2

Keep in mind that these records reflect games with Dallas when some of these teams were under other names and/or played in other cities than they do now. For example, the record against the Tennessee Titans also reflects games played against the Cowboys when the Titans were known as the Houston Oilers.

It is interesting to note that out of the 31 other teams in the NFL, the Cowboys have a winning record against 22 of those teams, they have a losing record against 5 teams (Ravens, Browns, Dolphins, Raiders and 49ers), and their record is at .500 with 4 teams (Broncos, Texans, Jaguars, and Rams). Just some stats I thought other Cowboy fans might find interesting.

Remembering Buddy Dial

Originally written Wednesday, March 5, 2008
posted at www.lonestarstruck.com
January 17, 1937 – February 29, 2008

Gilbert Leroy "Buddy" Dial passed away on Friday, February 29th, at the age of 71. Dial was a star wide receiver who played 8 years in the NFL, first for the Pittsburgh Steelers and then for the Dallas Cowboys.

Dial played with the Steelers from 1959-1963 and was then traded to the Cowboys per his request in 1964 and remained with the Cowboys until his retirement in 1966. During his career Dial made 261 receptions for a total of 5,436 yards and 44 touchdowns. His best year was in 1963, with the Steelers, when he caught 60 passes for 1,295 yards and 9 touchdowns. His per catch average remains the second-highest in NFL history at 20.8 yards per catch. Dial made the Pro Bowl in 1961 and 1963, and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the National High School Hall of Fame.

The bulk of Dial's productivity came during his years with Pittsburgh. In his final three years with Dallas, Dial was not as productive due to nagging injuries that eventually left him largely disabled after his football career was over.

Dial passed away Friday, February 29th in a Houston Hospital after being recently admitted for treatment of cancer and pneumonia.

Danny White: Underrated Star in the Cowboy Galaxy

Originally written Monday, March 3, 2008
posted at www.lonestarstruck.com

Danny White came to the Cowboys in 1976 as a backup quarterback to Roger Staubach and to do duty as the Cowboys punter. He had spent the previous two years (1974-1975) in the World Football League with the Memphis Southmen. Danny remained at the backup quarterback position through the 1979 season when Staubach retired, giving White his opportunity to lead the offense starting in 1980.

White led the Cowboys to three consecutive NFC Championship games (1980-1982) and made the Pro Bowl in 1982. The Cowboys lost all three championship games despite being favored and White was severely criticized for his role in those losses. In 1983 Danny had his best season ever statistically, leading the Cowboys to a 12-4 record and another playoff appearance. Despite the 12-4 record, the Cowboys finished 2^nd to the Redskins in the NFC East and then lost the Wildcard Playoff game to the L.A. Rams bringing about further calls for White to be replaced.

In 1984, Danny lost the starting QB spot to Gary Hogeboom, but Hogeboom's ineffectiveness led Landry to place White back in the starting position and the team finished 9-7 missing the playoffs. In 1985, White led the Cowboys back to the playoffs after finishing first in the NFC East, but once again, they were defeated in the post season by the L.A. Rams. In 1986, the Cowboys found themselves with a 6-2 record, tied for the lead in the NFC East and ranked as the 1 offense in the NFL. Then White suffered a broken wrist against the Giants which ended his season. Steve Pelluer took over as QB and the Cowboys finished with a 7-9 record and their first losing season since 1964. In 1987, White again returned as the starter but was eventually replaced by Steve Pelluer and the Cowboys finished with a 7-8 record (one game was cancelled). In 1988, Pelluer became the starter during training camp and White remained as backup for the entire season while the team finished with a dismal 3-13 record. In 1989, with the Cowboys under a new owner and coach, White's contract was not renewed and he decided to retire.

At the end of his career, Danny had racked up 1,761 completions on 2,950 attempts for 21,959 yards. He passed for 155 touchdowns and 132 interceptions. In the area of rushing, he gained 482 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. Another interesting stat about Danny is the fact that he had two pass receptions for touchdowns which resulted from half-back option passes. As punter, Danny punted 610 times for 24,509 yards, had an average of 40.4 yards per punt. 144 punts were inside the 20 yard line and he had 77 touchbacks. His record as the Cowboys' starting quarterback was 62-32 during the regular season and 5-5 during the playoffs.

After his retirement as a player, Danny White has continued to be successful as a head coach in the Arena Football League, winning two Arena Bowl Championships in 1994 and 1997.

The late Tom Landry, said this of Danny White: "I don't know of any quarterback who could have replaced a Roger Staubach and done a better job…Not many people realize what a fine quarterback Danny White was. He threw more touchdown passes than either Staubach or Meredith. And in 1983 he had the best statistical year a Cowboys' quarterback ever had when he set club season records for 3,980 passing yards and twenty-nine touchdown passes. Danny White was probably as fine a winner as we have had in football."

Here are some team records Danny set during his career:

• Most four-or-more TD-pass games in a career (8)
• Most Pass Attempts in a season (533)
• Completions in a season (334) (Broken by Romo with 335 in 2007)
• Touchdowns (29) in a season (Broken by Romo with 35 TDs in 2007)
• Passing yards (3,980) in a season (Broken by Romo with 4,211 yds in 2007)
• Best Single Game Pass Percentage (21-24, 87.5%)
• Most pass attempts (53) and completions (32) in a playoff game
• Most punts (11) in a game and a career (612)

Statistically, Danny White stacks up very well against other quarterbacks with the Cowboys and other football organizations. He broke many of Staubach's individual records and Aikman was unable to top White in many areas during his stellar career. Now, under Romo, more of White's records are starting to fall. Personally, I believe Danny has never received the praise he deserved as a quarterback largely due to the fact that he never led the Boys to a Superbowl win. If the Cowboys had earned at least one Superbowl Championship under Danny, would we see him differently today? Replacing Staubach might have been a no-win situation for any quarterback. Could he have been one of the "Great Ones" if he had been placed with a better supporting cast? I'm not sure if he could have been but I do know this: Danny was a very good quarterback, one who wore the Star well, and one who deserves far more accolades than he gets among fans today.

For more information on Danny and what he's doing today, visit his personal site at www.dannywhite.com or go to www.utahblaze.com to check out his team site.

Note: This blog entry is part of a series called Galaxy of Stars: Cowboy Profiles from the Past and Present at www.lonestarstruck.com

T.O. Late for N.O. - Still Wins MVP

Originally written Saturday, February 16, 2008
posted at www.lonestarstruck.com

The McDonald's NBA All Star Celebrity Game took place in New Orleans on Friday the 15th of February featuring Team New Orleans against Team Hornets. Yes, having two teams with one named New Orleans and the other named Hornets can get confusing, so I will try not to lose you.

Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys was slated to play for Team New Orleans in the game but had not arrived by tip off time. Another former Dallas Cowboy, Deion Sanders, was playing for Team Hornets.

The Hornets led the game most of the way and were spurred on by the play of Deion Sanders who scored 14 points and had 13 rebounds in the game.

Midway through the 2nd quarter, with Team Hornets leading by double digits, a familiar face appears on the sideline wearing the uniform of New Orleans. Getcha popcorn ready cause T.O. has just arrived. T.O. quickly makes an impact on the game but his team still trails the Hornets 28-23 at the half.

In the second half, New Orleans makes a game out of it by closing the gap to 50-49 in favor of the Hornets with 19.5 seconds to go. With that short time remaining, Floyd Mayweather (world welterweight champion) was sent to the foul line and hit both free throws to give New Orleans a lead of 51-50. No other points were scored in the final seconds of the game giving New Orleans the win.

Terrell Owens finished the game as the high scorer with 18 points, including one dunk, and 3 rebounds. Due to his efforts on the court he was named the Most Valuable Player of the game. Not bad for a guy who didn't show up until the middle of the second quarter. Don't ya just love him? Way to go T.O.

Looking Ahead: Cowboys Opponents for 2008

Originally written Friday, February 8, 2008
Posted at www.lonestarstruck.com

Several weeks ago, the NFL released the opponents the Cowboys will be playing in 2008. Although we have been told which teams we will play at home and which are road games, the NFL has not yet released the date that each game will take place. I am sure that when the dates of the games are released, Kelly, here at StarStruck, will be busy designing schedules for us all to post on our sites.

Naturally, we will face each opponent in the NFC East twice during the regular season. This means that we will have to face the Giants, Redskins, and Eagles once on the road and once at home for a total of 6 games of the 16 game season. Although we won our division handily this year, we cannot take any of these games for granted. I have said it before and I will continue to say it: Year in and year out, the NFC East is one of the toughest if not the toughest division in the NFL. Although I believe we are better overall than each of these teams, any one of them is capable of beating the Cowboys on any given day. I think we are the stronger team out of these opponents and will win the division again next year, but I will not be surprised at one or even two losses within the division. I can already feel some of you steaming at that last remark. Please understand, I am not being pessimistic, just realistic. One side note: Considering that the Giants knocked us out of the playoffs this year, I would be very willing to bet that one Monday night game will involve us playing the Giants either at home or on the road. There's too much drama there. The NFL almost has to put one of those games in prime time.

The remaining ten games in the regular season are made up of non-division opponents. They are:

Road Games
Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Home Games
San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Of these teams, only four had losing records last year: the 49ers,Ravens, Bengals, and Rams. The rest were .500 or better. Six of our opponents made the playoffs. These were: the Giants, Redskins, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Packers, and Steelers. Since we play the Redskins and the Giants twice, that means that 8 of our 16 opponents for 2008 were playoff teams in 2007.

I have read some comments from other fans that we have an easy schedule and we should go undefeated in 2008. Again, I don't want to sound pessimistic, but this is the NFL and since we were the number one seed in the NFC this last year, the powers that be in the league have no intention of making it easy on us. Although most of these teams didn't come close to matching our 13-3 record last year, this will still be a tough schedule. Remember, we almost lost to Buffalo early this last season (and to be honest, we probably should have the way we played) but we pulled it out in the end. Just like I said about the NFC East, any team in the NFL has talent and can put together at least one great day of football (I think the Patriots would agree with that anyway).

As for an undefeated season, I would enjoy that just a much as any Cowboy fan. However, history makes me face the realistic probability that this won't happen. Seldom does a team have that opportunity. It takes talent on your team, but due to the level of opposition in the NFL, a little luck is also usually needed. Personally, I would rather see us take a loss or two in the regular season and then go into the playoffs fighting mad. Lose early, get it out of our system and enter the playoffs knowing that we are a good team but not overconfident about it (Once again, I think the Patriots might agree with me here).

So, here's what I think and some of you may write nasty things to me about it - but it's ok, I can take it. We will win the NFC East. We will be the frontrunner for the Superbowl title and I think we WILL take it. Undefeated? No. I honestly believe our record will be no better than 14-2 and could even be 12-4. Again, I am not being negative, just realistic based on that schedule. We will lose at least one or two games in the NFC East and maybe one or two among our remaining opponents. I hope I am wrong. 19-0 would be wonderful. If I'm wrong I will gladly let my wife spank me and call me names (Hmmmm…..Now that I think about it……never mind. Now where was I??? Oh yeah....). The bottom line is that a tough schedule with some losses will prepare us to rise to the occasion when the playoffs arrive. Just like diamonds are made under extreme pressure, it may very well be the pressure of losses that cause our Stars to shine. Shine on Cowboys. Run for the Ring baby!!!

Pursuit of Perfection Fails to Finish

Originally written Monday February 4, 2008

posted at www.lonestarstruck.com

In the end 18-0 was just not enough. 18-1 doesn't earn you a Championship when the loss comes in the last game. You have to be able to finish to claim the title of Superbowl Champions. I think it was Fox announcer Curt Menefee that I heard say, "The Patriots came in undefeated while the Giants came in undaunted." That just about sums it up. As many of you know, I was rooting for the Giants in this game while many of my other Cowboy friends wanted the Pats to finish their season undefeated and go down in history (while many Cowboy fans also couldn't have cared less). I really didn't think the Giants would accomplish this, but my hat is off to the G-Men. They had a job to do and did what no other team has been able to do this season.

The Giants defense was definitely the key in this game. The defense was able to put so much pressure on Tom Brady that the Pats were never able to get in rhythm and stay there. Brady was sacked 5 times and hit 9 other times while throwing the ball.

As Cowboy fans, why should we care? Well, here are my thoughts for what they're worth: The Giants defense pressured Brady just like it did Romo in our last game against the Giants. While many people have wanted to play the blame game and not give the Giants credit for the win over the Cowboys, I for one, will do so. Our loss to the Giants had nothing to do with Jessica Simpson, or Mexico, or assistant coaches being distracted. Jessica didn't play in the game. The game took place in Dallas, not Mexico. The coaches didn't drop the balls, botch the plays, or fail to protect Romo. Like T.O. said in his interview after the game: "We lost as a team."

Protection was something Brady would have loved to have had yesterday. The Giants defense just kept getting into the backfield and I'm sure that Brady was hearing footsteps coming up behind him on every play by the end of the game. I don't blame Brady for this loss and I don't blame Romo for ours. A quarterback is one man, while a win/loss is a team effort. The Giants outplayed the Patriots, and, much as it pains me to say it, they outplayed the Boys.

I do take some consolation in the fact that the Patriots will not be considered "The Greatest Team of All Time" now. They are just one of the other 31 teams who failed to finish.

One final thought for what it's worth: Our Cowboys played the Giants three times this season, winning two, but losing the one that counted. The Patriots played the Giants twice this season, winning one, but losing the one that counted. If you add up the score of the Giants v. Patriots games you come up with 8 quarters of football and a final cumulative score of 52-52. The Cowboys, on the other hand, played 12 quarters of football against the Giants and finished with a final cumulative score of Cowboys 93-Superbowl Champions 76. Now, I know that's not much consolation to my Cowboy friends out there but I find some satisfaction in it (not much, but some….). Should we have beaten the Giants at home and advanced further in the playoffs? Yes, we should have, but we didn't. Could we have beaten the Patriots in the Superbowl? Yes, I think we could have, but that question will have to remain unanswered.

To the Patriots, I say, we Cowboys know how you feel. It's tough to have so much promise and potential and fall short at the end. We know…..

To the Giants, who have not, and probably will not, get the respect they deserve from most, I tip my hat to you on a good season and the ability to finish well. Wear your crown proudly. You are Champions and I freely admit it.

However, keep your ears to the ground during the offseason. Down in Texas, horses are getting re-shod and saddles are being polished. If you listen closely, you will begin to hear the thunder of distant hoof beats and the crack of whips. All too soon, you will see Stars on the horizon. It's not your fan club coming to pay homage. It's a cattle drive decked out in Silver and Blue coming to trample you and take your crown. So, enjoy this one Giants. We're thinking of you here in Texas. Can't wait to see you.

Barber? Jones? McFadden? Who’s Going? Who’s Staying? Who’s Coming?

Originally written Wednesday, January 30, 2008

posted at www.lonestarstruck.com

Originally, I had planned to write this blog on why I think we should go ahead and let Julius Jones go and keep Marion Barber. I have thought for most of the season that Barber is the future in the Cowboys backfield. While Jones is a good back and can certainly be the lead man in another offense, I think he has seen the writing on the wall in Dallas, and realizes that he is going to be relegated to a supporting role for Barber. Because of this, I think Jones slacked off this season. When he gets the chance to carry the ball, he spends his time dancing around the backfield, waiting for a hole to open up. Barber, on the other hand, tends to make a hole if one isn't readily available.

My reasoning here is, that Julius Jones, while a talented and hard worker, has lost heart, due to his realization that Barber is now perceived as the premier back. Julius knows that he can be the top back in many other offensive schemes, just not here with the Cowboys. Therefore, I was going to argue that we should get a contract on Barber and lock him in long term and let Jones go with our best wishes since I don't think we can keep both.

Then - from stage left, enters Darren McFadden of Arkansas. The rumors are flying that Jerry Jones wants McFadden and wants him badly. Miami, of course, would have the first shot at McFadden (or anyone) due to having the first round draft pick this coming year. As we all know, we have already had a mass exodus of coaches from Dallas to Miami to join the Big Tuna. In thinking about this, it seems that Jerry Jones has been very cooperative in this process, and has allowed these guys to leave without much effort to keep them. In addition, it is also rumored that Miami wants Barber. Could there be a deal in the works to let assistant coaches go without a whimper, while also tossing Barber into the mix at some point in order for the Cowboys to get their hands on that first round draft pick?

To be honest, I have no idea. All I know are the rumors I hear on the sports shows and the other blogs and fan sites I read. I love Barber and don't want to see him go. However, I loved Herschel Walker and thought his trade was one of the most stupid things I had ever seen - at the time it happened. Of course, I realized later, that "The Trade" as it would come to be known, was a brilliant coup on the part of Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson to lay the foundation for a dynasty, while Minnesota ended up feeling like they had bought a huge "lemon" from the shadiest used car dealer in town. Ultimately, the final results of "The Trade" brought some now familiar names to the Boys - Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith, Darren Woodson, and Clayton Holmes. For Minnesota, the results brought - relative obscurity.

My thoughts here are this, I know Jerry Jones is a smart business man. He knows how to cut a deal, and has proven that time and again in the past. I admit that I have thought him crazy at times in the past and then later, I was proven wrong when the impact of these deals have been brought to light. Jones obviously has some neurons and synapses firing in his head that don't work so well in my noggin. But please, let's not make the mistake Minnesota did - thinking they were one back away from a championship, they sold their soul (and their supporting cast) to get him.

Again, I love Barber and think he may be the toughest back out there. McFadden is, without a doubt, extremely talented, yet unproven in the NFL. Barber has already proven himself with the Cowboys. Aren't there other possible ways of getting McFadden without giving up Barber? Is all this just unfounded rumor with no basis in reality? Many have said so. They say there's no way Jones will let Barber go. It's a given that Jerry Jones will sign him. I thought so too, but why hasn't he done so yet? What's the hold up? As a restricted free agent, my understanding is that you simply have to tender him an offer to lock him in, but this, as of yet, hasn't happened.

For the most part, in this blog, I am just thinking out loud. I certainly don't pretend to be an expert - just a devoted fan trying to figure out what's going on. What do you, the readers think? Please feel free to share your thoughts with me. Is all this a possibility? Am I nuts? Hit me back. Let me know what you think.

Ellis Named to Pro Bowl - Campo Returns

Originally written Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Dallas linebacker Greg Ellis became the 13th Cowboy named to the Pro Bowl today. Ellis was orignially named as a first-alternate when the NFC team was announced last month. Now he has been bumped up the list to replace Bears linebacker Lance Briggs.

Ellis was named Come Back Player of the Year earlier this month for overcoming an achilles injury that had him thinking of the possibility of retiring during training camp. Ellis battled back from that injury to record 12 1/2 sacks for the year.

So, congratulations to Greg Ellis on his great season.

Here are the other Cowboy players named to the Pro Bowl in case you have been living under a rock somewhere:

Starters:
WR Terrell Owens
TE Jason Witten
OT Flozell Adams
G Leonard Davis
C Andre Gurode
OLB DeMarcus Ware
K Nick Folk
QB Tony Romo
S Ken Hamlin
Backups:
OLB Greg Ellis
S Roy Williams
RB Marion Barber
CB Terence Newman

Note: Bret Favre of the Packers was originally listed as the starter for the NFC but has announced that he will not play in the Pro Bowl, which means Romo should be the starter. Also, Ken Hamlin has moved into the starting safety spot due to the unfortunate death of Redskin safety Sean Taylor.

The Cowboys also announced at a 2:00 p.m. press conference that former Head Coach Dave Campo is returning to the fold as the new secondary coach. Campo coached with the Cowboys for 14 years beginning in 1989 as a defensive assistant. He was then named secondary coach in 1991 and served in that capacity until 1995, when he was named defensive coordinator. Campo was then promoted to head coach of the Cowboys in 2000 after Chan Gaily was fired following the 1999 season. Campo did not have the success he had earlier with the team in his other positions. The team finished with a 5-11 record for three consecutive seasons resulting in Campo being fired and the Big Tuna being brought to Dallas.

Hopefully, Campo can give us what we need in a secondary coach at this time. We'll see.