Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys / Image: Zuma Press

OK, so that’s the good news. The bad news is one of the National Football League’s best playmakers (with a gaudy 10.1 ypc average) will be out of action for an undetermined amount of time. And for a Dallas Cowboys ground game that ranks first in the league with 581 yards, it’s a devastating loss. Especially when you consider the health of their top running back—Marion Barber—who missed the Carolina game with a quad injury. That leaves second-year RB Tashard Choice as the go-to guy until Felix and Marion are back at full strength.

Source: Dallas News

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Felix Jones Has Sprained PCL

Apparently frustrated beyond reasonable words after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decided to take it out on one player he felt would’ve made a difference in the game had he played — running back Marion Barber. So upset with Marion was Mr. Jones, he questioned his best running back’s toughness after he decided not to play through a toe injury against the Steelers:

“He can play with that injured toe. He can play with the soreness and a combination of those things. I see nothing that led us to believe he couldn’t.”

How does Mr. Jones know what Marion can and can’t play with? I’m not sure what he is trying to prove by throwing an injured player under the proverbial bus. It isn’t fair. As far as I know, Marion is one of the toughest players in the National Football League. His bruising running style is among the best currently playing the game. I don’t get it. After spending the offseason — and part of this regular season — loading this team with talent, Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys are a tremendous disappointment and in real danger of missing the playoffs. And that’s not Marion Barber’s fault.

Source: SportingNews.com

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Jerry Jones Calls Out Marion Barber

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Brett Favre’s N.Y. Jets jersey is the hottest selling NFL jersey right now. Here’s how the rest of the top ten shake out. These are the top-selling jerseys on NFLShop.com from April 1-Oct. 15, 2008:

1. Brett Favre, New York Jets
2. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
3. Eli Manning, New York Giants
4. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
6. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
7. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
8. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
9. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
10. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys

The only surprise on the list was Jason Witten. I didn’t see him as being that popular. And where is Chad Johnson Ocho Cinco? Or Reggie Bush?

Source: CNBC.com, Photo: Newscom

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Top Ten Best-Selling NFL Jerseys

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

It seems like Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens is up to his old tricks. After yesterday’s (somewhat) stunning 26-24 home loss to the Washington Redskins in which he had a respectable seven catches for 71 yards and a touchdown, T.O. went off:

“I’m a competitor, and I want the ball. Everybody recognized that I wasn’t really getting the ball in the first half. I’m pretty sure everybody watching the game recognized it, people in the stands recognized it. I think my team recognized it. I didn’t quit. I kept fighting and trying to keep running my routes and trying to get open ….. It’s no secret, when I get the ball things move, we move. If not, you see a stagnate in the offense. Most of the time, I was getting in my routes and coming out of them, the ball was already going in another direction.”

Let me say this before I bash T.O. He is an outstanding receiver. He’s not the best receiver in the NFL, but he’s top-five. He has all the physical tools to be the best and he’s probably as hard a worker as there is in preparing for an NFL season, but he isn’t the best receiver. Plus, T.O. likes to win, as most players do. And that’s a good thing. But that’s really all I can say about him that’s positive. I don’t know him personally. Maybe he has other redeeming qualities.

T.O. has never been a team player and he never will be a team player. He is tolerable and maybe even considered a good teammate (by some) as long as things are going well. But give him the slightest bit of adversity and he turns into the whining, crybaby prima donna he truly is. When asked if he got the ball enough after this loss to the ‘Skins, his response was: “I would say no.” And you already read the other crap he said (see above).

I don’t know how T.O. can ask for the ball more often. He was thrown to almost 20 times in this game. The Cowboys only had 58 offensive plays. But it’s never T.O.’s fault. He’s never to blame. Maybe he should’ve admitted to being outplayed by Redskins defensive back Shawn Springs. Because he was. For once, I would like to hear T.O. admit that he could’ve played better. But it’s never his fault. Someone else is always to blame. I’m sure there are 52 other members of the Dallas Cowboys (especially running back Marion Barber who only got eight carries) who wish T.O. would keep his mouth closed. Terrell Owens just needs to shut up and play.

Anyway, this is only one game. The Cowboys are still 3-1 and there’s no reason to panic. But if someone on this team — whether it’s the owner, the head coach (probably not) or one of the real leaders of this team — doesn’t put this guy in his place before things get out of hand, Dallas could turn into the same kind of circus T.O. was the ringleader of in San Francisco and Philadelphia.

Sources: DallasCowboys.com, Dallas Morning News, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Terrell Owens is a Crybaby

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

With free agency just hours away, I still can’t believe the New England Patriots don’t have a deal in place for wide receiver Randy Moss. His record-setting 2007 more than earned him the right to have been signed to a long-term deal by the Pats. He kept his nose clean and was a leader and good teammate. He’s Tom Brady’s favorite target. What more needs to be said? I feel like as soon as I publish this, news will break of his signing … with the Patriots. Still, New England has a lot to consider. They have a slew of free agents and have the difficult task of deciding who they can keep. Remember, this was an 18-1 team last season. A roster overhaul isn’t really an ideal game plan. Who am I to question the mighty Patriots, though. They seem to find a way to make it work.

It’s always easy to assume the teams with the most money to spend will do the most spending in free agency. But what each team must do is look at their needs and decide what holes can be filled best in free agency or the upcoming Draft. And for those teams without a lot of cash to spend, it doesn’t mean they won’t be active. Obviously they have fewer options, but if there’s a player out there they want, they’ll do what they have to to get after him.

Here are my Top 10 free agents heading into tomorrow’s free-for-all:

1. Randy Moss, WR, Patriots
2. Michael Turner, RB, Chargers
3. Alan Faneca, G, Steelers
4. Lance Briggs, LB, Bears
5. Asante Samuel, CB, Patriots
6. Marion Barber, RB, Cowboys
7. Justin Smith, DE, Bengals
8. Bernard Berrian, WR, Bears
9. Tony Richardson, FB, Vikings
10. Derek Anderson, QB, Browns

Other players I really like (in no particular order) are Daunte Culpepper (QB, Raiders); Chris Brown (RB, Titans); Jerry Porter (WR, Raiders); Ernest Wilford (WR, Jags); Donte Stallworth (WR, Patriots); Jesse Chatman (RB, Dolphins); Julius Jones (RB, Cowboys); Atari Bigby (DB, Packers); and Lorenzo Neal (FB, who was released by the Chargers) and DeShaun Foster (RB, who was released by the Panthers). There are a lot of good players that will be available soon.

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Randy Moss Leads Top 10 NFL Free Agents

The Dallas Cowboys got past the Carolina Panthers 20-13 tonight and moved a step closer to home field throughout the playoffs. But WR Terrell Owens left the game midway through the second quarter after catching five balls for 48 yards and a TD and never returned. He was diagnosed as having a high ankle sprain which can be an annoying, lingering type of injury.

Dallas had to rely on their running game and defense to get this win. But that’s exactly how they’re going to get anywhere in the playoffs anyway, so this was a good test of their ability to do just that. Tony Romo’s hand injury seems to be fine. He threw the ball 42 times. But it was All-Pro Marion Barber, who seems to have taken over the top spot at running back, making the difference. He had 22 carries for 110 yards. The Dallas D had five sacks and an INT.

From what I know about high ankle sprains, TO will be hampered for up to a month. But also knowing what I do about TO’s resiliency and ability to heal quickly (remember Super Bowl XXXIX), I’ll bet he’s back for the Cowboys’ Divisional playoff game. Don’t feel sorry for Dallas. They’ll somehow be at full-strength when the playoffs begin.

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Cowboys Scratch Panthers From Playoffs, Terrell Owens Out With High Ankle Sprain

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

The Dallas Cowboys placed a league-high 12 players on the NFC All-Star team. Among the players selected to the NFC squad was Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who died last month. Sean received the most votes at his position and was chosen as the starting free safety for the NFC team. A replacement will be announced at a later date. Eleven NFC players will participate in their first Pro Bowl, including Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson, who leads the NFC in rushing yards with 1,278.

Five of the Cowboys’ Pro Bowl players – running back Marion Barber, guard Leonard Davis, rookie kicker Nick Folk, safety Ken Hamlin and cornerback Terence Newman – are also first-time All-Stars. They join tackle Flozell Adams (fourth Pro Bowl), center Andre Gurode (second), wide receiver Terrell Owens (sixth), quarterback Tony Romo (second), linebacker DeMarcus Ware (second) and tight end Jason Witten (fourth) to equal the largest Dallas Pro Bowl contingent ever. Dallas also had 11 players named to the All-Star team in 1993 and 1994.

The starting quarterback for the NFC is nine-time All-Star Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers. Brett, also the leading vote-getter among fans, ties Pro Football Hall of Famers John Elway, Dan Marino, Warren Moon and Norm Van Brocklin for the second-most Pro Bowl selections by a quarterback behind Johnny Unitas with 10. Joining Brett at QB are Dallas’ Tony Romo and Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck. Tony is the first Cowboys QB to be chosen for back-to-back Pro Bowls since Hall of Famer Troy Aikman (1992-97). Matt joins Dave Krieg as the only Seahawks quarterbacks to be named to three Pro Bowls.

Starting at running back for the NFC is AD, who seeks to become the first rookie to lead the NFC in rushing since Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (1989). He is joined by Dallas’ Marion Barber and two-time Philadelphia Eagles All-Star Brian Westbrook, who has an NFL-best 1,896 yards from scrimmage. I kind of scratched my head at Marion’s selection, but he is the first Cowboys RB to be chosen since the 2000 Pro Bowl (Emmitt Smith) and Brian is the sixth Eagles running back with multiple All-Star selections. Filling out the backfield is Minnesota fullback Tony Richardson, who makes his third Pro Bowl appearance (Kansas City, 2004-05) and first for the NFC.

Along with Dallas’ TO, now chosen as an All-Star with three teams (San Francisco, Philadelphia), the NFC’s other starting wide receiver is Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, who played in the 2006 Pro Bowl. Rounding out the position are a pair of Pro Bowl veterans in seven-time All-Star Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams and three-time All-Star Donald Driver of Green Bay.

The starting tight end for the NFC is Jason Witten, making his fourth consecutive appearance in Hawaii. He is joined by Washington’s Chris Cooley, who deservedly will make his Pro Bowl debut.

Minnesota’s Steve Hutchinson will make his fifth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl and start at guard along with the Cowboys’ Leonard Davis. Philadelphia’s Shawn Andrews was named an All-Star for the second year in a row and fills out the position.

Starting at center is Dallas’ Andre Gurode, joined by Minnesota’s Matt Birk, a six-time Pro Bowl selection.

The starting tackles are Seattle’s Walter Jones, an eight-time All-Star, and the Cowboys’ Flozell Adams. Washington’s Chris Samuels, making his fifth Pro Bowl appearance, is the NFC’s third tackle.

A pair of two-time All-Stars will start at defensive end for the NFC in Green Bay’s Aaron Kampman and Seattle’s Patrick Kerney. New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, making his second trip to Hawaii, also was chosen to represent the NFC.

Two Vikings will start on the interior defensive line in three-time All-Star Kevin Williams and two-time Pro Bowl selection Pat Williams. These two combine to make the Vikings the best in the league against the run. Chicago’s Tommie Harris was chosen for the third time in his career.

Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu makes his third Pro Bowl trip and will start at inside linebacker. He will be joined at the position by rookie Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers, the No. 11 overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. The outside linebackers are Chicago’s Lance Briggs (third Pro Bowl), Seattle’s Julian Peterson (fourth) and Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware. Julian and DeMarcus were chosen as the starters.

All three cornerbacks on the NFC team are Pro Bowl newcomers. Green Bay’s Al Harris and Seattle’s Marcus Trufant will start with Dallas’ Terence Newman coming off the bench.

At free safety, the late Sean Taylor was selected as the starter. Dallas’ Ken Hamlin also was chosen at free safety and four-time All-Star Darren Sharper of the Minnesota Vikings will be the starting strong safety.

Two Bears are among the quartet of players who will handle special teams duties for the NFC. For the second consecutive year, Chicago’s Devin Hester will be the return specialist and Brandon Ayanbadejo will be the coverage specialist. Dallas’ rookie Nick Folk is the kicker and San Francisco punter Andy Lee was selected for the first time in his career.

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Dallas Cowboys Lead NFL With 12 All-Stars, 11 First-Time Selections For NFC