After being lambasted by the Philadelphia Eagles 44-6 yesterday, the Dallas Cowboys were eliminated from postseason contention with a finishing 9-7 record. It was one of the bigger surprises of the 2008 season considering the Cowboys were preseason favorites (by many fellow sports writers and general football folk alike) to go to Super Bowl XLIII. With arguably more talent than any other team in the NFL, it was almost unfathomable that Dallas played as poorly as they did in the month of December. But this has become the norm for the Cowboys. As much publicity as they get for being “America’s Team,” the fact remains they haven’t had a winning record during the month of December in 12 seasons. The team is still living off the past glories of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. Nevertheless, change is necessary if Dallas is going to turn back the clock and Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips is all for it:

“We have to (make) changes as far as overall the team. But there are other things, including off-seasons, mini-camps and practices that I have to look at and alter some things and modify some things. But to get to the standard we want and our fans want, I don’t see any other way.”

If the coaching staff is not going to change (and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says that it will not), I believe the necessary change begins with personnel. Job one should be to get rid of receiver Terrell Owens. NFL Network analyst Terrell Davis was in a bit of an argument with NFL.com’s Michael Lombardi on this very subject on Total Access this evening and I completely agreed with T.D. — get rid of Terrell Owens. He’s a cancer to this team. As far as T.O. is concerned, it’s always going to be about him first and foremost. He’s proven that time and time again. He’s a very talented but spoiled diva athlete. His stats and his catches and his involvement as a highlight in an offense will always be more important than the team and I would recommend trading him this offseason because there is a team out there stupid enough to take a chance on his talent in exchange for what will absolutely be a distraction at some point in their season. Plus, the Cowboys stand to cash-in on valuable Draft picks or a proven, team-oriented talent as part of a deal for T.O.

Still, I wonder if the Cowboys are smart enough and truly committed to the kind of change they desperately need? As long as Jerry Jones is in charge of the organization, I have my doubts. Mr. Jones likes big name athletes and a lot of drama. That’s why he’s spending over a billion dollars on his new stadium. He’s all about image and making a grand presentation. Unfortunately for him, this does not usually equal success in terms of wins and losses — which is really all that matters when you get right down to it.

Other than dealing T.O., I think releasing Adam Jones is a no-brainer. Enough said. And I’m still not sold on quarterback Tony Romo. I never was. When it seemed the rest of the world was going crazy over Tony and whatever celebrity female he was dating at the time, I was left wondering what was so great about him. Let’s face it. He’s an average QB with below-average performances in games that count the most. He may still come around and prove to be one of the league’s better signal callers, but he’s going to need to be put in a position to succeed and right now he’s not even close.

Source: DallasCowboys.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Dallas Cowboys Need to Change Their Ways

In a surprising turn of events, Adam Jones is back working out with the Dallas Cowboys. He was rumored to be out for the season because of a neck injury (herniated disc) after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers a couple weeks ago, but Adam returned to practice today and is expected to play cornerback and return kicks Saturday night against the Baltimore Ravens. Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips couldn’t believe it:

“It surprised everybody. He’s got nine lives. Maybe he’s got 18 lives ….. It just wasn’t as bad as we thought. Once it was treated, it was better ….. They said he’s ready to go. He seems ready.”

I’m not really sure this matters. Let’s not forget what a terrible game Adam played against Pittsburgh — his first game back after a six-game layoff. The guy’s got a lot of rust. He’s still suffering through a suspension hangover and I’m not sure he’ll do the Cowboys a whole lot of good the rest of this season.

Source: DallasCowboys.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Adam Jones Cleared to Play

Dallas Cowboys defensive back and kick returner Adam Jones might miss the rest of this 2008 season with what could be a serious neck injury. Reports are that he’s got one or two herniated discs in his neck. Adam was hurt in his first game back from a six game suspension — early in their Week 14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now he’ll miss more time because of this injury, capping what has been his nightmarish return to the NFL. Rumors immediately started that this injury might end Adam’s career, but Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips didn’t sound quite so pessimistic:

“Our people don’t think it’s career threatening or anything else that he would have to be operated (on) or anything like that. But it is something that might put him out this year. The prognosis wasn’t good for him playing this year, from our people. They’re going to see if maybe they can re-evaluate in a few weeks or they’ll say you’re not going to play this year. That’s what we’re looking at.”

Adam’s misfortunes have mirrored the Cowboys’ season so far. Injuries and poor play have kept the team from clinching a playoff spot with three games to go and it’s entirely possible the Cowboys won’t even make the postseason. It’s a shocking turn of events for a group who was more concerned with getting to the Super Bowl than making the playoffs. Whatever fate awaits this Dallas Cowboys team, it appears Adam Jones will not be a part of it.

Source: NFL.com

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Adam Jones Has Neck Injury

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo appears ready to return to the starting lineup after missing the past three games with an injury to his throwing hand. Head coach Wade Phillips is optimistic his QB will be ready for Sunday night’s showdown with NFC East division rival Washington:

“He’s throwing with more zip on the ball. He looks more comfortable. He’s getting better and better in getting back to where he was.”

Translation — he’ll play. Tony’s return can’t come too soon for the desperate Cowboys whose problems really began before he was injured. But they’re certainly a better team with Tony than without him. The Cowboys are also hoping running back Felix Jones can return from a lingering hamstring injury. If these two players can go and the offensive line’s play isn’t so — offensive — the Cowboys might be able to resume with their preseason hype.

Source: NFL.com

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Tony Romo Appears Ready to Return

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will be ready to play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. At least that’s what a “high-ranking Cowboys source” said today. Tony broke the pinkie finger on his throwing hand in a 30-24 loss at Arizona last weekend and it was initially reported that he would be out for up to a month. Tony didn’t practice today but did throw the ball on the side with good velocity and confidence. Again, that’s according to an unnamed source because part of practice was closed to the media. Tony appeared briefly in the locker room with the broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand heavily wrapped before escaping quickly without comment.

This is all speculation and really a non-story until Cowboys owner Jerry Jones or head coach Wade Phillips says it’s something. Brad Johnson is still scheduled to be the starting QB Sunday. I think the team has enough confidence in Brad to give Tony the rest he needs until that finger is properly healed.

Source: ESPN.com, Photo: Newscom

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Tony Romo Ready to Play?

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo fractured a finger on his throwing hand against the Arizona Cardinals yesterday and could be out for up to four weeks. Tony broke his right pinkie on the first play of a disastrous overtime for the Cowboys. They won the toss, then proceeded to go three-and-out and had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown to lose the game. Tony had difficulty gripping the ball and throwing since the injury, but he won’t need surgery. Head coach Wade Phillips was nevertheless optimistic:

“Brad Johnson is going to be playing quarterback for us this week and we have complete confidence in him. Our team, I think, will rally around him, along with the rest of the guys playing, and everybody is going to do their job and they’re going to do it the best they can do it, and we’re going to demand they do that, and that’s what’s going to happen.”

Fantasy owners will cry the blues about Tony’s injury, but I don’t think this is the biggest problem for the Dallas Cowboys right now. Brad Johnson is a very capable backup QB and while he won’t offer Tony’s big play ability and gun-slinging mentality, he should give the Cowboys a more balanced attack. Let’s face it, the running game has been inconsistent this season and with Brad at the helm, I expect the Cowboys to recommit themselves to a ground attack. Brad’s a smart, experienced and talented backup quarterback who will perform very well. Despite what some people will want you to believe, there’s really not a lot of drop-off here — just different styles.

There’s more injury news to go around, though. Felix Jones’ strained hamstring will cause him to miss a couple games. Plus, cornerback Terence Newman is out for at least three more weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia last week. Those are both potentially nagging, ongoing injuries. Safeties Roy Williams (broken arm) and Pat Watkins (neck) could return this week against the Rams but probably won’t be 100%. Receiver/special teamer Sam Hurd needs ankle surgery. And punter Mat McBriar fractured his right foot on the aforementioned blocked punt and is out 6-8 weeks. Throw in the potential Adam Jones punishment/suspension/banishment and whatever Terrell Owens wants to add to the mix and you’ve got a team in disarray.

Source: DallasCowboys.com, Photo: Newscom

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Tony Romo Out For One Month

With cornerback Terrence Newman still nursing a slightly torn groin muscle, Adam Jones (who didn’t play at all last season) might get his first start for the Dallas Cowboys tomorrow in their season-opener against the Cleveland Browns. Terrence missed most of training camp and the entire preseason because of the injury. He returned to practice last week with limited participation and is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game. Head coach Wade Phillips said Adam would start if Terrence wasn’t in the lineup.

I think Terrence is too valuable to throw out there at less than 100% this early in the season. Adam gives the Cowboys quality depth (among other things) and that’s exactly what they should use him for in this instance.

Source: NFL.com

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Adam Jones Might Start for Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips had his players sign a “no-penalty pledge” this week, promising to play smarter and avoid dumb mistakes. Take LB Kevin Burnett for example. His 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for standing over and taunting N.Y. Giants RB Brandon Jacobs last weekend cost the Cowboys three points (and lightened Kevin’s wallet by $5,000). In a tight game, a mistake like that could be the difference between a win and a loss. Coach Phillips said:

“I want their word that they’re going to try to do the right thing. That’s my feeling. It may be silly. It may be whatever, but I was serious about it and I think I feel like I needed to do something they’re going to respond to. And everybody saw that it cost us points. We all saw it but I felt like I needed to do something.”

I think having the team sign something is a bit ridiculous — maybe even juvenile — but if it works, Coach Phillips will look like a genius. I think the team needs to be smart enough to figure these things out for themselves. I mean, tell them once and let the captains and team leaders take control of the situation. As we head into the run for the playoffs over the next month or so, the Cowboys will need to clean-up their act to have a chance to get to the Super Bowl. If signing a piece of paper gets the job done, than good for Coach Phillips. However they accomplish it, I think the team will need to develop the right mix of passion and aggressive play with just plain common sense to be considered among the NFL’s elite.

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Dallas Cowboys Sign ‘No-Penalty Pledge’

Defensive tackle Tank Johnson was activated by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this week after serving an eight-game suspension for violating probation on a weapons charge. But he hasn’t been talking to the media all week and he won’t until after the Cowboys game Sunday against the Giants.

This is one action I feel shows that Tank is on the right path. Whether this was his idea or a brainstorm from his agent or the Cowboys media relations department, it’s smart. By talking to the media, he’s only opening the door for potential distractions and taking away from what the team is trying to do this week, which is win a ball game. Naturally, he’ll eventually have to come out of his shell and answer questions, some of them probably stupid, but the hoopla will die down as long as he keeps his nose clean and simply does his job.

Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips hasn’t revealed how much Tank will play Sunday, only that he will be “part of the rotation” that includes starter Jay Ratliff. He later guessed Tank might get about a third of the defensive snaps. It will be interesting to see how Tank’s conditioning is, but at less than half the defensive plays, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. How productive he is with those snaps is the real deal. If he can make some plays in limited time, he’ll soon be talking about his game and his past off-the-field exploits will be just that — a thing of the past.

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Tank Johnson: Activated but Not Audible