Lone Star Struck

I’m sure we have all watched over the last week as the 2010 Free Agent class has made their rounds. Some teams have made a splash like Chicago signing Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor. Other teams have been quiet like our very own Dallas Cowboys. I like how Jerry Jones has approached Free Agency. He’s letting things settle down before he starts making some phone calls. I read on DallasNews.com that Jones is getting ready to schedule some visits with some players, although no names were mentioned. I’ve had my eye on a few players that are still available and that could really help the Cowboys in areas that they need. The Redskins made a mistake in my opinion when they released...

It’s been pretty quiet this week as far as Cowboys news goes, but here’s a few things that might interest some of you. To begin, the Oakland Raiders have released ex-Cowboy Greg Ellis after a dismal injury-plagued season. one-year stint on the West Coast. he still has some money coming to him from the guaranteed $10 million dollars he received from the Raiders. It looks like it might be the end of the road for Ellis who is still battling an arthritic knee. Martellus Bennett continues to voice displeasure over his role with the Cowboys. In an interview which you could watch here courtesy of the DMN, he said, “I think I could be one of the all-time greats. Probably the system...

  Well after what has seemed to be an eternity, I have decided to crawl out of my off-season hole and get back into the real world. I apologize to my co-writers and to our Lone Star Struck fans for not blogging about our Cowboys. Ever since that loss to the Vikings, I have been in, what I did not want to believe, a depressed state of mind. I have finally realized that loss affected me more than I thought it did. I said right after the loss, just like most of us did, its ok we got our first playoff win in 12 years. We had a great season and this season was a step forward. While all of that is true, that loss devastated me. Not because it was such a great season and I know we have the team to...

Terrell Owens is now a UFA which means unrestricted free agent. Anyone can pick him up for however much money he and his agent agree to. He is an example of the joys of free agency which give hope to struggling teams looking to improve their team by going after experienced players for lucrative contracts. According to Sports Illustrated, Cowboys wide receiver, Patrick Crayton, has stated that he would welcome the return of Terrell Owens should he come back to the Dallas Cowboys. However, I don’t think the Cowboys will go after Terrell due to a few reasons. A: He’s a year older and we don’t know if he’ll keep up his previous production of the past. B: Terrell has publicly stated many unflattering...

Help could be on the way for the Cowboys as the official start of free agency begins in a little less than an hour. As expected, the Arizona Cardinals released safety Antrel Rolle this afternoon to avoid ponying up a $4 million roster bonus. Expect the Cowboys to take a long, hard look at bringing Rolle in to fill the ever-vacant safety position. Rolle is a young 27-years old, and played cornerback for the first few years of his career before being moved to safety. Because his résumé includes a stint at cornerback, he could be the candidate the Cowboys are looking for to provide adequate coverage at the safety position. If Dallas pulls the trigger on Rolle, expect Ken Hamlin to be shown the...

Only a few hours before Free Agency starts, the Cowboys have made offers to the following players as reported by DallasNews.com… Miles Austin, First Round Tender Sam Hurd, Second Round Tender Corey Procter, Second Round Tender Jason Hatcher, Second Round Tender Pat McQuistan, Original Draft Pick Junior Siavii, Original Draft Pick Marcus Spears, Original Draft Pick Stephen Bowen, Second Round Tender Pat Watkins, Original Draft Pick Duke Preston, Original Draft Pick Gerald Sensabaugh, Second Round Tender Kicker Shaun Suisham was not offered any Tender which makes him a Free Agent. The Cowboys also signed cornerback Cletis Gordon to a one year contract today. I don’t expect much from...

Today is a big day for the Cowboys as they must tender offers to their 13 restricted free agents by the 11:00 pm CST deadline tonight. You can be sure that both wide receiver Miles Austin and safety Gerald Sensabaugh will both receive high tenders from the Cowboys and that neither will be going anywhere. Clarence E. Hill of the Star-Telegram speculates that Austin will receive the highest tender possible — a one-year salary of $3.168 million and compensation of a first- and third-round pick if he signs with another team. Sensabaugh will likely be tagged with the first-round tender of $2.62 million. If he signs with another team, the Cowboys would get a first-round pick in return. The...

Every offseason we go through the same drought. After five years you would think one would be used to it. Every now and again you will find a story the media has brewed up to stir some controversy. Nine times out of ten those stories are speculation and hype that never develops. The most interesting subject this offseason will no doubt be the salary cap issue and how it affects free agency. The draft is always exciting as well. We don’t have a high pick but definitely have some needs, anything can happen when Jerry Jones is in the war room. This summer will definitely be a memorable one for many Cowboys fans. The great Emmitt Smith will finally claim his place in the National Football League’s...

Over the next few weeks leading up to the draft, I will put together a Cowboys Draft Series covering prospects and positions that I feel the Cowboys will be most interested in come the first round on April 22. The main factors for choosing the prospects to watch include the Cowboys’ position in the draft and players that fit their schemes on offense and defense. This week I will focus on the wide receiver position. There are many potential prospects that the Cowboys will likely be interested in, especially in this year’s fairly deep receiver class. Here are a few names to put on your list. Jordan Shipley – Texas, 5′11″ 193 Jordan Shipley is a name that is tangled...

Is it me or do people put way to much thought into the overtime rules in the NFL? We have heard the arguments for years. Should things stay the way they are? Should teams get at least one possession in overtime? Should a team win by at least a touchdown? Should overtime be taken away all together? The latest proposal from the competition committee is below as reported by ESPN.com… Under the new format, both teams would get the ball at least once unless the first team to get the ball scores a touchdown, Greg Aiello said. If the first team to get the ball makes a field goal and the other team ties the game, action would continue until a team scores again. I’m just not sure things have...

As the NFL Draft quickly approaches and festivities at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis get underway, big names like Ndamukong Suh, Tim Tebow, and Sam Bradford will take the spotlight and dominate the headlines. But as we have seen in past drafts, it is sometimes the not-so-famous prospects from smaller schools that go on to make the biggest splash in the NFL (see Marques Colston, Tim Hightower, Joe Flacco, Brandon Marshall). Like in every draft, there are sure to be a few small school gems in this draft as well. Here are a few names to keep an eye and ear out for as the draft nears. Vladimir Ducasse – Offensive Lineman, UMass Vladimir Ducasse was not a name that appeared high on many teams’...

The Cowboys will play in the NFL Hall of Fame game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday August 8th this summer. The game will air on NBC at 7 p.m. Central time. It will be great to have the Cowboys play in Canton following Emmitt Smith’s enshrinement into the Hall of Fame. This will mark the Cowboys fourth time in franchise history to play in the NFL’s Hall of Fame game, the last was in 1999. The special exhibition game also means the Cowboys will have five preseason games instead of the usual four. It’s nice to know the team that Emmitt loved so much will be there supporting him during this memorable time in his life. Props to the NFL for recognizing Emmitt and the Cowboys...

One of the things the Cowboys need to do is get some momentum going again. There’s all kinds of momentum and it doesn’t just happen on the field of play. I’d like to see the Cowboys get out there and start making some noise by signing some of their key players and getting that rumor mill churning as they look toward the draft and potential free agents and trades. When the new season begins, I’m looking for the ‘Boys to bust out of camp oozing with confidence and getting off to a fast start. From fast starts to false starts… The Dallas Morning News had an interesting take on one of the Cowboy’s big problems last season; the offensive line. They believe...

According to a recent post at Star-Telegram.com the Cowboys will not franchise Miles Austin nor will they sign him to a long term deal. What? “We don’t need to use the franchise tag,” said Stephen Jones. “How many times have you seen another team give up a one and a three?” “It’s very difficult for us to make an offer when we don’t know what the system is going to be. I’m not saying that it won’t happen, but it may be difficult,” Stephen Jones said. “We want to win next year, but we want to win in the future.” Jerry Jones was quoted on ESPN radio saying the Cowboys will do whatever it takes to retain Austin. “We’re...