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Cowboys Lose Pre-Season Finale to Vikings, 23-14 

The Dallas Cowboys dropped their final pre-season game to the Minnesota Vikings 23-14, finishing with a record of 2-2.  The Vikings improved their record to 2-2 to close out their pre-season.  The Cowboys will now travel back to Dallas to start preparing for their season opener next Sunday night against the Giants at Texas Stadium, while the Vikings will stay in Minnesota to prepare for their season opener at home against the Falcons.

As expected, most all of the Cowboys starters sat out for the whole game, as the players gunning for a spot on the 53 man roster were given a chance to prove their worth.

The Cowboys opened up the scoring early, as Jerheme Urban scored on a 96 yard punt return for a touchdown.  It was a ball that he should have never fielded, but was able to get to the sideline, barrel threough the punter, and cut back across the field for the final 40 yards for the TD.  Minnesota challenged the play on whether or not Urban stepped out of bounds, but the play stood as Dallas took a 7-0 lead.

Minnesota would later tie the game at 7 early in the 2nd quarter when Artose Pinner punched one into the end zone from a yard out.  The Vikings would later take a 14-7 lead after they were given great field position off of a fumble by Cowboys' QB Mike Moore deep inside of his own territory.  Brooks Bollinger threw a 4 yard pass to Sindey Rice for the touchdown.

 The Cowboys took the ball late in the first half as Matt Moore drove Dallas 57 yards on 9 plays ending the drive with a 5 yard pass to Tony Curtis to tie the game at 14.  It would be Dallas' last score of the game.  Minnesota tacked on 3 more field goals for the 23-14 final score.  The Cowboys finished with 5 turnovers that resulted in 17 points off of turnovers for the Vikings.  Dallas also committed 7 penalties for 45 yards.

The Cowboys quarterbacks did pretty good overall.  Brad Johnson completed 5 of 7 passes for 44 yards, while Matt Moore went 14 of 19 for 94 yards and a TD, but had 2 lost fumbles that the Vikings converted to 10 points.  It will be interesting to see what the Cowboys decide to do with him.  Richard Bartel completed 11 of 13 passes for 81 yards and an INT.   

Nick Folk never really did get to prove anything on the field tonight.  He did handle the kickoff duty but didn't have any field goal attempts.  He made both extra points. 

Some players that I thought made a good impression were Jerheme Urban, although did have a lost fumble, did have that 96 yard punt return for a TD.  I wouldn't count on seeing him returning punts and kickoffs regularly if he makes the team though.  Tony Curtis caught 5 passes for 44 yards and a TD and looked very good.

On defense, Remi Ayodele had 5 tackles and Stephen Bowen had 3 tackles and a sack.  Courtney Brown had an INT to go with one tackle at CB.  There are going to be some interesting and difficult decisions to be made by Wade Phillips and the Cowboys' coaching staff.

So the pre-season is finally over, and it is time to get ready for the regular season.  These games actually count toward your record.  Players who we saw in the pre-season won't be here by the Saturday deadline to cut the team down to the 53 man roster.  Now begins the what will seem like  a forever 10 day wait leading up to the Sunday Night Fooball season opener for our Dallas Cowboys.  The pre-season records mean nothing, and the stats mean nothing.  Now lets wipe the slate clean, and get off to a great start against the Little Giants September 9th.  Can't wait for it!  Looking forward to a great season!  Go Cowboys!!!

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Cowboys (2-1) vs. Vikings (1-2), Thursday, August 30, 7:00 PM CT, CBS 11

Pre-Season Week 4 Preview:

Both the Cowboys and Vikings will play their final pre-season game when the two teams battle at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The Cowboys are coming off a somewhat humiliating 28-16 loss to the Texans while the Vikings lost to the Seahawks 30-13 in their last game.

The two teams met in the pre-season finale last year at Texas Stadium.  The game ended in a 10-10 tie.  Something tells me that it won't be happening this year.

Since there are some position battle yet to be determined, you should only expect to see most of the Cowboys starters in for only a series or two, if that.  Expect all of the starters that have been injured for most of or all of pre-season to sit out this game too, giving more younger guys to opportunity to make an impression on the team.

"I'm looking forward to this ballgame to end the preseason," Phillips said. "I think we certainly need it. We have a lot of evaluation to do. We do have a lot of guys to look at. I am worried about our roster overall - who fits where and who our best players are."

"Really, the only way to tell is to play in a ballgame. You can evaluate them in practice certainly and their character and work habits are important and a factor. But, still, the determining factor is how well they play in a game. We've got to give a lot of guys an opportunity to play in a game, so they can show us what they can or can't do."

There are two homecomings in this game.  Brad Johnson spent nine years with the Vikings in Minnesota while Marion Barber III was a standout at the University of Minnesota and all-state performer from Wayzata High School in Minnesota.  Both players have ignored the hype and downplayed the situation. 

Martin Gramatica has a hamstring injury that will likely keep him off the field for tonight's game.  That will give rookie kicker Nick Folk to opportunity to prove that he belongs on this team.  Gramatica says that he should be ready for the season opener if he makes the roster.

It will also be very interesting watching the battles at cornerback and fullback in the game against the Vikings as well. 

Hopefully these positions will be filled by the time that the Cowboys cut their roster down to the standard 53 players by Saturday, but if not maybe other teams players could help us. 

If there's one thing that I really want out of this game, it wouldn't be the win, although it would be nice, but hopefully for everyone to get out of the game injury free.  There have been a lot of costly injuries to teams this pre-season. 

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 12:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

'We just didn't play well.'
 
I know there is an in-state rivalry between the two teams. It's still 'only' pre-season. As far as I'm concerned, it's important for the team to get these on the road learning experiences out of the way before the season starts. We've seen what they can do at home! Of course, I'm disappointed that we didn't beat Houston. Phillips also said in reference to the offense and defense, 'We just didn't play well.' Not to say this like it's a bad thing but: IT'S HOUSTON!
 
Oops! I said it like it was a bad thing.
 
Phillips said he was worried about how the Cowboys would react in front of the crowd in Houston. It's no big secret that the home team has a definite advantage. This will prepare The Boys for their tricky schedule on the road. Our schedule has us visiting stadiums where the fans show no mercy and their favorite team can be just as ruthless! Sure, it was loud in Houston but we ain't seen nothin' yet! Compared to many fan-filled stadiums, Houston doesn't know fan intimidation! Personally, I would like to see Cowboy Fans get a little better at it! I'm a fan: Loud & Proud! I start my pre-game ritual knowing in my heart that I will be celebrating a win in the coming hours. Does that always happen? Of course not! Is that part of what makes it so much fun for fans? YES, IT IS! It's the rollercoaster ride that thrills us.
 
It's the rich history of our favorite team and the competitive spirit in all of us that brings people from all over the world together. The action and drama both on and off the field that keeps us on the edge of our seats. Whether you love, hate or love to hate them, you know one thing for sure: The Dallas Cowboys have always been and will always be America's Team. No pre-season loss to the Texans can change that and it shouldn't change the recent positive headlines. We have waited, for what seems like a long time, to get a play-off quality team. We can still say SUPER BOWL and COWBOYS in the same sentence without fear of sounding overly optimistic. Or, in my case, finding yourself on the receiving end of the look that says, 'That's cute. She likes football and The Cowboys.'
 
I'm calling all Cowboy Fans! Whether you watch from stadium seating, at your favorite sports bar, with family and friends or at home practicing your arm-chair QB techniques; BE LOUD - BE PROUD! When our opponent has the ball, every Cowboy Fan should be so loud that the parking lot vibrates! IT'S TIME!! Time to rally around our team! Why wait for things to start looking good mid-season? Why wait for that big win or big play? The time is NOW. There are people that get paid to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. As a fan, it's my job to be supportive and positive. Not because I get paid to do so but because I LOVE THE DALLAS COWBOYS!!
 
GO COWBOYS!
  
Some information from myfoxdfw.com

Posted by Shelby K. at 08:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Hi Cowboys fans!
 
Here are the results of last weeks poll which asked the question:
 
How Long Should Our First String Players Play In The Last Two Pre-Sesaon Game?

 
Only 12% of the voters thought that the Cowboys' regulars should play past the second quarter.
 
An overwhelming 89% of the voters said to "yank them" by the end of the first half. It's probably best that the Cowboys play it safe from here on out. I'm actually hoping that our guys on offense don't play more than one series on Thursday.
 
This week, we were wondering how you felt about some of the players that are already going through some injuries of their own.
 
Which of the these players would be missed most if the miss the season opener?
 
1. Terry Glenn
2. Terence Newman
3. Greg Ellis
4. Anthony Fasano
 
It's kind of an interesting question to think about because at least three of them bring something big to the table. I have an idea on who I would pick, and I look forward to seeing if I am on the same page as most of you.
 

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 04:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After the third game of the preseason there are a lot of questions that have been answered and a few that are still unanswered.  The Cowboys have looked sharp up until the Houston game.  The defense gave up more rushing yards in that one game then in the last two.  It goes back to the way the Cowboys have always played away from home.  The Cowboys do have a history of not playing well in hostile environments, but I do feel it is something that Coach Phillips can work out before the season starts.

The main thing that upset me personally here is that the Cowboys have yet to win a game in Houston.  I know we all remember the first disaster of the Texans first regular season game back in 2002 where the Cowboys looked absolutely horrible.  This past game wasn’t to that degree but it did bring back some unpleasant memories.  

On a brighter note the Cowboys did look better in the second half.  I believe the team just needed to settle down and get used to the hostile environment they were playing in.  Even though it was a preseason game the Texans and their fans were treating it like it was their Super Bowl.  It is not every day they get to play on the field with a good caliber team like the Cowboys.

Well my friends I hope you guys have a wonderful week.  Lets keep supporting the team and show the love we need to show to bring the boys back to glory.

COWBOYS 4 LIFE

Posted by Eric Butler at 07:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Dallas Cowboys have cut nine players and will have to cut one more by tomorrow. That will bring the roster total to 75. On Saturday they will have to cut 22 more players to bring the count to the league-mandated 53-man roster.

Players that were cut include:

RB Jackie Battle

WR Jamel Richardson

NT Ola Dagunduro

LB Dedrick Harrington

OT Jason Hilliard

LB Alex Obomese

WR Jerard Rabb

WR Jamaica Rector

Jamaica Rector has missed the past three weeks with a knee injury. Last year Rector was awesome in preseason but didn't play much after that. Jackie Battle is also injured but I think we all knew Tyson Thompson was going to get the spot as the 3rd running back. Both Rector and Battle were given injury settlements.

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's funny how people get so offended and hurt when the team loses (understandably, I'm one of the guilty). It's a preseason game, not a playoff game. The good thing is we can learn from the experience and it isn't going to hurt us one bit. Of course it's nice to win every game no matter the caliber, but sometimes it helps not to go into the season with a "big head" or overblown confidence when you start playing teams like New England and Chicago just to name a few.

I do believe that Gramatica has lost his job as starting kicker, especially if the rumors are true that he pulled a hamstring Saturday night. Missing an extra-point kick is really not the way you impress your coach when you're battling for the starting position. Of all teams, we certainly know how much a missed kick can hurt!

If you're wondering when to expect Greg Ellis back on the field, good luck finding the answer. No one knows or can even speculate when to expect the veteran linebacker's return. Jerry Jones is determined that Ellis will be back, at least that's what he is saying in front of the cameras. I've heard a third medical opinion is being sought. Expect to see rookie Anthony Spencer on the field in his place when the season kicks off.

Several other injured Cowboys missed the game on Saturday. Anthony Fasano, Terence Newman and Terry Glenn did not participate but are all expected to start in the season opener. Terence Newman will likely feel pain throughout the season after being diagnosed with a torn plantar fascia in his right heel. Anthony Fasano is sitting out after receiving a sprained shoulder in the second preseason game. And last but certainly not least, Terry Glenn is still recovering after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery during Training Camp.

As the Cowboys prepare to travel to Minnesota for the final preseason game, we should keep a close watch on the roster. Several players will be cut tomorrow, bringing the roster number down to 75. I don't think we will see much from the first string on Thursday because September 1st the team will be trimmed down to the standard 53-man roster. It's always interesting and certainly unpredictable to see who will go and who will stay.  

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Well, sooner or later, you knew it was going to happen. The opposition finally broke through the Cowboys starting defense and scored a touchdown for the first time this preseason. In fact they threw for two scores.

The Cowboys suffered their first loss of the preseason, when the Houston Texans upended Dallas by a score of 28-16.

The Texans came out of the gate with a fast-paced offense that featured pinpoint passing and a power running game. The Cowboys were simply not ready.

They looked very soft in all aspects of their game. Take a look at some of these key stats and you'll see what I mean...

Rushing
Julius Jones and Marion Barber combined for 16 carries and 48 yards rushing, and that includes a 12-yard run by Julius. Their average gain per rush was only 2.7 yards. Brutal...

Kicking
Martin Gramatica missed a key extra point after the Cowboys first touchdown, that was sort of a glimpse into what kind of a game lay ahead for the Cowboys. With the miss, Gramatica may have just handed over the place kicking job to rookie, Nick Folk. (something that was predicted right here back in March)

Offensive Line
Their 3rd down efficiency was a very soft 5-11, and the one time they went for it on 4th down, they didn't make it. The quarterback was sacked three times.

Passing
Tony Romo wasn't really that bad, but he clearly needs to be sharper and make better decisions if we are to be ready for the Giants on opening day. He finished with 14 completed passes on 22 attempts, and threw for two touchdowns and an interception. Brad Johnson wrapped it up completing 5 of 6 passes.

Special Teams
Allowed a first possession touchdown on a 91 yard punt return. Our total punt return yardage was only 2 yards, compared to 105 yards for the Texans. Ouch!

Defense
The Texans were 3-3 (100% Efficiency) in the Red Zone. By the end of the second half, the Texans had already put up 21 points. Allowed an alarming 144 yards rushing to an aging Ahman Green and company. They did not force a fumble or an interception, in fact they were never anywhere near the ball when Houston had possession.

The Cowboys also drew seven penalties in the game for a loss of 48 yards.

OK, there were some positives in the game as well...

I gotta give credit where credit's due. Sam Hurd looked absolutely amazing in the field and proved that he can be as elusive as any of the elite receivers. He led the team in receiving with 68 yards on 4 catches, and he may have moved up in the depth chart after an impressive performance.

Terrell Owens had only 1 pass, but it was good enough for the Cowboy's first touchdown of the game. He was the victim of constant double and sometimes triple coverage, and it was clear that Houston's game plan was to take him out of the game.

Jason Witten also grabbed a pass for a TD and finished the day with 3 catches and 47 yards.

Matt McBriar was his usual dependable self, and had a nice game too.

Bottom Line:

It's preseason, and this game doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. What's important is that the Cowboys learn something from this and apply it towards their next contest. I expected to see a much more vaunted defense from a Wade Phillips coached team. The Cowboys have the players and the talent to keep the pressure on opposing offenses, but that clearly wasn't the case in this game.

The offensive line struggled and drew far too many penalties in the game. You could blame them for the soft numbers compiled by the usually effective tandem of Jones and Barber.

I am absolutely certain that next week, these same Cowboys will be a much more focused team with a nose for the ball on defense, and a nose for the end-zone on offense.

You just wait and see...

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Cowboys (2-0) vs. Texans (1-1) Saturday, August 25, 7:00 PM CT, CBS 11
 
Pre-Season Week 3 Preview:
 
The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans will bang helmets Saturday night when the two teams meet at Reliant Stadium. The Cowboys are coming off of an impressive 31-20 victory over the Broncos while the Texans used the 3rd quarter to fly by the Cardinals 33-20.

This game may not be as big since it is just pre-season, but don’t let that fool you. There are so many things that make this game big.
 
This will mark the return of Wade Phillips since he served as an assistant from 1976-80 under his legendary father, Bum Phillips. This is also an in-state rivalry, which means both teams want to win no matter what.
 
"It's a big deal for us as far as a preseason game, and being the third one, you want to do well out there," Phillips said. "I think there'll be a big crowd, I think they'll be into it, and that will help their team some as far as motivation in the game and those kinds of things, and I want to see how my team reacts with that.
 
"It'll be a good experience for this team to see where they are."
 
Finally, the Cowboys and Texans will be competing for th Governor’s Cup, awarded to the winner of every game, pre-season or regular season. The Texans won the first meeting 19-10, while the Cowboys won the match-up last year with a strong 34-6 victory. The Governor’s Cup was also awarded back when Houston was still called the Oilers until they moved to Tennessee in 1997. The Cowboys won the series 5-3.
 
Tony Romo, who already looks to be in mid-season form, will try to turn in his 3rd straight solid performance. He has completed 21 of 29 passes for 219 yards and an INT through his 1st two pre-season games. Look for most of the starters to play into the 3rd quarter on Saturday.
 
"There's still a evaluation here and especially the guys that they call 'on the bubble'," Phillips said. "We need to see guys playing special teams because that's a real important part of making the team. I'd like to see some of these guys get some playing time. We won't get as much this game with those guys I don't think, but maybe the last game some of the guys.
"We want to see if they can really play in the NFL and we're going to give them a little more time."
 
Greg Ellis (foot), Terence Newman (heel), and Terry Glenn (knee) are out and are expected to be out until the regular season begins. Greg Ellis’s injury will probably linger into the regular season though, but hopefully will be worth the wait.

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 08:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As you may have heard Terence Newman has been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Basically he has severe pain in his heel when he walks or runs. Newman missed last week's game against the Broncos and will miss the rest of preseason. Coach Phillips expects Newman to start the season opener on September 9th but the injury will likely bother Newman the rest of the season.

This is bad news, considering his backups are veterans Aaron Glenn and Anthony Henry. Newman's shoes are not easy to fill and he is one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the league. In 2006, Newman had 63 tackles, 54 of which were unassisted.

He has been a proven leader on and off the field and would be a great loss to the Cowboys. Lets hope to see "T-New" out on the field and ready to rumble when the 'Boys take the field September 9th against the New York Giants.

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 08:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It has been reported that Coach Wade Phillips has ruled out the return of Terry Glenn for the final two preseason games. When Glenn had arthroscopic knee surgery on August 1st, he was projected to be back for the final preseason game, however that no longer seems probable. Coach Phillips said Glenn will return to practice after the August 30th game. Glenn hasn't had any setbacks in his rehab and the team isn't worried about the veteran's lack of practice.

"No, it's not a real concern," Phillips said. "He knows what to do and he knows how to do it and as long as he's ready physically, I think he'll be ready to do it."

As for the rumors going around that Terry Glenn has re-aggravated his knee, Coach says he has no idea where that information came from. Glenn should be ready to go for Week 1, September 9th against the Giants.

Some content found at dallasnews.com

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 09:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

What should the Cowboys do with Greg Ellis?

Last week we asked you what you thought about the Greg Ellis situation and the results were quite surprising as only 31% of you felt we should even keep him. Or to put it another way, Ellis has got a disapproval rating of close to 70% dissatisfied Cowboys fans that either want him released, traded or retired. (And George Bush thought he had problems!)

 
This week we would like your opinion on a somewhat debatable issue.
 
In light of all the recent season-ending, pre-season game injuries around the league...
 
How long should our first string players play in the last two pre-season games?
 
1. One Quarter
2. The First Half
3. Three Quarters
4. The Entire Game
 
Let us know what you think Cowboys fans. Should we put them in and pull them out early, or should they man up and play the whole game.
 
You can vote once a day.
 

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cowboys Whip Broncos En Route to 31-20 Victory!

The Dallas Cowboys had plenty of things to be excited about as they cruised in their 31-20 crushing of the Denver Broncos.  The Cowboys improved to 2-0 on the pre-season while the Denver Broncos dropped to 1-1.  It really wasn't even that close though.  As expected, most of the starters for both teams went for the entire 1st half. 

It all started early for the Dallas Cowboys.  Although the opening drive started slowly,  Tony Romo converted a 3 & 10 and navigated the 'Boys down the field all the way from his own 20 to the Denver 33 yard line without a hitch.  Martin Gramatica missed a 51 yard field goal that sailed just wide of the right upright.  This drive didn't get to the Cowboys though, as they scored on every possession that followed in the 1st half.

After the Cowboys defense forced a 3 and out and Denver punter Todd Sauerbrun shanked a 15 yard punt to the Dallas 40, Tony Romo worked his magic.  He marched the Cowboys down the field on a 12 play, 60 yard drive taking 6:08 off the clock that ended in a Marion Barber TD to give the Cowboys a 7-0 lead.

On the 3rd play of Denver's ensuing possession, Travis Henry fumbled the ball on 2nd & 20.  It was recovered by Marcus Spears at the Denver 7 yard line.  Just two plays later, the Cowboys would capitalize off the mistake as Julius Jones powered his way into the end zone for a touchdown to give the 'Boys a 14-0 lead. 

After yet another Denver punt, Dallas had the ball again.  However, 4 plays into the Cowboys' next drive, Romo's pass intended for Miles Austin would be intercepted by Dre Bly after Austin slipped and couldn't get back to the ball in time.  Bly returned it to the Dallas 37.  The Cowboys defense stiffened up once again, and held Denver to only 3 points, cutting the Dallas lead to 14-3. 

The Cowboys answered immediately, as Romo wasn't phased by the pick.  He orchestrated a brilliant 6 play 69 yard drive that chewed up only 2:22 off the clock.  The drive ended with a 5 yard TD plunge by Marion Barber, his 2nd of the game and pre-season that gave the Cowboys a 21-3 lead.. 

The Cowboys got the ball back again, just hanging on to a punt that was muffed by Patrick Crayton.  On the next play though, Sam Hurd fumbled a completed pass by Tony Romo that was recovered by Nick Ferguson at the Dallas 28.  The 'Boys 1st team defense once again toughened up and held Denver to only a field goal to cut the lead to 21-6.

Dallas kicker Nick Folk was able to nail a 52 yard field goal with just 25 seconds left in the 1st half to give the Cowboys a 24-6 lead heading into halftime after Tony Romo executed a nice 30 yard two minute drill.

Tony Romo wasn't nearly as accurate against the Broncos as he was against the Colts, but still had a solid performance.  He completed 11 of 18 passes for 122 yards with one INT.

"I thought it was good tonight," Romo said. "We moved the ball pretty good. I thought we put a lot of points on the board in the first half and that was good to see. You have to give Denver credit, too. They have a really good secondary. They're going to be a good team this year. You can see that."   

Marion Barber had 11 carries for 57 yards to go with 2 TD's while Julius Jones carried the ball 9 times for 31 yards with a TD.  Overall, the Cowboys had a great night running the ball, accumulating 190 yards.  The Broncos only rushed for 35 for the whole game.  The Cowboys had 368 total yards in offense compared to the Broncos 269 yards.

"I think we gave another good effort," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said in his post-game press conference. "In the first half, I thought our offensive line and defensive line, at key times, made some good plays. They asserted themselves a little bit. We held a really good running team (to) not much rushing yards. I was a little worried about that."

Although the Cowboys 1st team receivers didn't score a touchdown, they still made their presence felt.  Patrick Crayton had 3 receptions for 61 yards while Sam Hurd had 3 receptions for 36 yards.  Terrell Owens had 1 reception for 12 yards and even had a rush for 9 yards on a reverse play.

The 'Boys converted 6 of 7 3rd downs in the first half and were 10 or 16 converting 3rd downs for the game.  The Cowboys 1st team didn't commit any penalties in the 1st half, but the 2nd and 3rd teams committed 6 for 71 yards.

Jay Culter didn't have a very good night, completing only 7 of 13 passes for 58 yards.  Patrick Ramsey did a much better job leading the Denver offense in the 2nd half, completing 11 of 21 passes for 178 yards with 2 TD's and 1 INT.  

Ramsey threw a 90 yard strike to Brian Clark to make it 24-13 and a 15 yard pass to former Cowboy Quincy Morgan to make it 31-20, but it wasn't enough.

Rookie WR Isaiah Stanback caught his 1st touchdown at the NFL level when Brad Johnson made a great thread the needle pass to him towards the corner of the end zone.  That made it 31-13 Cowboys at the time.  The final score was 31-20 Dallas.

"Overall, I look at the things we did well tonight," Phillips said. "I'm looking at the individuals and how they played. But as a team, it's early in preseason. But as a team, we played well overall."

Brad Johnson completed 6 of 9 passes for 56 yards and 1 TD.

Cowboys CB Terence Newman didn't play tonight due to a bruised right heel. Dallas also lost TE Anthony Fasano due to a sprained right shoulder.

After the Cowboys 31-20 win over the Broncos, they head down to Reliant Stadium next Saturday to take on the Houston Texans (1-1).  The Denver Broncos return home to Invesco Field to battle the Cleveland Browns (1-1) the same day.

I hope everyone enjoyed the game.  The defense was stellar and the offense was able to march down the field once again.  Bobby Carpenter picked one off too. I'm liking the way that things are going.  Go Cowboys!!! 

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 09:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Broncos (1-0) vs. Cowboys (1-0), August 18, 7:00PM CT, CBS 11

Pre-Season Week 2 Preview:

The Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos, both 1-0 on the preseason, will both play their 2nd preseason game of the year when the two teams clash at Texas Stadium this Saturday. It will be the Cowboys final home game until the regular season opener September 9 against the New York Giants. The Broncos will return home to Invesco Field for their final two pre-season games after Saturday night's game against Dallas before opening up their season on the road against the Buffalo Bills September 9.

Denver came from behind to beat the San Francisco 49ers 17-13 at Bill Walsh Field at Monster Park. This was the 1st game there since the passing of Hall of Fame and legendary 49ers Head Coach Bill Walsh due to leukemia at the age of 75. The Cowboys stomped on the Indianapolis Colts early and never let up in route to a 23-10 victory at Texas Stadium.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the Broncos met the Cowboys at Valley Ranch for joint practices in the triple-digit heat. The two teams practiced four times in th two days. Head Coach Wade Phillips said that it would likely be the end of the two-a-day practices, which the Cowboys receivers were glad to hear. Now they are ready for the game. Expect most starters to play about a half in this game.

"Anytime you're competing, that's what we want to see," said Phillips, who typically plays his starters about a half in the second preseason game. "We want to see how you do when you compete in a ball game and in this situation, see how they compete against other people."

Denver should prove to be a pretty good test for the Cowboys Saturday night. The Broncos were 9-7 last season while just missing the playoffs as a wild card last year. Jay Cutler looked good in his first start, completing 1 of 2 passes for 24 yards in his pre-season opener.

Tony Romo looked very sharp and showed no signs of a hangover after the heartbreaking loss against Seattle in the Wild Card Round where the ball slipped out of Romo's hands on a chip shot field goal attempt that would have likely won the game for the Cowboys. Romo picked up the ball and ran with it but was about a yard shy of the first down. He completed 10 of 11 for 93 against the Colts in his first game after the unfortunate event in Seattle.

Tony Romo was at one point almost a Dever Bronco. He said that it was down to Denver or Dallas, and he said that he chose Dallas because he he that he thought that he would have a better chance of making it their. That turned out to be a great decision on Romo's part.

T.O. will play against the Broncos in the 2nd pre-season game despite being late to practice Thursday, and is expected to line up against Champ Bailey. Last time he played against Bailey, he caught the longest touchdown pass of his career, a 91 strike while he was still with the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I love it. He's one of the best in the game and you don't get to see that every day," Bailey said Thursday. "Why not take advantage of that opportunity to go against one of the best?"

With Greg Ellis still sidelined due to his foot injury, the 26th overall pick of the 1st round, Anthony Spencer, will get the starting nod at outside linebacker.

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 09:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

With one preseason game under their belts, the Cowboys are now preparing for the Denver Broncos on Saturday night, who have already strolled into Dallas and practiced with the Cowboys in the blistering Texas heat.  Here's a couple players to keep and eye and ear out for that played well against the Colts.

Leonard Davis

Even though this mountainous addition to the offensive line played but a couple series last Thursday, there's reason for excitement.  Forget about what all the "analysts" have said about Davis being the biggest waste of free agent money this off-season.  This guy was in all-pro form on Thursday night, and he is exactly what the Cowboys are looking for at right guard.  You see the play when his helmet came flying off and he still found time to pancake a poor Colts lineman?  Waste of money?  You kidding me?  This guy will play well this year and earn a trip to the Pro Bowl. 

Joey Thomas

Many of you may not have known his name before last Thursday's game.  But you very well do now.  This guy was all over the place making plays from his corner position.  This former third round pick out of Montana State is certainly making a bid for a roster spot.  After some shaky years with the Packers, the team that drafted him, Thomas was looking for a fresh start when he signed with the Cowboys, and it looks as though he just might get it. 

Tony Curtis

This tight end may have gotten lost in the mix during training camp, but he certainly showed up during the first preseason game.  After spending all summer overseas in NFL Europa, Curtis proved he could catch the ball, hauling in a couple long passes.  He is still battling with fellow tight ends Adam Bergen and rookie Rodney Hannah, but look for his performance to help him make a bid for the third tight end spot. 

Posted by Derek Sanders at 06:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Denver Broncos will be in town a few days earlier than expected. The Cowboys and Broncos will have practices outdoors on Wednesday and Thursday. The guys will get a look at what they are up against for Saturday's preseason game. This will also give the team some training with someone other than themselves. 

The temperature in Dallas will be in the upper 90's and beyond all week. Hopefully with the Boys training in this sweltering heat, tempers won't flare up between the players.

Saturday's preseason game will begin at 7pm and is hosted by Blue Star Media.

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 09:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here are the results of last weeks poll which asked: Who will be the Cowboys Defensive MVP?

 
No surprise here, DeMarcus Ware wins in a landslide with 61% of the votes! Roy Williams was in a distant second place with 29%.
 
Now for this weeks question.
 
As you all know, I am a diehard Cowboys fan. I "almost" always back our players 100% and I always give them the benefit of the doubt. I say almost because one of our players is really starting to get on my nerves.
 
Of course I'm talking about linebacker Greg Ellis.
 
I am not going to give you the blow by blow on all of his antics in the past 12 months, because I am sure all of you have heard his selfish comments and grown tired of his negative swipes at the team and the management.
 
This weeks poll question goes to the heart of the matter.
 
What should the Cowboys do with Greg Ellis?
 
1. Keep him and ignore his crazy antics.

2. Release him before things get uglier.

3. Trade him and shore up Special Teams.

4. Doesn't matter he's probably going to retire.

5. Fine him for his comments against the team.

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

New Cowboys Head Coach, Wade Phillips had plenty to smile about tonight as the Cowboys overpowered the defending Super Bowl Champions, Indianapolis Colts 23-10.

The Cowboys drew first blood when Tony Romo commanded an opening drive that led to a field goal to put the Boys' up 3-0. Romo also had another long scoring drive end in a field goal in his second and final series of the game for him. On the night, Romo completed 10 of 11 passes for 93 yards, but he missed a couple of huge opportunities by failing to see a wide-open Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano. During the game Pam Oliver asked both Jerry Jones and Tony Romo about his contract status, but both sides were very noncommittal.

The Cowboys first string defense did a fantastic job of keeping Peyton Manning at bay. The only touchdown the Colts scored came late in the game, long after the first and second string players were off the field. The defense also scored the Cowboys' first touchdown of the game when safety Keith Davis intercepted QB Jim Sorgi and ran it back 41 yards for a TD.

The Cowboys scored another touchdown when running back Tyson Thompson pushed his way into the endzone on a 2-yard run putting the Cowboys up 20-3 at the time.

Some of the players who really shined tonight include tight end Anthony Fasano who mad a great impact with his pass catching skills and his ability to get open. Marion Barber got off to a rough start, but turned it around in the second quarter and finished the night with 48 yards on 12 carries. Rookie QB looked impressive while racking up 88 yards on 7 of 9 completions. On defense, Pete Lougheed stole the show with 5 tackles, an assist, 2 sacks and forced fumble in limited play. He is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

Terrell Owens caught a pass but only played one series. Brad Johnson looked pretty bad tonight and was not able to mount any significant drive in two series. He also fumbled in his last series.

All in all, there were a lot of positives in this first of four preseason games. The win will do much to boost the confidence of the team moving forward. Next up for the Cowboys will be the Denver Broncos in Texas Stadium.

It was so good to chill out and watch a football game again! I hope that most of you got a chance to watch and root for our team. GO COWBOYS! 

Posted by Dustin O'Dell at 09:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The final Training Camp workout at the Alamodome is scheduled for tomorrow at 11 a.m. Afterwards, the team will head back home to get ready for Thursday's Preseason game against the Colts. The game will be nationally televised on FOX beginning at 7 p.m. Central. Broadcasters will be Troy Aikman and Joe Buck along with Pam Oliver on the sidelines.

There is concern about the heat. The temperature is expected to be in the mid to upper 90s and in Texas Stadium it could be over 100 degrees. There are 85 players available so I wouldn't expect to see any particular player on the field for too long. The trainers plan to keep the guys hydrated and have talked to them about heat exhaustion and the effects of dehydration.

Overall Training Camp went really well. Alot of fans came out and enjoyed seeing the Cowboys in action. There were also several visits from past Cowboys such as Deion Sanders, Troy Aikman and Lee Roy Jordan. Other than a few injuries, the worst being Terry Glenn's knee, everyone had nice productive workouts. It will be good for the 'Boys to go up against an opponent wearing another jersey for a change!

Have a safe trip home 'Boys and we'll see ya on the big screen on Thursday night!

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 09:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As we near the end of Training Camp 2007, a new wind has apparently blown in along with new head coach Wade Phillips.  Not a peep out of T.O.  That’s right, Terrell Eldorado Owens, has been virtually unheard from this off-season. 

Whatever is ESPN to do without an over-exaggerated story about T.O. stirring up a Texas tornado down in the Lonestar state?  In fact, I have not seen or heard one thing about Terrell Owens on Sportscenter in the last two weeks, with the exception of their “Who’s Now” segment, which is a bracket competition to determine today’s most successful and marketable athlete on and off the field (T.O. was defeated by Alex Rodriquez in the Muhammad Ali Region). 

But Terrell Owens, “The Coach Killer”, has given the media nothing to jump on this year.  He has said and done all the right things. 

Now, there might have been some controversy regarding his comments about Bill Parcells after Wade Phillips was hired, but T.O. was not the only one guilty of this.  A number of Cowboys veterans expressed their dislike for the way The Tuna ran things. 

This year has been substantially different than last’s.  The media had to have been licking their chops at Terrell Owen’s every move last year.  There was the pulled hamstring.  Then there was the bike/yellow jersey incident.  And who could forget T.O’s alleged suicide attempt last year, as wonderfully reported by ESPN. 

With all of that happening last year, Terrell Owens still gained legions of fans, and this year will be no different.  Expect T.O. to continue to be, and stay, on his best behavior. 

Posted by Derek Sanders at 09:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Here are the results of last weeks StarStruck Cowboys Poll which asked the question...

Which Of These Players Will Emerge With A Breakout Year This Season?

It looks like Cowboys fans are expecting a big year from wide receiver, Patrick Crayton this season. Patrick grabbed 43% of all the votes, with Linebacker Bobby Carpenter coming in a distant second with 28% of the votes. Personally I think both will have solid seasons this year, but my choice is Bobby Carpenter to really emerge and make his presence felt this season.

This week we will focus on the defensive side of the ball and ask...

Who Will Be The Cowboys Defensive MVP This Season?

1. Marcus Spears

2. DeMarcus Ware

3. Terence Newman

4. Roy Williams

Tell us who you think will lead the defense this season for our Cowboys.

Enjoy the game on Thursday night!

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Michael Irvin accepted his induction to the Hall of Fame with heartfelt tears and the biggest smile you ever seen. I found myself crying, then laughing, smiling and cheering, what an emotional rollercoaster.

Jerry Jones' introduction of Michael Irvin was simply perfect. You could tell he was so proud and honored to be there. He took Cowboys fans back to the 90's and showed us how dedicated Michael Irvin really was. He gave everything on the field, up until his final game in 1999.

As Michael Irvin stepped up to the mic, I had no idea what to expect. I knew it would be an emotional speech, but I had no idea how he would touch everyone who was listening.

Irvin covered everything, from family to fans, to his faith and even the meaning of the game. He talked about his highs and his lows. He admitted that he had made some bad decisions in life and believed he did not belong amongst these great men in Canton, Ohio. But then he went on to say one of the most inspirational quotes that I will remember forever: Look Up, Get Up and Don't Ever Give Up!

I know every Cowboy fan watching was proud of Michael, but I guarantee every single person watching, fan or not, was moved by that speech. He really stepped up and showed what a great heart he has despite the bad reputation that has followed him throughout his life.

Yes, you are right Michael, it's more than just a game, and believe me when I say you are more than just a player, you're an inspiration. May God bless "your latter days more than your former".

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

"I always believed, you should reach for the moon, and just maybe you will end up simply grabbing the stars."   

                                          -Michael Irvin 

We would like to honor Michael Irvin today as he is being enshrined into Pro Football's highest and most dignified honor. Michael "The Playmaker" Irvin will become the 10th Cowboy in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this evening. Jerry Jones will be presenting the honor to Michael, a job he accepted with great pride. Throughout the years, Jones has stood by Irvin through thick and thin and he wouldn't miss this for the world.

 

"There was not one time I ever thought about playing for any man other than Jerry Jones or any other organization other than the Dallas Cowboys," Irvin told the media at his retirement press conference in 2000.

Irvin finished his career with 750 receptions, 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns. He was selected to five Pro Bowls, and was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor on September 19, 2005. Today he will honored for all of those accomplishments and always be known as one of the greatest receivers to play the game.

 

"Michael Irvin was the most competitive individual I have every played with. He was the heart and soul of our team. From a physical standpoint, there is no one who could match his talent and skill. His work ethic, charisma and drive were what carried us to our three Super Bowl titles.” – Emmitt Smith

Thanks for the memories Michael! Congratulations!!!

Posted by LoneStarStruck at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Not much cooking these days at Cowboys training camp, but the team did get some good news when wide receiver, Terrell Owens returned to the practice field. Owens missed a few days to rest a sore hamstring and said he is now 100%.

"I don't like sitting out," T.O. said. "That was a decision that Coach made. I'm not the one to argue with him."

Anyone who's followed Terrell's career over the years can vouch that Owen's is not one to argue with his head coach... YEAH, RIGHT!

Here's some more positive news for you... OT Marc Colombo, who is recovering from a knee scope, could practice on Saturday. He still might not be ready to play in the season opener... Hey, you can't always get what you want. Wow, that would make a great title for a song!

Poor Terry Glenn begins his rehab after successful surgery on his knee. I wish I was as poor as him...

Somebody please assure me that the broadcast of our first preseason game won't be overrun by all the Michael Vick and Pac Man Jones drama. That would really be a bummer.

That's all for now and as we head into our first pre season game I just want to give a shout out to all the brave men and women serving our country...

I know so many of you won't be able to watch the game, but I want all of you to know that you are in our thoughts and in our hearts, and we here at StarStruck know that you are the real America's Team!

GO COWBOYS!

Posted by Joe D. at 07:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)