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 Hall of Fame. We received great news a few weeks back that the Cowboys have been selected to play in the Hall of Fame exhibition game the same weekend. It seems like the best thing next to a Super Bowl party if you ask me.

Speaking of Super Bowl, how exciting is it that the big game will be played in North Texas this time around? Of course every year we die-hard fans believe the Cowboys are going to the Bowl, well our haters really are going to squirm this season aren’t they? Our expectations will be at an all-time high and no we won’t back down.

On another note, during the offseason we are continuing to think of ways to improve the site. Everyday as technology advances there are new ideas and the world wide web is constantly changing. One thing that has made this site unique and popular is our graphics. Our site was created back in 2006 on Myspace. As everyone can tell, Myspace is dwindling and losing popularity fast. Facebook and Twitter are where it’s at now, and who knows how long that will last before the next big thing arrives.

I’m going to need some fan feedback here. With a show of hands (votes) how many Cowboys fans would like to continue to see our graphics grow? Do you still use the graphics? Should we keep our graphics section open?

I know we still have many fans and followers who use our graphics daily and we are very grateful for your continued support. As a graphic designer it brings me great joy to create Cowboys themed images and to share them with the world. I just want to know if I should be focusing my creative energy elsewhere. Please take a minute to vote in the following polls so I can get an idea on what the future has in store for LSS. Don’t be shy, if you have ideas or requests please leave a comment or contact us in an email.

This is not a resignation letter but more of a “how can I serve you better” letter. We love the Cowboys and we love Cowboys fans. And for the record, we aren’t going anywhere but up! 2009 was our biggest year in the five seasons we’ve been around, we grew by leaps and bounds. Our new layout design was a big hit and we gained some excellent staff members who continue to impress every time they post. All of this is thanks to you, our fellow Cowboys fans. So to show our appreciation I am reaching out to you in hopes of making the site even better! I am looking forward to your feedback.

How ’bout them Cowboys!

Sincerely,

Kelly Horn
Founder/Owner/Graphic Designer of lonestarstruck.com

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 (for a change).

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 just not going to have Miles Austin any place but with the Dallas Cowboys,” Jerry Jones said on ESPN/103.3 FM radio.

I’m sure that the recent comments from Stephen Jones will send some into a tizzy and spur on an onslaught of posts raising the panic alert, but all Jones did was explain the course of action regarding Miles Austin and the current climate surrounding the yet to be determined collective bargaining agreement.

Obviously the owners want to reduce the rate of salary growth while the players union want the opposite. It may take some time before they come to an agreement that suits both of them.

With the financial picture so cloudy and hard to predict, it makes it difficult for all NFL teams to negotiate long term deals with their current players.

Would you go out and buy a new house after finding out that your company was laying off 300 workers next month?

How can the Cowboys negotiate a big deal with Austin when there’s even a slight chance that there still might be a cap, and if the owners get their way, a smaller cap…

Another huge contract on top of those already given to Roy Williams, Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware and Marion Barber could suffocate the Cowboys and prevent them from making any other additional moves.

Hopefully, a new collective bargaining agreement will be in place by March 5, 2010, thus making it easier for the Cowboys and every other NFL franchise to navigate through their offseason plans and better prepare for the new season.

Miles Austin isn’t going anywhere. He is now one of our most prized possessions and there is no way the Cowboys would risk losing him.

Even though most Cowboys fans began offseason weeks ago, its official now that the big game is behind us. Congratulations to the Saints for winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Drew Brees, Sean Payton and the rest of the Saints worked hard all year and definitely deserved to win it all. At least we can have joy in saying we were the first team to ruin the Saints undefeated season.

In other news, I think its sad that no one is shocked that Michael Irvin was fired from his ESPN show and at the same time was accused of rape. What else can you say?

Congratulations to Emmitt Smith for his Hall of Fame induction announcement. I cheered so loud when they announced his name at the Super Bowl to do the coin toss. Emmitt has always made us so proud, I can’t wait until he gets his moment on the stage in August.

As for the Cowboys offseason, I believe it will be relatively quiet compared to recent years. I don’t think there are any players who are unhappy… wait a minute, maybe I’m wrong. A couple of players may be ‘unhappy’ but none that have earned the right to make any noise.

I am looking forward to next season, and our road to six. The Cowboys have a great chance to play in the Super Bowl which will be extra special since its in their house! And maybe I’ve mentioned this several times, but it happens to fall on my birthday. I know every year we believe the Cowboys will win the Super Bowl but I’ve got extra high expectations for 2010!

So Cowboys fans – sit back, relax and enjoy the offseason. Hopefully it won’t last too long.

Sadly, the 2009 season ended for the Dallas Cowboys a couple of weeks ago, but this weekend when the Pro Bowl kicks off you might reconsider tuning in. In addition to the six Cowboys elected and Terence Newman who was added last week, two more will join the Cowboys coaching staff on the NFC roster. Andre Gurode will not be playing because of knee surgery.

Tony Romo and Mike Jenkins will play in the game due to injury of the elected starters. Romo was chosen to replace Brett Favre (ankle injury). Jenkins will replace Antoine Winfield (foot injury).

That makes a total of nine Cowboys attending this year’s Pro Bowl in Miami. Philadelphia is tied with Dallas for having the most players at the game. It is also the sixth most selections in franchise history.

Your 2010 Pro Bowl Cowboys:

Miles Austin, wide receiver

Leonard Davis, guard

Andre Gurode, center (injured)

Mike Jenkins, cornerback

Terence Newman, cornerback

Jay Ratliff, interior lineman

Tony Romo, quarterback

DeMarcus Ware, outside linebacker

Jason Witten, tight end

Head Coach Wade Phillips and his staff

According to Jason La Canfora at NFL.com Wade Phillips will return as the Cowboys head coach for 2010.

The Cowboys are executing the 2010 option on coach Wade Phillips‘ contract, binding him to the team for next season, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Phillips met with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and top brass on Monday, and more talks are scheduled for Tuesday. The team hasn’t moved to extend Phillips’ contract beyond 2010, but Jones is comfortable with him as the coach for next season.

I like it. I like Wade, more importantly the players like him and what he did with this team in 2009 was really impressive.

I know many may argue, but I definitely agree with keeping him on another year.

I picked up my copy of the latest Sports Illustrated on my lunch break this afternoon. No, unfortunately I’m not a subscriber, usually you get so tired of the bashing and failed predictions, etc. but this fan just couldn’t pass up a Cowboy cover! Miles Austin looks great.

Inside they label Austin “the Antidiva”. I think we all know what (or rather who) that’s referring to.

The last line of the Miles Austin section cracks me up – Coach Ray Sherman told Austin, “You’re not a surprise to anyone anymore. They’ll be gunning for you now. Don’t go all Hollywood on me.”

Gotta love it!

I shall put my magazine in a slip cover and preserve it to remind me of this wonderful season. But, don’t put away the memory chest just yet, we ain’t finished here. Without a doubt, there will be more Cowboy covers on the newsstands as they make their way to top and reach for the Lombardi!

Defensive stars Jay Ratliff and DeMarcus Ware were named to the All-Pro Team earlier this week. The Associated Press names 12 players to the NFC team. This is Ratliff’s first time to be named the honor and Ware’s fourth time. Center Andre Gurode was named to the 2nd All-Pro Team.

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Cowboys Defensive line coach Todd Grantham has accepted a job as the defensive coordinator for the University of Georgia. The Cowboys have already found their replacement, former assistant coach Paul Pasqualoni. Pasqualoni, who was on the Dallas coaching staff from 2005-2007, was recently let go by the Miami Dolphins and was readily available. Both coaches are expected to travel to Minnesota this weekend.

***

The Cowboys injured starting running back (knee) Marion Barber practiced Thursday and was expected to practice Friday as well. Coach Phillips was encouraged by Marion’s progress and will be monitoring him close up until game time to decide whether he will be effective enough to play in Sunday’s game.

Also, Pat Watkins who has been out for a month practiced fully this week and has a good chance to return to the field this week.

***

The Cowboys practiced in Cowboys Stadium on Thursday due to the weather conditions, and I have to say it was a great idea to blast crowd noise to prepare the players for Minnesota. They overcame the noise in New Orleans and Minnesota will be just as loud, if not worse. I think the Cowboys and fans alike have learned a lot about the effect of crowd noise level this season.

***

With all the trash talk going on lately, mostly from our opponents I’d like to through this at ya, from Gerald Sensabaugh in response to Favre saying he’d be shocked if Minnesota didn’t win:

“We’d have to beat ourselves to lose. The way we’re playing right now, I don’t think we can be beat.”

Personally I liked it better when our ‘Boys were keeping their mouths shut until the job was done, but hey we’ve heard worse things coming from cocky Dallas players in the past… ha ha.

On another note: Is anyone else sick and tired of hearing about Romo facing his childhood hero?

Honestly, I’m too excited and overwhelmed with joy to really concentrate and blog right now. I just wanted to say I am so proud of these players, each and every one of them made this win possible. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that we are two wins away from the Super Bowl. I know thats some really high hoping but I believe there isn’t anything this team can do right now.

I’d like to give some huge props to Mr. Wade Phillips. He’s taken a lot of heat for a while now and he has really blown all of us away, not only today but this entire season. You could say the same thing for Tony Romo. But this was a team effort and when a team is firing on all cylinders and dominating like they have been in the last few games – that’s what makes a Championship Team.

HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS!

I didn’t want to be redundant because I know there will be a thousand titles in tomorrow’s headlines with these same words but to the hated Eagles I have one thing to say………

The THIRD time really is a CHARM!

COWBOYS 34 – EAGLES 14

Hey everyone, I thought I would share this with everyone, our site has been mentioned in an article in the Dallas Morning News.

Our own Joe D was interviewed by DMN’s Michael E. Young in a feature about Cowboys fans.

Great job Joe, we are so proud!

Follow the link below for the full story.

Cowboys fans put past behind ahead of Eagles playoff game

Here’s an excerpt that features Joe D:

After 13 years of playoff frustration – and an 0-6 record in those win-or-go-home games – many Dallas Cowboys fans look at tonight’s game against Philadelphia with cautious optimism and a healthy respect for the past.

That’s Joe DeCaro’s take, anyway, and this lifelong Cowboys fan from New York City – a staff blogger for lonestarstruck.com – can’t understand it.

“In our weekly chats, it seems very, very few are taking the plunge and getting excited,” said DeCaro, “JoeD” to his readers. “It’s like they don’t want to jinx it.”

That’s understandable.

Sure, the ‘Boys beat the Eagles twice this year, including Sunday’s thumping in Arlington, the site of tonight’s game. And the Cowboys are on a roll, winners of three straight, two of them shutouts and the third against the previously undefeated New Orleans Saints.

The running game is clicking, Tony Romo seems to have an answer for any defensive scheme and the Cowboys “D” has been lights out. What could possibly go wrong?

Oh yeah, there was that game against the New York Giants on Jan. 13, 2008, their third matchup of the year. The high-flying Cowboys won the first two. They lost the one that really counted.

The fans haven’t forgotten.

To DeCaro, though, that was then and this is now.

Just as spring brings hope to every baseball fan, even in North Texas, DeCaro figures the parity found throughout the NFL means a few off-season changes can lift last year’s losers right into the playoff race.

“I’m very optimistic and have been all year,” he said. “I figured playoffs and believed we’d win the NFC East, no doubt about it.”

But when he saw the enthusiasm of fans in Philadelphia and New York, and then looked at Dallas, “I wondered, ‘Where’s the noise?’ “

The NFL has released the opponents for the 2010 NFL season.

Cowboys will face the AFC South along with its usual lineup.

Home games
NY Giants, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Jacksonville, Tennessee, New Orleans

Away games
NY Giants, Philadelphia, Washington, Green Bay, Minnesota, Houston, Indianapolis, Arizona

I just read this interesting article over at NFL.com and thought it was worth sharing with our readers. Its nice to see the Cowboys are finally getting some much deserved respect in the league.

NFC Fear Factor: Cowboys are conference’s most dangerous team

1. Dallas Cowboys (11-5, No. 3 seed)

Beware of this red-hot team, winners of three straight and five of their last seven. Dallas has shown to be the most physical team in the postseason on both sides of the line.

The offensive front is road-grading, giving its trio of tailbacks room to run and allowing quarterback Tony Romo time to make the right decisions. Defensively, Dallas is making life troublesome for opposing quarterbacks with Jay Ratliff, Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware living in the backfield.

Romo has been the main ingredient for the team’s solid late-season play. He seems unflappable, which has been a huge departure from his past. He relies heavily on tight end Jason Witten and No. 1 wideout Miles Austin with good reason. Romo is taking few gambles with his throws, and that ball security has been a big reason for Dallas’ late-season success.

It’s a deep run through the playoffs — or bust — for this evolving team.

Here we are, last game of the season against the Eagles again. This time its going to be a different outcome!

Cowboys fans are all welcome to join our gameday live chat here at lonestarstruck.com.

I hope that our fellow fans that are privileged enough to be at the game will cheer loudly, at the right times, and give our Boys that much more inspiration to win – win – win!!!

Dallas is playing for the division crown and home field advantage. The Vikings won (embarrassing the hell out of the Giants I should add) so the Cowboys can no longer claim the number two seed. They will be playing next week in the first week of the playoffs.

We have one goal… Beat The Eagles!!!

Needless to say we want that NFC East division title!

LETS GO COWBOYS!

CLICK HERE TO CHAT NOW!

It’s been a heck of a ride this year at Lone Star Struck, and though we’re sad to see 2009 go, we are absolutely pumped for a new year in 2010.

On behalf of everybody at LSS, I want to thank all of our amazing readers for their tremendous support this past year.

I am so honored and privileged to be part of a Cowboys fan site that have some of the most passionate, knowledgeable and articulate fans in the Dallas Cowboys Blogosphere. You have helped transform a simple fan site into a thriving Cowboys community that continues to grow each day.

8,399,653 PAGEVIEWS!

546,174 VISITS!

832 FACEBOOK FANS!

579 TWITTER FOLLOWERS!

5,600 MYSPACE FRIENDS!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You…

We wish all of you a very healthy and Happy New Year in 2010!