Cowboys Gab

It’s been highly reported that Jerry Jones wants to see more of last years first round pick - Felix Jones, on the field more in 2009. ProFootballWeekly reports that both Jones and fellow RB Marion Barber could both be on the field at the same time this upcoming season:

First, in the backfield, the team is playing around with using Cowboys RB’s Marion Barber and Felix Jones — something it did sparingly last season when the two were healthy — on the field at the same time. It doesn’t have to be in traditional, two-back sets, either; Jones has the flexibility to split out and motion into or out of the backfield.

Because of all the talk that’s been going on about my last blog, let me say this: I don’t think the starting job is mine because of the round and pick I was drafted, and I don’t think it’s going to be given to me because there’s favoritism.

That’s not my way.

I’m far from my peak, I have not played or showed any comparison to what I did at South Florida and a lot of fans, writers, coaches don’t know that. Me and Orlando are two totally different players. You can’t coach me the same way you coach him. Just like Nnamdi and Asante Samuel, we have two totally different styles.

Click HERE to read the rest

The Cowboys have unveiled their new logo for Cowboys Stadium. The new “mark” is meant to define the venue as “energetic, modern and timeless.” “We think this logo will soon be instantly recognizable and appreciated as the mark of a significant and important venue for sports,” said Charlotte Jones Anderson, team executive.

Heading into training camp I’m the starter at right cornerback, and my job is to maintain that position. I’m back in Florida training at IMG to get my body right, get my head right, be mentally ready heading into the season.

It’s time to show anyone doubting me, and even the fans backing me up, that I’m the guy the Cowboys wanted coming out of college.

As a starter the coaches put a lot more pressure on you to make sure you’re ready for the season. It’s tough because I feel like any mistake I make there’s someone waiting to take the job away from me.

Click HERE to read the rest

Pete Prisco of CBSSportsline.com has come out with his annual list of the Top 50 NFL players, and the Cowboys have two players on the list, including the number three overall - DeMarcus Ware. Here’s the Cowboys on the list:

3. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Cowboys: One number says it all: 20. That’s his sack total from 2008. He’s the best pass-rushing linebacker in football.

33. Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys: He’s a great threat in the middle of the field and has improved as a blocker. Tony Romo loves him and with T.O. gone he might be even more of a factor.

Jerry Jones announced this week that there wouldn’t be any RoH inductees again this year.  I think that is a big mistake, Mr. Jones, since the new stadium is opening this year and there are several quality players who should be considered for it.

Let’s go over a quick history of the RoH before I give my argument as to who and why other player(s) should be inducted, if not this year, but soon.  First created in 1975, it is a ring inside of then-Texas Stadium to honor former players, coaches and club personnel who have made outstanding contributions to the Cowboys organization.  Bob Lilly was the first person honored with the retiring of his jersey, No. 74, and having his name and number plastered under the press box.  He has also remained the presenter to every inductee since this historic day in November of ‘75.

There are currently 17 members of this elite ring with the last inductions being held at Texas Stadium in 2005 when the “Triplets” of Aikman, Irvin and Smith were deservingly given the honor.  So that has almost been five years now since a new honoree has been named.  There have been gaps in the process before with only nine players being named over the first three decades of the team’s existence!   But I feel that the time has come for a new ceremony and name(s) to be placed in the RoH.

The first person I believe should be seriously considered for it is……..drum roll…….Charlie Waters.  Waters played safety for the Cowboys from ‘70-’78 and again in the ‘80-’81 seasons.  He is currently third all-time in interceptions, and leads the organization in post-season picks with nine.  His playing partner, Cliff Harris, is a RoH member and the two of them were possibly the best Safety tandem to have ever played the game.  Waters was a hard-hitter but great in coverage also.  He was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls from ‘76-’78 and only a knee injury kept him out of the ‘79 Pro Bowl.  He was also named  first-team All-Pro twice and did play-by-play with Brad Sham in the booth for a while.   Waters has done some coaching since then having served as defensive coordinator in Denver and worked with now-HC  Wade Phillips.  By all accounts, it seems to me he is just as deserving as his playing partner Harris.  From my lips to Jerry Jones’ ear you might say!

My next nominee was a then little-known player who signed a free-agent contract with the Cowboys in 1990 and now is in their top 10 of all-time receivers.  He made five straight Pro Bowls and also served as holder on field goals and XP’s.  He was a former QB from the University of Wyoming and a naturally-gifted all-around athlete and cowboy.  Yes, TE Jay Novacek is a RoH shoe-in in my book.  With 339 career receptions and over 3,500 yards, only Jason Witten has recently surpassed him in the record books among Cowboys’ tight ends.   A serious back injury he sustained in the ‘95 Super Bowl victory over the hated Steelers forced him to retire fairly early in his career or there’s no telling what his stats would have been.  He was Aikman’s go-to receiver, especially on third downs, and made many memorable catches over his six-year career in Dallas. 

So as the Cowboys start a new era in their new home, I find it only appropo that there should be some fresh blood added to this unique institution called the “Ring of Honor” at Cowboys Stadium.

Fans concerned about affording to see a game or a show at the new $1.15 billion Cowboys Stadium in Arlington can still check out the place. For a fee. Stadium tours, at $15 for adults and $12 for children, will be conducted every half-hour and last up to 75 minutes.

ESPN did an NFL “All-Decade” team earlier in the week and the Dallas Cowboys’ home page is doing a Top 50 All-Time Cowboys List, much as was done here a couple of years ago.  Since ESPN failed to include any Cowboys players on its team, which is a huge oversight in my opinion, and to differ from the home page, I am now naming my own Cowboys “All-Decade” team.  This list, just as any list, is purely subjective, open to criticism and suggestion and based upon the last ten years’ amalgam of players who have worn the silver and blue uniform.  So here goes:

OFFENSE

RT:   No doubt about this one, Erik Williams.  Possibly the meanest, strongest man to ever play the position.

LT:   More of a closer battle between Mark Tuinei and Flozell Adams.  I have to give the nod to Adams, who earned five Pro Bowl appearances and only an injury kept him out of his sixth.  He was also named to the All-Pro team in ‘07.

OG:  I’ll just name two right here as they could be interchangeable at either the right or left sides, Leonard Davis and Larry Allen, who alternated between guard and tackle making 10 Pro Bowls.  Davis has made the Pro Bowl the last two years since he came to the Cowboys.

C:   Andre Gurode goes here, since Mark Stepnoski was the all-decade choice for the 90’s.  Gurode has made the last three Pro Bowls and is continuing to anchor a very good offensive line.

RB’s:  I’ll just name two here as there are many who might argue the number of RB’s due to starting roles and today’s dual purpose backs.  Marion Barber III and Julius Jones, although Felix Jones is close to making this list, he has only been on the team two years and was injured most of last year.

WR:  Say what you will, I have to go with Terrell Owens since no one since Michael Irvin in the 90’s comes close statistically speaking.  Also, since there should be two here, I’ll say Patrick Crayton for lack of any other memorable ones.

TE:  Ahh, very easy, Jason Witten hands down.  Novacek in the ’90’s, but Witten for this and possibly next decade.

QB:  No doubt here either, Tony Romo is and will be the quarterback of this and the next decade for the Cowboys.

DEFENSE

DL:  I’ll just throw out a few names here depending on whether you consider the new 3-4 defense or the prior 4-3 of earlier this decade.  Jay Ratliff, having made the Pro Bowl last year at NT; Jason Ferguson and La’Roi Glover, who just retired and made four Pro Bowls each of his four years here in Dallas.

LB:  DeMarcus Ware, obviously, along with Greg Ellis, Dexter Coakley and Bradie James, who really made an impact the last several years.

DB:  Roy Williams, although his last years were not a good match for him, he carried the team defensively for many years.  Of course, Terrence Newman, Ken Hamlin and last but not least, Anthony Henry who I felt played a big role in the secondary the last several years.

We could include Special Teams, but other than Nick Folk  I can’t think of anyone worthy of any praise except for longtime standout and back-up S Keith Davis.  So there it is,

ST:  Nick Folk and Keith Davis. 

That concludes my “All-Decade” Cowboys List, again, it is purely subjective and open to debate so let me know what or who you think should have been/not been included.

There will not be a Ring of Honor ceremony this year according to owner Jerry Jones in today’s Dallas Morning News:

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said there will not be a Ring of Honor ceremony this year. “But it will be every bit as emphasized in the new stadium as it was at Texas Stadium,” Jones said. The Cowboys have not inducted any players into the Ring of Honor since the Triplets - Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith - were added on Sept. 19, 2005. Also, the Cowboys have yet to pick a place for the Tom Landry statue at the new stadium but it will be done before the season begins.

The Dallas Morning News reports that former Cowboy Terrell Owens is speaking his mind about being used as the scapegoat for Tony Romo’s lack of leadership:

Terrell Owens said he heard Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones’ suggestion, published in a recent story on Yahoo.com, that Romo wouldn’t be able to emerge as a leader with Owens on the roster. “He was the quarterback of the team,” Owens said. “I think everybody realized that. It was upon him to adopt that leadership role and carry that out. Obviously, they saw that didn’t happen. “So, for whatever reason, I’ll be the scapegoat. I’m not here. Now, it’s his team, you know, and I wish him well.”