Dallas Update: Mavericks Stars Cowboys & Texas Rangers

NBA: Dallas Mavericks (45-21, 2^nd in Western Conference)

-       The Mavericks keep on rolling and have now won 13 games in a row after dispatching the Kings, the Bulls, the Timberwolves and the Nets in the past week. Dirk Nowitzki and crew have continued their strong play since the trade deadline but it has been rookie guard, Rodrigue Beaubois that has been a big reason for the success.  Widely thought of as heir apparent to Jason Kidd, Beaubois has seen his minutes rise this past week and his production has followed suit as Beaubois has averaged 27 minutes in the past five games after being a DNP for a lot of the previous month. In these past five games, Beaubois is averaging 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He’s also shooting a shade below 55% from the field and 35% from three. Beaubois is lightning quick in transition and gives the Mavs a whole different element going into the playoffs. After a torrid schedule last week where they played five games in seven days, the Mavs get to relax a bit as they only have two games this week, and they’re against the lowly Knicks and the sliding Bulls. Look for the Mavs keep to keep the engine going full bore and get that win streak up to 15 by week’s end.

5dimes review: NHL: Dallas Stars (29-25-12, 70 points, 10^th in Western Conference)

-       The Stars just finished a week in which that had to face some of the top teams in the league. They came away 1-3, with a surprise victory over the Washington Capitals in Washington on Monday, 4-3 in a shootout. Goalie Marty Turco made 49 saves in that game. In the rest of the Stars games, they were massacred. The Stars gave up 6, 6 and 5 goals in the other three games last week and the defense has been a whole new kind of atrocious recently. The Stars will face four more playoff teams this coming week and look like a good team to bet against as their playoff hopes look grim unless they can somehow turn it around quickly.

Sportsbook: MLB: Texas Rangers – Preseason

-       Preseason is a week underway now and the Rangers got outfielder Josh Hamilton on the field, albeit a couple of games after spring training began. Hamilton came back and went 2-3 and felt fine after the game.

-       Texas acquired relief pitcher Edwar Ramirez from the Yankees for cash. Ramirez, when on, has one of the best changeups in the game.

-       1^st base top prospect and likely to threaten to be a starter out of camp this year, Justin Smoak, has a strained hip and took some time off for treatment.

-       P Rich Harden threw two and 2/3 innings and gave up four runs, walked three and threw a wild pitch. His velocity was in the mid to high 80’s which is a red flag. More to come on the often fragile Harden.

NFL: Dallas Cowboys – Offseason

-       All is quiet in Cowboys land as free agency in the uncapped year is underway. The Cowboys already have a very high payroll and will have to pay out big money to Roy Williams, who doesn’t deserve it, Flozell Adams, who is likely to be replaced in the draft or in some other means, and Marion Barber who is always hurt. Jerry Jones will probably wait until after all the March Madness betting is over and the complex structure of the free agent class of 2010 sorts itself out as the Cowboys are restricted by the “final eight rule” that prohibits them from signing an unrestricted free agent for more than 5.7 + million dollars a year. Look for the Cowboys to look at trading Marion Barber in the upcoming weeks.

Dallas Sports Teams Report

Dallas Mavericks, Stars, Cowboys and Texas Rangers Report

Sportsbook: NBA: Dallas Mavericks (37-21, 4^th in Western Conference)

-       The Dallas Mavericks are scorching hot as they have now rolled off five victories in a row. A big part of their success has been recent addition Brendan Haywood. At the trade deadline, the Mavs traded Josh Howard and Drew Gooden and somehow got back Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood. Howard is now out for the season with a torn ACL and the Mavs are looking like bandits. Brendan Haywood is one of the league’s premier defensive centers and Caron Butler is a guard/forward that can take over games all by himself at times. The Mavs were able to knock off the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night 101- 96 behind 31 points from Dirk Nowitzki and 30 from Jason Terry. Butler did not play due to an allergic reaction to some medicine. Brendan Haywood had 11 points, nine rebounds and a whopping five blocks. The Mavs next game is Friday at Atlanta.

NHL: Dallas Stars (28-21-12, 68 points t-9^th in Western Conference)

-       The Olympic break has not been a passive one for Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk. The Stars had a logjam at goaltender with Mary Turco, Alex Auld and recently acquired Kari Lehtonen. Marty Turco is 4-1-1 in his last six starts and gained the starting job which led to the Stars waiving Alex Auld. The Stars will likely make a trade at the deadline to make a push for the playoffs as they are only one point out currently, but Marty Turco apparently will not be part of a deal.

US Sportsbook Review: MLB: Texas Rangers: Spring Training

-       The Texas Rangers will look to get off to a fast start this season but they will have to do it without Khalil Greene who was unable to report to camp with “a recurrence of issues he’s dealt with in the past” according to GM Jon Daniels. The Rangers will now need to find someone else to fill in as the utility infielder for the season. Greene may yet return to the team, but it will not be to start the season.

NFL: Dallas Cowboys: Offseason

-       The Cowboys did not place a franchise tag on WR Miles Austin and will now have to offer him a deal to keep him. Austin has been the most effective receiver for the Cowboys and is coming off his first pro-bowl season. The Cowboys may try to give him a tender, because he’s a restricted free agent, which would pay Austin over three million dollars for one year and allow the Cowboys to get a first and third round pick if they do not match another team’s offer sheet. The Cowboys will likely keep Austin if the price does not get too high, however many teams would love a player of Austin’s caliber and sorely need a number one receiver.

-       NFL Predictions : With the enigmatic Roy Williams taking up space in the Cowboys’ salary cap and not performing anywhere near his expectations, the Cowboys would be smart to get Austin signed to a deal on their own terms.

Cowboy Corner: Will Miles Austin be a Cowboy in 2010?

Cowboys Offseason

Sportsbook Super Bowl Odds (for XLV): Cowboys +1215

NFC Odds (5Dimes Reviews): Cowboys +685

Is There A Chance Miles Austin Will Not Be A Cowboy In 2010?

After a breakout, Pro Bowl season, there is no question that wide receiver Miles Austin has plenty of value that the Dallas Cowboys not only want, but rely upon. After Terrell Owens departed and Roy Williams never filled his shoes, Austin stepped up and led the wide receiving corps.

The Cowboys brass is saying all of the right things, but fans can’t help but be a little nervous right now.

Austin is a free agent, although he is of the restricted variety. The good news is that the Cowboys can use a tender on him and it would take an opposing team to really make an effort above and beyond the call of duty to pry him from the Cowboys.

But that is possible – just ask the Seattle Seahawks when they lost Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson in a similar situation a few years ago.

The best way to secure Austin would be to either sign him to a long term contract or franchise tag him. The latter method would cost the team just under $10 million, which isn’t appealing and the former way is dicey considering there is no collective bargaining agreement beyond this year.

Right now, Austin is in the driver’s seat. Whether he gets the franchise tag or a long term deal, or is courted by another team for a lucrative contract, he should be thinking big for his next contract.

What the Cowboys are most likely to do is give him the highest restrictive free agency tender, which would mean two things:

For starters, any team that signed him would have to give a first- and third-round pick to the Cowboys in return if Austin did leave and sign with the new team and also, the Cowboys would have the option to match any deal that Austin would agree to with the new team.

Most NFL picks are expecting the Cowboys to use that tender because there won’t be many NFL teams that want to give up first and a third for him. At the same time, most NFL teams won’t find a receiver as good as Austin in the first round of the 2010 draft, so they might be tempted.

At the end of the day, expect Austin to be a Cowboy but there is some anxiety considering he isn’t locked up quite yet.

Cowboy Corner: Dallas Cowboys Offseason Report

Cowboys Offseason

Super Bowl Odds (for XLV): Cowboys +1215

NFC Odds (BetEd Reviews): Cowboys +685

Is Miles Austin A One-Hit Wonder?

While most people were expecting Roy Williams to step up and replace the contributions of Terrell Owens entering the 2009 season, it was a different Cowboys wide receiver that stepped up and became a star. Now that Miles Austin has one fantastic Pro Bowl season under his belt, the speculation has already begun as to whether he can do this again.

The good news is that Austin is saying a lot of the right things after going from being a little-known third receiver to the Pro Bowl. Austin has already talked about not resting on his laurels and working even harder this offseason. He won’t be a kept secret next year and he’ll be the focus of plenty of defensive attention.

One big help to Austin would be for Williams to finally play up to his potential. If he can play like the Pro Bowler that he once was, opposing defenses wouldn’t be able to double-team Austin regularly. Or if they did, Tony Romo and Williams could burn them.

Deon Anderson’s Status In Question

Fullback Deon Anderson didn’t exactly grab many headlines during the regular season for the Cowboys but since the team has hit the offseason, he has been a key story.

Anderson pulled a gun on a valet at a local Dallas restaurant and clearly there are some ramifications that come with those actions.

The team and the league are letting the matter play out legally before anyone makes a decision. Clearly, the result of that will likely result in Anderson receiving – or not receiving – team and/or league sanctions.

Anderson was a starter last year so he is an important team member.

Tashard Choice Trade Rumors

Internet betting fans have heard the trade rumors blowing early this offseason as the Cowboys have been linked in deals with the San Diego Chargers regarding Cowboys running back Tashard Choice and Chargers defensive back Antonio Cromartie.

So far, those rumors have proven to be just smoke but as we all know, where there is smoke there tends to be fire.

The Cowboys are in a position of desperation so they definitely don’t need to make a move but keep an eye for these rumors to heat up as the NFL Draft approaches.

The reality is that Choice, while he’s a good back, is third on the pecking order and the Cowboys could dangle him to improve their roster somewhere else.

Cowboy Corner: Cowboys Offseason Report

Cowboys Offseason

Super Bowl Odds (for XLV): Cowboys +1215

NFC Odds (BetEd Reviews): Cowboys +685

Return Of Folk Just A Folk Story

It is the offseason, which means that there will be lots of rumors and conjecture flying around. Case and point: recently, there were rumors that the Cowboys may bring back kicker Nick Folk into the fold.

On the surface, it might not seem that crazy considering Folk was a Pro Bowl kicker just two years ago but the reality is a little bit further from that. Folk struggled mightily this year to the point where he cost his team games. The Cowboys, who have been a little on the frail side mentally in past years, can’t afford to lose confidence because of missed field goals.

Folk blamed punter/holder Matt McBriar for his misses.

Regardless, it is very doubtful that Folk comes back for a tryout of any sorts.

On that note, kicker Matt Stover, who was steady for the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts this year, expressed interest in kicking for the Cowboys next season. The 42-year-old was the oldest kicker in the league this year and the Cowboys may opt to go younger.

Felix Jones The Starter?

The Dallas Cowboys have plenty of depth in their backfield and many Cowboys fans are starting to draw up the pecking order for next year. One thing is for sure: Felix Jones definitely deserves a bigger role.

Jones could very well be the starter heading into the 2010 season as Marion Barber really tapered off to finish the year while Jones came on. Barber is supposed to be the power back but he struggled in short yardage situations in 2009, which really opened some eyes.

The biggest dilemma at this point is the fact that the Cowboys have three excellent running backs but none of them seem to stay healthy. Jones is the most explosive weapon but he has played in just 20 games through two seasons. Marion Barber, who is supposed to be the hammer, was nicked up this year while Tashard Choice also missed some time.

Internet betting fans know that the Cowboys plan to be a Super Bowl contender in 2010 but they have to figure out their backfield situation to start.

The early speculation is that Jones will start and Barber or Choice may be traded in the offseason. But if the Cowboys truly plan to contend, keep all three for depth would be the best move.

Cowboy Corner – Cowboys Offseason Report

Cowboys Offseason

Super Bowl Odds (for XLV): Cowboys +1215

NFC Odds (5Dimes Reviews): Cowboys +685

Early Mock Drafts Have Cowboys Addressing Lines Of Scrimmage

While some casual fans may think it is a little early to start speculating about the 2010 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys have already begun their scouting and they are filling out some early reports on who can help their team.

The Cowboys will first hit the podium when the 27^th pick overall is called and a lot of early mock drafts are speculating that the Cowboys end up with someone helping them along the line of scrimmage.

Some NFL predictions believe that the Cowboys will address the defensive line by adding a proven commodity like Alabama Crimson Tide nose tackle Terrence Cody. It would definitely make Jerry Jones happy to see another Crimson Tide member on his team.

There are some Cowboys fans who might be wondering: why draft a defensive tackle when the defensive line is already a position of strength?

One possible option is to move Pro Bowl tackle Jay Ratliff to an end spot, where he might be more effective. Another theory is that you always want to draft for depth and (preferably) never for need.

While some people are expecting the Cowboys to draft for the defense, another option is for the offense. Considering how the offensive line was manhandled in the Cowboys playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings, a lineman might make sense.

A guard like Mike Iupati from Idaho would make a lot of sense but it’s unlikely that he falls that far considering how well he performed at the senior bowl. Another option might be guard Joe Asamoah from Illinois.

There is also some depth with talent at safety, which may appeal to the Cowboys as well.

When you look at the Cowboys overall picture as far as the upcoming draft, the Cowboys don’t have a lot of holes.

With the emergence of Miles Austin, there isn’t a great need at wide receiver. The backfield is set and even the offensive line is pretty good, but could be addressed.

On defense, the story is pretty much the same. The cornerback crop is fine, the linebacking corps is very good and the line is set. A safety would help but it’s not the most pressing need.

The Cowboys strategy will change as the offseason progresses but if the draft were in a week, they would probably be taking an offensive lineman given how they performed in the playoffs. In April, it could be a different story.

Jay Novacek’s Wife Found Dead – LeAnne Novacek

Jay Novacek’s wife LeAnne Novacek was found dead this morning in a relatives Burleson home. It is believed that LeAnne Novacek died at her relative, Sonia Lynn Gumfory’s, house at 9 AM on February 1st 2010.

*Note* February 1 2010 5:11 PM CT
1310 The Ticket has reported that the cause of death is believed to be a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Hwever they did state this was from TV channel 8 news and not official word from the police.

Here is part of the article from the Dallas Morning News: article Wife of ex-Cowboys player Jay Novacek found dead

BURLESON – LeAnne Novacek, the wife of Jay Novacek, a former Dallas Cowboys tight end, was found dead Monday morning at a Burleson home.

NBC Dallas reported, citing a Tarrant County Medical Examiner report, that Novacek’s body was found in the bedroom of home in Burleson just after 9 a.m. The Tarrant County Appraisal District said the home belongs to Sonia Lynn Gumfory, who is believed to be a relative of LeAnne.

The cause of death has not been released, though police did say that foul play is not suspected in connection with Novacek’s death. The medical examiner said an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Cowboys in the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl

The Dallas Cowboys will have 9 Players in the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday. No that was not a typo the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl will be this weekend in South Florida, not Hawaii. The NFL has moved the Pro Bowl up so that it is part of the festivities leading up to the Super Bowl.

This is a good move by the NFL, it will create buzz and people might actually watch the game this year. I know if I am around the house on Sunday I will be watching the game. Before this move the Pro Bowl was often forgotten because it came after the Super Bowl which for most of us signifies the end of the NFL season.

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Cowboy Corner: Dallas Cowboys Offseason

Cowboys Offseason

Super Bowl Odds (for XLV): Cowboys +1215

NFC Odds (5Dimes Reviews): Cowboys +685

Heading Into The Offseason

The general NFL betting crowd may not see the difference between how the Dallas Cowboys head into the 2010 offseason versus the 2009 offseason, but the true fans of America’s team have a completely different mood.

In 2009, the Cowboys were blown out in the final week of the regular season and were kept from the playoffs. They headed into the offseason wondering whether Tony Romo was a franchise quarterback, whether Wade Phillips is a reliable head coach and whether the psyche of the team was strong enough to win in December and January.

Heading into the 2010 offseason, the feeling is completely different.

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COWBOY CORNER: Offseason Wade, Roy, Recap

Cowboys Offseason

Super Bowl Odds (for XLV): Cowboys +1215

NFC Odds (5Dimes Reviews): Cowboys +685

Playoffs Recap

It was an ugly finish to a very positive season and it will unfortunately be the last memory of the 2009-10 season. The Cowboys were crushed by the Minnesota Vikings 34-3 and what’s worse is that Adrian Peterson didn’t even run wild. The prolific Vikings back had just 63 yards on 26 carries, which means the Cowboys went through the entire year without allowing a 100-yard rusher, but the Cowboys could not stop the Vikings passing game.

NFL betting fans saw the Brett Favre-to-Sidney Rice combo rack up 141 yards and three touchdowns. Throw in a few Cowboys turnovers and you have your one-sided loss.

The Vikings did run up the score as they threw for a touchdown pass in the final two minutes of the game. That pushed the lead to 34-3 and players like Keith Brooking are already looking forward to the meeting with the Vikings next time.

Read about Wade and Roy after the Jump!

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