Dallas Cowboys Update: Cowboys Fans Ready to Host Saints

Dallas Cowboys Update: Cowboys Fans Ready to Host Saints

It is that time of the year that all betting experts look forward to each year. It is the time when the NFL betting focuses on three Thanksgiving Day games that are always interesting and usually have some sort of playoff implications. The Dallas Cowboys have been putting up some good NFL scores lately, and while the Cowboys are not going to live up to preseason NFL predictions, they get the chance to ruin the playoff positioning of the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.

Three weeks ago Dallas Cowboys fans would have had a completely different outlook on the annual Thanksgiving Day game. But after the firing of head coach Wade Phillips and a two-game winning streak to mark the start of the Jason Garrett era in Dallas, Cowboys fans are much more optimistic about their chances of winning this game. There is a buzz around Dallas that the Cowboys have the ability to make the playoff hopes a for the defending champion New Orleans Saints a little tougher by beating the Saints on Thanksgiving Day.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo is still throwing in practice, but is not at full speed and is not taking part in contact drills. The Cowboys are still estimating that Romo will be out at least another three weeks. In his place, back-up Jon Kitna has been managing games very well and giving the Cowboys a chance to win just about every game they have played since Romo was injured.

The story behind the newest Cowboys sensation, rookie cornerback Bryan McCann, is an inspiring one. McCann was not part of the combine or the draft. He signed with the Cowboys, but Dallas released him. McCann was picked up by the Ravens, but they never put him on the roster and let him go. Now McCann has been the two-time NFC player of the week for the Cowboys and has returned two interceptions for touchdowns. McCann’s 101-yard interception return for a touchdown is one of the longest such plays in NFL history. He is the first player since the 1950 season to return two interceptions for touchdowns of 90 yards or greater back-to-back. From being cut to NFL fame in just a few weeks is the story of Bryan McCann, and it is one that all aspiring football players should listen to.

It looks like running back Marion Barber may be getting the ball more often in the Dallas offense. Barber is the only running back with a rushing touchdown on the Dallas roster, and he has shown a determination lately that has not been lost on the Cowboys coaching staff. Barber has been extremely hard to tackle lately and he has been able to protect the football. Felix Jones continues to be the number one running back on the depth chart, but fans can expect to see more of Barber and his pounding rushing style in future games for the Dallas Cowboys. Barber could be moved from his third-down status back to being an every down back by this week.

Dallas Cowboys Update: All Not Quite Rosy At Valley Ranch

The sports betting world was interested, and surprised, to see the Dallas Cowboys knock off the mighty New York Giants in the debut game of interim head coach Jason Garrett. But before the NFL betting experts fall in love with Garrett, some incidents have come up to indicate that not everything in the Cowboys camp is grand. The NFL scores for week 10 may have gone the Cowboys’ way, but they are still struggling to live up to the preseason NFL predictions that had them in the playoffs.

Not every player on the Cowboys roster is excited at the prospects that Garrett brings the team. Running back Marion Barber is proving to still be a disgruntled employee that is intent on causing disruption. When Garrett took over the team he instituted a dress policy for charter flights that included dress shoes, a sport coat and a tie. Barber refuses to follow the policy, and rumblings are already starting in the Cowboys locker room.

Garrett did not initially address the issue with any statement or punishment. But the interim head coach announced that Barber will more than likely be punished for not following team rules. Barber has been unhappy all season as he has watched the majority of the running back workload going to Felix Jones. Barber has been brought in on situations that normally do not have an effect on the game. Garrett says he has no intention on changing Barber’s role in the team’s game plans.

The Dallas Cowboys have had kicker nightmares the past two seasons. It could be argued that bad field goal kicking cost them important games in each of the last two seasons. All seemed well this year until new kicker David Buehler missed two relatively easy kicks against the Giants. It did not cost the Cowboys the game, but Jason Garrett has no intention on letting it get to that point. He publicly put Buehler on notice this week indicating that the place kicker needs to improve his accuracy or he will be out of a job.

Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban has chimed in on the firing of Wade Phillips, and Cuban says he understands why the change was made. In Cuban’s opinion, Phillips was allowing a losing culture to grow in the Dallas locker room. The coach had lost the players as far as respect and motivation goes, and when that happens it is time to get rid of the coach. Cuban was quick to point out that the whole process with Wade Phillips had nothing to do with Jason Garrett. It had everything to do with changing the mindset in the Cowboys’ locker room from chaos to a disciplined winner.

Reality entered into the fantasy world of an NFL football game for 12 frightening minutes as the power went out in the New Meadowlands while the Dallas Cowboys were playing the New York Giants. Players and fans were confused and a bit scared as no one knew what was really going on. After 12 minutes, the power came back on. Giants owner John Mara made a joke of the situation when the game was over saying that if he had known the outcome of the game in advance he would have kept the lights off.

Dallas Cowboys Update: Roy Williams is not the Dinner Culprit

Much has been made the past few days about the $55,000 offensive team dinner that Dez Bryant reportedly paid for unknowingly. The offensive team did go out to dinner, it did cost $55,000, and reportedly Dez Bryant did pay for it. But anyone that was betting on whether or not Roy Williams paid with Bryant’s credit card as payback for Bryant not carrying Williams’ pads in training camp would be wrong.

Williams vehemently denied pulling the $55,000 prank, and he sees the whole incident as the indication of a larger problem with the NFL betting media. Williams blasted the media for starting the rumor as an attempt to divide an already troubled Dallas locker room. According to Williams, everything is fine and the media has made much more out of this incident that it was.

The crowd that bets on NFL scores is starting to wonder where the two-headed running back monster is that was supposed to be one of the features of the Dallas offense. Running backs Felix Jones and Marion Barber were supposed to strike fear into opposing defenses, but instead Jones has touched the ball less than nine times a game. Even the third leg in this running back trio, Tashard Choice, has been sidelined with only eight carries all season long.

Speculation is running wild as to why the Cowboys are not utilizing their three very talented running backs. Barber proved last season that he could be a work horse every game, but Jones showed a tendency to get injured. It could be that the Cowboys are limiting Jones and Choice in anticipation of unveiling a new running attack in the playoffs. But in order to do that, the Cowboys have to get to the playoffs first.

Dallas tight end Jason Witten has had a rough season already. First he was sidelined with a concussion, and then he was injured in the week three win over the Houston Texans. But the bye week has been good to the all-pro tight end, and one of Witten’s NFL predictions is that he will be on the field in week five against the Tennessee Titans and ready to play.

With three sacks of Houston quarterback Matt Schaub, Cowboys defensive lineman DeMarcus Ware showed that he is back to mid-season form by grabbing the NFC defensive player of the week honors last week. Ware is not tied for third on the Cowboys all-time list of multi-sack games. He has 68.5 career sacks and is a force on the front line for the Cowboys this season.

Rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant should be making the sports pages for his play while being injured as opposed to any hazing gone wrong. Bryant fractured his ribs in week one against the Washington Redskins, but he has been playing ever since. The injury has required additional padding and injections for pain and inflammation prior to each game, but Bryant is working to find his role in the Dallas Cowboys offense.

Dallas Round-Up: Cowboys Panicking, Rangers Heading Towards Playoffs

Dallas Round-Up – Cowboys Panicking, Rangers Heading Towards Playoffs

Horse betting players are always skeptical of a slow-starting thoroughbred, but even they would be surprised by the Dallas Cowboys limping out of the gate to start the NFL season.  The Cowboys face a must-win this weekend in Houston, while the Texas Rangers are slowly getting ready to go to the postseason for the first time since 1999.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys fell 27-20 at home to Chicago, committing three turnovers that all came at untimely junctures.  Dallas is riddled with problems, particularly with the offense.  Coordinator Jason Garrett is coming under fire for poor play-calling, and he can’t figure out a way to get the ground game going.  This is a shame as the Cowboys have Marion Barber, Tashard Choice and Felix Jones, yet Tony Romo leads the league with 98 pass attempts in two games.  The Cowboys have to find a balance or else teams are just going to start picking off the aerial attack.  Also, it’s only a matter of time before online football betting players see Dez Bryant starting over Roy Williams.  He’s been far more productive, and he ran back a punt for a score against the Bears, while Williams fumbled in the fourth quarter to rob the Cowboys of a chance to score.  This week, the Cowboys face unbeaten Houston, who are 2.5-point NFL betting favorites and are soaring with confidence.  The Cowboys have a bye next week, and if they lose, the firestorm will really pick up by those who make NFL picks.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers have a magic number of four to clinch their spot in the playoffs heading into Thursday’s opener of a four-game set against Oakland on the road.  The Rangers dropped two of three in Seattle and Los Angeles last week, but their big mission is to avoid any more injuries.  Nelson Cruz had a pair of homers and four RBIs over the week to lead the Rangers, will host Seattle in a three-game set after the Oakland series.  But even NFL football betting players know how tough injuries can be, and the Rangers are waiting on the status of slugger Josh Hamilton, who has a couple of fractured ribs.  He hopes to be back for the final series of the season, a four-game set in Los Angeles which starts next Thursday, but that may be the Rangers and Hamilton being very optimistic.  Hamilton was a Triple Crown threat and one of the favorites to win the American League MVP award.  Without him, the Rangers definitely are missing their most explosive player, even though they still have a powerful lineup.  Without Hamilton in the lineup, the Rangers’ betting odds will take a fall.

Dallas Cowboys Update: Week 1 Blues

Dallas Moves on From Opening Day Loss
The sports betting experts bought into the preseason hype surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. The preseason NFL betting lines had the Cowboys as 12 to 1 favorites to win the Super Bowl. The only team given better odds was the preseason Super Bowl favorite Indianapolis Colts.

As the preseason moved along there were some questions being raised about the Cowboys offensive line. It seemed that offensive lineman Flozell Adams left a bigger hole than the Cowboys anticipated. Then starting offensive linemen Marc Colombo and Kyle Kosier got hurt right before the season started, and things started to look bad for the Boys.

Back-up offensive lineman Alex Barron is one Cowboy who cannot wait for Colombo to come back. While playing in place of the injured Colombo in the opening game against the Washington Redskins, Barron was called for holding on a play that saw quarterback Tony Romo throw what should have been the winning touchdown pass to receiver Roy Williams. It was the last play of the game and the penalty ended the game.

The Cowboys seemed to be able to throw the ball when they needed to in the Redskins game, but running backs Felix Jones and Marion Barber finished with 77 yards combined on the ground. The combination of the speed of the Washington linebackers and the poor play of the Dallas offensive line contributed to shut down what should be the most potent running game in the league.

But the Cowboys, and the football betting surrounding their season, rolls on. Roy Williams has stated that he isn’t worried about the Barron mistake, and the team should just move on. Whether the team can move on and win this week remains to be seen.

The Las Vegas experts that do the NFL predictions have not been discouraged by the Cowboys opening day loss. The Cowboys are favored by nine points in their upcoming game with the Chicago Bears.

The Cowboys got a scare in their last defensive series of the Washington game when all-pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware was left lying on the field after tackling running back Larry Johnson. Johnson’s knee had collided with Ware’s helmet, causing Ware to collapse to the field instantly. Ware left the field under his own power and has said that he could have played if he was needed. The Cowboys are evaluating Ware’s neck, but at this point it is being called a strained neck and Ware is expected to play this week.

The level of forward thinking going into preparations for Super Bowl XLV being played in the new Dallas Stadium in February of 2011 is starting to show no bounds. It has been reported that the NFL, along with several non-profit environmental groups in the Dallas area, will be planting over 6,500 trees in the next few weeks. The trees will help reduce the amount of pollutants in the air from the extra vehicles and people that will be visiting for the Super Bowl. The metro Dallas are and 12 surrounding communities are expected to be planting trees in anticipation of the Super Bowl crowds that will be arriving in February.

Marion Barber Trade Rumors: Tashard Choice Fantasy Impact

Jerod Morris over at Midwest Sports Fans just gave me a ring and said that there are reports on the radio the Marion Barber will be traded before the end of the week. The Rumor Mill has been churning about Marion Barber leaving the Cowboys for awhile now, which would no doubt increase the fantasy football value of Tashard Choice and Felix Jones. The reason the Cowboys would rather move Marion the Barbarian is simple as Todd Archer put in his article back in February.

He makes more money, doesn’t seem to be able to stay healthy, has lacked a burst the last two seasons. Choice is younger and cheaper and would be a good complement to Felix Jones. If you’re trading one of these guys, then you have to take a running back in the draft, IMO.
Todd Archer’s Mention: Marion Barber Trade

Old speculation on a possible Marion Barber trade is also on the NFL.com Blogs

Executives around the league think Cowboys RB Marion Barber could be available, but he’s believed to be the least attractive player in a backfield that includes Felix Jones and Tashard Choice.
NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora Mention: Marion Barber Trade

More Info as it comes out…

Marion Barber Injury Update

Marion Barber suffered a quad injury in the 4th quarter of the Dallas Cowboys – New York Giants game on Sunday. As Marion was running towards another touchdown he grabbed his quad and collapsed short of the end zone. Marion Barber’s injury will hold him out this week for sure and possibly next week as well. The Cowboys lost the game 33 – 31 even though Marion Barber and Felix Jones combined for over 200 yards on 25 carries. If you are playing fantasy football and Marion Barber is on your roster, pick up Dallas Cowboys running back Tashard Choice to play while Marion Barber is out with his quad Injury.

Marion Barber Injury Updates:

Marion barber Injury Update 9/20
• Marion Barber suffers quad injury during 4th quarter of the Dallas Cowboys – New York Giants Game

Marion Barber Injury Update 9/22
• NBC-5′s Newy Scruggs, and 1310 the ticket are reporting that Marion Barber’s quad injury is expected to sideline him for 1 to 2 weeks

Marion Barber Injury Update 9/23
• 1310 the Ticket reports that Marion barber was able to practice to day.
• Ed Werder reports that it’s more of a 50/50, day-to-day proposition.

Marion Barber Injury Update 9/28
• Cowboys have kept Barber’s status a secret all week, but he was not at the team walk through today and is not expected to play tonight.
• ***Marion Barber is inactive for Monday Nights game against the Carolina Panthers***

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