Dallas Cowboys Update: The Return of Dez Bryant

The betting world has watched as the Dallas Cowboys offense has struggled in the first three preseason games. So far in the preseason the Cowboys combined offense has been unable to put more than 16 points on the board in any of its preseason games. The worst part is that the Cowboys first-string offense has scored a total of 13 points in the first three preseason games.

The Cowboys got some good news as the wide receiver that was lighting up the college football betting boards, Dez Bryant, has been cleared to practice. Dallas head coach Wade Phillips has not indicated whether or not Bryant will play in the final preseason game, but Bryant is expected to make an impact on NFL betting in the Cowboys’ opening regular season game against the Washington Redskins.

The recent offensive woes experienced by the Cowboys first stringers has prompted the Dallas coaching staff to remain tight-lipped as to whether or not the starters will play at all in the last preseason game. The offense under quarterback Tony Romo has not looked sharp at all, and head coach Wade Phillips may want to use the last preseason game to try and get his offense tuned up for the season opener. It is expected that no one will really know until the Cowboys take the field against the Miami Dolphins on September 2 for the final preseason game.

In an interesting story that may not affect NFL football betting lines but still may be of interest to some Dallas fans is the release of free agent wide receiver Terrell Hudgins and tight end Scott Sicko. Hudgins played his college ball at Elon and was a long-shot to make the team, but Sicko had created a stir by releasing an Internet video that said he was more interested in staying in school than playing in the NFL. It was shortly after that announcement that Sicko was signing a free agent contract with the Cowboys.

Cowboys safety Barry Church is getting more than a little friendly ribbing about being tackled by quarterback Phillip Rivers after an interception in the Cowboys most recent preseason game. Everyone from the defensive coordinator to the head coach has indicated their displeasure with the way Church allowed Rivers to prevent an interception return for a touchdown. It is doubtful that disciplinary action will be taken, but Church has learned to step up the pace and get by the quarterback next time he is in that situation.

If the road to the Super Bowl is going to go through and then end in Dallas, then the Cowboys are going to have to step up their game right from the beginning of the season. The Cowboys first six opponents are all playoff contenders. The Cowboys open the season in Washington against the Redskins and then move on to play the Bears, Texans, Titans, Vikings and Giants. The Cowboys defense is expected to be up to the task, but without offensive points on the board the Cowboys may be watching Super Bowl XLV from the stands.

Cowboys Aim For Bigger Goals In 2010

While Cowboys fans may take solace in the fact that their team finally won a playoff game, the fact remains that head coach Wade Phillips and company once again fell short of their ultimate goal, which is making it to the Super Bowl. A couple of wins over the division rival Philadelphia Eagles that helped Dallas earn the division title and advance to the second round after winning at home was the key to Phillips having his contract secured for a couple of more betting years in “Jerryworld”, but with the window closing it may not be long before owner Jerry Jones decides that change is required once more.

That’s not to say that Phillips didn’t do a good job as NFL betting head coach a year ago, also taking over as defensive coordinator for the better part of the season, a big part of the Cowboys’ notable success. The strong finished was proof that this group was capable of succeeding, and that with time Phillips could make the defense even better. Jason Garrett had one of his best season’s as the offensive play caller, helping quarterback Tony Romo lower his interceptions total, while doing an excellent job dividing the carries between running backs Marion Barber and Felix Jones. That tandem could be even better in 2010 if they can stay healthy, and there is insurance in third-down running back Tashard Choice, who has performed well in limited snaps.

Garrett’s biggest tasks for this season will include getting consistent play from an offensive line that lost long time left tackle Flozell Adams, who may have been undervalued in Dallas, and getting more out of wide receiver Roy Williams. Jones invested a lot of money, and a lot of draft pick value when he made the trade with the Detroit Lions to acquire Williams two years ago, but has yet to see much of a return. Williams has become the third receiving option behind emerging talent Miles Austin, and tight end Jason Witten. Jones may have been sending a betting on NFL message by moving up to select wide receiver Dez Bryant in the first round, but it appears as though the hopes still are that Williams will produce.

On the defensive side of the ball, Phillips took over at midseason and it seemed like a completely different team. Now, with a full offseason to work with his players, Phillips could have his men even better prepared. Perhaps the most improved player on the defensive side of the ball last season was Anthony Spencer, who took over on the outside linebacker spot opposite of DeMarcus Ware, and registered eight sacks in his last eight games. Terrence Newman and Mike Jenkins remain the keys in the secondary, and will need to be much better for a defensive unit that added little in the offseason. The same can be said about the entire roster, as offensive tackle Alex Barron was the only significant addition outside of the draft, but time will tell if perhaps Jones should have been more aggressive with no salary cap alike the bet on MLB big spending teams.

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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Dallas Cowboys Wade Phillips to Return

Ed Werder published an article over at ESPN Dallas earlier today reporting that Wade Phillips will return as the Dallas Cowboys Head Coach next season. It is unclear whether Jerry Jones will sign Wade Phillips to a long term contract or just another 1 year deal, but I am sure that we will find out soon.

If you would of asked me 4 or 5 weeks ago I would have said that he should be let go, but that all changed once December started for me. Wade Phillips and the Dallas Cowboys shut up the critics by posting a winning record in December / January. The team also made the playoffs when most of the so-called experts wrote them off once again. The Cowboys won a playoff game this season, and Tony Romo looked great down the stretch. That said I think that this team needs to get rid of a certain red haired offensive coordinator. More after the jump!

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Do Cowboys, Jerry Jones Want Mike Shanahan over Wade Phillips as Head Coach?

So maybe the Dallas Cowboys‘ coaching staff is not, in fact, already in place.

Many Cowboys fans, and NFL fans in general, were surprised to hear Jerry Jones profess unyielding support for Wade Phillips in the wake of another December collapse by the Dallas Cowboys.

Immediately after the Cowboys laid a monstrous and putrid rotten egg at Philadelphia in Week 17, which was made all the more egregious by stories of the Cowboys treating the plane ride home like “the last day of school”, Jerry Jones made the following comments:

“The coaches are in place. I’ve said that. How can I be any clearer?” Jones said. “Look, I’ve said that our coaching staff, as far as I’m concerned, is in place. I just want to make the statement rather than answer questions, because your questions imply certain things that I don’t want to imply.

“I’m saying that when I look at where we are coaching staff-wise and when I look at where we are personnel-wise, I see a team that is in place to compete for several years.”

A little over a week later, reports are beginning to circulate that Jerry Jones may be slowly changing his mind.

According to a report posted today by Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk, Chris Mortensen of ESPN is reporting that Jerry Jones is getting “angrier by the minute” as he reflects on the disappointing 2008 Cowboys season. And making matters worse for Wade Phillips and the current Cowboys coaching staff is that a potential Hall of Fame coach has surprisingly become available for Jerry Jones to salivate over.

Last week, the Denver Broncos fired head coach Mike Shanahan. While Shanahan presided over his own precipitous collapse this season in Denver, and has only one playoff win in the last decade, he certainly has a more impressive head coaching resume than any other available head coaching candidate.

Shanahan is 146-98 in his head coaching career, good for a .598 winning percentage. He also has two Super Bowl rings, when Denver went back-to-back behind John Elway and Terrell Davis in 1997 and 1998. By comparison, Wade Phillips is 70-49 as a head coach, and has 22 out of 32 games in Dallas. Phillips, however, has not experienced any postseason success, going 0-4 in the playoffs.

Is it any wonder why Jerry Jones may be having second thoughts about keeping Wade Phillips in place as head coach?

Part of the reason why many people speculated that Jones would keep Wade Phillips and the current coaching staff in place is the assumption, as Florio explains at PFT, that Jerry Jones is “getting stretched pretty thin as he prepares to enter a $1.1 billion stadium in a bad economy.” Hiring a coach like Bill Cowher, at probably $10 million a year, probably was not all that attractive to Jones.

However, despite his lofty credentials and experience, Mike Shanahan likely would not require a huge contract considering he is guaranteed $21 million from the Broncos over the next three years.

Florio speculates that with Jason Garrett potentially moving onto a head job somewhere else, it could be an opportune time to bring in Mike Shanahan to revamp the offense, tutor struggling QB Tony Romo, and perhaps allow Wade Phillips to move to defensive coordinator.

I don’t know how realistic it is to think that Wade Phillips would accept a demotion, but a similar situation has also been rumored in Cleveland with former head coach Romeo Crennel. Both Crennel and Phillips are renowned as “nice guys” who lack the killer instinct and toughness and be head coaches; and both are purported to not be so driven by ego and pride that a step back to defensive coordinator is out of the question.

I know this: I was surprised to hear Jerry Jones be so vehement in his support for Wade Phillips. I realize that Jerry Jones has proven to be pretty loyal over the years, and likes to give head coaches at least three years; but after the Cowboys’ collapse with such high expectations, I figured Jones would blow a gasket and want fresh leadership heading into his new stadium.

Signing a coach with the credentials and reputation of Mike Shanahan would certainly create a big splash heading into the 2009 season. Jones may be confident that he has the pieces in place to have a successful team, but he has to be questioning the coaching leadership after another late season collapse.

Right now, it appears as if Mike-Shanahan-to-the-Cowboys is merely rumor and speculation. But stay tuned; and don’t be surprised if rumor and speculation quickly turns into legitimate, potentially franchise-altering story. Jerry Jones wants to win, and he wants to win now. Is there anyone who can posit an argument that the Cowboys would not be in better hands with a proven Super Bowl champion as head coach, as opposed to a glorified defensive coordinator who calls his own training camp “Camp Cupcake?”

Stay tuned Cowboys fans. So far, the Cowboys have not been included in the myriad coaching carousel stories floating around the NFL since the end of the regular season. If Jerry Jones’ reported anger continues to grow by the minute, the Cowboys could once again be right in the middle of the action.

And Mike Shanahan could be the new target of Jerry Jones insatiable yearly urge to create a big offseason splash.

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Sunday night update: The latest is the Cowboys are very interested in Mike Shanahan, but that the most likely timetable would be 2010.

Flozell Adams and Deon Anderson Fight on Plane Ride from Philadelphia

Now that the Dallas Cowboys 2008 season is over, it appears all sorts of stories are coming out about the lack of unity within the team. As I listened to Bob and Dan on the Ticket this afternoon, Bob Sturm was commenting on a story regarding a scuffle between two Dallas Cowboys players, Deon Anderson and Flozell Adams.
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According to the Dallas Morning News, Dallas Cowboys players Deon Anderson and Flozell Adams were involved in an altercation on the plane ride home after the devastating loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The fight was broken up by guard Leonard Davis.
This fight between Flozell Adams and Deon Anderson is simply one of a number of incidents within the Dallas Cowboys organization as the season wound down.
Terrell Owens met with Jason Garrett, Roy Williams, and Patrick Crayton to complain about Tony Romo having an alleged preference for throwing to Jason Witten.

This story became a major headline as numerous sources within the team began to take sides and speak about major disagreements within the team. According to Jennifer Engel of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, cornerback Terrance Newman spoke out against the disagreements within the team.

“Too many guys are not accountable in this organization. And when you sit there and make excuses and put the blame on other people, it erodes what you are trying to build,” said Newman.

While Deon Anderson laughed off the fight between himself and Flozell Adams on Monday, saying that everything was fine between the two, it is clear that everything is not fine within the organization.

During the game against Philadelphia, Tank Johnson caused further disruption by yelling at teammates on the sidelines and in the huddle.

The lack of unity within the Dallas Cowboys proved disastrous as the Cowboys attempted to match the hype of the beginning of the season. Much of the blame can be placed squarely on the shoulders of head coach Wade Phillips.

Wade Phillips proved this season that his personality is not suited to be an effective head coach. He was unable to control his locker room and assert himself to restore order to his team.

With a number of outbursts from players, many coming from the always divisive Terrell Owens, Wade Phillips did not present a strong presence in the locker room to keep the team focused on actually playing the game of football. Instead he allowed the team to split into separate factions, involved in numerous spats and disagreements.

The altercation between Deon Anderson and Flozell Adams on the way back from Philadelphia was simply another symptom of a tremendous problem within the Cowboys. It is clear that the players see the Wade Phillips and the coaching staff as a complete joke with no real authority. This issue must get resolved or the 2009 Dallas Cowboys will be just as disappointing as this years team was.

The Rise of Felix Jones and Fall of Wade Phillips | Dallas Cowboys 2008

Well another Dallas Cowboys season is here and gone. To be honest I am not quite sure how to feel. I have to admit that I got caught up in the hype that started in August with Hard Knocks. I was not sure about a Super Bowl win, but was convinced that the Cowboys could at least get to the NFC Championship game. However, my hopes were dashed and now I am left dazed and confused.

As I look back on the Dallas Cowboys 2008 season, there are some positives to take away, but sadly, many more negatives. As an homage to the Cowboys season, I will start strong with the positives and taper off to the bitter negatives in the end.

The Positives

Last years draft class exceeded many expectations. Felix Jones, Martellus Bennett, and Tashard Choice were all extremely impressive in their rookie seasons. Felix Jones was and is the perfect complement to Marion Barber’s bruising running style. With a healthy Felix Jones in 2009, the Cowboys will have an extremely potent running game that can and will set the tone for the entire season.

The rise of Tashard Choice further enhances the running game. Now there is a proven back up who can take some of the load off of Marion Barber. This should prove extremely beneficial to the Dallas offense with Felix Jones and Tashard Choice getting enough carries to keep Marion Barber rested until the fourth quarter, when he has proven to be simply devastating to the opposition. Supported by our big offensive line, the Cowboys rushing attack should be one of the best in the NFL next season.

For more proof that Tashard Choice is the real deal, here is a video of Choice before a Georgia Tech game. If this does not inspire you, nothing will.

Martellus Bennett also showed his true colors this season. I will be the first to admit I was wrong about Martellus. Watching Hard Knocks, I thought Bennett would prove to be a major bust, however his on-field contributions more than made up for his attitude during training camp. Martellus Bennett should grow into his role as the back up tight end with ease.

The defense stepped up in the clutch towards the end of the season. While the two long runs given up against Baltimore were a step backwards, and the entire game against Philadelphia should only be mentioned in a hushed whisper, December was a pretty good month for the Dallas D. Demarcus Ware and the defensive line were playing like men possessed. The good news is most, if not all the defensive starters will be back for next season, meaning that, on top of a potent running game, the Cowboys defense will be one of the strongest in the NFL.

There is some upside looking ahead, but now comes the moment of truth…

The Negatives

From Pacman to TO, from passing to coaching, there are numerous problems with the 2008 Dallas Cowboys that simply cannot be ignored by Jerry Jones.

To start slowly, Jerry Jones trading for Roy Williams has proven to be a big mistake for this year. His numbers were basically non-existent. I have heard whispers that Roy Williams was injured and I will hold off on judgement for now, but he has got to step up next year, and quickly. Roy Williams is the future of the receiving corps, but who knows if that is good or bad yet.

Tony Romo is still not good in the clutch. He still has not won “the Big One.” not to say he won’t, but Romo is simply not performing to the level he IS capable of. He needs strong coaching to improve his decision making, and the line needs to improve it’s pass blocking, but Tony Romo has plenty to work on this off-season.

Adam “Pacman” Jones is another mistake. There is no denying his God-given athletic ability, however his decision making, both on the field and off the field, is extremely questionable. His punt returns were average at best. I can only remember one return that went longer than 20 yards. His coverage could be better as well. Combine this with his off the field behavior, Pacman is proving to be more harm than he is worth. Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton both proved to be better returners than Pacman, Pacman needs a strong coach to not only keep him in line with his behavioral issues, but to help him harness his athletic ability and use it to good effect.

Terrell Owens is another controversial figure, and not without good reason. Terrell Owens is a constant whiner and a diva to boot. I am stating the obvious here, but TO needs a wake up call before his ranting and crying prove to be even more of a distraction than they are now. I am not calling into question Terrell Owens’ ability, or his desire to win. He has proven himself to be a competitor of the highest order. What I am saying is that, like with Pacman, a strong leader in the Cowboys organization needs to step up to Terrell from time to time and simply tell him to “Shut up and play.”

Terrell Owens needs to do just that. He has made some great catches this year, but he has also dropped some really easy balls. He has taken plays off. There is a real lack of consistency. He is a competitor. He is not too old to play at a high level. Owens simply needs someone on his back a little bit. Somone to tell him when to pipe down and someone to keep him accountable on every play. Given Terrell Owens personality, this figure cannot be another player, Owens is too much of a diva. A strong coaching staff is needed to keep an ego such as Owens in check. He is a great player, and has plenty to offer this team, but Terrell Owens needs a strong authority figure to keep him on the straight and narrow.

Which brings us to the final negative of the Dallas Cowboys, the authority figures. I use that term lightly because, truth be told, there is no authority figure. There was no real locker room leader, the coaching staff was weak, and Jerry Jones is simply out of his mind.

There was no real leadership within the team. Zack Thomas and Jason Witten both led by example, but that was it. Zack Thomas, as a proven veteran, certainly led the defense in a lot of ways, however, he was new to the team, and did not understand the atmosphere or culture of the Dallas Cowboys enough to be a true locker room presence. Jason Witten is a man-imal who leads by example, but he has been far too quiet. It is time to cash in on his reputation and become an active leader for the Dallas Cowboys. Bradie James is another leader who could step up, but he has been quiet too, except for assaulting a fan a day after the loss to the Eagles.

The coaching staff should not have to encourage a locker room voice. Wade Phillips is simply not a good head coach. He is too nice. He coddles his players too much, and this sets the tone for the rest of the coaching staff. Wade Phillips is a great defensive mind in the game of football, and will make an excellent defensive coordinator, but a head coach needs to keep his team under control.

Wade needed to have a stronger voice this year. He needed to hold his players and coaches more accountable. From the Pacman hotel fight, to TO’s meeting with the wide recievers and Jason Garrett, to a fight between Flozell Adams and Deon Anderson on the plane flight back from Philadelphia, Wade Phillips did not assert his authority, but instead let his players walk all over him. This attitude carried to the field where the Cowboys played many games uninspired.

The Cowboys need a coach who is not too hard on them, like Parcells was, but also not such a pushover, like Wade Phillips. Phillips allowed his coaching staff to be too soft. If Wade wants to be easy going, that’s fine, but a soft head coach needs to be supported by strong, assertive assistants. The same is true for a tough head coach, who needs easier assistants. There has to be an even keel. The coaching staff of the Dallas Cowboys was simply too soft. There is no hard edge to keep the players in line.

Which brings us to our last negative of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones. Jerry is a great owner, but he should not be the GM for another day. Sadly his ego will not allow him to relinquish his control, but if it did, I would guarantee a Cowboys championship within the next 2 years. Jerry Jones is too much of a micro-manager. This was not helped at all by the lack of a backbone suffered by Wade Phillips. It is clear that the Cowboys perform best when Jerry Jones keeps his ego in check and allows a coach to make the decisions.

While it is true that the Dallas Cowboys 2008 season is over and whining and excuses will not help, there are some critical issues that need to be addressed quickly in order to build off of the positives of this year. Otherwise, the Cowboys will continually underperform and we will see more losses like the one to the Eagles.

Tony Romo Collapses in Shower From Rib Injury – Calls Off Punt Team on 4th and 1

Many Cowboys fans may have thought that things couldn’t possibly get worse after the team the left Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia Sunday night, tailed tucked firmly between their legs after a 44-6 drubbing.

But for a brief moment in the locker room on Sunday night, it appeared that things might get worse — much worse.

Quarterback Tony Romo collapsed in the shower after the game on Sunday night, much to the shock of everyone in attendance. Brian Davis of the Dallas Morning News was in the locker room and provided the following account of the scene:

“As someone who was standing there watching this whole scene unfold, I can tell you the players were shocked. They didn’t know what to do. Deon Anderson went out running for emergency help, but Maurer and associate athletic trainer Britt Brown were all over it.

Adam Jones, of all people, was standing there yelling at me, another reporter and a TV camera man to get back. Let me tell you, running into the shower was the last place we needed to be at that moment. Jerry Jones’ personal security chief, Roosevelt Riley, came out to push everybody back and an equipment staff member grabbed all of Romo’s things and headed to the training room.

When asked later what happened, Romo said, ‘Um, you know, I was just a little banged up, I guess.’”

Luckily for Tony Romo and the Cowboys, there were no catastrophic consequences of his shower fall. Unfortunately for Tony Romo and the Cowboys, his shower collapse was by far the easiest of the team’s collective collapses to bounce back from after Sunday night. In a game in which the Dallas Cowboys could have sewn up a playoff spot with a victory, the team basically rolled over and played dead against a division rival.

I know that Jerry Jones came out and said his coaching staff for next season was already in place, but I think Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett, and pretty much everyone on the field gave Jerry plenty of justified reason to rethink that proclamation. How you can lose 44-6 and show no heart, no focus, and no effort in such a huge game is beyond me.

And did anyone else notice when Tony Romo told the punt unit to go back to the sidelines on 4th and 1? It certainly looked like Wade Phillips was the one who was confused, rather than the one in charge. The Cowboys picked up the first down, although they did not score on the drive. So while the decision by Romo to go for it was spot on, it is not really his call to make. Both Joe Buck and Troy Aikman seemed to think it raised the question of who is really in charge in Dallas. We can completely discount Joe Buck’s opinion because he hates sports and I hate him, but Troy Aikman is not prone to talking bad about the Cowboys unless it is well deserved. And he seemed perplexed by Romo’s apparent, though successful, insubordination.

At the end of the day, there are too many failures and questions in the wake of Sunday night to list here right now. Luckily, everyone in Dallas will have a whole offseason to stew about the Disappointing Season of 2008 and pick apart every little detail.

One thing is for sure: the Cowboys are far too talented to miss the playoffs and to continue playing this poorly in December. When a team underachieves like the Cowboys did this year, it usually means a coaching change will be, or should be, forthcoming. Is there anyone out there who can really defend Wade Phillips after tonight’s mess?

My brother had a little slip of the tongue earlier today while watching the game and called Wade Phillips “Fade Whillips.” I do not think it was intentional, but it certainly is apt. And despite what Jerry Jones said last week or what he says in the immediate aftermath of this game, it is only reasonable to think that the tenure of Wade Phillips is about to quickly fade before the team is allowed to underachieve again in December in 2009.