http://www.sportsnipe.com Dallas Cowboys, Team News, Updates, and Stats from all sports sources, updated continually. http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2908160/dallas-cowboys-injury-report-week-1-bleacher.html Bleacher ReportDallas Cowboys Injury Report: Week 1Bleacher ReportWhile it seemed a few weeks ago that the Cowboys would be without several starters for their season debut, everyday it looks more like they'll be close to ... Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2908159/hurd-survives-cowboys-cut-to-53-san-antonio-express.html Kansas City StarHurd survives Cowboys' cut to 53San Antonio ExpressSan Antonio's Sam Hurd survived the Dallas Cowboys' cut to 53 players Saturday, but he won't relax until he's on the practice ...San Diego Chargers Acquire Patrick Crayton from Dallas CowboysBleacher ReportCowboys send Crayton to SD, McQuistan to MiamiThe Associated PressReport: Cowboys trade WR Patrick Crayton to ChargersSportingNews.comFort Worth Star Telegram -Seattle Post Intelligencer -Dallas Morning News (blog)all 694 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2908158/cowboys-cut-to-53-what-means-philosophically.html More photos » Al Behrman - AP Terrell and Tank don't care about the the Cowboys' change in philosophy, 'cuz the Bengals still pay declining players. Browse more photos » Let me begin by saying how thrilled I am to be in this new position; having the opportunity to talk about and to share views on the greatest team in the history of professional sports is a great honor and a tremendous responsibility--and the fact that I get to stand on the same platform as Aaron, Brandon and the inimitable OCC, interacting with this community of fans, is downright awesome. Lastly, the fact that I'm beginning this during Foreskins Redskins week is the cherry on the proverbial sundae. In my posts, I'll strive to keep ya'll updated with breaking news and views, bits of game analysis, and a lot of information about the draft (I'm obsessed by the draft). I'll also try to keep focused on the big picture, offering a long view that, I hope, will serve as a calming oil to the media's vinegar-y freak-out-du-jour. With that in mind, and staying with a culinary theme, I'd like to offer up an amuse bouche to give you a sense of what's cooking in rabble's kitchen. As several pundits--foremost among them OCC--have already remarked, this year's cutdown to 53 reaffirmed a youth movement on the part of the Cowboys organization that has been particularly evident in the two most recent offseasons. In 2009, of course, the Cowboys not only cut ties with notorious locker room bad seeds like Pac, Tank and Terrell, they also released good, albeit aging, soldiers such as Anthony Henry and Greg Ellis, and got younger in the process. The trend continued with the releases of Flozell and Ken Hamlin this offseason and the subsequent casting off of 30-something greybeards Junior Siavii and Patrick Crayton. With these moves, the Cowboys are seemingly operating according to an NFL adage initially pioneered by Bill Walsh's great San Francisco teams at the first dawning of the free agent landscape: "its better to get rid of a player one year too early than one year too late." While this philosophy historically has proven incendiary to loyal fanbases--as proven by the near riots when the 49ers released Ronnie Lott or the Eagles did the same to Brian Dawkins--the franchises that are internally strong enough to adhere to it have been tremendously successful. In the past decade, two of the NFL's model franchises are the Patriots and--gasp, sputter-- the Eagles, both of whom have had strong, common-minded front offices with an unshakable belief in their ability to grade and draft young talent to avoid paying big "third contracts" to veteran stars with declining skills. Perhaps they learned this lesson by looking at the 90s Cowboys who, after the departure of Jimmy Johnson, didn't have this collective faith in their ability to evaluate talent and thus held on tightly to their aging stars. As we know all too painfully, that team got old fast and quickly descended into the NFL quagmire with the Clevelands and Arizonas. In most respects, this decline was due to Jerry Jones and his value system: he was, and is, very loyal. This has primarily manifested itself in two ways: he gives players second chances and he has a hard time letting go of his old guys. There's another factor at play here: as a talent evaluator, Jerry operates according to a "magpie philosophy": he's attracted to shiny things. Recall a behind-the-scenes Sports Illustrated article Peter King wrote about the Cowboys' preparations for the 2002 draft. In it, he quotes Jones as saying the Philip Buchanan's skills were "Deion like." In short, when looking at a player, Jerry looks for flash, for marketable skillz, for star power. Indeed, Dez Bryant is this kind of player: he promises a Deion-level of excitement. The majority of the guys who survived the recent cutdown--the Barry Churches and Josh Brents of the world, but also a guy like Sean Lee--don't fit this bill. Rather, they are blue-collar guys who work hard and keep to their assignments. Yet their workmanlike attitude, not to mention their fresh legs in December, help a team win. To make room for these and other similar players, especially free agents and low-round draft picks, has required that the team operate contra Jerry's first instinct in the last couple of seasons. This is one of many signs that the comparatively level-headed Stephen Jones has seized more philosophical control of the franchise. Although we all love Jerry's enthusiasm and commitment to winning, the fact that the Cowboys increasingly seem to be operating as a franchise with a coherent mission can only give Cowboy fans reason to celebrate. Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2908157/look-at-impact-cowboys-recent-roster-moves.html More photos » Ronald Martinez - Getty Images Wade Phillips, Reggie Herring and Dave Campo made some tough decisions deciding who to cut and who to keep. Browse more photos » On Saturday, the Cowboys trimmed their roster down from 75 players to 53. Some of the cuts/trades were foreseen, but others came as a great surprise to the players, as well as to fans and critics alike. Of the 22 players cut/traded, four may have a profound impact on the outcome of the Cowboys 2010 season due to their departures... Patrick Crayton was shipped to the San Diego Chargers on Saturday for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2011 draft that can become a sixth if he catches over 40 balls. Crayton's departure was not a surprising one, as the Cowboys were never going to carry six receivers - especially with Dez Bryant fully recovered from a high ankle sprain he suffered in San Antonio. With Crayton leaving, Romo loses one of his most trusted receivers. Crayton is a very crafty and intelligent receiver that knows how to find the holes in the opposing secondary's coverage. Romo knows this, and is why he always looked for Crayton when he was either flushed from the pocket or under duress. Think back to the second game against the New York Giants in 2008; Romo is flushed out to his right, finds Crayton down the field for a touchdown. Against the Atlanta Falcons in 2009; Romo avoids four would be pass-rushers, and then finds Crayton open in the end zone for the touchdown. Or, the first game against the Washington Redskins in 2009; Romo is flushed out of the pocket, runs left, and finds Crayton sitting between two defenders for the game-winning touchdown. Crayton might not be the most physically gifted receiver, but he is a crisp route runner that makes timely plays and brings a level of consistency to the field each and every week; a level that the Cowboys may no longer have. After the jump, the three other key departures. Defensive tackle Junior Siavii was released on Saturday. While Siavii is not necessarily the most dynamic player, he brought something to the Cowboys that they do not have much of along the defensive line: a big body. Siavii tips the scales at 325lbs. The heaviest player on the Cowboys roster after Siavii is Josh Brent (DT), who currently weighs in at 315lbs (but reportedly played at 320lbs in college). After Brent, every player along the defensive line is sub-310lbs. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but still, somewhat surprising. One would think that it would be advantageous for a defense to carry a ‘bigger' defensive lineman on the roster in case the smaller linemen are overwhelmed by an opposing teams' much larger offensive line. The loss of Siavii is not a particularly worrying one, yet it still removes an experienced veteran and puts the onus of backing up Jay Ratliff on an unproven rookie, Josh Brent. Cornerbacks Cletis Gordon and Bryan McCann were both - surprisingly - released on Saturday. Gordon had performed quite well in training camp and preseason games, but was victimized, as was McCann, in the final preseason game against the Miami Dolphins first-string players. The release of these two players leaves the Cowboys with only three ‘true' cornerbacks - Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick. Of course there are the two cornerback converted safeties, in Alan Ball and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah; could they provide the necessary depth? Owusu-Ansah, while immensely gifted - athletically, is still a rookie from a Division II college that has only played in three NFL preseason games, and is currently trying to learn the free safety position. Alan Ball could fill in at corner quite adequately. However, by moving Ball to corner, instead of one positioned being weakened, now two are adversely affected: cornerback and free safety, as Mike Hamlin would have to step in at free safety to replace the void left by Ball moving to cornerback. It is great that the Cowboys believe Ball and Owusu-Ansah have the versatility necessary to play both positions (cornerback and safety) adequately. Yet it isn't out of the realm of possibilities that the starting secondary lineup could look like this at some stage during this season: Orlando Scandrick (CB) Alan Ball (CB) Mike Hamlin (FS) Gerald Sensabaugh (SS) Now try and tell me that doesn't scare you. These decisions may or may not affect the Cowboys 2010 season and their Super Bowl aspirations. With a bit of luck you may never have to know. If Miles Austin continues to perform at a high level and Dez Bryant plays the way he trains, Patrick Crayton will become a distant memory. If Jay Ratliff stays healthy and Josh Brent is only asked to play a handful of snaps a game, no one will remember who Junior Siavii is by season's end. If all the cornerbacks stay healthy, we'll never have to see what happens if the starting secondary lineup was as aforementioned. And even if everything doesn't go as smoothly as one could hope, find solace in the fact that Jerry Jones and Co. haven't made many mistakes - personnel-wise in the last couple of years. Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2906861/cowboys-send-crayton-to-sd-mcquistan-miami-associated-press.html Kansas City StarCowboys send Crayton to SD, McQuistan to MiamiThe Associated PressIRVING, Texas ? The Dallas Cowboys have traded receiver Patrick Crayton to San Diego and offensive lineman Pat McQuistan to Miami for future considerations ...Report: Cowboys trade WR Patrick Crayton to ChargersSportingNews.comNo debating it, Jerry was stupid for letting Crayton goFort Worth Star TelegramCould Dallas Cowboys Trade, Release Patrick Crayton? Five Reasons They Shouldn'tBleacher ReportDallas Morning News (blog) -KFFL (blog) -Football News Nowall 694 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2906860/cowboys-vs-redskins-point-spread-week-1-nfl-picks-september-12th-2010-bleacher-report.html TBD.com (blog)Cowboys vs. Redskins Point Spread: Week 1 NFL Picks: September 12th 2010Bleacher Report... stellar NFC East battle on Sunday, September 12th at 8:20 ET from FedEx Field in Washington DC where the Redskins will play host to the Dallas Cowboys. ...Dallas Cowboys Vs Washington Redskins: Las Vegas Line & Pick Against the SpreadAssociated ContentCowboys preparing for Donovan McNabb ... againDallas Morning News (blog)NFL Odds: Dallas Cowboys at Washington RedskinsBetFirmsTBD.com (blog) -Riggo's Rag (blog) -Hogs Haven (blog)all 15 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2905537/cowboys-hurd-in-line-for-special-honor-san-antonio-express.html Cowboys' Hurd in line for special honorSan Antonio ExpressKIN MAN HUI/kmhui@express-news.net IRVING ? Three days ago, Dallas Cowboys receiver Sam Hurd barely survived the team's cut to 53 players. ...Cowboys' run game sagged on road last seasonDallas Morning News (blog)It's Cowboys' Wade Phillips vs. Washington's Mike Shanahan, againDallas Morning News (blog)Cowboys set their sights on RedskinsSan Antonio Expressall 10 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2905270/plethora-pigskin-prognostications-afc-edition.html I have a great disdain for all preseason prognostications.  It’s not because they are inevitably wrong or because they are poorly thought out, but rather most writers will seemingly look at last years standings, and press copy and paste.  Certainly the writers adjust for players lost/retired and those drafted, but I challenge you to read any article predicting division winners and playoff participants and count how many playoff teams from the previous year are predicted to make the playoffs once again.  Try as I might, my picks aren’t that original. The NFL is the ultimate meritocracy.  You draft well, you sign good players in free agency, and you will compete for a playoff spot.  If you draft poorly (Detroit), and throw good money after bad players (Washington), you will wallow in mediocrity. AFC EAST: Previous division winner: New England Patriots 2010 division winner: New England Patriots: The Bills are too far away.  The Jets have a good defense and questions on offense.  They are overrated and over-hyped.  Miami will play tough football, but they are missing key pieces on both sides of the ball.  They may run a similar scheme as the Cowboys, but they lack a Romo, a Witten, and a Ware. The Patriots are back to being boring.  The offense has been so dynamic the last few years, that it is no longer a story for the mainstream media.  The defense is near to completing their youth movement, and there are few better game day coaches than Bill Belicheck. AFC North Previous Division Winner: Cincinnati Bengals 2010 division winner: Ravens:  The Browns defense was adequate last year.  Delhomme may be a better option than Quinn and Anderson, but not by much.  Whether Mangini can be a good head coach still remains to be seen.  The Steelers will have Polomalu roaming deep centerfield and they will make the playoffs, but starting 2-2 with one of the losses being to the Ravens will put them in a severe disadvantage.  As for the Bengals, I don’t see the offense imploding because of Terrell Owens.  I simply doubt the Bengals are good enough to repeat as division champions in one of the better divisions in football. As for the Ravens, they are young at key positions on offense, QB, RB, and WR; they also have a surplus of talent at the offensive line.  Their defense has been perpetually old for the past 5 years.  Every year it is expected that Ray Lewis and Co. will hit the wall and the team will implode.  Every year I’m wrong so why should I finally be right in 2010? AFC South Previous Division Winner: Indianapolis Colts 2010 division winner: Texans:  This is based on one caveat.  If the Texans win against the Colts in week one, I expect the Texans to win the division.  If the Colts win, I predict the Titans to win the division.  The Colts will be formidable and will make the playoffs; however, there are two components to losing a Super Bowl.  The first is the disappointment that the players feel about losing and the amount of time it takes for them to get past that; the second is the fact that the players have to play 3 more physical games.  The first is emotional trauma that no other team has to suffer; the second is a physical trauma that most other players in the league are not subject to. As for the Titans, they are a capable team.  Chris Johnson has his sights set on 2,500 yards.  I’m not sure he exceeds 1,300.  Historically, running backs who broke 2,000 yards do not come close to repeating their performance.  Consequently, if Johnson isn’t as dynamic, there is little chance that Vince Young will pick up the slack.  I believe the Titans will finish near 8-8, but they will miss the playoffs.  The Jaguars don’t merit discussion.  Jack Del Rio will be looking for work next year; he is a victim of mediocre QB play.  Leftwich and Garrard did not pan out and Del Rio will join a long list of defensive minded coaches whose teams underperformed because of sub-par offenses. AFC West Previous Division Winner: San Diego Chargers Raiders:  There is no reason for the Chargers not to repeat as division winners.  While the Chargers may have still have two prominent holdouts, they are a deep team and can replace the players without missing a beat.  The Broncos fell apart late last season due to injuries, the Chiefs are still rebuilding around a quarterback who did a good Tom Brady impersonation for one season. Thomas Jones still has gas in the tank and the Chiefs won’t be the pushover they were the year before.  The fact of the matter is the only safe bet in the AFC West are the Chargers, which is why I’m picking the Raiders.  The Raiders are the most talented bad team in the NFL and there is always a team that comes from the bottom of the barrel to surprise the league.  On the other hand, it wouldn’t be surprising if Al Davis fires Tom Cable in the 2nd week of the season and cuts Jason Campbell in week four.  Barring the complete unexpected, pencil in the Raiders as your surprise team for 2010. Tomorrow I’ll cover the NFC.  After week 8 when both the Raiders and Texans are 2-5, I’m sure I’ll look foolish. Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2905269/colombo-amp-kosier-still-practicing.html The Cowboys held a Monday practice this morning and all eyes were on the offensive line. More specifically, eyes were on Colombo and Kosier. People were hoping to see them lining up with the offense as they prepare for their encounter with the Washington Redskins this Sunday night. Unfortunately, while Kosier and [...] Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2905268/cowboys-want-to-host-super-bowl-party-washington-post.html ESPN (blog)Cowboys want to host a Super Bowl partyWashington PostIt all is set up so wonderfully for the Dallas Cowboys, with the Super Bowl scheduled to be played in their palatial second-year stadium in February and a ...Great Debate: Cowboys to the Super Bowl?ESPN (blog)A host of Super hopesHouston ChronicleDallas Cowboys will fall short of Super Bowl in 2010NewsOK.comDallas Morning News -Bleacher Report -Memphis Commercial Appealall 64 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2904170/dallas-cowboys-roster-analysis-part-2-blogging-boys-blog.html Dallas Morning NewsDallas Cowboys Roster Analysis, Part 2Blogging The Boys (blog)There's no doubt that the 53-man roster will likely undergo changes as the season progresses, but with their initial roster cuts the Dallas Cowboys made ...Chargers GM: Ex-Cowboy Patrick Crayton brings double valueDallas Morning News (blog)Dallas Cowboys: How Recent Cuts and Trades Will Affect Their SeasonBleacher ReportCowboys Cuts: What the What?!Dallas Observer (blog)Bleacher Report -Dallas Morning News -Examiner.comall 13 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2903333/cowboys-at-closer-look.html Now that the 53-man roster has been announced, it is time to take a closer look at the team and the positions. While the roster has been announced it is not guaranteed that this is the roster we will see come Sunday’s opener in Washington on NBC at 8:20 pm ET. With that [...] Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2903332/montrae-holland-set-for-start-on-cowboys-offensive-line-dallas-morning-news-blog.html Montrae Holland set for start on Cowboys offensive lineDallas Morning News (blog)With Kyle Kosier still recovering from a sprained knee ligament, the Dallas Cowboys plan on starting Montrae Holland at left guard in Sunday's season opener ...and more » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2903331/linebacker-cut-by-cowboys-joins-st-louis-dallas-morning-news-blog.html Linebacker cut by Cowboys joins St. LouisDallas Morning News (blog)Inside linebacker Curtis Johnson, among 20 players cut by the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, landed in St. Louis. The Rams added Johnson for their practice squad ...Rams Claim Players From Cowboys, Panthers for Practice SquadFanHouseall 11 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2903330/cowboys-preparing-for-mcnabb-again-dallas-morning-news-blog.html msnbc.comCowboys preparing for McNabb, againDallas Morning News (blog)The Dallas Cowboys find themselves in a familiar position this week: preparing to face quarterback Donovan McNabb. He will debut as Washington's quarterback ...Albert Haynesworth may have lost chance to startWashington Post (blog)Paper: Redskins expect Albert Haynesworth to play in season openerUSA TodayReport: Haynesworth will play in openerNational Football PostNBC Washington -DC Pro Sports Report -Bleacher Reportall 194 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2903329/nfl-rookie-roster-survival-rates-in-nfc-east.html More photos » Tom Pennington - Getty Images Cowboys kicker David Buehler is a late round pick that has already made quite an impression. Browse more photos » In most cases, being taken in the early rounds of the NFL draft is a pretty good indicator that you'll make a team's 53-man roster. It gets a little trickier in later rounds as the talent begins to thin out. But there are teams like the Cowboys who have had success in drafting in the later rounds (All Pro Jay Ratliff was a 7th-round pick in 2005) as well as with undrafted free agent pickups like Tony Romo and Miles Austin. How well a team's late round draft picks fare in the NFL is one indicator of how good the front office is at evaluating talent. The Cowboys have drafted 19 players in the last two years. 16 are still with the Cowboys. After the break we look at how this compares to other NFC East teams. Where are they now? 16 of the Cowboys 19 drafted rookies are still with the team, with John Phillips on IR and Manny Johnson on the practice squad. Three players are not with the team anymore: 2010 6th-rounder Jamar Wall was snapped up off waivers by the Texans. 2009 5th-rounder DeAngelo Smith, after stints with the Lions, Bengals and Browns, was waived on Saturday. 2009 7th-rounder Mike Mickens is now making his living with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL. Rookie survival rates in the NFC East Comparing draft classes between teams is never easy, and there's bound to be tons of people crying 'foul' at any type of comparison. And yes, it usually takes three years, sometime even more, to judge a rookie class, but that's not what I'll do here. But before getting into the details, a couple of figures up front. table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #0D1994; color: #fff; font-weight: bold;} NFC East 2009 & 2010 draft picks Cowboys Eagles Giants Redskins No. of picks 19 21 16 13 Average round 4.8 4.6 3.8 4.9 The Eagles had the most picks of all teams in the last two years. The Cowboys and Redskins had the lowest average draft picks of the four teams, while the Giants appear to have favored fewer but earlier picks. So does any one approach impact the rookie survival rate, and how are we going to measure it? The success criteria I've chosen are fairly simple: Did the drafted rookies make the team? My assumption going in is that you do not draft for the practice squad. So I'll count all the rookies as a draft success that were drafted in 2009 and 2010 and made the 53-man roster this weekend. I'll include the rookies on IR in that figure, but not the players on the practice squad. I'll also include another measure of success: Are the rookies still in the employ of an NFL team? The fact that you were not able to get a player onto your 53-man roster is not necessarily and indictment of your scouting ability, it might just be that your roster is already loaded with talent. Without much further ado, here are the numbers: NFC East 2009 & 2010 draft pick survival rate Cowboys Eagles Giants Redskins No. of picks 19 21 16 13 On 53-man roster 79%(15) 67% (14) 75% (12) 38% (5) Employed by an NFL team 89% (17) 81% (17) 88% (14) 69% (9) Despite a 2009 draft that was widely billed as a special teams draft of quantity over quality, the Cowboys have the highest retention rate of drafted rookies on their 53-man roster. Somewhat surprisingly, the Giants, although drafting nearly one full round higher on average, have not turned those picks into a roster advantage. The Redskins this year had only two of their six draft picks make the 53-man roster. The four cuts were all 6th and 7th round picks, but still: Where the Redskins are 0-for-4, the Cowboys are 3-for-4 on 6th and 7th rounders, the Eagles are 2-for-4 and the Giants 2-for-2 if you count Adrian Tracy (on IR) as part of the 53-man roster. There may still be roster cuts and -changes ahead for every team, but for now it looks like the Cowboys have a slight quantitative advantage over the Eagles and Giants. What the Redskins are doing is anybody's guess. Below are the full rookie classes for each team. Let me know if I've made a mistake somewhere, or if the status of a player has changed since I wrote this. Cowboys Year Round Player Status 2010 1 Dez Bryant 53-roster 2010 2 Sean Lee 53-roster 2010 4 AOA 53-roster 2010 6 Sam Young 53-roster 2010 6 Jamar Wall Texans 2010 7 Sean Lissemore 53-roster 2010 7 Josh Price* 53-roster 2009 3 Jason Williams 53-roster 2009 3 Robert Brewster 53-roster 2009 4 Stephen McGee 53-roster 2009 4 Victor Butler 53-roster 2009 4 Brandon Williams 53-roster 2009 5 DeAngelo Smith Free Agent 2009 5 Mike Hamlin 53-roster 2009 5 David Buehler 53-roster 2009 6 Stephen Hodge 53-roster 2009 6 John Phillips IR 2009 7 Mike Mickens Out of NFL 2009 7 Manuel Johnson Practice Squad       Eagles Year Round Player Status 2010 1 Brandon Graham 53-roster 2010 2 Nate Allen 53-roster 2010 3 Daniel Te'o-Nesheim 53-roster 2010 4 Trevard Lindley 53-roster 2010 4 Keenan Clayton 53-roster 2010 4 Mike Kafka 53-roster 2010 4 Clay Harbor 53-roster 2010 5 Ricky Sapp IR 2010 5 Riley Cooper 53-roster 2010 6 Charles Scott Giants PS 2010 7 Jamar Chaney 53-roster 2010 7 Jeff Owens Practice Squad 2010 7 Kurt Coleman 53-roster 2009 1 Jeremy Maclin 53-roster 2009 2 LeSean McCoy 53-roster 2009 5 Cornelius Ingram Free Agent 2009 5 Victor Harris Free Agent 2009 5 Fenuki Tupou Free Agent 2009 6 Brandon Gibson Rams (traded**) 2009 7 Paul Fanaika Free Agent 2009 7 Moise Fokou 53-roster Giants Year Round Player Status 2010 1 Jason Pierre-Paul 53-roster 2010 2 Linval Joseph 53-roster 2010 3 Chad Jones IR 2010 4 Phillip Dillard 53-roster 2010 5 Mitch Petrus 53-roster 2010 6 Adrian Tracy IR 2010 7 Matt Dodge 53-roster 2009 1 Hakeem Nicks 53-roster 2009 2 Clint Sintim 53-roster 2009 2 William Beatty 53-roster 2009 3 Ramses Barden 53-roster 2009 3 Travis Beckum 53-roster 2009 4 Andre Brown Broncos 2009 5 Rhett Bomar Practice Squad 2009 6 DeAndre Wright Free Agent 2009 7 Stoney Woodson Free Agent Redskins Year Round Player Status 2010 1 Trent Williams 53-roster 2010 4 Perry Riley 53-roster 2010 6 Dennis Morris Practice Squad 2010 7 Terrence Austin Practice Squad 2010 7 Erik Cook Practice Squad 2010 7 Selvish Capers 53-roster 2009 1 Brian Orakpo 53-roster 2009 3 Kevin Barnes 53-roster 2009 3 Jeremy Jarmon* 53-roster 2009 5 Cody Glenn Colts 2009 6 Robert Henson Free Agent 2009 7 Eddie Williams Free Agent 2009 7 Marko Mitchell Free Agent   * supplemental draft picks, ** Traded for LB Witherspoon - counted as a 53-roster player Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2903328/report-haynesworth-will-play-in-opener-national-football-post.html This is always going to be subject to change but for the time being it appears Albert Haynesworth will play... Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2901558/cowboys-bring-6-cuts-back-for-8man-practice-squad-dallas-morning-news.html Cowboys bring 6 cuts back for 8-man practice squadDallas Morning NewsAP The Dallas Cowboys have filled out their eight-man practice squad with six players they recently cut. Tackle Cliff Louis and tight end Scott Chandler are ...Dallas Cowboys sign eight to practice squadFort Worth Star TelegramCowboys finalize practice squadNational Football Postall 18 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2901556/cowboys-announce-cuts.html Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2900910/behind-scenes-at-btb.html More photos » Kevork Djansezian - Getty Images Marion Barber and Miles Austin are excited to see that their names are not on BTB's most commonly misspelled players list. Browse more photos » [Ed note: The following is a collaboration between Aaron and O.C.C. Since it's a holiday, I thought it would be a good time for something lighter, a little comedy to start your day. Enjoy! - Dave] In a joint task force, the Office for Cyber Craziness and the Agency Against Repeated Online Nonsense have investigated some of the mysterious going-ons at BTB. Their investigations have shed light on some of the exclusive code-talking at BTB as well as the covert identities of some Cowboys players. They also uncovered the activities of a secretive organization on the blog, discovered a method behind the madness that are the BTB comments, and found that fanposts on the blog follow a reliable and predictable pattern. Their full report after the break. BTBisms: Exclusive Code-talking The Office for Cyber Craziness and the Agency Against Repeated Online Nonsense have initialized an investigation into the nature of BTB member discourse. All commentary is expected to assume a didactic role between members. This role is confirmed once each member crosses the threshold between "lurker" and "commenter". The purpose of this report is to analyze the exclusivity of member commentary in an attempt to crack the code language in which members often communicate, also known as BTBisms. Subject Lines - Prior to creating a message, members often begin responses to one another in the Subject Line. This line provides a defaulted bold font that helps to distinguish different members’ voices, follow-up messages, topic changes, etc. Agreements – Other than maintaining respect for English grammar and sentence structure, members often instead assign numbers preceded by a "+" sign to indicate agreement. In many cases, this message begins with a "+1". If another member agrees with the two messages above it, they may indicate a "+2"; a third, a "+3"; a fourth, a "+4"; and so on. More emphatic agreements often add an inordinate amount of zeroes and in doing so, completely ignore appropriate comma placement (i.e. "+100000000000000000"). When discussing a certain player, members sometimes choose the respective player’s jersey number to represent their level of Agreement. More recently, the word "this" or the symbol "^" seem to have been fashioned in this very same manner—most likely in an attempt to continue developing BTB code. Disagreements – Members also assign numbers when disagreeing with preceding post(s), except they indicate differences of opinion with the "-" sign. This follows the same pattern as the Agreements (-1, -2, -3, -4, etc.). Disagreeing subject lines, though, are more likely to contain a linguistically patterned rebuttal. As of the date of this report, it is not yet known whether subject lines containing sarcasm include any underlying code. No Subject Lines Used – Although this is a rare occurrence, such posts are subject to immediate analysis as members could be consciously avoiding the use of the Subject Line’s bold font. Evidence of .jpg and .gif use has been found to populate such posts. Firsts – All new material posted on BTB is subject to being "firsted" by its own members once one initializes discussion on a new article. This practice has been seen more frequently on the Main Page, but has also spread to the FanPosts. No evidence of it affecting the FanShots section is available at this time. "Firsting" has been a controversial action between members in the past; although, the fervor surrounding its use has dwindled during the offseason. We will continue to monitor "firsts" not only in the Subject Lines, but also in the Message Box as well. Warning: During the regular season, a "first" may be followed by a "second" from a second member, a "third" by a third member, and so on. Such messages have pushed the Message Box’s maximum capacity to the far right, drawing the ire of some members, while creating laughable anxiety in others. LOLs – Our analysts have confirmed that "LOLs" are the typographical representations of members receiving and accepting humor. "LOLs" come in many variations, including "LMAO", "LMFAO", "ROTFL", "HAHA", and the use of capitalization techniques also vary. Be funny. Do not be unfunny. Comment type LOL HAHA/HAHAHA LMAO/LMFAO ROFL/ROTFL No. of comments 12,999 2,702/639 885/88 186/75 Note: The South American equivalent, "ja, ja, ja" or "je, je, je", has yet to make its BTB appearance, at least since this report’s publication. Also, some "LOLs" have initiated disagreeable or even sarcastic messages directed at preceding posters; therefore, making it difficult for this report to define the generalities of BTB humor at this time. OTs or Off-Topics – Sometimes referred to as "brain farts" outside of the blogosphere, these messages convey a desire to re-direct member discussion within an article’s commentary. Often, a brief apology is asserted followed by the attempt at new discourse. OTs may be caused by breaking news reports, supplemental subject matters, or just as a personal preference by the message’s author. Statistics on the welcoming or neglecting of OTs by members are not yet available, but this report defines them as messages that offer topics contrary to those mentioned in the article or FanPost. They differ in degree of subjectivity in that they are completely ignored or create a new enthusiasm within a "stale" Comment Thread. You say tomato, I say tomahto Mark Twain allegedly once said "I don’t give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way." Well, looks like Mark would have felt right at home on BTB. Now we don’t want to be those guys who constantly carp about typos and spelling mistakes, but when it comes to spelling Dallas Cowboys player names, one should reasonably be able to expect that we would get those names right. Wrong. The table below shows which players have been misspelled the most in the comments section of BTB. Player name No. of comments A/K/A 1 No. of comments A/K/A 2 No. of comments Current Players Marc Colombo 1,491 Marc Columbo 1,133 - - - - Jason Witten 8,792 Jason Whitten 199 - - - - Terence Newman 243 Terrence Newman 144 Terrance Newman 84 Former Players Emmitt Smith 1,915 Emmit Smith 114 - - - - Rob Petitti 549 Rob Pettiti 429 Rob Petiti 119 Others Brett Favre 2,154 Brett Farve 351 Oh, and Keith Brooking (not the mysterious player some people refer to as Keith Brookings) is not on the list because our search function is unable to distinguish between Brooking and Brookings. The word that must not be spoken The SB Nation machine on which BTB runs tracks the hits the site gets each day via the major search engines. We then get a nice aggregated list of what people were searching for when they visited our site. For the most part, these search words are Cowboys related. But one of the items is a different kind of ‘hit’ and has been popping up in the top three quite often recently. Look at the table below and tell us what you see in the number three spot. No, better yet, don’t tell us. And don’t type it anywhere. Who knows what search engine bots are on the loose out there, and to which powerful yet secretive organization they belong. You do not want to antagonize them. Trust no one. Mulder out. For the newbies: a preview of what’ll happen on BTB at some point in the regular season. After a tough Sunday loss – which is basically any game where the Cowboys don’t win by 20+ points - four types of posts regularly appear on BTB in the following order: Sunday/Monday: "[insert player/coach/owner/…] Sucks, Time For Them to Go", preferably written with poor spelling and/or chat-acceptable spelling. Monday/Tuesday: "Time For [insert any player 3rd or lower on the depth chart] To Start". Tuesday/Wednesday: "My Thoughts On What Went Wrong Against The [insert opponent’s name here]", often struggling to meet the 75 word minimum. In it’s long form this type of post is often headlined "Why I Give Up". Wednesday-Saturday: "Why Everything’s Going To Be Fine" frequently featuring a plethora of stats to make a point. Often, these posts will feature lengthy threads about what constitutes a "real fan". What’s revealing is that this pattern follows the well-established cycle of grieving after the initial Shock (vented in the open game threads): Anger – Bargaining – Depression – Acceptance. Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with those posts, they are a natural process of coping. After all, isn’t it nicer to grieve or celebrate together than all by your lonesome? Forced Objectivity: Debating Within BTB Comment Boards To conclude this section of our report, the Office for Cyber Craziness and the Agency Against Repeated Online Nonsense has found that the balance between Forced Objectivity and Delivered Subjectivity is the most active part of the BTB community. Members strive to inform, express, and persuade each other using both advanced Internet research skills and their passion for the Dallas Cowboys to complement their own opinions. During debates, members seek to find each other’s arguments as fallacious when agreement cannot be met. Debates can begin with one initial conflict in opinion and will end on their own respective volition. This occurs when one or both members lose interest, a new debate has distracted the entirety of their passion, or once the practical aspects of the squeezed-to-the-right Comment Box can no longer contain an aesthetically pleasing message. Such squeezed-to-the-right debates do well in enticing more members into the argument, but it is not yet certain whether they attract or dissuade lurkers. Commentary on BTB is said to be some of the most knowledgeable in the blogosphere regarding the Dallas Cowboys and football, in general. While doing this report, however, evidence of community has also been detected. Light-hearted humor, general greetings, and discussion of fictional and non-fictional personal business also run rampant throughout BTB Comment Boards. During this 2010 season, the Office for Cyber Craziness and the Agency Against Repeated Online Nonsense will further analyze mysterious BTB going-ons, such as "troll-bashing", "Z-scrolling", the "only-Open-Thread commenters", along with any aspects of the psychological toll shared by a community that blogs about the Dallas Cowboys. Signed: O.C.C & A.A.R.O.N Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2899951/host-super-hopes-houston-chronicle.html The Canadian PressA host of Super hopesHouston ChronicleJerry Jones has made no secret of his desire for the Dallas Cowboys to become the first host team to play in the Super Bowl. ...Dallas Cowboys will fall short of Super Bowl in 2010NewsOK.comCowboys aim for a firstMemphis Commercial AppealWeb site lists early prices for Super Bowl XLV parking near Cowboys StadiumDallas Morning NewsBleacher Report -SI.com -Xtra Point Footballall 58 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2898734/poll-what-place-do-cowboys-finish-in-this-season-nfc-east.html survey software Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2898733/cowboys-finalize-practice-squad-national-football-post.html Cowboys finalize practice squadNational Football PostWith only two tight ends ? Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett ? on their 53-man roster the Dallas Cowboys went with two more on their practice squad. ...and more » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2898732/hall-famer-says-cowboys-more-brokeback-than-eastwood-dallas-morning-news-blog.html Hall of Famer says Cowboys more 'Brokeback' than 'Eastwood'Dallas Morning News (blog)Dan Hampton, the Hall of Fame defensive tackle, said the Dallas Cowboys are more 'Brokeback' than 'Eastwood' on Pro Football Weekly's television show. ...and more » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2898731/dallas-cowboys-get-back-in-saddle-netdugout-blog.html NetDugout (blog)Can The Dallas Cowboys Get Back In The Saddle?NetDugout (blog)With the new NFL season starting in a few days, the Dallas Cowboys have more expectations and pressure than most teams in the league. ...Dallas Cowboys will fall short of Super Bowl in 2010NewsOK.comCowboys aim for a firstMemphis Commercial AppealWeb site lists early prices for Super Bowl XLV parking near Cowboys StadiumDallas Morning NewsBleacher Report -Xtra Point Football -SI.comall 56 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2898016/dallas-cowboys-cuts-trades-how-teams-moves-will-affect-upcoming-season-bleacher-report.html Sportsnet.caDallas Cowboys Cuts and Trades: How Team's Moves Will Affect Upcoming SeasonBleacher ReportThe Dallas Cowboys also made a small splash over the weekend, but it wasn'ta cut or an injury that made headlines. Wide receiver Patrick Crayton was traded ...Patrick Crayton traded to San DiegoExaminer.comCowboys go light at tight end, cornerESPN4 undrafted rookies make Cowboys' initial rosterThe Associated PressSan Antonio Express -Fort Worth Star Telegram -USA Todayall 639 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2897141/1998-review-new-coach-offensive-system-draft-strategy.html Jerry Jones hired Chan Gailey to take over as the Cowboys' head coach in 1998, then decided to pass on a receiver from Marshall to take North Carolina defensive end Greg Ellis in the first round of the draft. Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2897140/dallas-cowboys-roster-moves-examined-gordon-cut-in-lue-six-safeties-bleacher-report.html Bleacher ReportDallas Cowboys' Roster Moves Examined, Gordon Cut in Lue Of Six SafetiesBleacher ReportThere are several roster decisions made by the front office of the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday (9/3/10) that have garnered a multitude of differing reactions ... Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2897139/cowboys-go-for-youth-movement.html More photos » Sharon Ellman - AP Dallas Cowboys fan Larry Parker, Jr. is all for the Cowboys getting younger. Browse more photos » Call it the law of entropy, call it a logical progression, whatever - the fact is, if you don't rejuvenate your roster, it's average age will increase by one year every year. The Cowboys go into the 2010 season with 20 of 22 starters from the 2009 season returning. On the surface, this does not bode well for the average age of the team, and surely you would expect the average age of the roster to move up, right? Well, don't call me Shirley. The average age of the initial 53-man roster has actually declined versus last year. The group of Cowboys players announced yesterday will have an average age of 26.5 by the end of 2010, which is down slightly from the 26.8 opening day roster last year. Largely unnoticed and lost amid all the hoopla about the age of the O-line, the Cowboys have quietly embarked on a roster rejuvenation course over the last couple of years that is culminating in formidable depth at many positions. Depth that looks set to back up a very strong core of players in their prime. More details after the break. Roster Rejuvenation 'Roster rejuvenation' is a long term strategy. As such it runs counter to a quick fix mentality that is most often evidenced by some free agency signings. Failing to follow that strategy consistently may come back to bite you in a big way and you'll find yourself scrambling and trying to plug holes at almost any cost (in dollars or player age) in free agency instead of building for the future. Roster rejuvenation is also about finding young and talented players not just through the draft but also through free agency. The Cowboys have included four undrafted free agents on their 53-man roster, a testament both to the player evaluation skills of the front office and to the belief in developing talent in-house (the quality of next year's crop of UDFA signings will benefit from this move, as this is the best recruiting argument you'll have for UDFAs). No country for old men? Roster rejuvenation is also about steadily trimming the greybeards from the lineup.  Look at the '08 and '09 starters who've ridden off into the sunset and their ages this season. '08 Starter 09 Starter Roy Williams (SS) 30 Flozell Adams (OT) 35 Anthony Henry (CB) 34 Ken Hamlin (FS) 29 Terrell Owens (WR) 37 Patrick Crayton (WR) 31 Greg Ellis (OLB) 35 Zach Thomas (LB) 37 Keith Davis (SS) 32 Of the list above, only Zach Thomas has officially retired to date. Think about the Cowboys' defensive roster: Only two starters, Keith Brooking and Terence Newman have seen their 30th birthday. The team has an abundance of youth on defense and finished 2nd in scoring last year. Looking for holes? You won't find many. On offense, outside of the O-line, only Patrick Crayton was 30 or older last year, and this year only Tony Romo will cross the 30 threshold - prime real estate for a QB. As we'll see below, despite all the public outcry about the age of our O-line, what has gone quietly unnoticed is that many units on the team have been getting steadily younger. Roster Age Nowhere is the youth movement more evident than on the O-line. While four of the five starters return one year older from last year, only one backup player, Montrae Holland, remains on the roster from last season - all other backups were jettisoned like so much excess baggage. As a result the O-line is the unit with the largest drop in average age, going down by more than a year on average. Team Unit Avg. Age end 2009 Avg. Age end 2010 Total 53-man Roster 26.8 26.5 Total Offense 27.2 27.1 Skill Positions 25.9 26.4 O-Line 29.2 28.1 Total Defense 26.4 25.8 Front Seven 26.5 26.3 Secondary 26.1 25.0 The offensive skill positions are the only area where the average age is up on the team. One Dez Bryant does not make a spring, but the age here is of no real concern particularly since 37-year old Jon Kitna skews the average somewhat. Roster Comparison 2009 vs 2010 Below is the full list of the initial 53-man rosters announced after the cuts to this year and last year. The age given in the table (and the basis for all the averages above) is the age of each player on December 31st of the respective year. Pos 2009 Roster 2010 Roster Player Age 2009 Player Age 2010 QB Tony Romo 29 Tony Romo 30 Jon Kitna 37 Jon Kitna 38 Stephen McGee 24 Stephen McGee 25 RB Marion Barber 26 Marion Barber 27 Felix Jones 22 Felix Jones 23 Tashard Choice 25 Tashard Choice 26 FB Deon Anderson 26 Deon Anderson 27 Chris Gronkowski 24 TE Jason Witten 27 Jason Witten 28 Martellus Bennett 22 Martellus Bennett 23 John Phillips 22 WR Roy Williams 28 Miles Austin 26 Patrick Crayton 30 Roy Williams 29 Miles Austin 25 Dez Bryant 22 Sam Hurd 24 Sam Hurd 25 Kevin Ogletree 22 Kevin Ogletree 23 OL Flozell Adams 34 Doug Free 25 Kyle Kosier 31 Kyle Kosier 32 Andre Gurode 31 Andre Gurode 32 Leonard Davis 31 Leonard Davis 32 Marc Colombo 31 Marc Colombo 32 Doug Free 25 Alex Barron 28 Montrae Holland 29 Montrae Holland 30 Duke Preston 27 Phil Costa 23 Cory Procter 27 Sam Young 23 Pat McQuistan 26 Robert Brewster 24 DE Marcus Spears 26 Marcus Spears 27 Jay Ratliff 28 Jay Ratliff 29 Igor Olshansky 27 Igor Olshansky 28 Jason Hatcher 27 Jason Hatcher 28 Junior Siavii 31 Stephen Bowen 25 Stephen Bowen 25 Sean Lissemore 23 Josh Brent 22 ILB Bradie James 28 Bradie James 29 Keith Brooking 34 Keith Brooking 35 Bobby Carpenter 26 Sean Lee 24 Jason Williams 23 Jason Williams 24 Leon Williams 27 OLB DeMarcus Ware 27 DeMarcus Ware 28 Anthony Spencer 25 Anthony Spencer 26 Steve Octavien 25 Victor Butler 23 Victor Butler 22 Brandon Williams 22 Curtis Johnson 24 CB Terence Newman 31 Terence Newman 32 Mike Jenkins 24 Mike Jenkins 25 Orlando Scandrick 24 Orlando Scandrick 25 Alan Ball 24 S Ken Hamlin 28 Alan Ball 25 Gerald Sensabaugh 26 Gerald Sensabaugh 27 Michael Hamlin 24 Akwasi Owusu-Ansah 22 Pat Watkins 27 Michael Hamlin 25 Marvin White 27 Barry Church 22 Danny McCray 22 ST David Buehler 22 David Buehler 23 Mat McBriar 30 Mat McBriar 31 L.P. Ladouceur 28 L.P. Ladouceur 29 Nick Folk 25 Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2897138/cowboys-practice-squad-set.html More photos » Hans Pennink - AP TE Scott Chandler returns to the Cowboys and will join their practice squad after spending some time with the Giants. Browse more photos » The cuts are in and the initial 53 is all set for the Cowboys. Now, for the practice squad players. TEs Martin Rucker and Scott Chandler (Giants) WRs Manny Johnson and Jesse Holley OL Travis Bright and OT Cliff Louis (Lions) RB Lonyae Miller CB Teddy Williams Here is a review of which players are eligible for the eight-man practice squad. Players must meet one of the following criteria while previously not being on a practice squad more than two seasons: *No accrued seasons of NFL experience.*Free agents who were on an active roster for fewer than nine regular-season games during their accrued seasons.*A season on the practice squad constitutes three weeks. There are provisions for a third season on a practice squad. With the Cowboys going with just three true corners on the roster in Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins, and Orlando Scandrick, you would think that they would load up on a couple of practice squad candidates at that position. But UDFA Bryan McCann was claimed by Baltimore and 6th-round pick Jamar Wall by Houston. DE Marcus Dixon, who spent the last two seasons on Dallas' practice squad was claimed by the NY Jets. Also of note, NT Junior Siavii found a new home in Seattle with the Seahawks. Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2896303/cb-bryan-mccann-claimed-off-waivers-baltimore-sun-blog.html CB Bryan McCann claimed off waiversBaltimore Sun (blog)Rookie cornerback Bryan McCann was claimed off waivers by the Ravens a day after he was cut by the Dallas Cowboys, his agent confirmed Sunday. ...Agent: Ravens claim Bryan McCannNational Football Postall 5 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2896302/seattle-claims-siavii-dallas-morning-news-blog.html Bleacher ReportSeattle claims SiaviiDallas Morning News (blog)Seattle added former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Junior Siavii in a waiver claim on Sunday. Siavii played the biggest role on last year's club among ...Dallas Cowboys Roster Analysis, Part 1Blogging The Boys (blog)Siavii, Octavien among Cowboys' 20 cutsMiamiHerald.comNFL: Dallas Cowboys release Lely grad OctavienNaples Daily Newsall 38 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2895759/nfl-preseason-week-4-lines-dolphins-vs-cowboys-betting-odds-vegassportsodds.html Seattle Post IntelligencerNFL Preseason Week 4 Lines: Dolphins vs Cowboys Betting OddsVegasSports-OddsThe Dallas Cowboys have a NFL preseason betting mark of 2-2 both straight up and against the spread with all 4 games going under the total. ...With starters sitting, Cowboys won't take a chance on DezFort Worth Star TelegramWorrisome Cowboy: Should the Cowboys Preseason Performance Scare Fans?Bleacher ReportBuehler's four field goals lift CowboysSan Antonio ExpressPalm Beach Post (blog) -OnlineSportsHandicapping.com -Football Soccer Today (blog)all 912 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2895758/dallas-cowboys-roster-analysis-part-1-blogging-boys-blog.html Bleacher ReportDallas Cowboys Roster Analysis, Part 1Blogging The Boys (blog)The Dallas Cowboys have announced their initial 53-man roster heading into the 2010 regular season, and as expected the ...Siavii, Octavien among Cowboys' 20 cutsMiamiHerald.comNFL: Dallas Cowboys release Lely grad OctavienNaples Daily Newsall 36 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2895756/dallas-cowboys-roster-analysis-part-1.html More photos » Mike Fuentes - AP Browse more photos » The Dallas Cowboys have announced their initial 53-man roster heading into the 2010 regular season, and as expected the roster cuts included some surprises. There was just too much potential and talent at the bottom part of the roster for the Cowboys to make any easy decisions and injuries at certain positions created a numbers crunch at others. I don't believe for a second that this is the final 53-man roster and that the Cowboys were heavily interested in the rest of the cuts being announced around the NFL. What's going to be interesting is seeing which players might still be in jeopardy even after "making" the team if the Cowboys do indeed end up bringing in a released player to provide better depth at certain positions. For a team headed into what is supposed to be a contending season, the key for the Cowboys was to put together the best roster they could from top to bottom. This philosophy created an interesting numbers game from position to position and necessitated some of the different decisions that were made yesterday. Across a two-part analysis, I'll do my best to determine just what the thinking was behind each one. Three cornerbacks. I don't think I can ever remember a time when the Cowboys entered the season with just three true cornerbacks on the roster. It's a very dangerous game to play, especially with the Cowboys relying heavily on the nickel package in Wade Phillips' defensive scheme. It seems that many feel the Cowboys will be searching for a cornerback to provide depth at the position, yet I believe it's important to include all of the defensive backs in this discussion. In the end this decision came down to: are Barry Church and Danny McCray more valuable than Cletis Gordon? With the Cowboys, the answer was certainly a yes. Church, at this point, is a much better safety than McCray but both provide great potential on special teams; this ability far outweighed Gordon's ability to provide depth at the fourth cornerback position. Gordon played nearly the entire game against Miami and looked, frankly, horrible while doing so. The playmaking corner everyone had raved about during camp disappeared, and was replaced by once that was burned constantly by the Texans and the Dolphins. While I'm sure the Cowboys were already leaning in a certain direction before the final preseason game, it's likely that Gordon lost his job with that poor performance. The depth at cornerback will almost certainly come from Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, a safety-cornerback hybrid who has received playing time at the slot corner position throughout camp and the preseason. While I'm not a big fan of the Cowboys relying on Alan Ball's cover ability for depth as well, the team seems to be moving forward with the plan of playing multiple safeties each game at multiple positions in each defensive scheme. I know that after the reports coming from camp about Gordon's playmaking, and his leaping one-handed interception earlier in the preseason, many felt that Gordon was a lock to make the team. After seeing how he performed against actual NFL-level talent in the final two preseason games, I began to wonder if all of the hype was a bit overplayed. In the end, the ability of Church and McCray to actually contribute on gamedays outweighed Gordon's apparent ability to provide merely mediocre production in a purely depth role. The defensive line. I know that Junior Siavii seemingly came alive this preseason when he realized his roster position was in doubt but it was apparent that Josh Brent would make this team nearly three weeks ago. His overall potential far outweighs the ceiling that Siavii has already reached and I highly doubt a nose tackle like Brent would have made it through waivers. You had to be impressed with Brent's combination of speed and power and while he certainly had some issues in college, the Cowboys are raving about how smart a player he's already become. Brent's ability to provide a pass rush from the inside will also give the Cowboys more versatility along the defensive line in passing situations and could allow them to move Jay Ratliff around a bit. It will be interesting to see how he's used once the season starts. While some of the BTB faithful might not be surprised that the Cowboys kept Sean Lissemore, you have to wonder if his roster spot might be in trouble if the Cowboys do acquire a player that was cut by another team. Lissemore struggled with an injury during camp and the preseason and was largely unnoticeable; it wasn't until the Dolphins game that he finally started to showcase his abilities. Lissemore is certainly intriguing and his versatility along the line is valuable. You have to wonder, however, just how much playing time he would get during a game and if he would even be active during games anyway. Two fullbacks, two tight ends. There's a fullback on this 53-man roster whose job is still in jeopardy and his name isn't Chris Gronkowski. I was impressed with Gronkowski's ability to grasp a larger role in the offense after the Cowboys lost John Phillips for the season. Gronkowski showcased an ability to provide the big block up the middle, the speed and power to provide an option in short yardage runs and the hands to be a threat in the passing game. Is he the next Daryl Johnston? Definitely not, but he could provide the versatility from the position that Cowboys would love to use. With the Cowboys going with just two tight ends initially, the team will be on the lookout for any options that arise after all final roster cuts are announced. If the Cowboys do decide to bring in an extra tight end, then it's Anderson who could be on his way out -- especially when you consider the court date that's just around the corner. The Cowboys brought in three tight ends after Phillips' injury and none of them provided enough of a good impression to force their way onto the roster. Martin Rucker showed flashes, but he doesn't have the versatility to justify the Cowboys keeping him on the team, even for depth purposes. In Part 2, we'll look at the more difficult decisions the Cowboys had to make: trading Patrick Crayton and keeping Sam Hurd as well trying to determine what exactly the Cowboys plan to do at nickel linebacker. Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2895202/osu-was-right-to-take-on-horned-frogs-portland-tribune.html Seattle Post IntelligencerOSU was right to take on Horned FrogsPortland TribuneThe image of Oregon State quarterback Ryan Katz waiting for a snap is beamed onto the giant scoreboard at Dallas Cowboys Stadium during the ...No tuneup here: Oregon State, TCU square off at Cowboys StadiumUSA TodayOregon State's Friday walk-through: the jaw-dropping at Cowboys Stadium wasn't ...OregonLive.com (blog)TCU too much at the end for BeaversPortland Tribuneall 761 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2895201/thirdstring-qb-mcgee-new-pk-buehler-lb-butler-lead-cowboys-past-dolphins-2725-canadian-press.html Seattle Post IntelligencerThird-string QB McGee, new PK Buehler, LB Butler lead Cowboys past Dolphins 27-25The Canadian PressARLINGTON, Texas ? David Buehler was going to be on the Dallas Cowboys this season, even if it was only to keep whacking kickoffs deep into the end zone. ...Dallas Cowboys Vs. Miami Dolphins Preseason: What to Watch for in DallasBleacher ReportMiami Dolphins small favorites over Dallas Cowboys 2010 NFL Picks & OddsSports Picks AdvisorsMiami Dolphins vs Dallas Cowboys NFL Preseason GameNFL News WorldHouston Chronicle -Portland Tribune -USA Todayall 912 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2895200/report-albert-haynesworth-unlikely-to-start-opener-espn.html Washington PostReport: Albert Haynesworth unlikely to start openerESPN... is unlikely to start Washington's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys after a disappointing performance in the team's final preseason game, ...Paper: Redskins coaches again displeased with Albert Haynesworth's effortUSA TodayReport: Shanahan May Bench Haynesworth vs. CowboysNBC WashingtonFor reserves, limited availabilityWashington PostSB Nation DC (blog)all 111 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2894107/no-debating-jerry-was-stupid-for-letting-crayton-go-fort-worth-star-telegram.html No debating it, Jerry was stupid for letting Crayton goFort Worth Star TelegramWhen it's the Dallas Cowboys, turmoil and disagreement will be a combo I warmly embrace. Not only is it good for my kind of business, ...and more » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2893300/cowboys-would-like-to-keep-bright-around-dallas-morning-news-blog.html Cowboys would like to keep Bright aroundDallas Morning News (blog)Offensive lineman Travis Bright was swept up in the Dallas Cowboys' final pre-season cuts on Saturday, but he could remain with the organization. ... Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2893299/miami-dolphins-small-favorites-over-dallas-cowboys-2010-nfl-picks-amp-odds-sports-advisors.html Seattle Post IntelligencerMiami Dolphins small favorites over Dallas Cowboys 2010 NFL Picks & OddsSports Picks AdvisorsDallas Cowboys small favorites over Miami Dolphins 2010 NFL Picks & NFL Odds - Was that really the Dallas Cowboys stumbling through a 24-7 NFL Picks loss to ...Wade Phillips Right To Rest Dallas Cowboys StartersBleacher ReportShould Cowboys' fans worry or relax?Houston ChronicleHow the Cowboys will decide on their 53-man rosterThe Associated PressUSA Today -Portland Tribune -NFL News Worldall 912 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2893298/dallas-cowboys-get-back-in-saddle-netdugout.html The Canadian PressCan The Dallas Cowboys Get Back In The Saddle?NetDugoutWith the new NFL season starting in a few days, the Dallas Cowboys have more expectations and pressure than most teams in the league. ...Dallas Cowboys will fall short of Super Bowl in 2010NewsOK.comDallas Cowboys 2010 Team PreviewXtra Point FootballWeb site lists early prices for Super Bowl XLV parking near Cowboys StadiumDallas Morning NewsBleacher Report -SI.com -Maddux Sports (blog)all 53 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2893297/hurd-survives-dallas-cowboys-final-roster-cuts-fort-worth-star-telegram.html Washington PostHurd survives Dallas Cowboys' final roster cutsFort Worth Star TelegramIRVING -- It wasn't a whirlwind day as it was Friday, when the Dallas Cowboys pulled off two trades. But some eye-opening decisions ...Cowboys go light at tight end, cornerESPN4 undrafted rookies make Cowboys' initial rosterThe Associated PressHurd survives Cowboys' cut to 53San Antonio ExpressUSA Today -Houston Chronicle -Bleacher Reportall 611 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2893296/nfl-rankings-greatest-cornerbacks.html Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2893295/divisions-power.html Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2893294/gosselin-in-nfl-worst-to-first-starts-september.html Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2892490/report-divide-between-haynesworth-shanahan-widens-national-football-post.html msnbc.comReport: Divide between Haynesworth, Shanahan widensNational Football Post12 against the Dallas Cowboys. Citing three sources who are dialed into the situation, the Washington Post's Jason Reid reports the club has increased ...Paper: Redskins coaches again displeased with Albert Haynesworth's effortUSA TodayReport: Shanahan May Bench Haynesworth vs. CowboysNBC WashingtonFor reserves, limited availabilityWashington PostSB Nation DC (blog)all 97 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2892489/siavii-octavien-among-cowboys-20-cuts-miamiheraldcom.html Football News NowSiavii, Octavien among Cowboys' 20 cutsMiamiHerald.comBy Sports Network Defensive lineman Junior Siavii and linebacker Steve Octavien were among the most recognizable names released by the Dallas Cowboys on ...NFL: Dallas Cowboys release Lely grad OctavienNaples Daily News4 undrafted rookies make Cowboys' initial rosterDallas Morning Newsall 29 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2892488/miami-dolphins-add-depth-to-injuryplagued-offensive-line-pat-mcquistan-bleacher-report.html Kansas City StarThe Miami Dolphins Add Depth To Injury-Plagued Offensive Line With Pat McQuistanBleacher ReportThe Dolphins just acquired offensive lineman Pat McQuistan from the Dallas Cowboys. The Dolphins depth on the offensive line was getting a little thin, ...Dolphins trim roster, acquire McQuistanNational Football PostMiami Dolphins acquire offensive lineman from CowboysMiamiHerald.comDolphins starters quickly exit 27-25 loss to CowboysSun-SentinelFanHouse -Dallas Morning News (blog) -SB Nation Dallas (blog)all 259 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2892487/dallas-cowboys-make-cuts-keep-sam-hurd-fort-worth-star-telegram.html Sportsnet.caDallas Cowboys make cuts, keep Sam HurdFort Worth Star TelegramIRVING ? It wasn'ta whirlwind day as it was Friday when the Dallas Cowboys pulled off two trades, but some eye-opening decisions were made when the team ...Cowboys go light at tight end, cornerESPN4 undrafted rookies make Cowboys' initial rosterThe Associated PressCowboys agree to trade WR Patrick Crayton to ChargersUSA TodayBleacher Report -Houston Chronicle -Yahoo! Sports (blog)all 597 news articles » Dallas Cowboys - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates