Making Moves (Dallas Cowboys)

Before the surprising departure of DeMarco Murray, I mentioned two choices the Cowboys could make in regards to Murray's future with Dallas.

Well, if you haven't been hiding under a rock for the month of March...Murray is now a Philadelphia Eagle. In addition, the Cowboys have picked up Darren McFadden to secure the RB position for now.

Darren McFadden and Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones

Do you really think the Dallas Cowboys are going to ride themselves into the playoffs with Darren McFadden? He's a decent running back, but we really need consistency in our backfield. Murray was a fumble machine this past year. I guess his season performance in yards was enough to blind us from really focusing on his fumbling tendencies. McFadden's potential seems to pick up where DeMarco's fumble-itis left off.

Today (and this is not an April Fool's joke), the Dallas Cowboys announced they will restructure Tony Romo's contract. You know, I expected his contract to be restructured before Murray left. This makes me focus on Brandon Carr refusing to take a pay cut. I understand guys may not want to accept a pay cut; but when it's for the greater good, it may turn out to be a great decision in the long run.

Florida State QB Jameis Winston

Since Romo has helped increase the salary cap, Cowboys fans can have high hopes for the front office picking up a decent rookie running back, quarterback, or even cornerback. I've always voiced my preference for Jameis Winston in the Cowboys lineup one day, but it may be impossible due to the Cowboys' high-numbered draft picks.

I'm glad the Cowboys front office is really turning this organization around for the better. We should expect to see more of this positive energy within the Cowboys organization as the season approaches.

Go Cowboys!

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Farewell, DeMarco

DeMarco Murray made his final decision today, signing a contract with Dallas Cowboys' rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. Three months ago, I wouldn't have believed this would occur in the off-season. Especially after Murray's great season in clinching the rushing title for the 2014-2015 NFL season.

As Cowboys' fans, we must move forward. It is perfectly fine to feel disappointed at the organization for today's situation. However, this is what the organization asked for. They played "chicken" with DeMarco. And let's just say, Murray swerved out of the way to land in Philadelphia.

The current team is now (not surprisingly) dismantled at the running back position. Plus, I have a scary feeling the Dallas Cowboys may continue to pursue Adrian Peterson. First, I thought we had a good chance at drafting or securing a decent backup quarterback; but now, the running game is our main priority. I'm pretty sure the Cowboys organization will soon realize how much Murray meant to the offense's success. And to make matters worse, we will face Murray and the Eagles' spread offense twice in the regular season.

If the Cowboys' dominance in their regular season match-ups gave them an edge over Philly, they need to think again because this Eagles team has a brand new face. I expect for the Cowboys-Eagles rivalry to live up to its hype and even more next season. Hopefully the Cowboys will make great improvements in personnel, because Philadelphia is thinking about the playoffs as we speak!

Until next time.

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QTNA: The Status of Dez and DeMarco?

In a post from last month, I received a question regarding the Cowboys (specifically the status of Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray). I'll try my best to answer as thorough as possible without too much fluff.

 "Who can we expect to replace Demarco Murray in the backfield, and what will come of Dez Bryant?"

- Alex A.

The noise of the NFL post-season has gradually withered away, gearing fans up for another off-season of trades, contract extensions, and filled coaching positions. As for the Dallas Cowboys, there are many fans (such as myself) who have high expectations for the 'Boys in the future.

Recently, the organization has placed a franchise tag on Dez Bryant. This means: Bryant will receive a one-year contract with the Cowboys in order to prevent him from signing with another team as an unrestricted free agent.

Bryant put on a great performance this past season with the Cowboys (arguably one of his best). The new energy and young receiving core of the Cowboys really put Bryant in a position to either "put up or shut up." The leadership and numbers of Mr. Bryant spoke volumes to the offensive performance. I applaud the Cowboys for placing the tag on Bryant; although, this only solves half the issue.

On the other side of the spectrum, DeMarco Murray will test free agency this off-season. I'm pretty sure the other 31 NFL teams are getting their offers ready for Murray. Again, the Cowboys have placed themselves in an undesirable contract situation. This stems from the big payday Tony Romo received two off-seasons ago. If the Front Office expected Murray to have a breakout season, maybe Romo wouldn't have been provided with his "Super-Bowl quarterback" salary (just a thought).


Murray is arguably the best thing running for the Cowboys since Emmitt Smith. DeMarco's field vision, use of the offensive line, and ability to pass block rank him in close proximity to Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch. If Murray performs another great season such as 2014-2015, I wouldn't be surprised if the media places him in the elite RB category.

Speaking of Adrian Peterson, Vikings and Cowboys fans should keep their eyes and ears peeled back this off-season. Peterson has voiced his dissent with Minnesota and has expressed to Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones his desire to play in Dallas. To be honest, I don't think Peterson is coming to town.

An excerpt from Washington Post regarding Adrian Peterson

Two things can come from this situation:

1) Cowboys let Murray sign with another team; Gamble by pursuing Adrian Peterson (who may be rusty since his league suspension); find themselves in another hole when Dez Bryant needs new contract.

2) Keep Murray by any means necessary; Possibly negotiate a pay cut for Romo, if possible.

Both scenarios are risky, but I believe pursuing Peterson is the greater risk versus scenario #2. Adrian Peterson has been away from the game for an amount of time. He also has the reputation for being one of the highest paid running backs in the league. I believe the Cowboys would be shooting themselves in the foot for AP; but, I also understand it's all business at the end of the day. I look forward to seeing how this running back fiasco will turn out.

Keep DeMarco.

Follow this blog on Twitter: @214_Manuscript

How Bout Them Cowboys?! (Dallas Cowboys)

Going into Week 17, the Dallas Cowboys are 11-4 with the NFC East title cruising to the playoffs. I have to admit, I didn't give the Cowboys a chance to perform better than the past three years. This team proved me wrong, as well as a large number of Cowboys fans, haters, and media reporters.

One article I found the most laughter over came from the USA Today in June 2014. They predicted the Cowboys to finish last in the NFC East with a record of 3-13. Over the summer, I saw this as shocking news for Cowboys fans everywhere. Cowboys fans worldwide wanted this team to succeed, but we knew what we were dealing with.

From USA Today:

NFC East
Eagles 11-5 (4): Class of weak division. But can Nick Foles reproduce 2013 magic? DeSean Jackson's speed will be missed.Redskins 7-9: If the line and RG3's knee hold up, this offense will be hard to slow, but defense may be year away.Giants 6-10: Eli Manning's supporting cast is getting younger, even if he isn't. Team speed doesn't impress. Cowboys 3-13: Tony Romo's back, defense are looking awfully frail. Dallas fans might end up pining for .500 teams.

We lost all of our preseason games and thought we were in for an 8-8 or worse season. Furthermore, the Cowboys lost the first game of the season. The whole sports atmosphere of Dallas had checked out on the Cowboys didn't have as much high expectations as before.

Now, 11 wins and 4 losses in this redemptive season have shown the Cowboys in a new light. This is definitely a new team and the energy/chemistry level is at a championship-contending level. The Cowboys are ready to move forward and put all the critics to bed. We've beat Seattle. Took care of the Eagles. Sent the Colts back up north with a beating.

In my opinion, the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals are the teams to beat in the NFC. As long as the Cowboys take care of these teams, they should do well and have a memorable comeback season.

Go Cowboys!

Tough Days in Dallas (Dallas Cowboys)

The antics of the Dallas Cowboys' past two games have been a total "180" of their performances in the first six games of the season. The display of selfishness was at an all-time high on last week's Monday Night Football, as the Dallas Cowboys took on one of their long-time rivals (Washington Redskins).

Honestly, two things should have happened that game for the Cowboys to possibly have the best chance to win:

1) Jerry Jones needed to stay in the skybox

- Apparently, Jones needed to let everyone know that he truly runs the Dallas Cowboys organization. The presence of Jones on-the-field disrupted a great deal of the chemistry with the Cowboys' sideline, and to make matters worse...Jones even took it upon himself to "give the team some inspiration.".

Jones' probably telling Coach Garrett to put Romo back in the game.

2) Tony Romo doesn't ALWAYS have to be the hero.

- With Brandon Weeden under center, the Cowboys remained competitive and continued to fight hard with Romo out due to an injured back. However, when Tony Romo hit the field once again in the 4th quarter, the chemistry wasn't the same.

What makes matters worse is how Weeden "getting pulled" in the 4th quarter could have possibly hurt his confidence to perform to his potential. I give Arizona credit for being a good team, but it's extremely difficult to beat a team when your quarterback is aware that he can get pulled out of the game any minute.

Brandon Weeden (3)

In my opinion, the Cowboys should have kept Weeden in the game against the Redskins. Not only would this have built up his confidence over time, but Tony Romo would actually have a decent recovery time. This organization (*cough, cough*..Jerry Jones *cough*) is rushing Tony Romo's recovery time, and this does not benefit anybody on the Cowboys team.

And why have we stopped running the ball?!! *Facepalm*

As the Cowboys get ready to face the Jags in London, I hope Romo has a comfortable seat on the sidelines. We're really going to need him close to 100% as we face the Giants next week.

The Age-Old Rivalry (Cowboys vs. Redskins)

Tonight marks the eighth game of the 2014 NFL Season for the Dallas Cowboys. For dedicated Cowboys fans, 6-1 almost sounds like a "dream come true" in contrast to the past three 8-8 season finishes.

I have to admit: my expectations of the Cowboys (in reality) were not too high. Originally, I predicted the 'Boys to finish 8-8 again. But this season, I am very pleased and excited with the Cowboys FINALLY living up to their potential on the field.

The Cowboys are not just looking good "on paper", but "on the field" as well. Our running game has continued to be efficient, due to arguably the Best Offensive Line in the NFL. To give more credit to the O-Line, our passing game has also received a facelift.

As I said in a previous post, this Cowboys team is very different from the past years. I believe the "new attitude" taken on by the front office has trickled down to the field of play; which has ignited a blaze in the hearts of the Cowboys.

Tonight is Monday Night Football in the heart of North Texas @ Cowboys Stadium. I expect there to be a high level of trash-talking, hard hits, and every recipe needed for this age-old rivalry against the Redskins. Hopefully, DeMarco Murray can rack up 100+ more yards tonight!

With Colt McCoy calling the snaps for Washington tonight, the Cowboys defense shouldn't have to worry about too much unpredictability (such as RG3) in their offense. However, our secondary should have their hands full with Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson.

This is going to be a good match-up.

Go Cowboys!!

The Boys Are Back in Town? Pt. II (Dallas Cowboys)

The Dallas Cowboys have proved within the past two "down-to-the-wire" victories that they truly are a new team. If you've been a Cowboys fan for the past three years (suffering those awful 8-8 seasons), you understand the importance of this change in the Cowboys' demeanor. Battling against the Texans and Seahawks, respectively, have shown the Cowboys in a new light.

Tony Romo is as effective as his 2007 season. Along with a decent core of receivers and tight ends, Romo has been able to put numbers on the board and successfully close out games.

 I believe the most important facet of this team is our new-found confidence. Over the years, I have received A LOT of criticism for being a Cowboys fan. But this year, I can honestly say that the noise talking has quieted down within these entertaining 6 weeks of the NFL.

As of now, I refuse to talk about ANY super bowl contentions for the Cowboys. I guess Jerry Jones had an idea on how this Cowboys' team would fare this season.

I'm proud of the defense, the offense, and more importantly our run game. DeMarco Murray and his back-ups have opened up a vast amount of opportunities for the passing game to thrive, as well as wear down the defense.

This Cowboys team is different. This Cowboys team is for real. And more importantly, this Cowboys team is going places. Go Cowboys!

The Boys Are Back in Town? Pt. I (Dallas Cowboys)

As the Dallas Cowboys approach week 5 against the Houston Texans, I couldn't be more proud of their performance following the loss against San Francisco. The Cowboys are 3-1, whether opponents like it or not. I know we chalked up a couple wins against sub-par teams (Titans and Rams), but the victory against the Saints definitely served as a confidence booster for the Boys.

Drew Brees and Tony Romo

Through four games, it seems the Cowboys have continued to get better each game. In a previous post following the San Francisco matchup, I highlighted three factors of the Cowboys shortcomings:

1) Romo's Back Surgery

In my opinion, I think Tony Romo has just about knocked the rust off of his performance on the field. One of my favorite plays is the Romo-Bryant back-shoulder fade connection (always ran to perfection). With Romo's mobility out of the question, our offense can fully operate and keep up with high-scoring opponents.

2) DeMarco Murray is still a priority in our offense.

Murray is a guy you can trust carrying the ball. With DeMarco carrying the ball 20+ times a game and rushing for well over 100yds/gm, this is evidence that our running game is in great shape. There are also other backs who keep up with the flow of the game (Julius Randle and Phillip Tanner).

3) The Cowboys have to outscore their opponents.

As argued in the previous post, the Cowboys defense is not where it should be. This may not sound good, but if our defense can play like this past Sunday without Claiborne...then we need to finish the season without Claiborne!

Guys that "sweet talk" their way out of practice and onto the field when gameday shows up should not be expected to give their best performance when it's time to perform. Mo Claiborne has done just that.

Maurice "Mo" Claiborne

Luckily, our offense has been able to put up points. As for the defense, keep Mo on the sidelines.

Are the Cowboys finally utilizing their potential? Probably so.
A statement that we definitely cannot deny is that the Cowboys should have enough momentum going against their in-state rival on Sunday. Although the game is scheduled for 12pm, I'm sure the Cowboys should be able to take care of business at home.

3 Things Learned Against the San Francisco 49ers (Dallas Cowboys)

3 Things We Learned from the Cowboys' Week 1 Performance

Coming off three consecutive 8-8 seasons, being a Cowboys fan has become a tiresome burden on even the most dedicated fan. The battered defense, offense led by a less-than-100 percent Tony Romo, and the condescending attitude of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones all create a recipe for disaster.

In a couple of previous posts about the Cowboys' 2014 season outlook, I have expressed how the Cowboys will less than likely meet their fan's expectations.

This was a Dallas "home game"?!

If you were able to watch the Cowboys vs. 49ers game, it was pretty difficult to miss the "sea of red" in Cowboys Stadium and even avoid hearing the roars of happiness after every San Francisco touchdown.

It's been awhile since I've watched a full game of the Cowboys (over 2 years to be exact). I hoped they would prove me wrong and rise to the occasion against one of the franchise's age-old foes. I guess that dream was far-fetched, resulting in a 28-17 defeat.

The writing is on the wall of Cowboys Stadium. Fans know it.

Players and coaches know it. Even Jones, no matter how much he denies it, knows the fan support of his franchise is a concern. 

1) Romo's back surgery has created a layer of rust not even WD-40 can remove.

I get it, he's rusty. After all, he's supposed to be! Coach Jason Garrett allowed Romo to sit out the majority of preseason (as well as practice) based on the recovery of Romo's back surgery. In the 2nd half, Romo "somewhat" delivered (mainly tossing prayers in the sky). We just have to eliminate the unforced turnovers.

2) DeMarco Murray is still a priority in our offense.

Despite Romo's numerous turnovers, the running game flourished through Murray's performance of 22 carries for 118 yards. 

The bad news is that this marked the first time in Murray's career that he carried the ball more than 20 times and the Cowboys lost. I'm optimistic of our run game. It's the pass game that has me on pins-and-needles.

3) We have to offensively outscore every opponent, and this is not a good thing.
 
We've already established the fact that our defense is as good as stopping a flood with notebook paper. Simply put, our offense HAS to outplay every offense it's matched up against! This can call for games in which the Cowboys almost certainly need to put up 25+ points a game. If our offense clicks, it's obtainable...there needs to be a sense of urgency and chemistry in the offensive flow.

The Defintion of Mediocrity (Dallas Cowboys)

If you're a Cowboys fan like myself, then you should have low expectations for the Boys in Blue this season.

0-4 in the preseason?! Seriously?!!!

I understand the preseason is meant to present a realistic look at our team, but the Dallas Cowboys have not showed much hope in the past four weeks.



Over the past three seasons, Dallas has finished with an 8-8 record without a playoff appearance. It's almost as if the Cowboys are stuck in a recurring nightmare.

I sure hope this team wakes up this year.

Come on, the Cowboys' offense has the potential to be a playoff contender without any doubt. On paper, our offense has a good balance (with the exception of Romo's late 4th-quarter errors).

Tony Romo should be in good condition, after resting from his back surgery. Dez Bryant is the guy to primarily fuel our offense, specifically the passing game. Plus, the Cowboys' run-game will benefit from our pass threat if everything has the right chemistry.

However, the defense is what makes the Cowboys "mediocre", or just plain average. As you will find me say in previous blog posts, "Defense wins championships!!!" You know, I wouldn't be surprised if our defense finishes last in the NFL this season. I mean, we do not have DeMarcus Ware or Jason Hatcher (two veteran defenders that we REALLY need). Instead of these two vets, the Cowboys placed two 2014 draftees in their place.

But wait! What makes it worse is that these two rookies are on the injury list for the start of the regular season!! In addition, Sean Lee (arguably the Cowboys' best linebacker since Dat Nyguen and Dexter Coakley) is out for the season; DeVonte Hollman, a promising second-year linebacker,  suffered a career-ending neck injury.

"Sounds like another 8-8 season to me."

And what makes things even more gloomy is the fact that our safety and cornerback (Jakar Hamilton and Orlando Scandrick, respectively) will miss four games due to violating the league's substance abuse policy.

The Dallas Cowboys should change their logo to an Army Tank, due to the notion of Jerry Jones probably wanting to "tank" the season for a higher rung on the "draft ladder".

The facts are laid out: the Dallas Cowboys are the definition of mediocrity

Good offense, bad defense. Sounds like another 8-8 season to me.

Hopefully, they prove me wrong (in a good way).

The Romo-Era Cowboys Will Never Win the Lombardi Trophy

Ever since the "Romo-era" Cowboys have taken the field, the expectations of this franchise - once known as "America's Team" (this should be up for debate) - have continually been lowered after every disappointing season.

For the past three years, we have dealt with injuries, an inconsistent running game, and the sad reality of being just an average football team - finishing up the past three seasons with an 8-8 record.

I hate to say it, but the Dallas Cowboys do not scream "World Champions!" and if you've been led to keep believing in the Cowboys to be a championship-contender... well, you are certainly in denial, my friend.

Now, let's begin to list the Three Reasons Why the Romo-era Cowboys Will Never Win the Lombardi Trophy.

Reason #1: Jerry Jones needs to be involved in business matters ONLY.

Serving as the Owner, General Manager, and President (NFL Front Office position descriptions) does not allow adequate room for accountability and improvement in the Dallas Cowboys franchise at all levels. Jones' three-headed monster of power merges front office and player/personnel matters, which really affects on-the-field play.

Jones is a business-savvy individual. He has ushered in the AT&T Stadium to serve as a premier venue of the biggest entertainment events you can think of: concerts, boxing matches, NFL Super Bowl, WWE, NBA All-Star Weekend, etc. You name it, I'm sure Jerry Jones has done it (or is about to do it).


The man is about $$$. Period.

So, it would serve the Cowboys a great deal for Jones to be the best business-man he can be; and, in time, release his tight grip on the area of player/personnel development.

Reason #2: The Dallas Cowboys' defense has more holes than Swiss cheese.

There's speculation that Rob Ryan was a great asset for the Cowboys' defense. Another argument claims that Ryan did not improve anything in Dallas, except for his eating habits. NFL defensive statistics from the '11/'12 and '12/'13 seasons show the Cowboys defense ranking in at 19th and 14th, respectively. However, if you examine the numbers of both seasons compared to the 2010 season, you can be the judge of whether Ryan improved the defense or not.

But the issue still remains: this defense needs help, bad. Really bad.

As most sports fans know (or should know), DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. Take last year's Super Bowl, for example (43-8 ouch; Seattle's defense proved themselves).

With the latest draft picks acquired through the 2014 NFL Draft, maybe there is hope of developing a championship-caliber defense. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Reason #3: Tony Romo is our best chance at winning the Super Bowl.

Yes, you've read correctly. Tony Romo is the best chance for the Cowboys to reach a title.

On paper: This is awesome!

In reality: Welp, time to get ready for basketball season.

Tony Romo is above average. He gives you the stats: passing yards, passing touchdowns, and even a decent QBR (Quarterback Rating). The main component Romo is not giving the Cowboys is: winning. Of course, winning is a team effort; but, when the commander of your offense (in addition to sub-par defense) is not getting the job done, we have no choice but to continually be just an average team.

So, who is there to blame for all of the Cowboys' shortcomings?

Reason number one (see above for Reason #1).

Of course, he would most likely be the scapegoat. When you consider who hires the coaches, signs the players, oversees the operations of the franchise, and goes to sleep feeling as if everything is fine... Jerry Jones is the one guy that can pull it off.

Until he fires himself (sounds crazy) or the Cowboys can grab a guy like Jameis Winston (Cam Newton, but better) and have a top-10 defense, the Cowboys will continue to follow this downward trend.

SN: Seriously, I want Jameis Winston on the Cowboys roster. Let's just hope Dallas has a free crab leg buffet for Winston.

2014 Season Preview (Dallas Cowboys)

There's the good, the bad, and even the ugly when it comes to discussing the outlook of the Dallas Cowboys' 2014-2015 season.

In recent news, Dez Bryant has expressed his concern for a new contract, claiming that he deserves to be paid as much as the NFL's top 5 receivers. On top of Bryant's concern, the Cowboys have recently restructered OT (Offensive Tackle) Tyron Smith's contract to an 8-year extension grossing up to $100 million.

Well, Dez...there goes your money.

In addition, Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones claims the Cowboys have the best offensive line in the league. This may be true, but Jones needs to get a new prescription of glasses to focus on the injury-prone defense.

I'm in agreement with building up our offensive line and hiring a new offensive coordinator to relinquish play-calling duties from Jason Garrett. However, our defense has taken some major hits in the offseason: Sean Lee's season-ending injury and DeMarcus Ware's departure to Denver. The only thing Cowboys' fans should do is hope for the best as we place inexperienced players in the roster slots of last year's defensive leaders.

Am I throwing in the towel yet? Hmmmm, maybe not.

Our offense looks promising and Jason Garrett is crossing his fingers to finish above average for the first time in his career as Head Coach. The pressure on Garrett may benefit the offense's potential, which can balance out our sub-par defense. But as we all know (or should know), defense wins championships. The Cowboys may not win a championship this year, but their offense has the potential to be the prime catalyst to steer them to a playoff bid.

According to Jerry Jones, offense fills up stadiums...but that's none of my business.

As we shift our focus to the NFC East, the Cowboys have a really good shot at winning this division. The Redskins and Giants should be the top two teams to give us a worthwhile challenge.

Robert Griffin III looks forward to stepping back onto the field and redeeming himself from those Adidas-sponsored injuries. To be honest, Griffin III is unpredictable at this moment but you never know what you get with RGIII.

Meanwhile, Eli Manning attempts to claw his way back to the mountaintop of champions. Eli Manning has a great deal of potential. It's surprising how he can be an elite quarterback one season...and an Interception Machine the next.

Although this is not your father's NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles took the division under Chip Kelly's high-powered offense. However, the Eagle do not pose a serious threat with Nick Foles still proving himself to the league.

Something to think about:

If the Cowboys dominated their rivals with a sub-par defense last season, there's no reason to think they cannot compete in this year's NFC East division.