by Moondog, The World According to Moondog
The Dallas Cowboys' arrived in Oxnard, CA late Thursday afternoon to begin preparations for the 2008 season. The Cowboys are coming off their most successful regular season since 1992, equaling last season's record of 13-3 and winning their first of three Super Bowls in the 90s.
But the season as a whole can't be deemed a success because of the Cowboys' inability to win a playoff game for the 11th consecutive year, the longest stretch in the organization's illustrious history. Dallas' divisional round loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants left a bitter taste in the mouths of everyone associated with this proud franchise.
With an active off-season that saw Dallas owner Jerry Jones spend a ton of money resigning veterans Terrell Owens, Flozell Adams, Marion Barber, Ken Hamlin and Terence Newman, the Cowboys are the odds-on favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLIII.
Dallas is one of the few teams in the NFL that doesn't have personnel issues, other than WR Terry Glenn. While Glenn's status remains uncertain, the Cowboys have gone about the business of professional football in a workman-like manner.
The draft choices from this past April are slowly being signed to deals and the starters and back-ups at every position have been identified. Other than a few positions where the team would like to add some depth, the Cowboys are primed for another run.
Like them, love them or hate them, this is truly America's Team. These are the darlings of the NFL, the team that appears every Sunday in a virtually guaranteed televised game and every Thanksgiving Day.
There's no denying the sense of urgency surrounding this team. With some of the veterans like Owens, Adams, Greg Ellis and newly acquired LB Zach Thomas, the window of opportunity is open for the moment. That window begins to close with each passing season, and the veterans understand the window can close and remain shut past a certain point.
While the pressure of getting to the Super Bowl may be greater than in past seasons, this is a team, and an organization, that has become accustomed to high expectations.
"Well, that's why we're in football, we enjoy that, especially with the Dallas Cowboys," said head coach Wade Phillips. "There are high expectations here every year and for a long time. That is not unusual for the Dallas Cowboys, certainly, because of the past and the recent past, you know going back to last year."
"Those kind of things are expected, but we enjoy that. We enjoy coaching, we enjoy the team, and we are looking forward to the things that we can do, and that's the way the players are."
Training camp is officially set to begin Friday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. (PDT) with a single practice. From that point forward, everything this team does will be focused upon making the long journey to the ultimate prize, and they'll do so under intense media scrutiny.
After all, this is America's Team.
In Other Cowboy News
The Cowboys have agreed to terms with second-round pick Martellus Bennett on a four-year contract.
Coming to terms with Bennett leaves only first-round picks Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins unsigned, and the team hopes have both players signed in time for Friday's opening training camp practice at 2:15 p.m. (PDT).
The Cowboys also have reached agreements with sixth-round pick Erik Walden, fifth-round pick Orlando Scandrick and fourth-round pick Tashard Choice.
Bennett is expected to replace Anthony Fasano as Jason Witten's complement in two-tight end sets. Choice, who agreed to terms late Wednesday, will compete with Jones for carries behind starting running back Marion Barber.
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The Dallas Cowboys' arrived in Oxnard, CA late Thursday afternoon to begin preparations for the 2008 season. The Cowboys are coming off their most successful regular season since 1992, equaling last season's record of 13-3 and winning their first of three Super Bowls in the 90s.
But the season as a whole can't be deemed a success because of the Cowboys' inability to win a playoff game for the 11th consecutive year, the longest stretch in the organization's illustrious history. Dallas' divisional round loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants left a bitter taste in the mouths of everyone associated with this proud franchise.
With an active off-season that saw Dallas owner Jerry Jones spend a ton of money resigning veterans Terrell Owens, Flozell Adams, Marion Barber, Ken Hamlin and Terence Newman, the Cowboys are the odds-on favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLIII.
Dallas is one of the few teams in the NFL that doesn't have personnel issues, other than WR Terry Glenn. While Glenn's status remains uncertain, the Cowboys have gone about the business of professional football in a workman-like manner.
The draft choices from this past April are slowly being signed to deals and the starters and back-ups at every position have been identified. Other than a few positions where the team would like to add some depth, the Cowboys are primed for another run.
Like them, love them or hate them, this is truly America's Team. These are the darlings of the NFL, the team that appears every Sunday in a virtually guaranteed televised game and every Thanksgiving Day.
There's no denying the sense of urgency surrounding this team. With some of the veterans like Owens, Adams, Greg Ellis and newly acquired LB Zach Thomas, the window of opportunity is open for the moment. That window begins to close with each passing season, and the veterans understand the window can close and remain shut past a certain point.
While the pressure of getting to the Super Bowl may be greater than in past seasons, this is a team, and an organization, that has become accustomed to high expectations.
"Well, that's why we're in football, we enjoy that, especially with the Dallas Cowboys," said head coach Wade Phillips. "There are high expectations here every year and for a long time. That is not unusual for the Dallas Cowboys, certainly, because of the past and the recent past, you know going back to last year."
"Those kind of things are expected, but we enjoy that. We enjoy coaching, we enjoy the team, and we are looking forward to the things that we can do, and that's the way the players are."
Training camp is officially set to begin Friday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. (PDT) with a single practice. From that point forward, everything this team does will be focused upon making the long journey to the ultimate prize, and they'll do so under intense media scrutiny.
After all, this is America's Team.
In Other Cowboy News
The Cowboys have agreed to terms with second-round pick Martellus Bennett on a four-year contract.
Coming to terms with Bennett leaves only first-round picks Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins unsigned, and the team hopes have both players signed in time for Friday's opening training camp practice at 2:15 p.m. (PDT).
The Cowboys also have reached agreements with sixth-round pick Erik Walden, fifth-round pick Orlando Scandrick and fourth-round pick Tashard Choice.
Bennett is expected to replace Anthony Fasano as Jason Witten's complement in two-tight end sets. Choice, who agreed to terms late Wednesday, will compete with Jones for carries behind starting running back Marion Barber.
NIKEiD Custom Shoes. Match your style or your team. Only at NIKEiD.
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