The Red Zone Lounge

Posts Tagged ‘Dallas Cowboys’

The Cincinnati Bengals and former Dallas Cowboy Roy Williams, the free safety not the receiver, have agreed to terms to add to their rebuilding efforts.  Williams was released following the 2008 season by the Cowboys and will now join up with a familiar face.  Mike Zimmer, Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator, used to coach Williams while they were both in Dallas.  During that time, Williams had some of the best numbers of his career.

The terms of the deal aren’t yet known.  What is known is he will really add experience and talent to a struggling team looking for redemption.

Newly signed Buffalo Bills wideout Terrell Owens decided that the first scheduled function with his new team wasn’t important enought to grace with his presence.  Owens, recently released from the Cowboys after poisoning their roster over the last couple seasons, signed with the Bills less then a week after his departure from Dallas.

Bills head coach Dick Jauron had hoped that T.O. would attend his first workout with his new team but isn’t disgruntled with the absense.

“Terrell in the past has not been involved in all of those things,” Jauron said recently when asked if Owens would be in attendance. “My hope is that he’s here. He knows how important it is for us, particularly in his first year with us.”

With their star runningback still looking iffy for Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys are trying to bolster the depth chart at that position.  The Cowboys signed halfback Alonzo Coleman from their practice squad on Friday to be prepared in case Marion Barber isn’t ready to go against the Steelers.  Barber dislocated his right pinkie toe last week against the Seahawks.

The Cowboys already had three backs in Barber and their two backups rookies Felix Jones and Tashard Choice.  Jones is injured and out for season only leaving Choice who only has 147 yards over 30 carries on the season.  Adding Coleman refreshes their backup plan.

There is no word yet on Barber’s status, whether or not he’ll be ready to go against the mighty first ranked Steelers defense.  He will be a game time decision, and will be devastating to the Cowboy offense if he has to sit out.

The Dallas Cowboys some more good news Wednesday with the reinstatement of Adam “Pacman” Jones.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Jones just weeks after suspending him indefinitely on October 14th following an incident involving his security guard in a hotel bathroom.  Jones had only been back in the NFL for the 2008 season following a suspension for the entire 2007 season.

Jerry Jones, owner of the Cowboys, made the announcement Wednesday that the troubled cornerback was being reinstated into the NFL but will miss the next two weeks.  He will play next December 7th at Heinz field against the Steelers.  This decision by the NFL makes it a six-game suspension and his return will definitely help the struggling Cowboys. 

Jones received his second suspension after getting into a fight with his bodyguard in a Dallas hotel bathroom.  Police were called to the scene and alcohol was apparently involved in the situation but no police report was filed.  With both Tony Romo and Jones back in the lineup, the Cowboys hope to keep winning and return to their beginning of the season form.

Tony Romo’s return may be just what the Cowboys need to get back on track.  Romo has been out of the lineup with a pinkie injury for the last  four weeks, and during his absense the Cowboys are 1-2.  Their downward spiral has put them in third place in the NFC East and could continue unless things get turned around.

The turnaround may not be complete with just the return of Romo, as they were 1-2 the last three games he played before the injury as well.  The defense is definitely struggling and will hurth them even if the offense gets a jumpstart with their star quarterback leading them.  Having Romo will definitely help, but he is not yet 100%.

“It’s getting better,” Romo said Wednesday. “Every day it gets a little better and I’m confident that I’ll feel pretty good for the game.”

His throwing is pretty much right on but still has pain in the little finger.  Especially during snaps, Romo feels a “little bit of pain” but also says it feels similar to a bruise and you just play through it.  The Cowboys play Sunday night against the Redskins and will be a glimpse into how their future will pan out for the rest of the season.  Romo will be held responsible for turning around the stalling team whether its fair or not.

Good news for Cowboys fans, Tony Romo returned to practice Wednesday.  After injuring his pinkie on his throwing hand, Romo missed three games.  During those three games Brad Johnson, the veteran backup to Romo, started and led to the Cowboys to a disappointing 1-2 record.  The Cowboys sit at 5-4, last in the NFC East.  The Cowboys seem to be on a downward spiral and everyone is holding their breath to see if Romo’s return can turn that all around.

The collective exhale may come November 11th when the Cowboys play the Redskins.  Romois expected to play week 11 following this bye week, now that he is almost 100%.  The Cowboys were picked to win the league this year, because of the level of talent on their team.  That pick is looking farther and farther from the truth each week with every loss.  Now that Romo will be back, having more mobility than Brad Johnson, he may be able to lead the Cowboys back on the right track.  If they don’t soon, the season might be lost.  And you can’t even blame that on Jessica Simpson.

The St. Louis Rams had a return to glory game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.  The Rams put up more points in their 34-14 win then their first three games this season.  Three Rams’ touchdowns came in the first quarter alone.  Steven Jackson ran for 160 yards and 3 touchdowns over 25 carries.  Quarterback Marc Bulger was near perfect with his 14 completions of 19 passes, 173 yards and one touchdown.

The St. Louis defense also shined Sunday forcing three turnovers.  The Dallas Cowboys, led by aging veteran Brad Johnson, looked chaotic.  They just couldn’t get much going on offense, Johnson looking very rusty and had fans chanting for the injured Romo on the sidelines.  Romo had traveled to St. Louis and dressed for the game, but gave fans a false hope, having told coaches he wasn’t ready to play this week prior to the game.  Marion Barber had a good game despite the loss, carrying the ball 18 times for 100 yards and one touchdown.

The problems surrounding the Cowboys right now seem to be getting the better of them but all things aside, they remain a Super Bowl contender.  The level of talent on that team is outstanding, especially with Demarcus Ware recording a sack for the 10th consecutive game.  The Cowboys just need to hold on, once Romo is back, they can regain their momentum and continue on to a winning season.

The Rams are beginning to look like the team that they should be, with all the offensive talent that they possess.  The true test will be to see if they can continue this win streak against the Patriots next week and throughout the season.  They are capable of a winning season and a playoff run but the real breakout season would be next year following a year of work under new head coach Jim Haslett.  This was the second win in the first two games under Haslett’s reign following the firing of Scott Linehan.

After injuring his pinkie in the overtime loss to the Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo may play on Sunday.  Romo has been pleading with head coach Wade Phillips to play on Sunday in St. Louis.  Phillips and owner Jerry Jones discussed while Romo participated in a limited practice, throwing some passes while his finger was splinted and taped up.  Apparently, with all the hanicaps on his hand, Romo can still get the ball into his receivers hands very well.  Throwing is all he did, however, and thats not the worst of his worries of reinjuring his pinkie.  Handoffs and snaps could tweak his pinkie more, which could cause him to be out even longer, going on eight weeks.

This all comes down to risk and reward.  Sure Romo may want to play and may be able to play but it won’t be 100%.  Phillips should just let Romo heal, and start Brad Johnson, the 40-year old veteran, who is capable of pulling off a win.  Although Johnson hasn’t started in the NFL since 2006 when he was with the Minnesota Vikings, the receiving corps he has around him and the reliablilty of Marion Barber almost gives him that win.  They should really just let Romo heal up and come back better than ever.

Phillips has said he won’t wait until Sunday to decide on Romo, also saying that he doesn’t need to go through a whole practice Friday in order to start.  It’s all up in the air but that decision will be made very soon.  If the Cowboys are smart, they will go into Sundays games against the Rams with Johnson at the helm, and Romo on the sidelines.  Worst case senario, if Johnson isn’t doing well, Romo can step in.

The Dallas Cowboys took another devastating hit Monday, following their big loss to the Arizona Cardinals.  Tony Romo, star quarterback for the Cowboys, has a broken pinkie on his throwing hand.  He is expected to miss at least four weeks.  The injury came during the 30-24 overtime loss to the Cardinals Sunday.

Without Romo, the Cowboys will be led by 40-year old veteran Brad Johnson.  Johnson is an established name, winning a Super Bowl at the helm in Tampa Bay but has not started a game in the NFL since 2006 when he was with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Cowboys, who started 3-0 this season have lost 2 of their last three to go 4-2.  They are seriously struggling and face a Rams team next week who stunned the league with an upset of the Redskins in Washington.  This sets the stage for another possible upset in St. Louis week 7.