Cowboys Football Fun 

Cowboys eyeing disgruntled WR?

Whither exiled wide receiver Terrell Owens, who will almost certainly be released next week by the Philadelphia Eagles, before the first $5 million installment of two bonuses totaling $7.5 million come due?
It's still a long shot, but don't rule out the Dallas Cowboys, a team whose curiosity level has risen at least a little bit in the past few weeks.

Coach Bill Parcells has always loved players who work hard and, for whatever problems Owens had off the field during his stops in San Francisco and Philadelphia, no one has ever questioned his unwavering work ethic. Even in practices, Owens goes hard every snap. As for the baggage he brings with him, well, Parcells has dealt with such situations in the past. And, let's face it, Dallas could use another difference-maker on the offensive side of the ball, and Owens still has big-play skills.

Cowboys Story

Dallas is one of the most successful franchises in NFL history, having appeared in eight Super Bowls -- more than any other team. The Cowboys won five of these games, a record matched only by the San Francisco 49ers. Tom Landry, one of the most successful coaches in professional football history, led the club to two Super Bowl victories during the 1970s, with teams starring quarterback Roger Staubach. Dressed in a jacket, tie, and trademark hat, Landry was a familiar sight on the Dallas Cowboys sideline from 1960 to 1988. During his 29-year career the Hall of Fame strategist guided the Cowboys to five Super Bowl appearances and compiled 270 career wins.

Under head coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer, the team won three Super Bowls during the 1990s, with lineups featuring quarterback Troy Aikman and running back Emmitt Smith.


The Cowboys joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1960. During its first season, the team failed to win a single game. In 1965, under Landry, the Cowboys earned their first of nine consecutive trips to the playoffs. Quarterback Don Meredith, receiver Bob Hayes, and running back Dan Reeves propelled Dallas to consecutive NFL Championship Games in 1966 and 1967. Both years, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Cowboys and went on to win the Super Bowl.


Dallas reached Super Bowl V in 1971 after defeating the Houston Oilers and the Detroit Lions in the playoffs. The NFL crown evaded the Cowboys, however, as they lost the game on a last-minute field goal by the Baltimore Colts. The franchise won its first Super Bowl in 1972, besting the Miami Dolphins 24-3.


Dallas entered a rebuilding phase in the late 1980s, and after three consecutive losing seasons, Landry retired in 1989. Landry's replacement was former University of Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson. After two losing seasons he guided Dallas back to the postseason in 1991. Johnson earned coach of the year honors in 1990 for his rebuilding success. Dallas captured back-to-back Super Bowls in 1993 and 1994, routing the Buffalo Bills in both games.


After a disagreement with team owner Jerry Jones, Johnson left the Cowboys. Former University of Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer then headed the team from 1994 to 1997. Switzer guided the franchise to a fifth Super Bowl success with a victory over the Steelers in 1996, and the Cowboys became the first team to win three Super Bowls in four seasons. However, in the late 1990s the Cowboys struggled and had little postseason success.



1971 V Lost to Baltimore Colts, 16-13
1972 VI Defeated Miami Dolphins, 24-3
1976 X Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-17
1978 XII Defeated Denver Broncos, 27-10
1979 XIII Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 35-31
1993 XXVII Defeated Buffalo Bills, 52-17
1994 XXVIII Defeated Buffalo Bills, 30-13
1996 XXX Defeated Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17

Cowboys get their offensive linemen

A year ago, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones opened free agency and his wallet by signing three players to deals that included signing bonuses totaling $28 million.

This year, the Cowboys were a little more reserved, but they were able to land their top offensive line target, signing Kyle Kosier on Saturday to a five-year, $15 million deal that included a $5 million signing bonus.
They also re-signed center Andre Gurode to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, including a $500,000 signing bonus, and had hopes of signing Jacksonville linebacker Akin Ayodele.

"He's really a Parcells' kind of guy," said Kosier's agent, Ken Zuckerman. "He was a Cowboys fan growing up and really likes the tradition. Plus, he wants to go to a team that's a contender for a Super Bowl."

Kosier, 27, started 11 games at left guard last season for Detroit and has played every spot on the line except center during his career. That, and the size of Kosier's contract, means , the future of Larry Allen could be in question.

Allen is due a $2 million roster bonus on April 1 and is scheduled to count $7.5 million against the cap in 2006.

His agent, Marvin Demoff, said recently he has not heard from the Cowboys about possibly restructuring the contract.

"If they want to sign someone else instead of Larry and release him, he'll end up playing somewhere else," Demoff said. "Players have only so many options."

The look of the Cowboys' offensive line in 2006 could be much different. Left tackle Flozell Adams is expected back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, while Kosier and Gurode could be the left guard and center. That would leave Marco Rivera and possibly a high-draft pick playing at right tackle instead of Rob Petitti, last season's starter.

Gurode, who received interest from San Francisco and Atlanta, started two games last year – both at right guard while Rivera was out with a neck injury. He shared time at center with Al Johnson on occasion, and Parcells has said he believes Gurode's best position is center.

"We're very enthused about the opportunity to return to the Cowboys' organization," said Gurode's agent, Kennard McGuire. "It presents a chance to finish what we started."

Tight end Dan Campbell, considered a strong run blocker, will visit with the New York Jets today and Detroit on Monday. The Cowboys have expressed interest in Seattle tight end Ryan Hannam and could bring him in for a visit next week.

Defensively, the Cowboys continued discussions with the agent for linebacker Scott Fujita, but they also were taking a hard look at Ayodele, who played at Irving MacArthur.

Ayodele has two other visits planned, but the Cowboys were hoping to take him off the market as soon as possible. Fujita has visits planned to New Orleans, Jacksonville and Oakland.

The Cowboys gave up two draft picks to acquire Fujita from Kansas City last summer, and he took over the strong-side linebacker spot when Al Singleton was lost with a shoulder injury. He finished last year with 53 tackles and two sacks in eight starts.

Ayodele, a converted defensive end, had 70 tackles and 2 ½ sacks in eight starts last year for Jacksonville, but he would have to make the switch to the 3-4 scheme.