Cowboys Are Underdogs and That Suits Them Just Fine

When Dallas opens the preseason in Oakland on Thursday night, it'll do so as a team looking to prove itself.

The Cowboys are not thought of among the NFC's elite teams. These Cowboys believe they are underdogs -- which may be a good thing, because when they're the favorites, they struggle to handle it.

"They keep talking about those teams [Giants, Eagles and Cardinals]," linebacker DeMarcus Ware said of the NFC's expected powers. "That allows us to become the underdog -- I know that's not going to happen, but I hope it does."

There was a business-like feel to Dallas' training camp this year in San Antonio.

No more Terrell Owens, his black tights and loud cheers whenever he scored a touchdown. No more Pacman Jones talking smack to every wide receiver. No more Tank Johnson yelling at everybody who comes near him.

And of course, no more media circus.

"You guys don't have a story yet," wide receiver Patrick Crayton said to reporters about the lack of hype surrounding the Cowboys. "You guys will find something here in a little bit, bring up something in the past, stir up something and we're waiting on it and we're going to handle it a little differently this year. So if you guys are offended by us not answering your questions, don't be because it's your job not to be offended."

In 2007, the Cowboys finished 13-3, won the NFC East title and earned homefield advantage throughout the entire playoffs, but lost to the eventual-champion Giants in the divisional round.

Last season, in their final season at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys were the sexy pick to rep the NFC in the Super Bowl. They imploded, finished 9-7 and missed the postseason after losing 44-6 to Philadelphia in the regular-season finale.

But Wade Phillips kept his job as coach. Owner Jerry Jones said he didn't want change -- not like that. He didn't want to repeat his mistakes of the past, like when he let Chan Gailey go in 1999 after two seasons.

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Dallas Cowboys Photos

Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode, center left, lines up with teammates during the team's NFL football training camp in San Antonio, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Cowboys Stadium Photos

Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett talks to players during practice at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday August 12, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips talks to his team during practice at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday August 12, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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Dallas Cowboys Tony Romo is shown during practice at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday August 12, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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Dallas Cowboys running back Keon Lattimore (left) and fullback Asaph Schwapp (right) share a laugh during practice at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday August 12, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) blows a bubble during a walk through during the team's NFL football training camp in San Antonio, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips, left, and special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, right, look on during the team's NFL football training camp in San Antonio, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode, center left, lines up with teammates during the team's NFL football training camp in San Antonio, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips gives directions during the team's NFL football training camp in San Antonio, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) laughs during a walk through at the team's NFL football training camp in San Antonio, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Dallas Cowboys' Roy Williams smiles a he talks with the media following the team's NFL football training camp in San Antonio, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Jones still believes in Phillips' abilities as coach, yet has told Phillips that he has to be more assertive with his team and hold them more accountable than he did in the past. Jones said he expects the Cowboys to play to the level of their new stadium: Big.

In the process of remaking the Cowboys, though, Jones cut his best receiving threat, Owens, and second-best pass rusher, Greg Ellis. So the Cowboys will go into this season with a more youthful team and some unproven talent, despite playing in an experienced and competitive division.

Phillips said this is the youngest team he's had as a head coach, which he maintains is a good thing. He justifies that by arguing that he'd rather teach younger guys, instead of asking established veterans to conform to his ways.

Zach Thomas was brought in as a inside linebacker last year, but didn't like Phillips' scheme or the Cowboys' drama. So, Thomas was sent packing. In came Keith Brooking from Atlanta, who said he loves Phillips' 3-4 attack, and how Phillips deals with players.

"He treats you like a man," Brooking said. "His scheme and his way of doing things helps everybody get better. I had my best years in the league under Wade."

The Cowboys are hoping Phillips can still have the same positive effect on the current roster.

This current group doesn't want the attention associated with being the favorites -- something teams like the Giants relish -- but it's impossible for Dallas to completely escape the spotlight. New York's Justin Tuck, for one, has already said he can't wait for the Giants-Cowboys game in Week 2 that will open Dallas' new stadium.

With Jones' players saying being the underdog is important, the owner said he expects his team to perform like his new stadium: big.

"We're all flying under the radar, it's no big deal," receiver Roy Williams said. "For us, we know we'll get everybody's best on Sunday, and we have to perform."

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-13-2009 @ 4:42PM

ettev6791 said...

Cowboys suck!!

8-21-2009 @ 10:23AM

Glenn said...

To say that the Cowboys suck does indeed make you look like an idiot. Sure, they were 9-7 last year and 13-3 the year before....with no playoff wins either year. But, did they SUCK those years....or were they just not the best team in the league or even in their own division? (I mean, when the Patriots lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl, would you say that the Patriots SUCKED that year?) Who sucked those 2 years were Miami (1-15 two years ago) and Detroit (0-16 last year). Shoot, at least Dallas had a winning record those years, which means that they won more than they lost, which then means that they didn't suck.

I'm not even sure a team with a 7-9 or 6-10, or even a 5-11 record actually SUCKS. To truly suck, a team should be completely incompetent at all aspects of football...this would be reflected in not only their final records, but also points allowed/scored, total offense, total defense, etc.

I'm a life-long Cowboys fan. However, I'm also a practical realist. With our current roster of players and coaches, I'm expecting another mediocre year this year. Being a realist, I'll be very pleased with anything over 7 wins this year, but looking at our schedule, I can see only about 4 "should win" and 4 "could win" games this year. The remaining 8 games are definitely "should lose" games. Looking at the schedule for the remainder of the NFC East, I think the records will go Eagles 14-2, Giants 13-3, Redskins 5-11, and Cowboys anywhere from 4-12 and 8-8.

Go Cowboys! I'll root for you no matter how bad the season gets.

8-13-2009 @ 6:48PM

deitrade said...

yessssssss, Your momma LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL....Ok, now that we got that pleasantry out of the way.
Why do you Cowboy haters feel a need to come to a Cowboy blog and make yourself look like jerks or idiots? Are you so envious of the fact that the Cowboy Organization is "one" of the most winningest and followed teams in the NFL. It's not their fault that you probably root for a lesser Organization and even if you root for one of the "other" upper crust, it's not the Cowboys fault that they have followers ( fans) across the United States and foreign soil. But then on second thought, maybe you are so jealous you feel a need to take moronic pot shots.

8-13-2009 @ 8:53PM

Albert S. said...

Now how does saying cowboys suck make some one look like a jerk or idiot? I doubt very much anyone is envious of the choke artist organization . Now that is lol . You need to stop smoking that pot with your partner M. Irvin . And to say they are the most winningest , that one doesnt even warrent a reply . Talk about making your self look like an IDIOT.

8-16-2009 @ 9:58AM

samm said...

sorry man they havnt won anything since 1996 and becuz of that they let the steelers take over as the winningest franchise in the NFL...no 1 is jealous of the fact that u havnt won a playoff game since 96 and ur owner is so dumb that he let go of your best player and your best playmaker..i dont understand how cowgirl fans r so overconfident and have the nerve to trash other teams when they havnt won anything since 96...not even a single playoff game....there r ur stats u cocky pos

8-13-2009 @ 9:29PM

jayeric2 said...

Albert S. - The fact that you have to post that on a cowboy's blog does make you seem like a jerk and an idiot, or someone with no life to speak of. If you have something factual to rebuke the notion of the team being among the league's winningest be please present it (try statistics, just in case you're slow), otherwise try to squeeze off the excrement leaking from under your nose.COWBOY UP B.I.T.C.H.!!!

8-13-2009 @ 11:47PM

Yes Mr.Albert why not look up stats? Plus I SAID, "one of the most winningest" not the most. I am sure the Pittsburgh fans feel otherwise but not even the Steelers have gone 20 straight years of winning seasons. Eight Superbowls,five victories, countless NFC Championship games. Yeah yeah yeah, I am sure you keep looking at just the past 12 years and are relishing the fact that the Cowboys have been down but hey, I been a Cowboy fan since 1964. I have a lot of very good memories. Twelve years is a big drought but I know some teams who have gone a lot longer : )
Besides, my TEXAS LONGHORNS have taken up some slack in those 12 years.

8-14-2009 @ 1:43PM

superfan said...

i enjoyed yesterdays game between dumb and dumbmer,it was a great laugh,from begining to end ,im talking about the cowpaddies and the oaktown clowns,they belong in the same league,the W.F.L,the WOMENS FOOTBALL LEAGUE,HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8-14-2009 @ 6:22PM

.......the ONLY thing that sounds more lame is the DUMBEST fan sitting for 3 hours watching Dumb and Dumber just so that he can get a laugh.

8-17-2009 @ 10:47AM

Eddie said...

If the cowboys lost to oakland 31 to 10 there not going 2 have a winning season

8-17-2009 @ 10:48AM

i hate the cowboys

8-19-2009 @ 2:34AM

giggagee466 said...

the fact that u cowboy haters take time out to write or blog about the boys shows ur true feelings. theres a thin line between love and hate. u people walk on it whenever u speak ill against the boys. The fact that pewople expect the boys to win shows how the hatersw truly feel inside. G THOM...PHILADELPHIA

8-20-2009 @ 5:43PM

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL I love iT! My Boys have cleaned house and the dirt hungry news casters and sports channels no longer have excuses to make up stories. All is quiet in Valley Ranch. I see how the media has jumped all over Vick and then Farve to the point of over exposure that it's quickly become boring, repetitive news.
As for you SAMM, you go right ahead and believe your Steelers are so impressive just because they have 6 Superbowl victories. I myself am old enough to know that something WAS SPECIAL about the Steelers of old (( the sevenities ). I could not put my finger on why they looked so big and fast compared to most of all the other NFL teams back then. But when news of steriod use was beginning to surface in the eighties I began to suspect the Steelers were one of the first teams to be using. Ohhhhh don't get upset Sammy boy because your all world, all pro Webster and others later admitted to using. If you don't believe me read Websters book.

8-21-2009 @ 12:38AM

ok the steelers arent my team im just saying that because of the fact the cowboys have become the masters of choking with their man tony homo under center they havnt been able 2 win anything so becuz of tht the steelers r now the most succesful franchise in NFL history 4 now...and as for your comments about all the steroid use and tht bs...idk how old u r but i wasnt even close 2 born in the 70's so i wudnt know

8-21-2009 @ 8:18AM

Samm, all teams go into a choke mold eventually, some just longer than others. By far the Cowboys aren't even close to a lot of the other NFL teams when it comes to dry spells. You say you not old enough to recall the 60s when the Cowboys began, nor do you know of the 70s. The Packers were King in the 60s but the Cowboys were right behind them. The Stellers were King of the 70s but the Cowboys were right behind them. The Niners were Kings of the 80s but the Cowboys were there but fell off a bit for 4 years, then came the 90s. Guess who were the Kings of the 90s ( COWBOYS ) and if not for the beginning of the salary cap things could have been a whole lot better. Since the salary cap begin there have been no dominating Teams like the Packers,Steelers, Niners and Cowboys. You dare say New England and now Steelers. Steelers have a chance to be called dominant. However, like the Patriots, the 6 Superbowls that these two Teams have won since the salary cap could have gone either way. Look at the Patriots alone, the 4 Superbowls they have won were by an average of 3 points...3 POINTS. That is not dominating. The Steelers could have easily have lost against the Cardinals and Seattle. Yes, there are winning Organizations still but not dominating Ones. I admired the dominating ones and my Boys were there in the 60s,70s 80s and 90s....so I think I can bare a 12 year drought but yesssssssss, I am getting a little antsy for a playoff victory LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL