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Cowboys scouting report: America's Team? Jones just likes being America's Story
by Tony Grossi Tuesday September 02, 2008, 8:50 PM
Eric Gay/AP file photoIf it generally seems like Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips is always a bit out of focus when the media turns its gaze on Dallas, that doesn't bother owner Jerry Jones one bit.
In his 20th year of ownership of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones would seem to have it all -- again.
His team revolves in its own galaxy of super-celebrityhood, where the line between sports and entertainment is non-existent. His quarterback, Tony Romo, is either dating Jessica Simpson or reconciling with former girlfriend Carrie Underwood, depending on your supermarket tabloid of choice.
Jones is a year away from moving into a new, $1.1 billion stadium, which will catapult the Cowboys into New York Yankees-like revenue stratosphere.
And Jones has an easy-going coach in Wade Phillips, who is happy to retreat to the background and let the owner/president/general manager soak up the headlines.
While some owners like to consider themselves their team's general manager, Jones has the title to prove it.
The fact that the Cowboys are on the verge of a Super Bowl-or-bust tour is sweet icing on his cake. Life hasn't been this good since Jones teamed with Jimmy Johnson (and then Barry Switzer) for three Super Bowl championships in four seasons in the 1990s.
"I think the key is I feel good about our quarterback," Jones said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. "When you have quarterbacking that you feel gives you a chance to win, that causes me to stretch out, to do some higher risk things in terms of other personnel moves. I felt like that when we had Troy Aikman in place."
Tony Gutierrez/Associated PressAdam Jones would just as soon retire his "Pacman" public persona, while the Cowboys are hoping a year's suspension hasn't weakened his cornerback skills.
The most recent "higher risk" move Jones made was trading for cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones while he was still under NFL suspension. The suspension has been lifted, freeing Jones to play Sunday when the Cowboys meet the Browns in Cleveland Browns Stadium in the season opener.
Romo's 13-3 record last year matched Aikman's best mark as Cowboys quarterback. He also set Dallas records with 36 touchdown passes and 4,211 passing yards -- at the same time showing up more often in the National Enquirer for his romantic flings than any pro athlete.
"I like it," Jones said of Romo's fame. "I think it really adds sizzle to the team to transcend the sports pages. I've always thought that. I've never one time thought that it influenced a player [negatively] one play."
Celebrityhood enhances the value of America's Team, Jones believes, and that is what the Dallas Cowboys are all about.
"I think it broadens the interest in the team," he said. "They can be fans of football that like to see us get beat. That's fine. But it certainly creates interest. In this particular case, the Cowboys have become the most-watched sports team. Period. A lot of that has to do with interest in the celebrity."
Tony Grossi's Scouting Report
Browns vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, 4:15 p.m., in Cleveland Browns Stadium
Record: 13-3 (in 2007)
Last game: Beat Minnesota, 16-10, in Irving, Texas, on Aug. 28.
Coach: Wade Phillips, 13-4, second year; 61-42 overall.
Series record: Browns lead, 17-11, counting postseason.
Last meeting: Cowboys won, 19-12, Sept. 19, 2004, in Irving.
League rankings: Offense was third overall (17th rush, fourth pass), defense was ninth overall (sixth rush, 13th pass) and turnover differential was plus-5 (2007).
Matt Slocum/Associated PressTony Romo leads one of the NFL's most versatile offenses while being one of its most eligible bachelors.
Offensive overview: When everything's going right, the Cowboys look like the Browns on a good day. They like to run the ball to set up a play-action passing game that pushes the ball vertically, not horizontally. Their 1-2 receiving punch is a dangerous, physical receiver (Terrell Owens) and an athletic tight end (Jason Witten). Their Pro Bowl quarterback (Tony Romo) emerged from a modest background and had a breakout year in 2007. Sound familiar? One change this season is making bruising runner Marion Barber their feature back. However, with injuries to an already suspect receiving corps, they may incorporate rookie change-of-pace back Felix Jones into the passing game. Setting it all up is a huge offensive line with Pro Bowlers at left tackle (Flozell Adams), center (Andre Gurode) and right guard (Leonard Davis).
Defensive overview: Their defense is aggressive, stops the run, and attacks quarterbacks with a pair of fast outside linebackers. They're not afraid to blitz or play man coverage in the secondary. Yes, this is not the same brand of 3-4 played by the Browns. Bookend rushers DeMarcus Ware (14 sacks in 2007) and Greg Ellis (12.5) can change games by themselves, as long as opponents are having trouble running the ball. The other strength of the defense is the secondary, featuring four first-round draft choices and one in the second. The unit is so deep that one former No. 1, safety Roy Williams, may get more bench time as ex-Browns cornerback Anthony Henry takes on new responsibilities in the "dime" defense, allowing Adam (Pacman) Jones to move outside. Henry also could be assigned exclusively to Kellen Winslow in multiple-receiver formations.
Special teams overview: As a rookie, kicker Nick Folk was strong and accurate. He missed only once in preseason, from 50 yards. Punter Mat McBriar was fourth last year with a 47.1-yard gross average and has a knack for hard to handle, end-over-end kicks. The return units appear in good shape with Adam Jones handling punts and rookie Felix Jones slated to return kickoffs. The coverage teams have been a big question mark, hastening the return of Keith Davis this week after his release from Miami.
Players to watch:
Quarterback Tony Romo: The undrafted free agent-turned-celebrity quarterback has a big arm, a trophy girlfriend in Jessica Simpson, a new $67.5 million contract -- everything but a win in a big game.
Receiver Terrell Owens: The last time he visited Cleveland with Philadelphia, he hit the Browns for 109 yards and a pair of touchdown catches. Remember the stadium banner: "T.O. has B.O."?
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware: Bill Parcells' No. 1 lasting contribution to the team, his 25.5 sacks the past two years are second-most among NFL linebackers.
Injury report: WR Miles Austin (knee), WR Sam Hurd (ankle), LG Kyle Kosier (foot) and OLB Anthony Spencer (knee) are out.
Small world: Cowboys cornerback Anthony Henry was a Browns fourth-round draft pick in 2001 and played with them through 2004. ... Cowboys secondary coach Dave Campo was Browns defensive coordinator in 2003 and '04. ... Cowboys defensive line coach Todd Grantham was Browns defensive coordinator in 2005 through '07.
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by Tony Grossi Tuesday September 02, 2008, 8:50 PM
Eric Gay/AP file photoIf it generally seems like Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips is always a bit out of focus when the media turns its gaze on Dallas, that doesn't bother owner Jerry Jones one bit.In his 20th year of ownership of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones would seem to have it all -- again.
His team revolves in its own galaxy of super-celebrityhood, where the line between sports and entertainment is non-existent. His quarterback, Tony Romo, is either dating Jessica Simpson or reconciling with former girlfriend Carrie Underwood, depending on your supermarket tabloid of choice.
Jones is a year away from moving into a new, $1.1 billion stadium, which will catapult the Cowboys into New York Yankees-like revenue stratosphere.
And Jones has an easy-going coach in Wade Phillips, who is happy to retreat to the background and let the owner/president/general manager soak up the headlines.
While some owners like to consider themselves their team's general manager, Jones has the title to prove it.
The fact that the Cowboys are on the verge of a Super Bowl-or-bust tour is sweet icing on his cake. Life hasn't been this good since Jones teamed with Jimmy Johnson (and then Barry Switzer) for three Super Bowl championships in four seasons in the 1990s.
"I think the key is I feel good about our quarterback," Jones said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. "When you have quarterbacking that you feel gives you a chance to win, that causes me to stretch out, to do some higher risk things in terms of other personnel moves. I felt like that when we had Troy Aikman in place."
Tony Gutierrez/Associated PressAdam Jones would just as soon retire his "Pacman" public persona, while the Cowboys are hoping a year's suspension hasn't weakened his cornerback skills.The most recent "higher risk" move Jones made was trading for cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones while he was still under NFL suspension. The suspension has been lifted, freeing Jones to play Sunday when the Cowboys meet the Browns in Cleveland Browns Stadium in the season opener.
Romo's 13-3 record last year matched Aikman's best mark as Cowboys quarterback. He also set Dallas records with 36 touchdown passes and 4,211 passing yards -- at the same time showing up more often in the National Enquirer for his romantic flings than any pro athlete.
"I like it," Jones said of Romo's fame. "I think it really adds sizzle to the team to transcend the sports pages. I've always thought that. I've never one time thought that it influenced a player [negatively] one play."
Celebrityhood enhances the value of America's Team, Jones believes, and that is what the Dallas Cowboys are all about.
"I think it broadens the interest in the team," he said. "They can be fans of football that like to see us get beat. That's fine. But it certainly creates interest. In this particular case, the Cowboys have become the most-watched sports team. Period. A lot of that has to do with interest in the celebrity."
Tony Grossi's Scouting Report
Browns vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, 4:15 p.m., in Cleveland Browns Stadium
Record: 13-3 (in 2007)
Last game: Beat Minnesota, 16-10, in Irving, Texas, on Aug. 28.
Coach: Wade Phillips, 13-4, second year; 61-42 overall.
Series record: Browns lead, 17-11, counting postseason.
Last meeting: Cowboys won, 19-12, Sept. 19, 2004, in Irving.
League rankings: Offense was third overall (17th rush, fourth pass), defense was ninth overall (sixth rush, 13th pass) and turnover differential was plus-5 (2007).
Matt Slocum/Associated PressTony Romo leads one of the NFL's most versatile offenses while being one of its most eligible bachelors.Offensive overview: When everything's going right, the Cowboys look like the Browns on a good day. They like to run the ball to set up a play-action passing game that pushes the ball vertically, not horizontally. Their 1-2 receiving punch is a dangerous, physical receiver (Terrell Owens) and an athletic tight end (Jason Witten). Their Pro Bowl quarterback (Tony Romo) emerged from a modest background and had a breakout year in 2007. Sound familiar? One change this season is making bruising runner Marion Barber their feature back. However, with injuries to an already suspect receiving corps, they may incorporate rookie change-of-pace back Felix Jones into the passing game. Setting it all up is a huge offensive line with Pro Bowlers at left tackle (Flozell Adams), center (Andre Gurode) and right guard (Leonard Davis).
Defensive overview: Their defense is aggressive, stops the run, and attacks quarterbacks with a pair of fast outside linebackers. They're not afraid to blitz or play man coverage in the secondary. Yes, this is not the same brand of 3-4 played by the Browns. Bookend rushers DeMarcus Ware (14 sacks in 2007) and Greg Ellis (12.5) can change games by themselves, as long as opponents are having trouble running the ball. The other strength of the defense is the secondary, featuring four first-round draft choices and one in the second. The unit is so deep that one former No. 1, safety Roy Williams, may get more bench time as ex-Browns cornerback Anthony Henry takes on new responsibilities in the "dime" defense, allowing Adam (Pacman) Jones to move outside. Henry also could be assigned exclusively to Kellen Winslow in multiple-receiver formations.
Special teams overview: As a rookie, kicker Nick Folk was strong and accurate. He missed only once in preseason, from 50 yards. Punter Mat McBriar was fourth last year with a 47.1-yard gross average and has a knack for hard to handle, end-over-end kicks. The return units appear in good shape with Adam Jones handling punts and rookie Felix Jones slated to return kickoffs. The coverage teams have been a big question mark, hastening the return of Keith Davis this week after his release from Miami.
Players to watch:
Quarterback Tony Romo: The undrafted free agent-turned-celebrity quarterback has a big arm, a trophy girlfriend in Jessica Simpson, a new $67.5 million contract -- everything but a win in a big game.
Receiver Terrell Owens: The last time he visited Cleveland with Philadelphia, he hit the Browns for 109 yards and a pair of touchdown catches. Remember the stadium banner: "T.O. has B.O."?
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware: Bill Parcells' No. 1 lasting contribution to the team, his 25.5 sacks the past two years are second-most among NFL linebackers.
Injury report: WR Miles Austin (knee), WR Sam Hurd (ankle), LG Kyle Kosier (foot) and OLB Anthony Spencer (knee) are out.
Small world: Cowboys cornerback Anthony Henry was a Browns fourth-round draft pick in 2001 and played with them through 2004. ... Cowboys secondary coach Dave Campo was Browns defensive coordinator in 2003 and '04. ... Cowboys defensive line coach Todd Grantham was Browns defensive coordinator in 2005 through '07.
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