NFL.com: Ware believes dedicated Cowboys are poised for breakout year

[Gemini Dolly]

Two years ago, the most newsworthy team in the NFL -- the Dallas Cowboys -- had an incredibly quiet offseason and went on to win the NFC East and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs before losing to Minnesota. The hoopla resurfaced with a new stadium and a barnstorming tour in the preseason, and Dallas won just six games, with coach Wade Phillips getting fired in the process.

Things are relatively quiet again in Dallas. The lockout has smothered a lot of the typical hype, but the Eagles, Giants and Commanders seem to be the center of attention in the division. Could Dallas be poised to get back on track?

In their latest "Cover Two Podcast," Bucky Brooks and Steve Wyche dig deep into the NFC East with Chris Cooley and DeMarcus Ware. Cooley answers if Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco or Plaxico Burress would be a good fit for the Commanders. Ware talks about the Cowboys' offseason commitment to player-run workouts.

All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware said the signs are pointed that way. Every player under contract has attended player-led workouts. The fact that so many players followed the organized efforts of quarterback Tony Romo, tight end Jason Witten, linebackers Bradie James, Keith Brooking and Ware also shows that there isn't a leadership void as so many people suspect.

"If you look at our team, it's a whole bunch of leaders in general, not a guy like Ray Lewis who takes over a team or Peyton Manning who takes over the team," Ware said on Tuesday's "Cover Two Podcast". "It's a whole team thing. Romo's one of the guys. We had a meeting and said, 'Hey, we have to have OTAs. We have to bring all the guys together,' and the guys listened. That's what leadership is about, guys listening to guys who have been there long enough and sort of established themselves.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8206b568/article/ware-believes-dedicated-cowboys-are-poised-for-breakout-year

 

[Future]

I feel like I read this article every season. It's always nice, but I'd like to see something a little different.

And, IMO, to not have one specific leader (he mentions Ray Lewis) you don't have any leaders. It's like that old saying, if you don't have one starter, you don't have any starters.

 

[Fletch]

Lovin it GeminiDolly!! Under the radar and ready to cash checks and snap necks!

 

[Hostile]

Dallas, San Diego, Detroit, Oakland, and St. Louis.


My picks for non playoff teams from last year that I think get there this year.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Dallas, San Diego, Detroit, Oakland, and St. Louis.


My picks for non playoff teams from last year that I think get there this year.

Three of the five I'll say yes... Oakland and Detroit are still a year away because of the QB situation.

 

[CowboyMike]

Two years ago, the most newsworthy team in the NFL -- the Dallas Cowboys -- had an incredibly quiet offseason and went on to win the NFC East and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs before losing to Minnesota. The hoopla resurfaced with a new stadium and a barnstorming tour in the preseason, and Dallas won just six games, with coach Wade Phillips getting fired in the process.

Um... the first year in the new stadium was 2009, when we made the playoffs, beat the Eagles, and lost in Minnesota. Not our 6-10 season from last year.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Um... the first year in the new stadium was 2009, when we made the playoffs, beat the Eagles, and lost in Minnesota. Not our 6-10 season from last year.

Who cares about facts... :laugh2:

 

[BIGDen]

I feel like I read this article every season. It's always nice, but I'd like to see something a little different.

And, IMO, to not have one specific leader (he mentions Ray Lewis) you don't have any leaders. It's like that old saying, if you don't have one starter, you don't have any starters.

That's just nonsense. I've played team sports my whole life and very often there are a few guys on a team that take on leadership roles - not just one. Especially in football where the team is so large and there is an offense and a defense. Pretty sure guys like Irvin and Aikman were considered leaders and that was more than one guy on a team. Witten and Romo on offense, James, Ware and Brooking on defense. Seems reasonable to me. The one clear-cut leader each team needs to have is not a player. It's the head coach and I think we have one who will prove to be capable.

 

[CATCH17]

Go do something in the post season.


We know you had a great offseason.. blah blah.

 

[casmith07]

Go do something in the post season.


We know you had a great offseason.. blah blah.

Eagles 14
Cowboys 34

D. Ware - 2 tackles, 1 assisted, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble.

Please, Catch, do us all a favor and shut the hell up.

 

[Aikmaniac]

Dallas, San Diego, Detroit, Oakland, and St. Louis.


My picks for non playoff teams from last year that I think get there this year.

I'd replace Detroit with the Bucs (even though their schedule is more difficult than last season.)

 

[Mansta54]

Eagles 14
Cowboys 34

D. Ware - 2 tackles, 1 assisted, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble.

Please, Catch, do us all a favor and shut the hell up.

Amen!!

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Go do something in the post season.


We know you had a great offseason.. blah blah.

Eagles 14
Cowboys 34

D. Ware - 2 tackles, 1 assisted, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble.

Please, Catch, do us all a favor and shut the hell up.

Owned....

 

[LandryFan]

Um... the first year in the new stadium was 2009, when we made the playoffs, beat the Eagles, and lost in Minnesota. Not our 6-10 season from last year.

And how many punts have hit the giant screen?

 

[CATCH17]

Eagles 14
Cowboys 34D. Ware - 2 tackles, 1 assisted, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble.

Please, Catch, do us all a favor and shut the hell up.

Yay..

 

[windward]

Dallas, San Diego, Detroit, Oakland, and St. Louis.


My picks for non playoff teams from last year that I think get there this year.

Which five do you have missing it? I'm just curious.

BTW I like these types of predictions as opposed to the annuals, where they pretty much regurgitate last years playoff teams, but in a slightly different order.

Plus your picks are more in line with historical turnover of playoff teams from one year to the next.

 

[Hostile]

Which five do you have missing it? I'm just curious.

BTW I like these types of predictions as opposed to the annuals, where they pretty much regurgitate last years playoff teams, but in a slightly different order.

Plus your picks are more in line with historical turnover of playoff teams from one year to the next.

Kansas City and Pittsburgh in the AFC. Yes, I think the Steelers miss out.

Chicago, Seattle, and Philly in the NFC.

 

[The Emperor]

Eagles 14
Cowboys 34

D. Ware - 2 tackles, 1 assisted, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble.

Please, Catch, do us all a favor and shut the hell up.

I love you.

 

[elcowboi]

It almost sounds like the same song and dance but these players are meeting on their own. To me that's huge. Especially reading that all the signed players showed up. Some guys like to work out on their own. This kinda forced the players that do that to come with the team.

I was reading where the Cowboys are one of a few teams that have the luxury of most of their players living in the general area. I really believe they needed to bond and have this time to mesh. Now I know its not the same as real OTA's but I think this will help in the long run.

 

[Doomsday101]

That's just nonsense. I've played team sports my whole life and very often there are a few guys on a team that take on leadership roles - not just one. Especially in football where the team is so large and there is an offense and a defense. Pretty sure guys like Irvin and Aikman were considered leaders and that was more than one guy on a team. Witten and Romo on offense, James, Ware and Brooking on defense. Seems reasonable to me. The one clear-cut leader each team needs to have is not a player. It's the head coach and I think we have one who will prove to be capable.

I agree. I think we have true leaders among the players and I think that showed in how they were able to bring so many into the OTA. As for the true leader of the team it is the man on the sideline who calls the shots. Face it the HC is the leader of any team he has full say of who stays who gets cut who plays and who sits. While guys like Troy and Irvin were leaders it was Jimmy Johnson who controled the fate of all players and set the agenda of what would be done and how things would be ran.