Cowboys are still 'America's Team' in mechandising

Newsmakers
At least it's not 'U.S. Cowboys'
Chronicle News Services

How do we know this? Follow the money.

According to a Harris Poll last month, the Cowboys are No. 1 among adults who follow professional football. (The Colts, Steelers, Packers and Bears follow.)

And you thought the Patriots were America's Team? What have they done lately, besides win three Super Bowls in the last six years and go undefeated so far this season? (Yes, the Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl since 1996.)

But this "America's Team" thing is all about the ka-ching.

The NFL Shop, which is the NFL's online merchandise store, lists the Cowboys first in memorabilia sales, ahead of the Bears and Steelers.

The No. 9 jersey of Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is the top-selling jersey this year.

If you don't believe the cash register, believe this: Of the five most-watched regular season games on television in the last 20 years, the Cowboys played in four of them.

By the way, the term "America's Team," came from the Cowboys' 1979 highlight reel, when NFL Films executive Bob Ryan and then-Cowboys public-relations director Doug Todd were trying to come up with a moniker. They rejected "U.S. Cowboys," "Champions Die Hard" and "Cowboys a National Team."