Lions and Vikings and Bears, Oh My! A Look into the Dallas Cowboys' 2010 NFL Schedule

BY Joseph Gaccione

So the 2010 NFL schedules were recently released, and oh boy, are my Dallas Cowboys in trouble. Or are they? It certainly is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you have the Cowboys coming off an impressive 2009 season. With their second division title win in 3 years and FINALLY a playoff win after a 12 year dry spell; not to mention Tony Romo stepping up and proving he is a quarterback capable of limiting his mistakes, the team finally showed signs of maturity and balance.

On the other hand, you have different fingers.

Just kidding.

But seriously, the other hand is holding a grenade.

The Cowboys face a BRUTAL schedule, with our difficulty percentage at .543, according to Yahoo Sports; this is the third toughest schedule for 2010. We have to play BOTH Super Bowl opponents, the New Orleans Saints (Thanksgiving) and the Indianapolis Colts within 11 days of each other. Plus, there's the rest of the AFC South as well as the always tough NFC North. Moreover, there is an underlying pressure on the Cowboys (as there usually is) to make it to the Super Bowl this year, because the game will be played at the new Dallas Stadium (The Dallas Palace). So with that, let's go through all 17 weeks briefly.

*Note: This is being written a day before the draft, so trade/draft pick implications will NOT be taken into effect here.

Presenting the 2010 Schedule, brought to you by:

Blogging the Boys

Week 1 @ Washington Redskins

-nothing like a division rival to start off the year. It will be interesting to see how Shanahan and McNabb have truly changed this team, specifically the offense, within a few months. Regardless, it's still Washington, and they always play the Cowboys tough.

Week 2 vs. Chicago Bears.

-Tough defensive game. Thankfully, it's not in Chicago, and it's not in December. Look for Julius Peppers hassling Romo, while Cutler tries to pick apart our secondary.

Week 3 @ Houston Texans

-The TEXAS BOWL! This should be a good game, offensively at least. Matt Schaub and his favorite target Andre Johnson will be tough to stop, but their run game should be containable.

Week 4 BYE

Week 5 vs. Tennessee Titans
-All about stopping Chris Johnson. Vince Young might throw some surprises, but I think the Titans will wear down our defensive line, or at least plan to. Shouldn't be too tough of a game.

WEEK 6 @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS

-the second most anticipated game. The Revenge Bowl. The Vikings embarrassed the Cowboys in the Divisional Round of the playoffs 34-3, and for the most part, they played well (defensively), while offensively (Favre), they were douche bags. While I'm disappointed we have to go to Minnesota again to play them, the chance to beat them is insatiable. Hopefully, if Favre comes back, he gets sacked at least 8 times and breaks his arm. Tough game all around. One week after Chris Johnson, we have to look out for Adrian Peterson.

Week 7 vs. NY Giants

-I'd like to see us beat the Giants at least once this year. Last year, we let them beat us twice, but this time at home, I see us coming out of the gate and laying a smackdown.

Week 8 vs Jacksonville: The "Eh" game

-probably my least favorite matchup of the season, mostly because the Jaguars don't seem much of a threat. Then again, they could be the hot team this season, so this game may be bigger, but as of now, I'm not concerned.

Week 9 @ Green Bay

-With Aaron Rodgers leading the Packers, this should be a good game. Green Bay beat us last year 17-7 in a really boring game, where the Dallas offense didn't show up. Here's hoping this time they do.

Week 10 @ NY Giants

-Around this time, these games will have playoff implications, so depending on where everyone else, this could be a huge game. It's automatically a "good" game, since Dallas and NY are involved. I'm going to guess this determines who takes control of NFC East at this point in time.

Week 11 vs. Detroit

-Though I'm not worried about Detroit, stranger things have happened. I like Jim Schwartz, and I think the Lions are on the right track to rebuilding. Who knows what team will show up? Remember, the Cowboys aren't always an automatic lock against bad teams (See: Dallas at KC last year)

WEEK 12 VS. NEW ORLEANS
-The most anticipated game for me. A rematch of last year's great game that not only ended the Saints undefeated season, but also revived the Cowboys season. Plus, it's on Thanksgiving, so assuming everyone stays healthy by this time, this could be the makings of a classic game. My apologies to Detroit fans who have to wait for their team to get pounded by New England this year.

Week 13 @ Indianapolis

-two Super Bowl teams within 11 days...Ugh. Colts are always a great team, and who knows if they've already clinched division/home-field by this point. They're still dangerous, but remember a few years ago in 2006, when the Colts won the Super Bowl. They were undefeated at one point, but guess who ended that streak? The Cowboys. The third most anticipated game easily. Manning Vs. Romo will be worth watching.

Week 14 vs. Philadelphia

-Now we're into December, and while the month does not have the same stigma it usually has, it's still a tough road to the playoffs, starting with the Colts, and continuing with the Eagles. Trading McNabb was a shocker, so we'll see how this guy Kolb does. But like our other rivals, they'll play us tough no matter what. NFC East implications galore.

Week 15 @ Arizona.

-Arizona lost a few good men this offseason, so it will be interesting to see what kind of team they become.

Week 16 vs. Washington

-I doubt Washington will be in the hunt to lead the division, but they could hurt OUR chances for winning by playing the role of spoiler.

Week 17 @ Philadelphia

-It comes down to this. Again. For the third straight year. The Road to the Postseason goes through the Eagles. In 2008, they smacked us around 44-6 and took our spot. The year after, we satisfyingly took our revenge, shutting them out 24-0, then beating them 34-14 in the playoffs :). This year, who knows? But it will most definitely decide one way or the other who wins the NFC East. Should be a good finish. Hopefully for the Cowboys.

Sources:

MJD, The Schedule giveth (to arizona) and taketh away (from houston), Yahoo Sports (hyperlink)

Dave Halprin, Dallas Cowboys 2010 Schedule, Blogging the Boys (2nd hyperlink)

Jay Ratliff chats with The Scores Report

Posted by Anthony Stalter (04/29/2010 @ 9:00 am)
http://www.scoresreport.com

Defensive lineman Jay Ratliff came into the NFL as a seventh round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in 2005 and all he’s done since then is become a two-time Pro Bowl selection in each of the last two seasons. He was also a first-team All-Pro selection in 2009 after racking up 40 tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles.

We recently got the opportunity to chat with Jay about the Cowboys’ draft, how the ‘Boys can build off the success they had last season and what his thoughts were on the Donovan McNabb trade.

After you check out the interview, be sure to visit Jay’s official website, JAYRAT.com, for the chance to win a trip to see the Cowboys play in 2010. Two lucky winners will have the opportunity to see the ‘Boys take on the Titans at Cowboys Stadium, or the Giants at the new Meadowlands Stadium. The package will include airfare, hotel room, tickets to the game, as well as an opportunity to meet Jay before the game at the live airing of the DallasCowboys.com Radio Show.

The Scores Report: Hi, this is Anthony.

Jay Ratliff: Hey, this is Jay Ratliff.

TSR: Hey Jay, how you doing?

JR: Good, how about yourself?

TSR: Good, real good. Did you get a chance to watch the draft this past weekend?

JR: I only watched the first round to see who we took and that was it.

TSR: How did you feel about the selection of Dez Bryant?

JR: I was surprised by that, but I think he’ll be a good addition to the team and provide an extra spark for the offense, if you will. It should be interesting.

TSR: Are you surprised that the ‘Boys didn’t go with a defensive player?

JR: Not really. Obviously they felt comfortable with what we have on the defensive side of the ball and decided to go in the direction they did.

TSR: You were a seventh round pick that has gone on to be a very productive player in the NFL, which includes two Pro Bowl appearances. But things don’t always work out that way for late round picks, so what would be your advice for a player that was selected in the seventh round – or someone that wasn’t drafted at all? How do they make an impact right away?

JR: I would tell them the same thing that was told to me and that is: It’s not where you start, it’s where you end up. Use it as motivation to show other people why they should have picked you and go from there. I took that and that’s what I’m trying to do. I still think about that to this day.

TSR: Why do rookies tend to struggle with the defensive line position when they first come into the league?

JR: I don’t know if I would say that rookies tend to struggle with the defensive line. The thing is, if you have a veteran O-line that works well together, or if you have an O-lineman that has been in the game for a while and they know all the tricks of the trade, someone like Kevin Mawae, he’s going to dominate a rookie. The only way you can really learn and get better is through experience and reps. That’s why rookies may struggle, because they don’t get opportunities right away.

TSR: I know you’re a competitive guy and someone who likes to challenge himself against any and all offensive linemen, but what O-lineman is the best in the league? Who gives the best challenge?

JR: Man, there are a lot of good ones in the NFL so it’s hard to point out just one. You can look at almost every team and find a good one. I know we have two of them on our team in Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis. Those are two guys that are great players and I know there are more great offensive linemen out there. It’s hard to pick out just one.

TSR: Tough question, I’m sure. Now, I know you had some minor surgeries recently on both of your elbows. Is everything healing up?

JR: Yeah, everything is healing up good but I’m just trying to get my strength back up. It still kind of hurts to press a little bit, but as far as my range of motion and everything goes, it’s great – it’s better than it’s been in years. So, I’m excited about that.

TSR: Are you going to be healthy enough to participate in all of the offseason workouts and camps?

JR: I’m not sure. I haven’t done a whole lot of football activities yet, so I don’t really know how healthy I’ll be for everything. We’ll just have to see.

TSR: You guys finally got the playoff monkey off your backs last year, so to speak. What’s the one thing that the Cowboys must do to get to the NFC Championship Game and then of course, the Super Bowl?

JR: There’s a very simple answer for that: We have to win games. We have to win every week and be in control of our own destiny. We don’t want to get in a situation where we’re hoping for other teams to lose or anything like that. We have everything we need to succeed and now it’s just a matter of getting it done. That’s all there is to it.

TSR: Do you have individual goals that you set for yourself or do you just let the season play itself out?

JR: Yeah, I do – for sure. But I never talk about them or place them ahead of the team’s goals. There is one goal that I set every year that I haven’t gotten yet and it’s not just to win the Super Bowl either. (Laughs) So, we’ll just see what happens.

TSR: (Laughs) Well, I won’t press you to share the goal. You guys seem to have all the pieces in place to make a deep run and now that Donovan McNabb is in Washington, the dynamics have changed a bit in the NFC East. Do you pay attention to other teams offeseasons and kind of measure them up to the Cowboys’?

JR: I feel like we have a chance every year and I’m not just saying that because I’m on the team. I really believe we have a chance and every year I’ve been on the team I’ve felt that way. All the changes that happen with other teams, with McNabb being in Washington now, I mean, those NFC East battles are always going to be tough no matter what. You know when you go into a NFC East game that you’re going to have to play four quarters. With that in mind, we just have to win games because nothing else really matters.

TSR: And what were you thoughts on the Donovan McNabb trade? Were you surprised that the Eagles dealt him, especially within in the division?

JR: I was, but we all know the business side of the game. I’m pretty sure that he’ll be a great addition to that team and provide great leadership. But that’s not to take anything away from Jason Campbell, who is also a really good friend of mine. We’ll just see what happens because he gives the Redskins a dangerous piece and something that we’ll certainly have to account for.

TSR: I’m sure there are a lot of fans and even some players that have always wondered what it’s like to play for the Dallas Cowboys. What is it like to not only play for the ‘Boys, but also Jerry Jones?

JR: It’s almost overwhelming at times. (Laughs) I mean, you talk to other teams and other players and their experience is nothing like this. Every where you go in the nation and even in the world…I’ve been out of the country and the first thing some people say is, “Go Cowboys!” So, you really have to have a good head on your shoulders and stay focused. I think the Jones’s really go all out to make this team accessible and make sure the fans can talk to us and you know, get to know us and get to see us. They also make sure that we’re comfortable and we all have what we need, so it’s the greatest organization to play for and it’s truly a blessing.

TSR: Do you enjoy playing for a defensive-minded coach like Wade Phillips?

JR: Oh, yeah. Wade is definitely a hands-on kind of coach that puts his trust in his players and trusts the guys around him. When you have a coach like that, you don’t want to betray his trust. He’s built a family atmosphere here; that’s the first thing he said when he came in. He didn’t want us to just be a team – he wanted us to be a family and that’s what he’s built. You got a glimpse of that last year and now we’re just looking to build off that.

TSR: Well Jay, I won’t keep you any longer. I wish you nothing but the best and I appreciate your sitting down to chat with us.

JR: All right, no problem.

TSR: Take care.

Thursday Beastlines: Bryant the next Moss?

By ESPN.com staff
Dallas Cowboys

First-round draft pick Dez Bryant should be starting "very soon" at wide receiver for the Cowboys, says Rick Gosselin. Gosselin also does a Q&A with the Dallas Morning News and says the Cowboys will only go as far as Tony Romo can take them.

Chick Ludwig of Cinncinati.com thinks Bryant will be the next Randy Moss.

Now that he's been selected, Bryant can finally focus on football, writes Randy Galloway of the Star-Telegram.

Wade Phillips Talks About Cowboys' Six Draft Picks

from Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine

Following Saturday's 7th and final round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips spoke with reporters at Valley Ranch to review the team's 6 draft selections: (1st rd) WR Dez Bryant of Oklahoma State; (2nd rd) LB Sean Lee of Penn State; (4th rd) DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah of IUP; (6th rd) OT Sam Young of Notre Dame; (6th rd) CB Jamar Wall of Texas Tech; and (7th rd) DL Sean Lissmore of William & Mary. Here are Phillips' comments:

“Akwasi (4th rd pick) is from a smaller college, but a great athlete, which we feel is a good upside. And I think everybody knows some of the guys we drafted, we had in here, but that‘s the way you find out about them. I think he can transfer to the next level pretty easily as far as intelligence and certainly athletically, so we feel good about that. And Sam Young started every game for Notre Dame for four years and I don’t think he was out any. He set some kind of record for them (Notre Dame) for number of starts and just like Jerry said, he blocks his guy. I think production on an offensive line is when his guy doesn’t make the play, whether it’s pass protection or running. Jamar Wall is a tough, athletic guy that fits our mold as far as defensive backs. And Sean Lissemore is another smaller school guy. He runs a 4.9 at 300 pounds and has a high motor. I’m not saying he is Jay Ratliff, but that’s what you look for in this area if you can find a defensive lineman that has a high motor and athletic skill, so we feel good about all of these guys.”

*On what 6th round pick, offensive tackle Sam Young of Notre Dame, needs to work on:

“I think in every offensive lineman, taking the next step is a combination of things. He actually does a lot of things well, which is the key with him.”

*On 7th round pick Sean Lissemore being a nose tackle or a defensive end:

“He can play both, and Ratliff can actually play both. If you can get the attributes like Jay’s or any of the top guys we have, then that’s what you’re looking for.”

*On how Lissemore will fit in:

“He’s a real smart kid so I think he can learn those pretty easily. But we will probably start him at end first and work him inside. But nose guard is actually easier to learn.”

*On the picks’ combination of size and speed:

“I think you always are upgrading your team in certain ways. Some of it is character, what kind of person they are. And speed is a factor. Not just speed, but also guys that can play football. There are guys that can run fast, but you can’t just take the fastest guy, that isn’t exactly what you’re looking for. You are looking for speed but also football skills.”

*On special teams:

“We are always wary of that too. The emphasis we had on special teams last year highly improved our football team.”

*On Akwasi playing safety next season:

“He’s such a good athlete, and he can really play corner. I think he could play either one. He is 207 pounds and he is over 6 feet tall. He was a big fish in a small pond. He was a lot better than the guys on his college team, but that’s what you want him to do. Those kinds of players have to be dominant and he showed it on his kick returns and things like that. He is going to have to step up to the next level but I think he has all of the skills to do that.”

*On Dez and Akwasi returning punts:

“They certainly could do that. I think they will be eager to do that. We will see, that’s way ahead of where we are, but Dez has done both in Big 12 football. And he has been one of the top ones doing that, so I think you can say for sure that he could do that. And we will have to see with Akwasi because his competition wasn’t as good, but his numbers were outstanding.”

*On being disappointed with the return game last season:

“Not necessarily, we just saw an opportunity. Any time you can get better in any area, and any time you can get quality football players who you think can be top notch, you want to do that. I think you can see that we went that direction, and it will play out well for us."

On Sam Young playing right or left tackle:

“He played right at Notre Dame, but he also started at left in ’07. So he has done both. Right now, we will start him out at right tackle, because that’s what he has played the past few years. But once he gets here, we will get a better feel.”

*On the cornerback and safety situation:

“When you play Alan Ball, you aren’t surprised by anything he does well. He has played well for us every time he has played. We have tried to get him in somewhere a lot of the time, we moved him to safety because we thought he was that kind of guy. And he actually played well at safety, especially at pass defense. We know his size and all that, but he is a tough guy and I wouldn’t count him out just yet. I always support my players so we talk about these things and try to upgrade at any position and increase the competition at every position, and the players know that.”

*On second-year QB Stephen McGee not being able to participate in rookie minicamp:

“Yes, that’s correct. When the draft is over, we will sign a free agent quarterback.”

On former Cowboys kicker, now hired by the Cowboys as a kicking consultant, Chris Boniol helping out:

“He doesn’t come every day, he comes in the days Buehler is kicking. He has taken Buehler to Cowboys Stadium, and they have worked together here. Boniol is working with Connor also, but Connor is hurt. He comes in, works with Buehler, and goes over the whole process. Boniol will continue to come in through training camp, and then we will see where we are. We are trying to get him (Buehler) to be the kicker, and I think that’s what we should try to do. If it’s not working out, there are veteran kickers out there, and they could come in late. We have all seen that. So if we have to go to something like that, we will. But I think we are headed in the right direction. We are looking at some competition. We have a young guy and we also have a great guy who kicked in college. But I think he just needs to get his rhythm down where its smooth all of the time. But he will be able to do it because he is a pressure guy. He is a football player, and we know he is mentally and physically tough.”

Cowboys take DT Sean Lissemore with the 234th pick

Source: http://www.gbnreport.com

Sean Lissemore, DT, William&Mary, 6-3.5, 298, 4.75 ... It may be a bit of an oxymoron to describe an emerging 3-4 defensive lineman, most of whom are pretty big guys, as sleepers, but one worth a mention is D1A William & Mary DT Sean Lissemore. An unusually large number of NFL personnel people went to the school's pro day earlier this month mostly with the intention of checking out tweener DE Adrian Tracy, but couldn't help but notice Lissemore, a near 300-pounder with uncommon quickness and athleticism for such a big man. Indeed, Lissemore reportedly ran the 40 in close to 4.70 seconds, while recording times of 4.55 in the short shuttle and 7.60 in the three-cone drill, both of which would have been among the top ten for defensive linemen at the combine. In fact, Lissemore is a good athlete who was actually a sprinter in hig school as well as a state-ranked wrestler. Lissemore is coming off a solid season at William & Mary where he had 66 tackles including 6.5 sacks and 7.5 other tackles for loss; and just to show his athleticism he also picked off a couple of passes and blocked a kick. And the NFL is starting to notice as he has received a number of invitations to visit pro teams in the coming weeks including Arizona, Atlanta, Seattle and Jacksonville, as well as both the Giants and Jets. Lissemore is also getting attention as both a 4-3 DT, as well as 3-4 DE where his size and athleticsm would make a very nice match.

With the 196th pick the Cowboys take CB Jamar Wall from Texas Tech

Notes from NFL Draft Scout...

One of the more underrated players at his position...Wall's stocky build, athleticism, aggressive play and sure tackling make him a potential starting zone corner in the NFL and worthwhile Saturday draft pick.

Read & React: Reads the body language and routes of receivers. Gets too aggressive, biting on pump fakes and double moves, but rarely is fooled twice. Attacks running plays to his side. Gets to other receivers when a teammate loses track of them.

Man Coverage: Coverage skills made opponents wary of throwing at Wall. Usually plays off in press-bail coverage, but he has the long arms and strong arms to be physical with receivers coming off the line. Good backpedal -- stays low and quick. Capable of sticking to his man in coverage on any route. Will be out-muscled downfield by larger receivers. Offenses try to take advantage of his lack of height in the red zone, but he has the vertical to compete against taller receivers.

Zone Coverage: Was left on an island in Tech's defense, but displays headiness and good change-of-direction ability to close on underneath routes.

Closing/Recovery: Reacts to the ball in the air, takes the correct angle when attacking the receiver to separate the ball from its target or secure the tackle. Good recovery speed after biting on double moves, but will resort to bumping receivers instead of trusting his speed.

Run Support: Usually positioned off the line, but does not tackle like a converted running back. Closes on the run quickly and wraps up consistently. Uses long arms and strength to stay clear or rip off most receiver blocks, but forces action inside if he can't disengage.

Tackling: Likes to hit, puts ballcarriers on the ground with a strong shoulder. Generally solid tackling in space, does not need to resort to cut tackling to bring down backs or receivers. Misses tackles occasionally when trying to make a hit. Should be an outstanding special teams gunner because of his speed and aggressiveness.

Intangibles: Does not back down from a challenge. Teammates respect his hard work and coaches trust him to be in the right spot and make the big play. Ran for 477 yards on 20 kickoff returns in 2008 and could get a chance there in training camp because of his strong running style.

Cowboys pick OL Sam Young from Notre Dame at 179

Source: NFL.com

Pick Analysis: The Cowboys grab an offensive tackle that has the potential to be a quality right tackle. Sam Young tested well in workouts, but he was inconsistent throughout his career, and fails to play to his athleticism. However, his upside makes him worthy of the selection at this point.

Young was a blue chip prospect, out of Florida, that became an instant starter his freshman year and has been a mainstay on the offensive line for the Irish. He is a massive blocker with long arms that can simply engulf opponents once he gets his hands on them. He lacks top initial quickness and can be beaten off the edge by explosive edge rushers. While he has started at both left tackle and on the right side he is best suited to be a right tackle in the NFL.

Cowboys select Akwasi Owusu-Ansah with the 126 pick

by Mike Mayock
NFL Network

Back to back small-school kids, I love it. Ansah is one of my favorite developmental prospects in the draft from IUP. He's a 6-1, 207 pound corner that run a sub-4.4 40 at the Ohio St. Pro Day. He may be raw, but he will provide immediate help on the Cowboys' special teams. He had 7 return TDs and can be a gunner and a jammer as well. If he struggles on the corner, he's big enough and physical enough to play free safety, and I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't the plan for the Cowboys.

Penn State LB Lee answers Cowboys' call

By John Grupp, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, April 24, 2010

When his hometown Steelers didn't call with their second-round pick Friday night, former Penn State linebacker Sean Lee took a break from the draft party at his family's Upper St. Clair house.

"I went outside after the Steelers' pick," Lee said. "I didn't think any of the next teams had any need (for a linebacker) and I would have to wait a little bit."

Then the phone rang. Lee answered.

"It was Jerry Jones," Lee said. "He said: 'You're going to be a Dallas Cowboy.' I nearly passed out."

The Cowboys picked Lee in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Lee, a 6-foot-2, 236-pounder, went with the 55th overall pick and was the second inside linebacker taken in the draft, behind only Alabama's Rolando McClain (No. 8 overall).

Other players with local ties who were selected on Friday night's second and third round were Arizona tight end and former Woodland Hills star Rob Gronkowski, who went to the New England Patriots in the second round (42nd overall); and Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman, who went to San Francisco in the third round (91st overall).

Three picks after the Steelers used their second-round pick to take linebacker Jason Worilds of Virginia Tech, Lee realized his life-long dream of being drafted. Lee, who visited Dallas before the draft, will report to rookie minicamp in the next week or so.

Lee overcame a torn anterior cruciate ligament that cost him his entire 2008 season to become a defensive captain with coach Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. He will play inside linebacker for the Cowboys, who run a 3-4 defense.

"I really felt like I went where I was supposed to go," he said. "I was meant to play there. I think I can take my game to the next level. The draft process is hyped a lot. Now you have to play football and work hard every day, and that's what I plan to do."

Lee watched the draft with about 75 friends and family in Upper St. Clair.

"Obviously, I grew up a Steelers fan," he said. "Now I'm trying to convert some people in the South Hills."

Lee recorded 325 tackles with 29.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 17 pass breakups and three interceptions at Penn State.

Gronkowski, who played at Woodland Hills for one season (2006) after moving from the Buffalo area, sat out all last season with a back injury but still leaves Arizona as the school's all-time leader among tight ends with 75 receptions for 1,197 yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons.

"I'm so fired up," Gronkowski told NFL Network moments after being drafted. "This is a great organization."

He could give Tom Brady the pass-catching tight end he has lacked in recent years. Ben Watson, a former first-round pick, caught only 29 passes last season and is no longer with the team.

Cowboys select Sean Lee No. 55 overall

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:45:58 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys have selected Penn State LB Sean Lee with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Read more: http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl#ixzz0lyHbYIk6

Bryant To Wear No. 88 With Cowboys

Source: http://www.ktul.com
By Kevin King

Tulsa - The Dallas Cowboys are already out with a jersey for their top draft pick, former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant.

On the team's online store, visitors can now purchase Bryant's jersey. He'll apparently wear number 88, the same worn by other Cowboy greats Michael Irvin and Drew Pearson.

Bryant was taken by the Cowboys with the 24th overall pick in Thursday's first round.

Bryant was considered the best receiver in this year's draft, even though his 2009 season was cut short after an NCAA suspension.

Those off the field issues seemed to worry many teams, including the Denver Broncos, who traded down twice and still went with another wideout with the 22nd pick.

In three games in 2009, Bryant caught 17 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns and hauled in 87 receptions for 1,480 yards and 19 scores as a sophomore while also scoring twice on punt returns.

In Dallas he will join a receiving corps loaded with talent in Roy Williams, Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton.

OSU's Bryant drafted 24th by Dallas

By MATT BAKER World Sports Writer
Published: 4/22/2010 9:04 PM
Last Modified: 4/22/2010 9:04 PM

After a long wait, former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant remains a Cowboy.
The Dallas Cowboys traded up to take Bryant with the No. 24 pick in tonight's NFL Draft.
Bryant entered the night as one of the biggest unknowns in the draft because of his sky-high potential but questionable character. Mock drafts projected Bryant going from anywhere from the top 10 to the final picks of the first round.
The 6-foot-2 All-American caught a school-record 19 touchdown passes as a sophomore in 2008, and his 1,480 receiving yards were second most in Cowboys history. He was also a dangerous punt returner, scoring twice on special teams plays en route to being named the Big 12's special teams player of the year.
As a junior in 2009, Bryant had four touchdown catches in the first three games and scored on an 82-yard punt return against Houston.
But his season was cut short when the NCAA suspended him for the final 10 games of the year for lying about his involvement with former NFL star Deion Sanders. During the pre-draft process, questions surfaced regarding his maturity, tardiness to practices and a report that he brought the wrong cleats to his pro day workout.
Bryant was a Parade All-American out of Lufkin (Texas) High School and one of the nation's top recruits before coming to OSU.
Bryant was the second OSU player picked in the first round, behind offensive tackle Russell Okung (No. 6 to Seattle).

The Dallas Cowboys grabbed Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant with the 24th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft

Source: http://www.rototimes.com/nfl/team/DAL/notes

Our View: This is a great pick for the Cowboys. Bryant only played in three games last season due to a suspension, but his 2008 numbers were as staggering as his highlight reel. He's a fantastic deep threat and should have good chemistry with a quarterback like Tony Romo. He can help the Cowboys passing game right away.

Cowboys 2010 Schedule

1 Sep 12 DAL @ WAS FedEx Field 8:20 PM Tickets

2 Sep 19 CHI @ DAL Cowboys Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets

3 Sep 26 DAL @ HOU Reliant Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets

4 Bye
5 Oct 10 TEN @ DAL Cowboys Stadium 4:15 PM Tickets

6 Oct 17 DAL @ MIN Mall of America Field 4:15 PM Tickets

7 Oct 25 NYG @ DAL Cowboys Stadium 8:30 PM Tickets

8 Oct 31 JAC @ DAL Cowboys Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets

9 Nov 07 DAL @ GB Lambeau Field 8:20 PM Tickets

10 Nov 14 DAL @ NYG New Meadowlands Stadium 4:15 PM Tickets

11 Nov 21 DET @ DAL Cowboys Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets

12 Nov 25 NO @ DAL Cowboys Stadium 4:15 PM Tickets

13 Dec 05 DAL @ IND Lucas Oil Stadium 4:15 PM Tickets

14 Dec 12 PHI @ DAL Cowboys Stadium 8:20 PM Tickets

15 Dec 19 WAS @ DAL Cowboys Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets

16 Dec 25 DAL @ ARI University of Phoenix Stadium 7:30 PM Tickets

17 Jan 02 DAL @ PHI Lincoln Financial Field 1:00 PM Tickets

Romo not concerned about Miles Austin

By Calvin Watkins
ESPN Dallas/Ft Worth

Quarterback Tony Romo did a Friday afternoon radio interview with Galloway & Co. (103.3 FM) and said he's not worried about wide receiver Miles Austin not showing up to the voluntary workouts the last two weeks.

Romo, who is close with Austin, said he spoke to the wide receiver a few days ago.

"Miles will be back and around," Romo said. "It's like anything, it's all part of the business side of things that happens once and a while."

The business side is what has some worried about Austin, who reached the Pro Bowl last season, in his first full-time gig in the NFL.

Austin became a restricted free agent once the NFL owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement. If the owners hadn't done that, Austin would have become an unrestricted free agent.

With Austin restricted, the Cowboys placed a first-and-third round tender offer on him, which nets him a contract of $3.168 million for the 2010 season.

It's somewhat surprising that Austin isn't at Valley Ranch with his teammates. But several other players, who are restricted, safety Gerald Sensabaugh among them, have not showed up at the voluntary workouts.

However, before he signed his tender deal, defensive end Marcus Spears did work out with the team. David Dunn, Austin's agent, said last month, he's held a preliminary talk with the Cowboys regarding a new contract.

The Cowboys have all the leverage here because they don't have to pay Austin anything more than the tender contract. If Austin produces during the regular season, like he did in 2009, the Cowboys most likely will take care of him financially.

Dallas did the same thing with Romo.

If Austin bypasses the mandatory workouts which start after the NFL Draft, then you have to wonder where his head is.

Romo has confidence that Austin will return to Valley Ranch when it's the proper time.

"He does a lot of good things," Romo said of Austin. "He knows what it takes to play at a high level year-in-and-year out."

2010 Cowboys-Only Mock Draft: Version 4.0, Post-Adams and Hamlin

http://dallascowboystimes.com

In our analysis of the ramifications of releasing Flozell Adams and Ken Hamlin, we noted that Hamlin’s departure indirectly affects the Cowboys’ cornerback depth. FS/CB Alan Ball will likely move to free safety full-time, leaving Dallas with just three viable options at cornerback.

So what happens if one of the Cowboys’ top-rated cornerbacks slides to their selection? Would they have the bravado to pick him despite recently losing two starters at key positions?

In this Mock Draft Version 4.0, we will take a look at the path Dallas may take should they pull the trigger on a sliding cornerback.

Round 1

Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

Wilson would represent great value with the 27th pick, but he doesn’t fit an immediate need for Dallas. Yes, the cornerback position is extremely thin, but the top three guys (particularly Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman) are exceptional.

Wilson could compete for nickel duties in 2010 and aid the Cowboys significantly in the return game. Will that be enough to justify his selection?

Round 2

Vladimir Ducasse, OG/OT, UMass

We have a slight man-crush on Ducasse. Big, athletic, and versatile, Ducasse has enormous upside–even more so than a lot of first-rounders.

The problem with Ducasse is that he is so raw that it may take some time for him to develop. Could he have an impact in 2010? Probably not as large of one as you might expect from a second-rounder.

Round 3

Darrell Stuckey, S, Kansas

The main issue with selecting Wilson in the first round surfaces itself here. Stuckey is a project and not someone who can be counted on for immediate help in the secondary. By drafting a lineman in the second round, the Cowboys would ultimately be forced to start either ball or (Michael) Hamlin at FS.

Round 4

Sam Young, OT, Notre Dame

We really believe Dallas could select a multitude of linemen this year. With Ducasse able to play either tackle or guard (we think he is a tackle), the Cowboys are free to select an offensive lineman who plays basically any position in the later rounds. Young or Miami’s Jason Fox could be options here.

Round 6

Clifton Geathers, DT/DE, South Carolina

We have been pushing the need for a versatile DT/DE of late, even projecting the Cowboys to select Penn State’s Jared Odrick in recent mock drafts. However, selecting Wilson in the first round pigeon-holes Dallas into drafting an offensive lineman and safety in rounds two and three, so the DT/DE hybrid spot cannot be addressed until the later rounds.

Round 7

John Conner, FB, Kentucky

Conner may not last this long, but he is perhaps the top fullback prospect in this class. With Deon Anderson’s future up in the air and John Phillips unable to convert to fullback full-time, Conner makes a lot of sense for Dallas.

Analysis

Overall, this mock draft seems a bit weaker than our previous ones. Sure, the Cowboys obtain a player of great value in Boise State CB Kyle Wilson, but at what cost? Can this team really afford to go into the 2010 season with Alan Ball, Michael Hamlin, and Darrell Stuckey as the choices at free safety?

Ultimately, if Dallas does not make a move for a free safety or left tackle prior to the Draft, we fear their options could become quite narrow.

Cowboys bid adieu to Adams

NFL notes: Dallas releases five-time Pro Bowl tackle; Hamlin cut, too

Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/03/1133752/cowboys-bid-adieu-to-adams.html#ixzz0k5Mtk8bP