SPORTSDAY

12/02/2008

Dallas Cowboys' Folk aims for more than depth on kickoffs
In a perfect world, Nick Folk would be able to take his normal run up to his kickoffs and blast away. But the Dallas Cowboys' kicker doesn't live in a perfect world, writes Todd Archer.

11/28/2008

Dallas Cowboys are right at home in the red zone
There are plenty of reasons why the Dallas Cowboys have turned the corner. One of them is their work – on both sides of the ball – in the red zone, writes Todd Archer.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

11/20/2008

Dallas Cowboys can't afford to lose sense of urgency

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

The return of quarterback Tony Romo gave the Cowboys a much-needed lift against the Redskins.

With upcoming home games against San Francisco and Seattle, it seems safe to pencil in the Cowboys at 8-4. But then coach Wade Phillips is quick to remind everyone of what happened in St. Louis. Bottom line: The Cowboys are in no position to look past any team, let alone two, writes Todd Archer.
• Cowboys schedule
• Stats | Wallpaper
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

11/13/2008

Dallas Cowboys need Romo-to-Williams combination to click

DMN photos

Tony Romo (left) and Roy Williams will be playing together for the first time Sunday.

Wide receiver Roy Williams is still trying to master the Dallas Cowboys' offense. Quarterback Tony Romo is just coming back from an injury. No matter, it's imperative for the twosome to get on the same page quickly if the Cowboys are to make a push for the postseason, writes Todd Archer.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
• Cowboys team page

11/11/2008

Games take on bigger meaning for Dallas Cowboys

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

Tony Romo (9) is expected to play when the Dallas Cowboys take on Washington this Sunday.

Last week, Wade Phillips' message to his Dallas Cowboys was that everything it wanted to accomplish in training camp remains possible, writes Todd Archer. "Well, you've got to get on a run in this league," Phillips said. The Cowboys' push begins with Sunday's game at Washington.
Video: DMN report
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

11/06/2008

Dallas Cowboys pay price for shaky backup plan at QB

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

Brad Johnson had a rough time in his three-game stint as the Cowboys' backup quarterback.

It was bad enough that the Dallas Cowboys had to play three games without Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo. But it was even worse that the team did not have a solid backup plan in place, writes Todd Archer.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
More Todd Archer

11/04/2008

Dallas Cowboys' safety Williams serves a painful watch

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

Cowboys safety Roy Williams (right) stands on the sideline after suffering a right forearm fracture against Philadelphia.

Roy Williams had his fractured right arm put in a hard cast Monday. He will wear it for four weeks, a constant reminder of a season gone wrong for the Dallas Cowboys' five-time Pro Bowl safety, writes Todd Archer. "There's nothing much I can do but sit back and root for my team," he said.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

10/30/2008

Actions still speak loudest for Dallas Cowboys LB Zach Thomas

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

Cowboys linebacker Zach Thomas (55) was credited with 18 tackles in the victory over the Bucs.

Veteran linebacker Zach Thomas has always allowed his game do his talking. So, when Thomas addressed his Dallas Cowboys teammates before last week's must-win game against Tampa Bay, he had a captive audience. And the results on the field were obvious, writes Todd Archer.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
More Todd Archer

10/28/2008

Dallas Cowboys' Colombo has a lot of fight in him
To understand where some of Marc Colombo's fire comes from, you have to know he is a distant relative of Rocky Marciano, writes Todd Archer. On Sunday against Tampa Bay, Colombo set a tone in the first half with his aggressive play.

10/23/2008

Three burning questions about the Dallas Cowboys

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart (left) will be getting more input from Wade Phillips.

Why is Wade Phillips just now taking a more active role with the Cowboys' defense? How was an injured Tony Romo made the No. 2 quarterback last week? And who says the Cowboys gave up too much for receiver Roy Williams? Beat writer Todd Archer tackles those three questions.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
More Todd Archer

10/16/2008

Dallas Cowboys rescue WR Roy Williams from land of losses

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

Why is Roy Williams smiling? Going from the winless Lions to the Cowboys could be the reason.

If losing really is a disease, then wide receiver Roy Williams had to be sick of playing for the Detroit Lions. But Williams is feeling much better now after being traded to the Dallas Cowboys. "I'm ecstatic," he said of going from 0-5 to 4-2, writes Todd Archer.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
More Todd Archer

10/09/2008

Dallas Cowboys have backup plan for cornerbacks
The Dallas Cowboys, Todd Archer writes, have contingency plans in place at cornerback should Terence Newman miss more than the next few games because of an abdominal strain or Adam Jones find himself in trouble with the NFL following an incident at The Joule hotel.

Ex-Cardinal Leonard Davis right at home with Dallas Cowboys

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Guard Leonard Davis (right) will face his former team when the Dallas Cowboys take on the Cardinals in Week 6.

For six years, Leonard Davis was the epitome of everything that was wrong with the Arizona Cardinals: A high draft pick who failed to meet expectations as the losing continued. At least that was the story coming out of Arizona. It has been a much different story in Dallas, writes Todd Archer.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
More Todd Archer

10/07/2008

Dallas Cowboys' Phillips knows the life of an interim head coach
Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has taken over as head coach of a team twice during a season, much like Jim Haslett is doing in St. Louis and Tom Cable is doing in Oakland.

10/02/2008

Dallas Cowboys' first loss ignites usual overreaction

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

The Redskins handed Tony Romo and the Cowboys their first loss of the season in Week 4.

One week the Dallas Cowboys are the best team in the NFL. The next week they have glaring weaknesses. Welcome to the NFL, writes Todd Archer, where one loss can quickly trigger a sky-is-falling reaction.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
More Todd Archer

09/30/2008

Dallas Cowboys well-fixed for picks in 2009 draft

AP

Dallas, with at least nine picks in the 2009 draft, could pick up a compensatory pick for losing Julius Jones to Seattle.

The Dallas Cowboys are loaded with talent and in excellent salary-cap shape. But teams build through the draft. And Dallas is sitting pretty there as well, with at least nine picks next April. The Cowboys, writes Todd Archer, are in such an enviable position because of their draft-day maneuverings last April.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

09/25/2008

Dallas Cowboys have no margin for error in rugged NFC East

TOM FOX / DMN

Terrell Owens and the Cowboys passed their first NFC East test with a 41-37 victory over the Eagles in Week 2.

When it comes to the NFC East, there are no breathers, writes Todd Archer. It's the only division where every team has a winning record thus far. "I think the NFC East speaks for itself," said Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, whose team faces its second division test Sunday against the Redskins.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

09/23/2008

It's no mystery: Film holds clues to better blitz for Dallas Cowboys LBs
If Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart needs to find inside linebackers Bradie James or Zach Thomas, he knows where to look. They'll be watching film together or by themselves, writes Todd Archer.

09/18/2008

Dallas Cowboys hope to keep upper hand in Owens-Harris rematch

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens (left) had a big game last season against Packers cornerback Al Harris.

Green Bay cornerback Al Harris had a Pro Bowl season in 2007. However, the Packers' visit to Texas Stadium last November was not a memorable one for Harris, who couldn't prevent a big performance by the Cowboys' Terrell Owens. The star players will go head-to-head again Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

09/11/2008

Dallas Cowboys can't afford to take their eyes off Westbrook

MICHAEL MULVEY / DMN

The Cowboys have always had a challenging time trying to contain Eagles running back Brian Westbrook.

The Cowboys will have a plan in place for Eagles running back Brian Westbrook on Monday night: Find him on every play. Of course, finding Westbrook shouldn't be difficult – he's No. 36 in green. Stopping him? Now that's a different story, explains beat writer Todd Archer.
• Gosselin: Westbrook is slightly imposing
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

09/09/2008

Dallas Cowboys' captains taking ownership of team
Last week, the Cowboys voted for their 2008 captains, and coach Wade Phillips made sure the vote was heard. So much so that the Cowboys have eight captains, which is believed to be an all-time high.

09/04/2008

Cleveland's offense can be very Dallas Cowboys-like

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN; Getty Images

Cowboys running back Marion Barber (left) and the Browns' Jamal Lewis both have bruising styles.

When the Dallas Cowboys look at their Week 1 opponent, at least offensively, they will see a lot of themselves, writes Todd Archer. The Cleveland Browns have a Pro Bowl quarterback, a top tight end, a big-play wide receiver and a punishing running back. Sound familiar?
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

09/03/2008

Todd Archer's Dallas Cowboys roster analysis
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones made finding a complement receiver to Terrell Owens a priority during the off-season.

09/02/2008

Dallas Cowboys' defensive line coach faces former team

AP

One of Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Todd Grantham's stops in the last 10 years was Cleveland.

Todd Grantham had a little chuckle in April when he saw the Cowboys would open at Cleveland. From 2005 to '07, Grantham was the Browns' defensive coordinator. But if you're thinking revenge will play a part in Grantham's return to Cleveland as the Cowboys' defensive line coach Sunday, then forget it, writes Todd Archer.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

08/28/2008

NFL teams shouldn't sweat as much as players over final cuts

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Wide receiver Danny Amendola is vying for one of the final spots on the Cowboys' roster.

The final cutdown day is allegedly an excruciating process for NFL teams. Or is it? The Cowboys have to cut 18 players by Saturday. And beat writer Todd Archer believes the team knows who those 18 players are – and has known for quite some time.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

08/26/2008

Romo-to-Owens connection goes long way for Dallas Cowboys

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / DMN

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (left) and Terrell Owens connected on 10 touchdown passes of 21 yards or longer last season.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is not worried about missing Terrell Owens against Houston on a deep pass, writes Todd Archer. "I feel like the best thing that happens to me are the mistakes that I make," Romo said, "because very seldom do I make the same mistake twice."
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
Video: Phillips on practice

08/13/2008

Dallas Cowboys' Wilson, Broncos' Cutler cope with diabetes

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson (left) challenges a receiver during a drill.

For a few minutes before Wednesday's practice, Wade Wilson and Jay Cutler chatted not about footwork or arm slots or hot reads, but about dealing with Type 1 diabetes, writes Todd Archer.
Video: Camp report (8/13)
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

08/12/2008

Software gives Dallas Cowboys film-study shortcuts

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / DMN

The DVSport system allows coaches, such as Cowboys tight ends coach John Garrett, to diagram plays, write notes on the screen and print them out.

Long gone are the days of the clack-clack from a projector with coaches having to fast-forward or rewind to study film, Todd Archer writes. This season, the Dallas Cowboys are using DVSport, a digital video software that allows coaches to access video of any play or plays they want with the click of a mouse.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

08/10/2008

Dallas Cowboys working on defensive communication

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / DMN

Brian Stewart (left) communicated with Bradie James using a helmet speaker system Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips (right) fought hard to implement.

Brian Stewart and Bradie James had their first in-game opportunity to work with the coach-to-player communication system Saturday in San Diego, and came away knowing they have some work to do before the Sept. 7 season opener at Cleveland, writes Todd Archer
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
Video: Camp report (8/10)

08/09/2008

There's a new train of thought for Dallas Cowboys

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / DMN

Terrell Owens (right) and Ken Hamlin play dominos aboard the train taking the Cowboys from Oxnard to San Diego on Friday.

Instead of flying or busing to San Diego, the Dallas Cowboys, who face the Chargers tonight (9 p.m., Ch. 11) in their preseason opener, rode the Amtrak rails. Most of the sojourn, writes Todd Archer, was about watching the California fields and surf, whi