What makes this statistic all the more incredible is that it occurred without any of the team’s starting receivers setting foot on the field.

With Dez Bryant recovering from patella tendinitis, Miles Austin nursing a hamstring injury and Jason Witten with a lacerated spleen, the Cowboys third preseason game wasn’t shaping up to be an impressive offensive outing. The positive, it seemed, was that we would have the opportunity to better assess the much debated third receiver position, giving the crop of contenders a primetime chance to perform with the starting squad. (more…)

Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Today, Wednesday, July 25th, 2012, rookies, quarterbacks, and a select few veterans report to Valley Ranch for the official start of the 2012 season!  Training camp in Oxnard, CA starts on Sunday with the first full-team practice scheduled for Monday.  So much excitement!  So many questions – that all will be answered in a matter of weeks.  Consider that the 2012 Cowboys will be on ESPN for their first preseason game against the Raiders in Oakland in less than 3 weeks! (Monday, 8/13, 8pm ET)

It’s been talked about a hundred times already in what has seemed like an off season that would never end, but here’s a refresher on the list of the major questions I think the Cowboys need to answer in the next month:

1.  Quarterback – Romo is solidly in place as the starter and Kyle Orton was signed specifically to be his backup.  But, do the Cowboys keep a third quarterback?  If so, is it Stephen McGee or Rudy Carpenter?

2.  Running Back – Can DeMarco Murray come back at full strength and shake off the injury as well as the “sophomore slump” that seems to plague a lot of players?  Is Felix Jones completely recovered from shoulder surgery (medically released to practice on Monday) and will he and DeMarco find productive roles together in this offense?  The Cowboys currently have 5 running backs and 2 full backs on the training camp roster – beyond Murray, Jones, and fullback Vickers, who sticks on the regular 53 as back ups?  Garrett kept 4 running backs last year to start the season and claimed FB Tony Fiammetta off waivers signing him on 9/13/11, 2 days after the opening loss to the Jets. (more…)

Dan Bailey doing his impression of Rafael Septien (photo by dallascowboys.com)

Whew!… Give me a minute, I gotta catch my breath. Here we went again, somewhere between thrilling and frustrating for the 3rd straight week, coming out on top for the 2nd time. Our Dallas Cowboys ground out an 18-16 win against a typically tough Washington Redskins team despite playing an uglier game than last week at San Francisco.

Dan Bailey Kicked (like Rafael Septien) and Tony ‘ribs‘ Romo screamed (at his players, not in pain). The Cowboy’s wide receivers and center Phil Costa qued the circus music. With equal parts gritty-talented play and embarrassing-mistake filled play, it was a true team effort. (more…)