SB Nation Dallas - Lions Complete Roaring Comeback, Defeat Cowboys 34-30https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2011-10-04T12:14:16-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22172992011-10-04T12:14:16-05:002011-10-04T12:14:16-05:00Cowboys Begin Limited Bye Week Practices With Several Injured Players Still Held Out
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<p>Head Coach Jason Garrett has scheduled two practices for the Dallas Cowboys during the bye week, the first of which is today. Several of the players in need of rehabilitation and recovery time sat out today's session, which shouldn't be a surprise since football practice probably isn't the most calming and peaceful recovery environment.</p>
<p>According to several reports, the following players were held out of today's practice:</p>
<p>K <span class="DL-topic-highlighted DL-analyze">David Buehler</span><span> </span>(groin), WR <span class="DL-topic-highlighted DL-analyze">Miles Austin</span><span> </span> (hamstring), FB <span class="DL-topic-highlighted DL-analyze">Tony Fiammetta</span><span> </span>(hamstring), CB <span class="DL-topic-highlighted DL-analyze">Orlando Scandrick</span><span> </span>(ankle), S <span class="DL-topic-highlighted DL-analyze">Barry Church</span><span> </span>(shoulder), S <span class="DL-topic-highlighted DL-analyze">Gerald Sensabaugh</span><span> </span> (concussion), LG <span class="DL-topic-highlighted DL-analyze">Derrick Dockery</span><span> </span>(knee), and DE <span class="DL-topic-highlighted DL-analyze">Jason Hatcher</span><span> </span>(calf) all missed the session.</p>
<p>RG <span class="DL-topic-highlighted DL-analyze">Kyle Kosier</span><span></span> and S <span class="DL-topic-highlighted DL-analyze">Danny McCray were surprise holdouts with yet undisclosed injuries.</span><span> </span></p>
<p>The notable names not included on this list are Tony Romo and Dez Bryant, who were both suited up for practice today.</p>
<p>The team will suit up again for a short practice on Thursday, and then take the weekend off before starting in on heavy preparation for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/10/4/2468809/cowboys-begin-limited-bye-week-practices-with-several-injured-playersKD Drummond2011-10-04T08:05:47-05:002011-10-04T08:05:47-05:00Despite Late Game Pressure, Cowboys Offensive Line Showing Drastic Improvement
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<p>One of the hardest things for a football team to overcome is an offensive line unfamiliar with each other. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> completely rebuilt theirs on the fly over the shortened offseason, jettisoning several veterans and rolling with unproven rookies and little-used players.</p>
<p>Former Pro Bowl players C <span>Andre Gurode</span> and RG <span>Leonard Davis</span> were released in salary cap saving manuveurs as their performance no longer dictated their large contracts. RT <span>Marc Colombo</span> was no longer capable of manning a quarterback's blindside, as witnessed by his continued struggles in the train wreck of a line that former Cowboys coordinator Tony Sporano is working with in Miami. The man everyone expected to be the next man up at guard, <span>Montrae Holland</span>, showed up to camp overweight and was left behind after he suffered an injury that kept him ou.</p>
<p>In their place, Dallas shuffled in rookies <span>Tyron Smith</span> and <span>Bill Nagy</span>, as well as second-year pro Phil Costa. Together, they had 109 snaps of NFL experience, all owned by Costa.</p>
<p>They struggled early in the season. Week 1, they protected QB <span>Tony Romo</span> against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a>, but couldn't establish any semblance of a run game. Week 2, they couldn't do either and allowed the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> to break a Romo rib, puncture a Romo lung and seperate <span>Felix Jones</span>' shoulder. Week 3 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins">Redskins</a> they finally were able to open some running lanes, but <span>Phil Costa's</span> snap problems and double digit quarterback pressures showed things still weren't right.</p>
<p>Well, they finally put it together against Detroit. At least mostly.</p>
<p>The team was supposedly facing their stiffest competition in Detroit's front four, but only relinquished six quarterback pressures on the game. They also blocked for over 4 yards per attempt in the running game.</p>
<p>They performed admirably until the final two drives of the game. <span>Kyle Kosier</span> allowed Ndamakong Suh one of his few pressures and would've been flagged for holding if Romo hadn't been intercepted by LB Stephen Tullock, Romo's third of the game. Rookie RT Tyron Smith played an almost perfect game until getting bowled over by <span>Willie Young</span> to give up a sack on Romo. There were more fairy tales that came to a crashing end than just Romo's All-Pro performance from the first 34 minutes, but this unit has more of an excuse.</p>
<p>The Cowboys hope that the bye week will give this unit a chance to gel even more and they'll come out in Week 6 even further ahead of schedule.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/10/4/2468165/despite-late-game-pressure-cowboys-offensive-line-showing-drasticKD Drummond2011-10-03T17:48:37-05:002011-10-03T17:48:37-05:00Jason Garrett On Tony Romo: 'I Don't Think It's Difficult To Trust Him.'
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<p>In what seems to be the weekly affirmation of <span>Tony Romo</span> as the quarterback of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a>, head coach Jason Garrett spoke to the press Monday about how his feelings towards his unpredictable quarterback. Via <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/espn_macmahon/status/120975012143431680">ESPN Dallas contributor Tim McMahon</a>:</p>
<p>I don't think it's difficult to trust him.</p>
<p>While its good to know that the coach still trusts his field general, what has to be concerning is that Garrett didn't rely on his running game in the second half. The Cowboys finished with 27 carries and 113 yards rushing as the triumvirate of <span>Felix Jones</span> (16 carries, 57 yards), <span>Tashard Choice</span> (6 carries, 39 yards) and Demarco Murray (4 carries, 12 yards) seemed to be wearing down the vaunted defensive line of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>.</p>
<p>"In hindsight, Jason Garrett acknowledged regret that the Cowboys didn't run the ball more in the second half." said <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/espn_macmahon/status/120974900080017408">McMahon on Twitter</a>.</p>
<p>The Dallas Cowboys will get an extra week to rest and recover as they have a bye in week 5 before taking on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> at Gillette Stadium on October 16th.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/10/3/2467160/jason-garrett-tony-romo-i-dont-think-its-difficult-to-trust-him-dallas-cowboysEddie Maisonet2011-10-03T15:03:48-05:002011-10-03T15:03:48-05:00Jerry Jones Stands Behind Tony Romo
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<p>After <span>Tony Romo's</span> disastrous second-half against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> and a side-line snafu being dubbed "<a href="http://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/10/3/2465939/video-tony-romo-snubs-jerry-jones-on-cowboys-sideline">snub gate</a>", Jerry Jones wasted no time giving Tony Romo his full support <a href="http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/10/jerry-jones-theres-no-issue-ab.html">in a series of quotes from last night</a>:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"There's no issue about faith in Romo at any place in this organization, period, any place," Jones said. "There's no issue regarding Tony. I had all the confidence in the world in him on the last drive. He has the ability and gives us the best chance to go down and score a touchdown. We didn't get it done, but we have a lot of faith in Romo."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"If you're going to try to make the plays, then you got a chance to have some bad plays," Jones said. "But however we go, we'll go with Tony. As Tony goes, we'll go."</span></p>
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<p>Jones has never doubted Romo through all the media firestorms -- the fumbled snap, the weekend in Cabo -- that come with playing one of the most scrutinized positions in sports. </p>
<p>Starting Quincy Carter and <span>Vinny Testaverde</span> will do wonders for your perspective.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/10/3/2466804/jerry-jones-tony-romoJonathan Tjarks2011-10-03T12:34:15-05:002011-10-03T12:34:15-05:00Dirk Nowitzki Supports Tony Romo On Twitter
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<p>After the latest twist in the soap opera that is the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link" style="color: #c8181d !important; text-decoration: none !important; background-color: transparent;">Cowboys</a> 2011 season, embattled QB <span>Tony Romo</span> received a public vote of confidence from an unlikely source -- NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki.</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 15px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #444444; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span style="margin-left: -55px; float: left;" class="tweet_avatar"><a style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0033cc; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px;" target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/swish41/status/120891464162082816"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; width: 48px; height: 48px; " src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1273933130/swishProfilePic2_normal.jpg" alt="Swishprofilepic2_normal" height="48" width="48"></a></span>Dear tony romo. Don't worry abt all the critics. I heard that same garbage for a long time. Keep working hard and keep improving.<span style="color: #888888; white-space: nowrap;" class="tweet_author">— <a style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0033cc; padding: 1px;" target="_blank" class="tweet_url" href="http://twitter.com/swish41/status/120891464162082816">@swish41</a> via Twitter</span></span></p>
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<p>In his long tenure in Dallas, Dirk faced many of the same questions about whether he could lead his team to a championship, before eventually answering his critics definitively in last season's playoffs.</p>
<p>Yet for all the criticism about Dirk's "will to win", no one ever questioned the seven-footer's talent. Dirk has been one of the NBA's top 10 players for almost a decade; he would have been a lock for the Hall of Fame regardless of what the Mavericks did in the playoffs.</p>
<p>At this point, it's debatable whether Romo is even a top 10 QB in the NFL.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/10/3/2466461/dirk-tony-romo-twitterJonathan Tjarks2011-10-03T10:32:24-05:002011-10-03T10:32:24-05:00Jim Schwartz Is Glad He Has 'Cowboys' Third Best Receiver'
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<p>Jim Schwartz <a href="http://twitter.com/AndrewSiciliano" target="new">took a little dig</a> at Rob Ryan’s comments last week regarding Calvin Johnson and his standing in relation to Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. Schwartz was set up in his postgame for a one-liner and delivered.</p>
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<p>I’m glad the third best wide receiver on the Cowboys is on our team.</p>
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<p>To the victor goes the ability to have the final word on the trash talk, I suppose. In case you didn’t see it last week, Ryan claimed that both of the Cowboys’ starters are better than Megatron.</p>
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<p>We work against better receivers with Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. They are probably two of the premier receivers in football, but this guy is right there. He’s almost that good. He’s excellent.</p>
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<p>Anyone familiar with Ryan – or any Ryan – knows that he is going to talk that way about his players, but the Lions obviously enjoyed reminding of his quotes after the result.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/10/3/2466117/jim-schwartz-is-glad-he-has-cowboys-third-best-receiverBrett Perryman2011-10-03T09:43:48-05:002011-10-03T09:43:48-05:00VIDEO: Tony Romo Snubs Jerry Jones On Cowboys' Sideline
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<p><span>Tony Romo</span> didn't break any bones during Sunday's loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>, just possibly a somewhat important relationship with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a> owner Jerry Jones. At first it's possible to think that Romo was simply caught off guard by Jones, who grabbed the quarterback from behind. But Romo's subsequent jerking away motion would indicate a full-on teenage hissy fit.</p>
<p>After the jump, toxic superstar acrimony in GIF form!</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/824259/tony-romo-jerry-snub-h.gif"><img alt="Tony-romo-jerry-snub-h_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/824259/tony-romo-jerry-snub-h_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>(click to play)</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/10/3/2465939/video-tony-romo-snubs-jerry-jones-on-cowboys-sidelineSteven Godfrey2011-10-02T15:55:27-05:002011-10-02T15:55:27-05:00Cowboys Vs. Lions: Calvin Johnson's Two Touchdowns Completes Detroit's Comeback
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<p>When the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a> took a 20-3 lead into the half, they had held <span>Calvin Johnson</span> in check. <span>Tony Romo</span> had played an excellent first half, completing 19-of-24 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns -- both to <span>Dez Bryant</span>.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 15px;">The second half even started out well for Dallas, as Romo threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this time to <span>Jason Witten</span> from one yard out, giving Dallas a commanding 27-3 lead.</span></p>
<p>That's as good as it would get for the Cowboys on Sunday, as the wheels came flying off the wagon. </p>
<p>Romo would throw his first interception of the day to former Cowboy <span>Bobby Carpenter</span>, which Carpenter returned 34 yards for Detroit's first touchdown of the game, cutting Dallas' lead down to 27-10.</p>
<p>Detroit's defense wasn't done, though. With the score still at 27-10, Romo was intercepted again, this time by <span>Chris Houston</span>, which he returned 56 yards for a touchdown. </p>
<p>Romo would lead Dallas' offense on a drive inside Detroit's five yard line, but, the Cowboys were unable to convert on third down and were forced to settle for a 23 yard field goal from <span>Dan Bailey</span>. Jason Garrett had opted to go for it on 4th-and-goal from Detroit's one earlier in the first quarter, and <span>Felix Jones</span> was stopped short. </p>
<p>Trailing 30-17, Calvin Johnson finally showed up in the end zone. <span>Matthew Stafford</span> connected with Megatron on a 23 yard touchdown pass, cutting Dallas' lead down to 30-24 with over 13 minutes left to play.</p>
<p>Once again, though, Dallas' offense stalled out, and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Lions</a> capitalized again. <span>Jason Hanson</span> booted a 51 yard field goal, making the score 30-27 with just over four minutes to play.</p>
<p>Immediately, Romo was intercepted by <span>Stephen Tulloch</span> on a pass intended for Witten. The Lions capitalized on Romo's third interception, as Stafford found Johnson again -- this time from two yards out, capping off Detroit's comeback. </p>
<p>Dallas will head into their bye week with a 2-2 record -- with both losses representing fourth quarter meltdowns as the Cowboys had the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a> on the ropes in Week 1, before fourth quarter mistakes facilitated New York's comeback. </p>
<p>The loss overshadows the fine play of <span>Laurent Robinson</span>, who was targeted 10 times by Romo. Robinson finished the day with seven receptions for 116 yards.</p>
<p>Dallas' defense played well, holding Stafford in check. Stafford completed 21-of-43 for 240 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. </p>
<p>Jason Garrett's team will now take the week off before preparing to take on <span>Tom Brady</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> in Week 6. </p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-cowboys/2011/10/2/2464422/cowboys-vs-lions-calvin-johnson-two-touchdowns-completes-detroitJP Starkey