The Cowboys' 2011 schedule includes four playoff teams from this current season: the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks.
Times and dates won't be finalized until the spring, but the Cowboys will play the AFC East and the NFC West this year, in addition to their six NFC East games against the Eagles, New York Giants and Washington Redskins.
Due to their third-place division finish, the Cowboys will also play the third-place teams from the NFC South (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and NFC North (Detroit Lions).
Here is the breakdown:
Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
Away: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, New York Jets.
Their opponents' combined 2010 winning percentage is .495 (103-105). Not that it really matters. Who knows which teams will be competitive this time next year.
From the Milwaukee Iron to the Florida Tuskers to the . . . . Dallas Cowboys?
But that will be this year’s path for quarterback Chris Greisen, who will be signed to the practice squad on Monday with a good possibility of being called up to the 53-man roster for Sunday’s game with the Eagles.
Greisen, a classic journeyman who has bounced around in several different leagues over the last 10 seasons, even had a two-year stint with the Jerry Jones-owned Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League from 2004-05.
But not since a short stint with the Redskins in 2002 has Greisen been with an NFL team. He did play three seasons as a backup with the Arizona Cardinals from 1999-2001.
And since his last stop with the Redskins, Greisen has played with the Rhein Fire, the Green Bay Blizzard, the Desperados and Georgia Force of the AFL and then the Iron and Tuskers of the UFL.
If Greisen is called up this week, it will be because Jon Kitna will be unavailable to play because of an oblique injury he suffered against the Cardinals.
Of course, that would mean Stephen McGee would make his first career NFL start against the Eagles.
So, we start the season horribly. Went 0-2. FINALLY, we win a game. Then after that, total destruction. Finally, Jerry Jones can't handle it, and fires Wade Phillips after an embarrasing blowout in Green Bay. In comes Jason Garrett taking the interm head coach job. After that, Dallas fans were hoping for a change. A major change. First week on the job, gets a win in New Meadowlands Stadium against the Giants. Then we come home the next week and take Detroit, 35-19. But, what concerned me was we were down 10-7 (or something close to that) at the half. But obviouslly, Jason Garrett talked some sense into them at the half to get them back into it and win the game. Now lets go to today's game vs. the Saints. Down 17-0 at the half. Right there, I thought we were done. But no, we rallied back. And this is the kind of football team that the Dallas Cowboys are. When you think they are done, they always got some spark left in them. But thank GOODNESS for Dez Bryant and Bryan McCann on our roster. But come on Kitna, you should've gotten the ball to Dez more. And that last 3rd down was a critical miss. Threw it behind him, which led up to the 59-yard field goal attempt miss to give the Saints the win. Really good effort by Dallas today. But there are still areas where they need to improve. Garrett or Pasqualoni needs to sit down with the CB's and safeties about their performance. But I do give Sensabaugh that nice INT(even though the ball was tipped). Basically, Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins can't be afraid to get aggressive or try to deflect the ball. Critical Saints 3rd down completion to Meachem was because of Newman not really trying to deflect. Good effort by Dallas today. Just didn't work out in your favor. And last but not least, Roy Williams. Costly fumble. Pretty much cost us the whole game. Garrett, please, PLEASE, attack the weak spots on offense, defense, and special teams, and try to kick this team into shape. There's always next year. All we need is a good draft in 2011. Please, Jerry. That's all.
A day after cutting safety Mike Hamlin, the Cowboys are expected to fill the 53rd roster spot on Wednesday.
Look for wide receiver Jesse Holley to land the spot, officially completing his journey from Michael Irvin’s reality TV show “4th and Long” to a member of an NFL team.
Holley will not only be on the team, but should be ready to play Sunday in Minnesota, with hopes of adding a spark to the special teams. Holley has been an active member of the special teams scout units, and it’s that kind of hard work and dedication that is apparently getting rewarded.
Holley spent all of last year on the practice squad and was a real candidate to make the team this year after an impressive training camp and preseason. The Cowboys decided to go against keeping Holley, but now it seems time, considering the team ranks 31st in the NFL in kickoff coverage.
Holley also said he will simulate, or at least try, Vikings WR Randy Moss this week in practice, still working as a scout-team receiver.
Just hours before the Cowboys decided to part ways with Mike Hamlin, we talked about the bottom of the roster on our radio show – The Lunch Break- and we listed Hamlin as the 53rd guy. Apparently, that was the case and the Cowboys decided to cut him.
When that happens, without signing anyone right away, it doesn’t look good for Hamlin. To me it says, we need to replace you with . . . someone. Not sure just yet who it’ll be. But it’ll be someone.
But Hamlin might not be the last of the cuts. The Cowboys clearly need a little help on special teams in the coverage units. If they look to their own practice squad, a good candidate might be Jesse Holley. But I imagine this team has looked outside the organization as well for some veterans who might provide instant help in coverage.
Also, with Martellus Bennett banged up with an ankle injury, the Cowboys might need some insurance at that position, meaning Martin Rucker could get added to that final spot.
But then again, that doesn’t help much with special teams. So another move could be on the way.
If you’re in the mix of players either not active or barely playing each week, like Brandon Williams, Robert Brewster, Kevin Ogletree or maybe Leon Williams, or really any non-starter, you always have to be ready for anything.
The Cowboys proved that this week by the release of Hamlin. And they might not be finished.
On Tuesday the Cowboys released second-year safety Mike Hamlin, a fifth-round pick (No. 166 overall) in the 2009 draft.
Bothered inititally by a broken forearm his rookie year, Hamlin made just six appearances in 2009 as a special-teams contributor. He was active for this year's first two games, but hasn't dressed since, as the Cowboys have instead suited out undrafted rookie safeties Danny McCray and Barry Church.
Hamlin totaled one special teams tackle last year, and becomes the third 2009 defensive back draft pick to be let go by the club, following fellow fifth-rounder DeAngelo Smith and seventh-round pick Mike Mickens.
The former Clemson standout is practice squad eligible, but must first pass through waivers.
The teams hasn't announced plans to fill Hamlin's spot on the 53-man roster, but could be interested in signing a tight end if Martellus Bennett (ankle) is to miss extended time.
