March 2012 - Dallas Cowboys Wiretap

Cowboys Beat Buccaneers 16-10 In Ugly Game (-1.1 TC, +13 TRC)

Jul 14, 2014 4:30 PM

The Dallas Cowboys improved to 2-1 with a 16-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a day in which Tony Romo was beat up while being sacked four times.

The Cowboys had a -1.1 deficit in The Trench Counter, as they were -1 in turnover differential and -36 in penalty yard differential. The Cowboys had a +13 advantage in Total Rushes/Completions.

Romo went 25-for-39 for 283 yards and an interception, connecting with Miles Austin five times for 107 yards.

DeMarco Murray rushed 18 times for 38 yards and a touchdown.

Dan Bailey kicked three field goals to give the Cowboys all the points they would need in a game that featured teams unable to sustain drives.

Josh Freeman was just 10-for-28 for 110 yards with a touchdown and an interception. 

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Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Game Recap

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Cowboys Give More Kickoff Reps In Practice To Morris Claiborne

Aug 29, 2014 8:09 PM

Morris Claiborne has received more reps in practice as a kickoff returner this week.

Felix Jones fumbled the opening kickoff in the Cowboys' Week 2 loss at the Seahawks.

“I just started getting a lot more reps in it now, backing Felix up and just trying to get all the catches I can get,” Claiborne said. 

Claiborne was the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft as a cornerback. 

Claiborne averaged 26.3 yards on 19 kickoff returns for LSU, including a 99-yard touchdown. 

“I wouldn’t mind,” Claiborne said. “I wouldn’t mind doing it at all. We’ve got a guy back there right now that to my understanding is doing a great job in Felix. If they need somebody else, I’m here.” 

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys

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Jerry Jones Remains Decision-Maker For Cowboys

Jun 12, 2014 6:56 AM

Jerry Jones continues to be the primary decision-maker of the Dallas Cowboys.

That became clear again this week when Jason Garrett and Jones were asked about the role of Felix Jones on successive days.

Garrett said that the play of Felix Jones against the Seahawks will make him reevaluate the situation moving forward, while Jerry Jones said that the role of the kick returner/backup running back would change.

Garrett has talked in the past about the collaboration process with Jones.

"One of the things that I think we do a really good job of in this organization is we discuss things. The Joneses and I discuss a lot of things," Garrett said in reference to Jerry and son Stephen, the team's executive vice president. "Our staff and I discuss a lot of things. We discuss a lot of things with our pro personnel and our college scouting department, so the lines of communication are open.

"There's no thing that's going to be 'my decision,' or, 'his decision,' or 'that guy's decision,' or 'this guy's decision.' When we talk about players playing, (special teams coach) Joe (DeCamillis) has a huge role in who's going to be our returner. Now, is he going to make the decision? No. I'm going to get involved in that discussion. Other people are going to get involved in that discussion. That's just the way it works, and we think that's a good thing."

Todd Archer/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, IQ, Misc Rumor

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Dez Bryant Didn't Always Compete In Week 2

Jul 30, 2014 11:58 PM

The Seattle Seahawks used their monster cornerbacks Brandon Browner (6-4, 221) and Richard Sherman (6-3, 195) to limit Dez Bryant.

Tony Romo targeted Bryant only twice after he was jammed by a corner.

“That’s what good press corners do to you,” Jason Garrett said. “You have to keep fighting and keep battling. Typically, what happens is the game feels a little uncomfortable to you when you play a style of defense like that. It’s hard. It’s not like you have free access and you just get into your route and everything is comfortable. Everything’s hard. 

“But at the same time if you keep battling, if you win on some of those routes, you have opportunities for bigger plays. You just have to keep fighting, keep competing throughout the ball game. At times he did that, other times he didn’t.” 

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Fantasy, IQ

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Cowboys Becoming More Conservative On Defense

Jul 31, 2014 7:24 PM

Rob Ryan is having the Dallas Cowboys take a more conservative approach on defense after they frequently gave up big plays when blitzing in 2011. Ryan is counting on his defensive front to pressure the quarterback.

Ryan pressured Eli Manning and Russell Wilson seven times apiece during Weeks 1 and 2.

Todd Archer/ESPN

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Cowboys Won't Cut Felix Jones

Sep 30, 2014 11:39 PM

The Dallas Cowboys have no plans on partings ways with Felix Jones despite arriving to camp out of shape and fumbling through the first two games of the season.

Jones continues to have the confidence of Jerry Jones.

"Well, just because I do," Jerry said Tuesday morning on KRLD-FM. "So I feel like we’re in good shape. But that’s it on that. Move on." 

"I don’t know about that," Jerry said when asked about the possibility of replacing a kickoff returner who ranks in the bottom third of the league. "I think we saw him be quick at practice last week. I think we need to give him a little more room out there. 

"Felix has returned a lot of kickoffs in his time – All-American twice in college as a kickoff returner. We have over the years been reluctant to use him as a kickoff returner because we didn’t want to risk injury, but we’ve decided this year to use him as a kickoff returner. He should be a great asset for us. That’s the way it remains." 

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Misc Rumor

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Seahawks Defeat Cowboys 27-7 (+11.3 TC, +17 TRC)

Nov 1, 2014 6:29 AM

Felix Jones fumbled the opening kickoff of the game, making the Dallas Cowboys seemingly play uphill all day as the Seattle Seahawks improved to 1-1 with a 27-7 win.

The Seahawks had a +11.3 advantage in The Trench Counter, winning the turnover battle by +2 and holding slight edges in yards per pass and per rush. Seattle also had a +17 advantage in Total Rushes/Completions.

Russell Wilson won his first NFL game, going 15-for-20 for 151 yards and a touchdown. The Seahawks controlled the ground game, rushing 41 times for 182 yards, primarily behind Marshawn Lynch's 122 yards on 26 attempts.

Seattle limited DeMarco Murray to 44 yards on 12 carries, while also keeping Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten from breaking out.

Tony Romo finished 23-for-40 for 251 yards, one touchdown to Austin and an interception.

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Tags: Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Game Recap

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Cowboys Sign Sean Lissemore To 'Steal' Of An Extension

Oct 31, 2014 7:24 PM

The Dallas Cowboys and defensive end Sean Lissemore agreed to a three-year extension with $3.1 million guaranteed and a $2 million signing bonus.

“That’s a steal for them,” one agent not involved in the deal said. 

Lissemore was a seventh round pick in 2010.

"The Cowboys like him and Sean likes being there," Lissemore's agent Wes Bridges said. "Quite frankly, Sean had a decision to make and see if he wanted to wait it out and go to next year, but he didn't want it to be a distraction and wanted to just play ball. He wanted to get a deal done and get it done this year." 

The Cowboys see Lissemore as a future starter.

The Cowboys are known for giving out big extensions, but the team has built a defensive line with good depth in an affordable way.

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Cowboys Approach Tony Romo About Extension

Nov 4, 2014 7:26 AM

The Dallas Cowboys have approached Tony Romo about a contract extension, according to a source.

Romo is signed through the 2013 season.

Ed Werder/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Misc Rumor

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Garrett Has Remade Cowboys' Roster, Vibe In 22 Months As HC

Aug 6, 2014 12:43 PM

Jason Garrett has completely remade the Dallas Cowboys' roster over the 22 months he has been head coach.

The Cowboys only have seven of the 24 starters from the final game Wade Phillips coached, not counting the then-injured Tony Romo. Of the starters that are gonge, nine of the 17 are out of the NFL.

In total, 22 of the 53 players (42 percent) remain with the Cowboys from Phillips' team.

The vibe of the team has also changed, with more accountability and attention to deal.

"As a staff we try to lay out the expectations and hold everyone accountable to them. At the end of the day, if that's demanding, well I guess we're demanding," Garrett said. "That's me and that's our entire staff and hopefully that's our players to each other.

"We have standards about how we want to do things. We try to establish them early on, make them abundantly clear to everybody and hold them accountable to them."

Jean-Jacques Taylor/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, IQ

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RG3, Luck, Chandler Jones, Claiborne Lead Williamson's Rookie Watch
Robert Griffin III is rated No. 1 in Matt Williamson's Rookie Watch, overtaking the top slot from Andrew Luck who comes in second after Week 1.

Matt Williamson/ESPN

Garrett Cites Need For Both 'Oak And Willow' In Cowboys' Offense
Jason Garrett referenced a well-known fable in talking about how the Dallas Cowboys call their offensive plays.

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

How Football Outsiders' Projections Changed After Week 1
The Broncos, 49ers, Buccaneers and Lions all moved up in the rankings, while the Saints, Steelers, Panthers and Giants dropped.

Aaron Schatz/Football Outsiders

Cowboys, Romo To Discuss Extension At 'Comfortable' Time
Tony Romo is signed by the Dallas Cowboys through the 2013 season, putting an extension as an issue both sides will address at some point in the foreseeable future.

Jon Machota/Dallas Morning News

Team-By-Team Cap Space As 2012 NFL Season Begins
Trent Baalke and the 49ers have the least amount of cap space in the NFL.

Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk

Romo: Witten's Impact In Week 1 Went Beyond Two Catches
Jason Witten unexpectedly played in the Dallas Cowboys' Week 1 win on Wednesday at the Giants.

Joe Machota/Dallas Morning News

Cowboys Impressed With Morris Claiborne's Debut
Morris Claiborne had an impressive debut at cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, limiting Hakeem Nicks to four catches for 38 yards.

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

NFL Teams Phasing Out Traditional Playbooks For iPads
The NFL is phasing out old-fashioned playbooks by putting everything on iPads, even video cut-up with 14 teams doing so in 2012.

Arnie Stapleton/AP

Clinton Speech Outdraws Cowboys/Giants
NBC had an average of 20.6 million viewers for the telecast of the Dallas Cowboys' 24-17 victory over the New York Giants on Wednesday.

Scott Collins/Los Angeles Times

Risdon's NFL Picks For Week 1
Breaking down the Packers/49ers, Broncos/Steelers and Ravens/Bengals along with the other weekend games and the debuts of the rookie quarterbacks.

Jeff Risdon/RealGM

Romo, Ogletree Lead Cowboys To 24-17 Win Over Giants (+7.0 TC)
The Cowboys had a +7.0 advantage in the Trench Counter in their 24-17 win over the Giants.

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Patriots, Packers, Falcons, Steelers Have Best DVOA Projections
The Patriots have a 25.2% chance of winning the Super Bowl, while the Packers have a 15.1% chance.

Aaron Schatz/Football Outsiders

Giants Expected To Test Morris Claiborne
The Cowboys are expecting Eli Manning and the Giants to test rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Brandon George/Dallas Morning News

Cowboys Release QB Stephen McGee To Sign TE Colin Cochart
The Dallas Cowboys have released Stephen McGee on Saturday, who made the 53-man roster on Friday as the No. 3 quarterback.

Calvin Watkins/ESPN

Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, Dwayne Harris Lead Preseason WRs
Julio Jones, Antonio Brown and Dwayne Harris had impressive preseasons at the wide receiver position.

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