With Laurent Robinson(notes) joining the Dallas Cowboys, he proved himself as he substituted for starter Miles Austin(notes) during the stars hamstring injury. After Austin came back, Robinson impressed the Cowboys enough to keep him on the roster, which was great since Austin went down again weeks later. With Robinson’s performance, here is a look at reserve receivers from past Dallas teams that came through big as well.

Kelvin Martin

In the days of the early ’90s Cowboys teams, there was Michael Irvin and Jay Novacek and then there was everyone else. The No. 2 man through most of that time is Alvin Harper. However, one receiver who made his name as a fan favorite during this time was Kelvin Martin. K-Mart played for the Cowboys from 1987-1992 and won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys as one of the most valuable third receivers in the nation. He caught 237 receptions for 3,083 yards and nine touchdowns over his career in Dallas.

Patrick Crayton(notes)

Patrick Crayton joined the Cowboys in the 2004 season and played there until moving on to San Diego in 2009. During his time in Dallas, he backed up Terrell Owens(notes) and made his name as a solid third option in the Cowboys’ offense during his time there. He finished his career in Dallas with 196 receptions for 2,888 yards and 23 touchdowns, with his best season coming in 2007 (50 receptions, 697 yards, seven touchdowns). Despite his strong play, he couldn’t earn the starting job when Owens left the team.

Butch Johnson

In the ’70s, the main receivers for the Dallas Cowboys were Drew Pearson and Tony Hill, with Pearson the starter until giving way to the younger, more explosive Hill in the early ’80s. However, Butch Johnson was an integral part of the offense during that time as well. Johnson played for Dallas from 1976-1983 and caught 132 receptions for 2,124 yards and 19 touchdowns in his time there. Over his career at Dallas, he became the second best punt returner for the Cowboys and caught touchdown passes in back-to-back Super Bowls.

Kevin Williams(notes)

While Kelvin Martin was the big name in the first ’90s Super Bowl win, it was Kevin Williams who took his place from 1993-1996. A second round draft choice from Miami, he played on the other two Super Bowl squads as the third receiver on the team. He finished his Cowboys career with 98 receptions for 1,268 yards and five touchdowns.

Author Shawn S. Lealos has followed the Dallas Cowboys since he was a child, his favorite players range from Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett to the Triplets of the 90s. Through the great years of the ’90s and the hard times of the ’80s, Shawn never turned his back on America’s Team.

Source: all stats from fantasyfootballchallenge.com

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Growing up as a Dallas Cowboys fan, there are numerous teams that I have been bred to dislike. The Cowboys feature one of the most passionate fan bases in all of professional sports and the enemies of the Cowboys are Public Enemy No. 1. Much like the New York Yankees fans hate the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Lakers fans hate the Boston Celtics, here are the biggest rivals of the Dallas Cowboys.

1. Washington Redskins

There is no team in the world worse than the Washington Redskins as far as Dallas fans are concerned. From the start of the franchise, Washington was the enemy. The Redskins owner tried to block the Cowboys from entering the league and Dallas responded by taking their all-pro quarterback in the expansion draft. Since then, there is no one that Dallas wants to beat more than the Redskins especially when, in 1989, it was the only team they could beat.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

It all started in the 1970′s. Dallas had the Doomsday Defense and Pittsburgh had the Steel Curtain. Pittsburgh had Terry Bradshaw and Dallas had Roger Staubach. They were the best teams the NFL had to offer. They faced off twice in the Super Bowl, two of the best games in Super Bowl history, and the Steelers won both times. Dallas gained some revenge in the ’90s when they finally knocked off Pittsburgh but the memories of the ’70s domination lingered.

3. San Francisco 49ers

“The Catch.” That one title should make all Dallas Cowboys fans cringe as it was the play that Joe Montana and Dwight Clark took control of the NFL. With one catch, the era of Dallas dominating the NFC ended and the era of San Francisco being king of the hill began. Dallas could never seem to knock off the 49ers, and from The Catch on, the Cowboys fell into the basement of the NFL. Then, in the ’90s, Dallas rebounded. In the 1993 NFC Championship game, Ricky Watters fumbled and it is still a memory I cherish today. While Washington and Pittsburgh are teams I have hated for a long time, San Francisco is one that always just exasperated me.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles threw a snowball at Troy Aikman with a battery in it. The Eagles fans cheered when Michael Irvin went down with a career ending injury. Philadelphia fans booed Santa Claus. Those things I just listed explain how many of Dallas’ fans view the Eagles. I am sure they have lots of bad things they can say about Dallas as well. It is easy to see the hatred going both ways when they boo Irvin every time he visits as an announcer. This isn’t the longest standing rivalry but it is one of the most heated in today’s NFL.

Author Shawn S. Lealos has followed the Dallas Cowboys since he was a child, his favorite players range from Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett to the Triplets of the 90s. Through the great years of the ’90s and the hard times of the ’80s, Shawn never turned his back on America’s Team.

Source: Dallas Cowboys website

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It is nice to remember the past as a Dallas Cowboys fan. The team has won five Super Bowl titles, while playing in the big game eight times, remaining one of the NFL’s most successful franchises. On Sunday, Nov. 6, the Cowboys will be honoring three more of their historical players by adding them to the Ring of Honor.

This is the first addition to the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor since the Triplets went up in 2005. With so many legendary players encircling the stadium, there is one that has been overlooked for far too long. While names like Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett went up in 1983 and 1994 respectively, the best receiver of the era is heading up there now as well. The Dallas Cowboys are honoring Drew Pearson as well as two members of the Cowboys’ teams of the ’90s in Larry Allen and Charles Haley.

Drew Pearson

The Dallas Cowboys enjoy handing out the No. 88 to the best wide receivers coming aboard the team. Names like Michael Irvin, Antonio Bryant(notes) and Dez Bryant(notes) all received the number as the Cowboys looked for their next big thing. Out of the three, only Irvin lived up to the reputation in Dallas, although Dez Bryant is still young. However, it all began with Drew Pearson.

28 years after his retirement, Pearson is finally getting on the Ring of Honor and I have to ask, “What took so long?” Drew Pearson was the best wide receiver on the Cowboys team in the ’70s and most of the ’80s. There were other receivers who played alongside him but there was only one Drew Pearson. He finished his career with 489 receptions for 7,822 yards and 48 touchdowns. He only played on one Super Bowl team.

Those numbers are nothing really special but ask any Dallas Cowboys’ fan and they will tell you how important Pearson is to the history of the Cowboys. Out of everyone in the Cowboys’ past that was not in the Ring of Honor, it is Drew Pearson who deserved to be up there the most. He is the one I am happiest about.

Larry Allen

Larry Allen was a member of the famed Dallas Cowboys offensive line. This is, of course, the line that people credit with Emmitt Smith’s record. He played with Dallas for 12 seasons and made 10 Pro Bowls while wearing the Cowboys’ star. He was only there for one Super Bowl, the Barry Switzer win, but he was dominant the entire time he played and protected his quarterbacks at all costs.

Charles Haley

I’m not going to say much here. I don’t think Haley deserves to be on the Ring of Honor, although I am sure there are many who will disagree. To each his own and everyone has a right to their opinion. However, he only played for Dallas from 1992-1996 and that is not enough time to warrant this inclusion. Haley played on all three Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl teams but also won two for the San Francisco 49ers as well. He now gets his sixth ring, in the Ring of Honor.

Author Shawn S. Lealos has followed the Dallas Cowboys since he was a child, his favorite players range from Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett to the Triplets of the 90s. Through the great years of the ’90s and the hard times of the ’80s, Shawn never turned his back on America’s Team.

Source: Dallas Cowboys

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It’s a fumble! What was he thinking? What a way to lose! All 32 teams run plays that make you scratch your head and want to yell obscenities at the television screen. We all know how it feels to watch our favorite team attempt some plays that would not work in a video game never mind an NFL game. For your agonizing, or celebratory approval I present this list of top five boneheaded, head shaking, and overall idiotic plays in Dallas Cowboys history.

Cowboys Stadium has one of the largest HD video screens in the world.
2010

Embarrassing play # 1

Jason Garret’s play call at the end of the half against the Washington Redskins in 2010 was one of the stupidest decisions by a Dallas Cowboys coach in a long time. With the Cowboys down by three points with a mere four seconds left on the clock before halftime at their own 36 yard line any person with a brain would have taken a knee and regrouped in the locker room. The play they ran made absolutely zero sense. Romo lined up in shotgun, snapped the ball, and tossed a pass out onto the flat towards Tashard Choice(notes). He caught it, was quickly tackled which led to a fumble returned by the Washington Redskins for an easy touchdown. The Redskins went on to win the game. It made my list for the complete and utter idiocy involved in this play call.

Embarrassing play # 2

In Super Bowl XXVII, the Cowboys man handled the Buffalo Bills so granted this moment did not change the outcome one bit, but it bears mentioning due to the fact that one it is still talked about to this day, as well as costing them a NFL record. Leon Lett picked up a fumble in the 4th quarter of the game and went off to the races towards an obvious touchdown. Apparently no one told Bills wide receiver Don Beebe so when Leon slowed down to celebrate before entering the endzone Don caught him from behind knocking the ball loose causing a touchback and giving the ball back to Buffalo. The first sentence says it all as to why it made my list.

Embarrassing play # 3

The 1982 NFC Championship Game between the Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers delivered “The Catch”, but there was another moment in there that fits this list. With less than a minute to go in the game, Danny White was sacked and he coughed up the ball giving possession to the 49ers sealing the Cowboys loss. This made my list not because of its idiocy, but because of the fact that the Cowboys could have overcome “The Catch”.

Embarrassing play # 4

The date was October 12, 2008. The place was University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale Arizona. The teams involved were Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals. In overtime, the Cowboys failed to move the ball so Matt Mcbriar was called in to punt the ball away, and that is when it happened. Sean Morey(notes) of the Cardinals blocked the punt, and his teammate Monty Biesel recovered and scored the winning touchdown. This made my list because of just how frustrating and aggravating it was that the Cowboys lost because of a blocked punt of all things.

Embarrassing play # 5

Near the end of the 1983 season the Cowboys faced off against the Redskins at Texas Stadium. On a 4th and 1, Dallas head coach Tom Landry told their quarterback Danny White to try to draw the Redskins offsides by using a hard count to prey on the defense’s excitement. Danny White however had other ideas. He decided at the line of scrimmage to call a running play instead. The run lost two yards, and the Cowboys turned the ball over on downs costing them the game. This made my list due to the same reasons as the first one on the list.

Sources:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/lists/Top_10_Super_Bowl_ChokesEmbarrassing_Moments#photo-title=Super%20Bowl%20XXX%20-%20Neil%20in%20agony&photo=9126626

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2010/sep/12/bc-fbn-galloway-columnft-_-sports-700-words/

http://silverandblueblood.com/top-ten-worst-moments-in-dallas-cowboys-history

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I was searching and searching my mental vault of football memories to find the five best in-game moments in the Dallas Cowboys storied history. I selected the plays by asking myself if it made a historic impact in some way. I also asked if it led to a momentous victory on a grand stage. So, presented for your enjoyment and reminiscing here are the top five best moments in the history of America’s Team.

Best moment # 1

Cowboys Stadium has one of the largest HD video screens in the world.
2010

This moment came in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on October 27th of 2002. Emmit Smith ran for 11 yards to break Walter Payton’s all-time rushing record. This play, even though it was in a losing effort, is one of the best in the history of the Dallas Cowboys. With those seemingly innocuous 11 yards number 22 became the NFL all-time leading rusher. The reason this made my list is rather obvious.

Best moment # 2

The NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cowboys was a closely contended battle. That is until Troy Aikman threw an unexpected slant pass to Alvin Harper which he caught and ran to the 49ers nine yard line. That pass set them up for a game-clinching touchdown. They punched their ticket for another Super Bowl visit. At the big game they defeated the Buffalo Bills 52-17. This made my list because it sent them to the big game. It also caught the other biggest team of the 1990s off guard, and sealed their fate.

Best moment # 3

Super Bowl VI pitted the Cowboys versus the Miami Dolphins. Bob Lily, who has the nickname of Mr. Cowboy chased down a juking and jiving Bob Griese for a 29 yard sack. It was the defining moment in the game, and it helped them become champions for the first time in team history. The reason this is on my list is because they got their first of five Super Bowl victories with a major assist from this massive loss of yards.

Best moment # 4

This Monday Night Football matchup was between the Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings on January 3rd 1983. Tony Dorsett broke an incredible 99.5 yard run from scrimmage. This is one of the best due to it being such an amazing run from end zone to end zone, as well as because it set an NFL record.

Best moment # 5

On November 13^th, 1966, a heated rivalry game between the Cowboys and the Washington Redskins was won by the Cowboys by one point. The biggest moment in that game was a 95 yard touchdown pass from “Dandy” Don Meredith to Bob Hayes. It made my list because Bob Hayes had a total of 246 receiving yards that day which is a franchise record that still stands to this day.

Details from this article were found on Cowboys Top 10 Plays From The 2000s Decade

Sources:

Nick Eatman Cowboys Top 10 Plays From The 2000s Decade Cowboys Connections

If you want to read about the other side of the coin, check out The Five Worst Moments in Dallas Cowboys History

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I started following the Dallas Cowboys in 1964. The Cowboys were a scrappy team with a classy coach. They won their first NFC title in 1970. During the ’70s the Cowboys rode a tall horse all the way to multiple Super Bowls.

During the ’80s the Cowboys rode a bucking bronco. Due to economic reversals Bum Bright was forced to sell the team. Jerry Jones purchased the Dallas Cowboys in 1989. From here I start my list of five worst moments in the history of the Dallas Cowboys, listed in reverse order.

5. Loss to the Detroit Lions in 2011

I’m going with the notion that the latest cut stings the most. A hard fought loss to a good team doesn’t bother me. The Detroit Lions of 2011 are a good team. The problem is that we’re seeing a continuing pattern of blowing games that the Cowboys should win.

In week one, the Cowboys had the Jets down 24 to 10 only to lose 24 to 27.

In week four the Cowboys had the Detroit Lions down 27 to 3 only to lose 30 to 34. The biggest come from ahead loss in the history of the Cowboys.

After the bye, week six, the Cowboys blow another lead in a loss to the New England Patriots.

4. The last game in Texas Stadium and the first game in the new Cowboy Stadium

On Dec. 20, 2008 the Dallas Cowboys lost their last game played in Texas Stadium to the underdog Baltimore Ravens by the score of 24 to 33. The Cowboys did not play well. That put a bad taste in my mouth.

The Cowboys lost the first game in the new Cowboy Stadium to the New York Giants. Signed on a wall outside the visitors locker room: “Eli Manning 9-20-09 First win in the new stadium.” The autograph has since been painted over, but the taste is still there.

3. Jimmy Johnson resigns

On March 29, 1994, Jimmy Johnson resigned from the Dallas Cowboys. Most of us will never know the whole story.

This is another case of Jerry Jones letting his mouth overload his—team. It may be true that any one of 500 coaches could have won a super bowl with the assembled talent. But—maybe not. Jerry Jones likes to talk. He should think first.

Barry Switzer did manage to win Super Bowl XXX . The Cowboys have been looking for a horse to ride since that time. Since Jimmy Johnson resigned 5 coaches have been bucked off. Jason Garret now sits in the saddle.

2. Coach Tom Landry is fired

In 1989 Jerry Jones set up a deal to purchase the Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys won one game, lost 15. The record is not the problem.

Jerry Jones installed Jimmy Johnson as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. The purchase and coaching change was reported in a press conference. It was two days before Jones had an official meeting with Tom Landry to inform him that he was out of a coaching job. The coaching change was probably inevitable, but it should have been handled with dignity and respect. It was not.

Jerry Jones quickly realized he had made a mistake and tried to do damage control. He never truly succeeded in putting it right.

1. The 2009 Dallas Cowboy’s training facility collapse

The Cowboys training facility collapsed in high wind on May 2, 2009. More than 60 players and coaches were in the facility. 12 were injured. The special teams coach, Joe DeCamillis, suffered a broken neck. Rich Behm, a team scouting assistant, was paralyzed from the waist down.

Human tragedy puts into perspective that there might be more important things than winning football games.

Well, there you go. My list of five worst moments in Dallas Cowboys history. Next week let’s win a game. Go Cowboys!

Sources:

Dallas Cowboys Official Team Site

ESPN: NFL

Dallas News

SI Vault

Personal Experience

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots have watched plenty of film of each other. They’ve pored over their own playbooks, probing for ways to gain an advantage.

That’s fine, but there’s nothing like facing each other on the field to get a real feel for their strengths and weaknesses.

And that hasn’t happened in four years.

“We’ve got a crash course going here on the Cowboys,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “I think this would be a lot easier team to prepare for if you were playing them twice a year.”

Instead, they’ve met 10 times in 51 years since 1960 when Dallas entered the NFL as an expansion franchise and New England started as a charter member of the AFL.

Sunday’s game will be the first between the teams since 2007 when both were 5-0 before the Patriots, behind Tom Brady’s five touchdown passes, won 48-27 en route to an undefeated regular season. They finally lost in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

Both teams are much different now. The Patriots (4-1) have six active players who were on the 2007 team. Jason Garrett is in his first full season as coach of the Cowboys (2-2).

“We don’t know each other that much, but we’re kind of going into the game the same way. We both have the same kind of look at each other. Certainly, they’ve been a marquee franchise in this league for the last decade,” Garrett said. “They’re a team that everyone in this league has studied over the last 10 years, so even though we haven’t played them, we’ve watched them. … Hopefully , we can gain some advantage that way.”

They may need it to control Wes Welker, who leads the NFL with 45 catches and 740 yards receiving. And running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is coming off a career-high 136-yard rushing performance in last Sunday’s 30-21 win over the New York Jets.

But the Cowboys have the stingiest run defense in the league and will be rested after a bye week. They are 16-6 after having a weekend off and have won their last five road games following a bye.

The Patriots have their bye after Sunday’s game and don’t want to go into the break with a loss.

“You never want to lose one,” guard Logan Mankins said, “but that would make it tough.”

The Cowboys will have cornerback Orlando Scandrick back from a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for all but the opener. He generally covers the slot receiver, Welker’s position.

“It’s the fastest team we’ve played this year,” Belichick said. “You look at plays and you stop the film and you say, ‘Looks like this is going to be a good play,’ and then it just collapses. … They haven’t given up very many plays, period, run or pass.”

They did in their last game, a 34-30 loss to the Detroit Lions in which they squandered a 24-point, third-quarter lead and Romo threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns.

“You never want that to happen,” said Romo, who may have better luck Sunday against the NFL’s lowest-ranked defense. “You have to minimize turnovers in key situations. We did that for two of the games and two of the games we didn’t.”

Brady had a different problem against the Jets. He was sacked four times and the pressure is likely to continue against DeMarcus Ware, one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, and a defense tied for eighth in the league with 13 sacks.

“He doesn’t let the pressure rattle him. His composure is not like any other quarterback,” Ware said. “You’ve got to do some things on defense to take them off kilter.”

Brady has thrown six interceptions, but four came in a 34-31 loss at Buffalo. The Patriots have one fumble all season, but recovered it.

“They are always doing everything right,” Ware said.

Not quite, but they have won 19 straight regular-season games at home and scored at least 30 points in the last 13 regular-season games, one less than the record set by the St. Louis Rams in 1999-2000

The last team to hold New England below that total was Cleveland in a 34-14 win last Nov. 7. Rob Ryan was the Browns’ defensive coordinator, a position he holds now with the Cowboys.

That gives them some extra insight into the Patriots, although Ryan is coaching different players.

“If you have an experience where you played against a team before, you certainly go back and watch that game to see if there is anything that continues to relate to what that offense or defense is doing,” Garrett said. “I think we get more focus on what’s happening in 2011.”

The Patriots knowledge of the Cowboys could get a boost from defensive end Andre Carter, who faced them 10 times in the last five years as a member of the Washington Redskins.

“I have made a few pointers,” Carter said, “but I just think as regards to our study, we’ve been just dead on, constantly learning what they’re trying to do.”

Both teams did plenty of preparation for each other long before this past week.

“It wasn’t like we walked in here (last) Monday morning and were like, ‘Who are we playing this week? Let’s go to work on them,’ “ Belichick said.

But once the game starts, both teams must adjust to what the unfamiliar players on the other side of the line of scrimmage are doing.

“They change their scheme based on who they’re playing,” Belichick said. “What we get and what they did last (game) are probably two different things.”

Published: Oct. 8, 2011 at 11:34 PM

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 8 (UPI) — The Dallas Cowboys are the favorite team of adults who follow professional football for a fifth straight year, a U.S. poll indicates.

The Harris Poll of 2,462 U.S. adults surveyed online Sept. 12-19 by Harris Interactive found the second- most popular NFL team was the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. For the third year in a row, the Jacksonville Jaguars wer last.

The football season is only a few weeks old, but some are looking forward to the Super Bowl. One-quarter of Americans who follow professional football believe the Packers will win the Super Bowl, 23 say it will be the Patriots, 8 percent say the Philadelphia Eagles and 6 percent the Steelers.

Fifty-five percent of Americans say they follow professional football, a slight increase from last year’s 53 percent, although the attraction is more popular with men than women — 71 percent vs. 41 percent.

Fifty-seven percent of Generation Xers, those ages 35-46, and baby boomers ages 47-65 say they follow football, as do 55 percent of those age 66 and older — but just over half of echo boomers ages 18-34 say they are football fans.

No margin of error was provided.

On what will undoubtedly be an emotional night with pre-game ceremonies commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the New York Jets will try to get their 2011 season off to a good start when they host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

There is a lot of buzz around the Jets heading into Week 1, and it starts with their boisterous (does that even cut it?) head coach Rex Ryan. Ryan of course never shies away from anything, including numerous proclamations that he believes the Jets are a Super Bowl contender. Ryan may want all the eyes on him, but many will be fixated on Mark Sanchez who begins his third season as the Jets starting quarterback. This is the year everyone expects (and the Jets and their fans hope) that Sanchez makes the big leap and becomes a consistent playmaker.

 He’ll likely get plenty of chances, as the Cowboys come into the 2011 season thin in the secondary thanks to a few key injuries. Number one corner back Terence Newman is out with a groin injury, and fellow corner Mike Jenkins is listed as questionable with a neck injury. Dallas’ weak secondary will give Sanchez plenty of opportunities to go downfield to Santonio Holmes and Dustin Keller. And many are eager to see how often Sanchez can utilize Plaxico Burress, who makes his return to professional football after spending two years in jail.

 The Jets defense is again expected to be one of the top unites in football. The Jets defense matches up favorably in the trenches, as Dallas will be starting an inexperienced offensive line. Quarterback Tony Romo is at his best when he gets a lot of time to throw the ball, and the Jets hope they can pressure the Cowboys’ quarterback into a few mistakes. The Jets also figure to handle the Cowboys’ rushing attack fairly well. A key matchup could be Jets’ cornerback Antonio Cromartie against Dez Bryant and/or Miles Austin. Darrelle Revis will likely shut down his man, and the Jets hope Cromartie can do the same. Additionally, Jason Witten is one of the best tight ends in the league, and the Jets struggled big-time last season in covering tight ends.

 And so it begins, another year in Jets land. The past two season have been wild rides than came crashing on the season’s second to last day. The Jets are talking a big game again, and their journey starts Sunday night.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — This one is about more than just the Ryan Bowl, Plaxico Burress’ return and Jason Garrett’s debut as the full-time coach of “America’s Team.”

With the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks as an emotional backdrop, coach Rex Ryan and the New York Jets are kicking off their season against Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys. And, it comes in front of a national television audience in a stadium just a few miles from the World Trade Center site, with ceremonies, songs and videos to honor first responders and victims.

There also will likely be some tears.

“I think it’ll definitely be emotional, to me and everybody that is there and probably people that are watching around the country,” Ryan said. “I would assume it’s going to be emotional for everybody. But in particular with this region, this area, when you talk about 2,753 people perishing in New York alone, I think it’s going to be very emotional for a lot of people.”

Ryan feels a strong responsibility to make sure his team goes out and wins tonight at MetLife Stadium. Not just for the franchise and the fans, but for the people of the area.

“Guys will remember exactly where they were at the time of the tragedy,” Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez said. “They’ll give thanks to the officers and rescue workers. We want to do all that, and respect that atmosphere and that process and all the ceremonial stuff. And at the same time, we want to play a good football game and be focused and ready to play. So, that’s important as well.”

The Cowboys know emotions will play into this one on and off the field, and Garrett said that won’t be limited to just the Jets and their players.

“I don’t think in any way it was a regional event,” said Garrett, who was an assistant with the Giants on Sept. 11, 2001. “It was an international event. … I certainly feel like the responsibility that we have as members of the Dallas Cowboys to be at our best is no less than the responsibility that the Jets feel to be at their best.”

Ryan is motivated for another reason. He’s going up against his twin brother Rob, the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator — with their ailing father, Buddy, who’s battling cancer and is expected to be in the crowd.

“It’s always special when you play against Rex,” Rob Ryan said. “You talk about emotion … .”

Rex is 5-3 against his brother, going back to their college coaching days, and the Jets beat the Cleveland Browns and Rob’s defense last season. That matchup was highlighted by a wig-wearing Rex taking playful shots at his brother and Rob going right back at him.

This time around, the brothers have been easy on the jokes. Winning is serious business for the brothers with Rex having won a Super Bowl with Baltimore and taken New York to two consecutive AFC championship games, while Rob has won two rings as an assistant in New England.

As it is, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo said Rob Ryan changed up the defense immediately after the Jets claimed former Cowboys safety Andrew Sandejo off waivers.

Rob must whisper to his players about how badly he wants to beat his brother, though, right?

“You know, he doesn’t whisper at all,” Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. “It’s a battle they have every year. May the best man win.”

Even without the emotions of playing on 9/11, this was going to be a special game for Burress. The Jets receiver will make his regular-season debut for his new team, nearly three years after he last played — back when he was with the Giants. That’s before he accidentally shot himself in the leg in a Manhattan nightclub in November 2008 and later served 20 months in prison on a gun charge.

“I kind of go over in my mind what it’s going to feel like, but I don’t even know,” Burress said. “When I get out there, whatever happens, if I shed a few tears or whatever, the world will see it.”

The game also marks the first time in the regular season Garrett will coach the Cowboys without the interim tag. He went 5-3 after he replaced the fired Wade Phillips.

Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

First published on September 11, 2011 at 12:40 am

DALLAS — The long wait is over. Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson was introduced by team owner Jerry Jones as one of the latest members of the club’s famed Ring of Honor during a news conference Friday afternoon.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Pearson would join the Ring two weeks ago, but Jones hadn’t come close to confirming that story until Friday’s announcement.

Pearson’s induction will be met with relief and joy from Cowboys fans of a certain age. When Rayfield Wright entered the Ring in 2004, it might have helped him make the Hall of Fame a couple of years later. Perhaps it could someday do the same for Pearson, but for now he’ll be thrilled to take his rightful place with other Cowboys legends.

There are 17 players inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor. The first was “Mr. Cowboy” Bob Lilly in 1975. The last time a player was inducted into the ring was when Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin entered in 2005.

Pearson played for the Cowboys from 1973-1983 after being signed as a free agent out of Tulsa. He finished his career with 489 receptions for 7,822 yards.

Pearson was selected as a member of the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team.

Joining Pearson in the Ring of Honor will be former Cowboys Larry Allen and Charles Haley, according to DallasCowboys.com. Allen, an 11-time Pro Bowler on the offensive line, was a member of the Cowboys’ 1995 Super Bowl squad. Haley was a member of an NFL-record five Super Bowl teams and finished his career with 100.5 sacks.

The formal induction for Pearson, Allen and Haley into the Ring of Honor is scheduled to take place Nov. 6 at the Cowboys’ home game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Published Friday, August 19, 2011 12:07 AM

By JAIME ARON
Associated Press

IRVING — The air was hot, the grass was real and the guys on the other side of scrimmage wore different uniforms. It was a practice unlike anything the Dallas Cowboys have had this preseason.

The 4 a.m. Pacific time wake-up call was different for the San Diego Chargers, too.

The Cowboys and Chargers spent the first of three days together Thursday with a morning workout on the outdoor fields at Cowboys’ headquarters. They squared off for almost two hours, leaving around the time temperatures made their near-daily bolt beyond 100 degrees.

Philip Rivers threw against DeMarcus Ware and the Dallas starting defense, and Tony Romo threw against Shaun Phillips and San Diego’s starting defense on separate fields. Many of the drills were the same as the teams would run in their usual practice, spiced up because they were going against foes instead of teammates. There will be more of the same in a controlled scrimmage Friday at Cowboys Stadium, then the preseason game Sunday night.

“Sometimes you can get comfortable working against the same guys,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “It’s fun to shock the system a little bit.”

The early start — 9 a.m. local time, but 7 a.m. to the Chargers’ body clocks — was a necessity, since it allowed the work to be done with temperatures still in double-digits. San Diego coach Norv Turner said that helped fit the theme of shaking guys from their comfort zones.

“It’s all just changes that they have to handle,” he said. “The whole thing is good for us.”

The clubs decided to squeeze in the joint practices to piggyback on the preseason game. It was pretty easy to arrange considering Turner was among Garrett’s mentors, their relationship stemming from the early 1990s when Turner was the offensive coordinator and Garrett the backup quarterback on Dallas teams that won the Super Bowl following the 1992 and ’93 seasons.

Turner said he hadn’t been on these fields since 1994.

“You walk out and it brings back some great memories,” he said.

Walking out also felt like walking into an oven. It was pushing 90 degrees when practice started, a jolt for Dallas players accustomed to the air conditioning of the Alamodome and Cowboys Stadium, and for San Diego players accustomed to their gentle climate. Two ambulances were nearby, with plenty of ice, water and sports drinks to keep everyone well hydrated.

Turner said this was the Chargers’ hottest practice. Ware joked that the conditions were the reason no fights broke out.

“It’s like, ‘Hey guys, let’s get used to this heat first before we start all this intensity,’” he said.

Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said the draining weather provided a good test.

“Guys got a little tired there at the end,” he said. “You’ve got to have that feeling of what it’s like to dig deep — your stomach’s hurting, you’re tired and you can’t take a play off. I think some of the guys are learning that. There’s no better way to do it than right here, especially when you’re competing against a different opponent.”

The good news for Dallas players was the grass field — lush, “like a putting green,” according to Chargers receiver Patrick Crayton, who spent six years with the Cowboys before being released last year.

Witten appreciated the soft footing more than ever after so many weeks on artificial turf.

“I used to hear all those old guys talk about, ‘Oh, my knees can’t handle this turf,”‘ Witten said. “I came out here today and I felt like a new man.”

*

NOTES — Crayton was always a good quote in his Dallas days, but he was on his best behavior Thursday, refusing to say anything about the fact the Cowboys could use a veteran No. 3 receiver like him. … Former Cowboys star Larry Allen watched practice and spent time chatting with top pick Tyron Smith, an offensive tackle. “He has long arms and he uses his reach well. He just needs to pick it up a little bit and get a little quicker,” Allen said. “I’m planning on taking him out to lunch and give him a little talk.” … Dallas receiver Miles Austin missed the workout with a strained hamstring that could keep him out Sunday night.

IRVING, Texas – The air was hot, the grass was real and the guys on the other side of scrimmage wore different uniforms. It was a practice unlike anything the Dallas Cowboys have had this preseason.

The 4 a.m. Pacific time wake-up call was different for the San Diego Chargers, too.

The Cowboys and Chargers spent the first of three days together Thursday with a morning workout on the outdoor fields at Cowboys’ headquarters. They squared off for almost two hours, leaving around the time temperatures made their near-daily bolt beyond 100 degrees.

Philip Rivers threw against DeMarcus Ware and the Dallas starting defence, and Tony Romo threw against Shaun Phillips and San Diego’s starting defence on separate fields. Many of the drills were the same as the teams would run in their usual practice, spiced up because they were going against foes instead of teammates. There will be more of the same in a controlled scrimmage Friday at Cowboys Stadium, then the preseason game Sunday night.

“Sometimes you can get comfortable working against the same guys,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “It’s fun to shock the system a little bit.”

The early start — 9 a.m. local time, but 7 a.m. to the Chargers’ body clocks — was a necessity, since it allowed the work to be done with temperatures still in double-digits. San Diego coach Norv Turner said that helped fit the theme of shaking guys from their comfort zones.

“It’s all just changes that they have to handle,” he said. “The whole thing is good for us.”

The clubs decided to squeeze in the joint practices to piggyback on the preseason game. It was pretty easy to arrange considering Turner was among Garrett’s mentors, their relationship stemming from the early 1990s when Turner was the offensive co-ordinator and Garrett the backup quarterback on Dallas teams that won the Super Bowl following the 1992 and ’93 seasons.

Turner said he hadn’t been on these fields since 1994.

“You walk out and it brings back some great memories,” he said.

Walking out also felt like walking into an oven. It was pushing 90 degrees when practice started, a jolt for Dallas players accustomed to the air conditioning of the Alamodome and Cowboys Stadium, and for San Diego players accustomed to their gentle climate. Two ambulances were nearby, with plenty of ice, water and sports drinks to keep everyone well hydrated.

Turner said this was the Chargers’ hottest practice. Ware joked that the conditions were the reason no fights broke out.

“It’s like, ‘Hey guys, let’s get used to this heat first before we start all this intensity,’” he said.

Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said the draining weather provided a good test.

“Guys got a little tired there at the end,” he said. “You’ve got to have that feeling of what it’s like to dig deep — your stomach’s hurting, you’re tired and you can’t take a play off. I think some of the guys are learning that. There’s no better way to do it than right here, especially when you’re competing against a different opponent.”

The good news for Dallas players was the grass field — lush, “like a putting green,” according to Chargers receiver Patrick Crayton, who spent six years with the Cowboys before being released last year.

Witten appreciated the soft footing more than ever after so many weeks on artificial turf.

“I used to hear all those old guys talk about, ‘Oh, my knees can’t handle this turf,’” Witten said. “I came out here today and I felt like a new man.”

NOTES: Crayton was always a good quote in his Dallas days, but he was on his best behaviour Thursday, refusing to say anything about the fact the Cowboys could use a veteran No. 3 receiver like him. … Former Cowboys star Larry Allen watched practice and spent time chatting with top pick Tyron Smith, an offensive tackle. “He has long arms and he uses his reach well. He just needs to pick it up a little bit and get a little quicker,” Allen said. “I’m planning on taking him out to lunch and give him a little talk.” … Dallas receiver Miles Austin missed the workout with a strained hamstring that could keep him out Sunday night.