Over/Under: 10 of the Most Overrated/Underrated Dallas Cowboys

Never in my lifetime have I ever associated the word “underrated” with the Dallas Cowboys. The team’s owner, Jerry Jones, epitomizes shrewd and excessiveness. Jones recently built a stadium worth more than many countries Gross Domestic Product with the cost going north of $1 billion dollars.

The Dallas Cowboys have five Super Bowl rings, many a number of hall of famers, one of the most recognizable brands in the world, can hold claim to having the guy who owns the record for most rushing yards in a career, and they are “America’s team.” If anything about the Cowboys screams underrated Jerry Jones is sure to bring attention to so that everyone and their families knows about it

But believe it or not, there are a few underrated players that play football for America’s team. These guys have flown under the radar for awhile but have been huge contributors to the Cowboys recent run of success. Yet with the underrated there also comes the overrated.

The Cowboys have had their fair share of overrated players throughout the years, hello Quincy Carter, and they have a few on the team now.

Welcome to the house of ratings where one may find their favorite Cowboys player.

Here is my list of the 5 most underrated and 5 most overrated Cowboys players, patent pending.

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2010 NFL Week One Power Rankings, Final Season Predictions

Every Tuesday I will be posting my NFL Power Rankings.  Remember that these aren’t a projection of how teams will finish, but rather a list of where they are as of right now.

At the bottom of this particular set of power rankings are my predictions for how the season will turn out.  Remember that I do not subscribe to the theory that 50 percent of playoff teams from one year must miss the tournament the next.  That sort of thinking is no better than choosing a coin to come up heads simply because it has been tails 10 straight tosses (actually, it’s worse).

Yesterday, I also posted my 2010 fantasy football predictions.  Be sure to check back tomorrow for my bold Cowboys-only predictions.

Week One Power Rankings 

1. New Orleans Saints

Until someone takes them down, New Orleans is the top dog.   They are explosive on offense, make plays on defense, and have one hell of a coach.  Expect a huge season from Reggie Bush.

2. Dallas Cowboys

A home Super Bowl?   Dallas is perhaps the league’s most talented team, but the Cowboys have to show they can step up when expectations are through the roof.

3. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers is the real deal.  If the Packers’ two-year old 3-4 defense gels this season, watch out.  This could be the Cowboys’ toughest opponent all year.

4. Indianapolis Colts

I don’t really like the Colts in 2010, but with Peyton Manning at quarterback, they are always going to be in the hunt.  They need to get the running game on track.

5. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens always draft well, but now they finally brought in a few play-making wide receivers to aid Joe Flacco.  If the offense can put up top-five points, they will be nearly impossible to beat, even with question marks at safety.

6. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers are the Cowboys of the AFC: loaded with talent but yet to take that next step.

7. Minnesota Vikings

Brett Favre may be the most annoying player in the NFL right now.  It will hurt him a lot to not have Sidney Rice the first half of the season.

8. Houston Texans

Yes, the Houston Texans at No. 8.  This team has less holes than you might think.  If they can get even average play from their secondary (which is a big ‘if’), this team will be in the playoffs.

9. New York Jets

The Jets are this year’s sexy Super Bowl pick, but let’s slow down a bit.   While their defense is ridiculous, this is still a team with a second-year quarterback.

10. New England Patriots

The door may have closed for New England. Coach Belichick has had success with veterans in the past, but at a certain point you need youth.  They are only this high because of one man: Mr. Gisele Bundchen.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers

Even with Big Ben suspended for four games, the Steelers are a good (not great) football team.  Dennis Dixon can hold down the fort for the first month of the season, and their defense will be much better than in ’09.

12. San Francisco 49ers

The Niners have been close to breaking out for a couple of years now.  The transition to a spread offense will help them immensely, although they won’t be in it as much as they were at the end of last season.  Still, they have to win a lot of close games because they don’t have much explosion on offense.

13. Cincinnati Bengals

I’ve come around a little on Cincy since my offseason power rankings, but like their most vocal player, they are too streaky.  Could they make the playoffs?  Yes. Will they advance far in them?  No.

14. Miami Dolphins

Chad Henne has the big arm necessary to get Brandon Marshall the ball.  This team will take big strides this season.

15. New York Giants

The Giants’ defense soured on them last season, yielding 40+ points in 10 games.  They made an obvious attempt to improve it through the draft, and they are one of a handful of teams in the NFC who confuse the hell out of me.

16. Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan will rebound in 2010, and the addition of cornerback Dunta Robinson will really help Atlanta.

17. Tennessee Titans

The Titans came on strong over the last half of the ’09 season, but they simply don’t have many weapons on offense other than Chris Johnson.  Their defense will keep them in games, but that can only take a team so far.

18. Philadelphia Eagles

Quarterback Kevin Kolb is obviously the key to Philly’s success.  I think he will put up pretty big numbers (including in the interception category).

19. Oakland Raiders

Mark it down: the Raiders will contend for the AFC West title.  The defense is solid, and Jason Campbell is light-years ahead of JaMarcus Russell.

20. Chicago Bears

New Bears' offensive coordinator Mike Martz always makes his offense perform better, but it is usually at the cost of the success of the defense.

21. Washington Redskins

A lot of people think the acquisition of Donovan McNabb will make Washington competitive again.  I don’t.

22. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are a sleeper in what could be a suddenly competitive AFC West.  They have a solid quarterback and a rejuvenated rushing attack.

23. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers’ defense is pretty awful, and their only big-play threat on offense is constantly double-teamed.

24. Denver Broncos

What is coach Josh McDaniels’ strategy in Denver?   If it is to alienate and rid himself of the team’s best players, then he should have won Coach of the Year last season.

25. Arizona Cardinals

The drop-off from Kurt Warner to Derek Anderson is huge.  Beanie Wells will have a monster season and the Cards are aided by playing in the NFC West, but will it be enough?

26. Detroit Lions

The Lions are finally on the right track.  After securing the offensive building blocks of the future, they are now concentrating on the defense.

27. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have finally secured their quarterback of the future.  Oh, now wait. . .

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

David Garrard is a stable quarterback and MJD is a beast, but the Jags’ defense (particularly their pass-rush) is atrocious.

29. Tampa Bay Bucs

The Bucs’ talent may actually be the worst team in the league, but at least they have Josh Freeman.

30. Cleveland Browns

And the award for the most awkward quarterback in the NFL goes to. . . .for the seventh straight year, Jake Delhomme!

31. St. Louis Rams

The Rams are probably worse than the Bills, but at least Sam Bradford gives fans hope.

32. Buffalo Bills

The Bills have a ton of holes on both offense and defense, so their first-rounder was a player at arguably their strongest position. Makes sense.

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Final Standings Predictions

NFC
East
1.  Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
2.  New York Giants (9-7)
3.  Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
4.  Washington Redskins (7-9)

North
1.  Green Bay Packers (12-4)
2.  Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
3.  Chicago Bears (7-9)
4.  Detroit Lions (6-10)

South
1.  New Orleans Saints (11-5)
2.  Atlanta Falcons (9-7)
3.  Carolina Panthers (5-11)
4.  Tampa Bay Bucs (3-13)

West
1.  San Francisco 49ers (9-7)
2.  Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
3.  Seattle Seahawks (6-10)
4.  St. Louis Rams (2-14)

AFC
East
1. New York Jets (11-5)
2. Miami Dolphins (10-6)
3. New England Patriots (9-7)
4. Buffalo Bills (1-15)

North
1. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

South
1. Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
2. Houston Texans (9-7)
3. Tennessee Titans (8-8)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)

West
1. San Diego Chargers (11-5)
2. Oakland Raiders (10-6)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)
4. Denver Broncos (7-9)

NFC Playoffs
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. New Orleans Saints
4. San Francisco 49ers
5. Minnesota Vikings
6. New York Giants

New Orleans over New York
Minnesota over San Francisco

Green Bay over Minnesota
Dallas over New Orleans

Green Bay over Dallas

AFC Playoffs
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. San Diego Chargers
4. New York Jets
5. Miami Dolphins
6. Oakland Raiders

San Diego over Oakland
Miami over New York

Indianapolis over Miami
Baltimore over San Diego

Baltimore over Indianapolis

Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay 27, Baltimore 21

MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Coach of the Year:  Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs

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Boy Wonder: Top NFL Impact Rookies of 2010

In April every year, the NFL Draft unfolds before our eyes as us die-hard NFL fans treat it like a holiday.

But now it's September.

No more steals and reaches. Now it's time for the "bust" and "gem" labels to come out from hiding and attach themselves to some rookies drafted back in April.

The following are the Top 10 rookies who will make the biggest impact on their teams this year.

Take in to account not only how close some teams are to making the NFL mecca known as the Super Bowl, but also how desperately some teams are trying to break out of their losing ways.

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Dallas Cowboys: Why Is Their Offense So Bad And How Do They Fix It?

The NFL preseason is a time to work out all the kinks prior to kickoff in Week 1. For the Dallas Cowboys, however, working out the kinks has been easier said the done.  The Cowboys' offense has struggled mightily during the team's four preseason games, leaving many to wonder what exactly is wrong inside the Dallas huddle?

Offensive line play? Not enough from the running backs? What can Tony Romo do to improve the situation, if anything?

These are just some of the questions the Cowboys face as they look to right the ship on the offensive side of the ball before they kickoff in Washington in the first Sunday Night Football game of the season on September 12th.

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NFL Preseason: Top 10 Guys Who Have Put Their Starting Gigs In Danger

The third week of the NFL preseason, the most important week when it comes to starters seeing playing time, is behind us.  Yet, there are still starters jockeying, who do not have their respective jobs set in stone. These starters are working to hold off teammates from splitting time or taking their jobs outright.

Preseason performances have only told us so much, but was it enough to determine whether the starters will have their roles in Week 1?

With one more preseason game to go, there are still these 10 starters who should look over their shoulders as we approach the start of the season.

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Fantasy Football: Which Dallas Cowboys Players Could Win You a Title?

Are you ready for some football?

It’s that time of year again; time to break out the pencils and notepads as we embark upon another season of fantasy football.

Who will be the fantasy NFL star offensively in 2010, and can you nab him?

And how about defense: Who’s the best player to pick in the secondary?

Today, we’re going to be taking an in-depth look at the 2010 Dallas Cowboys team, and the best players on the squad in terms of fantasy football payday.

So, who are 10 Cowboys players that could help your fantasy football team win a title?

Without further ado, let’s begin…

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Colt McCoy and the 20 Most Disappointing 2010 NFL Training Camps

Colt McCoy is not having a good preseason. That is pretty evident. The surprise is that the Browns are saying that they didn't expect him to. They say he is a work in progress.

Most fans think that it is tough becoming a star in the NFL. What most players know is that it is just as tough making an NFL Roster.

And this year just like most, there will be household name players cut from teams where they assumed they had a chance at starting.

Here is a list of 20 of the more disappointing training camps so far.

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Kim Kardashian: Dallas Cowboys WAG In an Oily New Calendar

Kim Kardashian is giving Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin plenty of motivation for the upcoming season. Kardashian gave the world a sneak-peek of her new 2011 calendar with this oily bikini look. Kardashian warned that the photo would only be up on her Twitter account for one night so get over there and check it out.

Because of this glorious occasion, here are 10 more shots of Kim.

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NFL Training Camp: The 10 Most Interesting Position Battles of August

Week 1 of the NFL preseason is officially behind us, and that means only one thing--heated position battles are now reaching a boil.

All over the league there are starters and backups alike jockeying for position to lay claim to the top of the depth chart.  These battles are ongoing because of injury, holdout, and free agency, but in the end only one player will get the satisfaction of being the guy come Week 1 of the regular season.

There are more than these 10 battles going on throughout the NFL training camps, but these 10 position battles will carry significant weight in determining the team's overall success in 2010.

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NFL Conference Dominance: Is NFC Ready to Step Up?

Conference Dominance:

Which NFL Conference is truly the Best?

                Throughout the history of the NFL we have seen shifts of power through its two conferences: the NFC and AFC.  Each conference has had its periods of dominance and its periods of mediocrity. But in order to show the balance that the conferences have exhibited is evident through their respective Super Bowl Championships: the NFC with 23 and the AFC with 21. The question I raise is: who is the NFL’s dominant conference now.

For most of the last decade the AFC has had its way with the NFC winning 7 of the 10 last Super Bowls. Based on that statistic alone it is reasonable to say that the NFC has been the AFC’s perennial whipping boy. But as Bob Dylan once said “The Times they are a Changin”. While we approach a new decade of NFL Football (contingent on the NFL and Unions annual whiny bitch fest also known as CBA Negotiations) I aim to examine which conference will step up and win the Battle of the New Decade.

                The gap between the NFC and AFC has greatly been narrowed over the last few years. From 2000 to 2006 the AFC won 6 of 7 Super Bowls; but over the last three years the NFC has won 2 of 3 with stunning performances from underdog Giants and Saints while the Cardinals competed in one of the best Super Bowls in a long time. It’s a clear sign that the conferences are entering a stage of parity, with each conference battling to gain the edge.

                While the AFC has had the clear edge in the last decade it’s starting to lose its luster Its top teams of the decade are at a cross roads. The Colts suffered playoff misery with their defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. Their coaching staff is in transition and they need to continue to remain ahead of the curve. Something a lot of teams fail to do.

Along with the Colts, the New England Patriots are at a turning point: Ever since their monumental loss to the New York Giants the Pats have really begun a slow downward spiral. With the infusion of youth during the last two drafts the Patriots will struggle to remain amongst the Elite, but with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick anything is possible. The Steelers have to deal with the distraction of Ben Rapelisberger (couldn’t resist) and the Chargers are monumental chokers.

Those four teams used to be consistently at the top of their divisions but now they face a lot of obstacles in their path of success. The AFC used to be the ROCK of the NFL but now it seems that it’s losing its foundation; with the creeping advancement of the NFC the AFC will have to work hard to maintain its dominance.

I think the main reason the NFC has gained traction on the AFC can be traced back to the Quarterback position. During the time of AFC domination (2000-2006) Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Ben Roethlisberger all hosted the Lombardi Trophy (along with some balding afterthought known as Trent Dilfer, widely considered one of the worst QB’s to win the big game.) In comparison during that time frame the NFC sent QB’s such as: Kerry Collins, Brad Johnson, Jake Delhomme, Matt Hasslebeck, and Rexy “not so sexy” Grossman (along with future hall of famers Kurt Warner and Donovan McNabb, But they both failed to win the big one as well).

It’s clear that from the 2000-2006 seasons the NFC really struggled to develop the Franchise Quarterback capable of winning the big game. It’s safe to say the NFC really had average quarterback play during the early part of the decade. I believe the tide began to shift during from the 2007 season to the end of the decade as the NFC stepped up its quarterbacking core.

Old guns began playing young again as Kurt Warner and Brett Favre experienced a career renaissance. Established QBs such as Donovan McNabb and Drew Brees maintained their stellar play. Along with young guns such as Tony Romo and Eli Manning making their mark on the NFL along with future stars such as Aaron Rodgers and future cornerstones such as Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan. From 2007 to 2009 the NFC gained an influx of talent in their QB ranks that could compare to the elite of the AFC. From the 2007 season to the end of the decade Eli Manning and Drew Brees were able to win the Super Bowl and establish the credibility of the NFC.

What made their victories so special was that they came against the AFC Elite in Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Winning can be traced to the quarterback position and you can see that the NFC may have a fighting chance to win the battle with the AFC.

Along with the Quarterback one of the most vital areas of success is the skill and experience of the Head Coaches. And during the period of AFC Dominance the AFC boasted future hall of fame coaches such as: Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan and Jeff Fisher. While the NFC can boast coaches such as Andy Reid, Mike Holmgren, Tom Coughlin and John Fox, those coaches are nowhere near the caliber of the AFC.

Through the AFC coaches you had some of the best game planners, game managers and scouts the NFL has ever seen. The NFC constantly had coaches coming and going with teams repeatedly having to change philosophies and personnel. The stability that the AFC had during this time frame allowed their teams to maintain philosophies and really develop their teams in their image.

But with the shift towards parity in the NFL the NFC has had coaches such as Ken Whisenhunt, Sean Peyton, Mike McCarthy and Brad Childress, who throw their names into the conversation as the future elite coaches in the NFL. We will soon be able to tell if the new blood in the NFC will help narrow the gap between the conferences.

The last issue I’d like to address is the overall talent increase in the NFC. You can look at the NFC and find elite players at every position. While it’s true you can find equally talented players in the AFC it has been a long time since the NFC has been able to boast talent that it has today: Quarterbacks such as Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Tony Romo can all be argued as top 5 NFL QBs.

You have the best all around running back in Adrian Peterson. Wide Receivers such as Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson (yes a Lion can be amongst the best players in the NFL), Miles Austin, Michael Crabtree and many other blossoming stars. Some of the best defenses reside in the NFC with players like DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, Charles Woodson, and Julius Peppers wreaking havoc on opposing QB’s while giving offensive coordinators nightmares. The talent level of the NFC has reached a level not seen in the NFC since the days of the Cowboys Triplets.

This is truly a golden age for the NFC and if its vast talent can finally step up, the NFC can take over as the dominant conference. But don’t think the AFC will concede this battle as they still boast talented players and masterminds at the coaching position. While I still consider the AFC as the dominant conference, for the first time in almost a decade the NFC is in position to do something about it and I can’t wait for the war known as the 2010 season.

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