Grass Always Greener On The Otherside Of Barber

The season has not started yet and there are already cries to bench Marion Barber and give Tashard Choice, “the future”, his workload this season. How quickly things have changed for Marion Barber III. Since his rookie season, when he came off the bench for Julius Jones, Barber has been the toast of the town for the fans of the Dallas Cowboys, that is until last year.

Barber looked certain to be the “back of the future” for the Dallas Cowboys. Many people saw Barber pounding the rock for the next 7-8 years barring injury. In his third season Barber was given the bulk of the carries as Julius Jones was struggling as the starter. Who can forget that moment when Barber endeared himself to hearts of Cowboys fans everywhere during the New England Patriots game in 2007 when the Cowboys had the ball at their 10-yard line, Barber took the handoff and was forced all the way into the back of his end zone. Barber bounced off 5 Patriots and ended up with the longest 2-yard run I’ve ever seen. Barber was anointed the starter in the divisional playoff game against the Giants and the fans rejoiced. He responded with 125 yards rushing and a solid performance. Since that game Barber has been the starter.

Now, after only two full seasons as the Cowboys starter, the chants are starting for the Cowboys to trade Barber before he loses his value, or to reduce his role and give the young guys a chance. Critics will say it is because he has lost a step, not as aggressive as he was, cannot stay healthy…etc. To be fair, health has been a concern for the Cowboys battering ram. Last year he had a quad injury and a broken finger, the year before was a toe injury. Barber has not been able to stay healthy. But, when he is healthy, few are better.

Now I’m not saying that Barber should get all the carries, or even that Jones and Choice should not have a larger role in the offense. I’m simply saying, let’s see what Barber does this year. He lost some weight to be faster and more explosive. He’s still a punisher, despite the fact the Chargers stopped him twice on the goal line last year. Many will point to those plays saying that Barber has lost it, but when you watch those plays again it is clear the line did not block a soul.

The problem is, as fans, we’re fickle. We buy into the “next star” approach. It has been happening for decades when it comes to sports. We always want the newer, faster, slicker version of what we have. Even if that is not the best way to go.

Sure Choice had the highest average per carry of all the Cowboys backs last year, but he only had one game when he had more than 15 carries. While Choice gained 82 yards on 18 carries for a 4.6/carry average against Carolina in that game, Choice has been inconsistent when he has received a lot of carries. The following week against Denver choice averaged 2.4/carry on 14 attempts. Now please do not get me wrong, I love Choice. I think he will indeed one day take over for Barber as the starter. I just don’t think it should be this year. Then there is Felix Jones. He is our hot rod. The man has moves and wheels. But he also has proven to not be very effective when banged up. Do we give him all the carries? Probably shouldn’t.

Barber has lots left in the tank. He can still run the ball and run it hard. While we do have two flashy sports cars sitting in the garage, why do we want to sell off our pickup truck. The one we depend on when we go to work to get the tough jobs done. Barber is still the “rock” of the backfield. He is the one the guys go to for tips. He is the guy that is called upon to run when the defense knows it is coming. He is the guy that takes the fall when the team’s yards-per-carry average goes down. But, he is also the one that gets that tough yard 99 percent of the time. He’s the one the team turns to when the chances are stacked against him, and no doubt, he is the one that the team leans on the most.

Make no mistake, the Cowboys still need Barber, as much as they need Jones and Choice. Sure the backfield is crowded, but if we can go one more year with it that way, why wouldn’t we?

Take a look below for a moment of nostalgia:

Marion Barber vs. Patriots Defense

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.

Begin Slideshow

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins: Week 1 Ultimate Game Preview

During the preseason, I formulated two separate articles called “What to Watch” and “DOs and DON’Ts for Dallas” as game previews for the upcoming contests.  During the regular season, I will combine these two features into a single, more all-inclusive article known (solely to me) as a “Game Day Manifesto.”  You’ll be able to find the “Manifesto” category under the “GameDay” tab above.

Also check back later in the week for a new feature called “Game Plan.”  While the weekly “Manifesto” will contain some Xs and Os, the “Game Plan” will feature in-depth game strategy detailing how Dallas can win that week’s game and how they should go about doing it.  There, you’ll find a lot of analysis of formations, personnel, play-calling, and so on.

Now on to this week’s Manifesto...

How will Dallas use Dez Bryant and what sort of impact will he have?

This is what every Cowboys fan in America wants to see.  Will the Cowboys use Bryant as they would have implemented Patrick Crayton?  Will Bryant play primarily in the slot, or will Miles Austin move inside when the Cowboys use three receivers?

Last season, Dallas utilized three receivers on 42 percent of all plays, good for just 25th-most in the league.  That number will increase this year, but by how much?  Will Bryant play 50 percent of the snaps Sunday night?

Hopefully Jason Garrett runs the ball out of three receiver sets so that Bryant’s presence doesn’t key the defense on a pass.  I’ve already explained why Dallas should run the ball out of spread formations more often in general this season.

Who will return kicks and punts?

The Cowboys probably had punt returns in mind for Bryant when they drafted him, but that was before his high ankle sprain.  Now, the favorite is probably fellow rookie Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.  Owusu-Ansah looked explosive on returns in the preseason and has at least had some reps at both return spots.

At the very least, AOA will probably be back deep for kick returns.  But will Dallas risk Bryant on punt returns?  We’ll find out.

Will Redskins offensive tackles Jamaal Brown and Trent Williams be able to slow down DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer at all?  Will Washington leave Chris Cooley or Fred Davis in on some passes to help them in protection?

A rookie left tackle and a right tackle who underperformed so much the New Orleans basically let him walk? To me, this is by far Dallas’ biggest advantage Sunday night. How in the world will Washington possibly slow down Ware and Spencer?

They could keep a tight end to help block, but their starter (Cooley) is probably one of the worst blocking tight ends in the NFL.  I think it is more likely that Washington lines up in double-tight formations quite often so that they can let Cooley out in a route while Davis helps chip one of the Cowboys’ pass rushers.

Will Doug Free be able to contain Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo?

I listed Orakpo as No. 39 (already) in my list of the NFL’s top 105 players.  That may have been a little generous, but I do think he has that sort of talent.  He had 11 sacks in his rookie season, including a club record four in one game.

He’s going to be a handful for Doug Free and a big-time test for the new left tackle.  If the Cowboys can win at the point-of-attack, they will win the football game.  That starts with Free on Orakpo.

Will Albert Haynesworth play?

There are reports that Haynesworth could be traded before Sunday, deactivated if he’s still on the Redskins and just benched even if he’s active.  No matter what happens, it is advantageous for Dallas that he doesn’t play.

Yeah, he whines a lot and hasn’t really showed much effort this season, but he can still play.  If he decides to turn it on (which he could very well do in an attempt to increase his trade-ability), he’s still one of the toughest men in the league to block.

How much will we see the dreaded “Double Tight Strong“?

The Cowboys lined up in the formation (below) 15 times this preseason, running a strong side dive out of it 13 of those plays (86.7 percent).  Hopefully Garrett is just setting teams up for the regular season, but I have a bad feeling that’s not the case.

Last year, the Cowboys lined up in the formation 116 times, running a strong-side dive out 83 of the plays (71.6 percent), including an incredible 42/49 times (85.7 percent) when motioning into it.

This will be the biggest determiner of the future of Garrett’s play-calling.  If we continue to see the same formation with the same strong side dive, we know nothing is going to change.

How will Jason Garrett distribute touches among the running backs?

Marion Barber is going to start, but Felix Jones should receive the most touches.  He’s the most explosive running back on the team and is the best option for Dallas in regular first and second down scenarios.  I’d also love to see Tashard Choice in short-yardage situations, particularly out of Wildcat, but I think you’ll still see Barber in the short-yardage role.

No matter how Garrett disperses the touches on Sunday night, though, let’s be sure not to judge him based solely on this game (as it relates to running back touches). Game-to-game, run-to-pass ratio is very dependent on game situations, meaning we won’t really get a good sense of how Garrett plans to employ each running back until, say, the fourth game.

With either Marc Colombo or Kyle Kosier suit up?

Neither player has practiced this week and, at this point, I’d call both unlikely.  Kosier is certainly doubtful, while Colombo, who was supposed to be back by now, will probably be a true game-time decision.

The absence of both players hurts Dallas, particularly because their backups played so poorly in the preseason.  Montrae Holland really struggled at guard, frequently getting called for false starts due to his slow feet. He needs to get off of the ball as quickly as possible to compensate for a lack of athleticism.

Meanwhile, newly-acquired swing tackle Alex Barron looked horrendous at right tackle. Second-year player Robert Brewster actually looked decent in his limited action on the right side, but it appears Barron will get the start if Colombo can’t go.

Will Andre Gurode be okay at guard if Dallas needs him?

The Cowboys have no problem making a double-switch on the offensive line if one of their starting guards goes down.  In that scenario, Gurode would move to guard (where he played in the beginning of his career), and undrafted rookie free agent Phil Costa would play at center.

Costa played really well at center during the preseason, but I think I might take my chances with him at guard.  Gurode will probably make the line calls even if he moves over to guard, but I’d feel more comfortable if Dallas didn’t have a starter out of position.

DOs and DON’Ts for Dallas

DO run right at linebacker London Fletcher

I’ll talk about this more in my upcoming Game Plan article, but Dallas would be smart to run right at Fletcher.  I like Feltcher a lot, but he’s very undersized (just 5’10”), meaning Gurode and Leonard Davis should be able to manhandle him.

DON’T blitz too frequently

I talked about how Ware and Spencer should be able to get a ton of pressure on McNabb. Getting pressure with just four rushers is a huge advantage for a defense because it means they can sit back in zone and force the quarterback to make good reads and accurate throws, again and again and again.  There aren’t very many quick scores to be had versus a Cover 2 defense.

In fact, the reason the Cowboys were able to dominate the Eagles last season was because they rarely had to blitz.  They made McNabb beat them with his arm, and he couldn’t do it.

Even at age 33, McNabb can still beat you with his legs.  He can also beat you deep with his arm.  But can he consistently beat you underneath with his arm?  I’m not so sure.

DO play Jason Williams at nickel linebacker

The options here are Williams, Keith Brooking, Michael Hamlin and Danny McCray. Hamlin and McCray have very little experience at the position (like, a few game reps), so they aren’t realistic options to me.

Contrary to popular opinion, Williams wasn’t that bad during the preseason.  Behind Brooking, he was the team’s best nickel linebacker, and the old guy needs a break at some point.

DON’T game-plan at all for any quarterback other than Donovan McNabb

It looks like McNabb will play now, but the Redskins may still play it coy up until kickoff. For Dallas, there’s no reason to game-plan for anyone other than McNabb.  If by some miracle he doesn’t play, you should be able to beat a Rex Grossman-led team whether you prepared for him or not.

DO throw the ball early and often

Not what you expected to hear?  I actually support a pass/run ratio of about 65:35 (yes, you read that correctly).  Of course, every game is different and plays should be called accordingly, but over the long haul, passing has shown to be the most important aspect of a football game and the one that is most closely linked to winning (by far).

I think Sunday night in particular is a good game for the Cowboys to come out passing. Washington was eighth last season in passing yards yielded per game, but a lot of that was due to the fact that they were losing in most ballgames.  In terms of yards-per-attempt, the Redskins ranked in the middle of the pack: 16th.

Furthermore, their rush defense was actually better than advertised.  They allowed only 4.9 yards-per-carry last season, good for eighth-best in the NFL.

The most important reason to come out passing, though, is that it could help jump start a stagnant Cowboys running game.  We’ve all heard the familiar saying that “throwing sets up the run.”  Perhaps that is true, but it goes both ways.  Passing can certainly set up the run as well, and when the Redskins are forced to move back into Cover 2 because Miles Austin & Co. are beating their blitz, the big guys up front for Dallas should be able to maul the undersized Washington linebackers in the run game.

DON’T phase Dez Bryant into the game

Now is not the time to be conservative with Bryant.  If a player is healthy enough to play, then he is healthy enough to play a lot.  He’s either ready to go or he isn’t.

This isn’t the preseason anymore.  This is an extremely difficult matchup, on the road, at night, in a nationally televised game, against a division opponent, on opening day.  That’s a lot of commas.

DO spell DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer with Victor Butler

There’s no way Dallas can get away with playing Ware and Spencer as much as they did last season.  Nearly 1,100 snaps for both players is ridiculous, but last season it was a necessity.  Victor Butler was a promising rookie, but he wasn’t consistent enough, particularly against the run, for the ‘Boys to take one of their stud starting outside linebackers off of the field.

This year, Butler has proven he’s ready for the big show.  He’s been absolutely sensational against both the run and the pass.  Plus, he should have no problem getting past Washington’s offensive tackles.

When you combine Butler’s presence with that of Brandon Williams’, there’s no reason why either Ware or Spencer should play more than 1,000 snaps this season. Closer to 900 would be ideal.

DON’T try anything too risky.

Regular readers know I’m generally in favor of “risky” calls such as going for it on fourth down (a lot) and surprise onside kicks.  There’s a right time and a wrong time for everything, though, and I actually think being a bit more conservative on Sunday night is the right move.

Now, I don’t mean they should call predictable plays or punt on 4th-and-1 in the opponent's territory, but taking the steps to ensure nothing “fluky” happens (i.e., quick scores, sudden changes in momentum, and so on) would do the Cowboys well.  The reason is simple: They are the better team.  If they have, let’s say, a 70 percent chance of winning this game, attempting a surprise onside kick would hold a negative level of return for Dallas.  It could really only hurt, as opposed to the same scenario in a game where they are the clear underdog.

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NFL Week 1 Picks: Oddsmakers Like Dallas Over Washington

The Dallas Cowboys meet up with the Washington Redskins on Sunday to kick off the 2010 season. According to the latest NFL odds, you will find Dallas -3.5 over Washington with a total set of 40 points. 

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones built a $1.2 billion stadium, what many feel is the best in the world. Super Bowl XLV will be played in Cowboys Stadium, and Jones would love nothing more than to see his team win it on their home turf.

With 20-of-22 starters back from a team that went 10-6 last year, Dallas has as good a shot as any to get the job done.

Certainly, Dallas will not want to have to win on the road in the playoffs to reach their goal, because we all saw how well that worked out last year when they were throttled at Minnesota.

The Vikings, Packers, and Saints are the other three consensus Super Bowl contenders, and it would be tough to win at any of them. But to get home-field advantage, they’ll first have to win a very stacked NFC East that features the Redskins, Giants, and Eagles, along with having to play the NFC North and the AFC South this season.

The Cowboys offense ranked No. 2 in the league last year, and now they’ve added another weapon in Dez Bryant, who many are comparing to Michael Irvin and Randy Moss when they came into the league.

Bryant will team up with Miles Austin, Jason Witten, and Roy Williams to catch passes from Tony Romo. Receivers coach Ray Sherman has stated that this is potentially the best group of wide receivers he has ever had. And you can’t take that lightly considering he has coached with Jerry Rice in San Francisco, Javon Walker and Donald Driver in Green Bay, and Randy Moss, Chris Carter, and Jake Reed in Minnesota.

Dallas will need to wreak more havoc on defense if they are going to take the next step.

They can’t waste the talent they have rushing the passer in DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer. This is a unit that didn’t allow many points last year, but one that also didn’t get enough deflections in the secondary. More interceptions and more sacks are a necessity, so look for the Cowboys to unleash the hounds a little more this year.

Washington would love nothing more than to hand Dallas a loss in their opener. Certainly, Donovan McNabb struggled against this team last year but he also has had his fair share of wins over “America’s Team.”

New head coach Mike Shanahan brings this team a veteran leader that knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl. New offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has implemented the west coast system, and new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett brings his 3-4 scheme to the table.

The team has appeared to put the Albert Haynesworth issue behind them, and he should be ready to lead a defense that was certainly underrated last season.

The biggest concerns are on offense, where McNabb sprained an ankle in the preseason which forced him to miss the final two games. It hurt his chemistry with Santana Moss, Joey Galloway, Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, and Chris Cooley, who figure to be the ones catching balls from McNabb this year.

The No. 1 running back is Clinton Portis for a seventh straight year, but Larry Johnson should see his fair share of carries after a solid preseason.

Dallas is 24-12 against Washington since 1992, and they are 22-14 against the spread during that time. The under is 19-15 in those 34 games as well. But Washington does own a .500 record in 18 home meetings with the Cowboys since 1992, though Dallas has won their last two trips to the Redskins.

If you want NFL picks that win on a consistent basis, then check out a premium package from Jack Jones today. I am riding a 39-20 (66 percent) run dating back to last season heading into Week 1, and I can help you win more with your NFL betting this year.

Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com

Smack-Talking, Dan Hampton, The Dallas Cowboys, Brokeback Mountain, and Katrina

According to the ranting Chicago Bears defensive lineman-turned-talking head Dan Hampton, the Dallas Cowboys "think they are Clint Eastwood, but are more the Brokeback variety, if you know what I mean."

I will leave the homophobic lamentations to those who worry over such things and instead focus on the implication and the meathead who made it.

Because they are a team of glitz and glamor, many through the years have dubbed the Cowboys as soft. It is and always has been a convenient label...and a crock of (human waste).

In the NFL, soft teams don't often play in Super Bowls. The Cowboys have played in eight, which is more than any other team. Soft teams surely do not win Super Bowls. The Cowboys have won five, a number only the Steelers have surpassed. Soft teams don't feature someone nicknamed the Manster (half-man, half-monster).

Speaking of Randy White, does anyone remember when he ripped Dan Hampton's helmet off his head and bitch-slapped him with it? I suspect, though White's age is now three years beyond the No. 54 he wore on his jersey, he could still whip Hampton without getting winded. For that matter, Bob Lilly, who is only three years shy of his jersey No. 74, could probably give the overrated lineman a whupping, as well.

Or, maybe Hampton would prefer to discuss toughness with Jay Ratliff or Marc Colombo...or Marion Barber, for that matter.

Hampton is just a Cowboy-hater. He always has been.

He also said he would like to be able to buy the Cowboys for what they are worth, and sell them for what they think they are worth.

Well, who wouldn't want to buy that team for what it is worth? That would mean you were a billionaire and didn't have to sell yourself to the highest bidder to do something you are ill-equipped to do. It would mean you didn't have to try to remember to be coherent while ranting on TV for a few bucks and a mess of pottage.

Obviously, Hampton thinks the Cowboys are soft and overrated. He also thinks that they overrate themselves. I am not exactly sure what hard factual information he gathered to help him reach that conclusion. I am sure his words were the product of a purely unbiased, analytical mind. I am confident he has empirical evidence to support his thesis.

Wait. No, I'm not. I just think he is a juvenile brat with a middle school mentality who could not resist the urge to try to be witty and funny in the presence of adults. I can appreciate that. I was 13 once, too.

The laugh-a-minute wit quickly followed his Cowboy trashing with the remark that the Minnesota Vikings should "hit New Orleans like Katrina."

If you are in a Minneapolis bar, that is funny stuff. If you are a professional football analyst on national TV, it is kind of stupid at best. Besides, your witticism carries a lot less punch when you have to follow it up with your "sincerest apology."

I guess Hampton never read Broadcasting for Dummies. Or, maybe he did.

Stay tuned. They may let him talk some more. Should be entertaining, if a little ignorant, insensitive, and uninformed.

Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com

Smack-Talking, Dan Hampton, The Dallas Cowboys, Brokeback Mountain, and Katrina

According to the ranting Chicago Bears defensive lineman-turned-talking head Dan Hampton, the Dallas Cowboys "think they are Clint Eastwood, but are more the Brokeback variety, if you know what I mean."

I will leave the homophobic lamentations to those who worry over such things and instead focus on the implication and the meathead who made it.

Because they are a team of glitz and glamor, many through the years have dubbed the Cowboys as soft. It is and always has been a convenient label...and a crock of (human waste).

In the NFL, soft teams don't often play in Super Bowls. The Cowboys have played in eight, which is more than any other team. Soft teams surely do not win Super Bowls. The Cowboys have won five, a number only the Steelers have surpassed. Soft teams don't feature someone nicknamed the Manster (half-man, half-monster).

Speaking of Randy White, does anyone remember when he ripped Dan Hampton's helmet off his head and bitch-slapped him with it? I suspect, though White's age is now three years beyond the No. 54 he wore on his jersey, he could still whip Hampton without getting winded. For that matter, Bob Lilly, who is only three years shy of his jersey No. 74, could probably give the overrated lineman a whupping, as well.

Or, maybe Hampton would prefer to discuss toughness with Jay Ratliff or Marc Colombo...or Marion Barber, for that matter.

Hampton is just a Cowboy-hater. He always has been.

He also said he would like to be able to buy the Cowboys for what they are worth, and sell them for what they think they are worth.

Well, who wouldn't want to buy that team for what it is worth? That would mean you were a billionaire and didn't have to sell yourself to the highest bidder to do something you are ill-equipped to do. It would mean you didn't have to try to remember to be coherent while ranting on TV for a few bucks and a mess of pottage.

Obviously, Hampton thinks the Cowboys are soft and overrated. He also thinks that they overrate themselves. I am not exactly sure what hard factual information he gathered to help him reach that conclusion. I am sure his words were the product of a purely unbiased, analytical mind. I am confident he has empirical evidence to support his thesis.

Wait. No, I'm not. I just think he is a juvenile brat with a middle school mentality who could not resist the urge to try to be witty and funny in the presence of adults. I can appreciate that. I was 13 once, too.

The laugh-a-minute wit quickly followed his Cowboy trashing with the remark that the Minnesota Vikings should "hit New Orleans like Katrina."

If you are in a Minneapolis bar, that is funny stuff. If you are a professional football analyst on national TV, it is kind of stupid at best. Besides, your witticism carries a lot less punch when you have to follow it up with your "sincerest apology."

I guess Hampton never read Broadcasting for Dummies. Or, maybe he did.

Stay tuned. They may let him talk some more. Should be entertaining, if a little ignorant, insensitive, and uninformed.

Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com

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.

————————————-

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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Dallas Cowboys Injury Report: Week 1

While it seemed a few weeks ago that the Cowboys would be without several starters for their season debut, every day it looks more like they'll be close to full strength.

Safety Gerald Sensabaugh, who missed the last two preseason games because of a sprained shoulder, has said that he was going to play. Sensabaugh proved to be a tough guy having missed no time after breaking his thumb last season.

Sensabaugh said he tested his shoulder, although the team doctors told him not to in practice. If Sensabaugh starts that will put Mike Hamlin on special teams for the game on Sunday night against the Redskins.

Receiver Dez Bryant has finally been cleared to play as Wade Phillips was quoted on the Cowboys website saying, "He can tweet that or whatever."

Bryant has been healthy for the last two weeks but was held out of the final preseason game against the Dolphins as a precaution; however, he did run routes before the game and looked crisp.

This will be Bryant's first game in about a year, as the last game he played was on Sept. 9th of last year.

Defensive end Marcus Spears will also see his first action on Sunday as he practiced lightly last week and has been cleared to practice in full this week.

Spears sprained his MCL in practice and missed most of the preseason. Phillips said that Spears will most likely play just his end spot instead of spelling Jay Ratliff at the tackle position. That will be left up to rookie Josh Brent.

Marc Colombo and Kyle Kosier spent today rehabbing while the team practiced, and Phillips has said that he doesn't know yet if either will play. He did say that he expected Colombo to practice at some point this week, "If they tell me he's going to practice, he'll practice," Phillips said. "If he doesn't, then I'll be less optimistic."

Colombo had surgery the third week of August to clean out some loose particles in his knee and Kosier sprained his ankle on Aug 18th. Alex Barron and Montrae Holland will start on Sunday if they can't play.

Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com

Colombo & Kosier Still Not Practicing

The Cowboys held a Monday practice this morning and all eyes were on the offensive line. More specifically, eyes were on Colombo and Kosier. People were hoping to see them lining up with the offense as they prepare for their encounter with the Washington Redskins this Sunday night.

Unfortunately, while Kosier and Colombo practiced together, they were doing rehab. Both players’ status for Sunday is uncertain and Phillips would not go either way. The Cowboys are hopeful that they will get to practice with the team ahead of their game on Sunday. The coaching staff usually requires players to practice at least a couple of days before participating in a game.

If the Cowboys need to resort to plan B it is likely that Montrae Holland will replace Kosier and Alex Barron will replace Colombo. The Cowboys will hope that it does not come to that and both Kosier and Colombo will be joining them on Wednesday when the team resumes practicing.

Bryant Practices

One of the bright spots from Monday’s practice was rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant was back on the field and looking “explosive” according to Rob Phillips of dallascowboys.com, who witnessed the open portion of practice. Bryant has not played a football game in a year. He missed all but one game in his final year of college due to a suspension. The Cowboys are quite confident that after he takes a hit and makes a catch he’ll be ready to go.

Plethora of Pigskin Prognostications: AFC Edition

I have a great disdain for all preseason prognostications.  It’s not because they are inevitably wrong or because they are poorly thought out, but rather most writers will seemingly look at last years standings, and press copy and paste.  Certainly the writers adjust for players lost/retired and those drafted, but I challenge you to read any article predicting division winners and playoff participants and count how many playoff teams from the previous year are predicted to make the playoffs once again.  Try as I might, my picks aren’t that original.

The NFL is the ultimate meritocracy.  You draft well, you sign good players in free agency, and you will compete for a playoff spot.  If you draft poorly (Detroit), and throw good money after bad players (Washington), you will wallow in mediocrity.

AFC EAST:

Previous division winner: New England Patriots

2010 division winner: New England Patriots: The Bills are too far away.  The Jets have a good defense and questions on offense.  They are overrated and over-hyped.  Miami will play tough football, but they are missing key pieces on both sides of the ball.  They may run a similar scheme as the Cowboys, but they lack a Romo, a Witten, and a Ware.

The Patriots are back to being boring.  The offense has been so dynamic the last few years, that it is no longer a story for the mainstream media.  The defense is near to completing their youth movement, and there are few better game day coaches than Bill Belicheck.

AFC North

Previous Division Winner: Cincinnati Bengals

2010 division winner: Ravens:  The Browns defense was adequate last year.  Delhomme may be a better option than Quinn and Anderson, but not by much.  Whether Mangini can be a good head coach still remains to be seen.  The Steelers will have Polomalu roaming deep centerfield and they will make the playoffs, but starting 2-2 with one of the losses being to the Ravens will put them in a severe disadvantage.  As for the Bengals, I don’t see the offense imploding because of Terrell Owens.  I simply doubt the Bengals are good enough to repeat as division champions in one of the better divisions in football.

As for the Ravens, they are young at key positions on offense, QB, RB, and WR; they also have a surplus of talent at the offensive line.  Their defense has been perpetually old for the past 5 years.  Every year it is expected that Ray Lewis and Co. will hit the wall and the team will implode.  Every year I’m wrong so why should I finally be right in 2010?

AFC South

Previous Division Winner: Indianapolis Colts

2010 division winner: Texans:  This is based on one caveat.  If the Texans win against the Colts in week one, I expect the Texans to win the division.  If the Colts win, I predict the Titans to win the division.  The Colts will be formidable and will make the playoffs; however, there are two components to losing a Super Bowl.  The first is the disappointment that the players feel about losing and the amount of time it takes for them to get past that; the second is the fact that the players have to play 3 more physical games.  The first is emotional trauma that no other team has to suffer; the second is a physical trauma that most other players in the league are not subject to.

As for the Titans, they are a capable team.  Chris Johnson has his sights set on 2,500 yards.  I’m not sure he exceeds 1,300.  Historically, running backs who broke 2,000 yards do not come close to repeating their performance.  Consequently, if Johnson isn’t as dynamic, there is little chance that Vince Young will pick up the slack.  I believe the Titans will finish near 8-8, but they will miss the playoffs.  The Jaguars don’t merit discussion.  Jack Del Rio will be looking for work next year; he is a victim of mediocre QB play.  Leftwich and Garrard did not pan out and Del Rio will join a long list of defensive minded coaches whose teams underperformed because of sub-par offenses.

AFC West

Previous Division Winner: San Diego Chargers

Raiders:  There is no reason for the Chargers not to repeat as division winners.  While the Chargers may have still have two prominent holdouts, they are a deep team and can replace the players without missing a beat.  The Broncos fell apart late last season due to injuries, the Chiefs are still rebuilding around a quarterback who did a good Tom Brady impersonation for one season. Thomas Jones still has gas in the tank and the Chiefs won’t be the pushover they were the year before.  The fact of the matter is the only safe bet in the AFC West are the Chargers, which is why I’m picking the Raiders.  The Raiders are the most talented bad team in the NFL and there is always a team that comes from the bottom of the barrel to surprise the league.  On the other hand, it wouldn’t be surprising if Al Davis fires Tom Cable in the 2nd week of the season and cuts Jason Campbell in week four.  Barring the complete unexpected, pencil in the Raiders as your surprise team for 2010.

Tomorrow I’ll cover the NFC.  After week 8 when both the Raiders and Texans are 2-5, I’m sure I’ll look foolish.