The battle cry several weeks ago was that the Dallas Cowboys were the best team in the NFL and the Super Bowl was their destiny. That may very well be true, but the NFC East will be brutal. The Giants are 4-0, the Redskins 4-1 losing only a close game to the Giants, and the Eagles have lost only once outside the division at Chicago. I can easily see three teams from this division in the playoffs if they don't knock each other out. Now, after a home loss to the Washington Redskins and a lackluster performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas sits in third place in their own division.

The Giants are playing well and clearly their confidence is high. There has been no Super Bowl hangover with this team. They play balanced offense, run the ball well, rush the passer, and play excellent special teams. Until they are beaten -- they are the champions. Eli Manning has given them a chance to win weekly, but really, it's the defense with its pass rush that is most impressive to me. As a Dallas Cowboys fan, I would love that kind of pressure.

The Washington Redskins look much like the Giants. Solid in all areas and Jason Campbell has been the true difference-maker. His improvement has made their running game even better because now if a team stacks the line of scrimmage Campbell makes them pay.

The Eagles, too, have the quarterback, running game, and defensive pass rush that in any given week is the difference. Their aggressive blitzing defensive front gives Dallas fits normally and is yet another obstacle to a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl run.

Looking at the NFC East, the Giants, Redskins, and Eagles all are similar and from early indications it appears every division game, home or away, is going to be an absolute battle. Like last year, it very well could be a NFC East Wild Card entry that ultimately wins the Super Bowl. In the case of Dallas that would be fine with me. Prove their salt in the toughest division in football, win a playoff game, and the rest will take care of itself. However, if Tony Romo and the defensive front does not match their division counterparts — Dallas may very well be watching a NFC Championship game between NFC East foes on television.

Against the Chargers in Preseason game #1, I saw good and bad.

Quarterback:

Romo is so good. He has so much confidence and playmaking ability that he's a human highlight reel. Behind him Brad Johnson was decent but the Cowboys won't be a down-field passing offense with Brad Johnson.  Bartel looked over-matched even against backups, and if the 'Boys carry a third quarterback it will be a guy like Chris Simms. Otherwise, Dallas goes with two QBs on the 53-man roster.  Without Romo or a trade for a strong-armed backup like Simms, it will be dink & dunk passing, a heavy dose of running -- and depend on a stout defense.

Halfback/Fullback:

Barber and Jones are a huge change of pace, with Choice and Anderson both making the team easily. No NFL teams has better depth than the Cowboys with these studs.

Tight End:

Witten, Curtis, and Bennett make the team easily.

Offensive Line:

Starters dominated. Depth could be an issue as the second group didn't seem to push anyone around.

Wide Receiver:

Owens is the man. Crayton looked good against the Chargers. Austin a couple of decent catches. The rest were missing in action. Hurd better step it up, Amendola looked terrible, but the most disappointing was Stanback. He looks like he was running on a treadmill 100MPH -- going nowhere. Will he be one of those guys that sticks around long enough to earn an NFL pension but never realize his potential or contribute -- much like Austin and Hurd? Perhaps it's time to bring in a experienced veteran like Roy Williams or Boldin that makes plays, cut all three, and clear a couple of roster spots.

Defensive Line - Font Seven:

Starters dominated and the rotation should keep people fresh. Linebackers are active. Did anyway catch Zach Thomas' interview? Wow! Texan drawl and I expected him to hop on a horse and ride away. he should really help a run defense that was a little loose last year.

Defensive backs:

Rough day. Pass interference on every down-field pass. Must improve. Scandrick was put on the bench with a stinger after a collision with a QB. The QB stayed on the field. Let's hope coverage is his strength.

Special Teams;

Awful returns and even worse coverage. Only highlight was our first round special team's star -- Bobby Carpenter.

Overall a decent effort and the DBs and Special Teams will  get better. I'm just glad Dallas Cowboys football is back!

The Blue Star of the Dallas Cowboys. What does it mean? What is its history? What does it represent? For many of us the “Star” represents Championships, Winning records, Glory, and Success. No team in sports history brings to it such popularity, love and devotion; yet on the other hand, such hatred, hostility and disrespect. When you have a team with such a long history of achievement, as do the Dallas Cowboys, it is bound to make almost as many enemies as it does fans. The Star represents “America’s Team” as given to it by NFL films in 1979, and the name stuck because the team truly has loyal fans in every corner of the United States and beyond. The Star also represents wealth; wealth in accomplishment, wealth in finance, and wealth of notoriety. The latter part not always being the good kind. At times in it’s history, the blue Star has been tarnished. Not by failure of winning, (for that in itself can never tarnish the Star) but by failure in character. Every team has these problems, but with a team as famous as the Cowboys, player flaws and mistakes become magnified for all to see. Yet at other times, players who have had problems in their career with the law or with their teams, have come to Dallas, been given a second chance, picked themselves back up, and became very successful; as citizens and as teammates. In doing so, bringing honor to the Star and polishing it even more.


As a child I was drawn to the Dallas Cowboys like a magnet. I first remember seeing Tony Dorsett and Danny White. And I saw that Cowboy Star on the TV screen. I wanted to be a part of that in some way, in any way. I knew when I saw that star that it was something special. My parents bought me Dallas pajamas with that blue star which I wore every night. I was teased some growing up for being a Cowboy fan, but I didn’t care, and I never abandoned them during the lean years in the late 80’s. And when they won their championships again in the 90’s, I felt proud inside to know I was not a bandwagon fan. After some lean years again in the early 2000’s, the Dallas Cowboys and the Star are now shining bright again, marching proudly down the path to glory and success. Another Superbowl trophy is just around the corner.


The big Blue Star. The star is one of the earliest shapes we learn as children, and the Cowboys have taken this iconic symbol, merging it with tradition, consistency, and success, and claimed it as their own. The blue star has become the pinnacle of helmet and sports recognition. So if you see a blue star somewhere, anywhere, odds are, you are going to think “Dallas Cowboys.” So ask yourself, what does the Star mean to you?

John A. Hildman III