NFL
cowboys Lone Star Swagger They’ve only won 1 playoff game in the last 13 years. The ‘Boys haven’t sniffed the Super Bowl since the 1995 season. Well, this year the Big One’s in the Big D. Can the Cowboys make it there? Let’s take a look: Dallas’ three-headed monster is back at RB, but the heads on it may have switched around. It appears as if Felix Jones will be taking the lead this year, allowing Marion Barber to come off the bench and be more effective with his runs. Dez Bryant is what you call a quarterback’s best friend: He has hands of glue, makes catches off of bad throws, and has great body control to contort himself to make a grab any which way. Bryant’s addition hurts Patrick Crayton the most. Crayton, who was the team’s slot, sure-handed receiver, is now looking at best being the #4 receiver, if he even remains on the team. Jason Witten returns as the big tight end, and Romo’s favorite target. Witten is a match-up nightmare and makes all the wide-outs better. Doug Free won’t be able to just inherit the left tackle job, as the Cowboys traded for tackle Alex Barron, who will give Free a good run for his money throughout the season for playing time if Free struggles at all. With a 3-4 defense, you don’t really
expect much from your defensive line, but the Cowboys get a lot from their three. Spears has been a little underwhelming, but has been moved around a lot on this defense and could become a force soon. Igor Olshansky has done a great job at right end, covering up blockers to let DeMarcus Ware come free. DeMarcus Ware was slowed down for a few games with an injury, but was still his terrorizing self. Spencer as the other outside line backer has started to become a huge threat, which opens up Ware even more. On the inside, Keith Brooking and Bradie James are very smart, instinctive players who are sure tacklers. Scandrick is a great nickel cornerback who has good speed and can keep up with the slot guys going across the middle. Gerald Sensabaugh comes back at strong safety, and should provide a little better pass coverage, as he had a cast covering up his broken thumb the majority of the season. At free safety is where the battle between Alan Ball and Michael Hamlin will happen. Ball, a former cornerback, has the athletic skills, but is not a good hitter. Hamlin has played safety, but lacks the NFL experience. COREY POCHE
texans
Here's to Glenn
Aaron Glenn, former Texas A&M stud and NFL Pro-Bowler, became the first in Texans’ history to sign a one-day contract in order to retire with the team. Glenn was a pro’s pro, playing for multiple NFL teams including the Cowboys and Texans. He was one of the first badasses the revamped Houston NFL franchise had, bringing their helmet to the Pro Bowl in 2002. So let us each raise our Jager-bomb (or pitcher of beer if you’re at the Dixie Chicken) to Glenn. In position-battle news: KICKER—Kris Brown is the incumbent but must take-out veteran Neil Rackers, formerly of C-list actress, Arizona Cardinal. Rackers should win with relative ease. RUNNING BACK—Ben Tate should take over once everyone is back on the field. Slaton was just recently cleared to participate in full capacity and Tate has been handling a hamstring injury. Tate is this writer’s fave, but that could be simply because of how my mouth still tastes from Slaton’s performance last season. Everybody digs Foster, though. He’s like… Texas Tech. They’re kinda cool, sometimes, we guess.
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NFL
But let’s go ahead and let the big boys play. Chris Henry and Jeremiah Johnson are both still on the roster as of now but shouldn’t make it past the cuts. WIDE-RECEIVER—Kevin Walter received a solid deal to stay in Houston instead of bolting to play for Falco and the Sentinels. I mean, Flacco and the Ravens… The guy puts up solid numbers, but there are vibes in H-Town that many want to see more of Jacoby Jones. The guy has always had above-the-goalpost potential but has also been the guy who shows up late for meetings. If the coaching staff can chiselout Jones a little bit, he may push Walter for some time opposite Andre. TIMOTHY JENKINS-WADE
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