Teamwork.

It is the crux of football.  Eleven players working together for a common goal on offense or defense.  The quarterback does not score a touchdown without the help of the other players.

I am looking to build a team of contributors hear at Dfwfootball.net. This site is the only website dedicated to only football in only the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area.

Contributors

Contributors are volunteer and I only ask for one post per week.  You may do more if you want, but one is all I need from each person.

If you are passionate about football in DFW and a good writer, join the team!  It is good if you have an opinion too because opinions generate discussion and debate.  I do try to keep things “family friendly” here, so keep that in mind.

Subjects

There are several subjects to be covered this Fall beginning in August.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys is the center of the football universe in the DFW area.  I need a contributor to write about them, maybe two.  If I had two, I could do a before-game article and a after-game article.  I am not looking for game summaries and wrap ups.  The major newspapers already do that.  I want a little commentary or analysis such as what you might see from Randy Galloway or Jennifer Floyd Engel.

TCU Horned Frogs

The Horned Frogs have had two of the most exciting seasons in their history in 2008 and 2009, and 2010 might be the best yet.  They will likely challenge for a BCS bowl again, and with their high pre-season ranking, might be in the running for national title game shot.  Just as with the Cowboys, I would like to have some commentary and/or analysis.

SMU Mustangs

June Jones, it is safe to say, has turned around the Pony program.  The Mustangs made it to a bowl game since before their infamous “Death Penalty.”  The Mustangs might just take it up a notch and compete for a Conference USA title this year.

UNT Mean Green

Todd Dodge has struggled to turn around the program known more for “Mean” Joe Green than anything else.  Will Dodge finally see progress this year or will it be his last?

UTA Mavericks Club Football Team

Most people don’t know that the Mavericks have a football team, but they do.  It is club football, and UTA has been making strides every year under Coach Green.  They are more organized than ever before, and I have a good relationship with the team allowing for access for coverage.  This would be a nice job for a UTA journalism student.

High School

The only thing bigger than the Cowboys in Texas might be high school football.  This is not a priority because there is so many teams, but if someone wanted to tackle the subject, we would try to cover one game per week.  I think that a high profile matchup would be best.

I will make a nice contributor page with a bio for each contributor and a “headshot” picture.  We will archive your articles as well so that you can use them for your writing clips.  If you want to move in to a full time writing job, I will help you with that as well by helping you make connections.  I have a Linkedin account for Dfwfootball.net which you can join if you become a contributor for me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/john-pozadzides/

Here is your 2010 Dallas Cowboys Schedule including preseason games courtesy of DallasCowboys.com.

2010 Preseason

Sun, Aug 8     vs. Cincinnati @ Canton (NBC National)     7:00 PM
Thu, Aug 12     OAKLAND (KTVT/CBS 11)     8:00 PM
Sat, Aug 21     @ San Diego (KTVT/CBS 11)     8:00 PM
Sat, Aug 28     @ Houston (CBS National)     7:00 PM
Thu, Sep 2     MIAMI (KTVT/CBS 11) presented by Papa John’s     7:00 PM

2010 Regular Season Opponents

Sun, Sept. 12     @ Washington (NBC)     7:20 PM
Sun, Sept. 19     CHICAGO (FOX) presented by Miller Lite     Noon
Sun, Sept. 26     @ Houston (FOX)     Noon
Sun, Oct. 3     BYE
Sun, Oct. 10     TENNESSEE (CBS) presented by Bank of America     3:15 PM
Sun, Oct. 17     @ Minnesota (FOX)     3:15 PM     Purchase
Mon, Oct. 25     N.Y. GIANTS (ESPN) presented by Ford     7:30 PM
Sun, Oct. 31     JACKSONVILLE (CBS) presented by Pepsi     Noon
Sun, Nov. 7     @ Green Bay (NBC)     7:20 PM
Sun, Nov. 14     @ N.Y. Giants (FOX)     3:15 PM
Sun, Nov. 21     DETROIT (FOX) presented by Dr Pepper     Noon*
Thu., Nov. 25     NEW ORLEANS (FOX) presented by AT&T     3:15 PM
Sun, Dec. 5     @ Indianapolis (Fox)     3:15 PM*     Purchase
Sun, Dec. 12     PHILADELPHIA (NBC) presented by University of Phoenix     7:20 PM*
Sun, Dec. 19     WASHINGTON (FOX)     Noon*     Purchase
Sat, Dec. 25     @ Arizona (NFL NETWORK)     6:30 PM
Sun, Jan. 2     @ Philadelphia (FOX)     Noon*

PLEASE NOTE:
* All Kickoffs Dallas Time
* Home Games in CAPS

A Gift for Ron

Take that money you received for Christmas, or your Borders gift card, and run down the day after Christmas to meet Everson Walls and buy a copy of his book.

You can learn more about the book by reading the article at dfwfootball.net.

A Gift for Ron

Walls has faced some difficult challenges throughout his life, but a few of years ago, he decided to face another one. With his former teammate and friend Ron Springs waiting for a kidney transplant, Walls decided to take matters into his own hands and donate his kidney. The book, A Gift for Ron: Friendship and Sacrifice On and Off the Gridiron is the story of Walls’ life and how events led him to a place where he felt enough courage to make a life changing decision.

I had a chance to visit with Walls the day before Thanksgiving about his book and a few other subjects as well.

“We had a nice little platform to talk about the dangers of Type 2 Diabetes and Kidney Failure,” Walls told me when I asked him about the inspiration for the book. “It was an opportunity to share what Ron means to us.”

In spite of the inspirational nature of the story, no publisher expressed interest at first. “[Co -author Kevin] Blackistone did a great job of weaving events of my life into the Ron-event,” he said. In spite of the slow start, Walls and Blackstone’s agent found a publishing company willing to publish the story. Walls called the coming together of the book as “a blessing.”

Walls has embarked on a tour for the book that includes 25-30 radio or TV shows. He also has four book signing events scheduled, one in which he has already attended.

I asked Walls about the enormous rookie salaries as he was instrumental in helping players, especially undrafted free agents such as Tony Romo, obtain a better salary during the 1980′s. “I’m for any person to get what they can get.” However, he told me, when owners decide to pay these big salaries to rookies, “. . . .they open a pandora’s box and they can’t close it.” Walls explained that it creates a situation where owners have to choose between a “. . . veteran who is a liability versus an unproven rookie.”

Walls recalled that the Cowboys were notorious for letting veterans go while they still had good years left during the 1980s. The Cowboys were also known for finding little-known players through the leadership of Gil Brandt who was Vice President of Player Personnel. Brandt was known for finding the “diamonds in the rough.” Bradt and the Cowboys would sign them, sometimes undrafted such as Walls and Michael Downs, and then the players would be locked in to lower salaries. Then, the younger players would be used to replace veterans who have bigger salaries.

Ironically, it was their failure to find more of the younger talent they had found that led to the demise of the Cowboys in the late 1980s. When Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys, he and head coach Jimmy Johnson let go of older players to rebuild the Cowboys with new talent. Walls was one of the players let go, and he ended up winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants.

When I asked Walls if he thought that the NFL depended too much on measurables in the draft, he responded, “Yeah I always have.” Walls mentioned Steve Largent as an example of where the philosophy can break down. The Hall of Famer was never considered fast enough, but he “ran precise routes.” Walls noted a difference between a good athlete and a good player. “The difference,” he said, “is heart and mentality.”

Walls also pointed to what he calls the “big school bias.” The bigger schools, when he was in college, had the TV exposure. “It’s a marketing thing really,” he said. The lack of exposure in college led to the lack of draft status and affected players’ money. These days, the exposure for the smaller schools is better, and NFL scouts are finding players at the smaller schools. However, Walls believes that, “[before] NFL scouts were some of the laziest people in the sport.” They only seemed to notice the players from the big schools and did not look for good players from smaller schools such as Grambling where he starred.

As for guys who are trying to get to the pros from the semi pro football ranks, Walls has some advice:

“Never let anyone else determine your greatness. Only you can determine your fate, by the choices you make. It’s an all-out commitment. You can’t half commit. Be prepared for the blessing [opportunity] that comes your way.”

Sounds like some good advice for all of us who are trying achieve our goals.

About the book:
A Gift for Ron: Friendship and Sacrifice On and Off the Gridiron

The book is written by former Dallas Cowboy Everson Walls and AOL Sports columnist Kevin Blackistone. Blackistone helps Everson weave his life events into a story that reveals a life that was nurtured for the sacrificial act of Walls donating his kidney to former Cowboy Ron Springs. The book follows Walls from the days he grew up in the Hamilton Park area of Dallas to his days at Grambling State University where he played for legendary coach Eddie Robinson.

The book also follows Walls during his first training camp where he beat the odds to make the Dallas Cowboys and earn his rookie salary of $30,000 per year. Walls “lifts the curtain” from behind-the-scenes of the Dallas Cowboys organization during his time from 1981-1989 revealing information about the strikes, the Players Union, and his fight to earn a salary worthy of his production on the field.

More Information:

EversonWalls.com
Gift for Life Foundation

The book is available at your local Borders Books.

Michael Downs signed copies of his book Fruits of Faith, Hope, & Love:  Cowboy Style at Borders Books & Music in Fort Worth.  I have pics from the event.

The book is a collection of articles about past

Dallas Cowboys and the perspective they shared with faith.  Such Cowboy greats include Tony Dorsett, Darren Woodson, Everson Walls, Charlie Waters, Bill Bates, Calvin Hill, Roger Staubach and others.

Copies of the book will be available for sale, and you can get your copy autographed by a Cowboys great.

2009 Preseason Schedule

Courtesy of DallasCowboys.com

Today was a whirlwind tour for Cutler news.  First, I saw this morning that Cutler might be dealt to the Washington Redskins.  This afternoon, I heard he was being traded to the Cleveland Browns.  By supper, it was announced that he was being traded to the Chicago Bears for Kyle Orton and two number one picks.

Now that the nonsense is over, what about a trade for Romo?  For some reason, Dallas Morning News columnist Todd Archer re-approached the idea today.  I don’t know what possessed him to write about it; maybe it was a slow news day.  Other pundits talked about this at least two weeks ago.  I guess Archer had more important things to do.

Let me do a little bit of fantasizing.  Jay Cutler is not someone I would be trading Tony Romo for.  But, there is a person, a quarterback, that I would trade Romo for in a heart-beat.  Sorry, Tony, but he has proven himself on the field.

He’s not flashy.  He doesn’t have that boyish grin.  Well, maybe a little bit.  He is not reported to have dated a famous singer, or two.  He’s not ever going to throw for 4,000 yards.  He will rarely throw for more than 20 touchdowns in a season.  He might fall below a 100 passer rating.  Heck, he’s even younger than Romo.

What he has done is win two Super Bowl titles in just five years.  He is great with 4th quarter comebacks.  He is 51-20 in regular season games which is a 72% winning percentage.  He is 8-2 in the playoffs with two Super Bowl wins in two Super Bowls.

He is Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I would take him straight up over Tony Romo.  My hope for Romo–because “Big” Ben isn’t going anywhere–is that he becomes a little more like Roethlisberger.

So, our media guys need to quit worrying about a Romo-Cutler trade.  Maybe, we can ask the Steelers nicely if they would let us have Ben.  Not going to happen.

And, while we are playing “fantasy” football.  Let’s talk about the “wildcat” package.

I’m not sure what the Cowboys could call it.  Maybe the “Wade-cat” package.  Or, the “new-stadium-in-Arlington-package.”  Maybe they can get naming rights for it.  I can see it now.  “The Cowboys are lining up in their Sponsored-by-AT&T Package.”  I am sure former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman would love to say that while covering a game for Fox.

Nevertheless, our friends in the media have told us the Cowboys are considering the “wildcat” formation which was made famous by Darren McFadden at the University of Arkansa and then brought to the Miami Dolphins by former Razorback coach David Lee.  (See here, here and here.)

Names have been thrown around.  It seems the Cowboys might draft for the “wildcat” quarterback.  Someone such as Pat White from West Virginia comes to mind.  White played in an option-oriented spread-style offense for the Mountaineers.

Isaiah Stanback has also come up, and the upside with him is he is already a Cowboys.  Stanback was a quarterback for the University of Washington who was drafted to play receiver for the Cowboys.

Also, Felix Jones has also been mentioned.  Jones was the”other” running back for the Razorbacks when they used the “wildcat” package with Darren McFadden at the QB spot.  Jones was a crucial element in the formation.  Any “wildcat” package that doesn’t include Jones in the plans, for the Cowboys, would be silly because of his experience with the package.

The Cowboys could consider drafting Azle’s James Casey who is a very versatile athlete and who has lined up at quarterback while playing for Rice.  He could be used a number of different ways and provide some depth at the tight end position.

Now see, isn’t “fantasy” football fun?

I am not a traditional sports journalist.  I didn’t get my training in journalism the traditional way.  I kind of learned it through (don’t tell anyone about this) blogging.  I urge you to keep quiet about this.  I can’t have people believe that I was a blogger.

I chuckled Saturday night when a member of the Weatherford Bullets‘ coaching staff referred to me as media.  Who do they think I am, Mac Engel?  Come on; I’m just a guy who runs a website.  I have accumulated enough “points” to count as media, maybe.

I have had the opportunity to receive press credentails to football games including the Armed Forces Bowl and the dirt races at Texas Motor Speedway.  Heck, they even let me go to the TMS annual media day.  They’ll let anyone in those things, huh!

The best I can tell, most journalists try to find something good to write.  They are looking for stories.  We (me) are always looking for stories to post here at dfwfootball.net.  Whether it is a game write-up or scores, we (me) are always trying to find something to keep the site fresh.

The big guys, you know, the Star-Telegram and the Dallas Morning News, hire guys, maybe more, to do nothing to but write about the Dallas Cowboys.  Of course, that is what people want, Cowboys coverage 24-7.  Not me.

I get tired of hearing these same old gossip-like stories from Valley Ranch.  I mean, all you hear is, “Did Jerry say that, or did he really mean this? What does it mean that Coach Wade can’t talk to the media?  Should Jerry still be the GM?”  Blah, blah, blah!

Have you heard the latest of the non-sense coming out of Valley Ranch?  I don’t know how you couldn’t have unless you haven’t listened to sports news in the past week.  I listen to Galloway and Company on my way home, and that seems to be all they have talked about this week.

Apparently, Terrance Newman hates Tony Romo.  Did you know that?  Maybe he will hate Jason Whitten next.  With any luck, maybe Newman will be the new Terrell Owens.  Fireworks make for better news, right.

No less than four articles have been written about this.  It seems that Newman questioned Romo’s focus in regards to his relationship with girlfriend Jessica Simpson in an interview with WFAA, channel 8.  Man, that Dale Hansen can stir up anything!  But wait, our good friend Mac Engel of the Star-Telegram tells us that his comments were “misconstrued.”

Just in case we don’t believe him, Mac’s wife Jennifer reminds us that There’s no trouble brewing between Terrance Newman and Tony Romo.  After closer inspection, and there’s always a closer inspection, it seems that the two played golf together Monday and that Newman is behind Romo 100%.  That’s good news, now can we just move on!

Now that that is cleared up, let’s move on with the point.

Sometimes, I think we go overboard on our coverage of the NFL, particularly the Cowboys.  What, you say you want Cowboys 24-7?  Why?  Do you really want to read/hear those little off-handed remarks and rumors?  Then Vince McMahon was on to something with the XFL.

Big city newspapers are struggling to be profitable, but they are willing to spend money to employ several people to show up at the team headquarters and search for some juicy story for their adoring public.  Really?

What if the public don’t want to read about those juicy stories?  What if they would rather read well written stories about the team and evaluations of off-season moves?  Do we really need to send six to eight members of the media to the Cowboys headquarters at Valley Ranch every day?

I am not saying that we don’t need to cover the Cowboys, but maybe we suffer from “Cowboys Overexposure.”  As big city papers seem to struggle, is it possible that smaller papers might be doing just fine, thank you very much.

There is nothing else sports-related to report on.  Is there?  Of course not.  Well, I have counted almost 20 football teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that play in independent minor league and semi-pro leagues.  Actually, I know I am leaving a few off.

The interesting thing is that it seems that maybe people still want local news.  Websites like Topix.com and the local PegasusNews.com have customized portals for readers to find news about their own neighborhood.

There is only so much I can hear about the Cowboys.  The Cowboys need to prove themselves on the field, not on the six-o-clock news.  I don’t need a “sound-bite.”  I need to see them win on the field.  It is my wish that the media would simply “shut up and let them (the Cowboys) play.”

Besides, their is a whole bunch of other teams that are playing right now.

Therefore, I will scan various sources who write about the Cowboys often and offer up a few that are interesting or important.  Then, you can go and read about them and learn the latest buzz on the Cowboys.

This week, the Cowboys Buzz is brought to you by the dfwfootball.net store.  You can use the navbar at the top to navigate to our store.  It is still small, but it has a few items that you might be interested in buying.  Check out the dfwfootball.net store!

Michael Irvin Reality Show

Dreams die hard–MySanAntonio.com

Reality for Players–Clarence Hill, Jr., Star-Telegram

Field is Set–Barry Horn, Dallas Morning News

Draft Needs

Speed Rusher?–Mailbag, DallasCowboys.com

Cowboys have options–Clarence Hill, Jr., Star-Telegram

Draft the best player–Clarence Hill, Jr., Star-Telegram