Marion Barber series

I won't do the play by play anymore because we're getting into the second and third stringers. But now is a good time to highlight good, or bad, plays from the future of Dallas.

Nothing happened on our third offensive series. Brad Johnson couldn't get much movement.

Marion Barber is heating up! A draw play got 16 yards and he's caught a few passes for good yardage. Man, he is a juke machine. He's really trying to make a big play.

For some reason the center is high snapping and Brad Johnson just fumbled one, losing a ton of yards. No chance to score after a promising drive.

Half is over.

The Defense second series

First and 10 and the defensive line holds up.

Second and 9 and Anthony Spencer was a second away from his first NFL sack.

Third and 9: Sorgi makes a nice pass to the tight end for a first down. Secondary fails.

First and 10: Well, missed the play because FOX has to interview TO. sigh. A four yard run gain.

Second and 6: Another pass for a first down to the tight end.

First and 10: a pass to a running back for four yards.

Second and 6: Should have been caught but it a Sorgi pass was too hard and flew through receiver's hands

Third and 6: to the tight end Fletcher AGAIN, but he is a half yard shy of first down.

4th and 1: Quick snap and YES!! The defense holds and it's a turnover on downs.

6-3 Dallas.

First Series of Pre-season

Tony Romo looked pretty good in the first series, using 16 plays and 9.5 minutes. A lot of short passes that work well on first and second downs, but not so well on third and long. Not sure why Romo didn't see Witten wide open on second and long.

I noticed Marion Baber was trying to spin and juke the defense, when he should be driving straight ahead. A four-yard gain could have been a 10-yard gain if he just ran straight ahead. I sense he's trying to show he's an every-down back. I hope there's no backfield controversy because it would truly hurt the team.

A field goal is all we got, but for 14 of those 16 plays the offense seemed to be clicking.

On defense, guess what? We gave up the deep ball. Luckily, the defense tightened up and we held the Colts to three points.

On the second offensive series, it seemed the offensive line gave up blocking. Keep in mind, we're playing a team that was horrible stopping the run until the playoffs.

But, Romo to Fasano (tight end) kept it alive with three great passes and catches.

I am surprised they are keeping Romo in so long.

Barber had a tough, mean one-yard run that he almost broke. He has the ability to break tackles more than JJ.

2nd and 9 to Barber again who gains just three yards. Third down and 6: Another short dump pass from Romo, to Barber. Again, I don't understand this. Romo's first choice seemed covered as he turned his head to the right, held the ball and then finally dumped it to Barber.

Folk, our rookie kicker, makes an easy 25 yard field goal to put Dallas up 6-3.

Getting an audience isn't easy

When I first started this blog just a few months ago, I figured it would be just a matter of weeks before a few hundred people start visiting. Well, I am learning fast that just isn't going to be the case. This blog has to be top-notch, interesting, provoking and intelligent. You also have to have knowledge--a good deal of it---about the subject you are writing about.

Well, I've had a few hundred people come here....once. And of late, I get four to 10 regular visitors and a few dozen of people passing through.

It makes me think about how I can improve this blog and gain respect. I am always going to rant, express my dislike for the Eagles and Redskins and spout about whatever I want to spout about. And if that means only five people come here a day, fine.

But I'd be lying if I were to say I don't care. I do want to have good debate here. I do want people to stop here to get Dallas Cowboys opinions and comments and insight. When the season starts, I hope to give regular updates on plays, coaching moves, the good and the bad.

I do know football. And I do know my Cowboys.

What you won't find here?
You won't find: historical date past 1985.
You won't find hardcore stat data that really doesn't mean anything. I can take basic data and show you if someone should be performing better or worse than he is.
You won't find anything Pro Eagles or Pro Deadskins, ever.

You will find:
Funny posts. I like to be funny.
Regular updates 90 percent about Dallas.
Analytical posts during games and after.
Critical posts. I will express myself

Maybe my blog formula isn't one for success. Maybe this is just not an interesting place to be for 10 minutes a day. But one thing is for sure: I love the Dallas Cowboys. I always will. I suffered through the worst teams in the history of the franchise.

And that pride alone will keep me blogging here for many years to come. But to those who have visited me regularly, thanks. I hope we all can grow together in the blogosphere.

Does it matter? And...more rumors

I'm not surprised T.O. is missing practices again. I was surprised he showed up early to work outs. Does it really matter that T.O. always seems to get the injury bug during the pre-season? Does it make a difference to other teammates? My feeling, and this is just my humble opinion, is this probably irks some of the veterans. It will be even worse if T.O. drops as many passes as he did last year.

He had an MRI that came back negative, which we all expected. I don't care if he misses every single practice. I just want to win. And I know that to win, a team must practice---together.

In other news, do you know who this is:

It's Priest Holmes, who at age 34, is attempting to comeback as a running back for the Chiefs, a team that really doesn't need him unless LJ breaks a leg. But I find this YahooNews report very interesting. It was just last month that rumors were Dallas may get LJ. Now the rumors are we may get Priest Holmes?

Come on. Please cut the crap. We don't need either of these guys. People must have missed that we had a pretty decent, and very young, running duo last year. We can only expect that duo backfield to be even better. So why would we even consider either of these two aged, overused, backs?

It's beyond me.

Thank You Michael, Thank you for the memories

"He’s an inspirational and natural born leader. He’s a Dallas Cowboy."
----Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys

No one is perfect.

Michael Irvin knows this. But never has someone who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame elaborated on that sentiment like Irvin did tonight.

After 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and three Super Bowls, The Playmaker can now say he did it, even though he doubted if he could. He's one of the elite. He's a Hall of famer.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones used one word to describe Irvin: W-I-L-L

"I've never seen anyone with more of it," he said.

Ironically, it was a devastating loss that became Irvin's most memorable game. In the 1994 NFC Championship, Dallas spotted the 49ers a 21-point lead, with seven of those points from an Irvin fumble.

But as Irvin said, the team never gave up. Irvin went on to break an NFC championship game record with 192 receiving yards on 12 receptions and two touchdowns in the 38-28 loss.

On Oct. 10, 1999, Irvin's career ended on a short slant against the Eagles. He slammed his head onto the turf and suffered a serious spinal injury. As the Eagles fans cheered, my head hung low as I witnessed the end of an era.

Irvin was the last player chosen in the Landry era. He suffered through 1-15 and 3-13 seasons before reaching the NFL's top game. Jerry Jones said Irvin was the catalyst, the spark, of those championship teams.

"The Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s were champions," Jones said. "The heart and the soul of those championship teams was Michael Irvin."

"His hard work is legendary. His passion, his competitiveness, were really possibly his greatest gifts and he shared them with his teammates on a daily basis."

Irvin had his faults, Jones said. But only Irvin could overcome his fallibility and use his inner strength to land on his feet stronger than before. It was no surprise to hear Irvin thank the fans first. Irvin discussed how he endured through his troubled life. Prayer obviously helped him through the difficulties, along with his loving wife Sandy and four children.

Another moment in his life that helped him heal was last year's Super Dome return for the New Orleans Saints.

"I watched our people who had suffered so grievously through Hurricane Katrina fill the stadium hours before a game and stay hours after the game. I witnessed those fans as they look for each other, love one another, and just be thankful to be in that stadium. You seen the game flex its greatest muscle that game: The ability to heal. I experienced a football game that contributed the healing of a city. So don’t tell me it is just a game."

Irvin then reached out to his two sons, ages 10 and 8.

"That’s my heart right there. That's my heart. When I am on that threshing floor, I pray. I say God, I have my struggles. And I made some bad decisions. But whatever you do, whatever you do, don’t let me mess this up. I asked, I said please help me, raise them for some young lady so that they can be a better husband than I. Help me, help me raise them for their kids so that they can be a better father than I. And I tell you guys, to always do the right thing so that you can be a better role model than Dad."

Irvin wasn't sure if he'd make it to the Hall of Fame. His troubled life preceded him. When his son Michael Jr. asked after watching Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman inducted last year if his father ever make it, Irvin said he returned to God for his answer.

"My heart cried out. God, why must I go through so many peaks and valleys? I wanted to stand in front of my boys and do it like your Dad, like any proud Dad would want to. Why must I go through so much? And at that moment a voice came over me and he said, 'Look up, get up and don’t ever give up.' And you tell, you tell everyone or anyone, that has ever doubted, thought they did not measure up, or wanted to quit, you tell them to 'Look up, get up and don’t ever give up.'"

That's The Playmaker, folks. Love him or hate him, Michael Irvin is now a Hall of Famer.

Thank you, Michael, for the memories.

Say What You Want, But the Playmaker is a CHAMP

I have been a Dallas Cowboys fan since a little boy, but the memories really are from the 80s and 90s. I remember some real tough times and I wondered if I'd ever see America's Team win a Super Bowl in my lifetime. I remember Danny White leading a sinking ship and a slew of quarterbacks who probably couldn't even lead an Arena league team. We had Tony Dorsett and then Herschel Walker. Ed Too Tall Jones, Randy White.

But when Michael Irvin was drafted 11th overall in the 1988 NFL draft, it was the beginning of the transformation. Yes, we have to thank the Minnesota Vikings for the Herschel Walker trade.

But Irvin started it all. And after 12 seasons and 159 games, he left the game after a scary injury against the Eagles---one I will never forget because of the cheers from the ruthless Eagles fans as Irvin was carted off the field.

No. 88 was a Star. Say what you want about him and his personal choices outside of football, but Irvin was a player.

And this weekend, he will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Why? Try: Three Super Bowl rings. 750 receptions. 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns.