<span style="color: #618bb5;">http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/ne
ws/story?id=3851967 

The Hall of Fame receiver is launching a reality TV show in which 12 "football neophytes" will compete for an impressive grand prize: a spot on the Dallas Cowboys' training camp roster.Is this a good idea or a very bad one?

With all the media attention that Dallas is surrounded by, it would be easy to say this is more attention than they need at this time. The team does not need any more questions this off season that are not focused to the field of play. This is true.

However, this has promise. This is the opportunity for 12 individuals to attempt and crack their way into the NFL. The possiblity of actually locating a star player is slim to none but there have been many occations when an undrafted rookie has made a major impact within his carerr. James Harrison is the best example. The odds are greater than Detroit winning the Super Bowl this decade (or the next), but the potential is still there.

The obvious downside is the media attention an potential distraction this may cause similar to "Hard Knocks". But this isn't Hard Knocks. The cameras will not be on the field disrupting practice during training camp. They will not be following the every move of known star's on the team.

They will be documenting a "try-out" for a roster spot on the Dallas Cowboys' training camp team.

What is major risk of such exposure? Little to none. This may be nothing more than a marketting tool for Jerry Jones to promote his new, lavish stadium. Or, an actual try-out to attempted find talent amoung the thousands of players that will never have a shot otherwise.

If the winner of the contest works out and makes the team then, I say, more power to you. If not, then he gets cut like anyone else and is replaced by some else on their extensive list of invitiees to the training camp. 

No harm, no foul!

I am a man of action and change. That is why I love the Draft and really try to dive into it. I research top picks and multiple resources for mock drafts. I look to see what ideas people have when it comes to the needs of teams and who they believe will fill those needs. One of my favorite sites is Fantasy Football Jungle. On the Dallas <span style="color: #618bb5;">Cowboys page, they break down multiple mock drafts to figure out who the most popular pick would be.

<span style="color: #618bb5;">http://www.fantasyfootballjungle
.com/y/nfl-draft/teams/index.php?steam=Dal

The following shows who NFL draft enthusiasts think the Dallas Cowboys are going to get with their first 2 draft picks . Players are shown with the number of mock drafts that had this player going to the Cowboys, and the % of the time that this player was selected to go to the Cowboys. The bottom table gives a list of positions that the Dallas Cowboys are most likely targeting with their first 2 picks of the draft. What I am looking at is the position and the player themselves to see if there is an overwhelming favorite. It gives me as base line for needs. This draft is going to be very difficult to scout just because there are so many teams with 2 and 3 picks ahead of Dallas which really makes it difficult for me to figure which need will get addressed where.

I am going to post a draft position and two players and I would like your feed back on who you would take and why. I'm going to try and keep this running over the next couple of weeks.

Pick Number #51 overall: SS Patrick Chung (Oregon) vs. FS Rashad Johnson (Alabama)

Battle Scars

Welcome to the first editions of Battle Scars. Battle Scars is the portion of my blog that I use to rant and rave about the week's headlines.

I'll start with the most hated two words that any Cowboys fan has heard uttered out of the mouths of a media member.

Anonymous Source!

Everytime I see these words starting an editorial or column, I kringe. Myself, along with 2 million other Cowboys fans, would really like to know who the "Anonymous Source" is that Ed Werder and ESPN have sworn by this season. I speculate often that the source is manifistation of Ed Werder's bias mind. After all, he has been after Terrell Owens for years. He has been fishing for information and this season, in the wake of Dallas' disappointment, he found Dallas an easy target fabricate some controversy. Maybe someone in the locker room, or just out side the locker room perhaps, mentioned something obscure that he felt he could twist into a breaking story. After all, the Dallas Cowboys are big news, expecially when they are on edge.

Now there is about as much fact in this has in Werder's "source", but hey, he isn't the only one that can twist a story.

As a fellow Cowboys fan and poster withing the Dallas Cowboys' community (Calcio9) has brought to light, Marvin Harrison seems to have a pretty checkered past.

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/messag
es/chrono/13076849

I am watching all the network and all forum posters and all the little blog boys and girls give their takes who is to blame for Dallas' seasonal disappointment. Most want to place 90% of the blame on Terrell Owens. Most of these people are also listening to the voices in their heads (I call them ESPN). But when I sat down an took a serious look at if from as many angles as possible I came up with the following list.

1. Wade Phillips - He has created an atmosphere of softness and unaccountability to include the coaching staff and players a like. His leadership and diciplinarian skills are extremely lacking. Players may respect him as a person (I don't really know or care), but they definitly do not respect him as a coach. This is his own making and not the making of anyone else.
2. Jerry Jones - I would put him above Phillips except for the fact that I don't believe for a second that Jerry Jones thought Wade would be this inept as a head coach. He hired Jason Garrett prior to signing Phillips and this seems to be a source of tention between the two. It is obvious that the coaching staff is not on the same page, therefore you can not expect chemistry within the team itself. Also, resigning himself to keeping Brad Johnson last season has proved to be a very costly mistake.
3. Jason Garrett - His play calling skills have been non-existant in the 2008 season. They seemed to be diminishing towards the end of the 2007 season as well. I don't know if it is because the players stopped responding or if the lose of Tony Sparanno was the key issue but he clearly has a lot of work to do to set the offense straight. Granted he might not even return depending on the coaching carousel.
4. Wade Wilson - Wilson has done little to nothing in improving Tony Romo's fundamentals. If Tony  is not responding to training then he needs to find another way or speak with Coach Cupcake and Red Jesus about it. This is one reason why he is 4th and not higher on the list is because of his lack of power within the organization.
5. Tony Romo - He has, as stated above, has a serious lack of fundamentals the result in an series of extremely costly mistakes that cost the Dallas Cowboys more than 1 game. Under Bill Parcells, Romo managed to curve his fumblitis for the most part and became a top quarterback. We all know he has the talent but within the atmosphere created by Phillips, Romo is little more than an average signalcaller. The injury was a factor, but his decision making skills and his read progression have regressed back to the level of a rookie quarterback straight out of college. He above all other players needs to forgo his off season in lue of an extensive training regiem. Next season he could be up for the most improved player award or comeback player of the year.
6. Cory Procter - He has been a major factor in Romo's regression into mediocrity. His complete lack of skills allowed more sacks in this season than any other line player for the Cowboys in the last 3. There is no hope for him.
7. Brian Stewart - His inability to call a defensive play is well documented over the last two seasons. It was not until Coach Phillips took control of the defense turned them into the beasts that we all witnessed mid to late in the season that Dallas truely became a defensive threat. Unfortunatly, It was too little too late.
8. Adam Jones - While his off the field exploits were well documented, Jones' on the field contributions were lacking in most areas. He played well on the defensive side of the ball deflecting the most passes for the season for the Cowboys given his limited time on the field. However, his return skills had grossly diminished from his days as a Titan and irresponsiblity and lack of accountability off the field let him to miss the a vast majority of the season. Even if his skills improve over the off season, his inability to stay on the field during the season makes him a great liability. Dallas, I believe, was correct in releasing Adam Jones.
9. Injuries - The number of key players injured this season for the Cowboys was substancial. The fact that they could not get Felix Jones, Kyle Kosier and Miles Austin back on to the field was a direct result of their strength and conditioning staff. The Dallas trainers this season have failed the Cowboys. Injuries are apart of the game but the fact that all three players were injured and reinjured again during rehab just baffles me.
10. Terrell Owens - While most believe that he is the key culprit in Dallas' demise, I believe that releasing T.O. will be the single biggest mistake this off season. My only faults for T.O. are missed opportunities on the field. He is known for dropping the ball in pressure situations. Part of that stems from the throw itself but sometimes he just stone hands the ball. He is known for quitting on a play. That was evident against the Packers when he chased down Charles Woodson after a Tony Romo interception. Another fault of his that is about 50/50 as far as blame is concerned is his "Media Magnet" ability. Early in his career he created this issue. Now he has become a victim of it. With media sharks like Ed Werder and Matt Mosley prowling around the lockerroom looking for "Anonymous Sources" that will ultimately be used as fuel to spark the soap opera that is Dallas. The media does everything they possibly can to spike their ratings by trashing someone elses reputation or precived reputation.

As the Titans' ex-defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, steps on to Ford Field for the first time as the Detroit Lions' new head coach you have to be wondering what is going through his mind.

Taking over the worst team in NFL history after comming off their worst season in NFL history, 0-16, is a monumental task. Schwartz has very little talent to work with, but he does have a relitively good chance to turn it all around. Schwartz will be inheriting one of the best young WR in the game in Calvin Johnson, a young running back that has show potential in Kevin Smith and his best defensive player on the team in Ernie Sims.

He is also inheriting the 24th ranked passing attack and 30th ranked rushing attack (83.2 YPG) on the offensive side;  along with the 27th ranked passing defense and the NFL's worst ranked rushing defense (172.1 YPG).  Under the reign of Matt Millen, Detroit has manage to botch almost every draft in a decade. This draft promises to be first in a brighter future.

With the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and the No. 20 overall pick from the Dallas Cowboys, Schwartz will have a good place to start. A franchise quarterback looks to be in the cards in the name of Mathew Stafford followed quickly by someone to protect their future quarterback in OT Eben Brittan from Arizona.

This task seemingly much like the 1989 Dallas Cowboys comming off of their 1-15 season and hiring first time head coach Jimmy Johnson. The only major differences would be Dallas' history of excellence versus Detroits' history of ineptitude and Jerry Jones' win at all cost attitude versus the don't break the back but try to win if you can attitude of William Ford.

A daunting task, none the less.

My heart goes out to Jim Schwartz. I hope this position does not become the death of his career as it has to so many other coaches before him. May the Schwartz be with you all in Detroit.