Editor's note: Clark Judge, Pete Prisco and Mike Freeman are traveling to every NFL training camp and filing daily reports and analysis. Next camp report from Freeman: Bears
Cowboys: Five things to know | 
Freeman
OXNARD, Calif. -- While too many NFL wide receivers continue to burn legacies and commit felonies, the artist formerly known as Terrible Owens has suddenly gone radio silent.
As Steve Smith punches heads, Terrell Owens punches a clock. When Chad Johnson ran his mouth, Owens ran sprints. Brandon Marshall is suspended and everyone waits in suspense for the next Owens outburst. None has come and none seem imminent (find a piece of wood, knock, repeat).
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 One man vs. One fan | |
bird_rambo: "They need to prove to themselves and the rest of the NFL community that they are going to take that next step toward a Championship." |
The wide receivers in pro football are expressing their inner Vin Diesel. Normally, Owens would be at the front of the line, Sharpie in hand, choreographer at his side, controversy soon to follow. But something has happened. Owens, I'll be damned, is quiet.
In fact, the entire Dallas Cowboys camp is quiet. No eruptions. No egos clashing. No visits from the cops or lectures from the commissioner. Wasn't this supposed to be Camp Chaos?
When I asked quarterback Tony Romo that exact question, he smiled and said, "For us it's never as big a circus as you guys write about." He later added: "When you get out here at camp it's just football."
This is a team full of stars, brilliant players and dedicated pros. It's also got a couple of weirdoes, divas and misdemeanor generators. Adam Jones is a stripper-alohic. Tank Johnson once had more guns in his house than Neo from The Matrix. Owens is one of the original wide receiver brats.
The Cowboys are the Beatles of the NFL. If it's not the Hard Knocks cameras following the players around, it's the National Enquirer sticking a telephoto lense into Tony and Jessica's cabana. In fact, recently, reporters from People magazine made an appearance. It's unlikely they were doing a story on the 3-4 defense.
That's normal stuff for these guys. Here's where it's different. Owens not popping off or complaining or crying or dancing or ripping his team is receiver-bites-dog territory.
| Out of Nowhere Man |
 Tight end Martellus Bennett is a second-rounder from Texas A&M. On this team being a tight end is a lonely job because Jason Witten might be the best in the business. Nevertheless Bennett is putting up a solid fight for the No. 2 spot behind Witten. If Bennett improves his blocking he can indeed have the honor of holding Witten's clipboard. |
| Who is your Out of Nowhere Man? |
There's a calmness and professionalism among the Cowboys you didn't quite expect to witness. What's happening in Green Bay? That was supposed to be in Dallas. What happened with Chad Johnson in the offseason? That was supposed to be Owens.
The big question is this: Can the tranquility last? Is one of the most combustible mixes of studs and troubled talent in the history of the NFL doomed to fail and degenerate into a freak show or can this highly studious coaching staff -- with the help of future Hall of Famer Jerry Jones -- continue to successfully walk the tightrope?
If this grand football social experiment works, then there is little reason not to believe the Cowboys can reach the Super Bowl. If they do, with their bad boys Owens, Johnson and Adam Jones, Dallas would become the real Redeem Team.
A Dallas Super Bowl berth seems a solid bet. Dallas is perhaps the most loaded team in football. Also, one of the Cowboys' biggest competitors in the conference, the Packers, are so discombobulated over the Brett Favre situation, they won't be a factor in the postseason. The other big competitor, the New York Giants, lost Michael Strahan and Jeremy Shockey. Dallas has a better defense than New Orleans.
The NFC is wide open and the Cowboys are the biggest beasts in it.
Interestingly while Dallas has been mostly quiet they wouldn't be the Cowboys without at least one outburst. Wide receiver Patrick Crayton spoke about the mostly controversy-free Cowboys camp but then told the Dallas Morning News, "Green Bay, that's a soap opera. It's shaking Aaron Rodgers, I don't care what they're saying."
Crayton went on to practically dare the Packers to start Rodgers when the two teams meet Sept. 21. When he was reminded that Rodgers lit up the Cowboys in a regular-season game last year, Crayton responded, "Did anyone have any film on him?" Then came this shot. "Their defense had film on him for last week's scrimmage," he said. "How'd that go?"
Rodgers completed only 7 of 20 passes in that scrimmage as some Packer fans booed and chanted "We want Brett!"
So the Dallas big mouths aren't totally shut.
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Positives: He's no longer sharing carries on a consistent basis with Julius Jones since he is now in Seattle. Barber will play on every down, meaning he will still get catches and carries in short-yardage situations. He's averaged 14 total touchdowns the past two seasons, which is among the best in the NFL. Negatives: He's only started three games in his career and never had more than 204 carries in a season, so hopefully his hard running style won't lead to injuries. Felix Jones and Tashard Choice will get carries, but it remains to be seen how many they will take away from Barber. The Cowboys still throw the ball a lot, so hopefully Barber won't lose many rushing touchdowns. Outlook: Barber is going to be a stud this year. He will fall to the end of the first round, but he might have more upside than Clinton Portis, Frank Gore and Larry Johnson based on the offense he plays in and his past performance. If Barber is there starting at No. 7 overall in the first round, think about drafting him in that spot. -- Jamey Eisenberg RB: Marion Barber (10th overall) QB: Tony Romo (12th overall) WR: Terrell Owens (14th overall) TE: Jason Witten (40th overall) |
| 2008 Fantasy Draft Prep |
Still, based on what you read and heard in the media as well as what people in the sport stated leading into the summer, the expectations were the Cowboys' camp and subsequent season would be one big turd convention. That has yet to happen.
"I think what you're seeing is a resolve," said Cowboys owner Jones, "a work ethic by this group."
The doubters are right to be skeptical. Owens is Owens. Adam Jones became the symbol -- fairly or unfairly -- of the bad-boy NFL player. Last year Johnson was convicted of a misdemeanor weapons charge following the discovery by police of six guns in Johnson's house, including two assault rifles.
What has happened since, according to Jerry Jones, is that Adam Jones and Johnson have developed into leaders. You may commence your snickering but the Cowboys swear it's true.
"It'd be naïve of me to think people won't be skeptical," said Jerry Jones.
The key to the Cowboys' success is Owens. He hasn't been called Team Obliterator by some for nothing. When Owens is at peace, the team is at peace. Owens hasn't had a significant public outburst in some time (yes, you get points for that if you're an NFL wide receiver) mainly because he received a generous contract from Jones and the Cowboys throw him the ball. If Owens stays focused and can control his tendency to be self-absorbed, Dallas is that much more dangerous.
Since Las Vegas takes bets on anything and everything, someone must have a bet there about the exact date Owens publicly goes volcanic this year.
Believe it or not, such a bet might be -- can't believe I'm actually saying this -- a long shot.
Find a piece of wood, knock, repeat.
