Tim McMahon of the Dallas Morning News is hip to Jerry Jones' game. Although Jones has said the Dallas Cowboys won't be looking to make a big impact by signing big name free agents this offseason, he's compiled a list of potential candidates to make the move to Dallas, and Chris Simms is one of the key players on it.

After Tony Romo sustained a pinky injury during 2008, the Cowboys were left with Brad Johnson as their starter and the team went 1-2 during that stint including a demoralizing loss to the the St. Louis Rams, who finished 2-14 in 2008.

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hasn't changed his mind about firing coach Wade Phillips, but Mike Shanahan would be the leading candidate if he ever does make a move, according to team sources.

Shanahan's unexpected firing on Tuesday by the Denver Broncos has prompted Jones to give "thought" to Shanahan as the future Dallas coach -- even more-so than Bill Cowher or Mike Holmgren -- but 2010 may be more timely than 2009, the sources said.

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It's simple math for the Cowboys: Win and you're in. And that's exactly what they do as Tony Romo and crew take care of business against a feisty division rival, beating the Eagles 20-13 to lock up that final spot in the NFC Wild Card race.

The game was tied at 13 heading into the fourth quarter, but that fourth quarter once again belonged to Marion Barber, one of the best closers in the NFL. Barber rumbled for 120 yards in the game, including the game-winning six-yard touchdown run that helped secure the Dallas playoff appearance.

Terrell Owens also had a big game in the clutch, catching seven passes for 82 yards and one touchdown for a Cowboys team that finishes the season at 10-6.

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The Dallas Cowboys continue to flip adversity into strength, coming together once again in a must-win situation, this time to beat the Ravens 21-14.

Terrell Owens was Dallas' leading receiver, grabbing eight of Tony Romo's passes for 88 yards and one touchdown, generally acting like the big-time Madden playmaker that he is.

But the game was actually scoreless heading into the third quarter before Tony Romo threw two interceptions, including a 41-yard pick-six by the ageless Ray Lewis that tied the game at 14. But that's when the Cowboys struck back as Romo found Witten in the back of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown with only 54 seconds left on the clock to give the Cowboys the seven-point win.

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Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, who suffered a herniated disk in his neck against the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks ago, returned to practice Wednesday but will not play Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Jones was injured early in the Cowboys' 20-13 loss at Pittsburgh in Week 14. Jones was hurt in the first quarter when he fell on top of his muffed punt, getting caught in a scramble for the loose ball. After several players fell on him, Jones was pulled from the pile awkwardly by a Steelers player. But Jones played the rest of the game.

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NFL fans have had this game circled on their calendars for months. Can the Giants deliver the death blow to the Cowboys season? It looked like it could happen as New York led the game 20-16 heading into the fourth quarter. But thanks to the hard-nosed running of Marion Barber, the Cowboys keep their playoff hopes alive, pulling off the comeback and earning the 23-20 win.

Tony Romo limited his mistakes to just one early interception for the Cowboys as he was able to hit his receivers with ease and in stride. Romo finished the game completing 18/29 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown.

Eli Manning had an equally impressive game against the Dallas D, throwing for 151 yards and two touchdowns, but the Giants failed to score in the fourth quarter of the rivalry game and opened the door to the Cowboys possibly sneaking their way back into the playoff picture.

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A battle of heavyweights turns into a knockout, but it's the fighter left standing that might surprise football fans. That's right, the Dallas Cowboys score 14 in the second and 14 in the fourth to beat one of the best teams in football 35-19.

The win helps improve the Wild Card hopes for Dallas fans as the team improves to 9-4 thanks to an absolute monster game by Tony Romo. Romo completed 29/33 passes for 323 yards and five touchdowns in what could prove to be a defining moment in the quarterback's career.

Terrell Owens found himself on the receiving end of many of those bombs, grabbing eight passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

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IRVING, Texas -- Adam "Pacman" Jones will be eligible to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers after his six-game suspension, and Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he'll also use his cornerback to return punts.

Jones has already returned to practice, but the Cowboys still have a roster exemption and do not yet have to put him on their 53-man roster.

In his Monday meeting with the media, Phillips said Jones will return punts and play in defensive sub-packages. Despite not playing in a game since Oct. 12, the coach said Jones returned to the team in good shape.

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IRVING, Texas -- Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware and running back Marion Barber were not at practice Monday, the first time the Cowboys were back on the field since both were hurt Thanksgiving Day.

Coach Wade Phillips said both were "day to day." Ware, the NFL sacks leader, has a hyperextended left knee and Barber has a dislocated right pinkie toe.

"We'll see how they are," Phillips said before the early portion of practice open to reporters.

MRI tests Friday revealed no significant damage for Ware and Barber. Both got hurt in the Cowboys' 34-9 victory over Seattle. Phillips expects Ware to practice this week, but was less certain about Barber.

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Julius Jones rushed for two touchdowns against his old team, but it's the Cowboys who get the last laugh, beating the Seahawks on Thanksgiving, 24-17.

Tony Romo gets the big turkey leg for Dallas, completing 27/35 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Romo also threw two late interceptions that Seattle capitalized on for a potential comeback, but their rally was short-lived as Dallas hung on for a seven-point win.

In an interesting note, Roy Williams outplayed T.O. at receiver, grabbing eight balls for 107 yards and one score as Dallas moves to 8-4 for the season.

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Adam "Pacman" Jones may finally be down to his last chance.

Sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Sunday that the Cowboys defensive back must strictly adhere to the terms of his reinstatement and any missteps will lead to a lifetime ban from the NFL.

Commissioner Roger Goodell relied on the recommendations of clinical specialists who oversaw Jones' 30 days in a rehab facility when deciding to reinstate him from his latest suspension.

Jones was suspended for the entire 2007 season because of multiple incidents while with the Tennessee Titans, then was traded to the Cowboys during the offseason and given another chance by Goodell.

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As I watch this game, I am still in awe of how great this Dallas team was.  Watching on offnese, Troy Aikman at QB, Emmitt Smith as the RB, Daryl Johnston as the fullback, Michael Irvin and Alvin Harper at WR's, Jay Novacek at TE, and Kelvin Martin as the third receiver.  They had a healthy Erik Williams on a great OL too...  it make me wonder what if??  What if Williams hadn't gotten in a car accident, what if Johnston didn't injure his neck, the same goes for Irvin?

It also brought back extreme hatred for Steve Young, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Brent Jones, Tom Rathman, Ricky Watters,  and Merton Hanks... 

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If you missed the first half of this game, you missed all of the action, as the Cowboys took a 13-10 halftime lead and hung on for a 16-10 win against the suddenly competitive 49ers.

Terrell Owens had a huge day against this former team, grabbing nine balls for 108 yards and one touchdown as the 49ers had no virtual answer to the Dallas passing attack. Tony Romo completed 24/30 passes for 228 yards, including one touchdown and one interception.

Marion Barber once again played the role of "closer" for the Cowboys, as they were content to run the ball (and the clock) in the second half. Barber finished the game with 97 yards rushing, the majority of those coming in the fourth quarter.

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Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has completed the requirements for alcohol counseling, as mandated by the NFL following his latest violation of the league's personal conduct policy.

Jones' attorney, Worrick Robinson, said Jones has returned to Dallas and is awaiting a ruling from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on the possibility of reinstatement.

 

"I have been in contact with the commissioner's office since last week, and they are reviewing Adam's unique situation. There is no timetable for a decision. He is glad to be back in Dallas," Robinson wrote ESPN's Ed Werder in a series of text messages Tuesday.

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ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis did not practice again Friday and will be used only "in a limited fashion" if he is able to play Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

The NFL's second-leading rusher was able to watch practice -- unlike Wednesday and Thursday, when his sprained left knee kept him away from the field -- and was "getting some mental reps in case he has a chance to go," according to coach Jim Zorn.

Portis sprained the knee in the 23-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers before last week's bye. He is questionable on the injury report.

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Is Tony Romo the cure for Cowboy blues? Sure looks like it as Dallas, led by their returning quarterback, jump on the Redskins early then manage to hold off a late Washington rally to win the game 20-14.

Romo completed 17/28 passes for 225 yards, including one touchdown and one interception, finding Jason Witten with six of those throws for 107 yards and a score. Marion Barber also played some inspired ball for the Cowboys, rushing for 96 yards and one touchdown.

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IRVING, Texas -- Jerry Jones "absolutely" believes the Dallas Cowboys will make the playoffs, would welcome Adam "Pacman" Jones back to the team if he's reinstated and isn't considering a coaching change.

The Cowboys owner, in an impromptu gathering with reporters during practice Thursday, said he expects his struggling Cowboys to recover. They have gone from Super Bowl favorites to a 5-4 team tied for third place in the NFC East after losing four of their past six games.

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ASHBURN, Va. -- Clinton Portis' sprained knee showed no improvement Thursday, and the Washington Redskins running back appears unlikely to play in Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The NFL's second-leading rusher left Redskins Park during practice, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and burgundy sweatpants as he stepped into his Maserati.

"I was hoping today that there would be a little more optimism, and there's not," coach Jim Zorn said. "He's still questionable. I would say there's no change today. I was looking for another jump, but there wasn't."

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IRVING, Texas -- Tony Romo laughed at the notion his return to the Dallas lineup will be the complete cure for the struggling Cowboys.

"We will find out on Sunday," Romo said. "A lot of different people may have gotten to a point where they feel we might not have a chance to do what we hoped to do at the beginning of the year. ... I think that is something that can bring a team together."

The Cowboys (5-4) have gone from Super Bowl favorites to third place in the NFC East by losing four of their last six. They are 1-2 since Romo broke the pinkie on his throwing hand but had the same record in the three games before he got hurt.

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LANDOVER, Md. -- Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis was unable to practice Monday because of a sprained knee, and coach Jim Zorn said Portis is "50-50" for Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Portis bruised his knee on the final play of the first quarter of last week's 23-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers but returned for the next series and finished the game. The pain got progressively worse after treatment following the game, however, and Zorn said Monday that Portis has a bone bruise on the femur as well as a sprain.

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IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is practicing again.

Romo was back on the field Wednesday, taking snaps and throwing passes with a small splint on his throwing hand. He's missed the last three games with a broken pinkie.

Romo said he had no problems during a morning walk-through. He was headed to a full-scale practice later in the afternoon and remains optimistic about returning for Dallas' next game, a week from Sunday at Washington.

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The beginning of the season, everyone was ready to crown the Cowboys champs before they even played a game. Then injuries and controversy set in, and Dallas was written off as pretenders just as fast. But here we are, Week 9, and they just upset the Super Bowl champs 28-24 to find themselves right back in the hunt.

Brad Johnson had his best game of the season, throwing for 226 yards and two scores, while Marion Barber ate up 104 yards on the ground. The Cowboys, in hopes of keeping the Giants D off balance, also ran seven reverses to T.O., gaining 47 yards and one touchdown with their trickery, including the game winner with 7:50 left in the fourth quarter.

Owens also added 138 yards receiving in what could be the biggest win for the Cowboys this season.

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IRVING, Texas -- Cowboys tight end Jason Witten still hasn't been ruled out of playing with a broken rib against the New York Giants, even after missing practice again Friday.

Witten hasn't practiced this week with the Cowboys, but the team listed him as questionable for Sunday's game. The four-time Pro Bowl tight end, hurt in last week's victory over Tampa Bay, said he hopes to play.

Coach Wade Phillips said Witten could play against the Giants without practicing.

 

"He does everything right in practice, that's why he doesn't need to practice as much," Phillips said.

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After a Week 8 in which Brad Johnson threw for a measly 122 yards and the Cowboys gained only 172 in all, their fewest ever in a victory, internal concerns are emerging at Valley Ranch about whether the NFL's oldest active quarterback can effectively incorporate Terrell Owens and Dallas' other receivers in the downfield passing game.

A high-ranking team source said the Cowboys will "probably" have Johnson, the backup to injured Tony Romo, start against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Sunday. But the same source said Johnson's obvious limitations within the offense, on full display in Sunday's 13-9 win over Tampa Bay, might prompt coach Wade Phillips and his staff to consider other options, including third-stringer Brooks Bollinger.

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Say what you want about Dallas, but one thing's for sure, they make an awesome Madden team. Well, not quite as awesome with Brad Johnson, but this team just has so many polygonal weapons it's ridiculous.

And these weapons helped the Cowboys beat the surging Bucs 24-13.

Marion Barber led the way for Dallas, rushing for 117 yards and one touchdown, while T.O. chipped in ten catches to help Brad Johnson right the ship until Romo gets back in the huddle.

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IRVING, Texas -- Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo doesn't expect to play again until mid-November.

Romo, who wanted to play last week with a broken pinkie on his throwing hand, said Wednesday the plan now is to return after the bye week.

That means the two-time Pro Bowler would miss at least two more games -- Sunday at Tampa Bay and the following week at the New York Giants. The Cowboys then take a week off before returning Nov. 16 at Washington.

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Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has taken over defensive play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, according to a team source.

On Monday, in the wake of Sunday's 34-14 loss to the St. Louis Rams, Phillips said changes could be on the horizon for the Cowboys, as the preseason Super Bowl favorites fell to 4-3. At some point between that loss and Wednesday, according to sources, team owner Jerry Jones instructed Phillips to take over the play calling duties from Stewart, who worked with Phillips in San Diego when he was the San Diego Chargers' defensive coordinator.

Phillips was expected to address the topic in a news conference at 4:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

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Tony Romo wanted to play in the Cowboys' loss to the Rams last Sunday, but his broken pinkie wasn't ready. It appears it won't allow him to play for at least another week as well.

Speaking on Terrell Owens' radio show on Tuesday night, the quarterback said he was disappointed yet feels sitting out Sunday's contest against the Buccaneers is the right decision.

"I'll say it will be Brad [Johnson]," Romo said. "Brad is going to go this week, unless something different happens that we don't foresee. It will be very difficult to change."

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IRVING, Texas -- Tony Romo stood and watched, basically a spectator in the middle of the field when the Dallas Cowboys started practice Friday.

The Cowboys listed their two-time Pro Bowl quarterback as questionable for Sunday's game after he didn't participate in practice, the last one before playing at St. Louis. Romo has a broken pinkie on his throwing hand.

During the early portion of practice open to reporters, Romo mimicked throwing motions and lobbed only a couple of balls, but mostly stood and watched with his injured right hand hanging to his side or clasped behind his back.

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Can a team suffer a worse week than the Cowboys? Lose the game, lose your quarterback, lose your punter, lose Pacman. Although if there is a quick cure, it could be playing the Rams. And while everyone waits to see whether or not Romo actually plays, according to Madden, the Cowboys don't need him this week as Dallas beat the Rams in the sim 27-24.

Brad Johnson competed 20/26 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns as the Cowboys starter, finding T.O. with five of those throws for 86 yards and a score. Owens also added 35 yards rushing as the Cowboys went reverse crazy in the game.

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