Cowboys vs Ravens, 6 p.m. CDT, Channel 11

[Bob Of Burleson]

Ravens' Opponent Needs To Cowboy Up

by Joe Platania
PressBoxOnline.com

OWINGS MILLS -- George Steinbrenner, the late New York Yankees owner, seemed to think a bit of organizational turmoil was a good thing.

For all the scrutiny the Baltimore Ravens have received this offseason, including five arrests and several key injuries, they have sailed through relatively calm seas compared with what's going on with the Cowboys, the franchise proclaimed "America's Team" by NFL Films in 1978.

Once the ball is teed up, they will look across the field and see a Cowboys squad again monopolizing the headlines nationwide even though the team hasn't made the playoffs since 2009, has one postseason win since 1996 and hasn't won a Super Bowl in nearly two decades.

During the past month alone, the Cowboys have endured the following:

• a joint-practice fight with the Oakland Raiders, a team they have partnered with for many past workouts, during which a Raiders fan reportedly swung a helmet at a Cowboys player

• the acquisition of troubled short-term Ravens linebacker Rolando McClain, a former top 10 overall draft pick out of Alabama who seemingly can't decide whether he wants to play football at all

• the imposition of a season-opening four-game suspension of nickel cornerback Orlando Scandrick, who tested positive for the party drug known as "Molly"

The Cowboys have also had to deal with another season-ending injury to middle linebacker Sean Lee, one of the best at his position and the glue that has held a sieve-like Dallas defense together.

And, as if all of the above weren't enough, there's the usual Joe Flacco-like scrutiny on quarterback Tony Romo, who will play against the Ravens Aug. 16 during his first preseason action.

Romo, recovering from his second back surgery in as many years, is working under a new system this year implemented by first-year coordinator and ex-St. Louis Rams head coach Scott Linehan.

While Romo's clutch-time interceptions seem to garner most of the spotlight, he does have a 95.8 career passer rating -- fourth best among active passers -- a career completion percentage of nearly 65 percent and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of more than 2-to-1 (208-101).

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[BigTex]

son of a beach

[Jim Jack]

Well, THAT is no way to start a game.

[tx3653]

Didn't take long for fumbling Tony to strike again. Typical Cowboys again.

[Dancer]

Ravens look good so far.

[tx3653]

6:40 P.M. Enough of that stuff. Think I'll try the Rangers for awhile.

Will be glad to see college football start again. Those games are so much better than NFL games. Last year the first NFL game I watched all of was the Broncos winning the AFC to go to the SB. (We used to have Bronco season tickets.) Can't stand the Eagles, Patriots, Redskins. I will not watch any of their games at all. Sundays during the NFL season become good days to read a book.

[BigTex]

The "we'll have to look at the tape" answer to 'what happened?' is already pretty lame.

[planosteve]

Turn out the lights. The party's over.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Will be glad to see college football start again.

Yeah, but is any Texas college team going to be worth a flip this year?

[kent]

IT'S PRE-SEASON. Sheesh.

Subscribe to the NFL network and watch your team

[geeiabil]

.

But it's so much more fun watching Jerkys Stumblebums.

[Houston]

are they gonna be worth 8 - 8 again this year?

[Bob Of Burleson]

Romo solid in debut
as Cowboys fall
at home, 37-30

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.
chill@star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON — As preseason games go — in that they don’t count — the Dallas Cowboys have a lot to feel good about following a 37-30 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium.

Giving up a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to Deonte Thompson and trailing 34-10 in the second half weren’t highlights.

But the pregame bullet points of evaluating the health of quarterback Tony Romo and charting a sliver of improvement from a defense that ranked last in the league last season proved to be bright spots.

Romo, playing in his first game since December back surgery that sidelined him for 2013 season finale, looked good in two series.

After spending much of training camp in bubble wrap as the Cowboys only practiced him half the time and kept him out of last week’s preseason opener against the San Diego Chargers, Romo ran around with ease and threw the ball effectively.

He completed 4 of 5 passes for 80 yards and a 31-yard touchdown pass to receiver Dez Bryant.

“Good. I feel good, just part of going through it and continuing to get stronger and you go out and play,” Romo said about his back. “And keep going.”

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/08/16 ... rylink=cpy

[bodine]

Will be glad to see college football start again.

Yeah, but is any Texas college team going to be worth a flip this year?

Well, there's always Purdue....

[Twiggler]

Ya know what sux is when your sitting in NRG stadium watching the Texans.....Go Clowney!
They show the highlight of Romo & running back fumble....that was the loudest the stadium got all night.

Had great seats by the way! ( reminded me of when CarGuy use to pass out tickets once in a while )

[BigTex]

They show the highlight of Romo & running back fumble....that was the loudest the stadium got all night.

but . . . but . . . but . . .

Romo solid in debut