2007 Dallas Cowboys
The 2007 Dallas Cowboys season will be the 47th season for the team in the National Football League. They will try to improve upon their 9-7 record in 2006 after finishing second place in the NFC East.
[edit] Head Coach
Head coach Wade Phillips will be entering his first year of his contract with the Cowboys. He was hired on February 8, 2007 after former head coach Bill Parcells decided to retire.
[edit] Offseason
[edit] Signings
On March 5, the Cowboys signed tackle Leonard Davis, formerly with the Cardinals, to a 7-year, $50 million contract.
On March 6, the Cowboys signed quarterback Brad Johnson, formerly with the Vikings, to a 3-year, $7.5 million contract.
On March 23, the Cowboys signed safety Ken Hamlin, formerly with the Seahawks, to a 1-year, $2.5 million contract.
[edit] Departures
On March 1, the Cowboys released quarterback Drew Bledsoe, center E.J. Whitley, and tight end Ryan Hannam.
On March 6, the Jets signed defensive end Kenyon Coleman to a contract.
On March 7, the Cardinals signed center Al Johnson to a contract.
[edit] Free agents heading into the 2007 season:
| Position | Player | Free agency tag | Date signed | 2007 team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | Stephen Bowen | ERFA | ||
| DE | Kenyon Coleman | UFA | March 6 | New York Jets |
| OT | Marc Colombo | UFA | March 9 | Dallas Cowboys |
| WR | Patrick Crayton | RFA | April 5 | Dallas Cowboys |
| S | Abram Elam | ERFA | ||
| LB | Ryan Fowler | RFA[2] | ||
| LB | Junior Glymph | RFA[3] | ||
| K | Martin Gramatica | UFA | March 5 | Dallas Cowboys |
| C | Andre Gurode | UFA | February 20 | Dallas Cowboys |
| C | Al Johnson | RFA | March 7 | Arizona Cardinals |
| CB | Nathan Jones | RFA[4] | ||
| LS | L.P. Ladouceur | ERFA | ||
| P | Matt McBriar | RFA | February 28 | Dallas Cowboys |
| SS | Tony Parrish | UFA | ||
| OG | Cory Procter | ERFA | ||
| DE | Jeremiah Ratliff | ERFA | ||
| CB | Jacques Reeves | RFA[5] | ||
| LB | Al Singleton | UFA |
[edit] Preseason schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time | Game Site | TV | Final Score | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 9, 2007 | Indianapolis Colts | 23-10 | 1-0 | |||
| 2 | August 18, 2007 | Denver Broncos | 31-20 | 2-0 | |||
| 3 | August 25, 2007 | Houston Texans | 16-28 | 2-1 | |||
| 4 | August 30, 2007 | Minnesota Vikings | 14-23 | 2-2 |
[edit] Regular Season
[edit] Week 1: vs. New York Giants
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Tot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants | 6 | 10 | 3 | 16 | 35 |
| Cowboys | 3 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 45 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Game time: 8:15 PM EDT
- Game weather: 78°F (Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 63,031
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers: (NBC): Al Michaels, John Madden, & Andrea Kremer
The Cowboys began their 2007 campaign at home against their NFC East rival, the New York Giants. In the first quarter, Dallas trailed early as QB Eli Manning completed a 60-yard TD pass to WR Plaxico Burress to give New York an early 6-0 lead (botched hold on PAT). Afterwards, the Cowboys got on the board with rookie kicker Nick Folk getting a 31-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Dallas took the lead with RB Marion Barber getting an 18-yard TD run, while QB Tony Romo completed an 18-yard TD pass to WR Jason Witten. Afterwards, the Giants would end up trailing by one at halftime, as Manning & Burress hooked up with each other again on a 4-yard TD pass, while kicker Lawrence Tynes got a 44-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Dallas responded with Romo completing a 22-yard TD pass to WR Terrell Owens. New York would climb back with Tynes kicking a 48-yard field goal, but the Cowboys answered with Romo running into the endzone from 9 yards out. In the fourth quarter, the Giants managed to try and come back with Tynes' 24-yard field goal, yet Dallas would reply with Romo & Owens hooking up with each other again on a 47-yard TD pass. Just when it looked like New York was drawing closer with Manning's 9-yard TD pass to RB Derrick Ward (with a failed 2-point conversion) and his 10-yard TD pass to Burress, the Cowboys sealed the win with Romo completing a 51-yard TD pass to WR Sam Hurd.
With the win, Dallas began its season at 1-0.
[edit] Regular Season Schedule
- September 9 - NY GIANTS 7:15pm (W 45- 35)
- September 16 - @ Miami 3:05pm
- September 23 - @ Chicago 7:15pm
- September 30 - ST LOUIS Noon
- October 8 - @ Buffalo 7:30pm
- October 14 - NEW ENGLAND 3:15pm
- October 21 - MINNESOTA Noon
- November 4 - @ Philadelphia 7:15pm
- November 11 - @ NY Giants 3:15pm
- November 18 - WASHINGTON Noon
- November 22 - NY JETS 3:15pm
- November 29 - GREEN BAY 7:15pm
- December 9 - @ Detroit Noon
- December 16 - PHILADELPHIA 3:15pm
- December 22 - @ Carolina 7:15pm
- December 30 - @ Washington Noon
[edit] Other information
- Even though he has never been a coordinator and has coached in the NFL for two years, Jason Garrett was hired before Wade Phillips was named head coach. He will help groom Tony Romo.
- With Flozell Adams and Julius Jones in the final year of their contracts and Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn age 32. The Dallas Cowboys will have to draft an offensive player in the draft for the first time since 1997(David LaFluer pick 22).
- Julius Jones and his brother Thomas Jones were the first brothers to have 1000 yard seasons and they will meet when the Cowboys face the New York Jets on Thanksgiving.
- DeMarcus Ware had 11.5 sacks in 2006 the most in team history.
[edit] References
- ↑ RFA: Restricted free-agent, UFA: Unrestricted free-agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent
- ↑ The Cowboys tendered Fowler giving them the right to match any offer that another team may have for Fowler.
- ↑ The Cowboys tendered Glymph giving them the right to match any offer that another team may have for Glymph. If the Cowboys decide not to match the offer, they will receive a seventh round pick.
- ↑ The Cowboys tendered Jones giving them the right to match any offer that another team may have for Jones. If the Cowboys decide not to match the offer, they will receive a seventh round pick.
- ↑ The Cowboys tendered Reeves giving them the right to match any offer that another team may have for Reeves. If the Cowboys decide not to match the offer, they will receive a seventh round pick.
