Dallas Cowboys News & Notes: This Is The Season From Hell That Will Never End

Cowboys Give Back During Annual Visits To Local Children's Hospitals - David Helman,  Dallas Cowboys
It's great to know that even playing through a nightmarish season, the Cowboys are still doing the right thing this Holiday season.

"It definitely changes you. Any time you see these young kids and just their perseverance and their ability to be able to fight this, it makes you appreciate the good things you have in your life, the health of your family," said Jason Witten. "More than anything else you really respect the families, the way they approach it and really the hospital – the staff, the doctors and nurses, the complete staff – just how they do this as a career and the lives that they impact."

Do Not Be Surprised If The Idea Of Johnny Manziel In Dallas Comes Up Again - Adam Schefter, ESPN
Dallas needs to consider life after Tony Romo as well as depth behind him. Cleveland could be ready to cut ties with Johnny Manziel. Is Manziel in Dallas a possibility? Adam Schefter explores.

Dallas made the right call then, but it could have another chance here on Manziel following a season in which Dallas has struggled to line up a reliable starter or dependable backup. With Romo's durability in question, some around the league believe Jones could again have interest in Manziel. It would be very Jerry-like, too, for him to make a play for Manziel this winter.

Jason Witten: Too Much Fight, Character For Cowboys To Tank For Better Draft Pick - Jon Machota, Dallas Morning News
Jason Witten spoke to the media today regarding a dismal season and had a few words for those suggesting the idea of tanking.

"Too much fight, too much character on this team to be able to approach it that way. Every opportunity to go out there on Sunday and Monday is an opportunity to play and show what you're about. You would never do that."

Cowboys Third-Round Pick Chaz Green Happy To Be Activated - Drew Davison, The Star-Telegram
The Dallas Cowboys used their third-round pick on offensive tackle Chaz Green, believing he would serve as the team’s swing tackle after losing Jermey Parnell in free agency. Now he has been activated for the first time.

"It was a great feeling," Green said. "I feel good to go. I feel good. I feel like this time I’ve had with the trainers in the weight room I feel like they’ve done a great job preparing me. I feel like I’m good to go whenever my name is called."

Five Reasons The Dallas Cowboys Will Beat The Washington Redskins - Thomas Duck, Cover32
The Duckman is back with hope that the Cowboys can finally prove him right. Man, it's been a tough one for us Cowboys fans.

I really can’t remember a year as depressing as this 2015 season has been. Now that we know starting quarterback Tony Romo is done for the rest of the regular season with yet another break of his left clavicle, many in Cowboys Nation are already looking toward the 2016 NFL Draft. The problem is that the rest of the NFC East won’t let the Cowboys season die. This week Dallas makes a trip to the nation’s capital to take on the current division leaders, the 5-6 Washington Redskins.

Cowboys-Redskins Preview - FOX Sports
Thanks to the Washington Redskins, the Dallas Cowboys believe they are still in the NFC East race.

The reason the last-place Cowboys are so close to first is that Washington (5-6) won 20-14 over the New York last Sunday to forge a tie for the division lead. A Giants victory would have left Dallas three games back and given New York a one-game lead and the tiebreaker over Washington.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo Is Not 'Done' By Any Means - Michael Sisemore, Blogging The Boys
Plenty of discussions have been had since Tony Romo went down in the Turkey Day Massacre with another clavicle injury. Probably too many discussions.

I would agree that it is certainly time to start looking for a quarterback of the future, but not for the near-future. The team was 16-4 in the last two seasons with Romo as their starter, I don't count the Arizona game of last season because Brandon Weeden started that contest. Tony Romo can still play at a high level in the NFL and it's just unfortunate circumstances that derailed 2015. In fact, as far as the Cowboys are concerned, just about every button they have pushed has been the wrong one. Last season, every button the Cowboys pushed was the right one.

Witten Confident Romo Will Come Back "Better & Stronger" - David Helman, Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo’s season isn’t even officially over, but the talk has already begun in earnest. The one guy you can always count on to defend his pal is Jason Witten.

"If I had to bet on anybody in this world, it’d be him. He’s going to come back better and stronger, and just the best player," he said. "He’s played at an elite level for a long time, and I think he’ll be more motivated now than ever to come back. That’s what he’s all about – both physically and mentally."

Dallas Cowboys Add Kellen Moore, Chaz Green To Active Roster- Jean-Jacques Taylor, ESPN
Quarterback Kellen Moore was activated from the practice squad Wednesday, and offensive linement Chaz Green off the reserve/PUP list.

Garrett on Moore: "One of his real assets is he's a really smart football player," coach Jason Garrett said. "Obviously, he was around Scott Linehan in Detroit and he has a comfort level with him and with our system. The terminology and nuances of our system are different than what he ran in Detroit but I do think he has a comfort level with the concepts and how we try to do things."

Numbers Explain Why Cowboys' Offense Is Among The Worst In The NFL - Rainer Sabin, Dallas Morning News
Twelve weeks have expired in the NFL season and the Cowboys own one of the worst offenses in the league.

Part of the Cowboys' problems is their lack of opportunities and big plays out of their passing game. No team has had fewer possessions than the Cowboys, who have had 115 chances to score. Dallas also has produced 24 completions with gains of 20 or more yards -- the lowest total in the NFL.

Morris Claiborne Eager To Get Back On The Field Monday Night - Charean Williams, The Star-Telegram
Morris Claiborne will return to the lineup Monday night and is extremely excited for the opportunity to help out his team.

"I can’t wait. I can’t wait," Claiborne said Wednesday during the team’s annual visits to local children’s hospitals. "It’s a Monday night game. I’m excited for that, excited to be back on the field." The starting cornerback missed the past two games with a right hamstring injury. He injured it against the Bucs on Nov. 15, leaving the field after 23 plays.

NFC East Notebook: The Redskins Are In The Driver's Seat With A Dream Schedule - Dan Schneier, FOX Sports
Dan Schneier breaks down the key stories permeating in the NFC East as we head into Week 13.

At 5-6, the Redskins have one more demon to tackle in their quest to become the NFC East's most complete team -- winning on the road. The Redskins have lost all five road games this season. The good news? The Redskins don't have a single future road game against an opponent who currently has a winning record. In fact, the Redskins' schedule in its entirety sets up very well for them to finish first in the division.

Can The Cowboys Run The East With Only Seven Wins? - Danny Phantom, Blogging The Boys
Can the Cowboys make the playoffs with a record of 7-9? If they did, would you take that or do you want draft positioning?

As much as some fans are ready to close the book on the 2015 season, it's hard to not entertain the idea that the Cowboys would still be right in the thick of the divisional race should they beat the Redskins and the Giants lose. That's reasonable, right?

Eatman: Better Late Than Never For Supporting Cast To Show Their Skills - Nick Eatman, Dallas Cowboys
Eatman discusses how the Cowboys have to play hard in the next few weeks because finishing strong could help the veterans in the locker room.

It’s easy to say these last five games are big for the young players. The guys that need to play and can gain valuable experience down the stretch. But I’ll flip the script. I think this is a big time for the older players – the established veterans and even your Pro Bowlers who are considered the team leaders.

Dallas Cowboys' QB Debate Will Be A Fascinating Watch In Offseason - Todd Archer, ESPN
Should the Cowboys invest a high draft pick in a quarterback to back up Tony Romo, or go another route? It's a tough question.

"I think Jerry and I will put our heads together with Jason and (senior director college/pro personnel Will McClay) and what we did this year didn’t work," Jones said. "There’s no denying that. When something doesn’t work and bites you in the butt like it did, we’ve got to re-look at everything. I think that will be one of the big, big discussions of ours in the offseason, what our strategy is there."

Brandon Carr Named Cowboys’ Man of the Year, Eligible For Walter Payton NFL Man Of The Year - Charean Williams, The Star-Telegram
Brandon Carr was honored as the Cowboys’ Man of the Year on Wednesday. For the second consecutive year, the starting cornerback becomes eligible for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which recognizes a player for his excellence on and off the field.

"Honestly, just being nominated for the second year in a row for this prestigious award is a humbling experience," Carr said. "I take pride in this award. So many guys around the league each and every day throughout the year, throughout our tough schedules, find time to be activity in our communities, have a positive influence on our youth or whatever their passion is. I’m just blessed to have an opportunity to spread awareness about what I truly believe in – my foundation and [eliminating] illiteracy and also hopefully to carry the torch for the guys that are coming up."

Dallas Cowboys Must Ask Themselves, "Why Not Tank?" - Jim Scott, Blogging The Boys
The case against tanking for draft position goes much deeper than not being mathematically eliminated, and will still be relevant once the team is.

As I have been saying through most of this losing streak, there is not one consistent thread of blame to be found here. Every aspect of the team has had its shining moments and its horrific meltdowns, including the again-defunct Romo. When losing is a habit, rather than a specific recurring issue, replacing someone does no good. The team has to find its mojo and learn how to play complete games again. Winning is never as simple as it seems, but it truly is a matter of persisting through and overcoming a series of defeats. It takes practice-- not just practicing your craft during the week, but practice overcoming actual adversity on the field of strife. The team must regain its confidence. It cannot do so while losing games. They need to take all of the games they can get, regardless of some fantastic, mathematical playoff hope.

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59% like the Cowboys over the Redskins

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