Dec 8, 2012; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys player Josh Brent as seen in an Irving police department mugshot photo. Mandatory Credit: Irving Police Department/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent could find himself back behind bars after Dallas County prosecutors take their case to have Brent’s bail revoked to a judge on Friday. According to an Associated Press and NFL.com report, Brent is accused of “violating the terms of his release on bond by consuming alcohol and tampering with a device that detects the presence of alcohol in his body”.

A hearing is scheduled to take place in front of State District Judge Robert Burns in Dallas. Brent is currently is out on $100,000 bail, but that could all change soon.

“He is not meeting the specific conditions that come along with the SCRAM unit,” said Dallas District Attorney spokeswoman Debbie Denmon. “He also missed several appointments he should have made, that you have to show up for, so they can monitor the device and check it.”

According to Denmon, prosecutors initially asked a judge to give Brent a verbal warning for violating the terms of his release and the second offense has resulted in the request to revoke his bail.

We will update this situation tomorrow after the hearing has been held.

Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) throws a pass during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

On paper, Tony Romo would appear to be a competent passer. During the 2012 regular season Romo completed 65.6 % of his passes, which is superior to both Drew Brees and Tom Brady who completed 63% of their passes during the same time span. While this would seem to indicate that Romo is an underappreciated quarterback given this accomplishment, there is one glaring issue with his game that has prevented him from being as favorably respected as the two aforementioned future hall-of-famers; Throwing Interceptions.

Last year Romo threw for 19 interceptions and tied for the highest rate he acquired during his third year with the Dallas Cowboys in 2007. Although Brees’ interception rate was tantamount to Romo’s, he was able pass for 15 more touchdowns to somewhat offset this game-alerting mistake (43). However, even with this astronomical scoring accolade, the Saints still went 7-9 during the regular season and ultimately missed the playoffs (mainly because of their atrocious defense).

While Romo’s interceptions definitely prevented his team from reaching their full potential, the offensive woes extended past this one statistic. Rather, Romo’s insurmountable turnover rate was indicative of his lack of consistency as opposed to him being a lackadaisical passer overall. In week fourteen of the regular season during a game against the Eagles, Romo completed 81.5% of his passes for 3 touchdowns against a team that was ranked 9th in the league at preventing passes. However, the next week Romo appeared to regress significantly in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He completed only 58.1% of his passes and only one touchdown paired with a single interception. The very next week Romo completed 71.4% of his passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers who were the best in the league at stopping the pass. Two weeks later, Romo had one of the worst performances of the Cowboys’ 2012 regular season in a decisive game against the Washington Redskins. Romo completed a mere 54.1% of his passes and three interceptions, costing the Cowboys a coveted playoff berth once again.

What these numbers appear to suggest is that Romo isn’t a terrible quarterback or even just an adequate passer in his own right. In one instance, Romo appears to have the passing capabilities of an elite quarterback that go up against any highly touted defense that stands in his way. In the next, Romo goes through an athletic mid-life crisis and transforms into a Busch league rookie who looks completely distraught rather than a role model for quarterback excellence.

Initially, it could be assessed that Romo’s inconsistent mishaps are the result of a finicky receiving core. However, this appears to be a minimal blemish at best as Romo’s most talented receivers (Miles Austin, Dez Bryant) and his 8x pro bowl tight end (Jason Witten) had a combined total of just 3 fumbles throughout the regular season.

It could be fair to postulate that Romo’s quarterback lapses are the result of a non-existent running game that averaged only 79.1 rush yards per game. The defense is also responsible for putting undue pressure on Romo, as the Cowboys were mediocre at stopping both the pass and the rush (19th and 22nd in the league respectively).

Ultimately , Romo’s unusual inadequacies are the result of one underlying factor; Confidence in himself. While it’s impossible to confidently diagnose Romo’s mental state when it comes to playing the game of football, it would seem that whenever he puts the complete onus on himself to win a game or whenever game time pressure is at its peak, Romo struggles emphatically. Yet, when Romo is confident and in sync with the rest of his team, he performs at an unprecedented level that at times is arguably superior to what any other quarterback is capable of.

With that said, Romo still has a huge mental hurdle to overcome before he will be recognized as not only a legitimate quarterback but ultimately as a leader who can lead his team to the playoffs and beyond. Without question, Romo has the tools and the potential to be recognized as one of the greats. Nevertheless, in order to reach that pinnacle Romo must find the confidence within himself to prove to the critics and more importantly to the die hard Cowboys fans that he can revitalize his career while giving the city of Dallas a title that it has been striving for since 1995; To be America’s team.

Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) smiles prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is reportedly more ready than ever to take football serious and put all of his time in to studying the playbook and improving himself as a passer. That sounded great and was used to stop backlash from the six-year extension worth $108 million that he signed, but now it looks like Romo won’t be taking the field until at least training camp because of back surgery.

Romo reportedly has surgery to remove a cyst on his back. The surgery will possibly keep him out until training camp.

Per ESPN Dallas:

Romo will be held out of the organized team activities that begin Tuesday and run for the next three weeks, the sources said Tuesday. The team’s minicamp will be held June 11-13 and the club is set to travel to Oxnard, Calif., on July 19 for training camp.

The Cowboys do not believe the injury to be a long-term concern but they want to be cautious about their approach in the offseason with Romo. When and how Romo got hurt and how long it has been bothering him is not clear. After a season-ending loss to Washington in January the Cowboys feared Romo suffered a broken rib.

With Romo on the sidelines, back up Kyle Orton will work with the first-team.

The good news is that this is not believed to be a serious injury and it won’t affect Romo’s chances of starting the season under center. The bad news is that Romo will now miss out on quality time with his teammates on the field.

Apr 1, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Mr. Met gives a thumbs-up during the seventh inning of a MLB opening day game between the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Liebman is a writer for FanSided partner BroJackson.com. For more great content, head on over to Bro Jackson and check out Ben’s work.

Times are tough, so gainful employment of any kind, is something to celebrate. I’m sure there’s a nation of young men in Spain that would jump at the chance to move to Miami and operate a t-shirt cannon.

Still, the glamour of sports attracts the starry eyed and that means those that will do anything for a foot in the door. The following is a list of the most unpleasant, pointless, and tedious work in the sports industry.

10. JR Smith’s Accountant

Any CPA that works under the Smith estate deserves some sort special accreditation. Working for the streaky Knicks guard involves not only knowing distinctions between Chinese and American tax law, but also being available for those late night 3am phone calls. Who do you think he is going to call when he wants to see if buying a Zebra skin blazer can be claimed as a business expense? Next time you notice that Smith has gotten a tattoo of a Van Gogh’s Starry Night on his shoulder remember there’s an overworked accountant out there trying to deduct it.

9. Guy responsible for the giant jar of Jerry Jones’ skin

The owner of America’s Team is obviously no stranger to cosmetic surgery. In recent years his face has taken on an almost inhuman glossy quality that you would normally associate with hard wood floors and the produce department. It’s like his whole head has been dipped in wax to preserve it for posterity. When you are as rich as he is though, you aren’t going to just let them throw away the yards of skin they have sliced off your face. I imagine Jerry visits the jar of skin every once and a while for advice and predictions, and that jar would need to be maintained. Keeping the jar clean of fingerprints and dust seems easy enough, but slip up once and you are done for. Jerry will fire you, and not show any emotion. The skin jar, however, will miss you.

8. Miami Marlins T-Shirt Cannon Operator

I wonder if any young aspiring T-Shirt cannon operators dream of one day shooting clothing around Marlins Field. I’d imagine they mostly dream about places like Wrigley or Fenway because using a cannon with a governor can’t be seen as sexy. At Marlins Field the cannons are limited to only two rows deep. Other than the emasculation of the cannon they are also going to expect you to lead the 40 to 60 people there in Marlins cheers. I expect that you would find more excitement and laughs by shooting T-Shirts at the local Dade county hospice than you could during Giancarlo Stanton’s at bat.

7. Chael Sonnen’s PR Agent

It can’t be easy when you have to explain to Chael that ‘fortitudeness” isn’t a real word. Besides frequently dealing with his syntax troubles, you have to keep tabs on who Sonnen is beefing with. He seems to shift his anger to a new target every few hours. Enjoy explaining to the media that Chael only meant that he hates British cigarettes and not a specific minority group.

6. Starting QB for the Jacksonville Jaguars

If a quarterback throws a pass in Jacksonville, does it make a sound? This is one of those questions that even the most learned philosophers have found difficult to answer. Sure you get to be a part of a small 32-member club, but don’t expect anyone to recognize you without your jersey and helmet. Jaguars quarterback could be the perfect spot for an athletic felon in need of the witness protection program.

5. Mr. Met

Having to sit through 82 games at Citi Field seems rough enough, but Mr. Met is forced to do it with a shit-eating grin plastered to his face. It’s a cruel, “Clockwork Orange” life.

4. Any NBA Player who gets to play with the President

Does anyone enjoy being forced to take a dive? The lucky few NBA players who get the opportunity to play pick up basketball with the President must be a tortured group of superstars. How many times do you have to congratulate the President on a jump shot that you could easily swat into the third row? It might be an exclusive group that gets to shoot hoops at the White House, but only those of us unafraid of the IRS would dare try to break the President’s ankles.

3. Wayne Rooney’s Dermatologist

Rooney suffers from a severe case of Victorian aged skin, and being responsible for maintaining that can’t be easy. Basically he’s got the same skin as Queen Elizabeth. He’s one of those guys who burn but never tan. Good luck then to the poor doctor who has to distinguish between a mole and a trademark Rooney freckle.

2. Program salesman

Getting the opportunity to see someone selling official event programs is very similar to seeing a crocodile. Both look exactly the same as they did during the time of the dinosaurs. The program was once an essential tool, but do I need to spend 30 bucks to find out the starting lineup? My sporting experience will not change just because I find out what the official airline of the home team is. Also most of us have these things called smart phones. Someone tell the program guys that they have video, but do it gently. You know how technology scares that generation.

1. Member of any white NBA player’s entourage

There are going to be some great perks when you roll in a NBA entourage, but we can’t just pretend that all entourages are created equal. Traveling with JJ Redick would be cool if you are looking to try the new Big Buck Hunter before it hits the bars or if your favorite restaurant serves some sort of fried onion dish. In a few years Blake Griffin’s entourage could have the biggest reality show on TV. Meanwhile Taylor Hansbrough’s guys are at the local Cracker Barrel trying to figure out who ordered the chicken friend steak.

Aug 15, 2012; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys tackle Doug Free (68) and linebacker Victor Butler (57) at training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys have been very straightforward about their desire to have offensive tackle Doug Free take a pay cut and remain with the team, but there is a belief that the two sides will part ways if they cannot renegotiate Free’s current deal.

While it seems that the Cowboys and Free are prepared to split ways if they don’t reach a deal, Dallas owner Jerry Jones seems much more optimistic that things will work out and Free will return to the team for the start of the season.

“I’d like to keep him,” Jones said. “We think that Doug Free can be an important part of the team. He’s been here. We know him. We think that with what we’re doing in other parts of our offense, certainly in the offensive line, that this will bode well for him. So we think he can really be an asset to us.

“It’s no secret that we’re trying to renegotiate the contract, but I think it’s a wrong assessment to say that anybody’s saying ‘take it or leave it’ or we’re at our wit’s end or those kinds of things. That’s just not the way I see it going.”

It is hard to believe that Free could find more money elsewhere on the market, so he will likely cave in and accept the pay cut in order to stay in Big D.

May 10, 2013; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (70) relaxes after the rookie minicamp at Dallas Cowboys Headquarters in Irving, TX. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys made a very questionable move when they selected former Wisconsin offensive lineman Travis Frederick in the first-round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Frederick was not rated as a first-round prospect by a number of scouting services, but that didn’t stop Dallas from staying true to their board and taking the player they felt could help out the offensive line the most.

Frederick is using the critics that questioned Dallas for selecting him as a motivation to work harder and prove everyone wrong moving forward.

“I can prove some people wrong,” Frederick said following the first day of rookie minicamp. “The first thing I need to do is establish myself, establish myself as a worker, someone the guys can trust, somebody they believe in in the weight room and somebody they believe in on the practice field. After that, I think things start to come into place.”

Frederick will get a great shot to prove the doubters wrong, because he is expected to start at center from day one.

If Frederick can provide an immediate improvement at the position and help protect big money quarterback Tony Romo, then the Cowboys decision to spend a premium pick on him will prove well worth it.

Dec 1, 2012; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears senior wide receiver Terrance Williams (2) takes the field for the last time before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Floyd Casey Stadium. The Bears defeated the Cowboys 41-34. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys selected former Baylor wide receiver Terrance Williams in the third-round of the 2013 NFL Draft to fill the No. 3 spot on the team’s wide receiver depth chart. After Laurent Robinson had a breakout year in that role that he turned in to a big free agent contract, Kevin Ogletree failed to live up to the expectations last season. Now, Williams will step in to the role likely from day one and he will have a lot of help.

Cowboys wide receivers Dez Bryant and Miles Austin are thrilled for the arrival of Williams in Big D and they are prepared to welcome him with open arms and mentor him along the way.

“He’s a great receiver,” Bryant said, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  “He can stretch the field.  He can go deep.  He can make a short-yardage play go long.  He’s got that type of ability.  He can go up and grab the ball.  That’s what you want in the guy.”

Austin was equally as excited saying, “From what I’ve seen, I think he’s a tremendous player. He seems like a really nice humble guy on the interviews and everything like that.  I’m going to try to teach him things and learn things from him.  I’m sure he has things he’s done over there.  But just try to bring as many of the guys along as we can.”

If the Cowboys receivers can help Williams learn the ropes of the NFL and help him maximize his talent, the third-round pick could prove to be a steal.

There were a number of NFL talent evaluators that had Williams as a first-round talent, but he fell to the third. With the mentoring of Austin and Bryant, Williams should be able to fulfill his talent and eventually take over the No. 2 wide receiver spot, which would allow the team to move on from Miles Austin next offseason.

Dec. 4, 2011; Glendale, AZ, USA; Dallas Cowboys tackle Doug Free against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys made some questionable moves in the NFL Draft, and those questionable moves are continuing with players currently on their roster. If giving Tony Romo a fat contract extension didn’t make fans mad enough, the team is driving away one of the guys that will be tasked with protecting him in 2013. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Dallas Cowboys are “playing hardball” with offensive lineman Doug Free and are reportedly asking for a “substantial pay-cut”.

#Cowboys playing hardball with Doug Free. Pay cut they’re asking for is “substantial.” Not $1-2M. Trying to draw it out, time on their side

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 7, 2013

What we have here is a classic game of contractual chicken. On the one side we have the Dallas Cowboys who believe time is on their side and are willing to hold out on Free while they try to trap him into a situation where he has to take the pay-cut. But on the other side we have Free who, if Dallas is asking for a $5-6 million pay-cut, might end up testing the open market even though teams in need of tackles are going fast.

The game changer in this whole situation might be the Miami Dolphins signing Tyson Clabo. The Cowboys could let Free go, but they’d need a replacement and Clabo was on their radar. With him off the market, Free once again become valuable to them but the question again becomes at what price?

Free is due $7 million and if he was going to cave to Jerry Jones’ demands he would have done so months ago. This is a situation worth watching as anytime the Cowboys can come out on the wrong side of things is a situation a lot of people end up rooting for.

May 11, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Aaron Corp (7) during mini camp at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys have added a developmental quarterback to the roster in former USC Trojans and Buffalo Bills quarterback Aaron Corp. The team announced the move on Tuesday.

Corp spent some time with the Bills last season and became a free agent after the team drafted E.J. Manuel in the first-round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

At one time, Corp was at one time the Trojans starting signal-caller, but Matt Barkley eventually got the starting job and Corp transferred to Richmond. Corp was also the back up to Mark Sanchez during their time in Southern California.

In Dallas, Corp will have a shot to make the roster as the team’s third quarterback.

The Cowboys currently have three signal-callers under contract in starter Tony Romo, back up Kyle Orton and longshot Nick Stephens. Corp and Stephens will likely battle it out in camp for the final spot.

Corp is very athletic and he has a fluid release that you look for. He also has the NFL size which makes him stand out. The negatives for Corp are that he forces too many balls and doesn’t have the strongest arm, but he certainly has the the tools you can work with as a developmental quarterback.

If the Cowboys decide to keep three quarterbacks on the final roster, Corp would have to be the favorite to land that spot.

December 9, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Two Dallas Cowboys helmets sit in the end zone before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft is complete, but that does not mean a number of talented players are still available to be had. Every year, the players who were not selected in the draft will still have an opportunity to contribute and make a NFL roster thanks to the undrafted free agency process.

There have been stars all around the league that emerge from the undrafted free agent ranks and this year will be no different.

Who did the Dallas Cowboys bring in as an undrafted free agent? Here is the list (alphabetical order by last name):

• Spencer Benton, K, Clemson
• Xavier Brewer, CB, Clemson
• Paul Freedman, H-back, Virginia
• Jakar Hamilton, FS, South Carolina State
• Jeff Heath, DB, Saginaw Valley State
• Greg Herd, WR, Eastern Washington
• Deon Lacey, LB, West Alabama
• Cameron Lawrence, LB, Mississippi State
• Kendall Lawrence, RB, Missouri
• Brandon Magee, LB, Arizonas State
• Taylor Reed, LB, SMU
• Eric Rogers, WR, Cal Lutheran
• B.J. Stewart, TE, Cumberland
• Dalton Williams, QB, Akron

All of the players will have an uphill battle if they hope to make the Cowboys roster, but you can never count these motivated players out. Remember, current NFL starters like Arian Foster, Tony Romo and Wes Welker have all emerged from the UDFA ranks.

NOTE: Lists of undrafted free agents have been put together by gathering info from multiple media sources around the Internet, including NEPatriotsDraft.com.

Oct 21, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones point to the fans prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

He rewarded Tony Romo’s inadequacies with a $108 million contract. He kept Jason Garrett, after two seasons of inconsistency in which the Cowboys squandered their chances of making the playoffs. His competence in the 2013 NFL draft was nothing short bewildering.

His name is Jerry Jones; and slowly but surely he is systemically tarnishing Dallas’ legacy as being America’s team.

Despite these ill-advised decision which normally would have resulted in a deserved termination, Jerry Jones still continues to bend this organization to his will, seemingly unaffected by the disappointments of millions of fans who wish they could harken back to the good ol’ days of the valiantly dominate Troy Aikman era.

All these fans have left to be proud of is the nostalgic memories of a team that is slowly dissipating and in its place the franchise has become a disgraceful mockery of what it once was.

While there will come a day when the die-hard fans of the Dallas Cowboys will have the opportunity to rejoice their teams return to greatness, today is not that day.  It’s not going to happen at the beginning of this season.  It’s not going to happen next year, or even five years from now.  As long as Jerry Jones remains the unwavering dictator who acts on his own accord, this franchise, and all the personnel that reside within it, will have to suffer until the next regime takes over.

Looking at the NFL draft alone, it becomes completely clear that Jones’ incompetence it not only blatantly outlandish, but also that his tyrannical ignorance is simply astonishing.

You would think that after your defense was fairly inconsistent, both in terms of opposing the pass and the rush, that you would take either a versatile cornerback or a hefty defensive tackle to beef up an inconsistent defensive line.

But no.

Instead, Jones’ saw it adamantly fit to waste his first round pick on a center which had no business being selected in a defensively dominant first round (he probably should have been selected closer to the latter half of the third round).  On top of that, he stubbornly waited until mid way through the third round to select a safety, and even went so far as to hold out until the fifth round to acquire a running back, which was desperately needed after the Cowboys running game was borderline non-existent (31^st in the league).

In all honesty, the Cowboys would have been better off letting a toddler select names at random from a hat.  This is a sentiment that anyone who watched the atrocity that was the Cowboy’s draft selection, would uphold as more sensible and even more reliable than what Jerry Jones thought was best.

While these concerns are only empty epithets in terms of how it will affect the job security of Jerry Jones, they can no longer be denied as flukes that are irrelevant that will eventually subside over time.

As long as Jerry Jones is at the helm of this franchise, the Dallas Cowboys will be doomed to a life of mediocrity and irrelevancy until this man resigns.  Buckle up your seat belts Cowboys fans, because that reality could take a while to come to its much-needed fruition.

Dec 27, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Travis Frederick at press conference for the 2013 Rose Bowl at the L.A. Hotel Downtown. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Travis Frederick has already lost and he hasn’t even played a down in the NFL yet. Through absolutely no fault of his own, the Wisconsin Badgers center was made a first-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys and the backlash started almost immediately. The main reason for the hate is the fact that virtually no one had Frederick on the radar at the 30th overall pick, yet Jerry Jones pulled the trigger on taking him there.

We all know that Jones and the Cowboys reached for Frederick, but we didn’t have an actual grasp on how massive of a reach it really was. ESPN’s  Ed Werder decided to pile on the Frederick firestorm and polled five NFL general managers as to where they had Frederick ranked on their drat board. The results were just as you suspected — Frederick wasn’t ranked high at all.

Based on my random survey of five teams, here is where Cowboys No. 1 Travis Frederick was on draft boards: 4th (1), 5th (2), 6 (1), 6-7 (1)

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) April 26, 2013

Granted, five out of 31 teams isn’t a great gauge for how the center was universally viewed, but it does give you an idea of what team may have been thinking. But the most troubling part of the poll is the fact that one general manager had Frederick ranked at the bottom of the draft, meaning Jones took a seventh round pick in the first round.

There’s no way to tell if that general manager really thought that lowly of Frederick or if he was stringing Werder on to further inflate the story. But two GM’s had Frederick as a fifth round pick and another had him as a fourth which means there’s a good chance most of the teams around the league had the center as a mid-to-late round pick.

We have yet to see how the pick will turn out, but so far this is looking like a pick we’ll look back on in five years and still be laughing about.

Oct 21, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Dallas Cowboys helmet lays on the field prior to the start of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now it’s time for some reflection. While some teams traded around to get who they want, others stood pat to see who would slide to them — and if there’s one thing to remember about this draft it’s players that slid around the rounds. But now that the draft is behind us, the all important grading phase has begun, so lets take a look at how the Dallas Cowboys did in this year’s NFL Draft.

Draft Picks

• (31) Travis Frederick, c, Wisconsin
• (47) Gavin Escobar, te, San Diego State
• (74) Terrance Williams, wr, Baylor
• (80) J.J. Wilcox, db, Georgia Southern
• (114) B.W. Webb, db, William & Mary
• (151) Joseph Randle, rb, Oklahoma State
• (185) DeVonte Holloman, lb, South Carolina

Best Pick: Terrance Williams, WR/Baylor

Williams was once projected as a first round pick but slipped out after the cream rose to the top. But he didn’t tumble as far as he could, and he’ll be staying local with the Cowboys. He’ll provide Tony Romo with a great tall target to add to an offense that might end up being alright in 2013.

Worst Pick: Travis Frederick, C/Wisconsin

I hate to pile on this poor kid but Jerry Jones didn’t set him up well by drafting him two rounds ahead of where he was projected to go. Frederick might end up being a great center, but the Cowboys reached in an insane way to get him and that can only hurt him in the short run.

Analysis: Dallas threw together a real hit and miss draft this year but they were too all over the place to get a good grade. While Terrance Williams and B.W. Webb were great picks, the reach for Frederick really puts a damper on things and shows the Cowboys may be rich, but they’re not very bright.

2013 Draft Grade: D+

October 8, 2011; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs tight end Gavin Escobar (88) celebrates with running back Ronnie Hillman (13) and receiver Colin Lockett (24) following a 16-yard touchdown reception during the third quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Qualcomm Stadium. TCU won 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys made their second pick of the 2013 NFL Draft by selecting a difference making tight end, Gavin Escobar, out of San Diego State. With Jason Witten getting up their in years, the Cowboys had to add talent to the tight end position.

It is also a great addition that will help Tony Romo succeed with all of the pressure on his shoulders.

Escobar can line up in the slot or at your traditional tight end position. He is a real match up nightmare for opposing defenses. The Cowboys have made it clear with the Escobar and Travis Frederick picks that they are doing everything they can to put Romo in a great position for success.

Here is how the second-round of the draft is currently playing out:

1 (33) Jacksonville Jaguars — Jonathan Cyprien, safety, Florida International
2 (34) San Francisco 49ers (from Chiefs) – Justin Hunter, wide receiver, Tennessee
3 (35) Philadelphia Eagles — Zach Ertz, tight end, Stanford
4 (36) Detroit Lions — Darius Slay, cornerback, Mississippi State
5 (37) Cincinnati Bengals (from Raiders) —  Giovanni Bernard, running back, North Carolina
6 (38) San Diego Chargers (from Cardinals) — Manti Te’o, linebacker, Notre Dame
7 (39) New York Jets — Geno Smith, quarterback, West Virginia
8 (40) San Francisco 49ers (from Titans) — Tank Carradine, defensive end, Florida State
9 (41) Buffalo Bills — Robert Woods, wide receiver, USC
10 (42) Oakland Raiders (from Dolphins) — Menelik Watson, offensive tackle, Florida State
11 (43) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Johnthan Banks, cornerback, Mississippi State
12 (44) Carolina Panthers — Kawann Short, defensive tackle, Purdue
13 (45) Arizona Cardinals (from San Diego Chargers) — Kevin Minter, linebacker, LSU
14 (46) Buffalo Bills (from St. Louis Rams) — Kiko Alonso, linebacker, Oregon
15 (47) Dallas Cowboys —  Gavin Escobar, tight end, San Diego State

The draft is always a treat for NFL fans, so be sure that you tune in and see who the newest players to rock your favorite teams uniforms will be, and stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the draft for the latest news, rumors and analysis of every pick.

November 24, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers center Travis Frederick (72) gets ready to snap the ball during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys made a head-scratching pick at the end of the first-round of the 2013 NFL Draft, but team owner Jerry Jones has begun to explain the selection and you can understand why the team went ahead and chose Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Travis Frederick.

Dallas selected Frederick with the No. 31 overall pick in the draft, but according to their draft board he was the No. 22 ranked player. In their eyes, they got value and a future starter.

“I had hoped we could come out of this thing with a legitimate starter, a legitimate starter, and he will start,” Jones said, via Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com. “He will start. First-rounder and not starting? I know coach wants there to be competition and should be, and we all know that’s the way it is.”

While Frederick has the versatility to play guard and center, you can expect to see him replace former undrafted free agent Phil Costa in the middle of the Cowboys line.

“We’re going to put a base in there where you don’t have a knock-back issue,” Jones said. “Bill Callahan is a big center guy. After your left tackle, he likes the center position as far as the best players on the offensive line. Well, we’ve got Costa. We’re pretty proud of Costa, frankly. Well, can this guy play guard? You bet he can.”

Cowboys fans may not like to know that the team considered trading up to land Jonathan Cooper and Chance Warmack before ultimately passing, but they can at least find comfort in knowing they hold an extra third-round pick.

If Frederick turns out to be as good as the Cowboys think he can be, the Dallas fans should be happy that they will no longer have to struggle through the days of Phil Costa at center.

November 24, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Travis Frederick (72) blocks Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (91) at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys had one of the more intriguing selections in the first-round of the 2013 NFL Draft when they selected Wisconsin offensive lineman Travis Frederick. With a number of highly talented players with day one grades still available, it was surprising to see the Cowboys go ahead and grab a player that likely would have been on the board in the middle of round two.

At first glance, the Frederick selection looks like just another mistake from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, but when you really remove yourself from the situation and analyze the pick with a clear head you can see that it was the right move.

Dallas gave Tony Romo a big time contract extension this offseason, which essentially put all of their eggs in his basket.

If the team wants Romo to succeed, they will need to do what they can to ensure he stays healthy and on his feet. With Frederick, the Cowboys get a player that will do his part in protecting Romo.

Frederick is a versatile offensive lineman that can play the guard or center position, so he has the added value in Dallas.

For an offensive line that has lacked talent at multiple positions, Frederick could be just what they were looking for. The team’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Bill Callahan (a former Wisconsin offensive lineman himself) clearly got his way and saw a lot to like with Frederick. Whether or not it translates to on the field success remains to be seen.

What do you think of the Cowboys first-round selection? Sound off in the comments section and share your thoughts.

Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the NFL shield logo and main stage before the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Now that the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft is complete, we can sit back and over analyze every selection that was made in the first thirty-two picks. Like always, there were a few teams who’s draft strategy far exceeded the rest of the league, so let’s take a look at the biggest winners and losers of round one of the NFL Draft.

Do you have any ideas of which team should be in each category?

Let’s get started with the biggest winners and losers of the 2013 NFL Draft’s opening round.

December 28, 2011; San Diego, CA, USA; Texas Longhorns safety Kenny Vaccaro (4) reacts after sacking California Golden Bears quarterback Zach Maynard (15) during the second quarter in the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

This pick was made by Matthew Johnson from Sport DFW

The Dallas Cowboys select Kenny Vaccaro.

Vaccaro is a strong, athletic safety with speed and the ability to play at the line. With Monte Kiffin’s addition to the Cowboy defense, Vaccaro adds a physical presence that has been missing since the Cowboys got rid of Roy Williams.

Vaccaro, 6’0″ 214 lbs., is a very good man defender, but needs a little practice realizing he might be used as the last line of defense in the Cowboys system.

He will surely add depth and athleticism to a Cowboys secondary had a hard time stopping offenses on third down.

Vaccaro attacks the run well. His best attribute is his ability to change direction and chase receivers downfield in order to stay with them in coverage. He may not be a great interceptor, but he has a knack for finding the ball. He ended last season at Texas with 92 tackles, 2 interceptions and broke up 7 passes.

He will be a good combo safety that allows the Cowboys to gamble on defense and play more aggressive around the line of scrimmage, and he can fill in if needed in Nickel or Dime situations.

Here is how the draft currently stands:

1. Kansas City Chiefs — Eric Fisher, offensive tackle, Central Michigan
2. Jacksonville Jaguars — Dion Jordan, defensive end, Oregon
3. Oakland Raiders — Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida
4. Philadelphia Eagles — Luke Joeckel, offensive tackle, Texas A&M
5. Detroit Lions — Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end, BYU
6. Cleveland Browns — Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama
7. Arizona Cardinals — Lane Johnson, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
8. Buffalo Bills —  Chance Warmack, guard, Alabama
9. New York Jets — Jarvis Jones, linebacker, Georgia
10. Tennessee Titans — Jonathan Cooper, guard, North Carolina
11. San Diego Chargers —  Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah
12. Miami Dolphins —  Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State
13. New York Jets (via Tampa Bay) — Tavon Austin, wide receiver, West Virginia
14. Carolina Panthers — Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri
15. New Orleans Saints — Barkevious Mingo, defensive end, LSU
16. St. Louis Rams — Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver, Tennessee
17. Pittsburgh Steelers — Tyler Eifert, tight end, Notre Dame
18. Dallas Cowboys — Kenny Vaccaro, safety, Texas

Oct 21, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Dallas Cowboys helmet lays on the field prior to the start of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft kicks off tonight with the first-round live from Radio City Music Hall. Every team in the league is preparing to select who they think will be the next breakout stars in the league, but first they will have to use the picks in their arsenal to draft the players they want.

The Dallas Cowboys have six picks to work with throughout the draft. Will they be able to use them to position the team to grab some of the draft’s top talent? It all begins tonight.

[RELATED: NFL Draft 2013: Start Times, Live Stream, TV Info, Draft Order and More]

Here is the current list of the Cowboys selections heading in to the 2013 NFL Draft:

• First-round: Pick 18
• Second-round: Pick 15
• Third-round: Pick 18
• Fourth-round: Pick 17
• Fifth-round: Pick 18
• Sixth-round: Pick 17
• Seventh-round: None

The draft is always a treat for NFL fans, so be sure that you tune in and see who the newest players to rock your favorite teams uniforms will be, and stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the draft for the latest news, rumors and analysis of every pick.

December 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins guard Josh LeRibeus (67) blocks Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Anthony Spencer (93) at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 28-18. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Redskins will be coming off their bye week, and looking for a repeat of  the December meeting when they beat the Cowboys 28-18 to capture the NFC East title. The Redskins are 12-12 when coming off a bye-week and Coach Mike Shanahan is 11-6. If Washington can win this matchup, it would be the first time since they beat the Cowboys in three consecutive road wins from 1987-89.

Quarterback, Robert Griffin III will be looking for his second win at Cowboy Stadium in as many years. The youngster who played his college football at nearby Baylor University in Waco, beat the Cowboys 38-31 on November 22nd. Eleven of the last 12 road games with the Cowboys have been settled by seven points of less.

Griffin hopes to be healthy for the start of the 2013 season, but second string quarterback, Kirk Cousins has been told he will have the opportunity to practice with the first team unit during the scheduled OTA’s so he would be ready for the Monday Night opener against the Philadelphia Eagles if needed. The Redskins still have Rex Grossman on the roster, and acquired Pat White a few weeks ago.

White was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2009, but was released the following year when Miami decided to abandon the Wildcat. He has not been with a team since 2010, and would be a major project.

The Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboy rivalry goes all the way back to 1960, and the old NFL days. The Redskins won the first meeting on Oct 9th 1960 at Griffith Stadium 26-14. Over the years, Dallas holds the winning edge with 62 wins to Washington’s 40 in the regular season. The Redskins are 2-0 in playoff wins.

One of the best games I saw in this storied matchup was on December 16, 1979. Both teams were playing for the NFC tile, and home field advantage in the playoffs. Quarterback, Roger Staubach engineered a 4th quarter come-back, and the Cowboys won 35-34. He completed a 26 yard pass to Ron Springs, and an 8 yard pass to Tony Hill to seal the victory.

As this rivalry goes, In the week leading up to the game, Cowboys’ defensive end Harvey Martin received a funeral wreath, allegedly sent by the Redskins. He kept it in his locker all week for motivation and after the win, he raced into Washington’s locker room, opened the door and heaved it into the room, breaking up a team prayer.Adding insult to injury, the Chicago Bears defeated the St Louis Cardinals 42-6, the Redskins lost the tie breaker to the Bears for the last Wild Card spot.

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Nov 20, 2011; Landover, MD, USA; A general view of a Dallas Cowboy helmet before the game against the Washington Redskins at FedEX Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL released the 2013-14 regular season schedule on Thursday exclusively on NFL.com and the NFL Network. For NFL fans, seeing the schedule for the upcoming season is like an early Christmas that drums up excitement and allows you to plan out trips to nearby stadiums to watch your favorite teams in action. Before the schedule release, we already knew the home and away opponents for each team, but now we have an exact idea of when everyone will face off.

Without further introduction, here is the regular season schedule release that you have all been waiting for.

What does the Dallas Cowboys schedule look like for this season? Here it is:

What are the match ups that you are looking forward to the most? Will you be making the trip to any home or away games? Sound off in the comments section and share your thoughts.

Oct 28, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys cheerleader performs in front of the fans prior to the game against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

We are less than an hour away from the official release of the 2013 NFL regular season schedule and a few leaks are starting to surface.

We have already learned that the New York Jets will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week one, along with the defending Super Bowl champions making the trip to Mile High to face off against the Denver Broncos. There is also a rumored Philadelphia Eagles schedule leak, and a Thanksgiving match up between NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.

The Dallas Cowboys will also host the Oakland Raiders on Thanksgiving, according to the leaks, but we now have another Cowboys game leaked.

If the reports are true, the Cowboys will open up their 2013 campaign with a game at Jerry World against the hated New York Giants. The NFC East rivalries are always good for ratings, and the Cowboys – Giants rivalry is one that always gets both fan bases excited. It’s a perfect way to start off the season for both sides. 

Dallas is also rumored to be closing out their season at home, against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the night as we bring you the full 2013 NFL regular schedule and a team-by-team breakdown.

Nov 22, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; A general view of Cowboys stadium prior to the game on Thanksgiving with the Dallas Cowboys playing against the Washington Redskins. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

We are less than an hour away from the official release of the 2013 NFL regular season schedule and a few leaks are starting to surface.

We have already learned that the New York Jets will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week one, along with the defending Super Bowl champions making the trip to Mile High to face off against the Denver Broncos. There is also a rumored Philadelphia Eagles schedule leak, and a Thanksgiving match up between NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.

Now, we have another Thanksgiving Day leak.

If reports are correct, the Dallas Cowboys will host the Oakland Raiders on Thanksgiving in a battle of two teams that fans around the league love to hate.

People will always tune in if the Cowboys are on the television set, but this seems like a seriously mismatched game on paper. Of course, the games are played on the field so we will find out if the league knew what they were doing.

Stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the night as we bring you the full 2013 NFL regular schedule and a team-by-team breakdown.

October 14, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tackle Eric Winston (74) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Winston is one of the better right tackles in the league, but he remains a free agent because he is searching for a salary in the range of $3-$4 million a year. There were reports last month that the Dallas Cowboys were talking about a contract with Winston, but then those rumors were pushed to the side. Now, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones says the Cowboys will continue to look at Winston.

“He’s obviously somebody that we’re taking a look at. We certainly haven’t dismissed Doug. We really felt like when we went to rotating him and Jermey Parnell that he really picked up his game in terms of the competition, not to mention the fact that I think he got some clarity as to what [offensive line coach] Bill Callahan was after,” Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News.

“I think there’s some interest and prospects there between what we have and what we could get. Obviously on the interior part of our line the same thing holds true. I think we had some injuries there. Another year under Bill and more work, and not to mention what might happen in the draft. We’ll just have to see how that goes.”

The Cowboys will hold off on signing Winston until after the draft, where players like D.J. Fluker, Terron Armstead and Menelik Watson could all come in to play.

If the team doesn’t address their tackle situation during the draft, then the need to sign Winston will only increase, especially if the team decides to part ways with Doug Free.

Danny Amendola may play for the New England Patriots now, but his name is being attached to the Dallas Cowboys — because his father Willie Amendola is suing the stadium they play in after injuries he sustained in a cart accident back in 2011. The video went viral, but Amendola is and never was laughing about it and has filed a $1 million lawsuit against Cowboys Stadium.

The incident in question happened back in 2011 when the Texas 5A Division I state high school championship was taking place at the Jerrydome. Amendola was the head coach of the Spring Dekaney Wildcats and was being interviewed at midfield after the big win. It was then that a cart careened into him, knocking him and everyone around him over like bowling pins.

Workers desperately ran after the cart in an attempt to stop it and while the entire scene is absolutely hilarious in the most Keystone Cops kind of way, the incident not only caused personal injury to Amendola, but also ‘great personal anguish and embarrassment’, according to the lawsuit.

While it’s funny to watch, Amendola was dragged approximately 30 feet before the cart was stopped. In the video, Amendola is seen being flung into the cart and is desperately trying to stop is while clinging to the wheel. He leaps out soon after and the cart is eventually contained. It was an embarrassing moment for Cowboys Stadium, and it’s one that will have to be paid for by someone.