Wel, well, well – seems we’ve had a bit of controversy in the last week what with Tony Romo being called out yet again for his leadership abilities. I still say until someone can show me the blueprint to being a leader, the catchall if you will, then it’s a non-issue so long as he performs, and performs well.

I also would like to take a moment to extend our condolences over the death of Steve McNair. He was a talented quarterback that lived by the strict standards of the NFL during his career, he will be missed.

Now for some of the latest around the Cowboys blogosphere. First up is a fellow fan blogging on his own at DefendingTheStar.net. He’s got a new post up titled “10 Things I Hope to See at Training Camp” and he covers some good issues that we’re all keeping an eye on as the month of July draws to an end.

The training camp schedule came out today and got me excited for the start of the season. Unfortunately I will only be able to make it to training camp in San Antonio for one day this year, but I am hoping to come away from my time there with a positive outlook on the season. I am already optimistic that this season will end in at least one playoff victory, but training camp will be very telling in terms of the new players and new team attitude. Here are some of the things that I hope to see:

Next up we have our friend over at (Silver and) BlueBlood.com sharing his ensights with us after watching an obviously flawed top 10 greatest Cowboys list on NFL Network. You can’t argue with his logic, Tom Landry can’t very well top the list without Jimmy Johnson being on it, and you can’t put a coach on a player list. His choices are debatable, as is any top 10 list since we all have our own favorites, but his picks are all deserving of mention, to say the least.

The NFL Network recently offered an episode in its Top 10 series in which they named their top ten Dallas Cowboys of all time. While the names on their list are all undeniably great, they used flawed logic in their selections. I intend to set the record straight by giving you the real top ten Cowboys of all time.

And as a quick mention, the folks at TheLandryHat.com have a new interview with Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins. You can also go check out Mike’s new blog here – he updates it often and so far has been quite entertaining with his self-proclamation of being the starter this year.

And finally, LoneStarStruck.com tells us why they think Felix Jones is Primed for an Explosive Season.

The Cowboys have made it no secret that they plan on opening up more opportunities for their young and versatile running back. Only a few weeks ago they even surprised beat writers and fans alike when they ran some plays using the Razorback formation. Felix Jones can be an explosive weapon, especially when he let loose in an open field where his speed makes him both dangerous and elusive. Wade Phillips and company are trying to figure out how to exploit that explosiveness, and just the mere thought of it makes my mouth water.

When Jones was first drafted, the plan was to get him in as many formations as possible with Marion Barber, however that never really happened and rarely were both backs on the field at the same time. Don’t count on that happening again this season.

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This has gone on long enough, and even if I’m not the best person to finally say it, I am saying it. The Dallas Cowboys are still America’s Team, and it is evident every day.

People point to the Pittsburgh Steelers winning a record sixth Championship, to the long lineage of football success that they’ve enjoyed, and continue to enjoy. People bluntly state the last twelve years that Dallas has gone without a playoff victory have tarnished their image, their reputation, and their history in this league.

I say enough. Enough of the hype before the first kickoff, enough of the praise before a victory has been earned.

People say that these Dallas Cowboys don’t understand what it takes to be leaders, that they don’t have the heart their predecessors so momentously bled from on the field at Texas Stadium. People claim this organization has lost it’s prestige, and along with it, the respect of the nation.

I say enough. Enough of the scapegoats, the media, and the Monday morning quarterbacks.

You see I grew up a Cowboys fan. Living just down the road from the home of this great dynasty, it wasn’t a matter of choice or preference to be a fan; it was merely a matter of learning how to be gracious and a loyal fan.

Yet I’m surprised to hear so many of my fellow fans buying into the fanfare. We’re Cowboys fans, some of us for many years, some of us for only a few years. We know what it’s like to be a Cowboys fan; hated by many, and envied by most.

Sure, the shine has dulled over the past decade, but when I listen to these people talking about the Great Steelers, all I hear is “The Dallas Cowboys”.

It’s a lesson I’ve learned that you can’t beat the greatest team without first recognizing that they are the greatest team, and every week of the season these Dallas Cowboys stand before a foe that wishes to defeat them, and conquer the infamous beast. Look around you, turn on your television, your radio; search for Dallas Cowboys on google, then you try to find the end of whatever you find and tell me, was there an end in sight?

It doesn’t matter that this team hasn’t had post-season success since 1996; this team is still America’s Team. The Dallas Cowboys are mentioned on nearly every sports radio and television production. They are in dozens of newspaper articles each day, and countless blogs and websites around the world. They are now the owners of the greatest football venue in history, an accomplishment well deserved. A monument to the legacy that is the Dallas Cowboys, a legacy that could never be dismantled over a single game or season, or even a decade of both.

And soon, maybe not this year or next year, but soon these Dallas Cowboys will orchestrate the kind of domination that we fans have been missing, craving.

Every great leader in history has been down at one time or another, and the Dallas Cowboys are no different. They’re down right now, and have been down for a dozen years, but it’s the trials and tribulations that birth the strength to get back up and stand proudly before this country to declare, “How ‘bout them Cowboys!”

And as long as the Silver Star remains on the turf in Arlington, they will continue to fight. That’s what I believe, and no amount of people saying that the Dallas Cowboys aren’t America’s Team anymore will change that.

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