Before the season began, the Cowboys faced were forced to adjust. Coming off their first winning season for the first time in five years, the team, under Bill Parcells' direction, continued to bring in veteran talent and draft promising prospects. In the offseason, the Cowboys signed quarterbackVinny Testaverde and traded for wide receiverKeyshawn Johnson. Both Testaverde and Johnson had played for Parcells when he had coached the New York Jets. In return for Johnson, the Buccaneers received Joey Galloway. The draft saw the arrival of running backJulius Jones, cornerbacksJacques Reeves and Nate Jones, and college quarterback turned wide receiver Patrick Crayton. In owner Jerry Jones' continuing quest to acquire quarterback talent, the Cowboys traded for the rights to Drew Henson, another baseball player attempting to return to football. Henson starred at Michigan, keeping future NFL quarterback Tom Brady from claiming the starting job outright. His struggles in the New York Yankees farm system led him to reconsider his career and opt for a return to football, similar to Chad Hutchinson, whom the team had acquired two years prior. Hutchinson was later released.[2]
Quarterback controversy
With the opening of training camp, the team seemed poised to take the next step; however, this soon changed. Within the first week of camp, the Cowboys released starting quarterbackQuincy Carter. The move came with no warning; reporters at training camp became aware something had occurred when Carter did not suit up for practice and was later seen being escorted from the Cowboys facility. Though never verified by Carter or the team, it has been speculated by the Cowboys, that his release was prompted by a failed drug test administered by the Cowboys, an action prohibited by NFL rules. Rumors began that Carter had already entered the second phase of the NFL's substance abuse program, meaning he had twice failed NFL-mandated random drug screenings.
Test results are not made public but notices are sent to team officials. A third violation of the substance abuse program results in a mandatory suspension, and the Cowboys, unwilling to risk losing a starting quarterback during the season, began to monitor Carter with its own drug tests. Carter's formal protest of his release through the NFLPA as well as his subsequent troubles with drug addiction appear to lend credence to this scenario, According to the NFLPA. This move had a long-term effect on the team: Had Carter remained, second-year QB Tony Romo would have been fourth on the depth chart and likely cut from the team. When Carter left, Romo moved up to number 3, and was later a Pro Bowl starting quarterback for the Cowboys.[3]
Regular season
Vinny Testaverde would be the opening day starter for the Cowboys.[4] His extensive experience and veteran presence was an asset to the team, especially to young undrafted practice squad addition Tony Romo, but failed to produce many points behind an inconsistent offensive line. Dallas' defense would also regress from the previous season, especially the secondary which lost starting cornerbackMario Edwards in free agency and longtime mainstay and team leader safetyDarren Woodson due to injury. Following a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Drew Henson would start the annual Thanksgiving Day game against the Chicago Bears.
The game still provided excitement for Cowboys fans as a rookie running backJulius Jones, who had been injured early in the season and had just returned in the previous game, put on a masterful performance rushing for 150 yards and two touchdowns in leading the team to victory. Jones' momentum would carry over to the next game where he would rush for 198 yards and three scores in a dramatic win over the Seattle Seahawks. In only 7 starts (8 games overall) Jones would rush for over 800 yards and seven touchdowns, though not justifying Parcells' decision to pass on running backsSteven Jackson and Kevin Jones in the draft.
The Cowboys traded their first-round (No. 22 overall) selection to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for second (No. 43 overall) and fifth-round (No. 144 overall) selections, and a 2005 first-round (No. 20 overall) selection.
The Cowboys traded their original fifth-round (No. 156 overall) selection to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for sixth (No. 182 overall) and seventh-round (No. 206 overall) selections.
The Cowboys traded their original seventh-round (No. 223 overall) selection and a 2005 sixth-round (No. 185 overall) selection to the Oakland Raiders for defensive tackleKenyon Coleman.
The Cowboys traded their sixth-round (No. 182 overall, from New Orleans) selection to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for two seventh-round (Nos. 205 and 223 overall) selections.
The Cowboys traded their seventh-round (No. 206 overall, from New Orleans) selection to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for fullbackDarian Barnes and a seventh-round (No. 216 overall) selection.
The Cowboys season got off on the wrong foot in a 35-17 loss at The Metrodome. Daunte Culpepper erupted to five touchdown throws while Randy Moss caught two of them and threw a 37-yard pass. Vinny Testaverde had a touchdown to Terry Glenn but little else despite 355 yards.
Dallas rebounded by grinding out a 19-12 win over the Browns. Ex-Niner Jeff Garcia completed for just 71 yards, threw three interceptions (matching three picks by ex-Brown Testsverde), and down 17-12 gave up a safety with nine seconds to go.
On Monday Night FootballJoe Gibbs hosted the Cowboys in his first season returning as Redskins coach. The Cowboys scored three touchdowns on catches by Jason Witten and Terry Glenn and a one-yard score by Eddie George. Ex-Jaguars starter Mark Brunell had two touchdowns but his 46-yard completion on the final play was insufficient in a 21-18 Cowboys win.
Ex-Jaguars coach (and ex-Giants assistant coach under Cowboys coach Bill Parcells) Tom Coughlin and ex-Rams Super Bowl champ Kurt Warner led the Giants to a 26-10 win at Texas Stadium. The Giants scored the final 23 points of the game while intercepting Testaverde once.
The Steelers had switched quarterbacks after a Week Two loss to the Ravens and rookie Ben Roethlisberger had won three straight going into Week Six. The lead tied or changed three times in the first half before the Cowboys broke a 10-10 tie in the third quarter on a Billy Cundiff field goal and a 22-yard Testaverde touchdown to Keyshawn Johnson. But Roethlisberger rushed for nine yards and completed seven straight passes; his touchdown to Jerame Tuman put the score 20-17; after an exchange of punts Testaverde was sacked and lost the football with a personal foul penalty on Johnson putting the Steelers possession at the Dallas 24; Jerome Bettis finished the ensuing drive on a 1-yard score and 24-20 Pittsburgh win.
Dallas rebounded with a 31-21 win over the Lions. Vinny Testaverde overcame three interceptions (one a pick six by Dre Bly) with three touchdown throws and a rushing score. Eddie George hit 99 yards, his highest with the Cowboys.
Testaverde threw three more interceptions amid five total turnovers as the Cowboys were routed 26-3. Matt Schobel caught a 76-yard touchdown from Carson Palmer.
Andy Reid reached 8-1 on Monday Night Football in a 49-21 runaway at Texas Stadium. Terrell Owens caught a 59-yard touchdown then on the sidelines he and Donovan McNabb spoofed their sideline argument in a 27–3 loss to the Steelers the week earlier. McNabb had four total touchdowns and a spectacular 60-yard completion to Freddie Mitchell in which he raced sideline to sideline them unleashed the pass on the run. Eddie George committed a fumble and Testaverde was intercepted once.
1 2 3 St. Louis clinched the NFC #5 seed instead of Minnesota or New Orleans based on better conference record (7–5 to Minnesota’s 5–7 to New Orleans’ 6–6).
1 2 Minnesota clinched the NFC #6 seed instead of New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
1 2 3 4 5 Detroit finished ahead of Arizona and New York Giants based upon head-to-head record (2–0 versus Arizona’s 1–1 and New York Giants’ 0–2). Division tiebreak was initially used to eliminate Dallas and Washington.
1 2 3 New York Giants finished ahead of Dallas and Washington in the NFC East based on better head-to-head record (3–1 to Dallas‘ 2–2 to Washington’s 1–3).
1 2 Dallas finished ahead of Washington in the NFC East based on head-to-head sweep.
1 2 Tampa Bay finished ahead of Chicago based upon head-to-head victory.
↑ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
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