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Dallas Cowboys Cap-strapped, long season awaits Big D faithful
Dallas opens its training camp at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, on July 21. By Jon A. Dolezar, CNNSI.com Quarterback Troy Aikman did the wise thing and retired, leaving Cowboys fans with only running back Emmitt Smith left from the famed Triplets of the three-time Super Bowl champion squad. Owner Jerry Jones is feeling the heat. Suspect personnel moves and his refusal to yield control of football decisions has buried the team in a salary-cap mess. The Cowboys can make the playoffs if … salary-cap woes don't doom them into an embarrassing season. Jones has concocted the ultimate recipe for a disastrous season -- lose franchise QB to retirement; pay said QB more than $11 million not to take snaps; sign bargain journeyman QB off the scrap heap; draft fourth-round talent two rounds too soon; trim salary from roster to get under cap; lose three starting defensive lineman; pray your team wins four games. Pivotal games: Oct. 15 vs. Washington; Nov. 22 vs. Denver. Despite the teams' combined struggles last season, a meeting with the hated Redskins always brings out the best in the Cowboys. The Turkey Day game comes four days after Dallas plays host to Philadelphia, making it the Cowboys' toughest back-to-back games of the season. On the hot seat: Wide receiver Joey Galloway was off to a flying start as a Cowboy. He had four catches for 62 yards and one touchdown in the season opener. Then his knee blew up and the Cowboys' big offseason acquisition was lost for the season. James McKnight signed with Miami in free agency, making Galloway's return to health that much more important for the Cowboys' hopes. Up-and-coming: Linebacker Darren Hambrick threatened to quit the game at age 25 if the Cowboys didn't give him a huge raise. Dallas called his bluff and brought him back for one year at a relatively cheap restricted free-agent tender while trying to hammer out a long-term deal. He had 64 tackles last season. Sports Illustrated's season preview will post Aug. 29.
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