Dallas Cowboys

When the Dallas Cowboys went 12-4 in the 2014 season, happy days were here again for a team that regularly registers as among the most popular among NFL fans.

When the Cowboys fell to 4-12 last season, happy days were here again for the many fans of other teams who simply abhor the national obsession with Dallas.

ODAY Sports

Figuring the Cowboys out isn’t easy. Obviously, a year ago, they crumbled when quarterback Tony Romo was missing with a broken collarbone. But they’ve also built a foundation on shaky defensive personnel.

Three projected starters on defense will begin the season suspended by the NFL for violations of its substance-abuse policies. The number of suspensions led to a $250,000 fining of the team by the NFL.

Linebacker Rolondo McClain is suspended for 10 games and did not report to training camp. Same for defensive end Randy Gregory, who was failing drug tests before the Cowboys drafted him in 2015. He’s not expected to play this season and is reportedly in a treatment facility. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who led the team with eight sacks last year, will also miss the first four games.

NFL suspensions are a little bit odd, in that the players can take part in all training activities and preseason games but then are banned when the regular season begins. Lawrence is also working his way into shape after offseason back surgery.

He hadn’t commented publicly about his suspension – handed down in April – until Sunday.

“Really, I learned my priorities,” he said. “You know what you’ve got to do, and you know you’ve got to let everybody know. I just didn’t follow through with that. I know what to put first from now on.”

Good advice for the Cowboys front office as well. The team has made the playoffs once in the last six years and before the 12-4 season had been 8-8 for three straight years. They say in the NFL you’re either getting better or getting worse but you’re never standing still.

Which way are the Cowboys going? Because, in doing things their own way, they appear to be standing still.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman