Richard Paolinelli, Cowboys News Writer at Inside The Star

July 29, 2023, 5:00 am

1980: Danny White’s impossible task begins

With Roger Staubach’s retirement in April, the Danny White Era officially began in Dallas. The biggest question that loomed over the Cowboys: Could he get it done, could he replace the legendary…

by Richard Paolinelli

2

Cowboys News

July 28, 2023, 7:00 am

Ezekiel Elliott’s second contract might have killed the running back market

As my colleague Shane Taylor reported this week, several NFL players gathered on Zoom. The subject was the declining market for running backs. This meeting was followed in short order by Giants’…

by Richard Paolinelli

7

Cowboys News

July 28, 2023, 5:00 am

1979: The Captain’s last command

Despite the disappointing outcome of Super Bowl XIII months before, the Cowboys entered the 1979 season with high hopes. Despite his age (38) Roger Staubach appeared to be at the top of…

by Richard Paolinelli

1978: A familiar foe stands in the way of Dallas’ title defense 1

Cowboys News

July 27, 2023, 5:00 am

1978: A familiar foe stands in the way of Dallas’ title defense

Dallas began its title defense in the draft with three solid picks – but only managed to keep two of them in the fold. The Cowboys selected defensive end Larry Bethea in…

by Richard Paolinelli

1977: The Cowboys stormed through the NFL for second championship 3

Cowboys News

July 26, 2023, 7:00 am

1977: The Cowboys stormed through the NFL for second championship

Still stinging from the upset loss to the Rams a few weeks earlier, the Cowboys committed grand theft draft pick in May of 1977. The Cowboys sent their first round pick of…

by Richard Paolinelli

1

1976: In a year of fireworks, Dallas fizzled at the end 3

Cowboys News

July 25, 2023, 9:00 am

1976: In a year of fireworks, Dallas fizzled at the end

Coming off the tough loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl X in January, the Cowboys went right to work on getting back to the title game. The way Lynn Swann had…

by Richard Paolinelli

Cowboys News

July 24, 2023, 6:00 am

1975: Cowboys rebounded with a vengeance

The Dallas Cowboys wasted little time shaking off the disappointment of the 1974 season. They literally had a monster draft in the spring of 1975. Or, should we say “Manster” draft? With…

by Richard Paolinelli

1974: A season of disappointment and departures 2

Cowboys News

July 23, 2023, 6:00 am

1974: A season of disappointment and departures

The Dallas Cowboys extended their consecutive winning season streak to nine straight in 1974. And that’s about all that was good about the year. Well, that and two of their draft picks…

by Richard Paolinelli

1973: Wash, rinse, repeat as Cowboys come up short again

Cowboys News

July 22, 2023, 6:00 am

1973: Wash, rinse, repeat as Cowboys come up short again

Aside from a lack of drama (Duane Thomas) and injuries (Roger Staubach and Bob Lilly, who played the entire 1972 season injured), 1973 was pretty much a repeat of 1972. The Cowboys…

by Richard Paolinelli

Cowboys News

July 21, 2023, 6:00 am

1972: A preseason tackle ended the Cowboys’ title defense

If the 1971 season could best be described as chaos that led to a championship, then the 1972 season was turmoil that led to disappointment. The Duane Thomas saga continued to spiral…

by Richard Paolinelli

Black and white photo of a football game with players from both teams in action, featuring the Cowboys' legendary Roger Staubach. A crowd of spectators can be seen in the background.

Cowboys News

July 20, 2023, 7:00 am

1971: Staubach takes command, gets Dallas that elusive title

Coming off the stinging loss in Super Bowl V in January, the Dallas Cowboys were hearing one common refrain. The Cowboys can’t win the big game. The loss hung over the team…

by Richard Paolinelli

1

1970: The Cowboys rushed toward the NFL summit in a chaotic season

Cowboys News

July 19, 2023, 7:00 am

1970: The Cowboys rushed toward the NFL summit in a chaotic season

Chaos might be the best word to describe the Dallas Cowboys as they began their second decade in the NFL. Starting with their first draft pick in 1970. With the merger of…

by Richard Paolinelli

3

1969: The decade ends with Dallas stuck in a loop

Cowboys News

July 18, 2023, 6:00 am

1969: The decade ends with Dallas stuck in a loop

The last year of the 1960s marked the 10th season of NFL football in Dallas. For followers of the Cowboys it must have seemed like a full year of instant replay. As…

by Richard Paolinelli

1

Cowboys’ fanbase at crossroads of high expectations and just settling 1

Cowboys News

July 17, 2023, 7:00 am

Cowboys’ fanbase at crossroads of high expectations and just settling

As we wait for camp to finally open at the end of this month, we are left to scroll through Cowboys’ Twitter. And the Blue Star Twitteratti never fail to amuse. The…

by Richard Paolinelli

2

1968: Great expectations ended in a season of discontent

Cowboys News

July 17, 2023, 6:00 am

1968: Great expectations ended in a season of discontent

The 1968 season was supposed to be the coronation of the Dallas Cowboys as the new kings of the NFL. The Packers were old and Vince Lombardi had retired. There was no…

by Richard Paolinelli

1

Cowboys News

July 16, 2023, 6:00 am

1967: The Ice Bowl Cometh

The 1967 season brought a new team to the NFL – the New Orleans Saints. With 16 teams now in the NFL, two divisions became four. Gone was the West and East…

by Richard Paolinelli

1966: Cowboys' title dream came up one win short

Cowboys News

July 15, 2023, 6:00 am

1966: Cowboys’ title dream came up one win short

The Cowboys added three more pieces to their long-term success in the 1966 NFL Draft. Offensive guard John Niland was taken in the first round and started four games as a rookie.…

by Richard Paolinelli

Cowboys News

July 14, 2023, 7:00 am

1965: A new era begins in Dallas

After a half-decade of frustration, the Dallas Cowboys were looking to finally turn the corner in 1965. Armed with a 10-year contract extension, Tom Landry was looking for better days. The 1965…

by Richard Paolinelli

Cowboys News

July 13, 2023, 7:00 am

The Hall of Fame Will Never Call For Tony Romo

There are 35 quarterbacks enshrined in Canton. None of them are named Tony Romo. Romo retired after the 2017 season and became eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame…

by Richard Paolinelli

63

1964: The defense steps up, the offense…Bueller? Bueller? 1

Cowboys News

July 13, 2023, 6:00 am

1964: The defense steps up, the offense…Bueller? Bueller?

With the dismal 1963 season behind them, the Dallas Cowboys started 1964 off with a bang. The year started off with a good omen, but enough about the year I arrived on…

by Richard Paolinelli

1

1963: A day of infamy, a year of darkness for Dallas 2

Cowboys News

July 12, 2023, 7:00 am

1963: A day of infamy, a year of darkness for Dallas

The fourth season in the Cowboys’ young history began like none of its three previous seasons had. They were all alone in Dallas. Despite winning the 1962 AFL Championship, the Dallas Texans…

by Richard Paolinelli

Richard Paolinelli

1980: Danny White’s impossible task begins

Ezekiel Elliott’s second contract might have killed the running back market

1979: The Captain’s last command

1978: A familiar foe stands in the way of Dallas’ title defense

1977: The Cowboys stormed through the NFL for second championship

1976: In a year of fireworks, Dallas fizzled at the end

1975: Cowboys rebounded with a vengeance

1974: A season of disappointment and departures

1973: Wash, rinse, repeat as Cowboys come up short again

1972: A preseason tackle ended the Cowboys’ title defense

1971: Staubach takes command, gets Dallas that elusive title

1970: The Cowboys rushed toward the NFL summit in a chaotic season

1969: The decade ends with Dallas stuck in a loop

Cowboys’ fanbase at crossroads of high expectations and just settling

1968: Great expectations ended in a season of discontent

1967: The Ice Bowl Cometh

1966: Cowboys’ title dream came up one win short

1965: A new era begins in Dallas

The Hall of Fame Will Never Call For Tony Romo

1964: The defense steps up, the offense…Bueller? Bueller?

1963: A day of infamy, a year of darkness for Dallas

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