FanHouse JayRatliff

CARROLLTON, Texas -- DeMarcus Ware led the NFL in sacks last season with a career-high 20. The Cowboys outside linebacker didn't receive the league Defensive Player of the Year award for his efforts, though -- that went to James Harrison of the Steelers.

But Ware is not too concerned about awards. He wants more pressures, more victories, and of course, more money.

In a dark nightclub, Michael Irvin stands in a corner with a microphone talking about the worst day of his playing career.

Irvin, the Hall of Fame wide receiver from the Cowboys, whose off the field troubles make for a 500-page book, speaks from the heart. He talks about his children and the inability to play with them.

The day was Oct. 10, 1999 at old Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

The AFC and NFC Pro Bowlers were announced a short while ago, and why make some pointless comment you are sure not to laugh at when we can just give you the rosters instead? Here goes.

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: We know that Tony Romo isn't a fluke. He stepped in last year and had another fantastic season, setting team records in the process. There are questions remaining about distractions (Romessica) and winning a playoff game (none in his two years) which Romo must answer if he wants to take a place among the NFL's elite. Dallas is putting all their eggs in that basket as the only fallback if Romo gets hurt is 39-yr old Brad Johnson who isn't quite the risk taker. Heat Index: 9

Running backs: It's rare when a team loses their starting running back and everyone is fine with the position. Julius Jones is gone, but rookie Felix Jones is in. Jones (Felix) will get a ton of carries this season to keep Marion Barber fresh. Barber, who only started the Cowboys' playoff game, is the NFL's version of Mariano Rivera -- he dominates late in games and finishes drives off. Jones and Barber will combined for that classic "lightning and thunder" combo and should be quite successful doing it in what supposed to be a more run-friendly offense. Heat Index: 7

With Albert Haynesworth and Corey Williams both franchised by their teams, young nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga was set to make a lot of money in free agency. At just 26 and and a 325-pound truck up the middle (with decent speed, to boot), teams would have justifiably been all over the big guy, even if the interest was based on supply/demand and potential instead of his production thus far.

But alas, the whole thing is moot. The 49ers re-inked Sopoaga to a five-year extension, keeping him in San Francisco before the feeding frenzy begins in a couple of days. The deal, according to the excellent Matt Maiocco, is supposed to be comparable with Jay Ratliff's deal with the Cowboys, which went for $20.5 million over five years and $8 million guaranteed.

That's a good amount less than what I think Sopoaga could have found on the market, but his agent says he took a potential discount because he doesn't like change (I hear ya) and is comfortable in San Francisco. Those guys are rare. And even though Sopoaga isn't the starting nose tackle, he's a valuable -- and potentially unstoppable -- piece for this defense. Keeping him away from everyone else was important in and of itself; getting a bargain like the one the 49ers got is just icing.

After suffering a high-ankle sprain against the Panthers in Week 15, nobody was surprised to learn that Terrell Owens would sit for the Cowboys' meaningless season finale against the Redskins. But now it looks like the Pro Bowl wide receiver may not be ready to go in two weeks, when Dallas plays its first game of the postseason.

Head coach Wade Phillips announced that Owens was "iffy", which obviously has to have an affect on the Cowboys' offensive game plan even with Terry Glenn working his way back on the field:

"You're not as good offensively without T.O.," said quarterback Tony Romo, who was 7-for-16 for 86 yards and an interception in about 2 1/2 quarters of work against Washington.

The Cowboys are coming off a Redskins-administered beatdown, but Phillips downplayed the game, since Dallas had nothing to play for. On the good news front, the Cowboys hope to have cornerback Terence Newman, center Andre Gurode and nose tackle Jay Ratliff all healthy for the divisional round.

Although Glenn saw his first action of the season, he didn't catch a pass. Thay may have had something to do with the Redskins trying to take him out, to hear the Cowboys tell it, anyway:

A couple of Cowboys suggested Glenn was the victim of a cheap shot by a member of the Redskins. "I think they were trying to hurt me," Glenn said.

If Owens doesn't make it back, Romo has plenty of other offensive weapons. I'd only suggest keeping Jessica Simpson off the property. You know, just in case.