Cowboys arrive in camp with no doubts about their goal

POINT MUGU, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys arrived for training camp Thursday, openly embracing enormous expectations of reaching their first Super Bowl since the 1995 season.

Never mind that the Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game since the 1996 season and might not have veteran Terry Glenn as an option at wide receiver. This team looks and acts the part of a Super Bowl favorite in 2008.

However, the team appears to be on the verge of parting ways with Glenn, who missed 15 games last season after two surgeries on his right knee.

The Cowboys barred Glenn from practicing with the team during the off-season after he refused to sign a $500,000 injury settlement to save the team $1.2 million if he reinjured his right knee. Glenn is due to make $1.74 million in 2008. The Cowboys even threatened to cut the 13-year veteran if he didn’t sign.

According to a source, the issue is not so much about the money any more. The Cowboys have concerns about Glenn being available on a weekly basis and whether his presence will stunt the growth of the young receivers.

Owner Jerry Jones refused to discuss the Glenn situation Thursday, saying, "Nothing has changed with Terry Glenn." But he said the issue will be resolved shortly, with an announcement possibly coming as soon as today. Glenn didn’t report with the team Thursday, and the Cowboys declined to acknowledge whether he will be present when the Cowboys begin their first practice today. If they release Glenn, the Cowboys will save $1.7 million against the 2008 salary cap.

Receiver is a potential hurdle in the Cowboys’ Super Bowl quest because Pro Bowl receiver Terrell Owens, who turns 35 in December, has missed games in five of the past six seasons. And the team readily acknowledges the offense is not explosive when Owens is not on the field. Jones, possibly hinting at a trade, said the Cowboys have time between now and the season opener to address the issue either from within or outside the organization.

If there ultimately is a coronation of the Cowboys next February in Tampa, Fla., site of Super Bowl XLIII, it began in earnest Thursday when the team touched down at Point Mugu Naval Air Station. More than 1,000 fans and military personnel greeted the American Airlines team charter, which flew a Cowboys flag outside the cockpit.

Deplaning first were an HBO camera crew and four Cowboys cheerleaders, which is fitting for a team and season that is as much about style as it is substance.

Starting with quarterback Tony Romo and his pop star girlfriend Jessica Simpson, then to Owens, the addition of suspended cornerback Adam Jones and the return of 13 Pro Bowlers from last year’s 13-3 team, Jerry Jones acknowledged, "We are going to have a lot of visibility."

"This is an exciting time with this cast of characters," Jones said. "We have high expectations, and we have every reason to have expectations. We have Pro Bowlers returning at every position group except defensive line."

The Cowboys acknowledge they have few concerns going into training camp. The first practice is scheduled for today in Oxnard, Calif.

But they do acknowledge a potential hurdle at receiver, where the Cowboys failed in attempts to add a veteran to the mix in the off-season.

Anyone who questions that Jones will do everything in his power to give the Cowboys the best chance to end the 13-year Super Bowl drought wasn’t paying attention during the off-season. Not only did the Cowboys add Adam Jones to the secondary, but they signed former Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas, gave offensive coordinator Jason Garrett a $3 million deal to keep him from leaving and handed out more than $211 million in contract extensions to tackle Flozell Adams, running back Marion Barber, cornerback Terence Newman, safety Ken Hamlin and Owens. That number includes $58 million in signing bonuses.

Jones won’t predict a Super Bowl but said, "We would not have committed the money if we didn’t have expectations to be the best."

That much is understood by coach Wade Phillips, who has a potential successor in Garrett waiting in the wings if the Cowboys fail.

"I am used to winning," Phillips said. "We expect a lot. I always expect a lot. We are looking at this season. We are going to enjoy it day by day."

According to linebacker Bradie James, the time to make it happen is now.

"It’s really on us," James said. "We know the optimism is high, and the expectations are high. We have a lot of names on the team. Everybody knows we have an All-Star team. But names don’t win games. We have to come together. Training camp is when you come together. Today is the first step of what we need to do."