The Biggest Winners and Losers of Dallas Cowboys Camp, Preseason so Far

Stats in August mean very little. Wins and losses in preseason games mean even less.

So despite a dreadful offensive performance against the Oakland Raiders, Cowboys fans can go ahead and step back from the ledge. Even though the first-team offense managed only one first down in 11 plays and the defense pitched a shutout, let's save the overreactions until at least Week 1.

We didn't learn much Monday night. Both teams looked truly awful. There aren't many positives to extract out of a 3-0 victory. The best thing that can be said is that there were no major injuries (rookie linebacker Kyle Wilber broke his thumb). Other than that, it was just a sloppy and underwhelming preseason game.

It kind of fits right in with the way the Cowboys preseason has been going. From OTAs to training camp, things have been rather quiet—well, quiet relative to Dallas' standards. It wouldn't be the Cowboys if some Hollywood figure didn't show up at camp. Or if a high profile player didn't get into trouble with the law. But that's old news now. For something a little fresher, let's breakdown the 2012 Cowboys' preseason thus far by pinpointing the biggest winners and losers.

Biggest Losers

1) The entire offensive line with the exception of Tyron Smith.

This should come as no surprise. Everyone knew before training camp started that this group is in need of serious improvement. Unfortunately, it has gotten (slightly) worse with Phil Costa being sidelined with a lower back strain. Not that he played with any level of consistency, but experience goes a long way.

In Costa's place Monday night was right guard David Arkin. To his left was Derrick Dockery, who is filling in for Nate Livings while he deals with a hamstring, and to his right was Mackenzy Bernadeau. Suffice it say, this is not the trio the Cowboys intend to put on the field Week 1.

It certainly shows their lack of depth and that's one thing that will translate to the regular season. If this group doesn't get healthy and productive in a hurry, there will be no room to run or time to throw and zero chance for a division title.

2) Dez Bryant

I'm not going to pretend to know anything about Bryant's domestic situation. I'm sure it's much more complicated than the tabloids and press conferences will ever tell us. I'm not going to pretend to understand how a man gets into a physical altercation with his own mother although that just sounds completely unreasonable to me.

But I do know what this team needs from Bryant. I do understand why Jerry Jones was "too pissed" to talk to him. The expectations around No. 88 are very high. His ceiling of potential is even higher. The absolute last thing that Bryant can allow is for off-field issues to derail his promising career before it even starts. As if injuries aren't worrisome enough, suspension-threatening distractions outside of the locker room are completely unacceptable.  

3) Jerry Jones

I'm baffled as to how the Cowboys seem to face the same set problems every single season. The offensive line has been a mess for years. Ignoring that issue while making plays for high profile skill players is ignoring the fundamental philosophy this game is built on: protect the quarterback. What happens when you don't protect your quarterback? He ends up running for his life and eventually breaks his collarbone.

And we're still trying to figure out who the third wide receiver will be. Sound like a familiar topic? It should, because if you were to roll back the calendar 365 days you would be having this exact same discussion.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they didn't pay Laurent Robinson the $32.5 million the Jacksonville Jaguars paid him. But when the two starting wide receivers can't stay on the field, maybe a long-term investment at that position wouldn't be such a bad idea.

Jones did address the secondary that completely decomposed last season, which was a much bigger concern than wide receiver. I realize that it's very difficult to fix all of the problems and handle all of a team's needs in one offseason. Still, it's amazing that Jones can build the most impressive venue in all of sports but can't seem to build a team to save his life.  I think it is safe to say that as a general manager, he's got his benefit-of-the-doubt-collateral down to nothing.

Biggest Winners

1) Tyron Smith

As terrible as the collective offensive line looks, Smith is already drumming up talks of being one of the best tackles in the league.  Jerry Jones is praising his work ethic. DeMarcus Ware says Smith challenges him. The praise goes on and on. The Cowboys are very happy with their 2011 first-round pick. Romo's blindside appears safe. And what better experience and practice can a young player get than lining up against Ware on a daily basis? Smith is well worth the hype.

2) Dez Bryant

I'm allowing the contradiction of Bryant being on this list twice simply because he's that good of a player. The practice reports often detail how he's the most exciting player to watch and constantly dazzles in camp.  He makes it easy to overlook his off-field issues.

But it's not his physique or playmaking abilities that earned him a spot on the winners list. It's his dedication. There have been questions about his character and work ethic going back to his college days. So when he ended up on the injury report a few days before the game against Oakland, those questions stirred again. But Bryant made the start and made a spectacular back-shoulder catch for a first down (highlights here).

Playing through injuries is a part of football—the part that defines toughness. The Cowboys haven't been defined by that word in a long time. Bryant's "man-up" mentality sends a message to his teammates. It's the first glimpse of maturity and true dedication that we've seen from him since he joined the team in 2010.

Yes, it was only a preseason game. Yes, it was only for a few snaps. And yes, there is a long list of "granted" that can serve as an asterisk to his performance on Monday night. But it's one of the few positives of what was otherwise a pathetic showing. Simply put, Dez Bryant is a stud, and as long as he can stay on the field, the Cowboys will be a tough team to face.

3) Tony Romo

Through all the criticism, all the celebrity, all the non-stop waffling of clutch versus stats versus playoff victories, Romo has let everything roll off of his back. Almost to a fault.

His shrugged shoulder approach to losses has rubbed many fans the wrong way. His dimpled smile after throwing five interceptions and losing a fumble—in a winning effort mind you—followed by a "I just have to get better" attitude, would drive most coaches insane.  That's the "Romo-coaster" we've gotten used to.

We should be so lucky to share his stress-free persona. That, in and of itself, makes him a winner. Leading by example, stats and attitude are just the icing on the cake. For all of the tabloids he's ended up in, none of them have involved police officers. For all the criticisms he has faced on the field, none of them have involved his work ethic. But what truly makes him a winner is his never-say-never attitude.

Case in point, he recently told a local reporter that he plans on playing for at least six more years. Basically, he's saying that "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon so get used to it". As he should. John Elway didn't win his first Super Bowl until he was 37. Romo is 32 and didn't get his first start until he was 26. He's gotten better every year since regardless of the circumstances surrounding his team.

Cowboys fans should be proud of their quarterback. They should be excited about the 2012 season. Romo is a big source of that excitement. Because come September 5th, this entire team will be labeled as winners.