After four seasons in Dallas, the 32-year-old Davis will be released with hopes that Montrae Holland and/or Phil Costa can step in and take his place in the starting lineup. The Cowboys already agreed to terms with free agent left tackle Doug Free, so anchoring the offensive line will be complete once first-round draft pick Tyron Smith is signed.

Williams has been treading on thin ice in Dallas ever since he was brought in through a trade with the Detroit Lions. Now that Miles Austin has emerged as an elite NFL receiver and second-year pro Dez Bryant showed flashes of brilliance in 2010, Williams’ services and his hefty contract are no longer needed in Dallas.

Barber was once the workhorse of the Dallas backfield, but injuries and his hard running style slowed him in recent seasons. With the emergence of Felix Jones and Tashard Choice and the Cowboys’ drafting of DeMarco Murray in April, Barber knew his time in Dallas was up.

The release of Kris Brown proves Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is confident in David Buehler to handle the field goal kicking duties alone in 2011. Buehler was very inconsistent in his first season as an NFL field goal kicker, but made enough difficult attempts that Garrett believes he has the potential to become a reliable special teams weapon. However, Buehler will now have to compete with undrafted rookie kicker Dan Bailey, whom the Cowboys signed on Tuesday.

Cowboys’ legends Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin came before Bryant, creating the majestic nature of the number 88. Now a player must earn the right to wear that number in Big D.

Known as The Original 88, Pearson tore up the NFL from 1973 to ’83, catching passes from Cowboys legendary quarterback Roger Staubach and then Danny White and playing in three Super Bowls. Then Irvin, The Playmaker, donned a pair of eights on his jersey in the 1990s, winning three Super Bowls in four years and setting 12 team records.

Bryant showed flashes of brilliance in his injury-plagued rookie season and showed the same swagger Irvin did as well as the same silky smooth pass-catching ability Pearson did. However, he compiled more legal trouble off the field in one season that most players do in an entire career. Bryant was sued three times in less than a month, some of the issues dating back to his college days at Oklahoma State.

That’s where the trouble began; Bryant was suspended for the majority of his junior season at OSU for lying to the NCAA about having lunch with Cowboys Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders. Regardless, Dallas team owner and general manager Jerry Jones traded up to take Bryant No. 24 overall in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Then Bryant suffered a high ankle sprain during his first training camp. Nonetheless, Bryant was ready for the Cowboys’ season opener at Washington. During the loss, Bryant caught eight passes for 56 yards from quarterback Tony Romo. From then, Bryant became a playmaking machine in Dallas, catching passes at all angles from Romo and then Jon Kitna. Bryant put up good numbers, especially during his three-touchdown explosion on the Monday night Romo went down with a broken collarbone.

Bryant showed up to that game with the stunner shades Irvin used to don before every game. When Bryant arrived at Cowboys Stadium that night, my good friend Jered Hudson turned to me and said, “He looks like Mike!” Bryant truly showed the swagger Irvin always did and then performed like The Playmaker during primetime.

Of course, no one in Dallas knows exactly what to think of Bryant at this point. He hasn’t risen to the level of elite NFL receivers yet, but obviously has the potential to do so. As mentioned, the main thing standing in Bryant’s way of NFL stardom is his off-the-field issues. However, Bryant says he is past them and is ready to take the next step in his football career.

“That is all behind me and I am looking forward now,” Bryant said. “Things happen and once again, I apologize for all that. I am moving on from it and staying positive.”

As for becoming the next great receiver for the Cowboys, Bryant is more than aware of what his choice to wear No. 88 means. He’s embracing the risk he’s taking that could result in endless criticism of not living up to expectations or in his bust being displayed in Canton, Ohio, for the rest of time.

“I just feel like if you want it, you’re going to get it,” Bryant said. And I really want it.”

Dallas fans want it, too. Everyone from Cowboys haters to disinterested fantasy football owners are anxious to see what Bryant can do with a full season and a healthy Romo at the helm. Bryant knows what he’s started. Now all that remains to see is if he finishes it.

Along with the ring and the proposal, Williams claims he sent Daniels $5,000 for her college education and some dental bills. Six weeks after Williams originally filed the affidavit, Daniels claimed she lost the ring. Like any respectable American, Williams reported the ring missing to his insurance agency.

A police investigation into the dispute found the ring with Daniels father, Michael Daniels. Now that all the facts have surfaced, Williams is determined to get the ring back and end the suit. However, Texas law states if the donor, Williams, is at fault for “terminating the engagement,” then Daniels is not required to return the ring.

In a statement, Michael Daniels says he plans to return the ring to Williams and “take care of [his] daughter.”

Romo has been scrutinized and made fun of to the point that his injury last season was more of a relief than anything else. Romo was virtually forgotten after he broke his collarbone during a Monday night loss to the New York Giants in Week 7.

The season had to go on and the Cowboys saw lots of change after that. Wade Phillips was fired and Jason Garrett was promoted to interim head coach. The Cowboys finished the 2010 season 5-3 after starting 1-7 and backup quarterback Jon Kitna had an inspirational half season at the helm.

The Cowboys’ three losses under Garrett came by a combined seven points. In Kitna’s seven games as the starter under Garrett (third-stringer Stephen McGee started Week 17), the Cowboys averaged 31 points per game, the most in the NFL. Even with all the turmoil, the Cowboys still had the second-highest scoring offense in the league over the entire season.

Dallas did all that without Romo, for the most part. Even though the Cowboys lost six of Romo’s seven games, he still had a career-high 69.5 completion percentage in those games. Oh, and the Romo-to-Miles Austin connection was mind-blowing. In the Cowboys’ first two games of 2010 (both losses), Romo completed 20 passes to Austin for 288 yards and a touchdown.

Then Phillips went to a more conservative passing attack, using Austin underneath more than downfield. Although it did result in one Dallas victory, it also led to Phillips’ firing. At the pace Romo and Austin were going, Austin would have recorded over 150 catches and over 2,000 receiving yards, both NFL records. The quarterback-receiver combo that put up the current record in those two categories won three Super Bowls.

Like the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki, Romo has had enough. He’s tired of hearing about the botched snap on the field goal in the 2006 playoffs. We can’t haggle him anymore about his celebrity girlfriends; he recently married Candice Crawford, a former television reporter in Dallas. He’s sick of people saying he can’t win the big one.  To be fair, I’ve been driving that bandwagon for some time now. There comes a time in an athlete’s career when he or she grows tired of being “Next Year’s Champs.”

Nowitzki put up with that for 13 seasons until a couple of weeks ago when he won his first NBA championship. Truthfully, he wasn’t good enough to win the title until this season. Somehow he rose to a much higher level of elite athlete this year and got over the hump. He finally had all the tools he needed; he had a defensive presence in center Tyson Chandler to compliment his offensive onslaught. Nowitzki improved defensively himself, which really elevated the Mavericks to the title.

Romo is even more primed for a title heading this season than Nowitzki was this past year. Like his NBA counterpart, Romo has a new coach that knows how to win. Romo has a new defensive coordinator in Rob Ryan that will allow Garrett to be more aggressive with the offensive play-calling.

In addition to Austin, Romo will have a healthy Dez Bryant, tight end Jason Witten and a slew of good running backs to set off some serious offensive fireworks. That’s not to mention the newest and most needed addition on the offensive line, first-round draft pick Tyron Smith.

Oh, we almost forgot the Cowboys’ less difficult schedule this year. Last season, the Cowboys had the third-toughest schedule in the NFL with every division champ and three of the last four Super Bowl participants. This year, the Cowboys have a much easier road to the postseason.

Four of the 13 teams on the Cowboys’ schedule are among the top 10 friendliest in the NFL to quarterbacks. One of those is the Washington Redskins, who the Cowboys play twice, so that makes five games against teams that rank in the top 10 in allowing yards and touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks. Those four teams are the Redskins, New York Jests, Detroit Lions, and Seattle Seahawks.

For the rest of the schedule, the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and New York Giants are in the bottom half of the league in defending the pass. That means that 11 of the Cowboys’ 16 games will be against teams will relatively weak pass defenses when yards and touchdowns are combined.

The 13 teams on the Cowboys’ schedule allowed an average of 3,570 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns last season. Romo has never failed to throw for 4,000 yards in a full season since he entered the NFL. He has also never thrown for less than 26 touchdowns in a full season.

Yes, Romo is definitely primed to have a breakout year and, more importantly, a winning season for the Cowboys.

Michael Sawaya is the director of San Antonio’s convention, sports and entertainment department and said he has the Alamodome reserved for the Cowboys from July 25 through August 13.

“Those are the dates they have communicated to us, and I don’t think we have any choice but to hold those dates,” Sawaya said. “I don’t think anyone is in a position to say definitively whether there is going to be a season or not. All we know is that if there is going to be a season, they plan to be here and we have to be ready.”

At his autograph signing in Oklahoma, Bryant said he and the Cowboys will be ready no matter when the season begins. The team has a verbal deal with the city of San Antonio to host the training camp, so there are no conditions to the agreement.

“We don’t have damages in the contract,” Sawaya said. “We hold the dome for them for no rent. [Labor disputes] aren’t the types of things you can really anticipate.”

Dallas team owner Jerry Jones said in April the Cowboys will hold the entirety of training camp in one location this year, breaking the tradition of splitting training camp between Oxnard, California and the Alamodome.

“There will be an NFL season and I think we will start on time,” Bryant said. “I know Dallas will be ready to go, and I’ll be ready to put on my helmet and go to work.”

Good news, if it can be called that, has been leaking from NFL owners and players involved in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations over the past two weeks. Jones was at a secret labor meeting in Chicago last week and spokespersons for both the owners and players say the talks are coming along much better than a month ago.

A source close to the players said the fact the two sides got together in addition to their scheduled meetings is a sign that talks are moving in the right direction. It’s more likely for the pace of a business deal to pick up when things start clicking and both sides begin to agree.

As for Bryant, he assured the media in attendance of his autograph signing that he has put his legal troubles behind him and is ready to become a contributing player for the Cowboys.

“I have a handle on it and it’s done,” Bryant said. “It’s in the past and I’m ready to go ahead from here. From what I see, my relationship with Mr. Jones is fabulous. The relationship between Big Tony (Romo) and me is great. He believes in me and knows what I can do. If he throws a jump ball, he knows that I will go up and get it.”

Most Cowboys fans know what Bryant is capable of as well; he showed flashes of sheer brilliance during his injury-shortened rookie season. With Bryant, fellow pass-catchers Miles Austin and Jason Witten, and Romo all healthy for an entire season, the Cowboys could have the most explosive passing attach in the NFL.

Bryant is an outstanding X receiver, the one that goes up for jump balls in one-on-one situations and will catch the ball in tight coverage deep down the field. Austin is an ideal Z receiver, the one that darts all over the field and takes screen passes 75 yards for touchdowns. Witten is simply money at catching the ball, no matter the situation. With everyone healthy, watch out. Oh, and according to Bryant, there will indeed be a 2011 NFL season.

Bryant has a lot of nerve for missing the first day of team workouts. I don’t care that he called Romo and said he would miss the first day because he had “family matters” to attend to. Bryant should have been taking care of that while he was being thrown out of North Park Mall for sagging in his breeches. The former Oklahoma State star had plenty of time to ring up almost $1 million worth of unpaid jewelry charges and acquire three lawsuits against himself.

On Friday, the training staff at Valley Ranch was waiting with open arms to examine Bryant’s ankle that he broke in Week 10 of the 2010 season. That was the one day the NFL allowed with the lockout temporarily lifted but unlike many of his teammates, Bryant didn’t show. The 2010 NFL Rookie of the Year candidate has had plenty of time to play pickup basketball at Cedar Hill. He’s been open about that.

He can play basketball, but apparently he can’t go full speed at the team workouts. Romo said Wednesday the Cowboys had to hold Bryant back from doing too much.

“He’s running pretty well and he’s pretty competitive,” Romo said. “He’s running half speed so sometimes we have to slow him down a bit.”

Here’s an idea: let the trainers decide what level of pressure Bryant should put on his ankle. Oh wait that’s right; he didn’t show up to get it examined on the only day he could. Sorry, I forgot. The trainers weren’t available to look at his ankle before every pickup basketball game at Cedar Hill, either. Funny how things like that happen.

When Bryant arrived at Cowboys Stadium for the Cowboys’ Monday night game against the Giants in Week 7 of last season, my good buddy Jered Hudson turned to me and said, “He looks like Mike, man! He looks like Mike!”

I enthusiastically agreed. Not only did Bryant don Michael Irvin’s number 88 jersey, but he had the stunner shades on and walked with the same swagger The Playmaker did. He played like him that evening as well. Bryant hauled in four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns in addition to returning a punt 93 yards for a touchdown. He truly seemed to be the next big thing in Dallas.

Then the lockout happened. Bryant appears to get into more trouble every passing week the NFL keeps players away from their teams and coaches. Romo has seemingly taken it upon himself to watch out for Bryant and keep him out trouble since Bryant’s mentor, former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders has deserted him because of his childish behavior.

Bryant does not realize his potential. How could he? He’s been in trouble ever since he was a Cowboy at Oklahoma State. He’s always been a star on the field and has the chance to become a Hall of Fame NFL player. He’s playing for the right team and has an offense equipped to score points quickly. Bryant needs to straighten up and I mean fast.

“It was great,” Romo said. “I was very pleased with the turnout,” said Romo, who added that roughly 40 players showed up for Tuesday’s practice at an undisclosed location. “The guys were excited to be out there. It was a crisp and fast-paced practice. You could tell the guys were energized to be back into football on the field.”

It’s safe to say the players were excited to be running around with their teammates again after the NFL lockout has kept them from doing so since mid-March, when the first organized team activities usually begin. Cowboys tight end Jason Witten helped Romo organize the workouts and reiterated the importance of them.

“We have to work out as a group,” Witten said. “You can’t just go to training camp without having done any work. It’s going to be a very important part of what we do. It’s about us going to work and doing it together.”

Although most of the Dallas players were in attendance, ESPN Dallas’ Matt Mosley reported that receiver Dez Bryant was not. Regardless, the players who did participate were pleased with the workout. Second-year safety Barry Church tweeted, “great team workout today,” and second-year offensive tackle Sam Young tweeted, “tired today need to get that nap in” before continuing to say he was going to watch the Miami Heat’s NBA Playoff game against the Boston Celtics later Tuesday night.

Like Witten, Romo is aware how important these team workouts are to the Cowboys’ success in the 2011 season, whenever it may begin.

“I think as we continue to do this going forward, it will help us improve tremendously this off-season,” Romo said. “Any competitive advantage we will be able to obtain, that’s why we’re out there doing the things we’re doing. We’re excited knowing we’ll be that much farther along and we’ll be in football shape.”

As far as the players’ feelings toward football following their first team workout since the NFL lockout began, Romo summed it up.

“I wish the season started right now,” Romo said.

In an interview with a local ESPN radio station, Gomes said, “Losers,” when asked what word came to his mind when he thought of the Cowboys. Gomes better be able to play because if he gets burned by Dallas receivers Miles Austin or Dez Bryant, he may be the one donning that title.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten are good friends and roommates on away games. Now the two will team up to keep the Cowboys ready for training camp when, or if, a new collective bargaining agreement is reached by then. Cowboys reserve quarterback Stephen McGee recently spoke at a Fellow of Christian Athletes meeting in Amarillo and spoke to the Amarillo Globe-News.

“We are going to find a way to get work in,” McGee said. “The off-season work is always very important even if it’s just doing light 7-on-7s to get refreshed. The playbooks are really thick in the NFL. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done. There’s going to be an NFL season. There’s got to be.”

McGee confirmed that Romo and Witten would organize and lead the workouts that they hope will blossom into actual practices. Veterans like Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking hope the organized activities will keep younger players like receiver Dez Bryant out of trouble. Bryant has been sued three times in the past week and gotten in to other legal trouble as well. If nothing else, the workouts and practices will keep the Cowboys focused.

The Cleveland Browns could possibly show up for some friendly practice. Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is organizing team workouts in the Dallas area in April and likes the possibility of training with the Cowboys.