Cowboys pre-season schedule announced

The 2009 NFL pre-season schedule was released today.

The Dallas Cowboys will kick off their pre-season with a prime-time matchup in Oakland on August 13th. The Cowboys will host the Raiders on Thanksgiving.

In week two of the pre-season, the Cowboys will host the Tennessee Titans in their first-ever game at their new stadium. The game will be played on August 21st.

On August 29th, the Cowboys host the San Francisco 49ers. They close out the pre-season in Minnesota on September 4th.

No contract extension talks for Phillips

There haven't been any contract extension talks for Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, who's in the final year of his contract.

Last season was hugely disappointing with all of the high expectations. The team played with little heart and Phillips isn't the task-master type of coach to keep them focused.

"It takes about four years to get a championship-type team put together," Phillips said. "We were expected, because of Dallas, to do it in one, maybe two years, and we haven't done that. I'm disappointed we haven't, but I think we will."

Phillips, who is also the Cowboys defensive coordinator, is suited to be the Cowboys coach from Jerry Jones' perspective. Jones wants a "yes-man" who's not going to rock the boat and who will stroke Jones' ego.

For the Cowboys to be successful (or, as successful as they can be), Jones needs to give up the GM job, find a strong head coach (there are plenty out there - Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, etc.) and keep Phillips as defensive coordinator.

But I think all of that is just wishful thinking.

Cowboys vs Raiders on Thanksgiving

The NFL has released the schedule for seven prime-time games - all four prime-time games in week 1 as well as the slate of games that will take place on Thanksgiving.

The season kicks off with the Steelers hosting the Titans on Thursday, September 10th. The Bears will host the Packers on Sunday Night Football.

There will be a pair of Monday Night Football matchups - Bills (T.O.'s debut) vs Pats and Chargers vs Raiders.

On Thanksgiving, the Cowboys will host the Oakland Raiders.

The Cowboys have hosted an NFL game on Thanksgiving every year since 1966 with the exception of 1975 and 1977. Their record is 26-14-1 on Thanksgiving.

The last time the Raiders played on Thanksgiving was in 1970.

The other two Turkey day games are the Lions vs Packers and the Broncos vs Giants.