It didn’t take long for the Eagles to improve their team through free agency. No sooner had the first day arrived than they snatched up what many consider the best free agent out of a lackluster group: Asante Samuel.

Samuel has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league for the past few years, recording an NFL high 16 interceptions in the last two years. But he should have his hands full next year trying to cover Terrell Owens for two games.

As for the Cowboys, they made their splash the day before free agency started by resigning Flozell Adams. Adams’ resigning will ensure that Dallas’s offensive line will remain consistent.

It wouldn’t be an offseason if there weren’t a whole lot of trade rumors circling around about the Cowboys. Heck, the way I hear it we are getting Randy Moss, DeAngelo Hall and Darren McFadden. Sounds good, except we’ll have to figure out how to pay everyone!

For those still dreaming about Darren McFadden — and I don’t blame you, a powerful running back with shutdown cornerback speed would be nice — here’s an idea of what it would take to move up and grab him.

Let’s say the Cowboys are willing to package their two first rounders to move up. Where does that take them? The 22nd and 28th picks are worth a combined 1,440 points. That would move them to the 8th overall pick. They could add a 4th and a 6th to that and get to 1,502, which would be enough to get the 7th overall pick.

But, chances say, McFadden is going to be long gone by then. So, we package up both 1sts and a 2nd to get 1,740 points which is enough to move to 5th on the chart and get their 5th rounder back. Or, we could add our 4th and 6th to move up to number 4 overall.

Top Three? It’s going to take either a player or future draft picks because the Cowboys can’t break 2,000 points even if they package up their entire draft, and the number three overall is 2,200 points.

Though, I do think if the Cowboys were offering their entire draft, those teams would forget the chart and quickly take them up on it.

The realistic scenario is that it will take both first rounders, a second, and possibly a fourth and a sixth to move up to get McFadden IF he falls a little.

As for packaging a player, Bobby Carpenter comes to mind. He couldn’t break the starting lineup before we got Zack Thomas, so it is doubtful he gets on the field much now. And he’s a former first round pick. And he might be a “Parcells guy.”

But, in the end, I think packaging up a player or two and some draft picks to grab a running back is definitely reaching when (1) you have a pro bowl running back on your roster and (2) you can get a pretty good running back by standing still.

If one of the top three wanted to do a little bit more realistic trade, or were interested in a Bobby Carpenter or a Marcus Spears — guys that might not be resigned when their number is up — then I can see entertaining a trade. But I’d hate to lose both first rounders, the second rounder and more just to get one guy.

The Cowboys made two significant moves this week in franchising safety Ken Hamlin and signing linebacker Zack Thomas to a one year 3 million dollar deal.

The Hamlin move was expected and was the smart, conservative move by the Cowboys. Remember, just a year ago, Hamlin was a cast off. He had a great year last year, but the franchise tag lets the Cowboys see if he’s a one-year wonder and gives them another year eyeballing Patrick Watkins to see if he can turn into a starting free safety.

The Zack Thomas was a little more surprising, but not terribly so since the rumors had been that he would sign with Dallas ever since his release from Miami. This deal looks like it has more to do with adding Thomas’s brain and personality than his playmaking ability. Not that Thomas can’t make plays, but the Cowboys have solid linebackers and two great ones in Ware and Ellis, so they aren’t in desperate need of playmaking. But, having an experienced veteran could give the front seven some extra leadership.

But, more happened than just the signings. The Patriots have decided not to franchise Moss, and it looks probably that Daunte Stallworth will hit the open market. The Cowboys could sure use a free agent wide receiver considering that Glenn may have played his last down of football. And not just any free agent, but one that can take some heat off of Terrell Owens.

The dream signing would be Larry Fitzgerald or Roy Williams. There are rumors about both that they might not be back with their respective teams — though why anyone would let a Roy Williams go is beyond me.

Also, the lack of a new contract for Adams is something to keep an eye on. I think it would be a wrong move to let him go test free agency thinking that Leonard Davis can fill in for him.

Free agency will officially begin in a few weeks, and it’s that time of year where some teams go out and try to make headlines while other teams go bargain-hunting.

I used to pay no attention to the off-season, but about eight years ago I started poring over the sports news daily for any word from the Cowboys. What I found was that the off-season, while not quite as exciting as the regular season, had its moments. It can be great fun to study what the Cowboys need, who’s out there, who they might get, and then watch the moves unfold.

But before looking to the outside, you have to look to your own house. The Cowboys have a number of key players who are free agents, so they’ll need to sign some of their own players before looking for a big name in free agency.

Cowboys Restricted Free Agents

Marion Barber III. Barber is a no-brainer to resign, the question is when. The Cowboys can put the highest tender offer on him in which case it would take a first and a third rounder for another team to sign him. They could wait on a big deal and see what kind of trade offers come down the pipe for him. Or they could lock him up to a big deal. I’m voting with that last one: Unless someone really gives the Cowboys a great deal, they are going to lock him up to a 4-5 year contract.

Chris Canty. This is another easy one. Chris Canty is a huge asset to the defensive line, and I mean huge. The guy makes Flozell Adams look like he’s been on a diet, and Canty can move that size around pretty good. The Cowboys are going to keep their hands on their steal of the 2006 draft.

L.P Ladouceur. Long-snapper is a position that the Cowboys just don’t want to be looking for. Teams tend to hold onto them when they find a good one, and bad things happen when they don’t. They Cowboys won’t mess with karma by giving up theirs.

Tyson Thompson. I expect a resign here. I also expect something above the minimum qualifying offer to make a team pay a bit in draft picks if they are interested in Thompson. After all, his ability to return kicks grants him some value. And, for Dallas — who may lose Julius Jones — keeping Thompson is a smart idea unless they pick up a decent running back in free agency or the draft.

Nate Jones. Minimum qualifying offer and probably resign him to a minimum one-year deal. He’ll be a bubble player in training camp and will either show something or not make the team.

Joe Berger. Same with Jones, though I’d give him better odds to make the team. Still, he’ll need to show something in training camp, and hope a younger player doesn’t impress.

Cowboys Unrestricted Free Agents

Flozell Adams. Lock him up before free agency begins. At least, I’m hoping that is Dallas’s strategy. Jerry Jones can sometimes pick funny times to look for bargains, and we all know that he views Leonard Davis as a possible replacement for Adams. But Davis proved himself a good guard last year — he hasn’t proven himself a good left tackle. And, love him or hate him for all those false start penalties, Flozell Adams is a proven commodity at the position that protects Tony Romo’s blindside. Resign. Resign. Resign.

Ken Hamlin. This will be an interesting one. It might come down to a matter of salary cap room. The Cowboys are known for not valuing free safeties as much as other positions. And they are still high on Pat Watkins who has the size and speed to make a great free safety if he can get raise his ball hawking skills. But Hamlin made a lot of nice plays and proved he could be the leader of the secondary. That’s a lot of value.

Julius Jones. I admit, I’ll be a little sad to see Julius go. He flashed some great potential that first year. And it seemed that he had some bad luck this year with several good runs getting called back because of penalties. But, in the end, he simply wasn’t as good as Marion Barber III. I’d love to have him as that second back, but I don’t think he would accept the pay cut. The real question becomes whether or not anyone else is willing to pay him.

Keith Davis. Davis is another interesting dilemma. He’s a solid backup to Roy Williams. He’s a fantastic special teams player. But, he’s also expendable because he is just a role player. I have a feeling he’s going to be in a Cowboys uniform next year, but don’t expect a quick resign.

Jacques Reeves. Reeves goes a little bit beyond an interesting dilemma. He started 13 games due to injuries to Newman and Henry, and while he didn’t turn any heads, he wasn’t that bad either. Certainly, he got picked on a number of times during the year, but no one is saying he’s better than Henry, and teams tend to avoid Newman. If Dallas had anything with promise behind him this might be different, but I can’t see letting him go unless he can be replaced by a solid player in free agency or if we are willing to use one of those first rounders on a cornerback.

I understand why steroids in baseball is an important issue that draws the interest of congress. If professional athletes use steroids, then college athletes will use steroids, and it will trickle down to high school athletes using them. That makes it something of national interest.

But Spygate?

I’m sorry, but if high school coaches are filming games trying to steal signals, I don’t really care. It’s not like it is harmful to the kids.

And, let’s face it, this sort of stuff is a part of football. It always has been. Why do you think every coach covers his mouth up while calling in plays? Heck, teams have been known to send spies into other teams practices. That’s football.

Yeah, you get caught, you get busted. There had to be a punishment and, honestly, I thought New England got off light.

But why is congress — or, I should say, “a” congressman — getting involved in something so trivial compared to the national interests?

It looks to me like he’s using taxpayer money to get his name in the papers instead of actually doing his job. After all, had anyone outside of Pennsylvania heard of him before he began running his mouth and shaking a stick at the NFL?

And what’s all this whining about destroying evidence? It’s not like the Patriots did anything illegal. It’s doubtful that anyone is going to find out who really shot JFK by watching the tapes.

Give it a rest, Specter. You got your name in the papers. Be happy with it and go home.

Okay, they may have had a little help, but with 13 Cowboys suiting up to play in the game, it almost seemed like the Dallas Cowboys taking on the AFC’s best. I’m not sure if there was a single play without at least one Dallas Cowboy on the field.

And, if not for a decision to run the ball at the end of the game on the 6 yard line instead of pass the ball, a Cowboy may very well have walked away as the MVP. T.O. certainly showed that the popcorn should be ready even for an exhibition game, raking in 8 catches for 101 yards and 2 TD’s.

Romo also had a good showing completing 9 of 16 passes for 87 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception on a pass that should have been caught. He also showed his dance moves on a few plays, and would have had a couple more completions if T.O. didn’t have butter on his hands from that popcorn.

I would have liked to have seen Marion Barber a little bit more. Hey, I understand, you got a chance to hand the ball to Adrian Peterson, you gunna take that chance. But give the other guys at least a few reps! Barber’s 6 attempts were more than Westbrook’s single attempt at least.

I admit, I am an NFL Network junkie. I turn it on at lunch while I eat a quick sandwich, I turn it on after work while I am waiting for the evening plans to kick on, and I turn it on as the evening wears down as background noise to whatever I happen to be doing at that time.

But, after that loss to the Giants, I just couldn’t watch. In fact, I avoided the NFL Channel, ESPN, even listening to The Ticket. And I’m sure I’m not the lone Cowboy fan that avoided sports news. After posting one of their best regular seasons ever, the Cowboys fell flat in the playoffs… again.

All of that seemed to change last Sunday. There’s something about the only team to go undefeated in the regular season since the 1972 Dolphins losing the Super Bowl that makes me think… well… this season could have been worse. I mean, we may have posted a record number of Pro Bowl players without winning a playoff game, but at least we aren’t the Patriots.

And, hey, we may have gotten beat, but we got beat by the eventual Super Bowl champs. It’s just too bad it was the Giants. Might have been easier to stomach had it been the Packers.

But, hey, there’s something to be said for finishing strong. If the Giants hadn’t come out swinging in week 17, giving the Patriots a good game, and going into the playoffs feeling they could hang with anyone in the league, who knows what would have happened?

And, if the Cowboys hadn’t gone into the playoffs a lame duck… who knows?

One thing is for sure. Come next week 17, whether or not our spot in the playoffs is set, we’d better be looking at building some momentum. This going into the playoffs on a losing streak hasn’t been working out too well.