2000 Dallas Cowboys season
OwnerJerry Jones
General managerJerry Jones
Head coachDave Campo
Home fieldTexas Stadium
Results
Record5–11
Division place4th NFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersG Larry Allen
AP All-ProsLarry Allen (1st team)

The 2000 season was the Dallas Cowboys' 41st in the National Football League (NFL). Cowboys owner Jerry Jones promoted the team's long-time defensive coordinator, Dave Campo, to be the fifth head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. This was also Troy Aikman's last season with the team.

Offseason

The loss of star wide receiver Michael Irvin to retirement led Jerry Jones to trade the team's first round pick in the 2000 draft and the 2001 draft to the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver Joey Galloway. Pro Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders was also released after five seasons with the team. He later signed with the Cowboys' NFC East division rival Washington Redskins. Fullback Daryl Johnston also retired after the 1999 season.

AdditionsSubtractions
LB Joe Bowden (Titans)WR Michael Irvin (retirement)
QB Randall Cunningham (Vikings)CB Deion Sanders (Redskins)
WR Joey Galloway (Seahawks)LB Randall Godfrey (Titans)
TE Jackie Harris (Titans)LB Lemanski Hall (Vikings)
CB Ryan McNeil (Browns)CB Kevin Mathis (Saints)
LB Barron Wortham (Titans)FB Daryl Johnston (retirement)
CB Phillippi Sparks (Giants)

2000 draft class

2000 Dallas Cowboys draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
2 49 Dwayne Goodrich  CB Tennessee
4 109 Kareem Larrimore  CB West Texas A&M
5 144 Michael Wiley  RB Ohio State
6 180 Mario Edwards  CB Florida State
7 219 Orantes Grant  LB Georgia
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Notes

Undrafted free agents

2000 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Troy Hambrick Fullback Savannah State
Alcender Jackson Guard LSU
Micah Knorr Punter Utah State
Rian Lindell Kicker Washington State
Tim Seder Kicker Ashland
Clint Stoerner Quarterback Arkansas

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue
1 July 30 Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–38 0–1 Texas Stadium
2 August 5 vs. Atlanta Falcons L 9–20 0–2 Japan Tokyo Dome (Tokyo)
3 August 13 Oakland Raiders L 20–21 0–3 Texas Stadium
4 August 19 at Denver Broncos L 23–36 0–4 Mile High Stadium
5 August 24 St. Louis Rams L 17–24 0–5 Texas Stadium

Regular season

After a lackluster draft which saw the team draft three cornerbacks to replace the departure of star cornerback Deion Sanders, the Dave Campo head coaching era had an inauspicious start with an embarrassing blow-out defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles at home (in which the Eagles recovered an onside kick on the opening kickoff). The loss proved to be even more costly as quarterback Troy Aikman suffered a serious concussion early in the game and newly acquired wide receiver Joey Galloway suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter.

New faces like veteran quarterback Randall Cunningham and wide receiver James McKnight filled in on offense under new offensive coordinator Jack Reilly. On defense, the loss of both starting cornerbacks in the off-season required the addition of veterans Phillipi Sparks and Ryan McNeil. Combined with perennial Pro Bowl safety Darren Woodson, the Cowboys fielded one of the NFL's best secondaries. Unfortunately, a leaky run defense and an inconsistent, aging offense led to a 5–11 record.

In a blow-out loss to the San Francisco 49ers, then controversial 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens caused an uproar by celebrating a touchdown on the large Cowboys star at midfield in Texas Stadium, prompting anger and resentment off the field. This prompted a retaliation by running back Emmitt Smith with a famous "Defend the Star" kneel-down celebration of his own on the star. When Owens scored his second touchdown and promptly celebrated in midfield once more, then-safety George Teague knocked Owens off and a short brawl ensued on the field. Owens immediately returned to the star to celebrate while the brawl ensued. Teague was ejected from the game, and Terrell Owens was suspended for the next game. Ironically, Owens became a Cowboy later in his career.

Emmitt Smith's tenth consecutive 1,000-yard season (an NFL record), along with a season sweep of the rival Washington Redskins, proved to be the only highlights in an otherwise disappointing season.

The Cowboys finished 31st in the league in run defense that season, allowing 164.8 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry.

Notable additions to the team include future starting cornerback Mario Edwards, as well as Dwayne Goodrich. Goodrich gained notoriety after being involved in a hit and run accident which resulted in the deaths of two people. He was subsequently convicted of criminally negligent homicide.[2]

Backup running back Chris Warren was released after a 27–7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Warren tipped a pass which was intercepted by Brian Kelly and returned for a touchdown. After the play Warren was benched, he exchanged words with assistant coaches and spent the rest of the game on the sideline sulking. He was released a few days later and was replaced by rookie Michael Wiley, Warren would eventually sign with the Philadelphia Eagles for the remainder of the season.

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance
1 September 3 Philadelphia Eagles L 14–41 0–1 62,872
2 September 10 at Arizona Cardinals L 31–32 0–2 66,008
3 September 18 at Washington Redskins W 27–21 1–2 84,431
4 September 24 San Francisco 49ers L 24–41 1–3 64,127
5 October 1 at Carolina Panthers W 16–13 (OT) 2–3 68,909
6 Bye
7 October 15 at New York Giants L 14–19 2–4 78,189
8 October 22 Arizona Cardinals W 48–7 3–4 62,981
9 October 29 Jacksonville Jaguars L 17–23 (OT) 3–5 63,554
10 November 5 at Philadelphia Eagles L 13–16 (OT) 3–6 65,636
11 November 12 Cincinnati Bengals W 23–6 4–6 62,170
12 November 19 at Baltimore Ravens L 0–27 4–7 69,416
13 November 23 Minnesota Vikings L 15–27 4–8 63,878
14 December 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 7–27 4–9 65,621
15 December 10 Washington Redskins W 32–13 5–9 63,467
16 December 17 New York Giants L 13–17 5–10 61,311
17 December 25 at Tennessee Titans L 0–31 5–11 68,498

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC East
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(1) New York Giants 12 4 0 .750 328 246 W5
(4) Philadelphia Eagles 11 5 0 .688 351 245 W2
Washington Redskins 8 8 0 .500 281 269 W1
Dallas Cowboys 5 11 0 .313 294 361 L2
Arizona Cardinals 3 13 0 .188 210 443 L7

Roster

Dallas Cowboys 2000 roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists

Practice squad

Rookies in italics
53 active, 12 inactive, 2 practice squad

Publications

The Football Encyclopedia ISBN 0-312-11435-4
Total Football ISBN 0-06-270170-3
Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes ISBN 0-446-51950-2

References

  1. ↑ "2000 NFL Draft Pick Transactions". ProSportsTransactions.com.
  2. ↑ Low, Chris (May 12, 2014). "Goodrich goes from inmate to graduate". ESPN. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
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