NFL Franchise Notes: Cowboys Equal Smallest Crowd In Stadium History

The Cowboys drew 78,122 fans for yesterday's game against the Rams, "equaling the smallest" attendance in the three years that Cowboys Stadium has been in existence (PHILIDELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/24). ESPN DALLAS' Todd Archer noted the Cowboys also drew 78,122 fans for their Oct. 2 game against the Lions, and the team's next three home games are against the Seahawks, Bills and Dolphins. The Cowboys averaged 89,757 fans in the regular season in '09 and 87,047 last year. Archer: "Will it dip again in 2011?" (ESPNDALLAS.com, 10/23).

THE HEAD RAIDER: NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reported the Raiders are "Hue Jackson’s show, there’s no doubt about that." When the team gets to the stage of hiring a "general manager, head of football operations or whatever title that man gets, Hue Jackson will be involved in that as well. That man’s ability to work in concert with Jackson on personnel decisions will be integral." There are already four names being mentioned for the position -- the Ravens' Eric DeCosta, the 49ers' Tom Gamble, the Packers' Reggie McKenzie and the Chargers' Jimmy Raye. La Canfora: "Whoever it is, Hue Jackson will have his stamp on that move” (“NFL Gameday Morning,” NFL Network, 10/23). CBS’ Boomer Esiason said, of Jackson making football decisions, including the trade for QB Carson Palmer, “This is a coach that is making decisions above his pay grade” (“The NFL Today,” CBS, 10/23).

PLOTTING NEXT MOVE: In Ft. Lauderdale, Omar Kelly writes with the Dolphins starting the season 0-6, team Owner Stephen Ross' "problem is bigger than pleasing his fan base" by replacing coach Tony Sparano. Kelly: "Everyone in the NFL is watching, waiting to see what he does. And he's been advised his actions will influence established prospective replacements" including former Titans coach Jeff Fisher and CBS analyst and former Steelers coach Bill Cowher. Ross spent the final minutes of the fourth quarter and OT of yesterday's loss to the Broncos standing next to ESPN analyst and former Univ. of Florida coach Urban Meyer, who "appeared to be talking his ear off" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/24). However, sources said that the time Ross and Meyer spent on the sideline "was completely coincidental" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 10/23).

TOUGH TICKET: In Charlotte, Scott Fowler writes of yesterday's Redskins-Panthers contest, "I haven't seen an officially 'sold-out' game look so much like a sellout at Bank of America Stadium in quite a while. Scalpers made some money on this one. There were lots of regular folks holding their fingers in the air and trying hard to get tickets before the game" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/24).