NFL: Who are the new Cowboys in town?

In an effort to save face in the off-season, the Dallas Cowboys signed quarterback Tony Banks and wide receiver to bolster an offense that suffered huge setbacks in the previous two seasons.

Both players appear to have potential, but have yet to realize it in the NFL. If these two players actually become star players in the NFL, they will do so without a star on their helmets. In other words, the Cowboys' recent acquisitions are nothing more than temporary stopgap measures.

Dallas Cowboys fans hope that Tony Banks is this generation's Steve Pelluer: the quarterback who handles the team until another solid and stable field general takes over. Banks possesses a strong arm and good mobility - two traits that made him attractive to the Dallas Cowboys given the team's speedy wide receivers and porous offensive line - but owns a losing record as a starting quarterback. Two teams (the St. Louis Rams and Baltimore Ravens) replaced Banks because they did not believe he could lead them to the Super Bowl. In many respects they were correct. Both teams won the Super Bowl after replacing Banks and Cowboys' fans can hope for history repeating itself.

Carl Pickens had has more success in the NFL, statistically anyway. He was the leading receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals and part of a promising offense. No one can blame Pickens, though, for wanting to leave the organization last year and he signed with the Tennessee Titans. Unfortunately for Pickens, he was injured for most of the season and is coming off two subpar seasons. Pickens large body seems perfect for underneath routes and will relieve fast but small receivers Raghib Ismail and Joey Galloway of those duties.

Still, these men's careers as Cowboys will be ephemeral. The Cowboys signed both men to one-year contract and neither will be candidates for contract extensions. They will be merely footnotes in the history of the Dallas Cowboys, like a Reggie Collier or Jackie Smith. Cowboys fans hope, though, that they can put points on the board and allow defenses to focus on something other than Emmitt Smith as he approaches Walter Payton's career rushing record.