Ed Note: So many great people have been a part of BTB, but DannyPhantom, as we used to know him, has been one of the major players. A whole decade of opinion and facts about the Cowboys and still going strong. We thank him for everything, and are looking forward to more. — Dave Halprin
It was 10 years ago today when I wrote my first article for the front page of Blogging the Boys. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long, as it feels like only yesterday that BTB creator, Dave Halprin, gave me my own set of keys to the pad. Being a part of this team has provided some fun opportunities. I estimate I have written over 2,500 articles. Along the way, I have interviewed a Super Bowl champion, met some super cool people at training camp in Oxnard, CA., and even co-hosted a podcast with one of my favorite BTB alums, rabblerousr.
On a personal level, a lot has changed for me. I finished up college and moved on to a much more challenging job. I’ve lost some loved ones dear to me, but also gained some as I became a grandfather to some wonderful girls, including this little cutie patootie.
A lot has changed for the Dallas Cowboys as well. We witnessed the passing of the torch from the beloved but overcriticized Tony Romo to the beloved but overcriticized Dak Prescott. We saw Prescott and his fellow co-rookie of the year, Ezekiel Elliott, tear it up in 2016 en route to a 13-3 season. We saw the super stingy draft capital saving front office give up a first-round pick for Amari Cooper, only to change their mind a few years later and trade him away.
It’s certainly been a decade of highs and lows. From seasons where the Cowboys were the top seed in the NFC to a few lost seasons where their starting quarterback went down for the year. We’ve seen the offense look unstoppable at times, and we’ve seen the emergence of a good defense that brought us Micah Parsons and two spectacular record seasons from cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland.
During that span, we’ve witnessed the great Jason Witten become the team’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. And speaking of records, that new quarterback they got a decade ago will likely become the franchise leader in completions, yards, and possibly touchdowns (Dak needs 35) sometime this upcoming season, barring injury. Where does the time go?
Off the field, we watched Romo go from a fun-but-sometimes cringy quarterback to a fun-but-sometimes cringy broadcaster. We were shocked by the sudden losses of former Cowboys’ Larry Allen, Marion Barber II, and Gavin Escobar, who all went way too soon. And we finally got to see Jimmy Johnson enter the Ring of Honor and Drew Pearson be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, two things that were both long overdue.
There have been some incredible moments over the last decade with some phenomenal plays. One of my personal favorites also happens to be Tyler Booker’s favorite.
Tyler Booker's favorite memory of the Cowboys' dominant offensive line was the Ezekiel Elliott "walk-off" run against the Steelers in 2016. Great choice.pic.twitter.com/SUvzoSHmJg
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) April 25, 2025
Of course, that list grows even longer when you think about all the great moments over this team’s storied franchise. Reflecting over the years, nothing stands out more to me than the moment Alvin Harper caught a slant across the middle to all but ice the 1992 NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.
What is your favorite moment as a Cowboys fan?
For me, nothing was more satisfying than the final four minutes of the 1992 NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers. pic.twitter.com/nSTHxXwhAu
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) June 29, 2025
That game was especially satisfying because it served as vindication. All the heartbreak the 49ers brought me as a child when Dwight Clark made “The Catch” a decade prior was suddenly flushed away as a new era of Cowboys’ football was happening right in front of our eyes.
Moments like that have turned into old stories for the younger generation who haven’t been graced with such glory. This year marks the 30th year since the Cowboys' last Super Bowl appearance, which is also the last time they’ve advanced past the divisional round of the playoffs. With Washington playing in the NFC championship game last year, the Cowboys now hold the dubious record for the longest drought of any NFC team, more than doubling the next longest team, the Chicago Bears.
As disappointing as that has been, the Cowboys still do a lot of winning in the regular season. We know it’s not the same, but there is some satisfaction to be had when your Sundays are filled with happiness during football season. They deliver in that regard. Even with the quote-unquote drought, the Cowboys still hold the highest winning percentage in the NFL in the Super Bowl era. It’s crazy that both of those marks belong to Dallas.
Photo courtesy of CBS sports (left) and Dallas Morning News (right)
Who knows what the future holds? With a new coaching staff comes new opportunities. It could be more of the same for this cursed football team, or maybe they finally turn a corner. Whatever happens, you can bet there will be no shortage of excitement.
What about you? What is your favorite moment over the last ten years? Or, over your lifetime as a fan? What changes have you gone through over the last decade? Cowboys Nation is like a family. Sure, we bicker with each other at times, as family does, but we always find ourselves right back together. That’s been the beauty of the BTB community, as it provides moments for us to come together and talk it out.
It’s been a lot of fun hanging out and sharing something I obsess over with other obsessive fans who can never get enough. Call it passion, call it a sickness, call it whatever you want. As long as we have each other, we got the world spinning right in our hands. Wait, that’s the theme song to Growing Pains. Sorry. The point is, we’re in this together, and rain or shine, all the time, we got each other. Damn, that’s Growing Pains again! I don’t know how to end this. Stay classy, San Diego! And thanks for stopping by.