Cowboy fans had huge expectations coming into this year. A second year with Dez Bryant and Miles Austin at wide receiver, another year with DeMarcus Ware rushing the passer, and their first go-round with renowned defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. But after two consecutive, heartbreaking losses, first to the Cardinals and last week to the Giants, the mood in Dallas is shifting. Fans are wondering: What’s wrong with the Cowboys?

Watching tape in preparation for the Giants this weekend, Rob Ryan has to be licking his lips or plucking his gray beard; however excitement manifests with the Cowboys defensive coordinator, he must have shown plenty of it after seeing New York’s situation at offensive tackle.

Tom Landry was a stone-faced icon, a “football god on Earth,” according to Skip Bayless. So what made the legendary Cowboys coach tick? Peel back the mask with Thursday’s premiere of “A Football Life: Tom Landry” on NFL Network.

With less touchdowns (four) than they have losses this season (five), the Rams were desperate for some kind of weapon on offense.

The New Orleans Saints locked up coach Sean Payton to a multiyear contract extension Monday in a move that will keep the Super Bowl winner in the Big Easy through the 2015 season. Now Payton can focus on the business of having his team ready for Thursday night’s NFL kickoff game in Green Bay… but first he will make an appearance Tuesday night on “NFL Total Access.”

The return of Ben Tate has some fantasy owners worried about the draft value of Arian Foster. Well, it’s time to put those worries to rest.

As we wrap up Day 1 of the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, we’ll leave you with a few thoughts (some random), observations and highlights from what we’ve heard.

On the heels of Rex Ryan‘s media circus, Jason Garrett refused to guarantee a cozier gathering of reporters that his Cowboys, not the Jets, would win the Super Bowl.

I know Browns fans might not want to hear this, because they’re probably not enjoying all the losing, but I really think this team is on the right track.

Northwestern QB Mike Kafka’s impressive offseason continued at the school’s pro day.

The defensive linemen might have just completed the most entertaining two hours of bench pressing at the NFL Scouting Combine. Sunday’s bench-a-thon was pretty amped as the prospects became competitive.

Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, and his brother Rex Ryan, the coach of the Jets, have been hanging out often here at the Senior Bowl. Given their booming voices and constant laughter, they are tough to miss.

The Browns could be using more of the “46″ defense this season under new coach Eric Mangini who has been a fan of the defense for quite some time.

Former Jets QB Brett Favre could make an appearance at Browns camp this season as a guest of his former coach, Eric Mangini. Favre is still under contract with the Jets, but he could show up in Cleveland as an instructor for Browns QBs Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, according to the New York Daily News.

Eric Mangini has yet to be introduced as the Cleveland Browns’ head coach, but he made his first move by hiring Rob Ryan as his defensive coordinator.