2004 Dallas Cowboys Season

Even before 2004 season began, the Cowboys would face adversity and be forced to adjust. Coming off their first winning season in 5 years, the team, under Bill Parcells direction, would continue to bring in veteran talent and draft promising prospects. In the off-season, the Cowboys would sign quarterback Vinny Testaverde and trade for disgruntled wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson. Both Testaverde and Johnson had played for Parcells when he had coached the New York Jets, and both were eager to reunite with Parcells. Johnson was especially happy to be in Dallas, as he had been deactivated for the final six games of the previous season while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for "conduct detrimental to the team". In return for Johnson, the Buccaneers received Joey Galloway. The draft saw the arrival of running back Julius Jones, cornerbacks Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones, and college quarterback turned wide receiver Patrick Crayton. In owner Jerry Jones continuing quest to acquire quarterback talent, the Cowboys would trade for the rights to Drew Henson, another baseball player attempting to return to football. Henson starred at Michigan, even keeping future NFL superstar quarterback Tom Brady from claiming the starting job outright. His struggles in the New York Yankees farm system would lead him to reconsider his career and opt for a return to football, similar to Chad Hutchinson, whom the team had acquired only two years prior. Hutchinson would later be released.