Dallas arrives with more story lines than soap opera

They are larger than life, a team with outsized soap operas and egos, followed by full-of-themselves fans that love every overhyped minute.

The Dallas Cowboys are coming to town Sunday, an appearance that's an even bigger deal since the Cardinals moved out of the NFC East - where the Cowboys reside - after the 2001 season.

What are the current travails of Terrell Owens? How is Tony Romo's relationship with Jessica Simpson going? Is Adam "Pacman" Jones stirring up trouble again?

These are the current story lines, but the Cowboys have a colorful history of oversized and eccentric characters dating to "Dandy" Don Meredith, Duane Thomas, Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, Hershel Walker and Michael Irvin.

The guy who deals with it all, coach Wade Phillips, who seems to be the one low-key piece of this puzzle, laughed when asked what's like to orchestrate the Cowboys' circus.

"Well, you've got to have two batons I think with this team," Phillips said. "But it's a fun group."

The Cowboys also are a winning group, though it's unclear whether they're as good as the hype; they were thought by many prognosticators to be the NFL's best team entering the season.

Unless the Cowboys can turn their talent into a run to the Super Bowl, Phillips could be in trouble.

"I think it's good that your city and fans want you to do well and expect you to do well," Phillips said.

"I think it puts pressure on your players and coaches and everybody to do well. So I don't think it's a bad thing."

The microscope can bring criticism even after wins, such as the Cowboys' sloppy victory over Cincinnati last week.

"But we did win," Phillips said. "I still think that overall it's a good thing."