The Cowboys remain “America's Team,” despite their 3-6 record and only one postseason win since their last Super Bowl title five years ago.

        The Fort Worth Star-Telegram looked it up and found the Cowboys still lead the NFL in merchandising sales, TV ratings and Web searches.

        Forbes magazine recently reported the Cowboys are worth $713 million, second to Washington's $741 million.

        Dallas first became a glamour team in the early 1970s, with Tom Landry patrolling the sidelines.

        There have been high-profile coaches (Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer) and star players (Lilly, Meredith, Staubach, Dorsett, Too Tall, Aikman, Emmitt, Irvin, et al.). And of course, the world-famous cheerleaders.

        The America's Team nickname dates to the late 1970s and is credited to Bob Ryan, who was editor in chief at NFL Films. Ryan believed the Cowboys' national appeal rivaled that of Notre Dame, the Yankees and Celtics.

        Dallas owner Jerry Jones has run with that since buying the club in 1989. His hands-on style has made him the George Steinbrenner of football, although Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is sneaking up on the outside.

        Despite his team's struggles on the field, Jones has designs on a new 100,000-seat stadium.

        “You know what? They were America's Team even when they struggled under Tom Landry,” ESPN analyst Mark Malone told the Star-Telegram. “It's so much about marketing and it's so much about image, and Jerry Jones is a master of that, certainly.”

Losing keeps free agents away 'Cowboys' motivation enough Dallas still 'America's Team' Dugans falls off depth chart

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