Doomsday defense? More like Doomscroll defense. Dan Quinn’s unit was in the headlines as the weekend came to a close, and none of it was very encouraging for Cowboys fans. DeMarcus Lawrence, the unit’s most obvious veteran leader, has been approached by the front office about taking a pay cut to help the team get below the salary cap. But balancing the books isn’t Lawrence’s job; his reported refusal could end up triggering a bunch of other moves across the roster. On the opposite end of the D-line, Randy Gregory is expected by some to stay in Dallas, though that’s far from certain. Even a role player like Tarell Basham could find himself a cap casualty despite a very modest salary. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.
Same goes for the offense, where experts around the league are lining up ideal fits for Amari Cooper as if he’s already gone. And other outlets are looking for guys to move in to Dalton Schultz’s locker before he’s even cleared it out. We’re using the financial ledgers to maker roster cuts based on savings, and we’re singing the praises of a multi-talented wideout who may well be taking his talents elsewhere. But there’s always the draft. So we’re shopping in Indianapolis to find the gems… and even sniffing around to see how the Cowboys could play host at next year’s combine. That’s all ahead in News and Notes.