It was widely expected, but Monday’s news of the franchise tag landing on Tony Pollard still dominated the headlines in Cowboys Nation. Apart from the obvious ramifications for the Memphis rusher, the front office’s decision also has ripple effects that will impact right end Dalton Schultz and fellow running back Ezekiel Elliott in the very near future.
Meanwhile, another marquee wide receiver is being linked to Dallas. DeAndre Hopkins caused a stir by popping up in a live stream with a former Cowboys wideout, and that comes after one network insider had a source in Indianapolis tell him the Cowboys were looking to “make a splash” with a big-name pass-catcher, coincidentally, like Hopkins. All that, plus the status of Leighton Vander Esch, Zach Thomas’s Hall of Fame induction moment will have a decidedly Dallas connection, Ben DiNucci keeps lighting up the XFL, and a Romo-era Cowboys playmaker has become una estrella once again south of the border. That’s all in this edition of News and Notes.