Category: News and Notes

News: Cowboys path back to Super Bowl where former players celebrate

Former Cowboys are celebrating, when it will be the current batches turn? Who will be on the team when it happens?

Just because the Dallas Cowboys didn’t make it to the Super Bowl for the 24th time in a row, doesn’t mean that they weren’t well represented. Four different players brought home a ring that they weren’t able to capture during their time in Dallas. One former Cowboys great believes the team isn’t far off from returning to its former glory, though he thinks it will take a commitment to stopping the run to get there.

In other news, see where America’s Team ranks when stacked up against the entirety of the NFL in the Super Bowl era in a truly scientific way. It wouldn’t be the beginning of the off-season without a little bit of mock drafting, so be sure to get familiar with some names that could be targets come late April.

Former Cowboys Damien Wilson, Anthony Hitchens bask in Super Bowl glory with Chiefs :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Four former Cowboys players won Super Bowl rings on Sunday as members of the Kansas City Chiefs. Cornerback Morris Claiborne, the Cowboys’ first-round pick in 2012, was listed as inactive for Super Bowl LIV. Fellow corner Charvarius Ward signed a contract with Dallas in early 2018 but was traded to Kansas City in August of that year.

Two of Kansas City’s starting linebackers also have stints with the Cowboys on their resumes. Anthony Hitchens was a fourth-round pick out of Iowa in 2014 and played in Dallas through the 2017 season. Damien Wilson was a fourth-round selection in 2015; this was his first season with the Chiefs.

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–TB

1-on-1 with Emmitt Smith: Cowboys not far from competing for Super Bowls again :: The Athletic (paywall)

Emmitt Smith believes that the NFL will never again “see a team as talented as our team was,” referring to the Cowboys squads of the early- to mid-1990s. Smith was, of course, part of the group that won an incredible three of four Super Bowls in that span, but he doesn’t think that concentration of talent will ever happen again. “I don’t see that,” Smith says.

As far as the current crop of Cowboys making a run at claiming their own Lombardi Trophy? The league’s all-time rushing champ feels they’re within reach.

“I don’t think they’re far at all,” Smith suggested. “I really do believe we have the talent to get there. We definitely have to upgrade the defensive front. We got to learn how to stop the run because teams came in and ran the ball down our throat… That’s a problem that needs to be fixed.”

–TB

Film room: Cowboys restock defense early, add pass catchers late in full 2020 NFL mock draft :: Dallas Morning News

Mock draft season is officially in full effect. With just three weeks until the combine it’ll be a seemingly endless slew of opinions on the best college football has to offer. John Owning’s draft leans heavy towards the defensive side of the ball, though it doesn’t ignore adding a weapon or two in the fourth and fifth rounds that could be hidden gems and carve out playing time sooner rather than later. For those looking to add some help along the defensive line, however, this might be for you.

–TT

The Athletic’s 2020 “Super Bowl Era” franchise rankings :: The Athletic (paywall)

Bob Sturm’s annual tradition of ranking franchises based off of solely postseason success. The Cowboys, despite just three points earned in the past decade, still rank No. 3 behind only the New England Patriots (who earned 54 points in the last decade) and the Pittsburgh Steelers. That 70’s team with Tom Landry is doing work keeping them afloat. The five total Lombardi trophies don’t hurt either. Another decade like the last one, however, could prove disastrous for this definitive ranking system.

–TT

Three-round 2020 NFL mock draft 1.0: Dolphins pass on Tua :: NFL.com

What did we tell you moments ago? There’s mock drafts aplenty. This one follows the same blueprint, trying to snatch up as much defensive talent as possible. Safety Xavier McKinney is the Cowboys top pick here at No. 17 (14 spots ahead of where Grant Delpit lands). In this scenario Dallas double dips on the back end of the defense by taking a corner in Round 2. Click through to see the totality of this three-round exercise.

–TT

Kellen Moore called 1,109 plays in 2019, here’s how they broke down :: Cowboys Wire

Our very own C. Joseph Wright has been logging exactly the kind of plays that offensive Kellen Moore and quarterback Dak Prescott prefer to run. The most obvious thing is this: when the Cowboys offense opens in a shotgun, it’s almost definitely a pass. Prescott attempted only 30 passes all season from under center. Whether it’s a comfort issue for Prescott or a preference of all involved parties, it’ll be interesting to see if this changes under head coach Mike McCarthy.

–TT

Just a little hype video to get people ready for the 2020 season, which is a mere 219 days away.

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News: No honors, Hall of Fame adds for Cowboys as Super Bowl LIV arrives

The Cowboys didn’t add to their Hall of Fame class, nor add any hardware from NFL Honors, but they can never be shut out the news cycle. Free agency targets, DL draft guysm Travis Frederick getting better.

It’s Super Bowl Sunday, but the Dallas Cowboys are home, chilling, just like 30 other teams not named the Kansas City Chiefs or San Francisco 49ers. The NFL Honors took place Saturday night, but as expected no Cowboys walked away with any of the awards. The Pro Football Hall of Fame also announced their five nominees to join the centennial group announced last month, and no Cowboys were among the five selected, either.

Jimmy Johnson and Charlie Waters were part of the centennial class chosen in January, though, and could lead to Dallas getting a fifth exhibition game, the Hall of Fame Game to kick off the preseason slate. So with all that activity, one would think it’d be a quiet news day for the Cowboys, but it’s never quiet with Dallas. Is head coach Mike McCarthy giving stars the cold shoulder status quo, oversight or part of a plan? Who’s on the free agent circuit who may interest the Cowboys? Could center Travis Frederick be better than ever in 2020? All this and more in Sunday’s News and Notes.

2020 NFL Free Agency: Under-the-radar players:: Pro Football Focus

When it comes to NFL free agency in 2020, the Cowboys have plenty of their own in-house issues to solve first. They have to determine just how much they’re going to pay their franchise quarterback Dak Prescott. Amari Cooper’s deal is also at the forefront as well in order to try and keep Prescott’s number one wide receiver for the next few years. There are over 25 players on the roster that need to be figured out as we approach the new NFL calendar year in March.

Pro Football Focus collaborates with Over The Cap to break down some of the biggest under-the-radar free agents to be in 2020. They referenced PFF’s Free Agent Rankings page to determine some of the potential numbers that teams will have to spend to either keep or sign potential unrestricted free agents.

–DS

Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith has not heard back from Mike McCarthy yet:: Larry Brown Sports

Since becoming head coach, McCarthy has been quite busy. He has assembled a brand new coaching staff mixed with veteran leadership, all while keeping some key components from last season. Apparently one order of business not on his to-do list was introuduce himself to the team’s star linebacker.

Smith was a guest on the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast in which he expressed his admiration for the new head coach, but has yet to speak to him.

“I’m a fan of the game, so I know all about (Mike) McCarthy and know what he brings to the table. I’m excited to be in that locker room and facility with him, to really be able to learn from a guy who’s won. I left a message and I’m waiting to hear back from him. He’s a busy guy — he’s got a lot of things going on — we’re still getting all the staff and everything situated, and I’m really looking forward to this year,” Smith said.

–DS

NFL Draft 2020: Searching for disruptors & powerhouses at DT for Cowboys in this class:: Blogging The Boys

BTB has been taking a look as to what the Cowboys might need when it comes to the 2020 NFL Draft. They have already discussed and taken a look at potential safeties and cornerbacks that would fit new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s scheme.

Today, they take a look at some of the big boys upfront that will be able to stop the run and potentially force some ill-advised throws which could set up much-needed takeaways in 2020.

Defensive tackle is a position the Cowboys will strongly consider this year.

–DS

Cowboys Defensive Line Could be Headed for Major Changes:: NGSC Sports

The Cowboys have 15 unrestricted free agents on defense, with five being on the defensive front. With nearly 100 million in cap space for 2020, the Cowboys will have the means to keep plenty of players, but of course, no team keeps all of their free agents. It’s just a matter now of who is seen as valuable and who’s expendable.

— ML

Cowboys center Travis Fredrick is ready to expand his tool chest with the arrival of Joe Philbin:: Dallas Morning News

Frederick came back strong in 2019 after missing all of 2018 as he battled Guillian-Barre Syndrome. He made his fifth Pro Bowl and is a Man of the Year candidate thanks to his work with his “Blocking Out Hunger” foundation.

David Moore of the Dallas Morning News talks about how Fredrick has had a few conversations with new offensive line coach Joe Philbin and how he’s willing to take in new tools that could make him an even better player.

“I’m excited because whenever you get a new coach coming in, they have new tools to teach you,” Frederick said during a promotional appearance for Sleep Number. “When you’re trying to get a project done at home and you only have a limited set of tools, you might be able to get it done but it might not be the perfect tool for the job.

“You might be using pliers on a nut instead of the ratchet. There might be a more efficient way to be doing it or a better way to be doing it, but you’ve just been doing it a different way before, so the more tools that you have, the easier it is to grab the one you’re looking for.”

— ML

Dak Prescott calls being with Cowboys a ‘blessing’, says he’s not focused on playing anywhere else:: Fox News 

The Cowboys franchise quarterback is set to be an unrestricted free agent in March. Even with continued negotiations for a long-term deal causing some bit of frustration, Prescott is still all-in on being the signal-caller in Dallas for a long time to come.

— ML

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News: Johnson not making ROH anytime soon, Jerry’s Donald swoon

Dallas Cowboys news and notes for Friday, January 31st, 2020.

Dak Prescott’s contract is still looming over the Cowboys offseason. What franchise tag options does Dallas have and how might those each impact a long-term deal between the sides? Just one of the many coaching changes, Doug Nessmeier has been moved to Prescott’s quarterback coach. On the defensive side of the ball; how might Mike Nolan and Jim Tomsula help the Cowboys young defensive linemen take the next step?

Also, Jimmy Johnson still hasn’t been invited to the Cowboys Ring of Honor by Jerry Jones, and that’s a problem. The Cowboys owner additionally made news recently after discussing his past desire to draft Aaron Donald, something surely every owner wishes that they could have made possible. All this, and more. Here are the News and Notes.

Jimmy Johnson is still waiting for his phone to ring for Dallas Cowboys’ Ring of Honor :: Star-Telegram

Jimmy Johnson is slated to receive his gold jacket and bronze bust in August when he’s presented as the Hall of Fame coach that Dallas Cowboys fans always knew he was. He will also hold the distinction of being the only member of the Cowboys to make it to Canton without being in the Ring of Honor. It’s clear that owner Jerry Jones still holds a grudge against his first (and best) head coach. That they couldn’t get along is no secret, but the refusal to bury the hatchet fifteen years later is incredibly petty, and is something that needs to be rectified posthaste.

–TT

Bleacher Report’s Expert Consensus NFL Awards :: Bleacher Report

This is only tangentially related to America’s Team in that they have no award winners (though it is a small sample size). San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo edged out center Travis Frederick for comeback player of the year. Garoppolo will be playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday which drives the narrative that his season has been better than Frederick’s, though the All-Pro voters disagree. Garoppolo received no votes there while Frederick had two.

–TT

Jerry Jones to Aaron Donald: I Was Hurt At ’14 Draft :: TMZ

The Cowboys don’t have many regrets about drafting Zack Martin in the 2014 NFL draft. Martin’s been a first-team All-Pro on four occasions, the other two seasons he had to settle for second-team. He’s as good as they come at the guard position, but still, there’s at least one player selected ahead of him that owner Jerry Jones would have preferred: Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

–TT

Opinion: What NFL 100 isn’t commemorating: league’s 12-year ban on black players :: USA Today

In the NFL’s centennial season, they’re all about celebration. Unfortunately there’s some ugly skeletons hiding in the league’s closet. The most egregious of all is the freezing out of Black players from 1934-1946. A summary of the article doesn’t do it justice, so click through to read more about how some of the names that helped shaped the NFL and are celebrated so thoroughly likely did more harm than good, and how the sentiment from then has shaped the front office and head coaching hurdles still present in today’s game.

–TT

Two Cowboys defenders who could benefit the most from Mike Nolan’s new defense :: Blogging The Boys

With players like Robert Quinn, Maelik Collins, Kerry Hyder and Michael Bennett due for new contracts on the defensive line Dallas has to be prepared incase either player were to hit the open market. Learn more about how when some spots open up in Mike Nolan’s multiple 4-3 front, the Cowboys’ young defensive ends Armstrong and Jelks would have all the chance in the world to step into those roles.

–AH

Cowboys passing game coordinator Kris Richard could replace Joe Woods for the same position :: NinersNation

The Richard experiment didn’t go quite how the Cowboys thought it would. Once at the top of the game, the former Legion of Boom defensive coordinator was welcomed by Dallas fans with open arms. Two quick seasons later and both parties are going their separate ways.

Richard, a California native, is on the 49ers radar to potentially join their staff as the defensive passing game coordinator. The Cowboys have already filled his role of defensive backs coach by hiring Maurice Linguist and Al Harris.

 

–AH

Dak Prescott says he may skip Cowboys’ offseason workouts if tagged :: CowboysWire

A reoccurring theme in Dallas this offseason will be the discussion of Dak Prescott’s contract talks. Prescott, still just 26, is fresh off the best year of his career in most aspects and is facing his first potential free agency. Contract negotiations are proving to be increasingly tricky across the NFL, with holdouts becoming more popular than ever; look at Ezekiel Elliott just last season. A short term option many teams use is the franchise tag. Our own Ben Grimaldi dives into the possible outcomes of these scenarios.

–AH

Can Tomsula help unlock the mystery trapped inside an enigma that is Trysten Hill? :: CowboysWire

The last decade the Cowboys have drafted about as well as any team in the league. There are a few blemishes here and there, but the Cowboys drafted nine pro bowl players with their first round picks since 2010. While Trysten Hill was a secound rounder, not having a first round pick that year puts a higher value and higher expectations on Hill.

His rooike campaign was largely uneventful. That’s not uncommon though at a position (defensive line) that usually sees players take a few years to get acclimated to the size and strength of the NFL. Dallas new defensive line coach Jim Tomsula has made a habit of getting the most out of his players in his long NFL career. How will the addition of Tomsula help Trysten Hill reach his potential?

–AH

Nussmeier Excited For Chance To Work With Dak :: DallasCowboys.com‘

Doug Nussmeier is one of three holdovers from Jason Garrett’s coaching staff. Nussmeier,  the Cowboys tight ends coach each of the last two seasons, was a quarterbacks coach and/or offensive coordinator for the previous 17 seasons. With Jon Kitna out after one year as the Dallas quarterback coach, Nussmeier is excited to be back to his most familiar position.

–AH

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News: Randy Gregory may have way back thanks to Raiders, Witten explores options

Also, the Cowboys will keep terminology for Dak Prescott, Jamal Adams may stay with the Jets, and the Raiders’ move may impact NFL policy.

Say, say, say… Super Bowl Week means lots of talk leading up to the big game. And even though they’re not playing on Sunday, the Cowboys have been a hot topic among the media in Miami.

Jason Witten says he still wants to play, even if it’s not in Dallas. Dak Prescott will be saying many of the same things in the huddle in 2020. One of this year’s Super Bowl quarterbacks had great things to say about Tony Romo back when he entered the league. Jamal Adams says he’s planning on staying with the Jets. The Cowboys’ new secondary coach says he wants “ballhawks.” And an unlikely supporter is the latest to say that Drew Pearson’s exclusion from Canton is “a shame.”

Here’s what they all had to say, in this edition of News and Notes.

Jason Witten hopes to continue playing for Cowboys, but says ‘all options are on the table’ :: The Athletic

The 37-year-old tight end looked to many fans as if he had lost more than a few steps last season, but Jason Witten may not be quite ready to hang up his cleats and retire a second time. In fact, he sounds like someone gearing up for yet another season in pursuit of a Super Bowl… but will it be as a Dallas Cowboy?

“We’ll see how it plays out, but yeah, I’m putting myself in position to go play and evaluating what that looks like,” Witten is quoted as saying. “I hope so [it’s with the Cowboys]. But I realize I’m a free agent, too, in March. Any time a new staff comes together, I’ve played a long time, so I realize that may mean somewhere else, too. That’s just part of the business. I’ll continue to communicate and see where it unfolds.”

The future Hall of Famer says he’s had a good visit with new Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy and has been “in constant communication” with Jerry and Stephen Jones in the Dallas front office. But Witten’s longstanding relationship with new Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett bears monitoring and has already fueled speculation of a possible move to New York.

–TB

Dak Prescott: Mike McCarthy’s decision to keep Cowboys’ terminology the same is ‘huge’ :: USA Today

With so many changes on tap for 2020, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is relieved that one thing that will reportedly stay the same is the vocabulary he uses when calling plays in the huddle.

“It’s huge,” Prescott told Jori Epstein in Miami. “That’s big. I mean, that’s one of the biggest things when you talk about a quarterback, when you talk about leading an offense. Because if the terminology stays the same, that lessens that learning curve, that gap of, ‘I’ve got to learn that before I can teach it.’ Well, now I know that, so I can go straight to teaching.”

Click the link for more of what Prescott said, including his thoughts on what his teammates think of all the talk regrading his contract status with the team.

–TB

Cowboys have found gold (jackets) at No. 17 :: The Mothership

Could Dallas strike gold with the 17th pick in the upcoming draft? It’s happened before. Of the four previous times the club has made the selection in that spot, two of the players chosen have gone on to find themselves enshrined in Canton. Not a bad ratio.

Granted, Emmitt Smith and Mel Renfro leave pretty big shoes for an incoming rookie to fill. But the other two 17th-overall picks in club history were no slouches, either, as team staff writer Nick Eatman points out.

–TB

Patrick Mahomes: Growing up a Cowboys fan, to be compared to Tony Romo is ‘awesome’ :: Dallas Morning News (2017)

No self-respecting Cowboys fan is rooting for the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. But maybe you’re looking for extra incentive to be an honorary Chiefs fan for the day, like WFAA’s Mark Lane was.

In the 2017 Dallas Morning News piece Lane links to, quarterback Patrick Mahomes detailed his Cowboys fandom as a youngster growing up in Texas. Not yet selected by Kansas City at the time of the article, Mahomes was flattered by pre-draft comparisons likening him to Cowboys gunslinger Tony Romo.

“He wasn’t scared to pull the trigger,” Mahomes then said of the just-retired Romo on the Fox Sports 1 show Undisputed. “He wasn’t scared to make any throw on the football field. So just to get compared to him is awesome.”

–TB

2020 NFL Draft Digest No. 1: Searching for a solution to the Cowboys’ safety woes :: The Athletic

Bob Sturm kicks off his NFL draft work by taking a look at the position the Cowboys have ignored perhaps more than any other as of late: safety. In 2019, Dallas found themselves in the enviable position of being able to choose from Juan Thornhill, Nasir Adderley, and Taylor Rapp. They chose none of those players. Perhaps the new coaching staff has a different philosophy?

Sturm looks into five different safeties that will likely be gone by Day 2 of the draft. The head of the class is Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who lined up everywhere and, prior to his final college season, played safety.

–TT

New York Jets putting the kibosh on Jamal Adams to Cowboys trade speculation? :: Inside the Star

The sequel to Cowboy Nation’s favorite fantasy tale from last season may be getting the plug pulled while still in preproduction. After a long and public courtship that ultimately went nowhere in 2019, Dallas and Jets safety Jamal Adams may be on the outs once and for all.

Adams has taken to Twitter to reveal that he and the Jets have had “small discussions” about an extension that would keep him with Gang Green. The All-Pro safety went on to say that he “fully expect[s] to be extended this offseason” and that he wants to remain in New York.

Of course, a lot can happen between “small discussions” and actually spilling ink on a Jets contract, so drama-loving Cowboys fans may choose to keep their popcorn at the ready and hoping for a plot twist.

–TB

New Cowboys secondary coach Maurice Linguist wants ‘ballhawks’ at safety :: Blogging the Boys

The Cowboys ranked last in the league in interceptions last season. That’s going to change, if new secondary coach Maurice Linguist has anything to say about it. The Texas A&M hire plans to spend 2020 working mainly with the Dallas safeties, while another new staffer, former Green Bay Packer Al Harris (who had 21 picks over his NFL career), will focus on the team’s cornerbacks.

Linguist, in a video interview posted on the Cowboys’ website, says he wants “ballhawks” at the safety position. In a single answer about what he’s looking for, the 35-year-old Dallas native also used words like “attacking,” “disruptive,” and “aggressive.” All are phrases that may be unfamiliar to Cowboys fans when it comes to discussions of their defensive backs’ recent play.

–TB

Suspensions like Randy Gregory’s may become illegal :: Sport DFW

Defensive end Randy Gregory remains on indefinite suspension after his latest violation of the league’s substance abuse policy in February 2019. In April, the Cowboys extended the former second-round-pick’s contract through the 2020 season- mainly because they believe in his football potential, but also partly because they know the tide is turning when it comes to how society and the law view marijuana usage.

Reid Hanson lays out a theory- also citing ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio- that the league will perhaps have to change its view on the subject as well. The catalyst may well be the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas. Nevada state law prohibits companies from refusing to hire an employee based on a failed drug test. That law appears to now apply to the Raiders… and could eventually force the league to allow the other 31 teams to follow suit.

With the CBA currently being negotiated and reports concessions will be made in the testing and discipline areas (in exchange for a 17th game), things may be moving on multiple fronts that will allow NFL players to exist without marijuana testing or punishments.

–TB

Joe Theismann believes that Drew Pearson belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame :: Blogging the Boys

Joe Theismann is about the last guy one would expect to heap praise on a member of the Dallas Cowboys. But the Redskins legend said this week that he considers it “a shame Drew Pearson’s not in the Hall of Fame.”

That’s saying something, considering the Cowboys wideout torched Washington for 1,312 yards and seven touchdowns over his 21 career meetings with the Redskins. Most of those games featured Theismann at the helm throughout the mid- to late-1970s and early ’80s.

“He’s the only member of the All-Decade team that’s not in the Hall of Fame, which really is a travesty, ” Theismann continued. “It makes you look at the Hall of Fame and start to wonder why. Why and how can something like that happen?”

But Theismann’s support of Pearson runs deeper than even their storied NFL rivalry. Many fans may not realize that the two were actually high school teammates.

–TB

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New allegations detail Saints’ involvement in Catholic abuse crisis

The New Orleans Saints are involved in a lawsuit against the Catholic church, and new allegations suggest the team’s role was significant.

The New Orleans Saints recently were involved in a lawsuit against the local Roman Catholic diocese, which alleges the team actively helped cover up years-long systemic sexual abuse by clergy. Jim Mustian of the Associated Press reported Thursday that the lawyers representing abuse victims detailed the Saints’ role in the still-developing story.

“This goes beyond public relations,” accused the plaintiffs’ attorneys, “The Saints appear to have had a hand in determining which names should or should not have been included on the pedophile list.”

While the Saints have maintained that their role was limited to assisting with public relations work surrounding the allegations and lawsuit, these latest claims characterize hundreds of emails between the Saints organization and the church as helping to determine which alleged abusers’ names should be made public. Plaintiffs claim that multiple Saints staffers are involved, including Senior Vice President of Communications Greg Bensel. Whether Bensel acted on his own or under the instruction of team owner Gayle Benson is unclear; both are ardent supporters of the church and friends of Archbishop Gregory Aymond.

In 2018, the church released a list of 57 clergy credibly accused of abuse, but eight new names have since been added. The Associated Press report suggests at least 20 more clergy members should have been included. And that runs against the Saints’ own explanations of their role in the events.

These new allegations follow a Wednesday report from The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan that the NFL is not investigating the Saints for their involvement with the church regarding the lawsuit and the incidents that prompted it. The Saints are fighting in court to keep 200-plus emails exchanged between the team and the diocese private, arguing that the documents should not be made public so long as the trial remains private. Kaplan adds that the NFL does not plan on investigating the Saints unless those emails are made public and reveal actions that would violate the league’s personal conduct policy.

We’re early in this process, and this is very much a developing story. Check this space for updates in the days ahead.

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News: Jay Glazer says he helped talked Cowboys out of defensive HC hire

The Joneses were about to go a whole different direction before… Jay Glazer? Jason Witten talks Kobe… how to catch the 49ers.

It’s Super Bowl week which means plenty of people in the media will be chatting about all 32 NFL teams including the two playing in Sundays’ big game. Radio row has been buzzing just three days into one of the most popular sports media weeks of the year. NFL.com gives one piece of advice to each NFC team as to how to take down the San Francisco 49ers.

ESPN took a look at every team and named one player per squad who leveled up. Jason Witten shared a story on the late, great Kobe Bryant. Jimmy Johnson gives his reasoning as to why the Cowboys didn’t reach their goals in 2019. Fox‘s Jay Glazer dishes that he helped the Cowboys move away from a defensive search for a coach and shares great insight on Mike McCarthy. Here’s the news and notes.

One thing each NFC team can do to dethrone the 49ers in 2020 :: NFL.com

For the 30 clubs not prepping to play on Sunday, the rebuilding has already begun, with an eye on being their conference representative in Tampa on February 7, 2021. NFL writer Gregg Rosenthal takes a look at what each squad needs most critically to increase their odds; he says the Cowboys need to focus on their defensive line.

With Robert Quinn, Michael Bennett, Maliek Collins, Kerry Hyder, and Christian Covington all set to become free agents (and Tyrone Crawford no lock to return), there’s major work to do to improve this unit that “got pushed around in the running game too often last year.”

–TB

Players who leveled up for all 32 NFL teams in the 2019 season :: ESPN

The Cowboys as a group didn’t improve from 2018 to 2019, finishing with a worse record and missing the playoffs. But there were individual strides made by several players in upping their game.

In Dallas, nobody made more of a leap than Michael Gallup. The second-year wideout broke 1,100 yards on the season and combined with Amari Cooper to provide the team with their first 1,000-yard tandem since 2006. The truly exciting part for Cowboys fans? There are areas where Gallup can get even better in 2020.

–TB

Jason Witten shares Kobe Bryant story :: @realjasonwitten82 (Instagram)

Personal stories continue to spread from athletes, celebrities, and regular Joes about Lakers legend Kobe Bryant in the wake of his untimely passing. One you may have missed is from future Hall of Famer Jason Witten.

The Dallas tight end touchingly recalls how he met Bryant shortly after his 2018 retirement from football, and how all the basketball icon wanted to do was break down the nuts and bolts of Witten’s signature play, Y-Option.

View this post on Instagram

May 2018, a few weeks after my retirement speech, I see Kobe in NYC. He had seen the tape, and was instantly fascinated by the intricacies of the Y-Option Route. For next 30 minutes, we pull up the clip, and he asks question after question of the technique, the strategy, the mindset of every variation of the route, and how the defense would try and stop it. I told him how I had adopted a mantra of his over the years—you can’t cheat the muse— as a way to stay disciplined. Those mornings when you didn’t want to wake up, or get in the extra balls after practice. If my son wasn’t putting in the effort for a test at school I would tell him. You can’t cheat the muse. You can’t. And everything Kobe did in life, he set the standard. Kobe Bryant knew that the path to success in anything in life is not easy, and not for everyone. You might be able to slide by a day at practice, and get away with it. But, the muse would know. The muse always knows. As a father, and as a competitor. Few weeks later, I get a note from Kobe: I’m excited for the world to learn from you. Be in touch. KB I’ll never forget you Kobe, what a damn life. You never cheated the muse, and we are all better off because of your standard of excellence. RIP

A post shared by Jason Witten (@realjasonwitten82) on

Bryant’s “You can’t cheat the muse” sounds like a close relative to Witten’s “The secret’s in the dirt.” It’s little wonder that the two hit it off.

–TB

Jimmy Johnson said 2019 Dallas Cowboys didn’t have the inner drive to succeed :: Forth Worth Star Telegram

A lot of people will have voiced their opinions on what they thought about the 2019 Dallas Cowboys season over the coming weeks.  Some critique will be taken seriously and hold credibility and some not so much. However, when it comes to credibility, who better to ask about this year’s (8-8) season than former two-time Super Bowl winning head coach of the Cowboys, and new NFL Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmy Johnson.

Clarence Hill was able to ask Johnson his thoughts on the 2019 campaign. “I don’t know why it didn’t go better. I’ve watched them play a lot of times and they looked as good as anyone in the league, and they are very talented” Johnson started to explain.

Johnson continued to express that when the Cowboys faced adversity, that they would fall a little flat.

–DS

What stands out most about Mike McCarthy’s new offensive coaching staff ::: The Athletic

Jon Machota breaks down the brand new, revamped offensive coaching staff. Machota had the chance to speak with second-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, offensive line coach Joe Philbin and new wide receivers coach Adam Henry.

The 2019 offense lead the entire NFL by averaging 431.5 yards per game along with being sixth in scoring at 27 points per. New head coach Mike McCarthy was fairly confident in riding that momentum heading into 2020.

Each of these coaches have a relatively young group of players to work with and it will be determined who else will join this offense from a personnel standpoint via free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft.

–DS

You absolutely have to hear this story about Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy ::: Blogging The Boys

RJ Ochoa  sat down with Fox’s Jay Glazer on Wednesday in Miami as part of “Radio Row” for Super Bowl week.

Glazer was the one who broke both the Cowboys were moving on from Jason Garrett and replacing him with Mike McCarthy.

“Originally the Cowboys owners wanted a defensive coach because they wanted to keep the offensive staff. I’m like, don’t do that guys. And I talk to the Joneses about it. I said don’t do that. You get yourself in trouble that way. Get a leader of men. Get a guy who’s going to formulate the attitude of your team. This is who you want,” Glazer told Ochoa.

Glazer also retells a phenomenal story about who McCarthy is as a person.

 

–DS

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News: Prescott confident new deal will happen, Moore talks on making calls

Cowboys new for Jan. 28th, 2020

With almost a completely new coaching staff and a long list of free-agents, Cowboys fans are looking forward to the upcoming season, and rightfully so. However, there are many questions to be answered regarding on all sides of the ball in Dallas next season.

How could the defensive personnel change? Who will call defensive plays? And why type of influence will Mike McCarthy have on Kellen Moore’s offense? John Fassel is charged with improving a Cowboys special team group, and he’s ready and capable to do so. All this, and how a former Cowboys star is getting his coaching start at the college level. Here’s the News and Notes.

What can you expect from new Cowboys defense and the coaches who will lead it? :: The Athletic (pay wall)

New defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and the rest of the assistant coaching staff meet with reporters at the Star in Frisco on Monday. With basically half of the defensive starters set to be unrestricted free agents, there will be plenty of change in 2020.

–ML

Kellen Moore: “Collaborative” Effort On Offense :: Dallas Cowboys

When McCarthy was hired there was speculation whether he would keep the first-year play-caller or do it himself as he did during his days in Green Bay. However, he chose to retain Moore and has made it clear that the latter will call the plays as he did for the NFL’s top-ranked offense in 2019.

Moore had an interest from the University of Washington for their vacant offensive coordinator position but saw an “awesome opportunity” to work under McCarthy.

–ML

John Fassel ready to reinvent Cowboys forgotten phase, special teams :: Cowboys Wire

John Fassel has the seemingly tough task of turning around a special teams unit that was arguably the NFL’s worst in 2019. If anyone can make this happen it would be Fassel, though, who had 15 players named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week during his eight years with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams (2012-2019).

–ML

Former Cowboy Demarco Murray lands Sooner’s coaching gig :: CBS DFW

Demarco Murray, an Oklahoma University Alum, was recently hired by the Sooners as their running-back’s coach. Murray played 7 season in the NFL, including 4 with the Cowboys. Murray was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2014, which would go on to be his last year in Dallas.

– AH

Dallas Cowboys free agency primer: The skill positions :: Landry Hat

It’s hard to argue that the Dallas offense wasn’t successful in 2019. Dak Prescott shattered some of his previous career high stats and most games the Cowboys put up points with ease. Who all can the Cowboys re-sign? How does this impact each skill position free agency move the Cowboys can make?

– AH

Dak Prescott talks Mike McCarthy

NFLPA to meet today to discuss ongoing CBA talks :: Pro Football Talk

The CBA expires after next season, will the two sides be able to come to an agreement to avoid a shutdown?

Prescott has ‘confidence’ long-term deal will get done :: NFL.com

“I’ve got confidence something will get done,” Prescott told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. “We’ll just leave it there. Obviously being the Cowboys quarterback is second to none. There are very few positions in all of sports that are comparable to it. So when you put that in perspective, my mindset is to be in Dallas. And I’ve got the confidence in my team to get something done and the confidence in the Cowboys that we’ll be able to.”

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News: Cowboys hire assistant head coach who has never coached

There is optimism in the air over the last week for the Dallas Cowboys after finalizing more coaching staff positions, but there’s an interesting wrinkle in the latest hire… Rob Davis has never actually been a coach before. Adam Rank of NFL.com put …

There is optimism in the air over the last week for the Dallas Cowboys after finalizing more coaching staff positions, but there’s an interesting wrinkle in the latest hire… Rob Davis has never actually been a coach before.

Adam Rank of NFL.com put together an unsung hero list of the 2019 season. He chose one representative for each of the 32 NFL Teams. Find out why quarterback Dak Prescott was his choice and why RJ Ochoa of Blogging The Boys has a different take. For the first time since the 2018 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys have a first-round pick. Todd Archer of ESPN explains how this year, it will come with some sizzle. With the NFL Pro Bowl Sunday, Jaylon Smith embraces his first shot after quite the journey to get there. This is today’s News and Notes.

Cowboys hire Rob Davis as assistant head coach :: ESPN

There’s not much information in the snippet from Rob Demovsky, but the crux of this is that Davis is a former player, who spent time in the Green Bay front office before moving to private business, where he was senior director of people and culture for Pierce Manufacturing.

He’s never spent time actually on the field as a coach, which makes this the most interesting hire of all of McCarthy’s staff.

What an interesting look training camp will be in Oxnard.

Here’s a full listing of the Cowboys coaching staff as it stands now.

HC Mike McCarthy
Asst HC Rob Davis
OC Kellen Moore
DC Mike Nolan
Senior Defensive Asst George Edwards
ST John Fassel
Asst ST Matt Daniels
OL Joe Philbin
OL Asst Jeff Blasko
DL Jim Tomsula
DL Asst Leon Lett
QB Doug Nussmeier
RB Skip Peete
WR Coach Adam Henry
TE Coach Lunda Wells
LB Coach Scott McCurley
DB Coach Maurice Linguist
DB Coach Al Harris
Strength/Conditioning Markus Paul
Off. Quality Control Chase Haslett
Ddef. Quality
Cannon Matthews

NFL.com names Dak Prescott “unsung hero” of 2019 season :: Blogging The Boys

RJ Ochoa questions Adam Rank when he decided to list starting quarterback Dak Prescott as the Dallas Cowboys representative when it came to “unsung heroes” of the 2019 season.

The Cowboys relied heavily on Prescott’s production to be competitive this past year but Ochoa thinks when it comes to being unsung he would have considered right tackle La’el Collins or defensive end Robert Quinn as candidates who really contributed heavily with a little less spotlight. When you are the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, it’s pretty hard to not be the center of attention when it comes to being a huge factor in the teams success.

Cowboys have first-round pick this year (unlike last year), it’s sure to have some sizzle :: ESPN

Archer explains that the 2019 NFL Draft for the Dallas Cowboys wasn’t very appealing. This due in part to the fact that the Cowboys did not even have a first round pick because of the trade to acquire wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Oakland Raiders. Sure that worked out well but after the first round, the Cowboys missed on a few and hit on a few less. That can change quite easily being that they hold the No. 17 selection in the 2020 NFL draft.

Defensive tackle Tristen Hill was inactive for more games than he actually played in. Due to a torn pectoral muscle, the Cowboys missed their chance to see anything from offensive lineman Connor McGovern. In the fourth round the Cowboys drafted Tony Pollard who showed glimpses of hope that he can be a true contributor to the offense but after that, nothing to get too excited about.

This year, the Cowboys hold the 17th overall pick in the first round and can go multiple directions.

–DS

After long road to Pro Bowl, Jaylon Smith calls the game a “Blessing” :: Pro Football Talk

Many NFL players don’t take the Pro Bowl seriously. Smith told the Dallas Morning News he considered this game a blessing.

The first-time Pro Bowler embraces this game whole heartedly considering the story he’s lived just to get here. Smith missed his entire rookie campaign due to his horrific knee injury he suffered in his final game at Notre Dame. After battling back to full health, and having quite the productive season, Smith was chosen to participate in the 2020 Pro Bowl when Luke Kuechly dropped out of the game via early retirement.

–DS

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News: Vick thinks McCarthy will be boon for Prescott, more coaching hires

The Dallas Cowboys are nearing the completion of their 2020 coaching staff, as on Friday two more names were added to the ledger. Both names are familiar, but for different reasons, as one formerly worked with the Cowboys and the other having that …

The Dallas Cowboys are nearing the completion of their 2020 coaching staff, as on Friday two more names were added to the ledger.  Both names are familiar, but for different reasons, as one formerly worked with the Cowboys and the other having that all-too-familiar-NFL hiring practice of a familial ring to it.

Elsewhere, offseason talent acquisition continues to move more front and center, as a one of the well-known draft prognosticators weighs in on who the Cowboys should select in April’s draft, and a keen talent evaluator identifies a handful of lesser known names for Dallas to target in free agency. Finally, one of the league’s best playmakers, Michael Vick, weighs in on what he thinks new head coach Mike McCarthy will bring to Dak Prescott’s game. All this in today’s edition of News and Notes.

2020 Mock Draft 1.0: Mel Kiper’s Early first-round mock draft :: ESPN 

In Mel Kiper, Jr’s lastest mock draft the Cowboys snatched cornerback CJ Henderson out of the University of Florida.

Henderson was a two-time second-team All-SEC performer (2017, 2018) as well as receiving a first-team All-SEC nod in 2019. At 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds, he has the prototypical size one wants in a corner and has very good ball skills with six career interceptions and 20 pass break-ups.

Film room: 3 under-the-radar free agents the Cowboys should target :: Dallas Morning News

John Owning checks in with his latest film analysis installment, this time checking in on some lesser known entities who could join Dallas this offsesaon as free agents.

His focus has a definitive defensive feel to it, as he highlights two defensive tackles and a safety, Jayron Kearse.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Kearse is a giant safety who does his best work in and around the box. Kearse’s size makes him a mismatch whenever blocked by a wide receiver, which enables him to be extremely effective in run support. He’s a reliable tackler (just four career missed tackles, per PFF) and possesses the quickness to knife into the backfield to make splash plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Check out what else he has to say as well as his two line targets.

Michael Vick believes Mike McCarthy may be ‘one of the best things’ to happen to Dak Prescott :: DMN

The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback likes the Cowboys’ hire  and believes McCarthy could work wonders for Prescott. During Pro Bowl practice on Thursday, Vick had this to say regarding this recent marriage between coach and signal-caller.

“I think Dak is solid, man,” Vick said Thursday. “I love what Dak is doing. I think to have a new coach come in the building right now is probably one of the best things that could happen to him, especially getting Mike McCarthy.

“He’s an offensive genius, an offensive guru who knows the game and he will help Dak out tremendously, and the Cowboys will look different next year.”

Sports Sturm’s Friday Cowboys mailbag: Byron Jones’s future, DeMarcus Lawrence’s present, and draft talk :: The Athletic

Bob Sturm over at The Athletic hits a ton of topics as he answers reader questions. In case you don’t have a subscription, here are some highlights:

Despite his lack of interceptions, Byron Jones may continue to be a better option for the Cowboys than 2020’s draftable options. A 3-year/$42 million deal (like the one Marcus Peters got) may be a price worth paying for Jones’s skills.

Staying in the secondary, keep an eye on University of Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in case the Cowboys don’t land the coveted Grant Delpit out of LSU.

Don’t get suckered looking at sack totals in a vacuum and deducing that DeMarcus Lawrence is no better than Taco Charlton. The Cowboys need more sacks out of Lawrence in 2020, to be sure, but saying the two players are comparable because both logged five sacks in 2019 is just naive.

–TB

Ranking 30 Cowboys free agent decisions in 2020 :: Cowboys Wire

Plenty of personnel decisions to be made by the new coaching staff in Dallas over the next weeks and months. Cowboys Wire helpfully lists all 30 free agents and orders them for Mike McCarthy, from the lowest priority to it’s-Dak-freaking-Prescott-quit-screwing-around-and-sign-him.

–TB

Amari Cooper ‘not surprised’ by sweeping coaching changes, wants back in Dallas :: Cowboys Wire

It’s not always obvious by the solemn look that’s normally on his face, but wide receiver Amari Cooper is loving it in Dallas, and he wants to stay.

The four-time Pro Bowler spoke about the prospect of free agency this week at the league’s all-star festivities in Orlando. “I’m just taking it day by day, ” Cooper said. “I’m not anxious, I’m not apprehensive. I’m just living life.”

The Alabama product says that an extra $1 million or $2 million in his next contract isn’t as important to him as being in the right environment. Mike McCarthy will be Cooper’s fourth head coach in a six-year career; maybe he’ll also prove to furnish “the right environment” for a sixth championship in Dallas.

–TB

Ex-Cowboys WR Dez Bryant hints at 3 ‘dream’ NFL teams he’d like to sign with :: Bleacher Report

Dez Bryant’s job hunt continues to play out on social media. After the former Cowboys receiver took to Twitter early in the week to pitch his return to Dallas, Bryant followed up on Thursday with a post subtly calling out two other organizations he’d enjoy suiting up for. Both are teams he has history with.

It’s assumed that the “black and gold” refers to the New Orleans Saints. Bryant signed with the Saints during the 2018 season, but tore an Achilles tendon before playing in a single game with the club. The “black and purple” must mean the Baltimore Ravens. Prior to his two-day stint with New Orleans, Bryant had reportedly received an offer from the Ravens, which he turned down… just before quarterback Lamar Jackson exploded on the scene in Baltimore.

–TB

From ‘Seeing ghosts’ to ‘Mozart’s paintings’: These are the best quotes of the NFL season :: ESPN

It was a season of soundbites in the NFL. Press conferences, in-game field-mic captures, and off-the-cuff zingers provided fans with a wealth of one-liners and countless must-hear moments throughout the 2019 campaign.

Among the gems in this compilation are two Cowboys quotes. First, Jerry Jones’s “Zeke Who?” quip that was hilarious at first, then maybe not funny at all, and finally ended up on an official T-shirt in the team pro shop.

Dak Prescott makes the list, too, for reminding teammates that spicy chicken nuggets had indeed returned to the Wendy’s menu… while in the huddle against Miami in Week 3.

–TB

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Saints issue statement regarding involvement with Catholic abuse scandal

The New Orleans Saints released a statement following an Associated Press report regarding their involvement in a Catholic abuse lawsuit.

A report from the Associated Press revealed that the New Orleans Saints are involved in an ongoing lawsuit against the local Catholic archdiocese, in which two dozen men have accused the church in being complicit in systemic abuse over past decades. The Saints’ role in court proceedings lies in 200-plus emails exchanged between team personnel and members of the archdiocese, including correspondence with Senior Vice President of Communications Greg Bensel.

Hours after this first AP report, the Saints released their own statement on what’s going on, characterizing their message to the archdiocese as an offering of full transparency and cooperation with law enforcement. Specifically, their core message read, “The advice was simple and never wavering. Be direct, open and fully transparent, while making sure that all law enforcement agencies were alerted.”

We’re just now getting very early insight into what will be a lengthy legal process, so the contents of the documents the Saints are trying to prevent from being made public is unclear. It’s too soon to speculate about what impact — if any — this will make on the organization at large, whether it means staffing changes, potential discipline per the NFL personal conduct policy, or Gayle Benson’s ownership of the team. We just don’t have enough facts to guess right now, and neither does anyone else. So check this space for updates in the near future.

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