The Cowboys’ new tight end is ready to step up and show the lessons learned under a recently-departed legend. And a former superstar receiver is ready to step up and show that he’s not quite done building his legend yet… but a budding talent at the position may be ready to step up and steal some of the spotlight.
That’s a lot of stepping up. We’ll also take a step back to look at why the Raiders took a chance on Jason Witten, relive the final comeback in the career of Captain America, and wonder what the 2020 season might look like in empty stadiums. Plus, an energized Mike McCarthy is ready to get back to work. So are Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory, though they’ll all have to wait a while longer. That and more is ahead in this edition of Cowboys News and Notes.
Blake Jarwin eager to show what he learned in Jason Witten’s shadow :: ESPN
The fourth-year tight end isn’t allowed in the team facility, so he’s working on his game using decidedly old-school methods. And he talks about his old-school mindset to the starting role, one he learned from the 16-year veteran he just replaced.
Raiders’ Mike Mayock explains decision to sign Jason Witten, but final stint with Cowboys casts some doubt :: CBS Sports
As the Raiders look to create a new team culture in the Las Vegas desert, their GM describes their newly-signed 37-year-old tight end as “the quintessential culture guy.” But given Witten’s decline in Dallas over his last four seasons, what he’ll bring to the actual playing field for the silver and black falls into more of a gray area.
Is ex-Cowboy Dez Bryant ready to make his NFL comeback? The trainer of star wide receivers thinks so :: Dallas Morning News
David Robinson has been training wide receivers for 15 years. Robinson talks about how Dez Bryant is different these days and says he’s “about 80-90 percent where he needs to be” for a return to the NFL.
The Cowboys have done a virtual interview with speedy Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs, per source. So add him to the list of options at 17.
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) April 14, 2020
Reinstatement delayed: Cowboys won’t know Gregory, Smith fate pre-draft :: Cowboys Wire
Dallas could be fielding a new version of the Doomsday defense if Randy Gregory and Aldon Smith are both reinstated by the league, as the club expects. But it hasn’t happened yet, and it won’t happen before draft weekend. That uncertainty may color the team’s decisions once they find themselves on the clock.
Why a trade for All-Pro safety Jamal Adams suddenly makes sense for the Dallas Cowboys :: Blogging the Boys
This, of course, is well-covered ground. But the unrealistic pipe dream from last season is gaining traction as a viable option that makes a ton of sense.
Mike McCarthy rejuvenated in return to coaching with Cowboys :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
He spent his off-year working from home, getting ready for a coaching comeback. Now the new Cowboys skipper is having to work from home again due to coronavirus restrictions, but Mike McCarthy says his mind “is flying 100 miles an hour” as he prepares for the upcoming season.
Report: Playing in empty stadiums is a possibility for NFL’s 2020 season :: Cowboys Wire
The league has reportedly been working on contingency plans for playing on this fall during the COVID-19 pandemic, although it could mean a shortened season, sequestering teams in hotels, or even playing in empty stadiums.
Doc of the Day: Roger Staubach’s Last Rally :: The Mothership
In what turned out to be his final NFL win, Captain Comeback lived up to his nickname with a pair of touchdown passes in the final five minutes to stun the Redskins in the 1979 regular season finale. Enjoy this mini-movie exploring what Staubach called “absolutely the most thrilling sixty minutes I ever spent on a football field.”
Speaking of quarterback news, we now know the #Cowboys have spoken to at least 2 who are slated to go on the 2nd and 3rd days of this year's NFL Draft. This is more likely due diligence given backup QB Cooper Rush is returning on a 1 year deal pic.twitter.com/YuQhhI01HM
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) April 15, 2020
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