The NFL preseason has never had so much hype. After scrapping the annual Hall of Fame Game between the Cowboys and Steelers, the league announced it planned to call off two games from every team’s summer schedule on Wednesday. But as of Wednesday night, the player’s union had reportedly not agreed to that yet, and was even calling into question whether there should be any preseason games at all in 2020. The exhibition games no one ever cares about are suddenly the top story in the sport.
Also worth noting in Cowboys Nation are looks at the Dallas roster in terms of experience, as well as what they could steal from having watched another club’s recent successes. There’s a deep dive into sack stats and how O-line play and QB skills both factor in. We’ve got video of Cowboys rookies showing off their moves, and a preview of several compelling camp battles at certain key positions. 49ers fans are reliving the day they denied the Dallas dynasty, but Cowboys fans are tallying up the total wins to determine an all-time division leader. Here are your News and Notes for July 1.
NFLPA has not signed off on shortened preseason :: NFL.com
Just hours after word leaked that the league would drop two preseason games for each team from the preseason schedule, NFL Network’s Mike Garofalo and Tom Pelissero report that the Players Association has not come to any decision on the move. In fact, “there are some within union leadership who continue to question whether it’s a smart move to play any preseason games at all.”
Cowboys lose 2 preseason games to Covid-19, NFL alters schedule :: Cowboys Wire
Pray they don’t alter it further. The Cowboys are now down a total of three (of a scheduled five) preseason games, though one was even more meaningless than the rest.
One issue with the two-game preseason slate from players’ perspective: Some could have just 23 days from report date to first preseason games. Not much of a ramp-up. Then there’s the exposure risk in games that don’t count in the standings. A lot to discuss over next couple days.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 1, 2020
Is This Mike McCarthy’s Most Experienced Team? :: The Mothership
When thinking of experienced teams, the default is to focus on the quarterback. Interestingly enough, scribe Rob Phillips points out that only 12 quarterbacks in the current NFL have more starting experience than Dak Prescott. Time flies.
Ultimate all-time Dallas Cowboys rosters: Bob Sturm breaks down his draft :: The Athletic
Sturm fires back at Jon Machota and drafts basically the entirety of the 90’s dynasty that won three Super Bowls in four years. It’s a sound strategy, to be honest.
Under the CBA, the NFL may elect to hold a supplemental draft each year. The matter was discussed with the NFL Management Council Executive Committee, and in light of current conditions, the decision was made not to hold one.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 1, 2020
Reliving the 49ers vs. Cowboys NFC Championship games from the ‘90s :: Niners Nation
The 49ers-centric SB Nation blog does a trip down memory lane with one of the greatest rivalries the sport had to offer. Unsurprisingly, they focus on the 1994 NFC Championship- where the Cowboys spotted San Francisco 21 points yet still managed to make the game close late- instead of the previous two losses. There’s no accounting for taste.
Prescott, not Cowboys’ vaunted OL, responsible for big-play development :: Cowboys Wire
Is Dak Prescott’s ability to stay alive for long-developing plays a product of the usually-stellar offensive line in front of him… or his own athletic skills at the position? Our Tony Thompson dives in to the stats.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb looks pretty good. pic.twitter.com/HRiSiONtTt
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) July 1, 2020
The Dallas Cowboys drafted cornerback Trevon Diggs in the second round.
He looks pretty good. pic.twitter.com/hg9hpfcFao
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) July 1, 2020
Some teams are thinking about game-day travel in 2020 :: ProFootballTalk
This is pure speculation at this point, and for some teams it seems nearly impossible. It’s unclear how players would have to deplane after a long flight and start playing almost immediately.
Four Cowboys training camp battles to keep an eye on :: Blogging the Boys
Look for veteran Joe Thomas and promising second-year man Luke Gifford to duke it out on the linebacker depth chart. Darian Thompson and Donovan Wilson will compete in the secondary. Trysten Hill looks to prove his doubters wrong as he battles rookie Neville Gallimore along the defensive line. And Joe Looney gets competition from newbie center Tyler Biadasz.
Since all 4 NFC East teams have been in the league, guess which team has the most wins? And it's not even close. pic.twitter.com/gR9oIun8c7
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) July 1, 2020
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