Tag: Greg Zuerlein

News: Cowboys camp updates even as sports boycotts threaten NFL

Training camp impressions and news on the annual team scrimmage even as boycotts in other leagues call the NFL’s response into question.

Wednesday began as an off day for the Cowboys and ended as one of the more remarkable days in sports history. Sparked by the Milwaukee Bucks’ boycott of their Game 5 tilt against the Orlando Magic, the NBA scrapped all of the evening’s playoff action. Some MLB teams, MLS, and the WNBA joined in solidarity, announcing stoppages of their own in response to police brutality, racial injustice, and the recent shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. And just like that, American sports deservedly took a backseat once again.

How Wednesday night’s stance by so many athletes might continue and how it may eventually affect the NFL – and specifically for those hitting up this site, the Cowboys – is anyone’s guess. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll alluded to possible boycotts by an NFL squad just two weeks out from opening night. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, already under fire for seeming to waffle on how he’ll treat player protests, will undoubtedly face questions about the chances of boycotted games the next time he’s in front of a microphone.

There are obviously much more important topics du jour than who’s done what at training camp and who’s poised for a big 2020 season on the football field. But there was that, too. Here are the News and Notes.

Pete Carroll on players possibly refusing to take the field over social justice issues: ‘Anything’s possible’ :: ProFootballTalk

Following a mock game before which several Seattle players sat during the national anthem, the Seahawks coach discussed the shooting of Jacob Blake and acknowledged that 2020 is “the season of protesting.” With the Detroit Lions shutting down their practice on Tuesday and other sports leagues experiencing boycotts of Wednesday contests, Carroll’s comments indicate that a similar response by an NFL squad- maybe even on an upcoming gameday- is a distinct possibility.

Three bold predictions for Cowboys in 2020: Dak Prescott takes home MVP honors, Dallas ends Super Bowl drought :: CBS Sports

Patrik Walker of CBS Sports lays out not one, not two, but three lofty predictions for the 2020 Dallas Cowboys.

Risers and fallers: CeeDee Lamb, Greg Zuerlein among Cowboys impressing in camp :: The Athletic

With fewer practice sessions this year, players have a limited window in which to shine for the coaching staff. Jon Machota names five players who have impressed during training camp, and five players who haven’t done as much to help themselves.

Cowboys annual Blue-White scrimmage set for Sunday in front of no fans at AT&T :: Cowboys Wire

The fan-favorite event will be played in the team’s empty home stadium. Offense will take on defense this Sunday, presumably to be streamed to fans as the only opportunity to watch the team in real time before the Week 1 season opener.

Fighting the Cowboys training camp hype is hard :: Blogging The Boys

CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs, and several other young players are having good training camps so far, making it hard not to be overly excited about the 2020 edition of the Dallas Cowboys.

One-gap, two-gap, he’s back for more sacks: Cowboys’ Lawrence talks DL change :: Cowboys Wire

There’s been a ton of turnover along the defensive front in Dallas this offseason. But opposing offenses would be wise not to forget that DeMarcus Lawrence is still the unit’s centerpiece. “I’ll give you something very interesting to look at this whole season,” the two-time Pro Bowler says.

5 interesting developments from Cowboys training camp: Pair of D-linemen among top stories so far :: Dallas Morning News

John Owning discusses how Jaylon Smith is flourishing in coverage, how Trysten Hill is shedding the “bust” label, and how Aldon Smith doesn’t appear to have lost a step.

Xavier Woods not fazed by Earl Thomas talk :: The Mothership

Safety Xavier Woods is one of the multiple young defensive backs on this Cowboys team capable of having a breakout year. Woods wasn’t pleased to hear that the Cowboys might acquire Earl Thomas, but he’s using the whispers as motivation.

McCoy taught Gallimore to ‘Trust the process’ :: The Mothership

Gerald McCoy wasn’t around his new Cowboys teammates for very long before a quad injury ruined his season. But it was long enough to make a lasting impact on rookie and fellow defensive lineman Neville Gallimore.

Top 3 NFL wide receivers by route: Michael Thomas reigns :: NFL.com

Nick Shook issues rankings on who’s the best in the league at each of eight different receiver routes. Michael Gallup earns accolades for his “in route” work, while Amari Cooper is highlighted for the slant route.

Stephen A. implores Jerry Jones to pick a side on anthem kneeling :: ESPN

Love him or loathe him, Stephen A. Smith always comes with his two cents, and the volume is always turned up to ten. On Wednesday, he aimed his soapbox squarely at the most visible and outspoken owner in the NFL.

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Cowboys News: Championship dreams made of special teams, defensive schemes

The Cowboys new additions to the roster have certainly stood out, and Mike McCarthy has only one goal and it’s to win the Super Bowl.

Mike McCarthy has yet to coach a game in Dallas, but the former Super Bowl winning coach already has his eyes set on achieving the ultimate goal again. The Cowboys offense should pick up where they left off last year, especially if new offensive line coach Joe Philbin can find the right combination up front. CeeDee Lamb has done nothing but electrify at his first practices, and he’s seemingly the fourth option on this explosive Cowboys offesnse.

The Dallas defense has more questions to answer than the offense. With defensive coordinator Mike Nolan fresh scheme, and a number of additions on that side of the ball, there is real optimisthe defense can be good enough to make the Cowboys dream a reality. Veteran defensive backs Daryl Worley and Anthony Brown will be important for a young secondary. Aldon Smith and Everson Griffen can turn a Dallas weakness, the pass rush, into a real strength.

Zuerlein expected to be ‘one of the top kickers’ again after 2019 injury :: Cowboys Wire

There is high praise and hype for “Greg the Leg” coming into 2020. New special teams coach John “Bones” Fassel is optimistic that Zuerlein will return to form.

Cowboys camp 2020: DeMarcus Lawrence, ‘monster’ Aldon Smith leading way for revamped, unpredictable defense :: CBS Sports

With new defensive cordinator Mike Nolan the Dallas Cowboys defense projects to be more versatile and less predictable. Despite the loss of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, the Cowboys still have the personnel to employ, and succeed in Nolan’s new, turnover-focused, scheme.

Anthony Brown went from FA afterthought to pushing for starting CB snaps :: Cowboys Wire

Cowboys Wire’s player profiles turn the spotlight on cornerback Anthony Brown. Brown is ready to make an impact under the leadership of a new regime.

Aldon Smith’s return appears to be everything Cowboys hoped :: Cowboys Wire

Head coach Mike McCarthy is impressed thus far with the early days of training camp for Aldon Smith. Mentally, physically and emotionally, he’s off to a great start.

McCarthy: Cowboys are ‘in this to win a championship’ :: Cowboys Wire

Mike McCarthy was recently asked if the Cowboys had Super Bow-or-bust aspirations, and McCarthy made it very clear that Dallas has their eyes set on winning it all. “We’re in this to win a championship. Make no bones about it,” the new Cowboys head coach said.

Camp Stars: Veteran CB Stands Out With Big Day :: The Mothership

Cowboys staff writers pick a player on each side of the ball that has made a positive impression through six days of camp. Newly-signed defensive back Daryl Worley has caught just about everyone’s attention.

Cowboys offensive line coach Joe Philbin will have his hands full in 2020 :: Blogging The Boys

On paper the Cowboys still have one of the best offensives lines in the league. But the game isn’t played on paper, and injuries are a real thing. If the season was to start today both La’el Collins and Tyron Smith might not be able to suit up. Good thing for the Cowboys is that new offensive line coach Joe Philbin has seen it all in his 36 years of coaching football.

The Old 97’s’ new album: Why Dallas Cowboys legend Roger Staubach is on the cover :: Rolling Stone

The alt-country band from Dallas looked to local and numerically-appropriate inspiration for the cover art of their latest album, entitled Twelfth. The Cowboys legend not only gave his permission (his kids are fans of the band), but he even personally went to the league and team owner Jerry Jones to help secure the photo rights.

Sean Lee’s most recent injury traces back to Cowboys S&C phase :: Cowboys Wire

Few players have consistently battled injuries in their career as much as Sean Lee. The former All-Pro has been limited through the beginning of camp, and the limiting injury can be traced back to strength and conditioning this summer. Learn more about Lee’s status weeks before the season begins.

Mailbag: Who’s Winning More, The WRs Or DBs? :: The Mothership

How are the DBs in Dallas holding up against all the offensive talent? Could Connor Williams play tackle if the injuries at the position continue to exist? Cowboys writers  David Helman & Rob Phillips

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Cowboys News: Zeke’s COVID fallout, Lamb and Cooper run routes, Larry Allen made guys sit out

Also in Cowboys news, a surprising game-by-game prediction for 2020, hypothetical trade targets, and a look at second-chance players.

Slow news day? Never in Cowboys Nation. The revelation of Ezekiel Elliott’s COVID-19 diagnosis is still front and center, possibly casting the league’s best-laid plans for a full 2020 season in jeopardy.

Elsewhere, more buzz from this week’s naming of the “all-decade team,” more eager anticipation of CeeDee Lamb’s Dallas debut, and more trade talk (albeit purely hypothetical) regarding Jamal Adams. Plus, we’re looking at the regular season schedule game-by-game, the Cowboys roster in terms of positional battles, and how Amari Cooper does what he does… with breakdown from the birthday boy himself. All that and more- including a history lesson about a forgotten football pioneer, and a story about how one Cowboys Hall of Famer caused a rash of phantom illnesses for his opponents- make up the Wednesday edition of News and Notes.

Cowboys news: Ezekiel Elliott’s diagnosis re-focuses the issues for the 2020 season :: Blogging the Boys

With Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott testing positive for COVID-19, the NFL is being forced to reevaluate all plans heading into 2020.

NFL all-decade: Best player on each NFC East team, every position :: ESPN

While several Cowboys were named to The WorldWide Leader’s “all-decade” squad, only one can earn the title of Best Cowboys Player of 2010-2019. Tyron Smith helped Dallas “change their draft thought process with his success,” and “an argument can be made that he is on his way” to a bronze bust in Canton.

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb will lead opponents to slaughter :: Cowboys Wire

Our player profiles continue with an in-depth look at the team’s first-round draft pick, the explosive wideout who will almost certainly “be the foundation of the Cowboys offense in a short period of time.”

Dallas Cowboys: 6 matchups to look forward to in 2020 :: The Landry Hat

The Cowboys will have plenty of interesting one-on-one battles on their roster this season. Lucas Mascherin of The Landry Hat breaks down six of the best.

Film room: Exploring 3 ‘fantasy’ player-for-player trades for the Cowboys, including a deal involving Jamal Adams :: Dallas Morning News

John Owning gets hypothetical (with help from the Twitterverse) and looks at a trio of possible one-for-one swaps. How would you feel about Trysten Hill for Raiders tight end Foster Moreau? Jourdan Lewis for Bengals defensive end Carl Lawson? How about La’el Collins for Jets safety Jamal Adams? Owning would bite on just two of them…

Mailbag: Are people forgetting about Zuerlein? :: The Mothership

Don’t be shocked if the veteran kicker (who’s reuniting with his longtime special teams coordinator) ends being the top free-agency upgrade of 2020. “Zuerlein’s numbers dipped last year,” notes staff writer David Helman, “but he was ridiculously reliable for seven years before that. And he was playing through injuries for most of 2019 – a fact of which I’m sure John Fassel is very aware.”

105.3 Fan ‘Nosebleed Seats’ show: Jerry’s silence, Crayton pulling up :: Cowboys Wire

Our own K.D. Drummond covers all the bases in this radio chat, ranging from the recent Romo-versus-Eli debate to COVID-19 and how it may (or may not) have reset expectations for Mike McCarthy’s first year on the Dallas sidelines.

Cowboys Assistant George Edwards To Participate in NFL Coaching Summit :: Inside The Star

Senior defensive assistant coach George Edwards will participate in a virtual quarterback coaching summit hosted by the NFL and the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Glazer’s NFL offseason mailbag: Will Josh Allen lead the Bills to the playoffs? :: The Athletic

Scroll past the Buffalo forecast, and there are three Cowboys items of interest from the NFL insider. One, Glazer says the Dallas front office will “absolutely not” let things with quarterback Dak Prescott reach the holdout stage. Two, he thinks the Cowboys will be “a strong contender” this year. And three, he shares a few cool stories about Larry Allen, including how opposing defensive tackles routinely came down with a mysterious illness the very week they were set to square off against the massive Cowboys guard.

Adam Rank’s 2020 record prediction for Cowboys :: NFL.com

Going one game at a time, the network writer sees Dallas starting slow at 1-2, but finishing very strong (including a late-December shocker) to wrap up the NFC East title and claim the conference’s No. 2 postseason seed with a 12-4 record.

Has giving out so many second chances been worth it for the Dallas Cowboys? :: The Athletic

Jon Machota looks at Jerry Jones’s proclivity for taking on risky reclamation projects, from Alonzo Spellman and Adam “Pacman” Jones to Terrell Owens and Charles Haley. Some have worked out; others have not. It remains to be seen which category Aldon Smith will fall into.

How to run the perfect routes with Cowboys WR Amari Cooper :: Touchdown Wire

In an NFL Game Pass Film Session, Kurt Warner and Brian Baldinger sit down with the four-time Pro Bowler for a clinical breakdown of how the wideout technician handles his business- both physically and mentally- on gameday.

NFL pioneer Fritz Pollard’s life story more relevant than ever :: NFL.com

There’s no direct Cowboys connection per se, but the story of one of the NFL’s first Black players- and its first Black coach- is a fascinating and important chapter that fans of every team should know about. Check out this preview of the NFL:360 deep-dive into the groundbreaking life and career of Fritz Pollard.

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News: Cowboys consider QB in 2020 draft, Jerry talks Jamal Adams

The final 2020 mock drafts, a flashback to the Johnny Manziel-to-Dallas near miss, and the trade value chart started by Jimmy Johnson.

NFL Draft Eve brought no shortage of eleventh-hour revelations and rumblings in Cowboys Nation. But it is the final opportunity for all the mock drafters to call their shots. What Jerry Jones and Company will do with the their seven picks is anybody’s guess, but there’s intel that suggests all of it is fair game, from secondary to linebacker… to, even, quarterback.

From ironing out last-minute technical issues to the all-important last press conference that may reveal the front office’s strategy, the Cowboys’ draft table is basically set. The club even cleared two more places with a pair of day-before cuts. Flashback to the draft that almost brought Johnny Football to Big D, and check out the pricing system that revolutionized how every team now approaches draft-pick trades, courtesy of Jimmy Johnson. And after all that draft-day appetite-whetting, find out why one business icon ultimately thinks the NFL won’t be getting down to business on the field any time soon.

Cowboys open to drafting quarterback in 2020, but it would have nothing to do with Dak Prescott :: CBS Sports

It’s no secret that the Cowboys have had communications with quarterback Jalen Hurts ahead of the the 2020 NFL Draft. Patrik Walker breaks down how this has nothing to do with QB1… and everything to do with QB2.

Cowboys pre-draft press conference glitchy, but telling :: Cowboys Wire

The annual pre-draft press conference with the Dallas Cowboys front office is usually an important sneak peek behind the curtain. Find out their philosophy and thoughts headed into the 2020 NFL Draft, including Jerry Jones’s own take on the chances of trading the team’s first-round pick for a veteran free agent.

Film room: 4 best-case scenarios for the Dallas Cowboys in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL draft :: The Dallas Morning News

John Owning takes a very deep look into some of the possible bigger scores of the first round for the Cowboys. Trade back? Premier corner? Multiple possibilities will be available to Dallas at 17.

Updates: Cowboys waive kicker Vizcaino :: The Mothership

And then there were two. The team has waived Tristan Vizcaino, who was signed to a futures deal in January. Since then, the club has signed veteran Greg Zuerlein and retained the services of Kai Forbath, setting up a two-man positional battle once camp begins.

Final 2020 Dallas Cowboys 7-round Mock Draft Prediction :: Inside The Star

The experts are making their final predictions for the 2020 NFL Draft and the Cowboys. Here, Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun is selected with pick number 17.

Cowboys to need return-man solution in draft after releasing WR :: Cowboys Wire

The Dallas wide receiver room is a little less populated with the club cutting Lance Lenoir. The 2017 undrafted free agent never really caught on with the Cowboys, with special teams play seeming to offer his most likely route to a gameday role. Clearly, the front office is now looking elsewhere for 2020.

NFL Draft trade value chart: What each 2020 pick is worth based on the Jimmy Johnson model :: Sporting News

It was revolutionary when the Cowboys coach came up with the idea, but now every team in the league uses (more or less) his system of assigning numerical values- price tags, almost- to draft picks. Here’s the cheat sheet for what every pick in 2020’s draft is worth, making putting together (or grading) trades a matter of basic math.

Cowboys feel like they have tackled the NFL draft challenges head-on :: ESPN

Amidst a world in flux, the Cowboys have adjusted admirably and taken care of plenty of needs headed into draft weekend. Take a look back at some of the big moves made, along with final preparations for the 2020 Draft.

Unforgettable NFL draft experiences, from Manning to Manziel :: NFL.com

NFL.com’s Judy Battista recounts the tense moments in 2014’s green room as Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel waited for his name to be called. Jerry Jones had wanted him at 16, and, depending on the version of the story, it took son Stephen actually snatching the card out of his father’s hand for the club to select Zack Martin instead.

B/R Staff’s Bold Predictions for 2020 NFL Draft :: Bleacher Report

Everybody likes predictions. But everybody loves bold predictions! Bleacher Report calls their shots: Jordan Love will go before Justin Herbert, Derek Carr will become a draft day trade victim, and wide receiver Tee Higgins will be the steal of the draft.

Bill Gates explains why most sports are going to be gone a lot longer than fans realize :: Insider

This weekend’s draft will be a nice appetizer, but fans may be waiting a while for the main meal when it comes to the NFL season. Microsoft’s co-founder says sporting events will be the last of the societal norms to return due to the high risk of close-range contagion.

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Cowboys were among oldest teams in 2019, but with a special catch

The 2019 Cowboys finished the regular season as one of the oldest teams in the NFL, but one veteran is responsible for much of that curve.

There’s a youth movement in the NFL. But the Cowboys seem to be trying hard to buck that trend, especially in one specific unit.

Football Outsiders last week released its 2019 report digging into the age of each roster in the league. As they have with every season since 2006, they didn’t just calculate the average age of all the the guys who are technically on the team. They charted the players’ snap-weighted age; that is, they weighted the age of each player according the number of snaps he played in the regular season.

It makes sense: if the aging veterans and hotshot rookies on a squad mainly stand around on the sidelines, it doesn’t really say anything meaningful about a team’s “average age,” at least not in the way that people usually imply. That first-year quarterback who actually starts and plays the whole season? That definitely counts toward a team being considered “young.” But a long-in-the-tooth third-string emergency backup who only ever holds a clipboard shouldn’t skew the team toward being called “old.”

The Cowboys as a whole, in 2019, were the sixth-oldest team in the league, with an average snap-weighted age (SWA) of 26.7. The league average was 26.4, a number nearly all 32 teams were fairly tightly clustered around.

Where it starts to get interesting is when SWA is broken down by unit. The SWA of the Dallas offense in 2019 was 27.0, just two-tenths of a year above the league average. That ranked 13th. The defense skewed even more toward the middle of the pack compared to the rest of the NFL; the Cowboys’ SWA on the defensive side was 26.2, 18th place against the average of 26.3.

But special teams? That unit might as well qualify for early-bird specials and senior matinee discounts.

The Cowboys’ special teamers in 2019 were the third-oldest bunch in the NFL with a SWA of 26.9. That figure is a full year above the league average. Special teams play is generally thought of as a young man’s game (think gunners), but many teams do anchor that phase of the game with a greybeard kicker…

…or a 39-year-old long snapper.

L.P. Ladouceur will embark on his 16th season as a pro in 2020. His age (he celebrated his 39th birthday in March) certainly sets the curve for the rest of the special teams players in Dallas, but his is a position where longevity is a plus, not a hindrance, and extra experience is definitely a plus.

The Cowboys special teams unit got slightly (but suddenly) older late last season with the swapping of Brett Maher for Kai Forbath, as Forbath is two years older. He and new signee Greg Zuerlein are both 32, so the winner of their competition for the upcoming season’s kicking duties won’t change that number for Dallas. With punter Chris Jones turning 31 years old, there’s a good chance that the Cowboys will remain one of the oldest special teams units in the league under John Fassel’s leadership.

The defense may see their SWA rank slide toward the older end of the list moving forward. Yes, Michael Bennett turned 34 just a few weeks after joining the Cowboys last season, but in his nine games with the team, he played just 40% of the defensive snaps. Linebacker Sean Lee will turn 34 before the season begins. Gerald McCoy is 32. Dontari Poe will blow out 30 candles before Week 1; all three will likely see high snap counts and will definitely ratchet up the SWA in 2020.

Of course, any discussion of the Cowboys and their age in 2019 has to include Jason Witten. At 37 and playing the vast majority of the team’s offensive snaps last year, he made Dallas the oldest team at tight end last season. Take him out of the equation, though, and the Cowboys come in under the league’s average SWA at every single offensive position group.

Granted, youth doesn’t automatically translate to a better football team: New England was by far the oldest team in 2019- in all three phases- and they were still, by and large, the Patriots. And three of the four youngest teams- Jacksonville, Cleveland, and Miami- didn’t really scare anybody. So maybe SWA is just interesting trivia, fodder for bar bets.

Still, 2020’s Cowboys offense should feel a lot younger. Fans will no doubt be encouraged by that. The defense may feel slightly older. Maybe some additional veteran presence there is a good thing.

In any case, the special teams will still be wearing their pants too high and yelling at whippersnappers to get off their lawn.

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Rams to sign CFL all-star kicker Lirim Hajrullahu

They appear to have found Greg Zuerlein’s replacement.

The Los Angeles Rams appear to have found their replacement for Greg Zuerlein at kicker – for now. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Rams are signing Lirim Hajrullahu, formerly of the CFL.

Hajrullahu, 29, has spent the last six seasons in the CFL, making the All-Star team twice (2016 and 2019). Most recently, he was with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who released him in January to allow him to pursue opportunities in the NFL.

Hajrullahu’s biggest moment in the CFL came in the 105th Grey Cup, when he kicked the game-winning field goal to secure the championship for the Argonauts in 2017.

He wasn’t just a kicker in the CFL, either. Hajrullahu also punted for all three teams he played for, booting it away 651 times in six seasons with 22,961 net yards. The Rams have a Pro Bowl punter in Johnny Hekker, but it can’t hurt to have an emergency option on the roster.

Zuerlein left the Rams to join the Cowboys in free agency this offseason after eight years in St. Louis and Los Angeles. The Rams could still draft a kicker later this month, but it appears they’re settling on Hajrullahu for now.

Greg Zuerlein’s reason for leaving Rams to join Cowboys is hardly surprising

Greg Zuerlein wanted to follow John Fassel to Dallas, which isn’t the least bit surprising.

The Rams came into the offseason with several marquee names set to hit free agency. Cory Littleton and Dante Fowler Jr. were two of the most notable, followed by Andrew Whitworth and Michael Brockers. Greg Zuerlein was somewhat of an overlooked free agent, but his departure is a big loss for the Rams.

On the same day that Los Angeles got Brockers back, Zuerlein agreed to terms with the Cowboys, leaving the Rams after eight seasons. Many fans were quick to point out that Zuerlein followed special teams coordinator John Fassel to Dallas, and unsurprisingly, that was his primary reason for signing with the Cowboys.

“I always thought I would be a Ram for life. For one reason or another, things happened the way they did. Coach Fassel left and when he left I thought, huh, this guy brought me into the league and stuck by me. We’ve worked very well together, and when he landed in Dallas I thought if I’m not going to be with the Rams, Dallas would be awesome. I would love to be a Cowboy,” Zuerlein said on ESPN Dallas 103.3. “As things went, Dallas was interested, probably in part to Coach Fassel, and so that’s when I decided it doesn’t matter if I stay with the same team my whole career. I want to be where I’m going to be happiest and I think Dallas is that place.”

With Zuerlein gone, the Rams are left searching for a new kicker for the first time since 2012 when he was selected in the sixth round of the draft. They currently don’t have a kicker on the roster, and recently, Les Snead admitted it’s a problem for the team right now.

“I would be lying if I said it’s not a concern,” he said.

Snead said the Rams want to find a kicker who’s similar to Zuerlein in the fact that he can be with the Rams for a long time. That would seem to indicate the Rams are looking toward the draft in their search for a replacement.

There aren’t many free-agent options out there anyway – outside of maybe Stephen Gostkowski – so look for the Rams to use one of their late-round picks on a kicker later this month.

Rams GM Les Snead admits kicker situation is a concern

The Rams are looking for a kicker who will be around for a long time moving forward.

The Los Angeles Rams are heading into unfamiliar waters this offseason, needing to find a new kicker for the first time since 2012. Greg Zuerlein departed in free agency, signing with the Cowboys after eight years with the Rams.

The former sixth-round pick had a disappointing 2019 season with nine missed field goals, but he remains one of the best kickers in football. The Rams don’t have a replacement on their roster and the free-agent market isn’t exactly rich with quality options outside of Stephen Gostkowski, who the Patriots released this offseason.

Fans are worried about how the team will replace the man they call “Legatron,” and GM Les Snead isn’t exactly bursting with confidence, either.

“I would be lying if I said it’s not a concern,” Snead said on a conference call Monday.

The draft does have Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship available, who’s been one of the most reliable kickers in college football over the last few years. The Rams would probably prefer not to use one of their draft picks on a kicker, but based on the way Snead is talking, they’re looking for a long-term replacement, not a short-term fill-in.

“But we’re definitely diving into that part of the pool and in the process of hopefully finding someone similar to Greg – and by similar I mean someone that can be around a long time because with Greg, he had some superpowers. His ability to kick from 50-plus was a superpower that you can’t put that on just anyone,” Snead said.

As good as Zuerlein was for the Rams, he did struggle last season. He missed six of his 11 attempts from 40-49 yards, which is the most important distance for any kicker. His miss against the Seahawks as time expired in Week 5 was a turning point in the season, handing the Rams their second straight loss.

Snead knows the Rams weren’t good enough in that department last season and hopes to find more consistency in 2020.

“We weren’t as consistent kicking the football last year as in years past. With Greg, we definitely would’ve liked to have Greg back, but we weren’t able to get something done,” he said. “But we did know this: Going into this year, we needed to become a more consistent football team kicking field goals, especially from 40-49 range, and whoever that was going to be. Whether it was Greg or someone new, we were going to have to somewhat take a risk with and find out during the season how that part of the game was progressing.”

The Rams have time to find a kicker, and more will become available at some point this offseason; the Cowboys, for instance, have two kickers on their roster and will most likely wind up cutting Kai Forbath. But this isn’t a position they want to worry about all summer.

News: Cowboys finalize Poe’s terms, Connor Williams ahead of schedule

Plus, Dallas signs a new kicker, DeMarcus Lawrence may improve in 2020, Connor Williams is ahead of schedule, and Sean Lee on Dak Prescott.

The Cowboys have locked up the deal with their new defensive tackle and announced the signing of a new kicker. Talks with the starting quarterback are ongoing, but the veteran linebacker isn’t concerned. The special teams coordinator has a new approach, the young offensive lineman has a health update, and the superstar edge rusher may be in line for a bounceback season.

All that, plus scoop from the former cornerback, greetings from the new big man in the middle, and new fan gear honoring the retired center and his facial hair. Oh, and a bizarre threat issued to teams… from the league commissioner. That’s on deck in this edition of News and Notes.

Cowboys agree to terms with DT Dontari Poe :: The Mothership

Specific terms and financial figures took a while to be released, but the team has officially finalized their contract with defensive tackle Dontari Poe. All that’s left is his physical and for him to actually put pen to paper.

Sean Lee confident Cowboys will take care of Dak Prescott :: ProFootballTalk

The General says he and his Cowboys teammates have no reason to worry about whether Prescott will be there when offseason work starts. Lee tells SiriusXM NFL Radio that he believes owner Jerry Jones will “take care” of Prescott with a new contract.

Cowboys sign Pro Bowl kicker Greg Zuerlein :: Cowboys Wire

Kai Forbath will have some competition in camp this year, as the team has signed veteran kicker Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein to a three-year deal that will reunite him with Rams special teams coordinator John Fassel.

Cowboys positional review: How will John Fassel fix Dallas’s special teams unit? :: The Athletic

Take a deep dive into the so-called “third phase” of the game and check out what the coordinator of the best unit in the league plans to bring to Dallas. Like, for example, no playbooks.

Report: Cowboys have no plans to reduce Tyrone Crawford’s contract :: Blogging the Boys

Dollars-and-cents watchers have pointed out that Crawford currently locks up $8 million of salary cap money, but the club is apparently not looking at trimming that number. It may be the clearest indication yet that the team is counting on him to help anchor the right edge of the defensive line in 2020.

A key injury update from Connor Williams :: The Mothership

Offensive guard Connor Williams says he is ahead of schedule on his recovery from a torn ACL suffered on Thanksgiving Day. The second-round draft pick from 2018 credits recently-retired Travis Frederick with helping him transition from tackle to guard after going pro.

DeMarcus Lawrence biggest winner from Cowboys’ DT additions :: Inside the Star

While opposing quarterbacks should definitely be concerned about the Cowboys’ recent acquisitions of Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, what they may need to fear most is a direct cause-and-effect resurgence to DeMarcus Lawrence’s game.

Byron Jones: Dallas’s lack of interest had to do with CBs on roster, not money :: ProFootballTalk

The Cowboys let Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Jones leave because “they have a whole bunch of good corners on that team,” he says, refuting the theory held by some that the team simply couldn’t afford him due to other players’ megadeals.

Roger Goodell warns of ‘disciplinary action’ for public discussion of NFL Draft timing :: SI.com

The 2020 NFL Draft will go on as scheduled April 23-25, with the league saying that “there is no assurance that we can select a different date and be confident that conditions will be significantly more favorable than they are today.” The commissioner’s memo to teams also specifies that “public discussion of issues relating to the Draft serves no useful purpose and is grounds for disciplinary action.” Not a good look for the league here in the current climate.

Dallas football fans need this ‘Fredbeard Forever’ t-shirt :: The Landry Hat

A company called BreakingT is offering a limited-run ultra-soft t-shirt paying homage to new retiree Travis Frederick with some cool artwork showcasing Fredbeard’s glorious facial hair.

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Rams’ kicker options are limited after losing Greg Zuerlein

The Rams don’t have many good options when it comes to replacing Greg Zuerlein.

For the first time since 2011, the Rams’ primary kicker will not be named Greg Zuerlein. He agreed to a three-year deal with the Cowboys on Friday, effectively ending his tenure with the Rams after eight seasons.

He made the Pro Bowl once and was an All-Pro in 2017, making 82% of his field goal tries during his career with the Rams. But, the idea of rejoining John Fassel in Dallas was too good for Zuerlein to pass up, and Los Angeles clearly didn’t do enough to re-sign him.

That leaves the Rams’ options at kicker very limited. There are only a handful of viable replacements available in free agency, and none of them are better than Zuerlein. At the top of the list is former Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who New England released this offseason.

Stephen Gostkowski

There’s no doubt Gostkowski is the Rams’ best option left as a replacement for Zuerlein. He spent the last 14 seasons with the Patriots, making 87.4% of his FG attempts and 98.3% of his extra point tries. Most importantly, he’s played 28 postseason games, making 39 of 44 field goal attempts in those contests.

If the Rams haven’t already, they should give Gostkowski a call to gauge his interest in moving out west.

Ryan Succop

Succop was released by the Titans this offseason after a brief stint in Tennessee last year. It was a shaky six games, though, as he made just 1 of 6 FG attempts in the regular season and his only try in the playoffs. Succop shouldn’t be high on the Rams’ list of replacements, but he has made 82.2% of his field goals in 11 seasons.

Austin MacGinnis

MacGinnis was the XFL’s best kicker, making 10 of 10 field goal attempts. He also led the league in touchbacks with four, showing a strong enough leg to make it in the NFL. Unlike other positions, the talent gap between the XFL and the NFL doesn’t make much of a difference when you’re a kicker, so if MacGinnis can make kicks for the Dallas Renegades, he might be able to for the Rams, too.

Brett Maher

Maher was a disaster for the Cowboys last season, but that didn’t stop the Rams from giving him a look. In December, they tried him out while Zuerlein dealt with a quad injury, viewing him as a contingency plan in case Zuerlein couldn’t play. Maher was only 20-for-30 last season and 29-for-36 the year prior.