Tag: Jimmy Johnson

News & Notes: Ezekiel Elliott, Mike McCarthy eyed for honors; a Tavon Austin return?

Dallas Cowboys news for June 25, 2020: a look at the Jimmy-vs-Jerry feud 25 years later, Hall of Fame fallout, and La’el Collins trade talk.

Just six weeks before it was set to be played, the NFL postponed the Hall of Fame Game between the Steelers and the Cowboys, as well as the Hall of Fame ceremony. This isn’t a great sign for the season starting on time, despite Roger Goodell announcing that training camps are still set for July 28.

Behind the best running back in the NFC East (according to Maurice Jones-Drew) and one of the best candidates for Coach of the Year, Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys were named favorites to win their division by Pro Football Focus. Tavon Austin reuniting with his former coach John Fassel could help spark the Cowboys special teams. And there’s still the looming threat of a Jamal Adams-to-Dallas trade. Latest reports say that the Jets want La’el Collins and extras; how should Dallas respond? All that and more make up the Dallas Cowboys News and Notes for June 25, 2020.

ESPN: Cowboys-Steelers Hall of Fame Game canceled :: Cowboys Wire

The 2020 NFL Hall of Fame Game and Enshrinement Week festivities have been postponed until 2021 amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Examining the Cowboys feud that still smolders: Jerry Jones vs. Jimmy Johnson :: The Athletic

The Jerry Jones vs. Jimmy Johnson feud has been going on for a quarter of a century at this point. Boys will be boys, but it seems high time that these two near-octogenarians bury the hatchet before it’s too late. Here’s an excellent recap of what’s kept the blood boiling for all these years.

PFF picks favorite to win NFC East in ’20 :: NFL Network

George Chahrouri details why PFF believes the Cowboys, and not the Eagles, will win the NFC East this year.

MJD’s Top 5 NFC East RBs of 2020 :: NFL Network

Maurice Jones-Drew ranks his top five NFC East running backs. Ezekiel Elliott beat out Saquan Barkley for the top spot. While Tony Pollard was nowhere to be found, he could easily be a top five back in the East in the upcoming season.

Is Mike McCarthy the Top NFL Coach of the Year Candidate? :: Sports Illustrated

Coach of the Year is an interesting accolade that doesn’t always go to the best coach or the best team. Check out why Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer believes 2020 could be the perfect storm for Mike McCarthy to win the honor.

Seven 1970s rivalries that made the NFL ‘super’: Roger Staubach’s Cowboys part of several epic matchups :: CBS Sports

The 1970s were the days that helped the Cowboys earn their nickname of “America’s Team,” and this list shows why. In a ranking of the top rivalries of the decade, the Cowboys are featured in four of the top seven matchups.

Brooks: Cowboys have ‘two-to-three-year window’ to win Super Bowl :: NFL Network

NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks shares why the Dallas Cowboys need to win a Super Bowl within the next few years.

Bringing back Tavon Austin could be a wise investment for the Cowboys :: Blogging The Boys

Tavon Austin didn’t necessarily live up to expectations in Dallas, but Matt Holleran of Blogging The Boys suggests the Cowboys bring back the veteran as a low-risk high-reward fourth receiving option.

Jets reportedly targeting La’el Collins; should Cowboys say no? :: Cowboys Wire

The Jets’ price tag on Jamal Adams could continue to shift as the season draws closer. Latest reports state that the Jets have their eyes on Cowboys right tackle La’el Collins. Would it be smart for the Cowboys to give up such a solid lineman on a team friendly deal?

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Cowboys’ Johnson, rest of Class of 2020 to wait for Hall of Fame induction

Dallas Cowboys greats Jimmy Johnson and Cliff Harris have their Hall of Fame enshrinement dreams pushed back even further.

It’s official: the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2020 class will have to wait even longer for enshrinement. The cancellation of the first exhibition game of the year between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers was announced Thursday morning and is set to be made up next year; it was only a matter of time before this news followed.

The class that was to be the biggest in the NFL’s storied history, with 20 players, coaches, and contributors slated to receive the famed bronze bust split into two ceremonies, will have to wait even longer for their moment in the sun.

For the Cowboys, two greats are affected. The first is former head coach Jimmy Johnson, the architect of the ’90s dynasty that resulted in three world championships. Johnson, of course, ended up with just two of those rings before his relationship with owner Jerry Jones soured and became untenable. The other is safety Cliff Harris, who played in five Super Bowls throughout the 1970s, won two of them, and was a member of the All-Decade team.

Harris was one of two positional players of the All-Decade team that had yet to receive the call from Canton. The other, of course, is wide receiver and the original 88, Drew Pearson.

Johnson’s pro coaching career lacked the length that many Hall of Fame coaches enjoyed. He lasted just nine years and won only 80 games.

The wait for a gold jacket has been long overdue for both Dallas legends. Now the wait will be just a little longer.

Legendary Tennessee, Pitt coach Johnny Majors dead at 85

Johnny Majors, a Tennessee legend as a player and coach, has died at 85.

The college football world lost its second coaching legend in less than a week when former Tennessee coach Johnny Majors died Wednesday at the age of 85.

His death came days after Auburn’s Pat Dye succumbed to kidney disease at 80.


Al Messerschmidt/WireImage

A triple-threat tailback at the University of Tennessee, Majors was an All-American and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy to Paul Hornung in 1956.

After starting his head-coaching career at Iowa State, Majors moved to his alma mater for 16 seasons with a record of 116-62-8.

In 1973, he left to become coach at Pittsburgh and won a national championship in 1976 with a 12-0 record. He received national Coach-of-the-Year honors following that season.

In 1977, he returned to Knoxville as Tennessee’s head coach. Over a 15-year career, he led the Vols to three SEC championships (1985, ’89, ’90). He also won the Sugar Bowl in ’86 and ’91.

Among those NFL coaches who were assistants under Majors and grew from his coaching tree were: Jimmy Johnson, Jon Gruden, Al Saunders, and Dave Wannstedt.Joh

10 games that defined Emmitt Smith’s Cowboys career, on his birthday

In honor of the all-time rushing champ’s birthday, we take a look back at 10 games that defined Emmitt Smith’s Hall of Fame career.

Emmitt Smith celebrates his 51st birthday on Friday. Born in Pensacola, Florida, the son of Mary J. Smith and Emmitt James Smith Jr. attended Escambia High School. A prolific runner from an early age, Smith won a state football championship there before accepting a scholarship to the University of Florida. He played three years for the Gators and finished seventh for the Heisman Trophy as a junior before declaring for the 1990 NFL Draft and joining the Dallas Cowboys.

His record-setting career coincides with one of the most integral chapters in the franchise’s rich history, and Smith, in turn, is one of the club’s most decorated icons and beloved stars.

To commemorate Emmitt’s big day, Cowboys Wire has selected the ten games of Smith’s tenure with the team that best tell the story of No. 22.

1. October 7, 1990: Emmitt’s first 100-yard game

Emmitt Smith’s career as a Cowboy got a little stuck coming out of the gate. In Week 1 of 1990, the rookie logged exactly two yards on two carries in a home win over the San Diego Chargers. A week later, 11 yards on six attempts. Smith’s frustration on the sidelines was evident.

But then again, the Cowboys hadn’t even really wanted Smith to begin with. In April’s draft, Dallas had been eyeing Baylor linebacker James Francis. The Bengals got him instead. Their Plan B was Houston linebacker Lamar Lathon. The front office tried to do a deal with the Oilers to move up for him, but Houston declined… and took Lathon for themselves. The Cowboys settled for the running back from Florida they thought was too small and too slow to truly be an effective pro rusher.

But Smith knew he’d be a superstar; the famed to-do list he once wrote announcing his goal of eventually being the all-time rushing champ was proof. And one by one, he was convincing his new Dallas teammates, too.

Offensive guard Crawford Ker had been Smith’s roommate in the early days.

“I told everyone that I was sharing a room with the man who would make Cowboy fans forget about Tony Dorsett,” Ker once said. “Emmitt just wanted a chance to play and show what he could do.”

Dec 30, 1990; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith (22) carries the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at Fulton County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

That chance came in Week 5 against Tampa Bay. Finally getting a clear-cut lion’s share of the carries over Tommie Agee and Alonzo Highsmith, Smith was a one-man wrecking ball. He rolled up 121 yards on 23 attempts, and while the tape of his first pro touchdown shows quintessential Emmitt, it’s a 16-yard run with three minutes left in regulation that’s worth finding on YouTube. A mix of quick jukes, off-balance jump cuts, and pure power once he hits his stride, it’s the run that gave Smith his first 100-yard outing… and gave the rest of the league a taste of what was to come.

The Cowboys’ 14-10 win that day kickstarted Smith’s rookie campaign in earnest, a season that ended with a Pro Bowl nod and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

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Legendary NFL coach Don Shula had several Cowboys connections

On the passing of the legendary Miami Dolphins coach, Cowboys Wire remembers some of the many connections he shared with his Dallas rivals.

Don Shula, the NFL’s all-time winningest coach, has passed away at the age of 90. Shula stands atop that particular leaderboard with 347 wins, 328 of them coming the regular season. The vast majority of those victories came during Shula’s historic tenure with the Miami Dolphins, from 1970 through 1995.

As coach of one of greatest teams of that era, Shula shared several connections with the Cowboys of the 1970s, ’80s, and early ’90s. Shula’s Dolphins met the Tom Landry-coached Cowboys in Super Bowl VI following the 1971 season. It marked the first time the two storied franchises ever met on the field. Dallas won the title game by a 24-3 score; it would be the last game Miami would lose for over 600 days, as Shula helmed the Dolphins to the only perfect season in NFL history in 1972.

Landry and Shula spent much of their respective careers being compared to one another. While Landry is often credited with being one of the architects of the 4-3 defense, Shula helped pioneer the 3-4 scheme. Both men won a pair of Super Bowls and remained with their team for over a quarter-century. Landry sits fourth on the list of all-time winningest NFL coaches behind Shula, George Halas, and Bill Belichick.

Shula played in the NFL for seven seasons. He was a defensive back, as was Landry. And the two icons shared a connection even then.

Shula went 6-2 against Dallas over his career as Dolphins coach. Perhaps the most memorable head-to-head meeting took place on Thanksgiving Day 1993, when a freak winter storm socked Dallas. The turf at Texas Stadium was a slippery, snowy mess, thanks to the famed hole in the roof. After Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett muffed a blocked field goal as it skittered away, Shula sent out his field goal unit for a second kick attempt and stole a last-second win.

Prior to his long stint in Miami, Shula also coached the Baltimore Colts from 1963 to 1969 and went 1-1 against Dallas over that period.

A few months later, Shula was one of the first persons to learn of the 1994 firing of Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson. Johnson happened to pass Shula in a hotel hallway just after hearing of a Jerry Jones interview in which the owner expressed his desire for a new coach in Dallas.

“I think I’ve just been fired,” Johnson himself told Shula.

Shula retired after two more seasons on the Dolphins sidelines, and was replaced by Johnson, who, coincidentally enough, had also taken over for Landry in Dallas.

David Shula, son of the legendary coach, served as Cowboys offensive coordinator- under Johnson- in 1989 and 1990.

Don Shula was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

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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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Jimmy Johnson believes Giants should draft a QB if they can’t swing a trade

Jimmy Johnson believes the New York Giants should select a quarterback if they can’t swing a trade in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The New York Giants shocked the football world when they selected Duke quarterback Daniel Jones in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Jones was considered by many to be a lower-tier quarterback, and certainly not worthy of coming off the board behind only Kyler Murray. However, Jones was extremely impressive during his rookie campaign save for some turnover issues, and he seemed to sway a lot of opinions.

Retired Dallas Cowboys head coach and current FOX Sports analyst, Jimmy Johnson, may or may not be one of those people. Either way, he’s pounding the drum for the Giants to take a quarterback at No. 4 overall if they are unable to trade down.

“I would think long and hard about taking a quarterback if I didn’t get a trade I wanted,” Johnson said. “I would take one of those quarterbacks — one of those franchise quarterbacks — because I promise you, the value of those players will go up.

“People get desperate when they don’t have a quarterback. And I promise you, they’ll get more than a No. 1 pick for that [quarterback]. . . Just be patient because it’ll pay dividends down the road.”

Johnson was suggesting the same for both the Detroit Lions and Giants in the event they stay put at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.

It’s an interesting idea and, in theory, it might pay off down the road. However, in the case of the Giants, there are entirely too many roster holes to waste a top pick on another quarterback. In fact, such a decision might be the end of the line for general manager Dave Gettleman.

Still, the Giants have poked around Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, which caused a bit of an uproar late last week. In all likelihood however, that was just an effort to put pressure on QB-needy teams who will need to trade up.

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Philadelphia Eagles’ draft pick value is ranked 20th out of 32 NFL teams

Philadelphia Eagles draft pick value is 20th out of 32 NFL teams

The NFL draft is set to become a virtual phenomenon in less than a week and there will certainly be plenty of movement with various teams looking to move up or down the draft board.

With the Eagles in search of a top-tier wide receiver for Carson Wentz, Howie Roseman and company could look at possibly utilizing their eight remaining picks to move up or down the draft board.

The Eagles and the 31 other NFL teams will likely refer to a trade value chart that determines what picks will be used as compensation by both teams in the deal.

The Eagles hold the No. 21 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and based on the other seven total picks, the entire haul is among the bottom half of the league in pure value.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Eagles stand pat at No. 21 or choose to move back or up based on what value Howie Roseman places on the players that will still be available.

When the Eagles landed Dallas Goedert in 2018, Roseman traded back out of the first round because he didn’t see value at No. 32 overall.

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Tennessee Titans, Mike Vrabel get high praise from NFL Hall of Famers

Curt Menefee, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson and Tony Gonzalez all had high praise for the Titans.

The Tennessee Titans may have come up just one game short of a Super Bowl LIV appearance last year, but this was still the best team we’ve seen in Nashville in recent history.

The efforts of names like defensive coordinator Dean Pees, up-and-coming offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and head coach Mike Vrabel, combined with the best season of quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s career and a historic year for Derrick Henry, helped get the Titans to that point.

And it has hardly gone unnoticed.

Curt Menefee, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson and Tony Gonzalez all had high praise for the Titans, and there seems to be little doubt they can repeat the successes of last season in 2020.

Cautious optimism seems to be a good policy for now, given how inconsistent we’ve seen the Titans be in past years.

It’s also important to note that while the Titans have played some good, complementary football, the strength in Tennessee’s performances has largely ridden on Tannehill and Henry.

If this was simply a fluke season for Tannehill and he begins to mirror the way he looked so many times in Miami, or, if Henry sees any type of decline in production, things could quickly look much different than we’re drawing them up now.

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Cowboys News: Pre-draft talks, 9 speaks, NFL schedule release date set

Dallas Cowboy news for March 31 2020.

All eyes turn to the 2020 NFL Draft as the majority of free agency us behind us. Do the Cowboys need to add a weapon at wide receiver? Would a safety early in the draft provide the right value? These questions are answered below, and there’s even the latest mock draft from ESPN’S Todd McShay.

The NFL has set a final date to release the schedule, and some changes in the CBA may halt the progress made with the latest agreement. The latest free agency news, including Dak Prescott contract negotiations, the Cowboys new tight end, and a former Titan that could be a steal for Dallas.

2020 Draft: 5 wide receiver prospects Cowboys must consider :: Cowboys Wire

Even with Amari Cooper back on the roster, the Cowboys could use another weapon on the outside. Get to know some of the big names they should consider.

LSU CB Kristian Fulton to FaceTime teams, including Cowboys :: Cowboys Wire

The Cowboys need a replacement for Byron Jones and with news the national champion is on their radar, a closer look at what he brings to the table.

Cowboys could potentially get good value in LSU safety Grant Delpit in the draft:: Blogging The Boys

Even with the addition of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix the Cowboys need to address the safety position in April. LSU’s Grant Delpit would be a great fit.

Todd McShay’s mock draft fits Cowboys’ needs, but is the order right?:: ESPN 

ESPN’s Todd McShay addresses the Cowboys needs in his latest mock draft.

Tennessee Edge Rusher Darrell Taylor Would be a Steal for the Cowboys:: Inside The Star

The Cowboys could add another talented young edge rusher, after being featured in multiple iterations of Cowboys Wire’s dueling 7-round mocks, ItS features the interesting prospect.

NFL playoffs officially expanded to 7 teams each conference :: Cowboys Wire

The first change to the playoff format since 2002 is now official.

NFL’s CBA drama may not be over with new invalidation request :: Cowboys Wire

Some changes were made to the CBA after it was agreed on by the players and owners. Is that grounds for a revote?

Cowboys Rumors: Latest Contract Buzz on Dak Prescott, Blake Bell:: Bleacher Report 

The latest news on contracts for franchise signal-caller Dak Prescott and new tight end Blake Bell.

Mailbag: 1-Year Deals? Fredrick’s Cap Charge?:: Dallas Cowboys 

Nick Eatman and Rob Phillips break down the Cowboys one-year deals the financial ramifications of losing Travis Frederick.

NFL Expected to Release 2020 Schedule No Later Than May 9 :: Bleacher Report

With uncertainty about the season still looming, the NFL plans to announce the schedule no later than this date.

Tony Romo shares insight on how he handled giving Prescott keys to Cowboys :: Cowboys Wire

Opening up about why he wasn’t bitter about losing his status as the leading man for the most valuable franchise in all of sports.

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