Tag: Larry Allen

‘Life is very fragile’: Emotional Emmitt Smith remembers former Cowboys teammate Larry Allen

From @ToddBrock24f7: Smith fought through tears to reflect on his fallen teammate on 9 seasons and urged fans to reach out to those they love.

A preponderance of Emmitt Smith’s all-time record 18,355 rushing yards came behind the blocking of Larry Allen.

From 1994, when Allen was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round, all the way through the 2002 season in which Smith became the league’s rushing king, Smith totaled 11,463 yards and scored 103 ground touchdowns while big No. 73 was helping to plow the road for him.

To put it another way, even if you count just the yards and touchdowns Smith amassed during Allen’s time in Dallas, he’d still be one of the top 20 rushers in NFL history and in the top 10 in end zone trips.

On Monday, Smith took to social media to share his thoughts on Allen’s untimely passing at the age of 52.

“Good afternoon,” a tearful Smith began on Instagram after a heavy sigh. “I’m sitting on my back patio reflecting on one of the best offensive linemen I’ve ever played with: Larry Allen.

“I got a call from my daughter. Skylar called to tell me that he passed away. I’m at a loss for words right now. Such a good dude. Great player. Super person. With deaths, bad weather, all kinds of things swirling around, loss of my folks and other friends, it just breaks my heart. I know life is very fragile, and we’re only here for a moment. And we need to make the best out of every moment and not take people for granted.

“[My wife] sent me a text last night about not taking folks for granted, and here we are today. All I can say is: live life to the fullest that you can. Love those that are closest to you, try to love those who are not near you as best you can. Let’s cut out all the bickering, all the separation, all the hierarchy and all the things that separate people- family, friends, culture, whatever you want to call it- some of those things are very minor in comparison to a human’s life.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7woS7vOFET/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

“The one thing about Larry Allen I know: he had a big heart, and he lived life to the fullest. A man of very few words, but on the football field [he] was a beast. And he’ll be sorely missed; he’s always missed because he never came back to many of our functions. I don’t know it it’s because he put football behind him and moved on, but my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. My heart is just broken.”

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An emotional Smith took the opportunity to also remember several other former teammates from the Cowboys offensive line who departed far too soon.

“I sit back here reflecting on Mark Tuinei as well [who died in 1999], Larry Allen, Frank Cornish [died in 2008]. We just lost another one about six months ago [Char-Ron Dorsey passed away in early March]. Life. It reminds me of the words my mom used to say: ‘Son, keep living. You’re going to see a lot of things.” She’s absolutely right. I’ve seen people come and go. It’s hard. It really is hard.

“So, peace out. Love those around you. Hug someone today and let them know that you love them. Call somebody today and let them know that you love them. May God be with all of you, and pray for Larry Allen and his family, and also Cowboys Nation, because we lost a good one. Be good.”

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8 incredible Larry Allen stories and quotes that built his legend of dominance

Here are the coolest stories about people being in awe of Larry Allen.

On Monday morning, the Dallas Cowboys revealed that Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Allen had suddenly died at the age of 52. To lose someone like Allen in this fashion — in any capacity — is absolutely heartbreaking. May the legendary offensive lineman rest in peace.

If there is one silver lining, though, it lets us fondly recount the massive imprint Allen left on the NFL.

Beyond the concrete individual accolades — six First-Team All-Pro selections, 11 Pro Bowls — it was always abundantly clear Allen had broken the mold for your bog standard franchise offensive lineman. Short episodes of him demolishing the 2006 Pro Bowl Skills Competition were just the tip of the iceberg for this icon.

Here are eight incredible stories about Allen’s otherworldly athleticism and his sheer dominance from some of the people who knew him best during his career.

John Madden’s true appreciation

The late Madden never hid his affinity for players he genuinely appreciated as a broadcaster. Allen was one of them.

Madden gushed about Allen’s remarkable talent in 2011 after it was revealed he would join the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor. More from ESPN:

“There are some times when you know that you are watching one of the best players ever [Allen],” Madden said. “When I watched a player it wasn’t just the game we’d have, but also tape and film leading up to those games. At first you’d watch him and say, ‘This guy’s pretty good,’ and then he’d keep going and going and he was so strong and had such good balance. Then you’d realize what it was you were seeing — and that was one of the best of all time.”

Madden didn’t stop there with Allen. He issued some of the highest possible praise.

“If somebody said to God, ‘What should all the guards look like?'” Madden said, “Then he would send Larry Allen down.”

Marcus Spears knew beating Allen was an impossible task

Allen had a knack for making professional football defenders feel like they were playing a different sport. His ex-Cowboys teammate, Marcus Spears, laid this fact out perfectly after facing off in practices against him.

Via ESPN:

“Felt like you were going against a brick wall,” Spears said. “He [Allen] was so good. He’s the best offensive lineman to ever play, I think. I know that’s saying a lot, but he went to the Pro Bowl at tackle and guard. Larry could do it all.”

Michael Irvin couldn’t believe Allen’s casual strength 

Another of Allen’s ex-Cowboys teammates, fellow Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, knew that the guard’s strength wasn’t something to be trifled with. The receiver recalled the time Allen humbled everyone with an astonishing bench press set during the 2006 Pro Bowl:

“That’s good enough … you can put the weights down and go get that check,” Irvin told Allen after he bench-pressed 225 pounds for 43 reps with ease. “He was so strong, I mean, god almighty.”

John Randle was humble enough to meet his match 

In his heyday, few defensive linemen were as prolific as Minnesota Vikings wrecking ball John Randle. He would embarrass interior offensive linemen on a weekly basis during his own Hall of Fame career.

Well, really, everyone except Allen.

Randle detailed his experience while graciously presenting Allen as one of the greatest NFL players of all time for NFL Films:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX-UIj1KHVw

Allen let a young Justin Tuck know that he had no chance

Usually, offensive linemen don’t want to divulge the play call to the defense. For obvious reasons, it’s better that the dynamic athletes on the other side of the ball are kept in the dark until the ball is actually snapped.

According to two-time Super Bowl champion Justin Tuck, this never mattered to Allen. In fact, the stalwart guard would literally tell the opposition the ball was going through his hole by mimicking a truck sound because he knew they had no chance of beating him.

How terrifyingly awesome:

When Allen left everyone speechless on a basketball court

Back when Allen’s legend was still burgeoning as a college amateur, some people wanted more proof in the pudding. To do so, Allen’s coaches at Sonoma State put him through the paces … on the basketball court. They wanted to see if Allen could really dunk even despite his immense frame.

They were eventually left speechless.

More from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

“They tracked him [Allen] down on a basketball court, the same place Sonoma coach Tim Walsh took Allen when he showed up on campus. Walsh wanted to see the 6-foot-3 Allen lift his 320-pound frame for a dunk.

“You could have heard a pin drop when he slammed the ball,” Sonoma head coach Tim Scalercio said. “It was like in the movies where it just goes ‘tick, tick, tick, tick’ and stops.”

Dan Dierdorf couldn’t believe his eyes

A Hall of Fame offensive lineman in his own right, it took a lot for Dierdorf to be impressed with someone’s play in the trenches. As a rookie, Allen did it from the jump and from another position entirely. After watching Allen save a pick-six by running down a linebacker in 1994, Dierdorf glowed with praise.

More from The Athletic:

As a rookie, Allen had been forced to play tackle because Erik Williams had been injured. The Cowboys led 7-0 in the second quarter when a pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage. Darion Conner picks it off and runs it the other way. Allen runs him down the sideline and tackles him to save a pick-6 with Dan Dierdorf losing his mind at the marvel he just saw. “This guy has a rocket booster strapped to his back. … Look at this, folks — 6-3, 325 pounds! I’m telling you, that is one of the most impressive athletic feats I have ever seen!”

Cowboys legend Larry Allen passes away at age of 52

One of the greatest Cowboys ever appeared in 11 Pro Bowls and helped the team with Super Bowl XXX. | From @ArmyChiefW3

 

The Dallas Cowboys and the broader NFL community are mourning as news broke of the passing of Larry Allen, one of the most formidable and respected offensive linemen in football history. Allen, renowned for his unparalleled strength, versatility, and dominance on the field, died while vacationing with family in Mexico at the age of 52, leaving behind a legacy that will endure in the annals of sports.

Born November 27, 1971, in Los Angeles, California, Allen’s journey to football greatness was anything but easy. Overcoming a challenging childhood and humble beginnings, he found solace and purpose on the gridiron.

His college career at Sonoma State University was a precursor to his NFL stardom, catching the attention of scouts with his sheer power and technique. In 1994, the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round of the NFL draft, a decision that would prove monumental for the franchise.

Throughout his 12 seasons with the Cowboys, Allen’s impact was profound. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing over 325 pounds, he was a physical marvel, known for bench pressing over 700 pounds and bulldozing defenders with ease.

His versatility allowed him to excel at both guard and tackle positions, earning him 11 Pro Bowl selections and 7 First-Team All-Pro honors. Allen’s tenure with the Cowboys was highlighted by his role in securing Super Bowl XXX, where his protection of quarterback Troy Aikman and paving the way for running back Emmitt Smith were pivotal.

Off the field, Allen was equally revered. Known for his quiet demeanor and fierce dedication, he mentored younger players and gave back to the community. His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013 cemented his status as one of the greatest linemen ever to play the game.

Larry Allen’s death is a significant loss, not just for the Cowboys but for the entire sports world. His legacy of strength, resilience, and excellence will continue to inspire future generations of athletes. As fans and peers remember his contributions, Allen’s spirit will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of those who admired and respected him.

Let’s remember when Larry Allen stunned everyone with an otherworldly 2006 Pro Bowl bench press

Larry Allen had superhuman strength.

Tragic news hit the NFL on Monday morning with the reported death of Dallas Cowboys’ legendary offensive lineman Larry Allen. The Pro Football Hall of Famer was on vacation with his family over the weekend when he died suddenly.

One of the best ways to pay proper tribute to Allen as a football player is to recount his tremendous strength. The six-time First-Team All-Pro carved out a dominant career in large part because he possessed otherworldly athleticism that let him ruthlessly bully opposing defenders every single Sunday.

Allen’s strength was nowhere better on display than during the 2006 Pro Bowl Skills Competition. There, the Cowboys guard repped a 225-pound bench press 43 times with stunning ease. Mind you, he did this while seemingly wearing an expensive watch and black Air Force 1s.

Why, it was almost as if this tremendous feat was just a casual old day for Allen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHhKieB_Zek

As broadcaster Chris Berman put it, it really did seem like Allen was lifting a loaded barbell like a “salad fork.” Rest in peace, sir.

Featured image courtesy of NFL Network

Cowboys great, Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Allen dies at 52

Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Allen died at 52 while on vacation with his family

A Dallas Cowboys great and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Larry Allen has died at 52.

Allen was on vacation with his family in Mexico on Sunday when he died suddenly.

The Cowboys released a statement:

The Dallas Cowboys are very saddened to share that Cowboys legend, Super Bowl Champion, Cowboys Ring of Honor member, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Allen passed away suddenly while on vacation in Mexico with his family on Sunday. Larry, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength, was one of the most respected, accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. His versatility and dependability were also signature parts of his career. Through that, he continued to serve as inspiration for many other players defining what it meant to be a great teammate, competitor and winner.

He was deeply loved and cared for by his wife, Janelle – whom he referred to as his heart and soul, his daughters Jayla and Loriana and son, Larry III.

The Jones family and the Cowboys extend their deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Allen family and grieve along with the many other friends and Cowboys teammates that also loved Larry.

Allen was an 11-time Pro Bowler and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. He played for the Cowboys from 1994-to-2005, winning a Super Bowl in 1995. He spent his final two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

Former Cowboys, 49ers OL Larry Allen dies at 52

Former Cowboys and 49ers OL Larry Allen, who made All-Pro teams at 3 positions in the NFL, died at age 52.

The Dallas Cowboys on Monday announced the death of Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allen at age 52. No cause of death has been reported.

Allen spent his first 12 NFL seasons with the Cowboys before finishing his career with two seasons in San Francisco. In Dallas Allen won one Super Bowl while earning seven All-Pro nods and 10 trips to the Pro Bowl. His 11th Pro Bowl came as a member of the 49ers at age 35.

His stint in San Francisco was not his first time playing in Northern California. Allen spent part of his high school career in Stockton and Napa before starting his college career at Butte College and transferring to Sonoma State.

Allen played in 203 games with 197 starts in his career. He started at every position except center, and he was an All-Pro at both guard spots as well as left tackle. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class in 2013 on his second ballot.

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Cowboys’ draft pick Tyler Smith: his nasty alter ego, wearing Larry Allen’s number, ignoring media

The 24th pick treats Larry Allen’s No. 73 jersey as a legacy to carry, but the student of the game has no use for listening to his critics. | From @ToddBrock24f7

It’s suddenly a lovefest in Frisco as the Cowboys’ stunner of a first-round draft pick wasted no time making new fans with his magnetic personality. Over the course of a 20-minute introductory press conference Friday, Tulsa tackle Tyler Smith had team owner Jerry Jones, head coach Mike McCarthy, and even the Dallas media eating out of his hand.

He seems intent on turning expectations inside out, whether it’s waxing philosophic about football history, matter-of-factly describing his mauling style of play, or slipping in a perfectly-timed off-color joke.

The Cowboys drafted Smith to be the team’s left tackle of the future. To help him get there, they’ll line him up alongside the left tackle of the present, an eight-time Pro Bowler.

“It’s eerie to me, some of the similarities,” team owner Jerry Jones said as he introduced Smith, “sitting here, sitting with you, as when Tyron Smith came from Southern Cal.”

And to add to the youngster’s motivation, the Cowboys are already putting him in the uniform of one of the top linemen to ever wear the star.

“I took a picture of my new jersey. It’s an honor to wear that number,” Smith said of his No. 73. “Larry Allen wore that number. I’ve seen a lot of the adversity that he went through in his life. I feel like I resonate with a lot of that, so it means a lot to be able to wear that and be able to carry on the lineage there, for sure.”

A self-professed student of the game who can’t wait to dissect game film and binges football documentaries, Smith says his favorite player to watch on tape is Barry Sanders. But he’s eager to make his own mark on the game after leaving two years of college eligibility on the table to turn pro just days after his 21st birthday.

But the Fort Worth native wasn’t sure he’d be playing for his hometown team. He and the Cowboys had limited interaction during the pre-draft process; he wasn’t a 30 visit, nor did he attend Dallas Day for local prospects.

So getting the call from Jones during the first round of the draft came as a wonderful surprise.

“Probably the best day of my life, pound for pound. I can’t think of anything better,” Smith explained to media members. “Just to hear the phone call, see The Star on top of your phone, you’re looking… You know, there’s a delay on the TV; not many people tell you. But I’d seen them on the phone, and I’m [thinking], ‘Aw, he ain’t calling me. I’m like, ‘Damn, I’ll just wait my turn.’ Then I see it pop up, I answer, I hear Coach Jones here.”

That line alone gained him some goodwill with the Cowboys media. The owner loves to fancy himself a behind-the-scenes coach, and he jokes about it with reporters often. Smith even mistakenly referred to the 79-year-old billionaire as “Coach Jerry” during a Thursday night conference call with the press.

Jones ate it up. Actual head coach Mike McCarthy played along, faking offense and pretending to shut down the conversation when it came up again.

It’s been all smiles and laughs for Smith’s first 18 hours as a Cowboy. It’s difficult, though, to reconcile Smith’s easygoing manner and infectious smile with the player he apparently becomes on the field. Watch his tape, and the word that most readily comes to mind is “nasty.”

That’s what sold Dallas on Smith with the 24th pick. Smith knows it, and he intends to keep playing with those violent intentions.

“I wouldn’t call it, almost, an alter ego, but maybe that’s what it is,” the lineman shared. “When I get on the field, it’s us versus them. That’s just what it has to be. My job as an offensive lineman is to set the tone and protect the quarterback. That dude across from me, his job is to hit my quarterback and try to blow up what we’re doing. So every time I live up from somebody, I play with the mindset that they’re trying to take food out of my mouth, they’re trying to take food out of my teammates’ mouths.

“I want to make them think twice about getting up when they go against me, for sure.”

Smith has gotten used to people thinking twice about him. First it was questioning his future as a football player after a bout at a young age with a condition that deforms the lower legs.

“I was born with Blount’s disease,” says Smith. “I was bow-legged, more bow-legged in my left than my right. I had a procedure done in high school, my junior year before my senior year. I had to fight back from it, for sure. Early adversity.”

Recovering from that, Smith says, “revitalized my love for the grind.” He went on to All-America honors as a freshman with the Golden Hurricane in 2020 after a redshirt season and then won second-team All-AAC accolades last year.

Even still, there were skeptics when his name started to surface as a possibility for the Cowboys with their first-round pick. To his credit, though, Smith says he never heard those doubters. Or any of the pre-draft analysis, for that matter.

Because one of Smith’s first messages for the media was to delicately let them know that he doesn’t have much use for them.

“I try to stay away from the media,” he deadpanned. “I feel like everybody has an opinion. Like buttholes. Everybody has one.”

And that line likely endeared Smith forever to his head coach, who routinely makes it clear he feels the same way.

McCarthy’s eyes popped at the utterance, but he gathered himself and leaned into the mic as the room was still doubled over.

“That was awesome,” McCarthy gushed.

For all the ranting and raving at the pick when it was first made, it’s actually easy to see why the Cowboys front office fell in love with Smith.

The feeling is clearly mutual.

“Wow, I’m really a Dallas Cowboy,” Smith marveled. “It’s the biggest blessing I’ve ever had in my life. I’m going to make the most of it.”

One press conference in, he’s off to a great start.

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The Last OG: Cowboys’ Zack Martin only looks up to Larry Allen, and he’s closing in fast

John Niland. Blaine Nye. Herb Scott. Nate Newton. Larry Allen. To think, Zack Martin stands among these all-time greats and has an excellent chance of sitting atop the totem of best offensive guards in Dallas Cowboys history. Martin has spent six …

John Niland. Blaine Nye. Herb Scott. Nate Newton. Larry Allen.

To think, Zack Martin stands among these all-time greats and has an excellent chance of sitting atop the totem of best offensive guards in Dallas Cowboys history.  Martin has spent six seasons in the league, yet he is as decorated or more honored than almost every hallowed name on that list. With six Pro Bowls to his name, he’s already tied for second-most at the position within the franchise with Niland and Newton. He stands alone in second place with four First-Team All-Pro designations.

Only Allen’s incomprehensible 11 Pro Bowls and seven First-Team All-Pro nods stands in front of him, and Martin’s level of play indicates that if he wants to add another seven or eight years to his resume he could threaten those marks, too. Allen is by and large seen as the best offensive lineman in Cowboys’ history. He was named to two different All-Decade teams and the NFL’s 100th anniversary squad. Martin has that kind of opportunity.

The Notre Dame tackle was drafted in 2014, and after spending just 60% of the decade in the pros, he was named to the 2010 All-Decade team himself.  If his play in 2019 is any indication, he stands a great chance of making the next one. According to Pro-Football-Reference’s Approximate Value metric, Martin’s 2019 was his best yet, earning him a 15 on the season.

The 6-foot-4, 315 pound dominator in both run blocking and pass protection has allowed eight sacks, per Pro Football Focus… in his career. He pitched a shutout in 2019 and only committed two penalties, both in the first week of the season.

To put his pass blocking prowess in perspective, over his six seasons he’s faced 3,711 pass blocking snaps. He’s only allowed 95 pressures and only committed 18 penalties. To put his run-blocking acumen in focus, Dallas has boasted the NFL’s leading rusher (yards per game)  four times in Martin’s six seasons, and the outright leader on three occasions.

Since 1987 there have only been 16 guards with two or more first-team All-Pro designations. Martin’s one of four players on this list with less than 10 years experience, and was the earliest entrant at three years prior to Indianapolis’ Quentin Nelson joining. Of the 10 on this list eligible for the Hall of Fame, five are already in and that doesn’t include Newton, a bona fide snub.

Draft Stuff

Here’s a look in the past at Dane Brugler’s spot-on analysis of Martin coming out of Notre Dame.

SUMMARY: A three-star high school recruit, Martin was mostly offered by Big Ten and other Midwest programs, enrolling at Notre Dame in 2009 and redshirting. He earned the starting LT job in 2010 and held that post for the last four seasons, never missing a game for the Irish over his career – 52 career starts (50 LT, 2 RT).

Martin has quick, controlled movements and is already at a NFL pace. He sets up quickly to extend and absorb contact and routinely appears one step ahead of rushers – very smart and seasoned. Martin lacks elite lateral quickness and length and can find himself bending too much at the waist, which is why he does his best work in a phone booth and in short-areas. He won’t test off the charts physically, but he’s very consistent, versatile and durable with the competitive temperament and graduate level intellect for the position – borderline top-15 prospect who should be able to hold up at tackle, but projects as an All-Pro guard and is best suited inside.

Nailed it.

Martin was part of an iconic draft class in 2014. Taken with the No. 16 pick, he’ll always be linked with QB Johnny Manziel because owner Jerry Jones played up the club’s interest in the Texas A&M wild card, but he’s more accurately a contemporary of DT Aaron Donald. The two will both enter Canton one day and could warrant consideration of best ever at their positions. Also in the draft class, DE Khalil Mack, wideouts Mike Evans and Odell Beckham, Jr. and of course Cowboys teammate DeMarcus Lawrence.

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Salary Breakdown

The Cowboys wisely rewarded Martin with a new deal prior to the 2018 season, at the time making him the highest-paid guard in league history. The new money averaged out to $14 million per season.

Only one player has since signed a bigger long-term deal

7-Year, $93.341 M ; $40 M guaranteed

Year

Base Salary

Prorated SB

Roster Bonus

Cap Hit
2018 $2,000,000 $4,000,000 $0 $6,000,000
2019 $10,000,000 $4,000,000 $0 $14,000,000
2020 $11,000,000
($8,000,000)		 $4,000,000 $0 $15,000,000
2021 $11,000,000 $4,000,000 $0 $15,000,000
2022 $11,841,000 $4,000,000 $0 $15,841,000
2023 $13,500,000 $0 $13,500,000
2024 $13,000,000 $1,000,000 $14,000,000
TOTAL $72,341,000 $20,000,000 $1,000,000 $93,341,000

Videos and Film Study

There is no better OL savant than Duke Manyweather. He joins Dan Hatman to break down Martin’s two 2019 games against Eagles DT Fletcher Cox.

More film study from the guys at Cover 0.

Martin was a Top 60 player in the NFL’s countdown last year, he’ll likely rank higher in 2020.

This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. Up next is OT Brandon Knight.

| Antwaun Woods | Tyrone Crawford | Trysten Hill | Jalen Jelks |
| Dontari Poe | Randy Gregory | Gerald McCoy | Dorance Armstrong |
| L.P. Ladouceur | DeMarcus Lawrence | Blake Jarwin | CeeDee Lamb |
| Cole Hikutini | Dalton Schultz | Noah Brown | Sean McKeon |
| Ventell Bryant | Jon’vea Johnson | Blake Bell | Justin Hamilton |
| Cody Wichmann | Tyron Smith | Ladarius Hamilton |
| Neville Gallimore | Terence Steele | Joe Looney | La’el Collins

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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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Cowboys News: 2020 breakout candidates, Dak backups, Aldon Smith is huge

Also, small-school studs, draft day prospects via video chat, Jerry Jones tops another list, and should players be working out together?

To hear one NFL coach tell it, Dallas came a lot closer to losing wide receiver Amari Cooper than Cowboys fans probably want to hear. And to hear one NFL insider tell it, the league should come down like a hammer on its quarterback’s workouts with an ex-teammate on the comeback trail.

The club has released more footage from virtual interviews with a pair of draft prospects, the new defender has kept himself in shape after four years away, and the team owner tops another list. Plus a tech tweak for draft day, a deep dive into the defense, a backup plan at quarterback, a big day on a bum shoulder for the rushing king, and a shout-out to the small-school studs. All the Cowboys news that’s fit to link, coming right up…

Cowboys almost got sniped on Amari Cooper by Redskins, who were in pursuit ‘up to the very end’ :: Yahoo Sports

All’s well that ends well, but Dallas nearly lost its WR1 to their rivals from DC. New Washington coach Ron Rivera has revealed that the club was playing legitimate hardball in an attempt to lure the four-time Pro Bowler away.

Florio: Dez-Dak workouts violate stay-at-home orders, NFL should ‘do something’ :: Cowboys Wire

During these strict shelter-in-place times, should Cowboys fans be bothered by the joint workouts between free agent receiver Dez Bryant and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott? Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk is, and he’s calling for the league to take action.

New Cowboys pass rusher Aldon Smith up to nearly 290 pounds after four-year hiatus from NFL:: CBS Sports 

The Cowboys new edge rusher is up to a “monstrous” 287 pounds- but with very low body fat- after four years away from football.

WATCH: CB Kristian Fulton interview released in Cowboys draft prep video:: Cowboys Wire

The Cowboys have an interview with early-round talent Kristian Fulton out of LSU.

Cowboys Looking To Strike D-Line Gold Again:: The Mothership

After veterans contributed mightily on the defensive line in 2019, the Cowboys look to get more of the same from Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, and Aldon Smith.

Ultimate mock draft: All 32 NFL teams will test virtual tech :: Cowboys Wire

In preparation for what will surely be the strangest NFL draft in league history, each team will do a trial run of the technology needed to make actual shelter-in-place picks on April 23.

There’s a new richest man in Dallas in Forbes’s annual billionaires ranking:: Dallas Morning News 

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is the new top dog in Dallas in the financial magazine’s latest billionaire rankings.

Why the Cowboys were right to let Byron Jones leave in free agency:: Blogging The Boys 

Byron Jones is a top-tier corner, but were the Cowboys right in letting him leave?

Best small-college studs ever for all 32 NFL teams: Payton, Rice, McNair and more :: ESPN

Shopping for collegiate talent from the powerhouse programs is easy. But sometimes the brightest stars turn out to be the ones who were hardest to find on a map. This fun list looks at each team’s best small-school gem. The Cowboys had several Hall of Famers to choose from, but in the end, Todd Archer picked the pride of Sonoma State who went to eleven Pro Bowls in 12 seasons.

Cowboys 2020 Draft Breakdown: Defensive Edition:: Inside The Star 

A breakdown of what the Cowboys need defensively based on their current roster.

25 possibilities to backup Dak Prescott in 2020 come from all over :: CowboysWire

A comprehensive look at the veteran free agent market at QB, draft possibilities and veterans who may shake free after or during the draft.

Cowboys poised for breakout seasons in 2020: Blake Jarwin, three others set to make the leap :: CBS Sports

Patrik Walker looks at four players ready to have big seasons and emerge from the shadows; two on each side of the ball.

Doc of the day: Emmitt Smith’s greatest moment :: The Mothership

Hit the rewind button for a dramatic look at the defining moment of the rushing champ’s career, when he carried the 1993 squad to a season-ending overtime win and division title… all with a separated shoulder practically hanging out of his torso.