Also, new COVID protocols, the NFL’s offer to cancel the preseason, rookie signings, and a former Cowboys star lands a head coaching gig.
It was just another manic Monday in Cowboys Nation. Rookies were signing contracts on the eve of training camp while a veteran superstar was debating whether he’ll come to camp at all. The league was simultaneously scrapping preseason games and instituting coronavirus protocols.
And during it all, there was still time to imagine CeeDee Lamb as a rusher, to wonder what a certain free agent edge rusher might bring to the table, to congratulate a former Dallas dominator on his new job, to fight over Madden ratings, and nerd out over a new metric that could re-ignite the debate over just how important running backs really are. Here’s the News and Notes dump for July 20.
With the 2020 campaign looming and a pregnant wife at home, the defensive standout has a difficult decision to make in the middle of a global health crisis. “But my No. 1 concern is will I be able to see my family and be there for my daughter’s birth?” Lawrence said.
Not surprising: rookie sensation CeeDee Lamb is expected to be a breakout impact starter in the Dallas offense. Perhaps surprising: the electrifying wideout may rack up rushing yards, too. “Look for second-year offensive play caller Kellen Moore to get Lamb touches as an outside receiver, inside receiver, and ballcarrier on jet sweeps.”
Defensive end Bradlee Anae, the Cowboys’ fifth-round draft pick out of Utah, and quarterback Ben DiNucci, the team’s seventh-round selection from James Madison, both agreed to terms with the club on Monday.
The league and players union have reached an agreement that players, coaches, and designated staff who interact with them will undergo COVID-19 testing daily throughout the first two weeks of training camp. Testing could drop to every other day if the test positivity rate drops below 5%. Also, players will be required to test negative more than once before reporting for team activities.
The league has reportedly acquiesced to the NFLPA’s call for no 2020 preseason games. The move will give teams more acclimation time and reduce player exposure during the exhibition contests.
Would signing the former top overall draft pick make up for the front office’s bungling of the Dak Prescott contract situation? No. Would adding the three-time Pro Bowler who’s had multiple nine-sack seasons greatly improve the Cowboys’ defensive line? Absolutely.
Zack Martin at 98. Amari Cooper at 93. La’el Collins at 87. Dak Prescott at 84. Chidobe Awuzie at… 82? See who came in too high and who got robbed in the game’s latest ratings.
Former defensive standout Greg Ellis is the next head football coach at Texas College, located in Tyler. But he’ll have plenty of time to ramp up for his new gig; earlier this month, the Steers became the first NAIA team to cancel their 2020 football season.
Analytics nerds, rejoice. There’s a new metric in town. Data scientists from around the world participated in a contest to come up with a way to forecast how many yards a ball carrier should gain from the moment of handoff. It’s heady stuff that factors in “the relative location, speed, and acceleration features of every player on the field” to come up with things “like first-down probability and touchdown probability” on any given rushing attempt.
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