Tag: Tyrone Crawford

DL Tyrone Crawford officially announces retirement from Cowboys, NFL

After Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said last week that defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford would retire, he made it official on Tuesday.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy let it slip during his press conference last week that nine-year veteran defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford was planning to retire. Now, the speculation, if there was any, is over as Crawford made it official via his Twitter account in a heartfelt goodbye to the organization, his teammates, and the fans.

Crawford was a third-round pick in 2012 and was the first of a long list of players the Cowboys have drafted out of Boise State that includes Orlando Scandrick, DeMarcus Lawrence, Leighton Vander Esch, and Cedrick Wilson. While he may not have been a dominant player, Crawford’s consistency and leadership were his trademarks.

After not recording a sack as a rookie and missing the entire 2013 season due to a torn Achilles, things started to pick up for Crawford in 2014 when he amassed three sacks and 29 quarterback pressures. The Cowboys felt so good about his performance that they signed him to a five-year, $45 million deal in 2015 with $25.7 million in guaranteed money.

He was limited with a torn rotator cuff that required offseason surgery, however he still managed to produce five sacks and career highs in total tackles (35) and snaps played (706). This was the beginning of a stretch that lasted through 2018 when Crawford recorded 19 of his 25 career sacks and never had less than four in a season during that span.

The last two seasons haven’t been so kind to Crawford. In 2019, he played in just four games and only produced one sack before being placed on injured reverse after undergoing season-ending hip surgery. He was placed on the PUP list in July of 2020 before being activated in August. However, he would find himself on the reserve/COVID-19 list in November and racked up just two sacks and a career-low in tackles for a full season with 14.

Crawford didn’t produce that kind of numbers that warranted his salary but he was a solid NFL defensive lineman that gave the Cowboys flexibility with his ability to play on the interior and as an outside pass rusher. Even with his injuries, he played in at least 14 games in seven of the eight seasons he was on the field. He was also seen as a leader in the locker room which is a trait that goes beyond what happens on the gridiron.

He won’t be remembered in the same breath as Charles Haley or DeMarcus Ware in the eyes of Cowboys fans, but he earned the respect of the guys he played with which can’t be undervalued. Now, the next chapter of his life begins, it will just be without the bright lights of AT&T Stadium.

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McCarthy not ready to give up on Aldon Smith’s return to Cowboys

The Dallas coach refuted reports that the team has already decided to move on from the defensive end who made his NFL comeback in 2020.

Former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett typically played things very close to the vest in his press conferences. He controlled the message tightly, to the point of frequently regurgitating meaningless coachspeak and recycling generic soundbites in lieu of giving actual answers to the questions asked.

Mike McCarthy also prefers to hold back information whenever he can, but every once in a while, he surprises everyone with a moment of unexpected frankness.

Or two.

Despite widely-shared news that defensive end Aldon Smith has been notified by the club that they’ll move on without him this season, McCarthy told a slightly different story that doesn’t close the book on Smith’s return to an evolving Dallas defense.

“First, Aldon Smith: that’s still fluid. I personally haven’t moved on. I was in a conversation yesterday about Aldon, so we’ll see how that works out moving forward,” McCarthy said during his first press conference of the offseason. “In general, you really don’t want players that can do one thing. If a guy is just really good at one component of his game, he’s got to be the best in the business at it. The ability to play a 3-technique, also play a 4-inside shade technique, to come out and play a 5, Aldon can play the 6, he can play the 9. So that’s the flexibility that you’re looking for. The three veteran linemen that we signed [Carlos Watkins, Brent Urban, and Tarell Basham] all also have that capability. When I talk about the growth, talking about 3-4 versus 4-3, the variation of guys being able to play multiple techniques and have the length… Aldon fits that. So we’re still talking there.”

During the same press conference, McCarthy also- somewhat accidentally- blurted out that Tyrone Crawford would be retiring, stealing the thunder from the defensive lineman being able break the news himself.

“Tyrone just came to me right away in the exit interview process, and he’s…” McCarthy stopped himself and looked off-camera to the team’s public relations guru Rich Dalrymple.

“Should I address this now, or…?”

With the cat already out of the bag, McCarthy continued.

“I’m sorry, I guess I did. I’m sorry. He’s going to move on. He’s going to retire. But he’s going to be here in the area; he lives right down the road, and I’ve actually seen him a couple times since.”

The team posted to social media after the press conference, confirming the coach’s possibly-premature reveal.

Cowboys fans intrigued by what they saw from Aldon Smith in his 2020 comeback season can only hope that McCarthy also ends up being prescient about the door still being open for his return in 2021.

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Breaking: Cowboys HC McCarthy announces Tyrone Crawford retiring

The Dallas Cowboys head coach hasn’t been heard from since the end of the regular season. He was conspicuously absent from the press conference announcing the contract agreement with quarterback Dak Prescott, but in the midst of free agency he held …

The Dallas Cowboys head coach hasn’t been heard from since the end of the regular season. He was conspicuously absent from the press conference announcing the contract agreement with quarterback Dak Prescott, but in the midst of free agency he held a live press conference for the first time in 2021. Among the litany of topics he covered, he was asked about the potential retirements of two long-time and lifelong Cowboys.

While linebacker Sean Lee is still deciding on what he will do, defensive line leader Tyrone Crawford apparently alerted the team early in January.

Crawford was with the team for eight seasons over nine years, missing the 2013 campaign due to injury. He only played in four games in 2019 and ended up having double hip surgery following the year and he was unable to regain the play level he had in 2018, despite suiting up for all 16 games in the 2020 season.

Crawford was selected with the No. 81 pick in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft. One of the first of many players to emerge in the now infamous Boise State to Dallas pipeline, the Canadian born lineman was originally a 3-4 defensive end who transitioned to multiple roles in a 40 front.

Crawford was a steady contributor, totaling 19 sacks from 2015 through 2018, while being the swiss-army knife for Rod Marinelli’s defense. Crawford spent time as the right defensive end and three technique, often commanding double teams that allowed exterior players to rack up sack totals.

For his career he has 25 sacks, 65 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles and 194 tackles.

Cowboys DE Tyrone Crawford has surgery on brink of free agency

The eight-year veteran gave an update last week from his hospital bed; he’s set to hit free agency but is said to be considering retirement.

Another member of the Cowboys has undergone a surgical procedure to begin their offseason. After wideout Amari Cooper went under the knife for a minor ankle procedure and linebacker Jaylon Smith had his wrist operated on, word comes now that defensive end Tyrone Crawford has had some sort of leg surgery.

The eight-year veteran gave an update last Thursday via his Instagram account which shows him in a hospital bed “straight after post-surgery,” the 31-year-old says. “Got it done,” Crawford reports as he shows a shot of his right foot propped up in a plastic boot.

The Boise State alum played sparingly for Dallas in 2020, taking just 40% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps. He was placed briefly on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in November after spending the first half of the season coming back from hip injuries and surgery that prematurely derailed his 2019 campaign. One of the locker room’s leaders, he served as one of the team’s on-the-field captains as recently as Week 16 versus Philadelphia.

Crawford is on the cusp of becoming a free agent, having signed a lucrative five-year contract back in 2015. Thought to be a cut candidate this past offseason (mainly a salary cap consideration), Crawford might have solidified his stock with a strong 2020; the versatile Canadian can play either end or tackle, and the Cowboys’ defensive line was in desperate need of a hero for much of the season. But the former third-round draft pick was in on just 14 tackles and two sacks this year.

Crawford was said to be considering retirement before the season came to an end. Rehabbing his leg/foot will now give him plenty of time to mull that possibility over in full.

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Amari Cooper, Tyron Crawford named Cowboys Week 16 captains

The captains for the Dallas Cowboys as they set to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16.

The time until the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are set to take the field is best counted in minutes. With both teams fighting for their playoff lives, the Cowboys have announced the captains for the Week 16 divisional game.

First up is Tyrone Crawford, who may be playing his final home game in a Cowboys uniform. There’s little other reason in terms of ability in between the lines, but he’s always been the consummate professional for a team that’s often sorely needed it.

Wide receiver Amari Cooper will be holding it down on the offensive side of the ball. He may be having his best season in an already strong career in 2020, as he is set to hit 1,000 yards on the day despite playing with four different quarterbacks on the year, only one of which was any good.

Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie is the third captain. He missed the majority of the season with a hamstring injury but has resumed his starting duties since his return in Week 11.

News: Cowboys staff enters bubble, Colombo fired in NY, Emmitt’s salute to service

Also, the Cowboys get two off the Reserve/COVID list, and DeMarcus Lawrence promises a better showing than the team gave a month ago.

COVID-19 dominates the Cowboys’ headlines just days before their Week 11 trip to Minnesota. Just as two players come off the virus watch list, the Dallas coaching staff takes up residence in the posh hotel next to the team’s headquarters. This comes as the league announces that all teams will operate under stricter protocols for the rest of 2020. But those measures only help player and coach safety; now eight fans who have tested positive report that they had recently been in attendance at AT&T Stadium for Cowboys home games. Uncertain times indeed as the league heads into the home stretch of this surreal season.

On the field, DeMarcus Lawrence is promising better things than the team showed even last month. The Cowboys’ injury report shows only two players not participating in the Wednesday session, and Chidobe Awuzie is set to finally make his anticipated return to action. A former Cowboy gets his pink slip from Big Blue, a team icon reaches out to salute a retired serviceman, and there’s still a decent chance that the 2-7 Cowboys could be leading the NFC East in less than two weeks’ time. Here’s the News and Notes.

Andy Dalton, Tyrone Crawford activated from Cowboys COVID-19 list

The Cowboys get two important pieces back for Week 11 as Andy Dalton and Tyrone Crawford will be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The 2020 season has been one full of bad news for the Dallas Cowboys. From injuries galore and poor production on the field, it’s been a neverending saga of disappointment. However, they just got a bit of good news.

Head coach Mike McCarthy held a press conference on 105.3 The Fan on Wednesday and said that quarterback Andy Dalton and defense lineman Tyrone Crawford will both be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Dalton was hit with a double whammy recently. In addition to being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on November 3, he was already going through concussion protocol after a brutal hit from linebacker Jon Bostic of the Washington Football Team in Week 7.

Dalton didn’t perform to the level that the Cowboys would have hoped after Dak Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury. After completing nine of his 11 passes for 111 yards and engineering a game-winning drive vs the New York Giants, he went just 43 of 73 (58.9%) in the next two games with one touchdown and three interceptions. The team scored a total of 13 points in those two games.

Team owner Jerry Jones said Dalton will be the team’s starting quarterback when all players are healthy; Dalton could return as soon as Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Crawford found himself on the reserve/COVID-19 list just days after the Cowboy’s tough Week 9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was the only game he had a significant impact for the Cowboys in 2020, including blocking an extra point. Besides that, he’s only produced five tackles and one quarterback hit all season, which all came in the first four games.

The Cowboys have a tough task Sunday with a red-hot Vikings team that’s currently on a three-game winning streak so having as many players as possible on the active roster is key.

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Tyron Smith among four Cowboys not to practice in first injury report

The Cowboys returned to practice in preparation for their Week 5 opponent in the New York Giants. The day one injury report is revealed.

Despite the Dallas Cowboys starting 1-3 on the 2020 season, there is hope in the name of the New York Giants on the horizon for Week 5. While it’s very apparent that nothing is guaranteed, the team comes into their first divisional game of the season with a few more injuries to take note of.

While starting left tackle Tyron Smith played every offensive snap for the Cowboys in their home loss against the Browns, he did not practice on Wednesday. Smith also didn’t practice last Wednesday so this is possibly a new type of veteran day off type of situation.

Center Joe Looney (knee) along with two defensive ends in Dorance Armstrong (knee) and Tyrone Crawford (ankle) sat off to the side for day one in preparation for the Giants. Cornerback Trevon Diggs (shoulder/knee) and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (knee) were listed on the injury report for day one but were both full participants in practice.

As far as their Week 5 opponents are concerned only linebacker Oshane Ximines (shoulder) sat out of practice with a shoulder concern. Defensive backs Jabrill Peppers (ankle), Adrian Colber (neck) and linebacker Kyler Fackrell (neck) were limited in today’s practice.

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Cowboys players believe they have ‘green light’ to protest from front office

One of the biggest concerns some have had as the 2020 season draws near, is outside forces derailing what could be a magical season. One threat was whether or not owner Jerry Jones would impede on any of the Dallas Cowboys players from expressing …

One of the biggest concerns some have had as the 2020 season draws near, is outside forces derailing what could be a magical season. One threat was whether or not owner Jerry Jones would impede on any of the Dallas Cowboys players from expressing themselves in the form of pregame peaceful protest.

As the club puts their finishing touches on training camp to turn their attention to next Sunday’s opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, it appears that despite Jones not talking about it on his recent radio appearances, he has conceded to give his players latitude to demonstrate how they feel, apparently including kneeling during the playing of the national anthem.

Quarterback Dak Prescott provided the first bit of insight. The club hasn’t agreed on any uniform action, but they are under the impression whatever they choose to do will be allowed by Jones, who in 2017 threatened release to any player who chose to kneel. At the time a second-year quarterback, Prescott received flack for speaking out against kneeling that season as well.

Prescott, who in the last several months has been outspoken about making and demanding change in regards to racial injustice and policy brutality, spoke to supporting teammates who chose to protest, via the Dallas Morning News.

“That’s what this country is about, the freedom to do that, the freedom to express yourself,” Prescott said. “We heard Mr. Jones talk about grace and sharing grace and having grace with players in what they want to do.

“If I had it my way, that’s exactly what we’d do is express ourselves individually but love and support one another collectively.”

Head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Prescott’s statement in his daily press briefing.

Later in the day, longtime defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford expressed more explicitly in his conference call with the media, saying the players were going to be allowed to move as they see fit in regards to how they show support on the field and help inspire the work off of it.

“We definitely have the green light on all that. But also just try to find something that is going to make a boom and not just something people look at one time and kinda just swipe by.  And go like, Oh that’s great, the Cowboys did that and swipe by it. We want to do something that makes a boom and people remember and actually create some change.”

When asked to detail what they were given the green light on, Crawford replied, “Just whatever we are feeling to express how we feel and say what we want to say.”

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Tyrone Crawford activated from PUP, on 1st-team DL with Aldon Smith

The Cowboys unveiled personnel changes and debuted new faces along their defensive line at the first practice of training camp on Friday.

Football is back. Granted, guys are wearing shorts and no pads. There are pop-up tents next to the field for cold popsicles and Gatorade breaks. Most of the hitting is being done on tackling dummies; quarterbacks are wearing bright red jerseys so they don’t get touched at all.

But no matter. The Dallas Football Cowboys are officially back at work.

Friday’s first team practice gave assembled media members an early look at the 2020 roster, and the first glimpse of a revamped defensive line that bore little resemblance to the 2019 unit.

Tyrone Crawford played sparingly last season and was ultimately shelved by hip injuries after just three tackles in four games. Today, he was back on the practice field, having passed his physical and being activated from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list.

With newly-acquired Dontari Poe still nursing a quad injury, Crawford reportedly got in some work at Poe’s defensive tackle slot next to Gerald McCoy.

That shuffling left an opening opposite DeMarcus Lawrence at defensive end. Aldon Smith, welcome back to the NFL.

Reinstated after nearly five full years out of the league, Smith, a former first-round draft pick, reportedly looked very good in Friday’s session, taking first-team reps, batting a Dak Prescott pass into the air, and almost coming away with the interception.

Everson Griffen, signed late Wednesday, still needs to pass two consecutive COVID tests before he can join his new teammates on the practice field. That could happen early next week.

It’s a lot of new faces for just one position group. It can only help that most of the Cowboys players are living at the hotel right next door to the practice facility.

“We don’t have a long training camp,” Lawrence said, according to NFL Network’s Jane Slater, explaining that the impromptu players’ bubble was a team decision. “Need to make sure we get that commitment and friendship and chemistry.”

Lawrence maintains that five hours of practice per day isn’t sufficient for proper team-building with the new guys. But for Cowboys fans everywhere, the fact that the players are even back at practice at all is welcome news indeed.

And along the Dallas defensive line, there is new and improved hope for something good. Maybe very, very good.

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