Check out today’s latest and greatest news surrounding America’s team!
There is something noticeably different about Cowboys QB Dak Prescott this off-season - Clarence Hill, Star-Telegram
Can the Cowboys franchise quarterback make a big leap in year four?
Heading into his fourth year, it is his place, his team, and his locker room more than ever.
And it has little to do with the fact that he and the Cowboys are in deep negotiations on a long-term contract extension that will pay him at least $30 million annually.
That’s simply a byproduct of the work, growth, leadership, and production that Prescott has put over the last three years since joining the team as a throw-in fourth-round pick in 2016 that has him feeling comfortable, relaxed and more emboldened than ever.
It is showing on the field as Prescott has been sharp, decisive and accurate during OTA practices, which he credits to a light coming on during last season’s run to the playoffs that has continued to shine in the offseason, almost like a Rubik’s cube opening up for him.
Dallas Cowboys: Undrafted rookie linebacker flashes early at OTAs - Steven Mullenax, The Landry Hat
It may not be Leighton Vander Esch, but this 2019 rookie sure is impressing early in OTA’s.
In this year’s draft, the Cowboys didn’t select a single linebacker with their eight total picks. Instead, the team brought in a trio of undrafted rookie free agents including Michigan State’s Andrew Dowell, Northwestern’s Nate Hall, and Nebraska’s Luke Gifford. The latter has been earmarked by DallasCowboys.com’s Bryan Broaddus as his kiss of death player to watch through OTAs.
Here’s what Broaddus had to say about the undrafted rookie linebacker’s play so far.
” … keep an eye on Luke Gifford – the linebacker out of Nebraska … there is something about his game that translates to this scheme … It appears the defensive staff is asking him to play more inside, which has allowed his instincts to shine. Gifford has some slippery traits to him. He has a feel for how to play through gaps and avoid blocks.”
Cowboys impressed with rookie who told team to ‘come get me’ - Patrik Walker, 247 Sports
More rookies impressing in OTA’s! This one in the secondary.
You can count head coach Jason Garrett in as a passenger on the [Michael] Jackson train.
”He certainly has all of the physical tools,” he said, via The Dallas Morning News. “He’s big, long, fast, physical — all the things we like in our guys. He’s best in press [coverage], and you’re talking about drafting a guy in the fifth round at a premium position with all the traits you’re looking for. Again, we liked him a lot.
”Strongly endorsed by the people in Miami on the kind of guy he is. All those things are very favorable.”
For his part, Jackson could not have been more vehement ahead of the draft regarding where he wanted to play. Whereas other prospects are keyed in on where they’re selected, for a variety of reasons, the former Miami standout had a unique take on it all. It’s likely this rare type of maturity that nudged the Cowboys’ over the line when considering who to select with the 158th-overall pick.
Next week will be a final check-in for Travis Frederick on his Guillain-Barré Syndrome - Dave Halprin, Blogging the Boys
Travis Frederick has made great strides to get back on the field, but there’s one more appointment to be 100% sure.
Travis Fredrick has, by all accounts, made great strides in his recovery from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The disease robbed the All-Pro center of his 2018 season, and threatened to do more than that but it was caught early giving Fredrick a much better chance at a full recovery. Next week, he’ll get what is described as a final check-in to determine if everything is good to go.
He has an appointment next week for a “sort of final check-in to make sure there’s no permanent damage there.” Doctors will put Frederick through a battery of tests to confirm he is good to go.
While he will have to wait until then to be sure, Frederick thinks he’s well on his way to recovery and will be ready for 2019.
“I’m just glad to be back and be able to write the next chapter in this story,” Frederick said Wednesday.
Spagnola: This Team Sure Is Picking Up Speed - Mickey Spagnola, DallasCowboys.com
The Cowboys have finally invested in some burners on both sides of the football.
We know about the linebackers, right – Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch can really run, and even at age 33 in two months Sean Lee is no slouch.
Same in the secondary with Byron Jones, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, Xavier Woods, Jeff Heath and now adding corners Mike Jackson and Chris Westry and surprisingly quick for a safety Donovan Wilson.
But up front, where defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli values speed, man oh man. We know about the quickness of DeMarcus Lawrence, Maliek Collins, Antwaun Woods, Dorance Armstrong and maybe Taco Charlton if he can stay healthy. But the Cowboys have added to that group Robert Quinn, Trysten Hill, Kerry Hyder, Jalen Jelks, Joe Jackson and depending on what the commissioner thinks, maybe even the indefinitely-suspended Randy Gregory if he returns.
An Ezekiel Elliott suspension feels unlikely, but his off-field mishaps continue to be problematic - Tim Colishaw, Sports Day
It’s hard not to agree with this...
It’s always dangerous to prowl around inside the head of Goodell in search of a future suspension or penalty. But with no arrest and about the most minimal violence one is likely to find in one of these incidents, Zeke didn’t do anything other than act like an entitled idiot.
That’s not a first for him or anything close to a first, frankly, but it’s also not grounds for suspension.
It does, as I said, represent a problem, however.
On the one hand, Elliott shows no recognition that his public behavior will be recorded and that he will be held accountable. That may not seem fair -- most of us go through our lives without our worst moments being recorded on iPhones -- but it’s the game modern athletes and celebrities are forced to play. It’s also not that hard of a game to play. When your cap hit is $7.9 million and you’re 24 years old, you ought to be able to figure it out, even though Zeke clearly hasn’t.
Cowboys’ Connor Williams Feeds Homeless in Dallas - NBC 5 Sports
Connor Williams is ready for year two, but first he’s taking care of some people in need off the field.
Cowboys’ offensive lineman Connor Williams fed the homeless in Dallas on Friday.
”Most of us are very fortunate, we don’t even realize that we know where our next meal is coming from and most of these people don’t,” Williams said.
He’s talking about the people at the Second Chance Cafe inside The Bridge Homeless Assistance Center. It’s a place where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served 365 days a year thanks to the facility’s partner agency -- The Stewpot.
”When a celebrity like Connor Williams comes,” executive director Brenda Snitzer said. “It just really touches them because it makes it real that there are other people out in the community that want to come and give back and let them know that they care and hope they’ll get some help and get off the streets.”
from Blogging The Boys - All Posts http://bit.ly/2W2AFql
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