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Football is upon us with first players reporting to The Star, and there is a great piece on Dak Prescott you need to read.
Ezekiel Elliott case suspended by Dallas Police Department - RJ Ochoa, Blogging The Boys
With the victim apparently ducking the police, and conflicting stories from the witnesses on the scene, the Dallas PD has suspended (not closed) the investigation into the assault case where Ezekiel Elliott was either involved or a bystander. But that does nothing to clear things up with the league office, unfortunately.
One has to wonder, now that the Dallas Police Department has suspended the case, if the NFL will look into this further. After all, when the Columbus Police Department did not press charges against Elliott after last summer’s alleged domestic violence incident the NFL began its own investigation that has been going on for a year now.
Even if the NFL decides not to look into Sunday’s incident, this does not preclude Elliott from any sort of punishment or suspension for last July’s allegations. We now know that the Dallas PD has moved on, will the NFL? Will we get word on a resolution from last July? For now, we wait.
Let's review the weirdest Dallas Cowboys week in a very long time - Kate Hairopoulos, SportsDay
Jerry Jones was asked about the Elliott situation.
So, what exactly is the Dallas Cowboys' and Jerry Jones' message to Elliott and to the other Cowboys about their behavior off the field, with four long nights ahead before training camp?
"The biggest message is not one that has to be stated," Jones said. "That is that your actions impact an entire team, impact an entire fan base, there's a lot of responsibility there. To the team it's a reminder of the interest that's in your actions and behavior."
Jason Garrett -- Dallas Cowboys still 'believe' in Ezekiel Elliott - Todd Archer, ESPN
Jason Garrett spoke in his usual non-specific but always positive way about the Elliott situation.
"We're still gathering information on what that whole situation was," Garrett said. "Zeke's someone we believe very strongly in as a person and as a football player, and we're going to continue to believe in him and try to put a structure around him -- and all of our players -- to help them make great decisions and grow on and off the field."
Suspension would cost Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott financially - Todd Archer, ESPN
The potential suspension of Elliott would not just hurt the team. It would hit him pretty hard in the bank account.
Elliott’s base salaries for 2017-19 are worth $1.584 million, $2.718 million and $3.853 million. If he were to miss a game (or games) because of a suspension, he would still make those amounts for as long as he is on the roster, but they would no longer be guaranteed if he were to suffer an injury that would end his career.
Elliott also would have to repay close to $240,000 in signing-bonus money he has received for each game missed.
Now for some more positive things.
Dak’s Preparation For Season 2 Began Long Before Becoming Cowboys Leader - David Helman, Dallas Cowboys
Recently, there have been many skilled and talented writers laid off by major media outlets, with FOX Sports completely abandoning written words in favor of video. And that is a shame, because well-written pieces can go into depth and tell a story that no short video clip can come close to approaching. In this long, detailed, and well-researched piece, Helman shows us just what good writing can bring to the table.
It might sound like a new story in Dallas, Texas, or across the NFL landscape. But there are plenty of people who aren’t surprised. As shocking as his rise might seem to some, it was as plain as day to many others.
Chief among those might be his family, highlighted by his mother Peggy, a pivotal figure in her son’s story. But something you’ll learn about Dak Prescott is how much further that support system stretches. From his time as an unheralded high school recruit, to a college football legend, to the face of a professional franchise, he’s had no shortage of doubters – but it has never taken him long to turn them into believers.
Maybe more than anything else, that’s Dak Prescott’s narrative. It’s not just the work he puts in, but the people he wins over along the way. And when you familiarize yourself with that story, it’s easier to see that this was coming all along.
Dak Stat Pack: Play-action and other things Cowboys QB excels at - K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire
Dak Prescott wasn't just very good for a rookie. He was one of the best in the league in several categories as a quarterback, including his execution of play action.
The threat of Ezekiel Elliott, who finished fourth in MVP voting, was an obvious help to Prescott and the Cowboys offense. Teams had to respect the threat of the run, and that made the fake a deadly weapon, which Prescott executed exquisitely. Take a look around the league, not everyone sells a play-fake as well as Prescott did as a rook.
Don’t get it twisted though. While Elliott led the NFL in rush attempts with 322, the Cowboys as a team finished No. 18 with 408 attempts. The offense was well-balanced.
Dallas Cowboys rookies, some vets get head start to training camp - Todd Archer, ESPN
The full team doesn't officially report to Oxnard until Saturday, but with the first players reporting early at the Star, football is now underway.
The rookies -- drafted and undrafted -- and some veterans will congregate at the Cowboys' practice facilities, The Star, on Wednesday for the first of three days of workouts before the whole team flies to Oxnard, California, for the start of training camp Saturday. The players will go through film work and walk-throughs on what to expect when training camp begins in full next week.
The Cowboys' first full-squad practice is Monday, and if they follow form on their past plans under coach Jason Garrett, they will have their first full-padded practice a week from today.
2017 Cowboys training camp: 3 biggest hurdles for new rookies - K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire
Our old friend K.D. takes a look at some of the challenges facing the early reporting rookies.
Do the Cowboys need to carry six cornerbacks?
That’s the challenge for sixth-round pick Marquez White out of Florida State. It was a deep draft at the cornerback position. In another year, White might have challenged to be drafted at the end of the fourth round and as such his spot would be more secure. Dallas drafted two corners ahead of him while also signing their most expensive free agent at the position in Nolan Carroll.
White was impressive down the stretch of the offseason program. He is Dallas’ tallest corner, and in a division with a multitude of towering receiving threats, could come in handy if he proves the big stage isn’t too big for him.
20 Questions: With Personnel Changes, Can This Defense Be Better in 2017? - Dallas Cowboys staff
The Dallas defense is the place with real room for improvement, but there are a lot of questions to be answered. The writers at the mothership offer varying opinions. Here is Rob Phillips':
I think the pass rush has a real chance to get better -- and it's been better in terms of sacks the last two years -- if DeMarcus Lawrence and Charles Tapper can stay healthy, if Taco Charlton contributes early and if Damontre Moore builds on a good offseason. If those things happen, then suddenly Rod Marinelli has a solid rotation of five or six edge rushers, not to mention what Maliek Collins adds at the three technique. The secondary's best strength last year was limiting big plays. A younger, more athletic group could mean allowing more big plays but producing more takeaways, thus becoming more dynamic. We'll just have to see.
Report: Cowboys interested in Justin Durant as possible veteran insurance at linebacker - OCC, Blogging The Boys
Although there is still hope that Jaylon Smith will become a real star for the Cowboys, his capability to perform is still unproven. With some other issues in the linebacking corps, the team may be looking for other answers - and word is emerging that they may go back to a very familiar name to provide depth.
After Damien Wilson's recent arrest for assault with a deadly weapon, combined with the ongoing uncertainty about Jaylon Smith's health, and backup linebacker Mark Nzeocha recently undergoing a knee scope, there had been speculation about potentially bringing in a veteran linebacker like David Harris or Daryl Washington. But what that discussion showed is there aren't really a lot of options currently available that could be an immediate and reliable help for the Cowboys.
Justin Durant, who will turn 32 in September, is a name that hadn't garnered a lot of consideration, but now it looks like the Cowboys are looking at him as an option once again. The Cowboys know Durant well; he was in Dallas from 2013-2014, and even became a defensive captain in 2014 before leaving for Atlanta in 2015, only to re-up in Dallas in July last year - and we could be seeing a repeat of that this year.
Innovative Baylor Scott & White Facility At The Star Hits Construction Milestone - Nick Eatman, Dallas Cowboys
While all eyes are on training camp and potential suspensions, the mega-complex that is the Star at Frisco continues to grow, with the Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research facility hitting a major milestone.
Jim Hinton, chief executive officer for Baylor Scott & White, said the development reached the uppermost vertical point of construction.
“Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research at The Star represents a first of its kind collaboration between an NFL team, a health system like Baylor Scott & White, and a school district (Frisco Independent School District) that is focusing on preventing injuries and promoting wellness for athletes of all levels,” Hinton said.
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