News: BTB: Cowboys News: Projection Has Cowboys Finishing 2nd To Giants In NFC East

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All of the latest Dallas Cowboys news for you to enjoy on your Monday morning.

Game-by-game predictions for the 2017 schedule: Will the Cowboys' NFC East reign continue? - Jon Machota, SportsDay

Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News takes an early look at all 16 regular season games for the upcoming season, and predicts a 10-6 record for the Cowboys.


Despite the draft and OTAs and minicamp, I'm sticking with my original prediction. The Cowboys fall short of winning the division, but they clinch the wild-card berth with a Week 17 victory. Dallas ends up reaching the playoffs for the third time in four seasons with a 10-6 record. The Giants win the NFC East by going 11-5 for the second consecutive season.

At least he has the Cowboys winning the season opener, and from there on out anything can happen.


Week 1 vs. New York Giants: 7:30 p.m. Sun., Sept. 10 (Ch. 5)

Prediction: WIN (1-0)

The outcome of this game recently hasn't had a significant impact on the rest of the season. The Cowboys beat the Giants in the opener two years ago but only won three more times that season. Dallas lost to New York to open the season last year, and then ended up going 13-3.

The Fatal Flaw For Each NFC East Team That Could Crush Their 2017 Season - Michael Sisemore, Blogging The Boys

With football season quickly approaching, BTB’s own Michael Sisemore takes a look at the one thing that can prevent each team in the division from taking the NFC East crown.


Washington Commanders

Fatal Flaw: The Front Office

Don’t let a potentially solid draft class fool you here, Washington’s front office is a mess. It’s a shame too because they were actually on the upward swing under Scot McCloughan. Regardless of circumstances that may or may not have led to his firing, the aftermath and folks around the league have deemed it shady at best. They now are back in the firm grips of Bruce Allen and that’s a mistake. Allen along with the owner Dan Snyder has been at the forefront of the organization’s worst decision making. Not all fatal flaws have to be on-field related but let’s tie this one in.


Dak Prescott's football life: 3,000 campers in a week - Todd Archer, ESPN

In the midst of his first offseason as the starting quarterback for America’s Team, Dak Prescott has made sure to give back. He has hosted camps to kids from Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The whole experience has humbled Dak.


On Sunday at Lake Dallas High School, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott wrapped up a week's worth of football camps in the three states that propelled him to become a household name across the country.

In Starkville, Mississippi, more than 1,400 kids attended the Dak Prescott Football ProCamp at Mississippi State. In his hometown of Haughton, Louisiana, more than 700 kids attended. Sunday's camp featured 900 kids.

"It's humbling just to be a part of this and be able to have my name on top of this camp," Prescott said. "And just the turnout of the kids and interacting with these guys, this is what it's about, to use my platform to help change their lives or make their days or summers or whatever better to help improve the community in any way I can."


Had a great time at my @adidasFballUS @ProCamps in StarkVegas. #teamadidas pic.twitter.com/Uy6w3Vq4yH

— Dak Prescott (@dak) June 20, 2017

It was great to be home in Haughton to host my @adidasFballUS @ProCamps #teamadidas pic.twitter.com/yCramJawDE

— Dak Prescott (@dak) June 22, 2017

Dak Prescott uses celebrity to give back - Charean Williams, Pro Football Talk

Since arriving in Dallas, Dak Prescott has seen his national popularity rise more and more. From taking the Cowboys to the number one seed in the NFC to making the Pro Bowl and winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Dak Prescott is on his way to becoming a household name for football fans. Despite all of his success, he has remained humble and continues to give back to the community.


As a successful quarterback of the Cowboys, Prescott has become a celebrity. Everyone wants to be associated with him.

Prescott called on Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Charles Haley and several current Cowboys, including Cole Beasley, to help with his camp Sunday, which drew more than 900 kids.

“I didn’t think it would be within a year,” Prescott said, via Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News. “But I’ve also envisioned being able to do something like this [with football camps in his name]. It’s been an amazing week.”

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott wraps up camp tour with local event - Kate Hairopoulos, SportsDay

Dak has been a busy guy, as the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year has hosted camps ranging from the Dallas area to back in Starkville, Mississippi. He wrapped things up recently.


"I didn't think it would be within a year," Prescott said Sunday as the sun beam downed and campers ran around the Lake Dallas stadium field. "But I've also envisioned being able to do something like this. It's been an amazing week to be able to start off in Mississippi and have 1,400 kids and go to Haughton where I grew up and have the number that we had (720) and then being here with two days and having over 900 kids."

Prescott said he received help at the Dallas-area camp from teammates and former Cowboys, including appearances by Michael Irving, Cole Beasley, Ryan Switzer and Charles Haley. Prescott turned up to participate in Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki's charity baseball game Saturday in between local camps.

What Can We Expect from Dak Prescott in Second Season? - Jess Haynie, Inside The Star

How will Dak’s season on the field go in 2017? Jess Haynie of Inside The Star takes a look of what we can expect from Prescott in year two.


The term “sophomore slump” is heard too often in football. While there is evidence to support it, there are many examples of players who did not regress in their second year. In fact, many quarterbacks who started as rookies had their worst times in that first season and then steadily improved. Our own Troy Aikman is a fine example, as was Peyton Manning.

The player you’ve heard Dak Prescott compared to a lot in the last year is Tom Brady. Both were taken in the later rounds of the draft and found themselves starting unexpectedly due to injuries. They were also linked by Prescott breaking Brady’s record for most passes thrown before getting his first career interception.

Top 5 players Cowboys regret passing on in 2016 draft: from a dynamic return man to pair of pass rushers - David Moore, SportsDay

Dak was obviously a part of a rookie class that also featured Ezekiel Elliott, Anthony Brown, Maliek Collins, Charles Tapper, and Jaylon Smith. But who do the Cowboys wish they could have added in last year’s draft? Moore gives his five, one of which is Noah Spence.


Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky

Drafted 39th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Defensive end Noah Spence got off to a slow start for Tampa Bay but showed promise late. He started three games before the season was done and finished with 5.5 sacks and forced three fumbles. He was named Defensive Rookie of the Month for November with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Spence was taken five picks after the Cowboys selected linebacker Jaylon Smith.

Cowboys player profiles: TE Geoff Swaim has proven his value in run game, but can he hold off James Hanna? - David Moore, SportsDay

Dan Swaim make an impact in 2017? Moore takes a look at one of the Cowboys’ tight ends.


2017 outlook:

Swaim should be cleared to practice in training camp. So should Hanna, who returns from knee surgery that forced him to miss all of last season.

Both players have proven to be effective blockers. The question is will the Cowboys go with two blocking tight ends behind Jason Witten or want one of the players they keep to give them some offensive threat?

Swaim will likely have to hold off Hanna if he wants to resume his role from last season.

10 things to know about Cowboys safety Jeff Heath, including his Division I offers outside of football - SportsDay

Think you know Jeff Heath? Think again. The SportsDay staff lists ten different things you may not know about the Cowboys safety.

Heath had the opportunity to play soccer in college.


Jeff Heath, soccer star?

Heath got more attention as a high school recruit in soccer than he did in football.

But did his dad still think he'd be playing in the NFL one day?

"Absolutely not," Mike Heath, Jeff's father told M Live in 2013. "Jeff came out of high school with a couple of soccer offers for (division 1 schools). That was the sport that, if he was going to be scholarshipped in a sport, it was going to be for soccer."

He has a pretty big family, too.


Extended family.

For his starting debut, the Heath family had around 80 tickets set aside for Jeff's first game against the the team he grew up rooting for from 40 minutes down the road in Lake Orion.

Ezekiel Elliott mocks Dirk Nowitzki's running style - Alex Butler, UPI

Dallas Mavericks great Dirk Nowitzki hosted a fun Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game in Frisco. Dak, Zeke, and Tyron Smith were some of the notable attendees. Naturally, Zeke wanted to have some fun with the 7-footer.


Nowitzki, 39, does look a bit odd in a baseball uniform, mostly due to the fact that he stands at 7-feet tall. The Dallas Mavericks recently declined the 19-year veteran's $25 million option for next season, according to ESPN. But the franchise will likely negotiate a new deal for the 13-time All-Star.

Elliott, the 2016 NFL rushing champion, is among the athletes featured in ESPN's upcoming Body Issue.


Zeke just told me I run like a baby giraffe.... is that a compliment? @EzekielElliott

— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) June 25, 2017

We gotta get you in speed school lol https://t.co/KdWUIFMo5s

— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) June 25, 2017

Gotta love Zeke!

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