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Latest Dallas Cowboys headlines: Scott Linehan could be the key to a more productive passing offense, and while you may find this hard to believe, there are alternatives to defensive line in the first round.
Rookie Blues Behind Him, Terrance Williams Seems Ready - Bryan Broaddus, DallasCowboys.com
Broaddus credits WR Coaching duo Derek Dooley and Keith O’Quinn with the development of Williams, especially his route running. Nick Eatman expects Williams to start next to Bryant this season, and draws a comparison to the Alvin Harper / Michael Irvin duo, with Williams being Harper.
Expert: Linehan Boosts Fantasy Value of Romo, Bryant | Scott Crisp, NBC 5 DFW
Apparently, just like it's never too early for the draft, it's never too early for fantasy football either: Scott Crisp quotes NFL.com fantasy expert Michael Fabiano on why the pass-happy Scott Linehan could give a significant boost to Tony Romo and Dez Bryant in terms of fantasy value.
"Linehan loves to throw the football," Fabiano writes. "Just ask Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. That's why his arrival in Dallas is great news for the value of both Bryant and Tony Romo. "
"Just take a look at the numbers--Romo ranked a mere 14th in pass attempts in 2013 and has thrown more than 550 passes in a season just once during his career. On the flip side, Stafford has posted 634 or more attempts in each of the last three seasons. More passes will mean more targets for Bryant, who could end up finishing as a top-three fantasy wideout next season."
Cowboys Draft Weekly Notebook: Linebackers | Bob Sturm, FOX Sports
As you've tried to adjust to the thought that Aaron Donald may be out of reach for the Cowboys, your lecherous gaze may have started to wander to the list of linebackers available at the top of the draft. For your convenience, Bob Sturm breaks down the top prospects in great detail, and offers this summary:
Mack is amazing, Mosley requires medical consideration. Barr and Shazier are not worth the 1st to get for Dallas' situation, Attaochu would be worthy in the 2nd, and Bradford and Van Noy in the 3rd. Telvin Smith, for me, would not be ideal here in Dallas at the spot where he will get picked.
Possible Pick: Martin’s Flexibility Could Bolster O-Line - Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
In case the linebackers didn't sate your libidinous longing for a first round pick, Eatman proposes OG/OT Zack Martin as an alternative.
While the focus heading into this draft and free agency will undoubtedly be on the other side of the line, the Cowboys could still use some help and depth on the inside of their offensive line. The upside with Martin is he has the flexibility to be used inside or outside. If the Cowboys want him to play guard, they can utilize him there until they believe he’s ready to take on the best pass rushers in the game as an offensive tackle.
Higher cap helps some veteran players - Calvin Watkins, ESPN Dallas
Watkins looks at Phil Costa, who is due a $500,000 bonus once the new league year starts next week. Costa refused a pay cut earlier this year, and a release would create $1.5 million in cap space. Watkins suggests that trading Costa might also be an option, though it's not clear whether this is really an option or just a random thought.
3 Major emerging trends | National Football Post
NFL player agent Jack Bechta takes a look at three recent trends that are shaping the NFL. One of them is the concept of a "throw away player", as Bechta explains:
Draft picks are so cheap right now and teams have a 4 to 5 year retention on them, depending on the round drafted, (not counting the franchise tag), that they are incentivized to just pay about four or five star players and have the rest of the team near or at minimum contracts. Under this new CBA this trend is here to stay.
In twenty-even years as an agent I never heard teams talk more about players ages than they do now. If you are on the wrong side of 30, not named Manning, Brady, or Brees, you may as well be ready for a tap on the shoulder any day to be shown the exit.
Clarification on pro days versus combine times | National Football Post
In athletics, fully automatic timing became mandatory for all world records in January 1977. Almost 40 years later, the NFL's insistence on using hand-held timing to measure how fast draft prospects are sounds like a strange anachronism. Greg Gabriel explains why this may not be so strange after all.
NFL free agency is about being cautions of risks and red flags | The MMQB
If you think that shiny free agent signing is too good to be true, it's because it probably is, writes Andy Benoit and argues with the way free agency is structured, a player who reaches the market is all but certain to have a flaw.
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