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[h=1]By PATRIK WALKER Jun 20, 11:07 AM[/h] Yes, the Dallas Cowboys are about the brand.
They're also about winning games, though, and it's not simply because doing so helps propel the brand forward as it did in the early 1990s when the Cowboys had become a bit of an afterthought globally. It's also for the very reason owner Jerry Jones notes when he professes he's not immortal and wants to garner the all-elusive sixth Lombardi trophy that's evaded the Cowboys following the 1995 season. The lack of postseason success is wearing thin on Jones and Co., and they've made a myriad of moves in recent seasons with the hopes of turning the corner.
Unfortunately, while some have pushed them toward their goal in a big way, others simply set them back in equalizing fashion.
There's a lot of optimism inside the building for what can occur in 2019, however, and rightfully so when you assess how youthful yet talented the current roster is. There's a window of opportunity for the Cowboys to truly regain a status they haven't enjoyed in nearly 2.5 decades, but there are still many questions that must be answered if they're to achieve the heights of which they're capable. From mega-paydays to offensive changes to head coach Jason Garrett himself operating under a contract year, to say there's a lot on the line this coming season is an understatement of massive proportions.
If the Cowboys can answer these 10 quandaries the right way, they'll find themselves sitting on top of the mountain in February.[h=2]IS JASON WITTEN RETURNING A GOOD OR BAD THING?[/h]
They tried it without him, failed, and now he's back to likely save the day.
After a year off to try his hand at broadcasting, Witten has returned to the Cowboys following a year that saw both him and the team's tight ends fail in their respective goals. And it's almost like Witten is not 37 years old at all, considering he's testing better than his 35-year-old version, thanks to the 2018 handshake with Father Time.
Given the progression of Blake Jarwin and with Witten back in the mix, the next step is to continue developing Dalton Schultz for the future of playing behind/alongside Jarwin once Witten hangs up his cleats again — whenever that may be. With Rico Gathers presumably warming a seat at the moment and now suspended for the opener, and with newly-signed Codey McElroy as much of a project as Gathers is/was, the top of the depth chart is set at the position and the only thing to be worked out now is who gets to remain on at the bottom for insurance purposes.
Witten continues to stress he still has "gas in the tank", and we'll all soon find out if it's premium, or if he's simply taking away from Jarwin's progression.
My money's on the former, for what it's worth. [h=2]WILL JASON GARRETT EARN A CONTRACT EXTENSION?[/h]
From the frying pan, to the icebox and then into the fire.
Such has been the journey of head coach Jason Garrett over the past few months, having entered the 2018 season on the hot seat that rapidly morphed into a dance on a blazing hot skillet — before rallying the Cowboys to a historic 7-1 finish to land their second NFC East crown in three years. Labeled a virtual lock to be one-and-done in the playoffs, they instead shut down the league's No. 1 rushing attack in the Seattle Seahawks to punch their ticket to a Divisional Round matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, where they failed to turn the postseason corner.
Only days ahead of their trek west to California, owner Jerry Jones was committed to offering Garrett a deserved extension — when considering what it took to be just two games shy of a Super Bowl appearance after starting the year with a 3-5 record — but the organization had a change of heart before the month of January ended. There will be no extension on Garrett for now, and whether that's by the elder Jones' determination or upon the insistence of EVP Stephen Jones is up for debate, but it doesn't change the reality of what's to come in 2019.
If the Cowboys don't make definitive and consistent improvement, which includes landing in their first NFC Championship game since 1995, Garrett may find himself walking the path of his now-departed former mentor, Scott Linehan. His chances ride on the addition of several key weapons both offensively, defensively and on special teams, along with the shedding of Linehan to promote Kellen Moore and bring in Jon Kitna as quarterbacks coach.
With another year of major change beneath him, if the Cowboys fail, the next change won't skip his doorstep. [h=2]HOW DOMINANT CAN ROBERT QUINN BE IN 2019?[/h]
By all accounts, this couldn't be a better fit for both Quinn and the Cowboys.
A former first-round pick (14th-overall) of the Los Angeles Rams, Quinn played seven seasons with the organization before heading to the Dolphins in March 2018 via trade. It was a cap move for the Rams at the time, with Quinn being on the back end of a six-year deal signed in 2014. He's had his bumps and bruises over the course of his time in the NFL, but has been mostly durable, having been available for fewer than 15 games only twice in his eight-year career. For a more recent scope on his availability, it's key to note he's played in 31 of the Dolphins' last 32 games — a stellar statistic for one of the most bruising positions in the game.
There's a bit of underlying concern by the Cowboys on the long-term health of Quinn beyond 2019, and that shows in the lack of an immediate contract extension. All things considered, however, simply agreeing to bring Quinn on for one year added sets the team up for instant impact this coming season while also providing insurance in the event Randy Gregory isn't reinstated in a few months. With no contract beyond 2019 in tow, the All-Pro has serious motivation to be an absolute force this coming season, and it helps to have another All-Pro in DeMarcus Lawrence manning the opposite edge.
Quinn will be 30 years old in 2020, and he knows this could be his last chance to land a hefty contract. [h=2]WHAT'S THE REAL PLAN FOR RANDALL COBB?[/h]
Cobb isn't simply a slot receiver, or at least that's the plan.
Signed to the Cowboys on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million, including a base salary of $2 million along with a $2 million signing bonus, Cobb steps in as the immediate replacement for wide receiver Cole Beasley — who departed in free agency for the Buffalo Bills. It can be argued in a lot of ways that Cobb is an upgrade over Beasley, and he's also slightly younger, despite having one more year in the NFL. And while Beasley was mostly relegated to slot duty, the Cowboys now have the flexibility of being able to play the bigger Cobb in more than one role.
That's something wide receivers' coach Sanjay Lal pointed out in the first wave of organized team activities (OTAs), and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has spoken on as well, making it clear the Cowboys' will move Cobb around as needed. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out, as it's doubtful he'll be anywhere but the slot when on the field at the same time as Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, although the former can perform slot duty as well.
For the first time in a long time, the Cowboys have a versatility "problem", and how they handle it will help determine if the sleeping offense can wake up again. [h=2]IS KELLEN MOORE THE NEXT NFL OFFENSIVE GURU?[/h]
Kellen Moore loves how things are shaping up.
With the Dallas Cowboys finally opting to part ways with longtime offensive coordinator Scott Linehan after another season of stalled offensive output, the opportunity presented itself for the team to look outside of the organization in search for his replacement. They were instead so enamored with the football acumen of Moore — who spent 2018 as the team's quarterbacks coach — that they decided to promote him into the OC role not long after showing Linehan the door, despite the former backup QB having only one year of coaching experience under his belt. There are justifiable questions on if Moore can deliver now that he has the reigns, but this arc from player to high-level coaching seat is something that's been seen before, as head coach Jason Garrett can personally attest to.
Owner Jerry Jones, along with Garrett, Dak Prescott and many more — including star defensive players now witnessing his offseason installs — remain all-in on what Moore can do.
The upstart coordinator is certainly not lacking for weapons, either, both of the veteran and rookie variety.
All of this can only be a recipe for success for what devolved into a stale offense, but time will tell if Moore is the right chef. [h=2]HOW WILL DAK PRESCOTT REACT TO HEIGHTENED PRESSURE?[/h]
Dak Prescott is finally finding out what comes with being a franchise quarterback in the NFL.
It's not that he had no idea before 2019, because he most certainly did, but the expectations were still tempered by the financial aspect of his roster spot. As a former fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft, Prescott was signed to a pennies-on-the-dollar four-year deal worth a maximum $2.7 million, which included just $383,393 in guaranteed money. To say he's outplayed that contract over the course of his first three seasons is a gross understatement, because in truth, most of Prescott's numbers and achievements surpass that of both Jared Goff and Carson Wentz — QBs who were selected first-overall and second-overall, respectively, in the same draft.
Although Prescott has outperformed both in nearly all categories thus far, both Goff and Wentz secured top-5 draft contracts that orbit $27 million, a payout approximately 10 times higher than the Cowboys' signal caller. And with Wentz having now secured a four-year extension worth an average of $32 million per season and with $107 million guaranteed, Prescott's reported ask now stands at $34 million per season.
Spin it however you'd like, but it's time to pay the piper, and the Cowboys ultimately will — which then puts the pressure on Prescott to play up to his money. That's something he's not had to do yet in his NFL career, and there's a marked difference in the level of expectations between a rookie deal and potentially being the second-highest paid QB in the league.
What he does going forward will either define his legacy, or leave him without one. [h=2]IS AMARI COOPER A $20M PER YEAR RECEIVER?[/h]
The Cowboys are no stranger to the waxing and waning of negotiation, but time is working against them at the moment.
The biggest hurdle to securing an extension with Cooper comes from outside of the organization, by way of wideouts Michael Thomas and Julio Jones. Deals are seemingly soon to land on both before training camps fire up in July, with the New Orleans Saints being comfortable with the idea of making Thomas the highest paid WR in the NFL. That will only occur if the Atlanta Falcons first reset the market with Jones to allow Thomas a chance to hurdle it, because if Thomas gets his money first then it'll be Jones likely walking away with the crown. In the meantime, Cooper is comfortably preparing for the heightened tide that will follow those deals, because it'll drive his market value that much higher without him lifting a finger.
Even if Cooper doesn't surpass both financially, his fate is still attached to their hot air balloon(s). When factoring in how the team offered Sammy Watkins around $16 million per season only one year ago, it only stands to reason Cooper would land a deal much higher than that figure. He's not roundly praised as the best WR in the NFL, and some argue he isn't top five, but the market will pay him like one, nonetheless.
The question remains just how close will Cooper get to the coveted $20 million per year marker and with so many offensive weapons, will they force the ball to him to justify the payout?
Cooper has made it clear he doesn't need 15 targets per game, which resolves the latter quandary. What he's not said, however, is that he's willing to take less from a team that clearly needs him, has plenty of cap space to sign everyone, and can free up more of a financial cushion in 2019 by granting him a new deal. [h=2]ARE THE COWBOYS TRULY ALL-IN ON EZEKIEL ELLIOTT?[/h]
Ezekiel Elliott has had a stellar offseason or two, but now there's a hiccup.
The two-time NFL rushing champ has dominated the headlines for all the right reasons as of late, as he readies for what should be a massive contract extension coming his way from the Cowboys within the next several months or so. From reporting to voluntary conditioning despite holdout rumors to hosting his youth football camp and lots in-between, the maturation process of Elliott has been on full display since his controversial six-game suspension in 2017. All it took was one trip to Las Vegas to tarnish the light a bit, even though the incident has been grossly blown out of proportion.
That said, there's an understanding that Elliott can't put himself in those types of positions, and the Cowboys have already forgiven him for the now-unique error.
They remain convinced of his character growth and no one needs any convincing of his on-the-field prowess, having earned two NFL rushing titles and a myriad of other belt notches in his first three years in the league. The goal of the organization is to not only extend Elliott, but to also make him the highest paid RB in league history, and all he has to do is be himself on the field and continue to prove he's a better version of himself off of it.
The team is willing to overlook the last incident because of reasons I stated above and more, but another transgression in 2019 will change the temperature. [h=2]WHAT IS THE FATE OF RANDY GREGORY?[/h]
There might be a light at the end of the tunnel for Randy Gregory, and it's a growing glimmer.
Things were going quite well for the veteran defensive end in 2018, having been reinstated to the NFL after adhering to a slew of conditions that convinced the league to allow him to finally return to the Cowboys. Despite rumors of a failed drug test in the preseason, there was no evidence such had occurred, and Gregory went on to play in 14 regular season games and both playoff outings, delivering a career-best six sacks in the process. His story of recovery became a prevailing headline throughout the NFL, but he was far from out of the woods. A known sufferer of bipolar depression with clinical anxiety, his previous suspensions have stemmed from self-medicating with marijuana.
Now suspended indefinitely once again for the same reason, many feel it's the end of the road for Gregory.
It isn't, though.
It's expected Gregory will apply for reinstatement at some point this summer after resetting himself the right way, in the hopes of convincing a league now more open-minded (at least, a little) to the uses of marijuana as an effective treatment for certain mental illness(es) that he deserves to play in the NFL. He's had no other off-the-field issue and continues to hold ringing endorsements from high character players and non-athletes, and all of this makes for increased odds Gregory will return to the field at some point in 2019.
The Cowboys believe this as well, and that's why they extended his contract through 2020 and restructured his contract.
Don't close the book on a battling Gregory just yet, if ever. [h=2]WILL DEMARCUS LAWRENCE JUSTIFY HIS NEWFOUND WEALTH?[/h]
It is officially done, and everyone is happy.
For the second consecutive year, the Cowboys franchise tagged defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence after no deal was reached prior to the early March deadline. If signed, the tender would've paid Lawrence nearly $20.5 million, an uptick from the $17.1 million he earned by playing under the tender in 2018. The issue is this time around he had no intention of taking on the inherent risk that comes with another tag and, as such, was guaranteed to hold out until his extension lands. Both sides had until July 15 to get it done, but things would've gotten messy far ahead of that deadline if the negotiations continued to drag out.
Thanks to a moment of clarity by team exec Stephen Jones — who called Lawrence and his agent on April 5 to break the stalemate — all grievances were aired out and the deal was done to the tune of five years at $105 million.
Now, like the situation with Prescott soon-to-come, arrives a mountain of pressure for a well-paid Lawrence.
The All-Pro is currently on the mend from surgery to repair the torn labrum in his shoulder and will start training camp on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List, with the expectation he'll be on the field come Week 1 against the New York Giants. All eyes will be on him for lots of obvious reasons, but some will also be champing at the bit to claim he didn't deserve his payday the moment he misses a sack. For those individuals, it's likely true Lawrence will never be worthy of his megadeal, but he'll nonetheless have the unenviable task of trying to convince them through his play, but performing at a high level for the third consecutive year — in both pass and run defense — will be justification enough for the Cowboys.
No player has delivered three consecutive double-digit sack seasons for the Cowboys since DeMarcus Ware from 2010 through 2012, by the way.
Hashtag goals. Hashtag pressure.
They're also about winning games, though, and it's not simply because doing so helps propel the brand forward as it did in the early 1990s when the Cowboys had become a bit of an afterthought globally. It's also for the very reason owner Jerry Jones notes when he professes he's not immortal and wants to garner the all-elusive sixth Lombardi trophy that's evaded the Cowboys following the 1995 season. The lack of postseason success is wearing thin on Jones and Co., and they've made a myriad of moves in recent seasons with the hopes of turning the corner.
Unfortunately, while some have pushed them toward their goal in a big way, others simply set them back in equalizing fashion.
There's a lot of optimism inside the building for what can occur in 2019, however, and rightfully so when you assess how youthful yet talented the current roster is. There's a window of opportunity for the Cowboys to truly regain a status they haven't enjoyed in nearly 2.5 decades, but there are still many questions that must be answered if they're to achieve the heights of which they're capable. From mega-paydays to offensive changes to head coach Jason Garrett himself operating under a contract year, to say there's a lot on the line this coming season is an understatement of massive proportions.
If the Cowboys can answer these 10 quandaries the right way, they'll find themselves sitting on top of the mountain in February.[h=2]IS JASON WITTEN RETURNING A GOOD OR BAD THING?[/h]
They tried it without him, failed, and now he's back to likely save the day.
After a year off to try his hand at broadcasting, Witten has returned to the Cowboys following a year that saw both him and the team's tight ends fail in their respective goals. And it's almost like Witten is not 37 years old at all, considering he's testing better than his 35-year-old version, thanks to the 2018 handshake with Father Time.
Given the progression of Blake Jarwin and with Witten back in the mix, the next step is to continue developing Dalton Schultz for the future of playing behind/alongside Jarwin once Witten hangs up his cleats again — whenever that may be. With Rico Gathers presumably warming a seat at the moment and now suspended for the opener, and with newly-signed Codey McElroy as much of a project as Gathers is/was, the top of the depth chart is set at the position and the only thing to be worked out now is who gets to remain on at the bottom for insurance purposes.
Witten continues to stress he still has "gas in the tank", and we'll all soon find out if it's premium, or if he's simply taking away from Jarwin's progression.
My money's on the former, for what it's worth. [h=2]WILL JASON GARRETT EARN A CONTRACT EXTENSION?[/h]
From the frying pan, to the icebox and then into the fire.
Such has been the journey of head coach Jason Garrett over the past few months, having entered the 2018 season on the hot seat that rapidly morphed into a dance on a blazing hot skillet — before rallying the Cowboys to a historic 7-1 finish to land their second NFC East crown in three years. Labeled a virtual lock to be one-and-done in the playoffs, they instead shut down the league's No. 1 rushing attack in the Seattle Seahawks to punch their ticket to a Divisional Round matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, where they failed to turn the postseason corner.
Only days ahead of their trek west to California, owner Jerry Jones was committed to offering Garrett a deserved extension — when considering what it took to be just two games shy of a Super Bowl appearance after starting the year with a 3-5 record — but the organization had a change of heart before the month of January ended. There will be no extension on Garrett for now, and whether that's by the elder Jones' determination or upon the insistence of EVP Stephen Jones is up for debate, but it doesn't change the reality of what's to come in 2019.
If the Cowboys don't make definitive and consistent improvement, which includes landing in their first NFC Championship game since 1995, Garrett may find himself walking the path of his now-departed former mentor, Scott Linehan. His chances ride on the addition of several key weapons both offensively, defensively and on special teams, along with the shedding of Linehan to promote Kellen Moore and bring in Jon Kitna as quarterbacks coach.
With another year of major change beneath him, if the Cowboys fail, the next change won't skip his doorstep. [h=2]HOW DOMINANT CAN ROBERT QUINN BE IN 2019?[/h]
By all accounts, this couldn't be a better fit for both Quinn and the Cowboys.
A former first-round pick (14th-overall) of the Los Angeles Rams, Quinn played seven seasons with the organization before heading to the Dolphins in March 2018 via trade. It was a cap move for the Rams at the time, with Quinn being on the back end of a six-year deal signed in 2014. He's had his bumps and bruises over the course of his time in the NFL, but has been mostly durable, having been available for fewer than 15 games only twice in his eight-year career. For a more recent scope on his availability, it's key to note he's played in 31 of the Dolphins' last 32 games — a stellar statistic for one of the most bruising positions in the game.
There's a bit of underlying concern by the Cowboys on the long-term health of Quinn beyond 2019, and that shows in the lack of an immediate contract extension. All things considered, however, simply agreeing to bring Quinn on for one year added sets the team up for instant impact this coming season while also providing insurance in the event Randy Gregory isn't reinstated in a few months. With no contract beyond 2019 in tow, the All-Pro has serious motivation to be an absolute force this coming season, and it helps to have another All-Pro in DeMarcus Lawrence manning the opposite edge.
Quinn will be 30 years old in 2020, and he knows this could be his last chance to land a hefty contract. [h=2]WHAT'S THE REAL PLAN FOR RANDALL COBB?[/h]
Cobb isn't simply a slot receiver, or at least that's the plan.
Signed to the Cowboys on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million, including a base salary of $2 million along with a $2 million signing bonus, Cobb steps in as the immediate replacement for wide receiver Cole Beasley — who departed in free agency for the Buffalo Bills. It can be argued in a lot of ways that Cobb is an upgrade over Beasley, and he's also slightly younger, despite having one more year in the NFL. And while Beasley was mostly relegated to slot duty, the Cowboys now have the flexibility of being able to play the bigger Cobb in more than one role.
That's something wide receivers' coach Sanjay Lal pointed out in the first wave of organized team activities (OTAs), and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has spoken on as well, making it clear the Cowboys' will move Cobb around as needed. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out, as it's doubtful he'll be anywhere but the slot when on the field at the same time as Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, although the former can perform slot duty as well.
For the first time in a long time, the Cowboys have a versatility "problem", and how they handle it will help determine if the sleeping offense can wake up again. [h=2]IS KELLEN MOORE THE NEXT NFL OFFENSIVE GURU?[/h]
Kellen Moore loves how things are shaping up.
With the Dallas Cowboys finally opting to part ways with longtime offensive coordinator Scott Linehan after another season of stalled offensive output, the opportunity presented itself for the team to look outside of the organization in search for his replacement. They were instead so enamored with the football acumen of Moore — who spent 2018 as the team's quarterbacks coach — that they decided to promote him into the OC role not long after showing Linehan the door, despite the former backup QB having only one year of coaching experience under his belt. There are justifiable questions on if Moore can deliver now that he has the reigns, but this arc from player to high-level coaching seat is something that's been seen before, as head coach Jason Garrett can personally attest to.
Owner Jerry Jones, along with Garrett, Dak Prescott and many more — including star defensive players now witnessing his offseason installs — remain all-in on what Moore can do.
The upstart coordinator is certainly not lacking for weapons, either, both of the veteran and rookie variety.
All of this can only be a recipe for success for what devolved into a stale offense, but time will tell if Moore is the right chef. [h=2]HOW WILL DAK PRESCOTT REACT TO HEIGHTENED PRESSURE?[/h]
Dak Prescott is finally finding out what comes with being a franchise quarterback in the NFL.
It's not that he had no idea before 2019, because he most certainly did, but the expectations were still tempered by the financial aspect of his roster spot. As a former fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft, Prescott was signed to a pennies-on-the-dollar four-year deal worth a maximum $2.7 million, which included just $383,393 in guaranteed money. To say he's outplayed that contract over the course of his first three seasons is a gross understatement, because in truth, most of Prescott's numbers and achievements surpass that of both Jared Goff and Carson Wentz — QBs who were selected first-overall and second-overall, respectively, in the same draft.
Although Prescott has outperformed both in nearly all categories thus far, both Goff and Wentz secured top-5 draft contracts that orbit $27 million, a payout approximately 10 times higher than the Cowboys' signal caller. And with Wentz having now secured a four-year extension worth an average of $32 million per season and with $107 million guaranteed, Prescott's reported ask now stands at $34 million per season.
Spin it however you'd like, but it's time to pay the piper, and the Cowboys ultimately will — which then puts the pressure on Prescott to play up to his money. That's something he's not had to do yet in his NFL career, and there's a marked difference in the level of expectations between a rookie deal and potentially being the second-highest paid QB in the league.
What he does going forward will either define his legacy, or leave him without one. [h=2]IS AMARI COOPER A $20M PER YEAR RECEIVER?[/h]
The Cowboys are no stranger to the waxing and waning of negotiation, but time is working against them at the moment.
The biggest hurdle to securing an extension with Cooper comes from outside of the organization, by way of wideouts Michael Thomas and Julio Jones. Deals are seemingly soon to land on both before training camps fire up in July, with the New Orleans Saints being comfortable with the idea of making Thomas the highest paid WR in the NFL. That will only occur if the Atlanta Falcons first reset the market with Jones to allow Thomas a chance to hurdle it, because if Thomas gets his money first then it'll be Jones likely walking away with the crown. In the meantime, Cooper is comfortably preparing for the heightened tide that will follow those deals, because it'll drive his market value that much higher without him lifting a finger.
Even if Cooper doesn't surpass both financially, his fate is still attached to their hot air balloon(s). When factoring in how the team offered Sammy Watkins around $16 million per season only one year ago, it only stands to reason Cooper would land a deal much higher than that figure. He's not roundly praised as the best WR in the NFL, and some argue he isn't top five, but the market will pay him like one, nonetheless.
The question remains just how close will Cooper get to the coveted $20 million per year marker and with so many offensive weapons, will they force the ball to him to justify the payout?
Cooper has made it clear he doesn't need 15 targets per game, which resolves the latter quandary. What he's not said, however, is that he's willing to take less from a team that clearly needs him, has plenty of cap space to sign everyone, and can free up more of a financial cushion in 2019 by granting him a new deal. [h=2]ARE THE COWBOYS TRULY ALL-IN ON EZEKIEL ELLIOTT?[/h]
Ezekiel Elliott has had a stellar offseason or two, but now there's a hiccup.
The two-time NFL rushing champ has dominated the headlines for all the right reasons as of late, as he readies for what should be a massive contract extension coming his way from the Cowboys within the next several months or so. From reporting to voluntary conditioning despite holdout rumors to hosting his youth football camp and lots in-between, the maturation process of Elliott has been on full display since his controversial six-game suspension in 2017. All it took was one trip to Las Vegas to tarnish the light a bit, even though the incident has been grossly blown out of proportion.
That said, there's an understanding that Elliott can't put himself in those types of positions, and the Cowboys have already forgiven him for the now-unique error.
They remain convinced of his character growth and no one needs any convincing of his on-the-field prowess, having earned two NFL rushing titles and a myriad of other belt notches in his first three years in the league. The goal of the organization is to not only extend Elliott, but to also make him the highest paid RB in league history, and all he has to do is be himself on the field and continue to prove he's a better version of himself off of it.
The team is willing to overlook the last incident because of reasons I stated above and more, but another transgression in 2019 will change the temperature. [h=2]WHAT IS THE FATE OF RANDY GREGORY?[/h]
There might be a light at the end of the tunnel for Randy Gregory, and it's a growing glimmer.
Things were going quite well for the veteran defensive end in 2018, having been reinstated to the NFL after adhering to a slew of conditions that convinced the league to allow him to finally return to the Cowboys. Despite rumors of a failed drug test in the preseason, there was no evidence such had occurred, and Gregory went on to play in 14 regular season games and both playoff outings, delivering a career-best six sacks in the process. His story of recovery became a prevailing headline throughout the NFL, but he was far from out of the woods. A known sufferer of bipolar depression with clinical anxiety, his previous suspensions have stemmed from self-medicating with marijuana.
Now suspended indefinitely once again for the same reason, many feel it's the end of the road for Gregory.
It isn't, though.
It's expected Gregory will apply for reinstatement at some point this summer after resetting himself the right way, in the hopes of convincing a league now more open-minded (at least, a little) to the uses of marijuana as an effective treatment for certain mental illness(es) that he deserves to play in the NFL. He's had no other off-the-field issue and continues to hold ringing endorsements from high character players and non-athletes, and all of this makes for increased odds Gregory will return to the field at some point in 2019.
The Cowboys believe this as well, and that's why they extended his contract through 2020 and restructured his contract.
Don't close the book on a battling Gregory just yet, if ever. [h=2]WILL DEMARCUS LAWRENCE JUSTIFY HIS NEWFOUND WEALTH?[/h]
It is officially done, and everyone is happy.
For the second consecutive year, the Cowboys franchise tagged defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence after no deal was reached prior to the early March deadline. If signed, the tender would've paid Lawrence nearly $20.5 million, an uptick from the $17.1 million he earned by playing under the tender in 2018. The issue is this time around he had no intention of taking on the inherent risk that comes with another tag and, as such, was guaranteed to hold out until his extension lands. Both sides had until July 15 to get it done, but things would've gotten messy far ahead of that deadline if the negotiations continued to drag out.
Thanks to a moment of clarity by team exec Stephen Jones — who called Lawrence and his agent on April 5 to break the stalemate — all grievances were aired out and the deal was done to the tune of five years at $105 million.
Now, like the situation with Prescott soon-to-come, arrives a mountain of pressure for a well-paid Lawrence.
The All-Pro is currently on the mend from surgery to repair the torn labrum in his shoulder and will start training camp on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List, with the expectation he'll be on the field come Week 1 against the New York Giants. All eyes will be on him for lots of obvious reasons, but some will also be champing at the bit to claim he didn't deserve his payday the moment he misses a sack. For those individuals, it's likely true Lawrence will never be worthy of his megadeal, but he'll nonetheless have the unenviable task of trying to convince them through his play, but performing at a high level for the third consecutive year — in both pass and run defense — will be justification enough for the Cowboys.
No player has delivered three consecutive double-digit sack seasons for the Cowboys since DeMarcus Ware from 2010 through 2012, by the way.
Hashtag goals. Hashtag pressure.