Marshall Faulk on the Dallas Cowboys: "They're the favorites." - NFL Network on Facebook
Not exactly a Cowboys fan, Faulk surprises with his statement about the Cowboys.
The only thing left for [Dez Bryant] to get is a ring, and the Cowboys got so close last year. We are going to see if they can pull it off this year, because let's face it, they are the favorites.
They have the dominating offensive line, we saw what their defensive line did last year. It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys can get back to their winning ways from last season.
Dez Deal Makes Cowboys Favorite To Repeat In NFC East | Richie Whitt, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
After an introductory mea culpa for predicting a 5-11 record for last season, Whitt argues that Bryant’s signing solidifies the Cowboys as NFC East favorites for 2015.
Admittedly it’s risky to pick a division which hasn’t produced a back-to-back champ since the Eagles in ’03-’04. And I’m skeptical whether Dallas’ committee of anonymity can replicate the rushing production of DeMarco Murray. But other than that, the Cowboys are poised – especially in October with the arrivals of Greg Hardy and Rolando McClain – to be even better this season.
Jerry Jones to Dez Bryant: 'Let's win five Super Bowls in a row' | Clarence Hill, The Star Telegram
The Cowboys released a video of the congratulatory phone call between Dez Bryant and Jerry Jones on their website.
"I just want to hug your neck. I’m so proud ... congratulations," said Jones, who was still in New York, where he went to negotiate the deal, while Bryant was at the team’s Valley Ranch headquarters. "Let’s just win five Super Bowls in a row, how about it?"
An equally excited Bryant replied in kind: "Yes sir, we are. I’m very excited. I can’t wait. I think this is the year. We got it."
Dez Bryant was worth it - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
In Friday's installment of his Cowboys mailbag, Archer talks about whether Dez Bryant's new deal was worth it.
I absolutely believe Dez Bryant is worth what the Cowboys paid him. He changes just about everything for their offense. He makes the running game better because of how defenses have to account for him. It's fairly obvious that he makes the passing game better. Add it all up and he makes the defense better too because a defense with a great offense doesn't have to be perfect all the time.
Cowlishaw: Cowboys still have one hole to fill to catch Packers, Seahawks | Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News
And that one hole seems to be - wait for it - at running back.
And no one thinks the Cowboys will fall off the map with Joseph Randle running behind this offensive line. But it's the one area where the Cowboys are venturing into the unknown. If Randle and Darren McFadden make people forget Murray, then this team's off-season has it poised to battle the NFC's best on as even terms as you can get.
Video: 5-foot-8 Cole Beasley shows off a reverse dunk | Jashua Friemel, Dallas Morning News
After Beasley saw an Odell Beckham (5-11) dunk, and he responds with an impressive on of his own.
At 5'8" @Bease11 should not be able to do this... pic.twitter.com/7vz34h8ZKr
— EA SPORTS NBA LIVE (@EASPORTSNBA) July 17, 2015
Emmitt Smith: 'You cannot take us lightly' | Dallas Morning News
Smith talked with CSNphilly.com recently, and warned that DeMarco Murray to the Eagles doesn't make them favorites over the Cowboys.
On if he thinks the balance of power in the NFC East [switched] from the Cowboys to the Eagles:
Smith: "No, I don’t think it switches the balance of power. I think the balance of power still has to be played between the goal lines. But I do know that Philadelphia do have a very good football player in DeMarco Murray. But I still think that our Dallas Cowboys are a team that you have to deal with. And you cannot take us lightly. We’re going to have to come back and build upon the things that we did last year. And I don’t see any reason why we cannot."
Dallas Cowboys roster rank: Quarterback Tony Romo takes the top spot - Todd Archer, ESPN
Archer finishes his ranking, and it doesn't come as much of a surprise that Romo ends up on top. Archer explains why:
Is he their best player? Personnel types would go with Tyron Smith and/or Dez Bryant, but I don't think there is any question Romo is the Cowboys' most important player. Take him out of the equation and the Cowboys just aren't the same. As much as the Cowboys took pressure off Romo last year with such an effective running game, he was their most valuable player and made the key plays down the stretch.
Leon Lett is confident about defensive line depth - UK Cowboys Fans
Lauren Draper-Wood scored an interview with Coach Lett. Here's an excerpt in which Lett talks about his defensive line.
Q: How do you feel about the Cowboys defensive tackle depth this year?
Lett: I'm confident. I feel really good about our depth there. One of the reasons for that is because of one of your local guys - Jack Crawford. Playing at Penn State I watched him coming out and was impressed with his play. I was really excited we got a chance to get him at the end of Pre Season last year. All he's done is improve. He's a hard worker. He can play inside and out. We've got pretty good depth at defensive tackle.
Tyrone Crawford is a guy we moved from defensive end in the first game and ended up at defensive tackle. He had a really solid season and we're looking for him to improve.
At the nose tackle position we've got Nick Hayden. He's one of the leaders on our defensive line. He's the heart and soul of our defensive unit. He hustles on every play. He's tough, intelligent and we're so blessed to have him. He's under appreciated, but it doesn't matter. He comes to work every day with that same mentality and it's contagious again to our room. Guys look to him because he does it right.
Is Quarterback Star Tony Romo MVP Bound? - The Sports Journal
A couple of days ago, Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas wrote that if Romo stays healthy, he'll be the MVP of the NFC East. This blog entry wonders whether Romo might walk away with the League MVP in 2015.
Cowboys 2014 Draft Class, Ready To Blossom? - KD Drummond, CowboysHQ
You never quite know what you have in a rookie class until a few years down the line, but KD does it anyway and looks at which members of the Cowboys 2014 rookie class will be looking to make a big impact in their sophomore season.
DeMarcus Lawrence: The name on everybody's lips in Dallas - The Landry Hat
Lauren Draper-Wood, this time writing for TLH, reviews some of the offseason praise Lawrence has been getting.