Dallas Cowboys News & Notes: Witten Film Coming; Triplets Tops; Frisco Facility On Track

As far as I can tell, the combined DFW media published just a single Cowboys article yesterday. That makes a "News & Notes" post a little more challenging - but not impossible.

A Look Ahead At The Cowboys Roster: Tight Ends - Blogging The Boys
Tom Ryle continues his look at the different position groups on the Dallas roster, and turns his attention to the tight ends.

Have The Dallas Cowboys Drafted Enough Defensive Linemen? (Part II) - Blogging The Boys
A closer look at the last five years of defensive line drafting for the Dallas Cowboys.

Following In The Footsteps Of Legends: Texas Gunslingers Revisited - Blogging The Boys
Dawn Macelli looks at the quarterbacks who built the legacy that Troy Aikman inherited when he rode into town, a legacy that was built by more guys than just Roger Staubach.

A Closer Look At DeMarco Murray & The RB Position - Blogging The Boys
Is 1,000 yards for a running back still an accomplishment? The Dallas Cowboys have a big decision on whether to re-sign DeMarco Murray because of his injury concerns.

Cowboys making film about Witten's early years | Johnson City Press
The Cowboys are making a documentary film about their star tight end, going back to the roots of his football career.

A crew of four — columnist Jeff Sullivan, producer/editor Kevin Timmons, senior editor/producer Roxanne Medina, and reporter Lindsay Cash — traveled to Elizabethton to spend a few days interviewing folks like his grandfather, former coach Dave Rider, and his brother, Elizabethton head coach Shawn Witten.

Working on a project w/ @DallasCowboysTV @LindsayCash15 @SullyBaldHead & @kmtimmons & came across @JasonWitten sign pic.twitter.com/J6yLZRe3T0

— Roxanne Medina (@Roxx0822) June 28, 2014

Firing of TE Coach Mike Pope one of most surprising Giants offseason move - ESPN New York
In response to a Twitter question, Dan Graziano explains why the Giants let go of Mike Pope, who fell right into Jason Garrett's waiting arms.

The firing of their longtime tight ends coach does rank among the more surprising moves of the Giants' offseason. But when they hired young Ben McAdoo as their new offensive coordinator, it was only fair to assume he'd want to bring in a few of his own coaches and help construct the staff.

During those discussions, it was decided that Pope's position would be one of the ones to turn over. They moved wide receivers coach Kevin M. Gilbride (the son of the former offensive coordinator) to tight ends coach, Sean Ryan from quarterbacks coach back to wide receivers coach and hired Danny Langsdorf as the new quarterbacks coach. Pope was a Giants icon, and the only person whose name is on all four of the franchise's Super Bowl trophies.

But there was an effort to get a bit younger on the coaching staff this offseason. Tight end Adrien Robinson spoke during OTAs about how he's felt a different kind of connection with the younger Gilbride than he did with Pope, and if that's the case with the rest of the group it might answer your question.

How the Dallas Cowboys will avoid 'cracking' issues with new Frisco facility (Video) - Dallas Business Journal
Amid concerns about the structural integrity of the $60 million Eagle Stadium in Allen, the parties involved in the construction of the Cowboys new Frisco facility were quick to issue public reassurances that "that won't likely happen with the Cowboys practice facility and football stadium."

The plan remains for the Cowboys to move into the new facility by July 2016.

First rounders from 2011 draft paying contract penalty - USAToday
With the inclusion of the fifth-year option for first-round picks in the 2011 CBA, first-rounders are due significant bumps in their 2015 salaries (like Tyron Smith), but barring new deals will also assume the risk of another year of wear-and-tear in a league with an inherent injury factor.

"But if you look at it from the agent's point of view, it's a loss," said Polian, now an ESPN analyst. "If you look at it from the GM's point of view, it's a win for management. Bottom line is (NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith) bargained it and accepted it. It is what it is. It isn't totally unfair."

The Triplets are among top NFL players of the '90s - NFL.com
Elliott Harrison lists the players he thinks were the Top 20 players of the 90s, and has three Cowboys in his ranking.

2) Emmitt Smith: So often, we hear about how this guy benefitted from solid offensive lines, but you might recall that three of the starters on that early '90s line weren't thought of very highly until Smith showed up. In one five-year span, Smith won four rushing titles, three Super Bowls, one NFL MVP and one Super Bowl MVP. But if that doesn't do it for you, consider this: He wasn't the only player to get carries with that unit, but none of the other Cowboys rushers ever approached that kind of production.

7) Troy Aikman: What to make of Aikman ... is it possible that No. 8 is underrated? Too often, we hear about his lack of stats, but the thing is, the Dallas offense rarely needed its quarterback to be overly prolific. And for that matter, Aikman responded when he was needed. Put another way, isn't it hard to argue with 90 regular-season wins, an 11-5 playoff record, and three Super Bowl victories in one decade?

13) Michael Irvin: When it comes to the best receiver of the era, Irvin gave Jerry Rice competition. His numbers from 1991 to '95 represent the best five years a wideout ever had in terms of individual stats (7,093 yards, 38 touchdowns) and team accomplishments (three Super Bowl titles).

Cowboys position series: Starting RT needs to maintain last year's level of performance | David Moore, DMN
Moore writes that after agreeing to a pay cut in 2012, Doug Free came back strong in 2013.

Rather than pout, he regained the form that convinced the Cowboys to sign him to an extension in the first place. Free showed more consistency in his technique – the source of his struggles – and did a better job of keeping his balance and got his career back on a positive track.

Perhaps answer to improving concussion situation is through technology | Shutdown Corner
Helmet manufacturers are trying their best to help training staffs identify when a player has a concussion, through technology.

A five-point sensor pad in the helmet measures the impact of hits, and when a hit or sequence of hits passes a certain threshold the athletic trainer on the sideline is sent an alert on a cell-phone sized device. The equipment doesn't diagnose concussions, Riddell said (no company is going to want to take on that liability) and when an alert is sent, it doesn't necessarily mean a player is pulled from the game or the game is stopped. But athletic training staffs can keep a better eye on that player if the alert is received. It's simply another tool athletic training staffs can use to recognize if a player has a concussion.

Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater using video games to study - ESPN
You may think this is a joke, but it's not.

Bridgewater said last week he's imported the Vikings' playbook into his Madden NFL football game, which allows him to take "virtual reps" by practicing with the Vikings' offense against defenses he'd see in an actual game.

Next time your boss tells you to go visit a customer, tell him you've already paid that customer a "virtual visit" on Google Maps.

Do the Philadelphia Eagles have enough roster depth to win a Super Bowl? - Bleeding Green Nation
The world will never find out.

Wearing a cowboys shirt at the brewers game. Milwaukee fans made it clear right away that they do not approve

— Ben Gardner (@BennyG49) June 28, 2014