Cowboys news: Oddsmakers are taking Dallas, but the bettors like Philadelphia

NFC East: Oddsmakers like the Cowboys, but bettors like the Eagles to claim division - Daniel Gallen, Penn Live

There seems to be a split in opinion on who will claim the NFC East.

The NFC East likely will come down to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, as it has for the past couple seasons. The two teams have combined for six of the past seven division titles, and the changes for the New York Giants and Washington hint to another Eagles-Cowboys race.

The oddsmakers think so, too.

According to Oddschecker, the Cowboys are +100 to win the division, while the Eagles are +140. The Giants and Washington, meanwhile, are +900 and +1500, respectively. In terms of percentages, the Cowboys have a 50% chance to win the NFC East in 2020, while the Eagles have a 41.67% chance.

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But when it comes to actually delivering a title, bettors like the Eagles more than the Cowboys.

According to Oddschecker, 47% of bets for the NFC East race have been placed on the Eagles, as opposed to 38% for the Cowboys. The Giants and Washington split the remaining 15%.

O-Line: Pro Bowl In La’el Collins’ Future? - Rob Phillips, The Mothership

La’el Collins should have been a first-round pick all those years ago, and he’s playing like one now.

La’el Collins is also back for his third season as the starting right tackle, and he’s comfortable playing on the edge again, just as he did in college. After getting a five-year, $50 million contract extension last September, Collins delivered his best season since joining the Cowboys in 2015. The club believes he’s a Pro Bowl caliber player alongside Smith and Martin.

Ezekiel Elliott threatens to sue Sports Illustrated over weed story controversy - Mark Fischer, New York Post

Ezekiel Elliott is accustomed to hearing his name in the gossip column by now, but a recent controversial headline about him in Sports Illustrated may have the star running back ready to pursue legal action.

The Dallas Cowboys star running back threatened to sue Sports Illustrated on Monday after the famed magazine ran a column online with the headline, “Ezekiel Elliott Forgets to Log Off, Admits to Being High on Twitch: Traina Thoughts.”

The opinion piece was written by sports media columnist Jimmy Traina in response to a video that went viral Monday in which Elliott said he was “low-key faded,” slang that is sometimes associated with being under the influence of alcohol and marijuana simultaneously.

“Actually I was referring to the few drinks I had which I said during the live stream. Doesn’t that make this defamation? You guys will [be] hearing from my lawyers @SInow,” Elliott tweeted Monday.

Mailbag: Contender For Playing Time At TE? - David Helman and Johnny Auping, DallasCowboys.com

Blake Jarwin was signed to a somewhat large contract extension this offseason and everyone expects that to lead to a significant uptick in snaps for the tight end. But could free agent signee Blake Bell, more of a blocking tight end, cut into Jarwin’s playing time?

Jonny: There’s a possibility it ends up playing out that way as the season goes on, but I don’t think the Cowboys have that intention. They’re investing $24 million in Jarwin and so they aren’t going to go into the first year of that deal letting him get away with being a one-dimensional player, nor are they going to keep him on the bench. Jarwin’s going to be asked to be a competent blocker so that he can warrant being on the field to make the passing attack that much more dangerous.

David: I get your point, but I don’t agree. For starters, keep in mind who Jarwin will be matching up with primarily — linebackers and occasionally safeties. He’s a mismatch, which makes him valuable even if he’s not as dynamic as other options on the offense. On top of that, I think blocking ability is overrated. Yes, the Cowboys will need to run the ball. But the passing game is king in the NFL, and the better receiving option is the guy who needs to be on the field.

Dallas Cowboys linebackers are cream of the NFC East crop - Tyrone Star, The Landry Hat

The Cowboys are getting ready to debut a different look on defense under new coordinator Mike Nolan, and a revamped secondary could really change things up. But one constant is their talented and much-heralded linebacker corps.

It all starts with Vander Esch and Smith. After a whirlwind rookie season, Vander Esch missed half of 2019 with a neck injury. Thankfully, he is not only fully recovered, but told Dallas Cowboys writer David Helman he feels as good as he ever has before.

Smith, however, made his first Pro Bowl in 2019. With 142 tackles last year, Smith led the team but it still seemed like there was room for improvement. That speaks to the amount of talent and upside that resides within him.

Of course, Sean Lee is still around. The “general” will return for his eleventh season after playing all sixteen games for the first time in his career. Behind him, Thomas and March provide veteran stability and special teams mastery, while Gifford learns to be a clone of Lee in his second season on the team.

Ex-Cowboys WR Dez Bryant Hopeful for 2020 NFL Season: ‘I Need My Redemption’ - Adam Wells, Bleacher Report

Dez is looking for redemption, but it probably wont happen in Dallas.

In order for Bryant to get the “redemption” he seeks, a team will have to sign the 31-year-old. He hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since Week 17 of the 2017 season with the Dallas Cowboys.

The New Orleans Saints signed Bryant to a one-year contract on Nov. 7, 2018, but he tore his Achilles during practice with the team two days later.

After NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel needed surgery for a broken foot suffered during a workout earlier this month, Kendrick Bourne sent a tweet that included the 49ers’ and Bryant’s handles.

Dallas Cowboys secure the edge in way too early 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft - Randy Gurzi, SpinZone

A 2021 mock draft? Sure, why not? And with their first pick...

With that being the case, they’re going to lean heavily on Tyrone Crawford, Aldon Smith, and Dorance Armstrong this season across from DeMarcus Lawrence. That could be enough to get them through the 2020 season, but in 2021, they need to find some help on the line.

For that reason, they end up with Carlos Basham from Wake Forest in this mock but don’t worry, this isn’t the same thing as when they reached for Charlton. Basham is a massive player at 6-foot-5 and 275-pounds and like Lawrence, he’s skilled as both a pass rusher and run stopper.

He won’t jump off the tape as an overly explosive athlete but he’s a player who can win with a variety of moves and will give the Cowboys a great option on the right side of their D-line.

BTB Podcast

It’s rivalry week around SB Nation. We discussed the one between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants with Big Blue View’s Ed Valentine.

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