Cowboys news: What the Everson Griffen signing says about Randy Gregory

Mailbag: Getting Griffen Ready To Go? - David Helman & Jonny Auping

Now that the Cowboys have gone out and signed defensive end Everson Griffen, there is speculation about the future of Randy Gregory. As explained below, lack of information could be part of the reason the Cowboys made a move.

Does the Everson Griffen signing mean the Cowboys do not think Randy Gregory will be reinstated? — JEFF GALLO / BROOMFIELD, CO

Jonny: I don’t know if it means that necessarily, but I think it implies that they, like Gregory, are not getting sufficient updates about the likelihood that he’ll be reinstated. In a league that rarely rewards patience, eventually you have to treat not knowing the answer to a yes or no question like it’s a no. The Cowboys had a starting position to fill, and Griffin is much closer to a sure thing than Gregory at this point in time.

David: I think it means the Cowboys are approaching the situation the way they should. Randy’s status is beyond their control. It would be wonderful to have him back, but it would be foolish to count on something that isn’t up to them. By signing Griffen, they’re adding proven production at a position of need. That doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be room for Randy if he is reinstated, it’s just a matter of covering their bases.

Source: Ex-Vikings DE Everson Griffen agrees to one-year, $6M deal with Cowboys - Todd Archer

Speaking of Griffen, here’s the steal the Cowboys got in terms of a contract.

Before they take the field for their first practice, the Dallas Cowboys have added to their defensive line, agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran Everson Griffen, a source confirmed to ESPN.

The deal is worth $6 million, with $3 million in base salary and $3 million in roster bonuses, a source told ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin.

The Cowboys have kept an eye on Griffen for much of the offseason and added him to the roster this week. In 10 seasons with the Vikings, Griffen recorded 74.5 sacks, including eight last season when he was named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time.

‘Hard Knocks’ tells us that Jerry Jones’ optimism about the NFL season may not be misplaced - Tim Cowlishaw

After watching the first episode of Hard Knocks, you can help but marvel at all the work the NFL is putting in to keep players safe.

But if you’re looking for real encouragement on the 2020 NFL season, the best approach is simply to watch HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” The first episode of the summer aired this week and the inside look at the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams is the most encouraging thing I have seen or read regarding the league’s attempt to move forward under extreme conditions.

While the college challenges go beyond those in the professional game, this week had the feel of one where it all comes crashing down for football as the Big Ten and the Pac-12 pulled the plug on fall sports. But when you watched Chargers and Rams players submit to test after test, when you saw players wearing masks even during walkthroughs, when you saw the extraordinary lengths both head coaches were going to in order to conduct a socially distanced training camp, you began to feel like this thing just might work.

At one point, Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts with the excitement of a little kid (which in his case means going back, what, a handful of years?) when he puts on a full face shield and finds it much more speech-friendly than wearing a mask. He even mimics reaching around to the front of the shield and diagramming plays for his staff.

2020 NFL training camp position battles for all 32 teams: Quarterback openings for Patriots, Dolphins, more - ESPN

Battles at corner and center are the big ones at training camp. Center takes center stage in this analysis.

Dallas Cowboys

Center

The retirement of Travis Frederick leaves a hole on the offensive line, but the Cowboys believe they have the pieces to continue to be one of the NFL’s better groups. Veteran Joe Looney started every game in 2018 during Frederick’s absence because of an autoimmune disease. His experience gives him an edge over Connor McGovern, last year’s third-round pick, who did not play because of a torn pectoral. Connor Williams has started his first two seasons at left guard but could get a chance at center. Fourth-round pick Tyler Biadasz has big-time college experience at the spot. The loser of the center battle also will contend for the left guard spot. — Todd Archer

Kyler Murray: Definitely possible to have three 1,000-yard receivers this year - Josh Alper, PFT

You think the Cowboys are the only team dreaming of three 1,000-yard pass receivers in 2020? Think again.

The trade bringing wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona has raised the expectations for the Cardinals Offense in 2020 and quarterback Kyler Murray isn’t downplaying the potential of the unit.

Murray was on a conference call with reporters on Thursday and he was asked about the possibility that Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk could all finish the season with at least 1,000 receiving yards. Murray said that he believes that could happen.

“Oh, yeah for sure. I definitely think that’s possible,” Murray said, via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com.

First Practice Of 2020 Coming On Friday Morning - David Helman, The Mothership

Finally, the time has come. The Cowboys start with real practices today.

Let there be no mistaking this: Friday morning, two full weeks after they reported for testing, the Cowboys will work through their first full practice of 2020.

“I think like everybody is — players, coaches, support staff — we’re really looking forward to Friday for our first full practice,” said Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on Wednesday.

It’s not that the Cowboys haven’t been working. The last two weeks have been full of meetings and installations, not to mention a conditioning program. Part of the NFL and NFLPA’s agreement on returning to work was a ramp-up period that would allow players to ease back after missing the offseason program.

In fact, McCarthy said the first few weeks of training camp have felt like an accelerated offseason program.

“The strength and conditioning phase has gone very well. We’re making progress,” he said. “In a lot of ways this would be kind of the end of an offseason program and that’s probably a little further along than we would be, as far as my experience and awareness of how an offseason program would end.”

Live everything else in this situation, the return to full contact will be gradual. These first few practices will be held in shells – that is, helmets, shoulder pads and shorts. The NFL is allowing fully-padded practices as early as Monday, Aug. 17. So it’s a good bet we’ll see the team ramp things up next week.

BTB Podcast

Everson Griffen! It really happened. We discussed on the latest episode of Broadcasting The ‘Boys.

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