Time flies when camping

FRISCO, Texas – This is amazing.

We’re 18 days away from the Cowboys’ 2020 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, most of whom were skeptical of performing a month ago.

It’s been 25 days of the noon home opener at AT&T Stadium vs. Atlanta, which for so long seemed so far away.

With no false positives last week, the NFL and players have so far done a commendable job during training camp with very few positive tests for COVID-19.

And the Cowboys players, for the most part, um, blowing each other’s bubbles here at the Star / Ford Center / Omni Hotel, haven’t died since the results of the first round of testing.

The protocols seem to work, with a big hit on the wood.

With that, and nine practices in the books, I’ve had a lot of blows, to cover, so let’s go.

• AND III: While Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has sort of straddled this third possibility over the past two years of the Cowboys’ acquisition of the recently released safety, Earl Thomas, thought it had thrown a flag. yellow warning when considering a veteran Ravens player. already sent the packaging: “Everything has been looked at, and at the end of the day I think the most important question you need to ask yourself is: how does a player fit in the dressing room? Because that for me, that’s usually a deciding factor if it happens or if it doesn’t also. And like in this area, there has to be a mutual understanding, you know, to bring these things together. Ultimately, as a head coach, I am focusing on our current dressing room. ”In a reversal of cliché, speaking 88 words earns a clearer picture.
• The displeasure of the crows: How unhappy were the Baltimore Ravens about the outright release of Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas after another of his altercations with a teammate? Well, after signing him last year to a four-year, $ 55 million contract, which included a $ 20 million signing bonus and his guaranteed 2020 base salary, Baltimore has always cut the bait. . This means that if they don’t win their grievance against him to get money back, citing conduct detrimental to the team, they will have to pay him the guaranteed base salary of $ 10 million for this season. That would result in $ 15 million in dead money this year and $ 10 million next year for the final two seasons of his prorated signing bonus. A high cost to get this guy out of your locker room if the Ravens aren’t allowed to lay off this year’s base salary and get three-quarters of the signing bonus back.
• Football sounds: Another one of those COVID-19 changes these days, head coach Mike McCarthy not playing that eardrum music during team training games. Not only does this help new staff teach, but as McCarthy points out, the Cowboys’ first two road games will be played before empty stadiums. At this point, neither the Rams (September 13) nor the Seahawks (September 27) will allow fans to attend games. In fact, seven of the eight opponents on the Cowboys road are either not allowing fans or not allowing it until further notice. Minnesota (Nov. 22) will not allow fans to participate in at least the first two games.
• Training target: The Cowboys have instituted a new quarterback warm-up exercise. They work on their footwork first, moving forward and backward through a series of ground pylons, and then, while moving, try to hit one of the three rectangular pockets on the net at around 15 meters. When asked if quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier had become a competitive exercise, he replied sarcastically, “No, they’re not competitive at all. They just go to the quarterback room and draw a big one. board with their names and they count every day. They love it. It’s natural for these guys.… There are definitely some ribs going on, and they really know who won and who lost. “And when When asked who the boss was, Nussmeier replied, “I can’t divulge this, you know. It’s top secret.” Well, come back to that tomorrow. We’ll ask Dak.
• Center of interest: Most take for granted Joe Looney will be the center starter to replace retiree Travis Frederick, and he hasn’t done anything to suggest he can’t be the guy. But let’s keep an eye out for rookie center Tyler Biadasz. This guy comes in and keeps hearing good things about the Rimington Trophy winner from Wisconsin. A real bulldog in there, and as I pointed out, the only player on the team to start last season at center, even though he was a college ball. Previously earned the Cowboys flagship radio station nickname 105.3 The Fan, Tyler “Bad Ass.” Even offensive line coach Joe Philbin allowed this about Biadiasz: “I think the guy is a football player. He looks like a natural playing center. … I don’t Don’t think so, I know he loves football. … He’s tough, he’s tough, has good playing strength, he understands the game well. Yeah, he’s off to a good start. ” And if you want to get it right, it’s the Tyler Bee-AH dish.
• Noah’s Bow: And that’s on the rise for the fourth-year wide receiver who landed on the injured late-season reserve for the past two years. Noah Brown got a reputation after his rookie season as a “good tackle”, and I was tough on him, saying if I needed another “good tackle” on the court I would use a tight end. . I want my wide receivers to come down with some exciting passes. Well, Brown is lighter, going from last year’s roster 222 to now roster at 215. And he seems faster so far in camp, with improved ability to open. It doesn’t look like a tight end anymore, and I think if the Cowboys keep at least five receivers, and we know who the top three are, I would now say Cedrick Wilson and Brown are next two.
• Camp shots: When the Cowboys drafted cornerback Reggie Robinson from Cleburne in the fourth round, looking at his size and abilities on special teams, they figured he might be a corner, the Cowboys might move on to safety. Well, this week Robinson took some safe snaps, and made a really nice play in a red zone session on Tuesday, interrupting a pass for what would have been a touchdown … and the other guy who seems to have some versatility with him is veteran corner Daryl Worley. Lo and behold, he too is now taking pictures, not only in the lunge, but in safety… Third presumptive turn Jourdan Lewis, with an ankle injury, has to hurry, get back to good health and resume practice… Return from his ACL repair , two-year-old starter Connor Williams was the guy in the left guard, but for the first time had a bit of R&R on Tuesday, the Cowboys just wanting to be smart with his return from surgery eight months later … The players know the talent, and when Tony Pollard was asked about rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, he ended by saying, “He’s worth the hype.”

And for this week blows edition, the last word goes to McCarthy, saying when asked what someone would say about defensive end Aldon Smith after watching practice and not knowing he hasn’t played football since on November 15, 2015, “Who the hell was No. 58?” say no more.