Rivers Sportsbook is offering 1.20 odds on the Pats to beat the Falcons. This means that for every dollar you bet, you get your stake back plus 20 cents. Now, we support responsible betting, but let’s assume you’re wagering more than $1. If you bet $100, you get $120: your $100 stake + $20 profit. The Packers would be 1.714 in decimal odds as a -140 favorite in American odds. For every $1 risked, you’re profiting 71.4 cents, plus your $1 back. The Vikings would be 2.2 in decimal odds as a +120 underdog, meaning for every $1 risked, you’re profiting $1.20 and getting your $1 back. Odds-On: A term used for a strong favorite to win, when to have to actually spend more to win. A horse priced at 1/3 is odds on. Long Odds: This is an underdog bet, but if you win you’ll receive many multiples of your stake back. A horse priced at 50/1 is long odds. Short Odds: This is a high chance to win, but you will only make a small.
Dak Prescott dominates the Cowboys headlines once again, just as he will every day until the club announces its long-awaited decision on his future with the team. But one former coach says the front office is way past due on getting this deal done. This comes as the rest of us can only guess on the particulars of the imminent negotiations, including the number of years that each side will push for; the figures may have changed from last year’s talks. Meanwhile, Prescott is tending to growing his bank account himself by investing in high-tech workout gear with some past and present teammates.
Elsewhere, the longtime Emmitt Smith/Barry Sanders comparisons are finally addressed head-on by one of the running backs. Michael Irvin and Dave Wannstedt have Super Bowl stories to share about the team’s dynasty days just as odds come out for who might be making the title game next season. We’re breaking down play at linebacker and center, defensive shortcomings, and how coach Mike McCarthy’s aggressiveness stacks up against the league’s other skippers. Also, CeeDee Lamb opens up about his quarterback’s physical rehab, and former Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett opens up about the mental toll that football can take on those who play it. Here’s the News and Notes.
Dak Prescott contract talks: Cowboys legend Jimmy Johnson skewers team for not having deal done yet :: CBS Sports
Last week, the Cowboys’ former coach ripped the organization’s mindset of entitlement for acting like they’ve won a ring at some point in the last quarter-century. This week, he’s going after the front office for not having already signed Dak Prescott at some point in the last three years: “very time they did not sign him, the price just kept going up. But they need to get it done.”
Barry Sanders speaks on similarities, differences in comparison to Emmitt Smith :: Inside The Star
Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith will forever be linked for dominating the NFL’s backfields of the 1990s. History’s fourth-leading rusher spoke on similarities and differences between the him and the all-time yardage champ on Tuesday during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan.
Film room: 3 potential linebacker targets for the Dallas Cowboys in the 2021 NFL draft :: Dallas Morning News
The Cowboys’ linebacker unit was a disappointment in 2020. With Sean Lee and Leighton Vander Esch both missing significant time with injuries and Jaylon Smith’s regression, the team could be in need of upgrading the position in April’s draft. John Owning mentions Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Missouri’s Nick Bolton, and LSU’s Jabril Cox as possible targets.
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Jaylon Smith put blame for the Cowboys’ early season woes on the defensive side of the ball :: Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys had arguably the worst defense in history in 2020 after giving up a franchise-worst 473 points. Linebacker Jaylon Smith put the blame for the larger team’s early-season failures on that side of the ball.
What's next for G/C: Who starts at center in 2021? :: The Mothership
Once a rock-solid unit with key foundtional pieces that were set in stone, the Cowboys’ offensive line suddenly finds itself with more than a few question marks after 2020. The official team website predicts that Joe Looney retains the starting center gig in 2021, with Tyler Biadasz continuing to develop. But don’t forget that Connor McGovern can play the position, too.
Slot machine: Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb dominated the inside in rookie campaign :: Cowboys Wire
The promising receiver announced his presence with authority in his rookie campaign. But Lamb says defenses shouldn’t sleep on him doing even more damage in 2021. And he believes his quarterback will be back in Dallas, too, for the “long haul.”
Dallas Cowboys: Brace yourselves, Dak Prescott may want a 3-year deal :: Sport DFW
Last offseason, Dallas wanted to sign Dak Prescott to a five-year. Prescott reportedly wanted four. Now one year removed from those failed negotiations, the math may have changed accordingly. Don’t be surprised if this year’s debate is about four years versus three.
Opening odds for Super Bowl LVI have the Dallas Cowboys tied for the fifth-best :: Blogging the Boys
BetOnline has posted odds for next year’s Super Bowl already. The Cowboys aren’t a long shot exactly, but there are ten teams listed ahead of them. Kansas City is the early favorite, followed by four teams (Bills, Packers, Rams, Buccaneers) at 12-to-1, the 49ers at 14-to-1, and four teams (Ravens, Browns, Dolphins, Seahawks) tied with 20-to-1 odds. The Cowboys currently have 22-to-1 odds, the same as the Chargers.
Super Bowl memories: Cowboys DC Wannstedt nearly undone by routine change :: NBC Chicago
Former Cowboys staffer Dave Wannstedt flashes back to January 1993 for the team’s first Super Bowl meeting against the Bills. The regimented defensive coordinator- who was set to become the Bears’ next head coach but hadn’t yet signed his contract- recalls having to wait anxiously through all the extra pregame pageantry. When the Dallas defense gave up a big play on the contest’s first snap, Wannstedt feared it was all about to unravel… over an eight-minute delay to his normal routine.
Top 10 most aggressive head coaches in today's NFL :: NFL.com
Cowboys fans wanted a head coach who took some chances after nearly a decade of playing it safe under Jason Garrett. Mike McCarthy comes in fourth on this ranking of current skippers who aren’t afraid to risk it, but with an obvious asterisk: “With a porous defense forcing Dallas to push its offense in an ill-fated attempt to keep pace early in the season, the Cowboys ended up going for it on fourth down a whole lot.”
Martellus Bennett: Football made me an 'angry person'; it's 'dangerous s--t' :: Bleacher Report
Mental health became an openly-discussed topic around the NFL in 2020. Cowboys ex-tight end Martellus Bennett is the latest to join the conversation. He opened up this week about the “years and years of brainwashing” that can start as early as youth football and lead to dangerous issues the longer one plays the game. “Integrating back into everyday society after a career continues to be a struggle for a lot of guys,” he says.
Michael Irvin tells his favorite Erik Williams Super Bowl story :: NFL.com
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Jimmy Johnson’s Cowboys were a loose bunch who pushed the envelope, both when it came to having a good time and breaking rules off the field. (Understatement.) But superstar offensive lineman Erik Williams jeopardized his spot in the Super Bowl XXVIII lineup by possibly having too good a time and breaking one too many rules in Atlanta during the run-up to gameday. Michael Irvin tells the story of how Johnson made an exception for “Big E.”
Cowboys' Dak Prescott, Dez Bryant go in on joint business venture in fitness :: Cowboys Wire
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The former Cowboys teammates are hooking up again, partnering with Jason Witten and Blake Jarwin to invest in a Plano startup called OxeFit. The company plans to put out AI-powered exercise equipment similar to Peloton and Mirror that uses robotics and smart technology to aid in strength training for elite athletes.