Could Cowboys Shop CB Orlando Scandrick?
During the 2017 NFL Draft the Cowboys were in trade talks to send CB Orlando Scandrick to the Saints for S Kenny Vaccaro, a source told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill Jr. Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas confirmed the trade talks and believes the veteran cornerback will not be with the team next season. 
Scandrick is unlikely suit up for the team’s finale vs. Philadelphia after missing the team’s previous three games with fractured bones in his back and with the Cowboys eliminated from playoff contention. In his absence, the team has relied on rookie cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis, and second-year CB Anthony Brown. Those results have been favorable and could make the 10-year veteran expendable.
Though signed through the 2019 season, Scandrick, as Hill notes, is in a favorable contract that will pay the 30-year-old cornerback $3 MM in 2018 and $4 MM in 2019. The team could again target Vaccaro, who was placed on IR earlier this month with a wrist injury, though it is not known if the Saints will be willing to part with the former first-round pick who played a role in helping New Orleans dramatically improve its defense in 2018.
Though known in the past as one of the league’s top slot cornerbacks, Scandrick has endured a down year. Entering Week 17, Scandrick has not registered an interception and has just three passes defensed on the season. Pro Football Focus ranked the veteran as the No. 113 cornerback heading into the season finale.
Dez Bryant Won’t Take Pay Cut
Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant said he would not accept a reduction in pay going forward, the pass catcher told reporters including ESPN’s Todd Archer on Wednesday. 
“I haven’t heard no talk about that but if it comes, I don’t know, probably not,” Bryant said. “Hell naw, man. I believe in me.”
Archer notes the three-time Pro Bowl receiver is set to make $12.5 MM while counting $16.5 MM toward the team’s salary cap in 2018. If the Cowboys release him, the team can free up $8.5 million or $12 million if he is cut after June 1.
Between 2012-14, Bryant was among the game’s best wideouts, posting at least 85 catches, 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns in each season. This season has been one to forget, however, with No. 88 amassing just 66 grabs for 815 yards and six touchdowns through Week 16. While the team focuses more on the run now than it did in years past, Bryant has still been inconsistent with frustrating drops and an inability to get open. The receiver placed most of the blame on the scheme rather than his chemistry with second-year quarterback Dak Prescott, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports (Twitter link).
Bryant said he plans on sitting down with owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jason Garrett to discuss his fit in the team’s scheme. This will be a situation to keep tabs on in the offseason.
Cowboys Release LB Justin Durant
Now that the Cowboys are no longer in contention for a playoff spot, the team has decided to cut veteran linebacker Justin Durant, reports David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). The Cowboys have promoted linebacker Tre’Von Johnson from the practice squad to replace Durant on the active roster.
Durant, 32, was in his fourth year as a member of the Cowboys. He signed with Dallas prior to last season and was also on the team in 2013 and 2014. The veteran linebacker played in just seven games this season due to injury, collecting a combined 13 tackles while on the field.
This was a notable step down from what he’s done in the past as he appeared in double-digit games all but once since he entered the league as a second round pick by the Jaguars in 2007.
Durant was clearly behind fellow middle linebackers Anthony Hitchens and Jaylon Smith on the depth chart, so without anything to play for in Week 17, the coaching staff probably felt that they should get some younger players more exposure to regular season game action.
The Cowboys will face the Eagles in Week 17 in an attempt to finish above-.500 for the second year in a row.
Cowboys’ Jason Witten Discusses Future
The Cowboys won’t be going to the playoffs this year, but Jason Witten hopes to help Dallas find redemption in 2018. The tight end says he intends on returning for a 16th NFL season, as Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News writes. 
“I see too much positive,” Witten said. “I really do. I feel too good to think that would end, so my intentions are to keep playing.”
Witten had five catches for 39 yards in Sunday’s 21-12 loss to Seattle, giving him a total of 61 grabs for 543 yards and five touchdowns so far this year. This wasn’t Witten’s greatest season, but he was still extremely productive and durable.
In his decade-and-a-half with the Cowboys, Witten has yet to play in a conference championship game. Although he is hugely disappointed, Witten said that he has much to look forward to this weekend.
“It’s hard,” said Witten. “You put everything you got into it, for a long time, man. It’s a game. It is. But you go let them see Santa Claus tomorrow. I got a great family. I got a great support system. The next half hour just take a few deep breaths, try to process it and enjoy the moment, devour the strawberries, so to speak. I wish I could tell you that it would be easy. Having a good wife helps. I’ve been fortunate. I’ve lived the dream here for the last 15 years with this organization. Great ownership, great coaches, great opportunity. Disappointed that we couldn’t get it done this year.”
Coach Matt Eberflus Is A Free Agent in 2018
- There’s a number of attractive coordinators who will be free agents this offseason. Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com run down a list that includes defensive coordinators: Gus Bradley, Paul Guenther, Vic Fangio and George Edwards. They mention that Bradley in particular is an odd situation because he signed just a one-year deal with the Chargers last offseason and has a great track record as a defensive coordinator with the Seahawks as well. At the moment, the Chargers have the third ranked scoring defense in the league, which should help make him in high demand for open defensive coordinator jobs after this season is over. Guenther on the other hand has been mentioned has a potential replacement for longtime Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, although he would be free to look at other opportunities should the team opt to go in a different direction. The article also makes note that popular Eagles quarterback coach John DeFilippo and Cowboys passing game coordinator Matt Eberflus would bring widespread interest as well if they move on from their current teams.
Jerry Jones “Feels Good” About Jason Garrett
The Cowboys 2017 season was one of major ups and downs. Though, in the end, America’s team will not be in the postseason after losing to the Seahawks at home on Sunday afternoon. However, that doesn’t mean that owner Jerry Jones has soured on his head coach. Jones made sure to give Jason Garrett a vote of confidence during his postgame comments, reports Todd Archer of ESPN.com.
“Just so we’re clear about it, I do understand frustration right after you lose a game that has as much meaningfulness as this ballgame, but I get to look at a lot of different things and have been around a lot of head coaches and coordinators,” Jones said. “I feel good about our head coach.”
Garrett, 51, has been the head coach of the Cowboys since 2010, accumulating a record of 67-55 during his tenure. But on the other hand, he only has two playoff appearances to show for his efforts. In addition, Garrett has not led the team past the divisional round, despite being the number one overall seed in the NFC last year.
However, Garrett was without his star running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games during the stretch run of the season. So while the loss does hurt, especially considering that the team had rallied for three straight wins in the weeks prior, the team is still young and returns many of its key players in 2018.
It would seem like Jones is intent on keeping Garrett at the helm for at least another year, but the pressure will be on if the Cowboys continue to underperform with him at the controls.
Earl Thomas Wants To Go To The Cowboys?
Despite the Seahawks eliminating the Cowboys from playoff contention with a win this afternoon, it appears that one of Seattle’s best players would rather play in Dallas next season. After securing the victory, All-pro safety Earl Thomas was seen going into the Cowboys locker room to tell head coach Jason Garrett that “When the Seahawks kick me to the curb, please, Cowboys, come get me,” according to Dallas News.
It’s a rather odd series of events because Thomas has been a key piece to one of the best defenses in the league since he was drafted in the first round in 2010.
Thomas confirmed his actions to reporters in the locker room postgame, but it might not have been as blatant as it may appeared, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
“I’ve always been a Cowboys fan growing up,” Thomas told reporters after the team’s win. “The biggest things when I said ‘come get me,’ I didn’t literally mean come get me now. I’m still in the prime of my career, I still want to be here. But when Seattle kicks me to the curb, please, the Cowboys, come get me. You know?…People take me too serious. That’s just who I am.”
While Thomas did seem to back track a bit on wanting to come to Dallas next season, it still begs the question to why he would pull this stunt now? Thomas is under contract for one more season, but the team could look to trade him should the Seahawks not lock him up to a long-term contract. Seattle is notorious for trying to address impending free agency situations and have been unafraid of shopping key players as they have done in the past with star cornerback Richard Sherman.
Seattle already opted to give fellow safety Kam Chancellor a long-term committment, and when asked about what that means for his future after the Week 16 win, Thomas simply said “I don’t know. Actions speak louder than words. So I don’t know.” (via Dallas News)
While the Seahawks front office ultimately has the final say on where Thomas plays in 2018, it should be noted that Thomas is clearly already thinking about where his football career may take him after he’s finished in Seattle. It would appear that should he be forced to move on either next year or later down the road, the Cowboys would be high on his list of choice destinations.
Week 16 Injury Notes
- Despite the Cowboys getting Zeke back for the first time since Week 8, the team is still dealing with a number of injuries entering their season-defining Week 16 game against Seattle. Star left tackle Tyron Smith is currently dealing with back and knee injuries, but he will “give it a try” this Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Defensive tackle David Irving has been officially ruled out for a third straight game because of a concussion as well, reports David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Although, there is some good news on the injury front for the Cowboys as stud pass rusher Demarcus Lawrence practiced fully on Friday and is ready to go, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com.
Zeke Officially Placed Back On Active Roster
After a long fight with the NFL that led to an eventual suspension being taken in Week 9, Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott is finally set to return to game action on Sunday after being officially placed on the team’s 53-man roster this afternoon, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Elliott, 22, has been one of the premier runners in football since he took the league by storm during his rookie campaign in 2016. However, his sophomore season has proved to be more tumultuous as the former Ohio State Buckeye was suspended by the league for six games after he was charged with assault over the summer. Some notable pushback by Elliott and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones delayed his suspension to the middle of the season, with Elliott remaining separated from the team for six games from Weeks 9 through 15.
Dallas has won their last three contests after dropping their first three without their featured back. This most recent winning streak has allowed the Cowboys to go into a playoff “elimination” game vs. the Seahawks this weekend. While backups Alfred Morris and Rod Smith were competent in relief, the Dallas offense is expected to take a notable step up with Elliott in the backfield.
In his eight games this season, Elliott has rushed for 783 yards on 191 carries, including seven touchdowns. With his suspension complete, Dallas certainly stands a much better chance of running the table and sneaking their way into the final NFC Wild Card spot.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/21/17
Today’s workout updates, with all Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle and veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer:
Arizona Cardinals
- WRs Harvey Binford, Rashad Ross, Brandon Zylstra; DBs Jonathon Mincy, Kacy Rodgers (link)
Cincinnati Bengals
- OL Gabe Ikard, Max Rich, Austin Shepherd, Jerry Ugokwe (link)
Cleveland Browns
- RB Kelvin Taylor; DT Jimmy Staten; LB Max Bullough; CBs Makinton Dorleant, Demetrius McCray, Sheldon Price; DBs James Sample, Earl Wolff (link)
Dallas Cowboys
- WRs K.D. Cannon, Dezmin Lewis, Tevaun Smith; LBs Tyrell Adams, Arthur Miley; DBs Jeremy Boykins, Marcus Cromartie, Marqueston Huff, Ezra Robinson (link)
Denver Broncos
- TE Gavin Escobar; DTs Paul Boyette, Will Sutton; LBs Houston Bates, Jayrone Elliott, Connor Harris, Marcus Rush; DBs Rickey Jefferson, Jordan Moore, J.R. Nelson, D’Joun Smith, Malik Smith (link)
Detroit Lions
- CB Jarnor Jones (link via Balzer)
Houston Texans
- DE Kasim Edebali; DT Rickey Hatley; DB Tracy Howard (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- TE Marcus Lucas (link)
New Orleans Saints
- WR Diontae Spencer (link)
New York Giants
- QB Brandon Burge; WR Nick Demski; OL Freddie Burden; DBs Malik Golden, Ed Reynolds (link)
New York Jets
- G Greg Pyke (link via Balzer)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB James Summers (link)
San Francisco 49ers
- TE Brandon Barnes; OL Erik Austell; DT Euclid Cummings; LB Chris Casher; CB Shaq Richardson (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- RBs Kalif Phillips, Jalen Simmons (link)