Latest news with #SuperBowl-era
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys Headlines: Oxnard votes on camp's future; who are most important Cowboys in 2025?
The team's summer stay in Oxnard has become a tradition that most fans and followers have simply taken for granted. But the annual training camp has to be officially agreed upon by both parties, and it's time to revisit that contract. We've got the latest on whether the Cowboys will keep heading west beyond 2025. Elsewhere in the headlines, we'll look at who the most important players on the team are in this critical season, we'll wonder if the Cowboys overpaid for their biggest star, and we'll see where two of the franchise's top legends rank among the all-time greats. We're spotlighting two late-round draft picks looking to make a move, we're identifying breakout candidates, and we're previewing what to expect from Matt Eberflus and his new-look defense. All that, plus which storylines will get the most airtime on Netflix, and the dollars and cents that were really why the Cowboys never called Saquon Barkley. Oxnard to decide on future Dallas Cowboys training camps :: Ventura County Star Link Representatives for the team signed a contract to keep training camp in Oxnard through 2030. The Cowboys pay the city a flat annual fee that can range from $25,000 to $75,000, depending on how long camp is. The weeks-long event generates significant dollars in local spending, and the city could potentially make another $175,000 each year from parking lot revenue, banner sponsorships, and food vendors. The Oxnard City Council was expected to vote to accept or decline the terms of the latest contract at a Tuesday meeting. Cowboys overshot market by $5 million as ESPN IDs league's most player-friendly contract :: Cowboys Wire Link No shocker; Dak Prescott's contract was named the most player-friendly deal of all NFL quarterbacks. His no-trade and no-tag clauses comes with $231 million in guarantees, and his $60 million average annual value wasn't approached by either of the two megadeals signed this offseason, those belonging to Josh Allen and Brock Purdy. Cowboys' most important players for 2025: Dallas needs Dak Prescott's best season :: The Athletic Link A list of the 10 most important Cowboys for 2025 starts with two newly-added veterans: linebacker Kenneth Murray, Jr. and cornerback Kaiir Elam. George Pickens makes the list, of course, and DaRon Bland places rather high, given the question marks surrounding Trevon Diggs. But Prescott having nothing short of the best season of his career is the only realistic shot the team has at a deep playoff run. Where do Cowboys' Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach rank among Super Bowl-era QBs in panel vote? :: Cowboys Wire Link A 13-member panel ranked Troy Aikman the 17th-best quarterback of the Super Bowl era, ahead of names like Warren Moon, Kurt Warner, and Johnny Unitas. Roger Staubach came in 11th, better than Fran Tarkenton, Dan Fouts, and Terry Bradshaw. What does Eberflus' defense look like? :: The Mothership Link Based on Eberflus's history, expect the Cowboys defense to notch plenty of takeaways. And they should be much improved on stopping the run. But he's got more of a pass rush than he's used to, so it will be interesting to see how he utilizes that in his overall scheme. Eberflus is big on sure tackling, interior pressure, effort, and intensity. Cowboys run defense issues deeper than an unwillingness to sign 1-tech DTs :: Cowboys Wire Link It's maybe too simplistic to pin the team's recent run-stopping woes solely on their defensive tackles. Edge rushers, linebackers, and defensive backs all played a part, too. Which means that the overall scheme in Dallas hasn't been effective at dealing with the run. Matt Eberflus needs to focus on discipline from his players... at every position if they're going to have a chance at improving in this key area. Cowboys hope long-shot rookie can buck odds, turn 7th-round status into glory :: Cowboys Wire Link Tommy Akingbesote's role at defensive tackle is a bit unclear, and now he's got All-UFL star Perrion Winfrey breathing down his neck. He'll be fighting with Denzel Daxon and Earnest Brown IV for a spot on either the roster or the practice squad. Breakout Watch: PFF identifies two Cowboys who should surpass expectations in 2025 :: Cowboys Wire Link The jury was split on which Cowboys player is poised for a breakout this season. On the one hand, Cooper Beebe was phenomenal in his very first year playing center, so a Year Two jump could elevate the entire O-line. On the other hand, Javonte Williams has had declining numbers in yards after contact in each of his NFL seasons. But he may benefit from the Cowboys' committee approach and therefore have a big year as a result. 10 biggest storylines Cowboys fans can expect to see in upcoming Netflix docuseries :: Dallas Morning News Link There will be plenty of airtime given to Jerry Jones's purchase of the team, but also the controversial firing of the only head coach the Cowboys had ever known... and the death threats that came with the move. An inside look at Jimmy Johnson's regime, the behind-the-scenes drama of the Herschel Walker trade, and the scandals of both the "White House" and the chaotic Super Bowl parade of 1994 will also make for must-see TV over what is now being promised as an eight-episode run. Stashed in 2024, Cowboys 7th-round pick looks to turn grainy film into real opportunity :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys thought enough of Nathan Thomas to stash him on injured reserve toward the end of training camp last year, letting him develop and learn while keeping him protected from other teams. Now he has a new coaching staff to impress all over again... but a golden opportunity before him with issues at both offensive tackle spots. Cowboys' Terence Steele lives out every son's dream with special moment :: Link The right tackle bought his mom a house as a gift in a very cool moment that was shared on social media by his real estate agent. Colin Yang called the purchase "every son's goal." NFL star targets Cowboys over not trying to sign him before $37 million free agency deal :: Cowboys Wire Link Saquon Barkley seemed to feel slighted by getting no interest from Dallas when he was in free agency. But it shouldn't have been a surprise; the Cowboys were still feeling the burn of their big-money dealings with Ezekiel Elliott when Barkley was out there looking for his own massive deal. The Eagles are taking a cap hit of just under $10 million for Barkley in 2025; the Cowboys have just $8.1 million on their books for their entire RB corps. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
NBC Sports
05-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Referee Tra Blake is reassigned to umpire
Referee Tra Blake will no longer be a referee. reports that the NFL has reassigned Blake to umpire. Blake had spent three years in that position, after previously serving as an umpire. The reason for the move wasn't given. Given that most officials aspire to become referees, it's fair to wonder whether it was an involuntary move. Blake and his crew missed the obvious facemask foul late in the Vikings-Rams Thursday night game. His crew also missed a pass interference foul by the Chiefs late in a Sunday night game against the Falcons. Blake was promoted to referee in 2022, following the retirement of Tony Corrente. Blake earned no postseason assignments during his time as a referee. In a corresponding move, the NFL has promoted umpire Alex Moore to referee. It's unclear at this point whether Moore will assume responsibility for Blake's crew. As noted by Blake is only the 12th referee during the Super Bowl-era to be reassigned to a lesser position. Others who moved out of the referee job were Ben Dreith and Phil Luckett.
Chicago Tribune
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Dick Jauron, who led Chicago Bears to 13-win season in 2001, dies: ‘He didn't get enough credit for what he did'
The odds looked as if they were stacked against Dick Jauron and the Chicago Bears in 2001. He was entering his third season after winning a total of 11 games in his first two years and the franchise had just hired Jerry Angelo as general manager. It was an arranged partnership, one many figured wouldn't last, and what it led to was one of the most exciting — and certainly the most improbable season — in franchise history, at least in the Super Bowl-era. Jauron, 74, died Saturday in Massachusetts. The Peoria native was recently diagnosed with cancer. Jauron spent 28 years as an NFL coach, beginning in 1985 with the Buffalo Bills before moving to the Green Bay Packers where he coached defensive backs for nine years. He served as Tom Coughlin's defensive coordinator in Jacksonville for four seasons before the Bears hired him in 1999. Heading into in 2001, vice president of player personnel Mark Hatley departed in what was termed a 'mutual' decision. Jauron had tried to talk him into staying. 'I'll keep my mouth shut this year,' Angelo said when he was hired in June. 'This is Dick's year. We are entering a professional partnership. This whole organization is contingent on how the marriage works. If it does not work out, like any marriage, it's going to be real messy.' The Bears were predicted to finish last, where the over/under in Las Vegas for their win total was seven — the lowest in the NFC Central. They went on to finish 13-3. Jauron was named AP Coach of the Year, getting 4 1/2 more votes than the New England Patriots' Bill Belichick, earning a contract extension from Angelo and the organization after the season. Consecutive overtime victories clinched on interception returns by safety Mike Brown highlighted the season. 'Those guys took the field and really they never doubted themselves,' Jauron told the Tribune in 2021. 'People say, 'Yeah, you won a lot of close games.' (The Bears were 8-0 in games decided by seven points or less.) We could have been 16-0, right? We lost three close games too. If you are saying we should have had more losses, I don't know. Maybe we should have had three more wins.' The 2002 season was going to be problematic with Soldier Field under renovation and home games played at Illinois' Memorial Stadium. When injuries piled up, things got worse and the team slumped to a 4-12 record. The Bears were in a familiar quandary — searching for a quarterback — and used a first-round pick on Rex Grossman in 2003. The plan was to let him develop on the sideline with Kordell Stewart starting. The team rotated between those two starters and Chris Chandler and finished 7-9, and Jauron was fired at the end of the year with an overall record of 35-45 with the Bears. Jauron went on to serve as the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions for two seasons before becoming the interim head coach at the end of 2005. He then had a four-year stretch as the coach of the Bills, going 24-33. Jauron worked for the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns over the next three years before retiring. Even after he left Halas Hall, players held him in high regard. 'He was so stabilizing and he didn't get enough credit for what he did with our team,' Hall of Fame middle linebacker Brian Urlacher told the Tribune Saturday. 'He was amazing and a lot like Lovie Smith in the aspect of he was kind of like your dad and you didn't want to let him down. Him and Greg Blache and Dale Lindsey on that staff were so influential on me early in my career. They were older coaches, if you look at the coaches in the league now, but the way Dick made us practice, he instilled that work ethic. 'He was such a wonderful man. Always classy with us, the media and I just had a ton of respect for him. It's so sad Virginia McCaskey a couple days ago and now Coach Jauron.' While Jauron was rarely loud, he knew how to push players' buttons. 'He had a way of walking down the hallway and he'd just look at you and say, 'We need a little more from you,'' center OIin Kreutz said. 'You knew you hadn't played a good game when he did that and he wouldn't sugarcoat it. 'Dick was a good man and there were not many better people in the NFL. Amazing how smart he was.' Jauron was a prep legend in Swampscott, Mass., and went on to be a three-time Ivy League selection at Yale. He was drafted in the fourth round in 1973 by the Detroit Lions and the 25th round of the MLB draft that same year by the St. Louis Cardinals. Jauron chose the NFL and started as a free safety as a rookie in Detroit. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1975. After five seasons with the Lions, Jauron played three more years in Cincinnati and finished his career with 25 interceptions. It was in Cincinnati that he played for Dick LeBeau, who was instrumental in Jauron getting into coaching. There's no question Jauron could have continued coaching after serving as the defensive coordinator of the Browns in 2011 and 2012, but his wife Gail was diagnosed with dementia and he was caring for her daily until his recent diagnosis. Former co-workers and players held him in the highest regard because of his commitment to Gail. Jauron was preceded in death by a daughter, Amy, and is survived by a daughter, Kacy. He possessed a dry wit and would flash it occasionally in media sessions. Asked once about a player's injury, Jauron told a reporter he'd have to speak to the team's trainer, Tim Bream. Jauron was then informed the team had made Bream off-limits to media. 'Sounds like a conundrum,' Jauron deadpanned. Former Bears long snapper Pat Mannelly recalled playing a round of golf in the offseason at Conway Farms in Lake Forest with Chandler, who was retired and visiting. Chandler called Jauron, who still had a residence in Lake Forest, and asked if they could see their former coach. Sure, come on by, Jauron said. When Mannelly and Chandler arrived, they found Amy and Kacy in dresses, rushing to get ready for their prom dates, who were about to arrive. 'We gotta go, Coach,' Mannelly said, not wanting to crash a big family moment. 'No, you have to stay. Stand there,' Jauron said, according to Mannelly. So, when the two boys arrived to pick up the Jauron girls, there was 6-foot-5 Mannelly and 6-4 Chandler standing there. 'Such a great dad power move,' Mannelly chuckled. 'But Coach Jauron was very similar to Lovie in the regard that he was the same person every day. You knew what you were getting. He was very honest with you if you were not playing well. You always knew where you stood with him and that's why everyone loved him. 'He was such a great-hearted man, a good dad and a great husband.'
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills vs. Chiefs score, live updates: AFC championship pits Patrick Mahomes against Josh Allen with the winner headed to Super Bowl LIX
The NFL playoffs always produce legendary moments and matchups, but there really is something special about two teams — and two superstar players, in their primes — battling for all the marbles. On Sunday, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen lead the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, respectively, into the AFC Championship game with the Chiefs looking for some NFL history if they can make it to Super Bowl LIX. Kansas City — which lost to Buffalo on the road earlier this year — is vying to become the first team in the Super Bowl-era to win three straight championships. Kansas City is also trying to knock Allen and the Bills out of the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons. During that span, the Bills and Chiefs have played every regular season and the Bills have each won each of their four-regular season matchups since 2021, including three wins in Kansas City. With a win Sunday, Buffalo would head to the Super Bowl for the first time in 31 years. Time: 6:30 p.m. ETLocation: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, Channel: CBSStreaming: Paramount+, Fubo
