FRISCO, Texas – Man, just another year in the 58-season history of the Dallas Cowboys.
Suspensions. Court cases. Injuries. Losses never dreamed of. Surprise performances, both good and bad. Squabbles with the NFL. Someone making, as owner Jerry Jones called, "a laughable" assertion that if Jerry continues to act up the league has the right to make him sell the franchise.
Ha, as I said to that one: Fine, sell it, and with the money BUY the NFL. Oh, these days, never let preposterous get in the way of a website headline.
Will try to make these nuggets short and sweet, best I can.
- We Give:So Ezekiel Elliott's reps have decided they are fighting a no-win situation seeking a preliminary injunction on Dec. 1 to halt his suspension. He will now miss all six games, and becomes eligible to return to the team in time to prepare for Game 15 against Seattle on Christmas Eve, and then the 16th at Philly on New Year's Eve. But know this, Zeke and his legal reps still reserve the right to follow through with the lawsuit against the league for a wrongful suspension and arbitration process. Money is money.
- Keeping Hope Alive:While Tyron Smith did not practice on Wednesday, still rehabbing the strained groin that kept him out of the Atlanta game, there is real hope inside the organization that he might make it back in time for Sunday night's game against the Eagles. Those folks now are the biggest fans of Mother Nature doing her thing. In the meantime, the Cowboys know if Chaz Green needs to take a deep breath after that performance against Atlanta, the Next, Next Guy Up to replace Tyron is Byron Bell. Just know Bell missed all of last season in Tennessee with an ankle injury, so hasn't started a game since all 16 in 2015 for the Titans. In fact, those 17 snaps he played in Atlanta are the first game snaps he's taken since the 56 on Jan. 3, 2016 against the Colts in the final game of that season.
- Heavy Load: While there was talk of a three-man running back rotation in the absence of Elliott, the Cowboys leaned most heavily on Rod Smith, who ended up with 38 snaps from scrimmage. Starter Alfred Morris had 22 and Darren McFadden 1. Know this: Those are Rod's most snaps on offense since his freshman year at Ohio State, when he participated in 19 plays, running the ball 18 times for 74 yards on Sept. 3, 2011 against Akron.
- No. 94 Spotted:That's right, No. 94, DeMarcus Ware was on the Cowboys practice field Wednesday. OK, not in a jersey but in a fashionable white pullover. Ware walked out onto the practice field, and you bet defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli got him out there to give his "Rushmen" some tips. "He didn't just come and say hi," Tyrone Crawford said. "He went out there and showed us some stuff." Crawford said he worked out this summer with Ware and former Cowboys defensive tackle Jason Hatcher, just so he covered his bases if he was asked to play end or tackle. The Cowboys, with only one sack against Atlanta and two the previous week, are hoping maybe by osmosis Ware's presence will jumpstart that pass rush vs. the Eagles. Bet Taco Charlton was all ears.
- Good Bye: Here is what a bye can do for you. While the Cowboys had five starters listed on Wednesday's injury report as "Did Not Practice," the Eagles, who sat idly by this past Sunday admiring their 8-1, NFL-best record, had not a player listed as DNP.
