12-19-2019, 08:16 AM
The #PFTPM podcast gives me a way to react to news that emerges during the day (after concludes) Womens Joejuan Williams Jersey , to answer questions from you, and/or to babble on and on about whatever I’d like to babble on and on about. Sometimes, in the process of babbling on and on about something, I get an idea.While discussing the status of Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott‘s holdout and the latest offer that reportedly was made to Elliott by the them, it occurred to me that, at their core, these contractual conundrums that the Cowboys currently are confronting reflect deep-seated envy of a franchise that has appeared in 10 Super Bowls since the last time the Cowboys played in the NFL’s championship game. Indeed, the Cowboys haven’t even been back to the NFC title game during a 23-year run that has included 10 AFC championship and six Super Bowl trophies for the New England Patriots, eclipsing along the way the five that the Cowboys won from 1971 through 1995.The Patriots have mastered the ability to persuade players to take less than full market value, which has become a key ingredient in both holding together a nucleus of great talent and having enough cap space left to maintain a solid middle class of backups who can step in when injuries inevitably happen. The Cowboys Authentic Joejuan Williams Jersey , who currently have the most talent they’ve had since the salary cap began to chip away at the Jimmy Johnson-built roster that won three titles in four years from 1992 through 1995, are trying to impose that mindset on their players, but they can’t. And it seems to be driving them a little batty.Yes, it’s good to have a bunch of great players. And now the Cowboys will either do what the Vikings have done, paying all of them at or close to market value and hoping for the best when it comes to the second- and third-string players, or persuade the likes of Elliott and Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper to act like Patriots.Of course, the envy between the franchises quite possibly runs both ways. No matter how many championships the Patriots win, the Cowboys remain America’s Team, drawing eyeballs like no one else, even in down years. Still Joejuan Williams Jersey Boys , it’s better to have the championships, and the Cowboys want more of them. They’ll be more likely to get more if they can get their best players to do what most of the best Patriots players always do: Take less.The only problem for the Cowboys is that Zeke, Dak, and Amari aren’t inclined to do that. Earlier this year, Prescott made it clear that a team-friendly deal is an unfriendly proposition. “Nobody’s wife makes as much money as [Tom Brady’s] wife does,” Prescott told said at the time. “When Tom Brady isn’t the breadwinner in the home, then that’s a great problem to have.”This means that the Cowboys eventually have to choose between finding a way to make it work (even if they end up with a subpar collection of backups) or making tough decisions about trading certain players or letting them become free agents, relying on the organization’s ability to draft and develop cheaper replacements.It would be a lot easier if the best players would simply take less, like the best Patriots do. The sooner the Cowboys realize that’s just not happening, the sooner they’ll get these contractual disputes resolved Youth Irving Fryar Jerseys , one way or the other. <em>Last week: 8-5-1</em><em>Weeks 1 through 4: 31-29-2</em>Home teams shown in bold. Odds taken from Odds Shark.Pittsburgh (-3) vs. AtlantaBoth of these teams need this win pretty badly. A loss for the Falcons would drop them to 1-4, & a Steelers loss at home would drop them to 1-3-1. Both QBs should have big days, but the Falcons manage to steal one on the road.<em>Pick: Atlanta (+3)</em>Baltimore (-3) vs. Cleveland Baker Mayfield is going to continue to get better and better, but I have a hard time picking against the Baltimore here. The Ravens have one of the top defenses in the league and haven’t lost in Cleveland in five years.<em>Pick: Baltimore (-3)</em>New York Jets (-1) vs. DenverDenver is a different team on the road, and it’s time for Darnold to start getting things going again.<em>Pick: New York Jets (-1)</em>Green Bay (-1.5) vs. Detroit This game could go either way, but I’ll pick the team who is out looking for a little revenge. The Lions ran it up on the Packers in week 17 of last season, winning 35-11 in an ugly game. With Aaron Rodgers back, I’ll take Green Bay.<em>Pick: Green Bay (-1.5)</em>Kansas City (-3) vs. JacksonvilleWith this comment about Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey has added fuel to what already was going to be an excellent game.<em>Pick: Jacksonville (+3)</em>Cincinnati (-6) vs. MiamiJoe Mixon should be back for the Bengals, and Miami is coming off a difficult blowout loss to the Pats.<em>Pick: Cincinnati (-6)</em>Carolina (-6.5) vs. New York GiantsThe state of the Giants right now is… interesting. They can’t protect the QB Irving Fryar Jerseys Stitched , so the Panthers should be able to get after Eli. They win this one with ease.<em>Pick: Carolina (-6.5)</em>Tennessee (-5.5) vs. BuffaloComing off an emotional win at home against the defending champs, the Titans struggle a bit against Buffalo. Josh Allen puts forth a solid performance in Buffalo and keeps it close.<em>Pick: Buffalo (+5.5)</em>Los Angeles Chargers (-5.5) vs. OaklandThis game will be like a home game for Oakland. Whether Raiders fans outnumber Chargers fans or not (they will), Philip Rivers loves playing against the silver & black.<em>Pick: Los Angeles Chargers (-5.5)</em>San Francisco (-3.5) vs. ArizonaIt’s time for Arizona to get in the win column.<em>Pick: Arizona (+3.5)</em>Los Angeles Rams (-7.5) vs. Seattle Having last played on Thursday night vs. Minnesota, the Rams are coming off a mini-bye week. I see no reason why they don’t keep it rolling here.<em>Pick: Los Angeles Rams (-7.5)</em>Philadelphia (-3) vs. MinnesotaKirk Cousins always plays well in Philadelphia, and the Eagles, as a whole, have yet to find their groove.<em>Pick: Minnesota (+3)</em>Houston (-3) vs. DallasDeshaun Watson will shine on the bright stage of Sunday Night Football.<em>Pick: Houston (-3)</em>New Orleans (-6) vs. WashingtonI still have questions about the Saints defense, and don’t sleep on Washington coming off a bye.<em>Pick: Washington (+6)</em>