The closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics was a somber moment for sports fans, knowing that the wait to see this global event will be another four years. The void in the showpiece event will be filled knowing that we are less than a month away from the start of regular season NFL action. The teams have been doing joint practice, played at least two pre-season games, and are getting closer to narrowing their squad to a 53-man roster. To get you caught up, in this article, we will discuss the three biggest stories from pre-season so far.
1. Cowboys Stall in Negotiations- The Dallas Cowboys is one of the most well-known franchises in sports, but there are real questions surrounding the direction. Dak Prescott is in the final year of his contract and is due a massive payday as one of the best quarterbacks in the regular season. Prescott was an MVP candidate last season by recording 4,156 yards, 36 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions. The problem for the Cowboys is that their double-digit wins and even winning the division last season have not led to an appearance in the NFC Championship in nearly thirty years. Another key player who deserves a massive upgrade is Micah Parsons, who has proven to be a captain and one of the best defensive players in the league. Parsons led the Cowboys’ defense with 14 sacks and is irreplaceable in their defensive scheme. Also, a final player staging a hold-in is Cee-Dee Lamb, who feels underpaid as one of the best Wide Receivers in the league. Lamb feels he deserves top dollars because he is a central figure in the Cowboys’ offense after tallying 135 receptions, 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns last season. Head Coach Mike McCarthy is in the last year of his contract, which means the entire team will be walking on hot coals this season. If the Cowboys fail to live up to expectations, Jerry Jones will likely clean house and start fresh.
2. 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk Saga-Aiyuk is one of the best Wide Receivers in the league and a cog for the 49ers offense. Aiyuk tallied 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns last season and is seeking an upgrade in his contract situation. Negotiations have been difficult for both parties, and the team has reportedly sought a trade on the market. There were rumors that the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers were negotiating to acquire the star Receiver. The Steelers have emerged with an ideal package to land the former Arizona State Wide Receiver. However, the reports in recent days suggest that the 49ers plan to keep negotiating with the Aiyuk’s camp and to keep the player in crimson and red uniform. Aiyuk staying in the Bay area will enable Brock Purdy to retain his full complement of weapons and improve the 49ers’ chance to retain the NFC Championship.
3. Falcons on the rise- Atlanta’s owner, Arthur Blank, has shown that he wants his team to contend this season. Early in the off-season, he flirted with hiring Bill Belichick but instead pivoted to Raheem Morris. In free agency, the team landed the biggest quarterback free agent in Kirk Cousins and doubled down in the draft by shoring up the future at the position by drafting Michel Pennix Jr. It was a surprise move to use the 8th pick to draft the Washington Huskies product after committing to Cousins. It makes Atlanta a potent offense with Running Back Bijan Robinson and Tight End Kyle Pitts in place. The team took a step further on the defensive side in the past week by trading a third-round pick to New England for Matt Judon. Judon is a dynamic pass rusher season who can wreck offenses and make the quarterback hurry. Last season, Judon recorded only four sacks after an injury-riddled that forced him to feature in only four games. However, between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Judon dominated with 28 sacks and was the captain of the Patriots’ defense. Atlanta also signed top safety Justin Simmons, which will improve the defense. The Falcons at 7-10 narrowly lost the division to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) and Blank has made shrewd moves to win the banner this year. In an open NFC, the Falcons are prime to rise and challenge in the Conference.