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NFL Power Rankings 2019: Raiders have helmet issues, Browns hype grows

By Randy Gurzi

NAPA, CA - AUGUST 05: A detail of a helmet during the Oakland Raiders Training Camp at the Napa Valley Marriott on August 5, 2009 in Napa, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 05: A detail of a helmet during the Oakland Raiders Training Camp at the Napa Valley Marriott on August 5, 2009 in Napa, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 10: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys gets tackled from behind by Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on August 10, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 10: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys gets tackled from behind by Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on August 10, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

12. Dallas Cowboys (7)

This season could be either really good or really bad for the Dallas Cowboys — it doesn’t feel as though there will be an in-between. Coming off their second NFC East title in three seasons, this year has been all about the money. First, it was their star defensive end, DeMarcus Lawrence, trying to get paid and after a lot of back and forth, he finally agreed to a five-year deal worth $105 million with $65 million in guarantees.

Once he was locked up, quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper entered the discussion. Both have made it known they want massive contracts and Prescott himself could take somewhere in the $30 million-per-year range. As for Cooper, he’s probably looking at a minimum of $17 million per year but probably wants even more after the massive Michael Thomas deal was announced.

Dallas still hasn’t locked either of those two up and needs to start worrying about Jaylon Smith as well, but running back Ezekiel Elliott leapfrogged them all by deciding to hold out and demand a new contract. There seems to be no progress on that front and this could linger on into the regular season.

In short, the talent is there but it doesn’t seem as though the focus is on the field. It’s hard to be too critical of players for trying to take care of their own business, but the truth is, this could spill over to the field in 2019 which could be really bad for head coach Jason Garrett who is in the final year of his contract.

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