19. DALLAS COWBOYS (9-7)
LAST SEASON: Cowboys slid from NFC-best 13 wins to out of playoffs for several reasons Chris Jones Jersey , some likely to be addressed in draft. QB Dak Prescott couldn't match numbers from NFL Offensive Rookie of Year season in 2016. Offensive line was inconsistent because of injuries, and left guard is need with Jonathan Cooper leaving in free agency. Star WR Dez Bryant had third straight subpar season since signing $70 million contract and was released to avoid big salaries and cap hits in final two years. Team didn't get many big plays from receivers. Because Prescott and OL weren't as good, Cowboys couldn't overcome star RB Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension for domestic violence allegations. Cowboys were playing their best when 2016 NFL rushing leader's legal options ran out eight games into season. Dallas lost first three without him, couldn't recover to make postseason. Defense was again solid but lacking dynamic playmakers beyond DE DeMarcus Lawrence, second in NFL with 14 1/2 sacks.
THEY NEED: WR, LB, S, OL, DT Curtis Samuel Jersey , TE
THEY DON'T NEED: RB, CB, QB
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama; G Will Hernandez, UTEP; S Derwin James, Florida State; T Kolton Miller, UCLA; WR D.J. Moore, Maryland; WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama; WR Courtland Sutton Jon Weeks Jersey , SMU; DT Vita Vea, Washington.
OUTLOOK: If Cowboys don't go WR in first round, they will be counting on free agent Allen Hurns to replace Bryant as No. 1 receiver. Hurns flashed potential in four years at Jacksonville, but never big numbers. With Sean Lee's history of injuries and lingering uncertainty over Jaylon Smith's recovery from bad college knee injury, LB remains priority. Cowboys let steady, versatile Anthony Hitchens go in free agency. Pro Bowl LT Tyron Smith's injury issues exposed lack of depth on OL, so fourth first-rounder in eight years wouldn't be shock. Could be tackle or guard because Cowboys might consider moving La'el Collins back to LG from RT. If Prescott and Elliott find rookie form again, outlook brightens considerably with right help in draft. If not and Cowboys miss playoffs, franchise could end up in transition with firing of coach Jason Garrett and cloudy future for Prescott two years after Dallas turned to him by releasing Tony Romo William Jackson Jersey , who retired.
Tossing catfish onto the ice has been a popular hockey tradition in Music City and the Nashville Predators finally have their own catfish tank inside the arena.
Team President Sean Henry unveiled the new tank hours before the Predators opened the NHL postseason against Colorado in their first-round Western Conference series. The team put the first of four catfish into the tank and No. 2 was on the way.
”Good symbolism with those four catfish,” Henry said. ”Four wins per series, four series gets you to the ultimate prize.”
The Predators named the first catfish Gill and the second fish will be named Ben in honor of a longtime fan that died in 2017.
Thursday is the birthday of singer Vince Gill, also known as the mayor of Smashville, and Henry says Gill obviously was the inspiration. Gill was an original season-ticket holder who helped sell tickets when this franchise was getting started, and Gill was featured on billboards around town with a couple of teeth blacked out.
But Henry says Gill also can stand for how the fish breathes or for former Nashville defensemen and current team broadcaster Hal Gill.
Fans will name the other catfish through a social media poll with suggestions so far including Stanley, of course, in honor of the Stanley Cup. Henry said he’s not superstitious about naming a catfish after the Stanley Cup that Nashville wants so badly.
The catfish tradition was a response to Detroit fans tossing octopi on the ice to symbolize the number of wins once needed to win the Stanley Cup. Bob Wolf, who owned a restaurant across the street from the Predators arena Pharoh Cooper Jersey , takes credit for tossing the first catfish Jan. 26, 1999, during a visit by the Red Wings. A catfish was chosen in honor of the nearby Cumberland River.
A fan even tossed a catfish onto the ice during the Predators’ first Stanley Cup Final game in Pittsburgh.
Henry said these catfish will stay in the tank.
”No one’s going to rip it out, no one’s going to be throwing it on the ice,” Henry said. ”But it will be something that is going to be fun.”
—
Adidas Vincent Trocheck Jersey ,
