FRISCO, Texas — While Jerry Jones told Dallas Cowboys players in a meeting Wednesday that they must stand for the national anthem to show respect for the flag, coach Jason Garrett said the intention of the session came from the owner’s “love, admiration and respect for the players.”
After telling reporters Sunday that a player would be benched if he did not stand for the anthem, Jones again made that point to the Cowboys’ players Wednesday, adding context as to why it is important they stand.
In addition to Jones’ personal beliefs, a source said Jones mentioned television ratings and sponsorships that ultimately affect the players as well. According to Garrett, Jones wanted to provide the players, “some avenues to help make the impact of the issues that we’re most concerned about.”
“He’s very sensitive to some of the issues, as we all are, that the players are talking about,” Garrett said. “We all want to make an impact, and he’s someone that can help the players do that. He wanted to make sure they knew that.”
Representatives from the NFL players’ union will be involved when the subject of the national anthem is broached at next week’s NFL owners meeting.
Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that there will be a negative reaction from players if the NFL forces them to stand during the national anthem.
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Dak Prescott said Wednesday night that the meeting went well.
“I mean we ironed out everything that we needed at this time,” Prescott said.
Prior to their Sept. 25 game at the Arizona Cardinals, the Cowboys followed Jones’ lead in locking arms during pre-game introductions, taking a knee before the anthem and then standing arm in arm during the anthem.
In two games since, the Cowboys have stood for the anthem like they always have. Defensive linemen Damontre Moore and David Irving raised their fists at the end of the anthem prior to the Green Bay game. Garrett spoke to both players Monday and said neither would be disciplined.
Speaking on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Tuesday, Jones said the players could still show a sign of protest as long as it was before the anthem.
“There’s no question that it’s a complex issue, and that’s why it continues to be in the forefront in a lot of ways,” Garrett said. “I think the biggest thing that we’ve tried to emphasize to our players is, the goal is to make an impact in the community. The goal is to make an impact on what the issues are. I think it’s important to identify the issues and identify the way you can make an impact. I think that was part of Mr. Jones’ message yesterday.”
The Cowboys are holding their final practice of the bye week and will return to The Star next Tuesday. Garrett said the timing of the bye allowed the Cowboys more time to discuss the issue, but when the team returns to practice, the focus needs to be on football.
“I think like a lot of things in life, a lot of people say, ‘just focus on football,'” Garrett said. “But as we all know in our lives, there’s a lot of other things going on in our lives. So, sometimes as a player, a coach, as a football team, you have to focus on this particular thing to address it, to solve it, to move on, so you can get back to the business of football. And that happens with our players and our coaches each and every day — situations they have with their families, whether they’re health concerns or some of the off-field issues that we all deal with in our lives.
“Sometimes you have to focus on those things so you can get back to the business of focusing on football. I think our team’s done a really good job on that.”
Our NFL Insiders predict Week 6’s biggest upsets and fantasy flops and sleepers. Plus: Should Pittsburgh fans be worried about Ben Roethlisberger? Are the Packers the best one-loss team?
What’s your top upset pick for Week 6?
Matt Bowen, NFL writer: Rams over Jaguars. That Jacksonville secondary is nasty. Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye will challenge every throw from Jared Goff; they’re physical cornerbacks with ball skills. However, can the Rams lean on a high-volume day from Todd Gurley and take some calculated shots up the seam versus the Jags’ Cover 3 shell? The team that controls the tempo wins this one. And I’ll go with the Rams to hold on for a victory in a low-scoring affair.
Dan Graziano, NFL writer: Bears over Ravens. Look, this is a tough week to pick an upset. There aren’t really any that I like, except for a couple that I think would be too close to count here. (Rams in Jacksonville, maybe, or Lions in New Orleans, if Matthew Stafford is healthy.) So give me some Mitchell Trubisky on the road in Baltimore. I just don’t think the Ravens’ offense is capable of scoring consistently week to week. I think the Bears have been close in some tough losses, and they have a win over the Steelers, who dominated the Ravens in Baltimore in Week 4. It’s a flier, but this is the week for a flier. Gimme da Bears.
Aaron Schatz, editor-in-chief of Football Outsiders: Lions over Saints. Detroit is a surprising No. 8 in the Football Outsiders DVOA ratings through five weeks, and New Orleans is a surprising No. 9. But compared to last season and the talent level on the roster, the Detroit offense is underperforming a little bit and the New Orleans defense is overperforming. It’s certainly easy to imagine a scenario where Matthew Stafford engineers another fourth-quarter comeback, even on the road, against the holes in the Saints’ defense.
Mike Sando, senior NFL writer: Steelers over Chiefs. The Steelers intrigue me as a capable team that has underperformed and now must refocus to win on the road against a 5-0 Chiefs team. Injuries to Travis Kelce and Justin Houston are factoring into my thinking that Pittsburgh might be able to win a hard-fought game. Of course, the Chiefs could just as easily win by two touchdowns.
Field Yates, NFL Insider: Chargers over Raiders. There are some games that feel just too imbalanced to project an upset — i.e. the Browns over the Texans — so let’s stick with this one, noting a caveat: I believe there is a legitimate shot that Derek Carr plays in Week 6, and I also believe the Chargers can get the job done in an upset. Los Angeles’ defensive line is one of the most dominant in the NFL. The Raiders have an established, veteran offensive line but the early-season struggles are apparent. They’ve allowed 12 sacks through five games after a league-low 18 last season, and are 23rd in rushing yards per game after finishing sixth in the same category last year. Look for L.A. to make it two straight road wins.
Ben Roethlisberger threw a career-high five interceptions against the Jaguars last week. Philip G. Pavely/USA TODAY Sports
Graziano: Roethlisberger, because his team is the one of which the most was expected. There seem to be some problems bubbling up behind the scenes in Pittsburgh that have a lot to do with him, his relationships with his wideouts, his choices within the game plan, etc. The Steelers have no excuse not to run away with an otherwise weak AFC North, but the performance by Roethlisberger and the offense early in the season has raised legitimate questions about whether they will.
Schatz: Roethlisberger is surrounded by the most talent, which is why there are more questions about his struggles than the others. He has a solid offensive line, and maybe the best wide receiver and best (healthy) running back in the game. Palmer’s and Manning’s performances are less concerning only because they are less surprising; both look very similar to a year ago. Rivers is fine, still easily above average according to Football Outsiders metrics.
Sando: I don’t find any of their performances all that worrisome. Manning, Rivers and Palmer need more support. We know who they are, and who they’re not. Roethlisberger is the best of the bunch and needs to play better. Presumably, he will.
Yates: It’s Roethlisberger, given his supporting cast. The offensive line is a tenured and cohesive group that has standout players, his receivers are highlighted by arguably the best in the game with Brown and Le’Veon Bell is a game-changer. It’s difficult to pinpoint why Roethlisberger’s most recent struggles (six interceptions in his past two games and just one touchdown) have occurred. Pittsburgh has a tough test to get on track as it faces the league’s best team, Kansas City, this week.
Who’s your pick to be the biggest fantasy flop this weekend?
Bowen: Wayne Gallman and Orleans Darkwa, RBs, Giants. Given the number of injuries to the Giants wide receiver corps, fantasy managers would expect New York to run the football Sunday night. But there has been very little daylight for running backs this season against the Broncos. Denver leads the NFL, giving up an average of just 14.4 fantasy points per game to opposing backs.
Graziano: Lamar Miller, RB, Texans. The Browns are the second-best run defense in the league in yards per attempt per rush, allowing only 2.9. (the Broncos are the best at 2.4) There’s always a risk that a running back could rack up points against the Browns in the second half because he’ll probably be playing with a lead, but the Browns’ defensive front is actually something of a relatively quiet strength of their team.
Schatz: Lamar Miller, RB, Texans. You might think it’s easy to rack up rushing totals against Cleveland because the Browns are always losing and their opponents are always killing the clock. But the Browns are actually third in run defense DVOA (compared to 31st in pass defense) and allow fewer fantasy points to running backs than the average defense this season.
Sando: Jared Goff, QB, Rams. Goff was my choice in Week 5 and I’ll stick with him heading into a road matchup with the Jaguars. His overall trajectory is up, but these are a couple of difficult matchups for him following a fast start.
Yates: Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers. By no means am I benching him, but let’s not overlook the matchup Evans draws this week against Arizona. Cornerback Patrick Peterson has been remarkable, holding primary duties in slowing down Marvin Jones Jr., T.Y. Hilton, Dez Bryant, Pierre Garcon and Alshon Jeffery to a combined total of 13 catches, 135 yards and two touchdowns in five games this season. Evans will have his hands full in Week 6.
The Packers’ only loss so far this season was on the road in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Roemer
Rank these one-loss teams: Panthers, Eagles, Packers, Broncos and Falcons
Graziano: 1. Panthers; 2. Broncos; 3. Packers; 4. Falcons; 5. Eagles. I love what Carolina is doing on offense with personnel groupings and its ability to change the game plan relative to the opponent and situation. Christian McCaffrey hasn’t put up numbers yet, but you can see the way he affects a defense’s attention and allows the Panthers to mix things up. They’re also fearsome on defense.
Schatz: 1. Packers; 2. Eagles; 3. Falcons; 4. Panthers; 5. Broncos. The Packers looked like the best of these teams going into the season, and only the Eagles have been better if we look only at 2017 data.
Sando: 1. Packers; 2. Falcons; 3. Broncos; 4. Panthers; 5. Eagles. Green Bay has the NFL’s best quarterback, possibly by a wide margin. I don’t see huge gaps between the others.
Yates: 1. Packers; 2. Broncos; 3. Panthers; 4. Eagles; 5. Falcons. The brilliance of Rodgers needs no explanation, with the balance of the offense through the running game making this Green Bay offense arguably the league’s best.
Pick a fringe fantasy player who should be started in Week 6.
Bowen: Elijah McGuire, RB, Jets. With Bilal Powell banged up and Matt Forte still working through an injury, McGuire is a solid play this week. The Jets running back is averaging 5.2 yards per carry on a limited workload (34 carries), but I like the matchup against a Patriots defense that is giving up an average of 30.0 fantasy points per game to opposing backs (the worst in the NFL).
Schatz: George Kittle, TE, 49ers. So far, the one position that’s getting plenty of receptions against the Washington defense is tight end. Fifth-round rookie Kittle is on the rise in San Francisco. That seems like a great combination to me.
Sando: Will Fuller V, WR, Texans. Fuller gets a crack at the Browns’ secondary. That’s a favorable matchup anyway, especially with coach Bill O’Brien seeming to keep the accelerator pressed whether Houston is leading or trailing.
Yates: Taylor Gabriel, WR, Falcons. If Mohamed Sanu sits this week, I’d roll the dice on Gabriel. The Falcons return from their bye to face a Miami team that has yet to track down an interception this season. Gabriel has the kind of speed that can make him a factor with just one play; he has a shot at a half-dozen targets if Sanu sits and is on the flex radar in a deeper league.
CHICAGO — Bears coach John Fox said the team has complete confidence in quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, even after the rookie committed a pair of costly turnovers in Monday night’s 20-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
“I think our guys feel it. They feel his presence,” Fox said.
Trubisky’s performance was inconsistent in his highly anticipated NFL debut.
Mitchell Trubisky finished the game 12-of-25 passing for 128 yards, one touchdown and one interception — a 60.1 quarterback rating — in his first start for the Bears on Monday night. Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears tried to capitalize on Trubisky’s mobility. Eight of Trubisky’s 25 pass attempts came outside the pocket, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Trubisky’s predecessor, Mike Glennon, had four such throws in four games before Fox switched quarterbacks in the wake of Week 4’s blowout defeat to the Green Bay Packers.
“We were able to do some things with him as far as attacking the corner,” Fox said. “Those things will grow with time. For a first outing, I thought he was really good. I know his teammates feel the same way. He’ll just get better with time.”
However, Trubisky was responsible for a late fourth-quarter interception that set up Minnesota’s game-winning 26-yard field goal.
“That was basically me trying to do too much, trying to make a play when I just need to know the situation — throw the ball away and play another down,” Trubisky said.
The rookie finished the game 12-of-25 passing for 128 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception — a 60.1 quarterback rating.
Trubisky was just 6-of-16 passing on second and third down, with seven off-target throws, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
“I just have to do a better job of taking care of the football,” Trubisky said. “We need to work on the little things, really.”
Still, Fox said Trubisky’s positives outweighed the negatives.
“He’s got what it takes,” Fox said. “There’s no doubt in my mind. For a first game, I go back to watching guys like Joe Montana in his first game. I’ve seen a few of them. I’m not making comparisons at this point, but he will do nothing but get better.”
Ben Roethlisberger had never thrown more than three interceptions in a game before Sunday, when he threw five during a 30-9 home loss to Jacksonville. Before this defeat, the Roethlisberger-era Pittsburgh Steelers had lost at home by more than 20 points just once, an NFL low, during his 13-plus seasons with the team.
How worried should the Steelers be about their 35-year-old, retirement-talking, mortality-musing quarterback?
Roethlisberger, having publicly mulled walking away from the game before the season, suggested to reporters Sunday that he might be finished. Is he? And what should the Steelers be thinking? Posing those questions to five seasoned coaches and evaluators drew out fascinating insights.
Not worried about this season
There wasn’t much for the Steelers’ offense to feel great about following Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville. Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
All five league insiders thought it was way too early for the Steelers or their fans to worry about Roethlisberger and the team in 2017.
“I’m not that worried at all,” one former general manager said. “He has been doing it long enough. I don’t think his skill set has evaporated. I just think he is on a bad little roll right now. Maybe I’m dead wrong, but that is kind of what I feel.”
Even before Roethlisberger’s self-doubting comments came to light, a coach with AFC North experience said he thought Roethlisberger, despite his legendary toughness, was right there with all the other quarterbacks who sometimes seem to revel in playing the role of drama queen. Publicly mulling retirement and publicly questioning his own play creates its own drama.
“Until I get more evidence, I’m going to say Ben is going to end up being better than he is right now and back to his normal self,” this coach said. “I just don’t think the team is in sync at all. It doesn’t feel right from the outside, but they are 3-2 and they are on top of the AFC North anyway. So, here we go.”
This coach noted that Chicago’s ability to run the ball put a level of pressure on the Steelers’ offense that they were not accustomed to facing. And then he called Jacksonville a “physical, tough-ass” team on defense that was primed to take advantage of a quarterback and offense that have not hit stride.
“It is way too early to panic,” an evaluator who has seen the Steelers in person this season said. “This is what happens when your guys hold out. What they really need is to stop the run and stop turning the ball over, and things will calm down.”
“I have thought in the past they would kind of take a step back, and they really have not, but I think they still go through little slumps like everyone else,” the former GM said. “I think their core is still real.”
Facing a Favre-like dilemma
One veteran personnel evaluator said he saw parallels to what the Steelers are going through and what the Packers went through when Brett Favre was winding down in Green Bay a decade ago. One big difference: There is no Aaron Rodgers waiting to take over in Pittsburgh. The consensus among coaches and evaluators was that backups Josh Dobbs and Landry Jones do not project as future starters.
“If I am Pittsburgh, I am thinking, ‘Man, I wish this guy [Roethlisberger] would quit talking about retirement,'” an evaluator said. “They need to have a plan moving forward because they don’t know what this guy is going to do. It is hard having a plan when the guy can just decide he wants to play five more years. They are in the Favre-Green Bay mode right now, where you could draft a guy, but then Ben could play another three years and you have to force his hand.”
This evaluator thought the Steelers would probably draft their Roethlisberger replacement once Roethlisberger retires. That could be easier said than done, however, because Roethlisberger could annually draw out his decision deep into the offseason.
“It is a tough situation to be in because he is yanking your chain,” this evaluator said. “They usually make the right decision. I know it is wearing them out, all the talk. To be honest with you, are you guaranteed you’ll get anybody ever better than him? No. So, you go with him as long as you can. Replacing Favre worked out for Green Bay, but I’m sure there was a point in time where they were like, ‘We are not playing this guy [Rodgers] over Brett Favre.”
These situations usually come down to whether the team thinks it has a better alternative. There clearly is not one on the Steelers’ roster now.
Preparing for the end
For all their inconsistencies, the Steelers emerged from Week 5 sitting atop the AFC North. Their record is 3-2 for the sixth time in Roethlsiberger’s 14 seasons. They were 1-4 through five games back in 2013 and still managed to finish 8-8. Their moments of instability are more stable than the Browns’ moments of stability.
“I see why people are concerned, but who is good in that division?” the former GM said. “They have been fortunate enough throughout the years even when they have a down year, they go 9-7 or 8-8 and still be in the mix. That is a bad year for them, but it is a good bad year. Most teams are not capable of those. They could be a 9-7 team that is playing at home in the first round of the playoffs and all of a sudden they have it going again, and Ben has the hot hand again.”
Steelers fans who suffered through the Jacksonville debacle might find that tough to believe, and there certainly is a chance that Roethlisberger has begun the type of sharp decline that other older quarterbacks have fought off through intense conditioning, nutrition and overall wellness regiments.
“There is a part of me that thinks if Ben has knocked around this retirement thing, what if his brain this past offseason was wrapped around that retirement word just a little bit more than normal where it crept in just enough to affect a level of commitment, where he started to do a few shortcuts?” one of the insiders asked. “Maybe this is what he is, then. But we don’t know unless we are in his head.”
There’s a line of thinking that says if Roethlisberger were to suffer an injury that sidelined him at an advanced age, he might be prone to put on weight quickly and that he would never be the same. That time is not here, but the Steelers surely need to brace for the end, however it comes. They need to prepare accordingly, even if Roethlisberger pulls out of this current dive and plays a few more seasons.
