National Post (National Edition)
Cowboys like Canadian DL Gallimore
In an attempt to fix their badly broken defence, the Dallas Cowboys could turn to Canadian rookie Neville Gallimore — not to be the second coming of Aaron Donald, but at least to help with the repairs.
One day after sending veteran end Everson Griffen to the Detroit Lions for a conditional draft pick, the Cowboys reportedly released defensive tackle Dontari Poe, along with cornerback Daryl Worley, after trying in vain to trade the pair Wednesday.
Poe, a former Kansas City Chiefs first-rounder who was signed to a two-year deal as a free agent in April, was supposed to help with the run defence.
He hasn't.
Along with surrendering a league-high 34.7 points per game, the Cowboys have given up an average of 178.3 rushing yards, considerably more than any other team.
Gallimore, an Ottawa native who was selected in the third round (82nd overall) of the NFL draft last April, has played in five games.
In each outing his workload has increased.
In Week 1 he played eight per cent of the defensive snaps; in Week 2 it was 19 per cent; Week 5, 32 per cent; Week 6, 37 per cent; and Week 7, 55 per cent.
In his busiest game, Gallimore made one solo tackle and assisted on three others.
Poe, who has been on the field for more snaps (53 per cent) than any of the other defensive tackles, has been in on just seven tackles (three solo, four assisted).
Unless they have other plans, Gallimore should make his first NFL start this Sunday when the Cowboys (2-5) take on the Eagles (24-1) in a pillow fight for first place.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW: How would you like to be Rob Huntze? Immediately after Monday's Bears-Rams game, the 41-year old insurance agent from St. Louis thought he had beaten more than 176,000 other fans for a US$1 million first prize in a DraftKings contest. Thirty minutes later, a stats correction changed a sack to a tackle for a loss. The difference dropped him into a tie for sixth place with 18 other entries. Instead of a million, he won $3,078.94. “Heartbreaking on many levels,” Huntze told ESPN. No kidding … In a conversation between the greatest two-sport athletes of all-time, Bo Jackson told Deion Sanders that if he were playing in 2020 he'd be putting up otherworldly numbers. “I watch technique, and I don't see nobody hitting or wrapping up,” Jackson said on Sanders' podcast, via TheScore. com. “Everybody is running into each other and trying to use their shoulder pads to knock the ball carrier down. And I'm like, if I played during this era, man, I'd be averaging 350 to 400 yards a game, because nobody wraps up anymore. They run into each other with their pads.” In reality, Jackson averaged 5.4 yards per carry and 73.2 yards a game during his 38-game NFL career. Now in the 1987 video game Tecmo Bowl, tacklers bounced off Jackson all day long.
OFF THE TEE: The Houston Texans became the latest team to close their facility when on Wednesday, offensive guard Max Scharping tested positive for COVID. The Texans are on a bye this week but the Packers, who were in Houston last weekend, are scheduled to host the Vikings at 1 p.m. Sunday. Stay tuned …. The Seattle Seahawks reportedly have answered their most glaring need by acquiring Cincinnati defensive end Carlos Dunlap, the Bengals' career sacks leader. In return, the Seahawks are parting with offensive lineman B.J. Finney and a seventh-round pick … A day after cutting five-year centre Brett Jones, the Minnesota Vikings signed the Weyburn, Sask., native to their practice squad … DOWN AND OUT: While they've made it clear they have no plans on trading Matt Ryan or Julio Jones, the Falcons (1-6) fuelled speculation they'll be moving Takk McKinley when they announced they'll sit the pass rusher for Thursday's game against the Panthers. McKinley has been hampered by a groin problem this season, but he did play last Sunday … The Jets have gunned down the rumour they're looking to trade DT Quinnen Williams, the third overall pick in 2019. “I've not heard one thing from anybody in the front office about him being traded,” said head coach Adam Gase. “There's nothing to that. It's false.”
FROM THE HASHMARKS: The NFL is planning on reducing seating capacity to 20 per cent for the Super Bowl at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Initially, the stadium was going to accommodate 75,000. Fans who do attend will seated in pods six feet apart and be required to wear masks. For that privilege, ticket prices will likely be at an all-time high … Do fans matter? From the NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano come numbers that show home teams are nearing their worst winning percentage since the 1970 merger. In 1972, they were 90-87-5 (. 508) while though seven weeks of 2020 they are 53-51-1 (. 510).