Dallas Cowboys: Recapping the Latest Buzz Heading into Training Camp

With training camp a few weeks away, the anticipation for the Dallas Cowboys' season has been mounting. The rampant speculation regarding players that won't even contribute is astounding. However, it just points to how popular the NFL and the Cowboys are in the media landscape.

The time between now and the regular season is an interesting one. We will analyze every little move the Cowboys coaching staff makes whether it will ultimately affect the team or not. We will jump to conclusions based on how well a player did and practice, and we will underappreciate what players do in the game.

While most teams don't have to deal with that type of speculation until training camp, the Cowboys have a few news tidbits that are being widely debated across the media landscape. From Greg Hardy's appeal to Dez Bryant's attempt to get a new deal, the Cowboys are always in the news. 

With that in mind, let's take a look at the latest buzz regarding the Cowboys as we close in on training camp. 

Greg Hardy's Appeal

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Bleacher Report's Jason Cole recently reported that Greg Hardy may be "losing some of his will to fight." Now if you look at this report from Cole, it could be extremely concerning for some Cowboys fans. However, Cowboys fans need to take a deep breath and relax. This won't likely affect anything regarding Hardy's appeal. 

Hardy likely just wants to put his past behind him and play football.

It is reasonable that a player in Hardy's situation would be tired of waiting for the verdict to come down. It has probably left him a little distraught as well. But that's just human nature. 

Does that mean that if the NFL doesn't reduce Hardy's suspension, he won't sue? No because that will reinvigorate the process and the NFL Players Association will likely not allow him to accept anything besides what the past has dictated is fair. 

Ultimately this situation will play itself out. The smart money is on Hardy's suspension being reduced significantly when it is all said and done. 

Dez Bryant's Contract

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With the July 15 Franchise Player deadline approaching, there appears to be some progress between Dez Bryant and the Cowboys front office. CowboysHQ.com's Mike Fisher reported that Dallas has reached a "negotiating comfort level." However, Fisher does also state that comfort doesn't necessarily mean close. 

Whatever the case, Cowboys fans have to be excited that Bryant and the team are starting to gain some momentum in the negotiating process. 

The Cowboys desperately need Bryant to be happy and motivated this season because he is one of the most important players on the roster. Bryant is a leader in the locker room and tone-setter for Dallas on offense. His enthusiasm and passionate play elevate all of his peers and it makes the Cowboys better. 

When you throw in how talented of a receiver Bryant is on top of that, you get a truly special player who the Cowboys can't afford to make unhappy. 

Deadlines bring about deals. Expect a deal with Bryant to get done before July 15. 

Cowboys' Secret Superstar

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Pro Football Focus named Tyrone Crawford the Cowboys' secret superstar, a player who played extremely well and doesn't get enough credit for it. 

Crawford receiving this distinction shouldn’t have surprised anyone who follows the team. He was fantastic for the entire 2014 season, and he was a huge difference maker in a much-improved Cowboys defense. 

Crawford's quickness is a problem for a lot of interior offensive linemen. What really helps set him apart is his ability to play with leverage. Crawford understands how to keep his spine aligned. He also knows how to coil and unleash his hips into opposing linemen. This allows him to create a ton of push on the inside, despite being at a considerable weight disadvantage on most snaps. 

This year Crawford should be able to have an even better year. With the emergence of Demarcus Lawrence and the additions of Randy Gregory and Greg Hardy, it will be hard for teams to double-team him on a consistent basis, which will allow Crawford to disrupt offenses even more in 2015. 

Which Position Will Have the Toughest Decision During Final Cuts?

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When you have a team as talented as the Cowboys, there are going to be a lot of hard decisions during the final cuts. The writers at DallasCowboys.com discussed which position they believed would be the most difficult to trim down during the final cuts. 

Rob Phillips stated that the defensive line would be the hardest to cut. Nick Eatman thought linebacker would be more difficult. David Helman sided with running back and Bryan Broaddus went unconventional and thought wide receiver would be an agonizing cut for Dallas' coaching staff.

From a talent perspective, defensive line and linebacker have the biggest wealth of talent. However, running back has a bigger opportunity to affect the game. The third running back will be vastly more important than the ninth defensive lineman or the fifth linebacker on this squad. 

Therefore, running back will likely be the hardest position for the Cowboys to trim down during the final cuts. They have four capable running backs. Only three of them have a realistic shot at winning the starting job. That means that one good running back will be left off this roster, giving America's team no room for error.  

The Leader of the Offensive Line

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Doug Free hasn't been able to participate in offseason activities because of a foot injury. But that hasn't stopped him from being the leader of the Cowboys offensive line. 

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Drew Davison had a great article on Free's leadership. In said piece, center Travis Frederick stated it best about Free's leadership:

"

“Doug’s a great part of our offensive line and has been very important in what we’ve developed,” Frederick said. “As a leader of that group and somebody that has the experience, he’s kind of shown us the way. … He’s a guy who’s going to point us in the right direction and tell us when we’re screwing up.”

"

Most fans and analysts underrate how important Free is to this offensive line. It isn't a coincidence that when Free went out of the lineup last year, the running game struggled. 

Free is one of the few offensive tackles who has the athleticism to make a block in space, but also the power to create movement at the point of attack. In pass protection, Free has quick feet with great balance. The only place where Free gets into trouble is with his hand placement. 

Free isn't the most talented lineman on the Cowboys roster, but he is definitely one of the most important.