Who ended Dallas Cowboys star DeMarcus Lawrence’s talk of COVID-19 opt out? His wife
DeMarcus Lawrence, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive end and certified quarterback killer who came out on top in contract negotiations with the Dallas Cowboys last season, is generally uncheckable on and off the field.
He says what he wants with passion and conviction and does what he damn well pleases.
So when Lawrence openly discussed the possibility of opting out of the 2020 season due to family concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, you knew it was something he was seriously considering.
Yet, Lawrence showed up for the first day of camp on July 28 and went through coronavirus testing protocols. And the opt out day came and went last week with Lawrence entrenched with the Cowboys in training camp.
What happened is a familiar story in the life of a man, no matter how big and bad he is.
“Well, my decision was made by my wife,” Lawrence said Friday on the first day the team donned helmets and shells for the first time. “She basically told me there’s no way possible that I could miss this season so we’ll have to sacrifice and do whatever we have to do to survive and be a great family.”
Lawrence, who in the second year of five-year, $105 contract extension, considered opting out because his wife, Sasha, is due to give birth to a girl in October. Lawrence missed the birth of their son, Damari, due to rookie minicamp in 2015 and vowed to not miss the birth of another child.
Time will tell how things work out for Lawrence and his family come October. But, for now, the decision is out of his hands.
“My wife is taking care of home,” Lawrence said. “I respect her so much. I know she’ll do a great job. I just got to focus on football right now and when I’m able to get back home, I’ll be there.”
Lawrence has checked into the Omni Hotel adjacent to the Cowboys practice facility at The Star in Frisco for the next two weeks along with the majority of his teammates. It’s an attempt to create a bubble to protect themselves and their families during training camp.
“We’ll stay together for two weeks to lower concerns and be more around each other, get that team chemistry down that we’re going to need to reach our goals,” Lawrence said. “Help us be around the same group that’s quarantined together. It really helps us, eases our minds knowing we’ve got a big team and everybody is clean so we can go and play and have fun.”
And speaking of practice, here are a few observations from the team’s first one:
1. Dak Prescott led the quarterbacks who donned red jerseys to stand out from the rest of the team for the first time. They didn’t do that under Garrett. Prescott completed 11 of 17 passes in the team and 7 on 7 drills, including an interception. He also was failed by two drops from tight end Blake Jarwin and Blake Bell. Former TCU star Andy Dalton was very sharp.
2. Running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard were also impressive looking on the first day. Elliott missed all of training camp last year in a contract hold out. He is in shape and ready to go. Pollard is still a flash to behold. The Cowboys are going to get him involved in the offense in his second year.
3. Former Texas star Connor Williams started at left guard with Joe Looney at center to lead the position battles on the offensive line. Right tackle La’el Collins didn’t practice. So Wyatt Miller went with the first team. Cam Erving was not at practice.
4. The starting defensive line was DeMarcus Lawrence and Aldon Smith at end with Gerald McCoy and Tyrone Crawford at tackle. Yes, they have plans for Smith, and Everson Griffen is on the way. Crawford was activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list on Friday so he could practice. Nose tackle Dontari Poe is still on the PUP list.
5. Rookie top pick CeeDee Lamb opened at slot receiver and he is breathtaking. He simply runs, walks and does everything like a game breaker. He looks good in No. 88, and it’s scary. He had an amazing one-handed catch, wowing onlookers. But Lamb wasn’t perfect. He did have a fumble after a catch.
6. The starting secondary for the Cowboys saw Anthony Brown and Chido Awuzie open at cornerback with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Xavier Woods at safety. Trevon Diggs and Daryl Worley rotated in for Brown and Awuzie at right and left cornerback respectively. They even started outside during the team portion to end practice. These are battles to keep an eye on. It is just a matter of time before Diggs, a rookie second-round pick, supplants Brown fulltime at right cornerback. And Awuzie, a two-year starter at left cornerback, will have his work cut out for him to hold off Worley. Jourdan Lewis and Brown rotated at slot corner with Lewis going first.
7. Former Texas A&M safety Donovan Wilson, who had an impressive preseason as a rookie last year before getting hurt and not seeing the field much during the season, picked up with where he left off. He jumped a route and had a beautiful pick six off a Dak Prescott pass intended for Jarwin.
