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Dallas Cowboys: DeMarcus Lawrence rips officials

By The Sports Xchange
Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence sacks Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan during their game in November. Photo by David Tulis/UPI
Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence sacks Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan during their game in November. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

FRISCO, Texas - Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence could be facing a fine from the NFL.

The NFL's sack leader ripped the officiating crew after the Cowboys' 30-10 win over the New York Giants Sunday afternoon for not making any holding calls. Actually, the Giants were called for holding once. But that's not good enough for Lawrence. And yes, Lawrence realizes a fine is coming, whether he's got a point or not. And yes, he probably does.

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"The refs are out there for nothing so we just came out and did our job," said Lawrence, who has 13.5 sacks. "I didn't see a holding call in the last five games and it's ridiculous that the refs are out here just looking at me getting tackled by offensive linemen. It's like, 'C'mon, if you're going to be out here, do your job.'"

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Lawrence said there's an unfair double-standard with the league's alteration of rules to help protect quarterbacks while defensive linemen continue to be abused. Sunday's game was called by Walt Anderson's crew.

"I have a family to come home to. If you're trying protect quarterbacks, you've got to protect me too," he said. "If you're going to do it, you have to do it on both sides. If you're going to call some BS on my O-line, you got to call on their O-line, too."

There have been two holding calls on the line of scrimmage against Cowboys' opponents in the past 10 games, including one Sunday and on Nov. 30 against the Redskins. In the same stretch, the Cowboys' offensive line and tight ends have been called for holding 18 times, including Jason Witten once on Sunday.

"When's the last time you heard: 'Holding, offense,'" he asked. "(Expletive) the refs, and that's all I'm going to say."

--Cowboys owner Jerry Jones failed in his bid to block a contract extension for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

But he has not had his final say on the matter.

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Per a confidential report obtained by ESPN, Jones put forth a resolution to table the contract talks for six months prior to the agreement that was consummated last week and is worth up to $200 million.

The deal is done and there is nothing Jones can do about it.

But Jones will be able to raise concerns during the NFL owner's meeting in Irving, Texas, on Wednesday as he is already on the agenda.

Per the ESPN report, Jones' proposal is on page 10 of the 32-page agenda for this week's league meeting and was submitted on Dec. 1. It is titled Proposed Resolution 2017 G-7, by the Dallas Cowboys.

Jones also had asked for the vote to be taken under a secret ballot.

Among other things, Jones will still get to raise his concerns about the commissioner's authority regarding disciplinary issues on Wednesday.

In addition to objecting to the financial terms of Goodell's deal, Jones has been critical of how Goodell has handled the player protests during the national anthem. And he has also been angry with the six-game suspension given to Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

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Jones accused Goodell of an unforgivable breach of trust for initially telling him there would be no suspension for Elliott, who was never charged or arrested in the case.

NOTES: RT La'el Collins played in a game after missing practice all week managing a herniated disk in his back for the second straight week. And for the second straight week, Collins played well, limited defensive end Jason Pierre Paul to five tackles and no sacks in the Cowboys' 30-10 victory against the New York Giants Sunday. ... DT David Irving was held out of the Giants game with a concussion. ... K Dan Bailey missed two field goals and missed an extra point for the first time in his career in the 30-10 victory over the Giants. ... WR Dez Bryant caught three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown against the Giants. Bryant's 50-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter marked his 10th career score to travel at least 50 yards. He is the fourth Cowboy to post 10 or more receiving touchdowns of at least 50 yards, joining Frank Clarke, Bob Hayes and Michael Irvin. ... QB Dak Prescott completed 20-of-30 passes for a career-high 332 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 137.1 rating -- fourth-highest of his career. ... RB Rod Smith rushed six times for 47 yards and a touchdown, and caught five passes for 113 yards -- both career highs -- and had his first career receiving touchdown, a career-long 81-yard catch and score.

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