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Published Apr. 17
Five Cowboys who are poised for breakout seasons in 2019: Why WR Michael Gallup is No. 1
Rose Baca/Staff Photographer
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) runs for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins in the second quarter at FedExField in Landover, Maryland on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (Rose Baca/The Dallas Morning News)
By Jon Machota , Staff Writer Contact Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
Jon Machota, Cowboys beat writer for SportsDayDFW.com and The Dallas Morning News, answers your questions about the team in a live chat recently. Check out the highlights:
Q: Is Sean Payton a real possibility for the Cowboys in the future?
Machota: Absolutely. I don't care how many Saints tattoos he has. If the Cowboys under-perform this season and decide to hire a new head coach, Payton is a real possibility. I just don't think he'll be able to turn Jerry Jones down if Jones really wants him. Payton can say whatever he wants now because the job isn't available. If it becomes available, though, I believe he'll be very interested.
Q: Which Cowboys player do you think is poised for a breakout year?
Machota: I'll give you my top 5: 5.) Dorance Armstrong, 4.) Xavier Woods, 3.) Connor Williams, 2.) Chidobe Awuzie, 1.) Michael Gallup. Gallup is my No. 1 because I think his improvement will be the most noticeable. He should see more playing time and be more productive, not only because it's another year with Dak, but also because it's a full year with Amari Cooper and Jason Witten. I think the veterans will help him see even more opportunities. Teams will first gameplan to take away Ezekiel Elliott, Cooper and Witten. And then you add in Randall Cobb. Gallup should benefit from a lot of favorable matchups. The other four have significant upside and should be more comfortable entering this season.
Q: If the Cowboys get a quality safety from the draft, would that make passing on Earl Thomas a good decision?
Machota: It could help public perception, but I don't think it matters much to the Cowboys because they were never going to be in the ballpark that he ended up getting paid from the Ravens. If the deal was for a little less then I think it would depend on how Thomas played. If he stayed healthy and performed like the All-Pro safety he has been, there would be plenty of second-guessing. But because the money was so great, I don't think any realistic comparisons should be made.
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