Cowboys/Raiders Preseason Game Tonight; Referee Ed Hochuli During Lockout; Karlos Dansby on Chad Johnson

Cowboys-Raiders 

(Who Will Step Up For the Cowboys tonight? Photo Courtesy: ESPN.com)

Dan Graziano of ESPN.com, who covers the NFC East in their "Nation Blog," notes some things to watch for in the opening preseason game for the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders. In my opinion the biggest story for the Cowboys are going to be their wide receiver situation. Miles Austin has already been ruled out and Dez Bryant is a game-time decision. It is up to Kevin Ogletree, Dwayne Harris, and company to step up and take that number three receiver slot. The offensive line which has been a problem for the last couple seasons is also a concern as David Arkin will start at center for Phil Costa. This will also be the debut for free-agent acquisition CB Brandon Carr, who will play. Rookie CB Morris Claiborne and CB Mike Jenkins are both going to be out.

On the end of the Oakland Raiders it will be the first game quarterback Carson Palmer will play after having a full offseason to learn the Oakland Raiders system. Also, according to Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com, quarterback Terrelle Pryor will get to see some action tonight since he was a Buckeye at Ohio St. in the Sugar Bowl of 2010. Pryor is the number three quarterback, behind Matt Leinhart formerly of Arizona and Houston. Also to watch for are penalties and the young receiving group that the Raiders have.

(Photo Courtesy: deadspin.com)

Ed Hochuli and the Locked Out Referees
Remember last offseason when the players were locked out and they would hold their own workouts in anticipation of an end to the work stoppage. The referees are starting to do the same thing, except instead of learning and practicing new or old playbooks, the referees are getting themselves briefed on the rule changes heading into the 2012 season. Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com reports that Ed Hochuli is being the Drew Brees of the referees and getting his officials ready to go, as they will expected to be.

Dolphins' Karlos Dansby on Chad Johnson
In a surprising move the Dolphins' released wide receiver Chad Johnson  following his arrest on a domestic violence charge. It was understood that Chad Johnson was a "one-strike agreement," and head coach Joe Philbin stuck to his word. Not all of the players are currently behind him on this move though.

Mike Florio of Profootballtalk.com reports that middle lineback Karlo Dansby told 640 Sports in Ft. Lauderdale that he disagrees with the move.

It’s going to be a bigger distraction because we let him go,” Dansby said, via excerpts of the show disseminated by 640 Sports.  “He didn’t get that third strike.  That’s just me personally. . . .  We’ve been through worse.  We’ve seen worse...The man don’t drink, the man don’t smoke,” Dansby said.  “He may clown around but when it comes to football, he’s all about football.  That’s his life.  For him to be in this situation, that’s unfortunate.  And it’s out of character.”

 This is definitely a situation in which the Dolphins are showing that distractions are not going to be tolerated, but one has to wonder if the move was worth losing a talented receiver such as Johnson, the Dolphins are already depleted at the position.

(Chad Johnson was cut Sunday after being arrested on a domestic violence charge. Photo Courtesy: sun-sentinel.com)