Around The NFC East: Cowboys, Redskins, Eagles Storylines

With Week 9 of the NFL season this weekend, there are headlines across the NFC East. Let’s take a look at what’s going on with all of the New York Giants division rivals in this week’s Around the NFC East.

Washington Redskins

Redskins sign DE Arthur Jones, place a DB on IR | Hogs Haven

The Redskins made two roster moves official today. It was reported last night by beat writers that DE Arthur Jones would be signed, and he confirmed the signing himself in two instagram posts. Jones(6’3”, 320 lbs, 32 yo) started his career with the Baltimore Ravens after being drafted in the 5th round in the 2010 draft. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts in 2014, and spent three years there, missing the 2015 season after being placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Jones was with the Colts under current Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Manusky from 2014-2015, when he was Indianapolis’ DC.

Stephen A. Smith is right: The Redskins are kind of blah | Washington Post

The successful television sports debate panelist must specialize in taking a drab, humdrum sports story and converting it into a strong and provocative opinion — one that is clear and compelling enough to spawn many little droplets of derivative debates, plus outraged athlete responses and maybe a few “Well, actually” blog posts.

The current Redskins appear hyper-resistant to this approach. They repel hot takes. They prohibit provocative opinions. They are so flavorless at the moment that they battered poor Stephen A. Smith into an extremely sensible, rational and noncontroversial opinion.

“You know what the Redskins are? BLAH,” he said this week. “That’s the word. They’re so blah I can’t even come up with an adjective to describe it. I mean, they’re just blah. Everything about em. They’re okay.”

They are. They’re okay. Who could disagree? They’re so blah they forced a hot-take assembly line into spitting out an opinion with all the heat of a rice cake.

Seasons turn, and maybe this one will, in a happy direction or in a sad direction or in a super spicy direction. But this week? This week is blah. The most interesting story line involves a radio interview with a former quarterback who hasn’t played here in three years. The most interesting trade deadline transaction — during the most interesting trade deadline in years — involved a player, Arthur Jones, who’s most relevant because of his famous brothers. The strongest national insult came from Skip Bayless, who very cuttingly called Kirk Cousins “Curt” — the same thing his own team president calls him. The most vital personnel updates from practice will involve the center and the right guard. I’m not saying any of this is bad. But it’s blah.

Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Mills named NFC Defensive Player of the Week | Bleeding Green Nation

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Jalen Mills has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8. Congratulations to the Green Goblin.

Mills finished the game with three tackles (two solo), one tackle for loss, one pass deflection, and — most impressively — a pick-six that really gave the Eagles a spark. You can re-watch the play below:

Good Luck Finding Eagles' Weakness After Trade-Deadline Steal | Bleacher Report

The Philadelphia Eagles didn't have the look of a traditional buyer as Tuesday's trade deadline loomed. At 7-1, the Eagles have the NFL's best record. They've played like the class of the NFC from the get-go.

Then Eagles general manager Howie Roseman pulled off a deal on Halloween that should put a scare into not just the NFC East, but all of the NFL.

By sending a fourth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for running back Jay Ajayi, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Eagles added a young and talented ball-carrier to an already loaded offense. It's now becoming difficult to find holes in a ship that looks to be cruising full speed ahead toward a division title and a high seed in the NFC playoff bracket.

Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys hot topic: The season is over with Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension - unless it isn’t | Blogging the Boys

At the moment, it looks like Ezekiel Elliott and the NFLPA have lost in their attempt to keep him on the field through the 2017 NFL season. While there have been some very unexpected turns in this from the very beginning, the chances of putting off his six-game suspension now are seen as extremely slim. The NFLPA is filing another appeal, it just is not believed to have much probability of reversing things again. The conclusion of many is that the season is now over for the Dallas Cowboys without Zeke on the field.

There is no question that Elliott was key in the two most recent wins for Dallas. His role was especially big in the rain-soaked victory in Washington. Now the Cowboys do not even know who is going to be the lead back, or if they will have to resort to a running-back-by-committee approach with Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden, and Rod Smith. And with the Philadelphia Eagles adding Jay Ajayi to bolster the roster that is already leading the NFC in the chase for the playoffs, some have thrown in the towel.

Martin: Cowboys to run same plays sans Ezekiel Elliott | NFL.com

Ezekiel Elliott's see-saw suspension spectacle has frustrated fantasy owners and Dallas Cowboys fans alike. In the midst of a back-and-forth legal battle that has spanned two district courts over three months, the running back's availability on a week-to-week basis has been up in the air.

This week against the Kansas City Chiefs -- and possibly for the five after that -- Elliott likely will be absent, after U.S. District Court Judge Katherine P. Failla denied the NFL Players Association's request for a preliminary injunction in its case against the NFL, reinstating the back's six-game suspension.