Cowboys officials believe their chances of landing the '18 NFL Draft have "improved now that Texas legislators have failed to implement" their controversial bathroom bill, according to David Moore of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Team officials are "hopeful the legislature's inaction clears the way for the draft to come to Arlington and Frisco in April." Philadelphia did an "outstanding job of hosting the event last year and wants it back." Still, the Cowboys are "considered the frontrunner in many circles." The Cowboys' ability to host the Draft was part of a $1M ad buy that "began to play on North Texas radio stations shortly after the team reported to training camp in Southern California last month." The one-minute ad "ended asking fans to contact their legislators to tell them to reject the bill and bring the NFL draft to Texas." The Cowboys, unlike the Stars, "never made a public proclamation about their opposition to the bathroom bill." But sources said that the Cowboys were "active behind the scenes, one describing the club's lobbying efforts as 'quiet and aggressive'" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/17).
GOING BACK, BACK TO CALI: Cowboys Exec VP, COO & Dir of Player Personnel Stephen Jones said that the team will return to Oxnard, Calif., for at least a couple of weeks for training camp in '18 but also plan to have "more practices" at The Star in Frisco. In Ft. Worth, Clarence Hill Jr. notes the Cowboys are "under contract with Oxnard for one more year but also have an option for a two-year extension." Jones said about continuing to train in California, "As long as we keep having a good experience and the people of Oxnard have been great, I don’t see that changing." He added, "A lot of fans who don’t get see us play at AT&T Stadium will get the opportunity to come to The Star and be a part of what our team is all one about" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/17).
FOOTBALL LIFER: In Ft. Worth, David Humphrey notes Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones will be "profiled this season" on the NFL Network series, "A Football Life." The broadcast date has "not been released" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/17).
