Off-Topic » Week 1 NFL Picks: Cowboys may be underdogs

elsewhere Dallas Cowboys Hoodie , but not here The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for their first game of the 2018 season, as are most of the other teams in the NFL. Only the Eagles and Falcons have played, with Philly eking out a win in an ugly game.As we do every year, the writer’s here at BTB will participate in a weekly pick’em contest, with a winner announced at the end of the year. You are welcome to play along in the comments. This week, we got a late start, so we’re giving everyone a pass and awarding them a win in the Philadelphia/Atlanta game, but the rest of the picks are here and are live. As we are all optimistic at the start of the 2018 season, the Cowboys are the unanimous pick over the Panthers. Only one game has no consensus pick with an even 5-5 split and that is the Indianapolis and Cincinnati game. The panel is unanimous in picking Jacksonville over the New York Giants, while Washington gets a slight 6-4 edge over Arizona.Here are all of our picks for Week 1 of the 2018 season. Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley awoke Wednesday and discovered his phone was overloaded with text messages.He became an overnight TV star.Haley was impossible to miss in the second episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks." He was everywhere, whether berating Corey Coleman for drops and lack of effort before the receiver asked to be traded; making fun of Carl Nassib's parents for naming their baby "Carl"; hanging upside-down in coach Hue Jackson's office on an inversion table or telling Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry to mentor rookie Antonio Callaway."They showed everything, huh?" Haley said.Beyond his on-screen appearances Youth Customized Dallas Cowboys Jerseys , Haley has made quite an impression during his first months with Cleveland after being fired by Pittsburgh following six seasons guiding the Steelers' offense.A former head coach in Kansas City, Haley has brought 22 years of NFL wisdom and a no-nonsense demeanor to the Browns, who are trying to dig out from a 0-16 season. He's molding quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield, developing a young receiving corps that could soon add Dez Bryant and trying to instill mental toughness and discipline into a team that has lost 31 of its last 32 games.The Browns are more talented, but Haley knows that won't mean anything if they aren't composed and controlled. And he knows what he's looking for."Groups that are able to overcome bad portions of practice and bounce back, find ways to start to have success," he said. "In games obviously you're looking for a team that can bounce back within a game, bounce back after poor games. You're looking for a team, a group that doesn't back down, that continues to fight and is able to overcome some adversity."Haley has assumed play-calling duties from Jackson, who served as offensive coordinator the past two seasons.Their partnership seems to be working, but that doesn't mean there aren't issues. The "Hard Knocks" cameras were rolling during a coaches' meeting when both running backs coach Freddie Kitchens and Haley questioned Jackson about his policy to have some susceptible players sit out practices in an attempt to prevent soft-tissue injuries.Jackson was basing his decision on analytical data. Haley was going on gut.In Haley's mind www.cowboysauthorizedshops.com , the Browns can't change their culture if players are getting preferential treatment.But although Haley disagrees with Jackson, he backs him."The great thing about here is coach Jackson gives us as assistant coaches the opportunity to speak our opinion," Haley said. "Ultimately, it's his decision of what he wants to do, and I'll 100 percent support it. But that's not always the case where assistants get to voice an opinion, their thoughts. And some of them, he's going to take it. Some of them, he's not. But whatever decision is made, I'm 100 percent behind."Haley, too, is in favor of the Browns considering Bryant.The former Dallas star is scheduled to visit with Cleveland on Thursday, and if the Browns like what they see and hear from the free agent Dallas Cowboys Womens T-Shirt , they could sign him.While Bryant isn't the game-breaking, down-field threat he once was, Haley would still be open to adding him to Cleveland's offense as long as he's willing to buy into the team."If Dez Bryant, who obviously has been a good player in this league, is in that mix, he's going to be coached like everybody else," Haley said. "I tell everybody that shows up here we don't care about what means got you here, if you're willing to put your hand in the pile and work and be part of moving forward and having success, I'm all for it."