Cowboys Looking For Change In Training Camp Rules

Dallas is one team that believes training camp dates should be based on the start of the regular season, rather than the start of the preseason

Earlier this summer, the Dallas Cowboys asked the NFL to move up the opening date of training camp, so as to be in step with the New York Giants--who Dallas will face in the season opener on September 5. This wish was not granted, however, and the Cowboys will open camp today, 15 days prior to their first preseason game, per league mandate.

The Giants opened camp on Friday.

The reason for the request is simple: Dallas doesn’t want New York to have any sort of competitive advantage in the form of more rest and/or preparation before their meeting in New Jersey. But training camp dates are set based on teams’ first preseason games rather than their first regular season games.

Though the Cowboys understand the league’s inability to address their request this year, they’re still hoping that the rules might be changed down the road.

“I do think (the start of camp) should be based off when the regular season starts and not the first preseason game,” Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said, per ESPN Dallas. “I think a lot of teams feel that way, period. It’s not necessarily, ‘Well, it just bites us this year because of the last preseason game and first regular season game.’ We’ll deal with that, but I do think it’s something at some point I can see changed where training camp starts is pegged off when the season starts and if not that, then just a common starting point for everybody.”

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