JAN. 5 EX SUPER BOWL MVP FUELS BELICHICK-TO-COWBOYS RUMOR – Ex New England Patriots Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman sees a “tough conversation” coming Monday between Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft and also a potential new landing spot for the coach.

As in, “How ‘Bout Them Cowboys?!”

Asked by FS1’s Colin Cowherd Friday if Belichick would take the Panthers job, Edelman snapped “no way!”

“But,” he continued, “what about Dallas? What if Mike McCarthy gets knocked out of the playoffs early? Bill over there with that Top 10 offensive line and talent … they’d at least be fundamentally sound. McCarthy gets a lot of penalties and that clock management … in the game against the Lions the moment just looked too big.”

Belichick has been linked to the Cowboys by multiple voices – from former quarterback Scott Zolak to long-time sportswriter Gary Myers – since the middle of the season. The six-time Super Bowl champion coach is enduring the worst season of his 24-year career in Foxboro and is scheduled to address his future next week.

JAN 5 COLLINS HONEST ABOUT MATURITY Tell the world he’s coming home.

The Dallas Cowboys have brought back a familiar face for their upcoming playoff run, signing former offensive line standout La’el Collins to their practice squad this week. Collins confirmed his Dallas return with a commemorative Instagram post, depicting him leading the Cowboys’ offense onto the field before a game at AT&T Stadium during his first term with the team.

“I’m blessed,” Collins wrote in the accompanying caption. “Ima give you everything in me. I love you #HOME” [sic]

That’s nice. But there is something bigger going on here: Has La’el grown up?

“I just (want) to be an open book for anyone that’ll listen, and anyone who wants someone to hear them out or wants advice,” said Collins, who earns credit here for admitting to his issues with behavior and maturity. “I’ve been through a lot of different things, and I’ve grown a lot.

“I’m 30 now,” he reflected. “And I remember coming into this thing at 21, and I thought I knew it all. But I didn’t know nothin’.”

Collins was one of the headliners of the Dallas offensive line after the team signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He would go onto play seven seasons in Dallas before spending the most recent two years in the Cincinnati Bengals’ system. Collins comes to the Cowboys (11-5) as they nurse a few injuries on their offensive line, including ailments for Tyler and Tyron Smith.

He won’t play this weekend. But after that?

Cowboys personnel boss Will McClay was the guy who called Collins to offer him a chance at coming home. La’el’s response>

“Hey, let’s make it happen – Let’s go win this thing!”

DEC 30 TYLER SMITH UPDATE The Cowboys won the game, but lost the lineman – and yet in the end, it appears a “scary-sounding” injury might end up OK for standout left guard Tyler Smith.

Over the course of what became a 20-19 win for playoff-bound Dallas over the Lions, Smith was down and appeared to be grabbing his left foot. He did eventually walk to sideline under his own power while heading for the medical tent and accompanied by medical staff.

In the locker room after the win, Smith said that he strained his plantar fascia and that an MRI would be forthcoming.

And now we have more details, with NFL Network reporting that the “complete” tear of the plantar fascia is actually “good news.”

Yes, that sounds counterintuitive. But is seems that the tear means this won’t be a long-term issue as the team plays at woeful Washington next week before heading into the postseason. … and there is speculation that Smith could actually play despite the injury.

T.J. Bass replaced Smith in the starting offensive line in this game for the Cowboys.

DEC 29 DEUCE SHOULD BE LOOSE SATURDAY VS DETROIT With Rico Dowdle ailing with an ankle injury, the Dallas Cowboys are expected to bring back a fan favorite to the fold.

Head coach Mike McCarthy announced during an appearance on The Fan that Vaughn, the sixth-round rookie, will serve as Tony Pollard’s top rushing spell option come Dallas’ Saturday duel with Detroit (7:15 p.m. CT, ESPN/ABC). Vaughn, who became a bit of a Dallas folk hero for his preseason performance and his draft story, which saw his father Chris, the Cowboys’ assistant director of scouting, make his call to Arlington.

“Deuce will be up this weekend,” McCarthy said. LWe got a plan and looking forward to it.”

Vaughn has played in six games this season, amassing 38 yards on 21 carries and 30 more on six catches.

DEC 26 JAYLON TO PITTSBURGH Jaylon Smith, the former Dallas second-round pick and one-time Pro Bowler, is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to his agency.

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Smith, who overcame a devastating injury from his final game at Notre Dame to forge a successful career in Dallas, will open on the Steelers practice squad.

DEC 25 ZEKE LEAP The New England Patriots on Christmas Eve benefitted from a trademark Ezekiel Elliott move in what became a big comeback win over the Denver Broncos.

That move? Cowboys fans know it … it’s that “hurdle” that he did so often in a Dallas uniform … and it helped him get to the goal line in this game.

Elliott took a backfield pass from Bailey Zappe during the third quarter and headed toward the end zone. … but then encountered a defender …

And Elliott hurdled over him and then made the dive toward paydirt.

The Patriots moved to 4-11 with the win. They are going nowhere except the NFL Draft. But “Vintage Zeke” was a fun moment.

DEC 24 DRIVE RUINED Dallas opened Sunday NFL Week 16 in a textbook manner, with a lengthy, clutch and impressive drive … until the goal line was approached, at which time rookie fullback Hunter Luepke appeared to bull his way into the end zone for a game-opening score.

Except Luepke didn’t have the ball.

The Cowboys fumbled the handoff exchange between Luepke and QB Dak Prescott, ruining a truly ideal way to start … and spoiling the team’s openly-stated “start fast” desire.

Dak