Noteworthy headlines surrounding the Dallas Cowboys heading into the weekend.
Troy Aikman will ‘never bet against’ Deion Sanders, but would he fit as new Cowboys HC? – SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News
Troy Aikman weighed in on the idea of Deion Sanders returning to Dallas to replace Mike McCarthy as head coach.
You know Deion Sanders very well. His name was the first to come up for this opening. Nobody’s sure if he’s a serious candidate, but with Jerry Jones and Deion, they will surprise you every once in a while. Do you think he would be a fit here?
Aikman: “Well, I wouldn’t bet against him. I absolutely would never bet against Deion. I’ve just seen it too many times. … He’s proven that he’s earned the opportunity. So if he lands the job in Dallas, if that ultimately is what happens, or if he goes somewhere else within the NFL or even in the college ranks, I mean, he’s earned that opportunity.
“I don’t know if I’d look at anyone and say it’s necessarily a great fit. I just think there’s a lot of hurdles. And so it may not be a great fit for anyone, but if Deion were to come on board, I think he’d be fantastic. I think you would relate exceptionally well to the locker room. It’s amazing that for someone who’s as far removed from having played the reverence that these current players have for his career and what he was as a player. It’s pretty remarkable, and it says a lot for him. So I think he’d be fantastic no matter where he is. And as you guys have heard me say, I’m a big fan, and I would never bet against him.”
Dallas Cowboys should reach out to top coaching candidate in playoffs – Ali Jawad, Sports Illustrated
Ben Johnson should be at the top of the list of potential candidates for the vacant head coaching position for the Cowboys.
As the Cowboys search for a replacement for Mike McCarthy, NFL Insider James Palmer suggests that Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, consider the opportunity to become the head coach of the Cowboys if Dallas shows interest.
“If I am Ben Johnson, I do want to evaluate this position certainly,” Palmer said. “You are now with Mike Vrabel off the market the clear-cut number one favorite in this head coaching cycle. If Ben Johnson takes an interview, he is interested.”
Johnson’s offense, finished the 2024 season ranked second in total yards (409.5), first in touchdowns (70) — the only team to achieve that mark — second in passing yards (263.2), sixth in rushing yards (146.4), and first in scoring (33.2 points per game).
The Cowboys are familiar with the offensive strategies of the 38-year-old coach. In Week Six, they faced a crushing defeat against the Lions, losing 47-9. In that game, Johnson’s offense totaled 492 total yards, including 184 rushing yards, achieved 27 first downs, and averaged 7.5 yards per play.
What’s Next? Backup TE role is heating up in Dallas – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com
In 2024, the TE’s on this Cowboys roster did not meet expectations, so what will that room look like in 2025?
Present: It wasn’t a fantastic showing for Ferguson in 2024, though. His battle with injuries (knee, concussion) cost him both time and chemistry with Cooper Rush once Dak Prescott was lost to the season, and it was evident on a weekly basis that his usually telepathic connection with Prescott was not present with Rush.
He remains the definitive TE1 going into 2025, however, so make no bones about that; and it’ll be a contract year as well, adding to his already high level of motivation to have a bounceback season.
Behind him lies a battle that has gone from an afterthought to, now, anything but.
Future: Luke Schoonmaker has drawn plenty of ire from Cowboys’ fans still upset the team used a second-round pick to acquire him after having seen what Jake Ferguson could do, but the presence of Schoonmaker and the 2024 acquisition of Brevyn Spann-Ford have the latter two locked in one hell of a battle that was fun to watch during the back half of this past season.
That will be one of the key battles to watch going into training camp, and one I’d love to see John Stephens Jr. get back into the mix of but, having now torn both of his ACLs in his first two seasons, it’ll be more about staying healthy and then trying to make waves at the position .
Lastly, don’t forget about Princeton Fant, seeing as he put a lot of good on film, especially as an in-line blocker and special teamer.
Mailbag: Why hasn’t Vaughn been used more? – Kurt Daniels and Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com
The writers at The Star in Frisco weigh in on the use of Deuce Vaughn in 2024, or lack thereof.
Kurt: We get this question a lot about Vaughn as his compelling backstory and everyman-type odds in a game among giants has made him a bit of a fan favorite. Throw in his determined work ethic and great personality, and it’s hard not to root for him.
Vaughn often gets compared to Sproles, given their size and that both starred at Kansas State, but Sproles was slightly bigger (5-6/190 to 5-5/180) and reportedly had a faster 40-time (4.46 to 4.56). Sproles also had more than 1,000 career rushing yards than Vaughn in 10 additional games with the Wildcats (4,979 to 3,604). In addition, during his NFL career, Sproles would earn three Pro Bowl nods and be named to the All-Decade Team of the 2010s as a punt returner.
Regardless, Vaughn just hasn’t been able to work his way up the Cowboys’ depth chart. The team’s ground game really didn’t get going in 2024 until they turned to Rico Dowdle full time, who, by the way, posted a 4.54 time in the 40 and is 5-11/213. Are you going to let Vaughn get precious reps when you’re needing Dowdle, a 1,000-yard rusher, to find a rhythm of his own?
The other problem Vaughn faces is that your second- and third-string running backs on game day also need to contribute on special teams. But there his size perhaps limits him on kick coverage and, of course, he sits behind All-Pro and Pro Bowl returner KaVontae Turpin, a restricted free agent who will likely be back next year.
Cowboys request permission to interview Eagles OC Kellen Moore – SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News
The Cowboys are eyeing a possible reunion with a former offensive coordinator in Dallas, this time as the next head coach.
Moore played and coached for the Cowboys from 2015 until his departure as offensive coordinator in 2022. He spent the last two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Chargers and Eagles.
A day after the Cowboys parted ways with former head coach Mike McCarthy, Moore was asked about the Cowboys’ opening.
“I mean, obviously I spent a lot of time there. Eight years there and so, obviously have plenty of relationships [in] that place,” Moore told reporters Tuesday. “I love it here. I’ve had so much fun here. It’s been a really fun process and we’re in a really special situation right now, getting the chance to play this Sunday. Have a chance to make a run at this thing and that’s really all you worry about.
“Everything else is what it is and we’ll see where it takes you.”
