As Javonte Williams’ Cowboys debut draws near, ‘Valedictorian-Tae’ is embracing new role – Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News The Dallas Cowboys and Brian Schottenheimer are excited to see what they have in their veteran running back Despite the lack of a preseason showcase, the Cowboys are confident in Williams’ ability to be the lead guy […] As Javonte Williams’ Cowboys debut draws near, ‘Valedictorian-Tae’ is embracing new role – Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News The Dallas Cowboys and Brian Schottenheimer are excited to see what they have in their veteran running back Despite the lack of a preseason showcase, the Cowboys are confident in Williams’ ability to be the lead guy effectively against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. “I have no questions about it,” Schottenheimer said about Williams handling the workload of a starting running back. There are reasons for Schottenheimer’s optimism — chief among them is how Williams answered one question the Cowboys had about him immediately. Schottenheimer has been adamant through his first season as a head coach that film matters. A player is defined by what they put on tape, rather than what their reputation might be. That’s ultimately why the Cowboys went out and targeted Williams. They saw a 220-pound running back who played physically and could work in Schottenheimer’s offense. It does matter, however, when a player’s reputation is backed up by what they show once they arrive in Dallas, like Williams’ did. Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams indicated that he heard Williams, in his words, was a “pro’s pro,” and someone who was a high-character guy. Williams said the NFL is a business, which means he approaches it with a business mentality. “He’s as advertised,” Adams said. Adams didn’t hear, however, about one of Williams’ best accolades. Williams graduated early from Wallace-Rose Hill High School in Teachey, North Carolina. He was named valedictorian there after finishing with a 4.6 GPA. His lowest grade ever, reportedly, was a 97. “I call him Valedictorian-Tae,” Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said. “That’s what he is … the guy plays smart at running back, and he can make plays, and I’m super excited for him to play.” With Kenny Clark’s addition, UCLA becoming pipeline for Cowboys DTs – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com UCLA becoming the preferred school for Cowboys defensive tackles. When Kenny Clark walked through the doors at The Star for the first time last week, one of the first guys he saw was rookie defensive tackle Jay Toia. It might have been the first time Clark had officially met Toia, but he certainly didn’t need to introduce himself. “No way, man I’ve seen his picture up on the wall for four years,” Toia said of Clark. “He was an All-American and so those guys are honored up there.” And ‘there’ would be UCLA, which is proving to be a breeding ground for defensive tackles for the Cowboys. Not only is Clark, who was traded by the Packers in the Micah Deal deal, a product of UCLA, but he joins two other defensive tackles on the Cowboys who were former Bruins in Osa Odighizuwa and Toia, a seventh-round pick this year. “It’s cool to be able to play with all those guys,” said Clark, who is entering his 10th year and left UCLA long before Odighizuwa and Toia were on campus. “I walked into the meeting room and Coach (Aaron Whitecotton) was like, ‘Man, this has got to be the first time there has been three UCLA guys in the same room.’ So yeah, that’s dope. It’s cool to have those guys.” Of the three, Clark is certainly the most accomplished, having played nine years with the Packers and earning three Pro Bowl selections. That certainly got Odighizuwa’s attention when he was a standout for the Bruins. “They put the NFL guys on the wall at UCLA, so seeing Kenny up there and knowing what type of talent came from UCLA and seeing what’s possible, it’s definitely something that motivated me,” Odighizuwa said. “I remember thinking, ‘Man, I’m trying to get to where he’s at.’ It’s a pretty cool full-circle moment.” Former Cowboys RB, preseason star gets workout with Broncos – Zach Dimmitt, Cowboys on SI The reasoning behind why Sean Payton would want to have a try out with Deuce Vaughn is pretty obvious. Dallas elected to keep Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and rookie Jaydon Blue on the team’s initial 53-man roster, while seventh-round rookie Phil Mafah will begin the season on IR. The odd man out was Deuce Vaughn, who was cut after never quite finding his role in two seasons with the team after being a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, he could soon be beginning his next chapter in the NFL. Per reports from NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Vaughn worked out with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday as he looks to land a spot on the Week 1 roster or the practice squad, though the latter is more likely. Should he end up playing under Broncos head coach Sean Payton, Vaughn could have the opportunity to once again embrace the Darren Sproles comparisons he has received since his collegiate days. Like Sproles, Vaughn starred for the Kansas State Wildcats as an undersized back with tons of offensive versatility. Payton, of course, coached Sproles for three seasons with the New Orleans Saints and could use Vaughn in similar fashion should he join the team. Report: Dallas Cowboys negotiating with Tyler Smith on new deal – RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys After getting a deal done with DaRon Bland, the front office might be trying to squeeze in one more deal before the season kicks off. The Dallas Cowboys appear to be making good on their word. In the aftermath of the Micah Parsons trade to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys made it a point to say that they were going to utilize the savings on him (as in savings from the deal they did not give him which led to the

In the wake of the Dallas Cowboys trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, the pass rush is looking for someone to replace his production. No one is demanding an 14-plus sack season from someone, although that would be selfishly nice, but it would be great to see some of Dallas’ second-round edge players […] In the wake of the Dallas Cowboys trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, the pass rush is looking for someone to replace his production. No one is demanding an 14-plus sack season from someone, although that would be selfishly nice, but it would be great to see some of Dallas’ second-round edge players take that next step. With Marshawn Kneeland and Donovan Ezeiruaku still proving themselves as NFL players, all attention is focused on Sam Williams. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Week 1 will be the first time Williams has played football since 2023. He was sidelined last year due to a torn ACL he suffered at the very start of training camp. Since then, he has fought his way back to having zero limitations during practice and has been praised a ton by the coaching staff and Brian Schottenheimer. His hard work this offseason earned him the starting defensive end opposite Dante Fowler on the team’s unofficial depth chart ahead of Thursday night’s game. Williams is aware of what’s ahead of him this season and how the only person who could get in his way is himself. “I’m very hungry, but at the same time, I’m patient,” Williams said in an interview with the media on Monday. At the end of the day, I just got to keep trusting my process, be where my feet are at, and I don’t want to get too excited, because that’s when Sam start making penalties and jumping and all that stuff. I just want to be great, man…I’ts me versus me this year, ya know? I don’t look at anybody else. I just look at the man in front of me and I gotta beat them.“ The biggest concern around Williams has been his maturity. In 2023, he received tickets for speeding, and he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Since then, there have been no issues from Williams, turning the corner as a professional athlete off the field. On the field, Williams has occasionally committed critical penalties, but it’s encouraging to hear him discuss it and acknowledge that he wants to focus on avoiding them this season. It will be interesting to see how he manages a starting role, as he has primarily been a rotational player along the defensive line since his rookie year. Williams might not be alone in hoping for a successful year. On multiple occasions this offseason, people like Albert Breer and Calvin Watkins have included Williams’ name in the next batch of players we could see get contract extensions from the Cowboys. Is it possible that the front office wants to secure Williams for the long term, positioning him as a veteran leader for their defensive end group, especially with Fowler on a one-year deal? He first has a lot to prove, and that journey begins Thursday night. 29 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

The past has been a popular subject for the Dallas Cowboys here lately. Just a couple of weeks ago Netflix released a documentary that examined the team’s ascension to glory in the early 1990s and discussed the how and why of Dallas holding their place in both sports and cultural history. It is an excellent […] The past has been a popular subject for the Dallas Cowboys here lately. Just a couple of weeks ago Netflix released a documentary that examined the team’s ascension to glory in the early 1990s and discussed the how and why of Dallas holding their place in both sports and cultural history. It is an excellent watch and worth your time. Two people featured prominently in the documentary are Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin as they discuss the happenings of the 90s Cowboys. Emmitt and Michael seem to be rather busy as they were a part of something else that touched on those glory days… a new series from VICE TV called NFL CLASSICS: AFTER FURTHER REVIEW. The intent of this series is to examine, alongside Kyle Brandt, major games across NFL history. The series premieres on Wednesday, September 3rd at 9pm ET and new episodes will drop every week, but the first one touches on the 1995 NFC Championship Game. This title game was, as you know, the last one that Dallas appeared in, but aside from that point of frustration it is very cool to see Emmitt and Michael re-live it and offer their perspective on such an intense game. Here’s to hoping there will be an opportunity for current Cowboys to tell these kinds of stories in the near future. 0 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys History

When it comes to the Dallas Cowboys of our current climate there is an often-said criticism. “They care more about attention off the field than they do winning on it.” You have likely heard, maybe even said, this yourself. The Cowboys are the most valuable professional sports franchise in the world and hold the title […] When it comes to the Dallas Cowboys of our current climate there is an often-said criticism. “They care more about attention off the field than they do winning on it.” You have likely heard, maybe even said, this yourself. The Cowboys are the most valuable professional sports franchise in the world and hold the title despite not appearing in even their sport’s penultimate stage in what will officially be 30 years in January should they fail to do so. Just a few weeks ago the team was the subject of a Netflix documentary that (in an objectively incredible fashion) told the story of one of the greatest dynasties professional sports has ever seen. The final episode of the documentary featured a fast forward to the current day Cowboys who are struggling to stand tall in the shadows cast by those who preceded them. Troy Aikman is chief among those players, he was also featured plenty in the documentary, and on Tuesday was a guest on The Rich Eisen Show that can now be seen on Disney+. Obviously he was asked about the recent Micah Parsons trade and said the things you would expect. What was notable though was that Eisen asked Aikman for his thoughts on the thought we began this discussion with. What would Troy Aikman say to fans who feel that way about Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys leadership? “I’m not sure I can really say much, Rich, to be honest with you because I saw Jerry talk about the fact that… having the Cowboys as a discussion point is meaningful to him. And if people aren’t talking about the Cowboys then he’ll do things to stir it up.” “So he kind of walked into that and has given the impression that that supersedes winning.” “And I think in some ways… I’m sure that Jerry and the Jones family and everyone is tired of talking about the fact that they haven’t been to a Championship Game, let alone a Super Bowl, in 30 years…” “So then when you deflect that then essentially the valuation of your franchise or the attention, and the exposure, or the drama… or as Jerry said the fact that the Cowboys are a soap opera 365 days a year…” “…that then becomes the scoreboard. Instead of winning and losing on the field.” “Do I think that winning is not important to Jerry Jones? Not at all. I think Jerry wants to win more than anything else and I think that he’s very exhausted of the fact that this team, although they’ve won a lot of regular season games as you know, it is remarkable how much they’ve won in the regular season over the last 20-25 years, but yet, they’ve only won four playoff games. And that’s hard to stomach.” Aikman ultimately defended Jerry and the way he did is fair. It is certainly believable that Jerry Jones wants to win. Nobody denies this. People add the caveat that winning a certain way may be what truly is the highest-level priority. Aikman referenced Jerry’s own words about purposefully stirring things up around the Cowboys when they aren’t center stage, a line that Jones in true fashion delivered at the premier of the Netflix documentary. To Aikman’s point… Jerry sort of made the argument against himself in this regard. The line that Aikman said that stuck the most with me is about how all of the off-the-field stuff “becomes the scoreboard.” It is everyone’s greatest fear (perhaps you acknowledge it as truth and not as a hypothetical) that this is the scoreboard that the Cowboys want to put the most points on. We can all rationalize things in our own ways, but when Troy Aikman speaks on Jerry Jones it is noteworthy. He obviously speaks from experience and does so with conviction. Do you agree with Aikman? Do you think he’s off base? The Cowboys are going to do their best to disagree in terms of the scoreboard that matters most as they will be held against the one in Philadelphia in a couple of days. Maybe that doesn’t matter, though. 0 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

The Dallas Cowboys appear to be making good on their word. In the aftermath of the Micah Parsons trade to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys made it a point to say that they were going to utilize the savings on him (as in savings from the deal they did not give him which led […] The Dallas Cowboys appear to be making good on their word. In the aftermath of the Micah Parsons trade to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys made it a point to say that they were going to utilize the savings on him (as in savings from the deal they did not give him which led to the trade) on other players. Given how the Cowboys have delayed deals of this variety in recent memory there were plenty of fans who rolled their eyes. This past Sunday the Cowboys gave an extension to cornerback DaRon Bland, which suggested that maybe they have turned a new leaf (one of those things Jerry Jones infamously said he was waiting to see fall). Given that Bland is in his first window of eligibility for an extension (just barely as the season is about to begin, but still counts) this was a bit shocking. It appears that the Cowboys may have liked the way that felt. According to Clarence Hill of DLLS the Cowboys are actively negotiating with offensive lineman Tyler Smith. As Hill notes, an extension can be done with Tyler Smith at any time for the Cowboys, but there would definitely be some statement to it being taken care of before kickoff. That would mark two big-time extensions for Dallas in the first week following the Parsons’ deal. What’s more is that this would really suggest Dallas is taking things a bit differently. Smith, like Bland, is in his first window of extension eligibility. Unlike Bland though, Smith was a first-round pick and it has been a while since the Cowboys got to one of those with an extension at the earliest point of negotiation possible. Smith was taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. At the moment, prior to any would-be Smith extension, the last first-round pick who the Cowboys extended at their earliest point of eligibility was Ezekiel Elliott who was drafted six years before Tyler in 2016. While that is technically true, Elliott infamously had to hold out to force that deal. If we are talking about the last first-round pick that Dallas gave an extension to in the player’s first year of eligibility without any forcing from the player then the answer is Travis Frederick, who was selected in 2013. That deal was done while the team was at training camp in 2016, one of those that led people to believe Oxnard is where the Cowboys like to get long-term deals done. A Tyler Smith extension would be a serious pledge that things might actually be different in the near future. 0 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys News

Every week, we’re digging into the trenches, offense and defense, because that’s where the real action happens. In this installment, we’re shining a spotlight on the offensive line, who’s holding it down, who’s opening holes, and who’s keeping Dak Prescott clean. Let’s get to it. (Grades given are overall offensive grades found on PFF.com) Left […] Every week, we’re digging into the trenches, offense and defense, because that’s where the real action happens. In this installment, we’re shining a spotlight on the offensive line, who’s holding it down, who’s opening holes, and who’s keeping Dak Prescott clean. Let’s get to it. (Grades given are overall offensive grades found on PFF.com) Left Tackle Tyler Guyton (2024 Stats: 26 Pressures, 6 QB Hits, 6 Sacks, 18 Penalties)There’s a chance Guyton takes to the field this week and starts against the Eagles; he’s been in practice and working toward getting his left tackle job back. Guyton missed the majority of preseason due to a knee injury he picked up at the start of training camp. The good news is it wasn’t the dreaded ACL and now Guyton looks to get back to work. Guyton’s rookie season revealed areas for improvement, particularly in pass protection. He struggled with balance and body control, often leaning and lunging, leading to missed contacts and quick defeat. Heading into this critical game, Guyton’s ability to adapt and enhance his skills will be crucial. A solid game here against the Eagles could really give him confidence and inspire fans.(Grade: N/A) Left Guard Tyler Smith (2024 Stats: 22 Pressures, 4 QB Hits, 2 Sacks, 9 Penalties) Smith comes into this season as the team’s lead blocker on the line. His 2024 season was fine and this year he’s a runner for the new NFL blocking award that came in this season. Among offensive guards last year, Smith finished with a 76.0 pass blocking grade which ranked eighth-best and his 22 pressures allowed was the eighth-fewest. On top of that, Smith is a talented run blocker, and with a new running back corps against an Eagles defense that allowed the tenth-fewest rush yards last season, Smith’s run-setting power to create holes in the A and B gaps will be crucial in establishing the run game for guys like Javonte Williams.(Grade: N/A) Center Cooper Beebe(2024 Stats: 18 Pressures, 5 QB Hits, 3 Sacks, 3 Penalties) The worry with Beebe last season wasn’t whether he was good as a blocker, it was whether he could handle the snapping responsibilities at the center position. As it turned out, Beebe took to the position like a duck to water and the snapping wasn’t an issue as the season wore on. This year we should expect to see Beebe take on more of a leadership role and take some weight off Dak Prescott’s shoulders. Having to face an elite inside defensive line led by Jalen Carter is a great first test for Beebe in his sophomore year and create important cohesion with his rookie right guard.(Grade: N/A) Right Guard Tyler Booker(2024 College Stats: 9 Pressures, 2 QB Hits, 0 Sacks, 7 Penalties) In preseason, Booker played 28 offensive snaps with 15 of those snaps coming on passing downs. He allowed zero pressures, no QB hits, and no sacks which should give him confidence for Week 1. The problem that Booker faces is the fact the Eagles defensive line loves to crash the right side of the opposition’s line meaning that the rookie right guard will have his work cut out. If he’s everything that fans hope though, Booker could make a great statement here, and he has the talent to do it.(Grade: N/A) Right Tackle Terence Steele(2024 Stats: 41 Pressures, 6 QB Hits, 9 Sacks, 7 Penalties) Last year, Steele was the highest rated run blocker for Dallas, and played in all 17 games. The issue with Steele is pass protection where he led the team in sacks and pressures (by a considerable margin). Brian Schottenheimer has highlighted Steele’s improved consistency this preseason, especially after pairing with rookie guard Tyler Booker. He emphasized his role as a communicator on the right side and with Guyton limited by injury concerns, Steele’s performance becomes even more vital for maintaining stability and protection on the Cowboys’ offensive line against this heavy Eagles pass rush.(Grade: N/A) Offensive Line injury updates: Other than Guyton’s likely return from his knee scare, it’s all quiet on western front. In case of setback, however, keep a close watch for Nate Thomas, he filled in while Guyton was out. 7 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

It’s been a crazy offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. There has been a lot of activity from a new coaching staff to some big player shake-ups, making the upcoming season a giant unknown. Expectations aren’t as high for this team as they have been in the past, and quite honestly, it’s really difficult to get […] It’s been a crazy offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. There has been a lot of activity from a new coaching staff to some big player shake-ups, making the upcoming season a giant unknown. Expectations aren’t as high for this team as they have been in the past, and quite honestly, it’s really difficult to get a feel for how things might go. There is definitely some quality talent on the roster, to where it wouldn’t be shocking to see this team back in the playoffs this year, but at the same time, if the new coaches struggle, this could be a bumpy season. Before the new year gets underway, let’s recap this tumultuous offseason and run through every element to get a better sense of what this new-look Cowboys team might offer us in 2025. COACHING STAFF Brian Schottenheimer – The team moved on from Mike McCarthy and promoted his offensive coordinator over the past two years. Schottenheimer is a first-year head coach whose experience as OC has shown his commitment to a ground attack. He promotes physicality and team unity, recognizing that it takes all 69 guys to make a winning football team. Matt Eberflus – After a failed stint as head coach in Chicago, Eberflus returns to defensive coordinator, a role he flourished in during his time in Indianapolis. He has a good track record of stopping the run and taking the ball away. Eberflus’ specialty is at linebacker, and he spent seven years as the Cowboys’ LB coach before taking the DC job in Indy. Klayton Adams – The team was able to poach one of the league’s better offensive line coaches by promoting him to offensive coordinator. Schotty will call the plays, but Adams will help scheme the offense, with a strong track record of success running the ball in both Indianapolis and Arizona. He will also receive help from former Kansas State coach Conor Riley, who dominated the run-game ranks in college. OFFSEASON MOVES Extensions – The Cowboys were active in retaining their own this season. Key signings include DT Osa Odighizuwa (four years, $80 million), CB DaRon Bland (four years, $90 million), TE Jake Ferguson (four years, $50 million), and WR/KR KaVontae Turpin (three years, $13.5 million). Free Agency – True to form, the Cowboys didn’t spend much money here. Their most expensive investment was DE Dante Fowler, who cost them $6 million. They also added other depth pieces like DT Solomon Thomas, DE Payton Turner, and LB Jack Sanborn on defense, while adding RBs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders on offense. Trades – The team was extremely active in making trades this offseason. They made five trades this year to acquire players from other teams. This includes WR George Pickens, DT Kenny Clark, LB Kenneth Murray, CB Kaiir Elam, and QB Joe Milton. Of course, this also included shipping off their star edge rusher Micah Parsons. The Cowboys will also receive two first-round picks from the Parsons deal, but no longer have their third-round pick next year from the Pickens trade. Draft – The team surprised everyone by taking a guard with their 12th overall pick when they selected Tyler Booker. In the second round, they took edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku. They got a discounted price on CB Shavon Revel Jr. in the third round because he is recovering from a knee injury. They didn’t have a fourth-round pick because of the Jonathan Mingo trade last year, but they landed RB Jaydon Blue and traded up for LB Shemar James in the fifth round. Rounding out the draft, they selected OT Ajani Cornelius, DT Jay Toia, RB Phil Mafah, and DT Tommy Akingbesote. Their final selection, Akingbesote, is the only draft pick who didn’t make the team. ROSTER OUTLOOK Offense – As it does every year, everything revolves around Dak Prescott. Hopefully, a healthy season and better coaching can help him return to his strong level of play. The added weapon of Pickens should also help as the team features a dynamic WR trio of Lamb, Pickens, and Turpin. The offensive line is a young group, featuring four players who are still on their rookie deals, three of whom are first-round investments. The running back room is a bit of a mystery as they lack any high-upside talent, but the speed of the rookie Blue adds a little excitement to the mix. If the new coaches can scheme up an effective run game and keep Prescott upright, the offense has the potential to make some noise this season. Defense – This group will be under the microscope all year as we hold our breath things work out. They have some promising potential. Even without Parsons in the mix, they feature a deep edge-rushing group with Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams, the rookie Ezeiruaku, and pre-season standout James Houston. They improved in the interior thanks to the addition of Clark. Between him, Odighizuwa, and Thomas, they are solid at DT. We are all hoping that the Eberflus effect helps make their LB group strong, led by new acquisitions Murray and Sanborn, as well as second-year player Marist Liufau. If DeMarvion Overshown can make his return this season, that will be a big boost. Cornerback could be a mixed bag, as they have several guys recovering from injury. If Trevon Diggs returns to form, the trio of him, Bland, and Elam could be solid. The safeties consist of the usual suspects led by Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson. Special Teams – The Cowboys should feature a strong group here thanks to the big and precise leg of kicker Brandon Aubrey. Punter Bryan Anger is also quietly very efficient,

Back issue could delay return to NFL for Cowboys’ exciting defender after strong camp – K.D. Drummond, The Cowboys Wire Perrion Winfrey had a strong camp and preseason to make the Cowboys roster, but now is dealing with a back issue ahead of week one. Winfrey spent just one season in Cleveland, having a firearm […] Back issue could delay return to NFL for Cowboys’ exciting defender after strong camp – K.D. Drummond, The Cowboys Wire Perrion Winfrey had a strong camp and preseason to make the Cowboys roster, but now is dealing with a back issue ahead of week one. Winfrey spent just one season in Cleveland, having a firearm charge eventually leading to his release. He latched on with the New York Jets, but wasn’t able to establish himself and eventually ended up in the UFL with the Birmingham Stallions. Winfrey turned that setback into opportunity, making All-UFL this past season and getting himself back on the radar of NFL clubs. McClay pounced and brought him to Dallas. Unfortunately, WInfrey’s ability to re-debut in the NFL after being run out the league his first time through is up for debate. A back injury suffered earlier in the week had him sit out of Tuesday’s practice, so it’s unsure whether he’ll be available to play against the Eagles on Thursday night. Winfrey is one of five defensive tackles in the Dallas rotation to start the year. Osa Odighizuwa and Kenny Clark will be the starters, with Winfrey subbing in alongside Solomon Thomas and Mazi Smith. Some observers have mentioned how his rise reminds them of the positive start to his Cowboys career that David Irving had. The Eagles’ HC sees what many Cowboys fans are still hoping to see without Parsons on defense, which is quality depth at defensive end. The Philadelphia Eagles won’t have to face Micah Parsons ahead of Thursday night’s season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys, following his shocking trade to the Green Bay Packers, but the Birds are focusing on who will be on the field. “We have so much going on here,” head coach Sirianni told reporters while discussing the Parsons trade. “We’re getting ready to play the Cowboys, so he’s in your thoughts for game planning, but they still have guys that we have to prepare for. They have Kenny Clark, who’s a really good player, and they have good depth at that defensive end group. You don’t get too wrapped up in that except for some of the things you’re doing with the game plan. But, also understanding that they have a lot of good players over there and getting ready for those guys and shifting your attention to that.” Star offensive tackle Jordan Mailata also addressed the absence of Parsons. “A sigh of relief,” he told reporters Sunday, laughing, when asked what preparations were like now that Parsons isn’t in Dallas. “I say that as a joke, but at the same time, it’s just kinda crazy. For the last four, five years we’ve played the Cowboys, we’ve come up with a game plan, because Micah’s a gamer. So it is a sigh of relief that you don’t have to plan like that anymore. However, that is a talented D-line and talented defense, so you’ve got to treat them with the same respect with or without Parsons.” The Cowboys need these players to be X-factors against the Eagles – Shane Taylor, Inside The Star The Cowboys are all-in on being a sounder run defense going against the Eagles, but will need Mazi Smith to be a factor here. Mazi Smith You want to beat the Eagles? You have to stop Barkley, and Mazi Smith my eyes are all on you my guy. You were a first round pick to come in and stop the run. You have not done much in your first two years. Now is the time. The frustrating thing about Smith’s NFL career thus far is he appears to have the physical tools to succeed. He is 6-foot-3, with a 33 3/4″ wingspan while weighing 337 pounds. He has everything he needs to stop being a no-show every single week, yet here we are again. This will be his last season as a Dallas Cowboy. I think if he does not produce the way that he should. The Eagles are going to lean on the run and even though Micah Parsons was an edge rusher, more weight is going to be on Mazi Smith with him being gone. Perfect time for your breakout game, Thursday. Cowboys point/counterpoint: Did Micah Parsons trade kill season before it even began? – David Howman, Blogging The Boys The Cowboys will find out quickly what they are up against in the NFC East this year with week one at the Eagles and week two vs. the Giants. I do feel like every year we talk ourselves into the NFC East being tougher than it ever has been, and every year (that Prescott stays healthy) the Cowboys are in the playoffs. Obviously the standard is more than just that, but people are forgetting how much Prescott does for this team’s chances. The defense may not be as good as it was in the Quinn years, but having Prescott back under center – and with an upgraded receiving corps, no less – is huge. He’s won plenty of shootouts over the years, some of those even coming in the Quinn years, and he’s capable of doing it with Lamb, Pickens, Turpin, and Ferguson. As for the rest of the division, it’s easy to make the case for any of those teams to either regress or take a huge step forward. I’m not convinced any of them are surefire contenders at this stage. Tom: Yeah, the season hasn’t started and we really don’t know how any team is going to play on the field. But I have a hard time seeing the Eagles taking much of a step back. They rely so heavily on the running game,