Last year, former Dallas Cowboys’ cornerback Deion Sanders was the media darling. “Coach Prime” had risen up to head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes in the Pac-12 Conference of Division I college football. Just when you weren’t seeing enough of him on the sidelines of a game, he was the subject of discussion on all the shows filled with talking heads. Even the commercial breaks offered no relief. Because there he was with Coach Nick Saban hawking supplemental insurance. One wonders, given last week’s news, if AFLAC covers butthurt claims or not? Hit Right In The Feelz Last season started out with a bang for Sanders in Boulder. The Buffaloes started 3-0 and cracked the Top 20. Then they started Pac-10 play and won just one game over their last eight – including their last six – to finish 4-8. Suddenly it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows in Boulder. Colorado recently announced that Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler is hereby – and forever, at least for now – banned from asking his Royal HighnessCoach Prime any questions. The ban also excludes Keeler from asking questions of anyone connected to the program. The ban does not apply to any other Post writer, however, so there’s that. Here is the full statement given to ESPN by the athletic department at Colorado: “After a series of sustained, personal attacks on the football program and specifically Coach Prime, the CU Athletic Department in conjunction with the football program, have decided not to take questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler at football-related events. Keeler is still permitted to attend football-related activities as a credentialed member of the media and other reporters from the Denver Post are welcome to ask questions of football program personnel made available to the media, including coaches, players and staff.” Basically, Keeler can still do his job. He figuratively has to go to work with tape over his mouth whenever he’s at a game. The reason for the ban? Apparently, Keeler in his job as a columnist has referred to Sanders’ time in Colorado as: “Deposition Deion,” the “Bruce Lee of B.S.,” a “false prophet,” “Planet Prime,” “the Deion Kool-Aid” and “circus.” I mean, let’s just roll out the guillotine here, right? Side note: That was sarcasm folks, not an actual call for someone’s head, okay? It Comes With The Territory Keeler is just doing his job. If Sanders doesn’t like what’s being said, he needs to not finish 4-8 after being hyped up as “Colorado Jesus.” That one’s all mine, Prime. Don’t at Keeler over that one. Sanders has a history of doing this kind of thing dating back to his Jackson State days. He comes off as a nice guy. But he has mighty thin skin, it would seem. Does AFLAC cover that too? Someone get Saban on the line. I have a feeling I’ll be joining Keeler on the “Deion No Like You” list at this rate. Seriously though, if Sanders wants to remain in Division I – or even eventually get into the NFL as a head coach – he needs to toughen up that skin a little. His ban of Keeler isn’t going to hamper Keeler’s ability to do his job. I know because I’ve got one on me too. Not from Colorado, but there is a professional sports team who all but told me that any request with my name on it will be DOA. They didn’t go to the extreme of broadcasting it for all the world to see. But it’s still there. Nor am I going to name names either. It was handled quietly. I see no need to make a spectacle of it. Especially since it didn’t impact my ability to do my job. It also failed to stop me from dropping the hammer on the team when said hammer needed to be dropped. I suspect Colorado is about to discover the same thing with Keeler this season. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail. Especially if Sanders’ fails to turn the Buffaloes around and he gets fired. It would behoove the school to immediately revoke the ban on Keeler within the first five minutes after Sanders’ eventual departure. This Was The Way It would have been better though if Colorado had handled the issue like an Arizona official handled a high school athletic director’s attempt to ban me from covering high school sports in Arizona about 30 years ago. The official told the AD that if he didn’t want me to write “negative things” about his program then maybe he should “stop doing stupid s***.” That was a direct quote as relayed to me by said official when he told me the story a few days later. Sadly, they don’t make people that run sports the way they used to. They definitely don’t make college football coaches the same either, it would seem – at least in Colorado. So, Coach Sanders, if you’re reading this: #FreeSeanKeeler and lighten up, Francis. It’s just a game.
3 reasons why Prescott signing before Week 1 make sense for Cowboys QB
3 reasons why Prescott signing before Week 1 make sense for Cowboys QB K.D. Drummond Seven days and counting. The Dallas Cowboys will hit the field to begin their 2024 campaign in just a week’s time, and time is running out on their window to extend quarterback Dak Prescott. The MVP runner up from 2023 has imposed a soft deadline for the organization to put their money where their mouth is and make him the highest-paid player in the league. If the two sides can’t agree, Prescott has said that he isn’t interested in negotiating when actual games are happening, so he will end up hitting free agency. We covered three reasons why Prescott may not want to re-up just yet. The Cowboys’ drought, anticipation of a bidding war and uncertainty with the coaching staff are all great reasons for Prescott to wait until next offseason to want to sign. But there are certainly reasons why he’d want to get the deal done now before they take on the Cleveland Browns. Prescott is immensely integrated with the city of Dallas. His foundation, Faith, Fight, Finish, as well as other philanthropic efforts are based in the area. Prescott has recently expanded his family unit and while families relocate across the country all of the time, most prefer to stay where they set their roots. Also, the perks if he can win in Dallas are unfathomable. He’d be a king in the state for ending the drought of 30 years and there simply isn’t a better way to forge lifelong opportunities than being an NFL champion from Dallas. Also on the table, he’s the big dog at said table. The Cowboys have been approaching Prescott with unacceptable contract offers for half a decade now, and he’s never caved. In fact, most would say that after being franchise tagged when they didn’t give him an acceptable offer through three and four career seasons, he’s owned owner Jerry Jones in negotiations. A no-trade clause is one thing, but forcing the second tag before signing (meaning any future tag would be the third at 140% prior salary) AND getting a no-tag clause for this negotiation was a masterpiece. He’s given no quarter to the man who believes he’s the best in the business at GMing. Finally, Prescott’s rapport with teammates is certainly a thought to consider. Prescott is the true leader of the team and when a player is beloved in the locker room (not always synonymous with leadership) like he is, there’s an emotional tie. The quest to finish what was started in 2016, to complete the mission, is something that is certainly weighing into Prescott’s thought process as he surveys the landscape across the league. It’s not just Prescott who is going to be asked questions in every city they travel to for 2024; his teammates are going to grow tired of it as well. Also, he’s no dummy. He’s rather wise, and the grass is not always greener on the other side. And while it’s unlikely he could price himself out of Dallas, getting things done now to remove any distractions throughout the season seems a smart move.
Cowboys fortunate how their WR situation fell into place
Cowboys fortunate how their WR situation fell into place reidhanson The Cowboys entered training camp with a clear and present need at the receiver position. Yes, they had one of the best WRs on the planet in CeeDee Lamb, but behind him was a grab bag of unknowns and mysteries. The veteran of the bunch, Brandin Cooks, turns 31 in September and is coming off his worst season in five years. Was he still the guy or was he on decline? The developmental players, Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks, have just 30 career NFL receptions between them and had given little indication last year they were ready to be relied on for a top-three role in 2024. And the rookie draft pick, Ryan Flournoy, was a project player from a small school who was in many ways a longshot to ever play in the NFL, let alone earn a roster spot as a rookie right out of camp. The Cowboys weren’t just hoping their WR room would step up and play better than they did last season, they were banking on it. The issue at WR became even more apparent after CeeDee Lamb sat out camp amidst a contract dispute. But it seems to have all worked out. Not only did Lamb just sign an extension and make his way back into the fold, but the players the Cowboys were banking on to improve successfully paid out as well. Cooks looks like his down season last year was more about his usage than slippage. Tolbert looks like he has a firm grasp of the WR3 position and may even be the heir apparent for Cooks as Dallas’ No. 2. Brooks looks like he can step in and play a variety of roles, namely filling the hole left by Michael Gallup at the X. Even the rookie Flournoy showed he’s more than just a project player; he’s someone who could be special. Training camp has to be seen as widely successful for the Cowboys WR position. Hitting on one projection is impressive enough but the Cowboys appeared to hit on multiple projections. This feat can’t be understated. No one disputes the offense runs through Lamb. It’s probably why the Cowboys gambled at all the other WR positions. Seeing these young prospects improve is important for 2024 and also in seasons beyond. With Lamb as the second highest paid WR in the NFL, it’s important for the Cowboys to keep costs low around him. Populating the WR depth chart with players on rookie deals is a must going forward. Exceptions can be made for modestly priced veterans, but generally speaking, the strategy is leaning on rookie contracts to keep positional spending affordable. The entire WR depth chart has explicably fallen into place perfectly for the Cowboys, positioning the team for success in 2024 and beyond. Related articles Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
With bar lowered, a new deal for Dak would feel like Cowboys win
With bar lowered, a new deal for Dak would feel like Cowboys win reidhanson Think back to the start of the 2024 offseason. The Cowboys were fresh off their humiliating playoff loss to Green Bay and Jerry Jones was elbow deep in “all-in” declarations in a calculated attempt to quell the uprising within the fanbase. Draft season was in full effect and free agency was fast approaching. Top 10 free agent lists populated the landscape and Cowboys fans were busy debating which internal free agents Dallas will retain and which external free agents Dallas will target. The window was open for another year the only question was how wide the front office was willing to pry it. As everyone would soon come to realize, Jones’ “all-in” statements weren’t remotely true under even the loosest of definitions. To make matters worse, not only did the Cowboys have little intention to sign outside talent to their roster, but they also didn’t even plan to retain their own top free agents. The “we like our guys” statements made every year were now suddenly starting to lose traction since they hadn’t even done a good job of retaining their own. When the Cowboys opened training camp with CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons’ contract situations still unresolved, expectations seemingly fell to an all-time low. In just a matter of months sentiments went from “who are they going to bring in to put them over the top,” to “who can they afford to lose this year and still be competitive,” to “are they even going to keep their own super stars?” The bar has been dropped so low, even the most obvious re-signing, Lamb, was rejoiced as a wonderful accomplishment. It almost didn’t matter the negotiations dragged on through the entire preseason. Suddenly just retaining their own obvious players for market values felt like wins. Just days before the start of the regular season, Prescott’s contract situation remains unresolved. There’s hope the Cowboys can retain their franchise signal caller beyond this year but there are certainly no assurances of it. Prescott holds all the leverage, and the Cowboys let the issue drag on dangerously long. In what feels like a 50-50 situation with Prescott, the Cowboys are a flip of the coin away from a multiyear rebuild. Disaster is at the door and the bar has been lowered so much, just re-signing Prescott would now feel like franchise-saving win. If the fanbase was told in February their team would re-sign Lamb and Prescott this year, the news would likely be met with some form of “well, duh.” Today it would be cause for champaign. That’s how far expectations have dropped for this front office. This may go down as one of the most emotionally wild offseasons in years for Dallas. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys News: Prescott does have his reasons, so may Jerry Jones
3 reasons Dak Prescott would be crazy to re-sign with Cowboys now :: Cowboys Wire Link: Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has maximized his leverage and the team has very few options remaining. Prescott on the other hand has multiple pathways to chose but these three reasons would make crazy for him to re-sign with the Cowboys. Why Jerry Jones’ waiting game with Dak Prescott’s contract isn‘t such a bad idea :: Dallas Morning News Link: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sometimes need additional interpretation for what he tells the media. His latest comments about the ongoing contract negotiations with signal-caller Dak Prescott could be deciphered as the 81-year-old owner wanting more from the quarterback position. How many players on the Dallas Cowboys earn more than $10 million a year? :: Fort Worth Star Telegram Link: Headlined by the usual suspects like quarterback Dak Prescott and future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin, six Cowboys players earn more than $10 million per season. Those numbers rank Americas Team at the bottom compared to the Dallas Mavericks and the Texas Rangers. DeMarvion Overshown full go for Cowboys opener vs. Browns: ‘I’m ready to strap ’em up’ :: The Mothership Link: Dallas lost linebacker Demarvion Overshown last year due to a torn ACL. This year, Overshown was hobbled by a hip-pointed which limited him towards the end of training camp. With Week One now the focus, Overshown is ready to “Strap ’em up.” Free agent scouting report: A closer look at new Dallas Cowboys RB Dalvin Cook :: Blogging the Boys Link: The Cowboys signing running back Dalvin Cook to the practice squad comes with plenty of questions. The answers will only come as the games begin, but looking at what he’s done in the past gives hope that he can turn the clock back and provide Dallas with much-needed production. Why each of the Top 10 Super Bowl contenders will (or won’t) hoist the Lombardi in February :: The Athletic Link: The Athletic gives Dallas the sixth-best percentage (5.7%) of winning Super Bowl LXIII behind NFC teams such as the 49ers and Lions. Philadelphia is also ahead of Dallas despite the rift between their quarterback and head coach while also replacing both coordinators. Dak’s in full control :: ESPN Aging stars won’t solve Cowboys running back problem in 2024 :: Inside the Star Link: If accolades were a contest, the Cowboys have the most decorated running back room in the NFL. Dallas is banking on a revival while skeptics believe the Cowboys should have already made a move for a young runner sometime this offseason. Cowboys tie reduced training-camp interest to lack of postseason success :: Pro Football Talk Link: If one were to have glanced at the stands during Cowboys training camp, there was a noticeable difference compared to years past. A usually overflowing crowd making all kinds of ruckus sounded more like a light roar and that was because fewer fans were in attendance this season. Dallas ties the drop in attendance to the lack of team success in the playoffs. Ryan Flournoy number change :: R.J. Ochoa The NFL’s Most Valuable Teams 2024 :: Forbes Link: In an announcement that shocked very few people, the Cowboys are once again the most valuable franchise in all the NFL according to Forbes. Listed slightly over $10 billion, Dallas leads from the front when it comes to off-field ventures and branding. The inagural list ranked the Cowboys first in 1998 at an estimated $413 million; an increase of 2,346% since.
Cowboys talented roster extends to the practice squad
Now that all teams have cut down their training camp and preseason rosters to just 53, over 1,000 players have been sent to free agency. Some players were claimed via waivers, vested veterans were signed outright, and others remained in the free agent pool. That doesn’t end the roster building. Teams must now fill up their practice squads, and you’d be surprised at the level of talent that the practice squad holds for the Dallas Cowboys. The size of the practice squad grew to 16 players in response to the overwhelming player availability issues that COVID-19 caused, and the NFL decided to make the temporary fix a permanent fixture for the league. As reported by dallascowboys.com writer Patrik “No C” Walker, the 16 practice squad players signed by the Cowboys are as follows: DE Carl Lawson OL Josh Ball CB Josh Butler WR Jalen Cropper RB Malik Davis DT Denzel Daxon (International Player Program) TE Princeton Fant CB Kemon Hall WR Kelvin Harmon LB Darius Harris S Emany Johnson LB Brock Mogensen OL Dakoda Shepley LB Nick Vigil RB Dalvin Cook DT Phil Hoskins CB Amani Oruwariye You’ll notice that there are actually 17 players on the Cowboys practice squad instead of 16. That’s because DT Denzel Daxon is part of the International Player Pathway Program, and counts as an exemption for the Cowboys. This is the same program previously utilized by offensive lineman turned defensive lineman, Isaac Alarcon. The talent of the Cowboys roster extends to the practice squad, and I want to discuss three players who are most likely to be called up to the active gameday roster throughout the season. Practice Squad Notes First, let’s talk about how the practice squad works for a better understanding of the rules when players get called up to the active roster. Practice squad players can be called up to the active gameday roster three times throughout the course of the season before teams have to make a decision. Once a player is called up for the third time, teams cannot send the player back to the practice squad. At this point, teams must decide to sign the player to the 53-man roster or be forced to release the player into the free agent pool. Strategy and roster maneuvering are a large part of the process, and the Cowboys have always been adept at managing this. Here are three players that the Cowboys will likely call up three times and eventually sign to the active 53-man roster. DE Carl Lawson Carl Lawson was signed by the Cowboys a few weeks ago to add depth to a defensive end room that suffered the loss of Sam Williams to a torn ACL. The Cowboys appeared to give younger players a chance to shine, but no one outside of rookie Marshawn Kneeland has stepped up to the plate. Lawson was released by the Cowboys initially, causing Philadelphia fans to mock the team after several of us celebrated his signing and the impact he could have on Mike Zimmer‘s defense. However, Eagles fans are usually not smart enough to realize that it was simply smart roster maneuvering because, as a vested veteran, Lawson is not subject to waivers. He was immediately signed right back to the practice squad as he continues to ramp up into football shape, and he will likely be on the active roster week 1 and beyond. The first three games will be a test for Lawson to determine if he will be signed to the active roster. RB Dalvin Cook Dalvin Cook is another veteran that will likely be on the active roster for the first three weeks of the season on a trial basis. Cook is 29 years old, but he still showed some explosiveness during the postseason as a member of the Ravens’ backfield. Many say that he can still be more explosive than Ezekiel Elliott, who took zero preseason reps. I’m not sure if the Cowboys did that to preserve his legs, which already have over 2,000 carries, or if he roster spot is so secure that they didn’t feel he needed to take any preseason snaps. Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys alternate healthy scratches for Elliott and Cook throughout the season in an effort to see which running back is more important to the offense. OL Josh Ball Josh Ball proved to be a valuable piece of the offensive line this preseason, and was recognized as one of the highest graded offensive linemen by Pro Football Focus. The Cowboys must not have seen what PFF saw because they sent Ball to waivers, instead keeping the oft-injured Matt Waletzko and second-year Asim Richards on the roster. Ball cleared waivers and landed back on the practice squad. Ball has a good chance to be called up to the active roster this season because of the flexibility he provides to the Cowboys’ offensive line. He can play either guard spot, and prefers to play right tackle, but could fill in at left tackle in a pinch. Waletzko is limited strictly to right tackle, and with Chuma Edoga on Injured Reserve, Ball’s services may be needed sooner than later depending on the gameday matchup.
Disappointing Cowboys draft class will start redemption tour in Week 1
With three rookie starters taking the field next week against the Cleveland Browns, there has been a ton of focus on the 2024 Cowboys draft class, and for good reason. What we may be forgetting, however, is that the 2023 draftees have an even larger importance this season. Last season, Dallas saw perhaps their worst draft class performance in years. They got virtually no positive contributions from any of their rookies. 2023 Dallas Cowboys Draft Class 1: Mazi Smith, Michigan2: Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan3: DeMarvion Overshown, Texas4: Junior Fehoko, San Jose State5: Asim Richards, North Carolina6: Eric Scott Jr., Southern Miss6: Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State7: Jalen Brooks, South Carolina — RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) April 29, 2023 The 1st round pick had just nine solo tackles, the 2nd round pick caught eight passes, and a preseason torn ACL wiped out the season of the 3rd round pick before it could even begin. The picks later than them were just as irrelevant, and now two of them have been cut. There’s no need to beat a dead horse; Cowboys fans know just how bad things were last season for this crop of rookies. What fans want to know is, will they overcome the rough start for a rebound season in 2024? That, my friends, is what we’re here to discuss. So let’s get into it. Here is a look at the five most important 2023 Cowboys draftees that will try to kick off a major redemption tour when Dallas takes the field against the Cleveland Browns next Sunday. Jalen Brooks: Rising up the Receiver Ranks? The last pick in the 2023 Cowboys draft class, Wide Receiver Jalen Brooks has been quietly making a name for himself in the Dallas offense. Coming out of South Carolina, Brooks was viewed as a low-floor, high-ceiling prospect with natural speed, ball skills, and a workable build. Heading into his second year in Dallas, some think those “traits” are becoming talents. Brooks beat out some serious competition for his roster spot, namely Jalen Cropper, Tyron Billy-Johnson, and Deontay Burnett. Now, his next challenge will be beating out Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, and rookie Ryan Flournoy for snaps in the regular season. Cooper Rush deep bomb to Jalen Brooks pic.twitter.com/SUNI8mITCl — Billy M (@BillyM_91) August 11, 2024 Dallas’ opening depth chart has Brooks as the WR4 behind CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Tolbert, which means he only needs to surpass the ladder to become a full-time starter. This speedster is one of the key guys to watch this season. His work in the short and mid-game is promising because of his yards after catch ability, and man can he beat you deep for a huge gain. It is just going to be a question of can Brooks put it all together to go from a late-round draft pick to a starter. Deuce Vaughn: The Little Man Earns a Roster Spot Speaking of earning a roster spot, how about the little guy, Deuce Vaughn snatching a spot on the 53-man straight out of Malik Davis and Royce Freeman’s hands? It was an impressive preseason for the second-year running back, and with weak talent at his position, he could be a surprise candidate to break-out after a lackluster rookie season. That said, a recent addition to the roster could damage his playing-time prospects this season. The Cowboys brought in former All-Pro Dalvin Cook, which puts the running back room at Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Dalvin Cook, Vaughn, and Hunter Luepke. In short, the room is crowded, and it may be too crowded for the 5’5 Kansas State alum to get meaningful playing time this season. That does not mean, however, that this has not been a successful offseason for Vaughn. His place in Dallas was no guarantee heading into the roster cuts, but his preseason performance forced the Cowboys to keep him. Deuce Vaughn had 14 preseason rush attempts and gained 3+ yards on all of them. pic.twitter.com/jCPoAuxfG4 — Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) August 25, 2024 Where Vaughn does carry potential is with the age of two of the backs ahead of him. Both Cook and Elliott are 29, and they don’t have the ability they once did. If anything were to happen to them, or if their performance was not up-to-par, you can expect Dowdle and Vaughn to reep the benefits. It is a big year for Vaughn, but making the roster was his biggest challenge, and he has proven he deserves to be on it. DeMarvion Overshown: The Long Awaited Return The absence of 3rd rounder, DeMarvion Overshown, was a dark cloud over last season from start to finish. The Cowboys linebacker problems plagued the defense, as they had safeties playing out of position and guys that had no business seeing major playing time getting starter reps. Could things have been different with Overshown present? I’m willing to bet he’d at least have made a solid impact, even if he couldn’t have single-handedly changed the outcome of the Packers game. His speed, size, athleticism, and overall potential had Cowboys fans salivating heading into last season, so you can imagine after a year of recovering, this entire fanbase is clamoring for Overshown to become a leader on defense. DeMarvion Overshown says he feels great, and was held out of the #Cowboys preseason finale as a precaution. He is heading into his first-ever NFL regular season game on Sept. 8 — elated and smiling big — after his 2023 ACL tear. “I’m so excited. I’m ready to strap ‘em up.” — Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) August 29, 2024 Expectations may need to be lowered some, as Overshown is still coming off an ACL tear, which can linger. Even if it does take him a little while to get truly up to speed, his talent is a huge boost for a Cowboys linebacker unit that desperately needs it. Eric Kendricks and Damone Clark alone is not enough. Overshown has a big role in 2024. We’ll see just how much of an
Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Changing of the Guard
The Dallas Cowboys have one year left with Dak Prescott as quarterback, and the writing is on the wall for a separation. A separation would be terrible without a backup plan in place. As fans know, Dak Prescott and Jerry Jones have been trading slight jabs in the media. It feels slightly eerie, but this may be it for Prescott and the Cowboys. The backup plan could be a legacy player for the Dallas Cowboys, living up to his star Dallas Cowboy father’s big personality and talent while bringing his uniqueness to the team. Dak Prescott and Cowboys Divorce Dak Prescott and Jerry Jones are involved in a public dispute, akin to an unhappy married couple who can’t seem to leave each other alone. Prescott wants a new deal, as he will be playing out the final year of his contract. To the dismay of many fans, Prescott deserves a new contract. If Dak Prescott does play out the final year of his contract, the Dallas Cowboys will not be able to pay him, as the rest of the quarterback-needy teams will outbid Jerry Jones. Jerry Jones and the front office may be ready to move on from their franchise quarterback, who can’t seem to get over the playoff hump he’s had his entire career. The front office would give up on a quarterback with a 73-41 career regular season record and a 2-5 playoff record. He has been one of the best statistical quarterbacks in the NFL since he entered the league in 2016. Those wins and statistics do not hold much value if he cannot win a Super Bowl. This has led many to believe it’s a Super Bowl victory or nothing this season. This means it will likely be an ugly divorce for the Cowboys and one of the best quarterbacks in the franchise’s history. But there could be a silver lining. The Silver Lining Football fans across the country watched one of the first games of the college football season between the Colorado Buffalo’s and the North Dakota State Bison. On the sideline of the game was one of the best NFL players in history, who nowadays goes by Coach Prime. It is none other than Deion Sanders, the Hall of Fame cornerback and Cowboy Super Bowl winner. Coach Prime has a pretty good quarterback on his team, Shedeur Sanders. As every football fan knows, Shedeur Sanders is Deion Sanders’ son, and the kid has the same big personality and talent as his father. This could be the perfect pairing. Shedeur Sanders would bring a media storm to Dallas. Guess who loves media coverage? Jerry Jones. Sheduer Sanders would bring a different type of quarterback play along with the media storm. A style of play that may help the Cowboys get over the playoff hump the fan base needs. Shedeur Sanders Quarterback Style In 11 games as a starter in 2023, Sanders completed 298 of 430 attempts (69.3%) for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Shedeur Sanders has frequently been compared to Geno Smith, the former West Virginia quarterback who played for the New York Jets and is now the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. Both players achieved great success in college. Smith earned first-team All-Big East honors in 2011 and second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2012 after West Virginia’s conference change. Sheduer Sanders does not see his comparison to Geno Smith. His answer may surprise you. Shedeur Sanders opens up about life under the spotlight, embracing the hate, and comparing himself to Tom Brady and Mike Vick. LINK TO HIS FULL INTERVIEW WITH COMPLEX: https://t.co/eXdwX18FdJ pic.twitter.com/njfCXhatXT — Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) November 9, 2023 A blend of Tom Brady and Michael Vick would create an almost unstoppable quarterback. If Shedeur can match this comparison, please bring these qualities to the Dallas Cowboys. He has trained with Peyton Manning and Brady since he was in high school. That training alone could help him become the Tom Brady/Michael Vick hybrid he believes he is now. Drafting a Future Quarterback It would not be easy to get Sanders, as he should be a top-10 pick in the 2025 draft, but wheelin’ and dealin’ Jerry may come to the draft this year. Having Jerry Jones as a general manager helps in this situation, but Deion Sanders’s statements to the media could be the most significant advantage. “I know where I want them to go. … There’s certain cities where that ain’t gonna happen,” Deion Sanders said on a recent podcast appearance. “It’s going to be an ‘Eli.’” Deion Sanders’s statement could be telegraphing his son’s move to the NFL. He wants his son in major market cities. What city has the biggest market when it comes to football? The answer is America’s Team. Deion’s influence on Shedeur’s draft could give Jerry Jones room to trade up and go for Shedeur Sanders. This would be a dream scenario for Jerry Jones, Deion Sanders, and many fans who are ready to move on from Dak Prescott. Is it likely to happen? Many fans following the Dallas Cowboys during Jerry Jones’s reign know that anything is possible with this front office.
Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown named the x-factor for Dallas
Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Cowboys fans are hyped about the skills of DeMarvion Overshown The Dallas Cowboys era of safety-turned-linebacker is over. Or is it? Guess it depends on your strict definition. We all know that under Dan Quinn, the Cowboys former defensive coordinator, taking a safety and finding a role for them at linebacker was the norm. It started with Keanu Neal and carried on with players like Jayron Kearse and Markquese Bell. But Dan Quinn is now the head coach for the Washington Commanders, and former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is back for a second go around. Quinn’s defense was built on speed, stunts and overloads to disrupt offenses. Zimmer’s defense is much more meat and potatoes, with an adherence to bigger-sized players capable of stuffing the run, topped with a dash of disguised blitzing to unbalance things. So in that sense, it seems like the converted safety at linebacker is out of favor in Dallas. Except for DeMarvion Overshown. Overshown’s conversion started in college, so it’s not quite like what was being done under Quinn, but he is a fast linebacker that will be used to cover tight ends and running backs as well as run sideline-to-sideline in run defense. But he also may have another component we haven’t talked as much about – a blitz specialist in Zimmer’s disguise scheme. In a recent ESPN article, Overshown was named as the team’s x-factor. New defensive coordinator (and former Vikings head coach) Mike Zimmer has historically used linebacker-sized linebackers to make his defense work, and he brought in longtime Viking Eric Kendricks accordingly. Kendricks’ best football is behind him, however, and if the veteran is forced into a starting role beside Damone Clark, the Cowboys will struggle in coverage over the middle of the field. Overshown is Dallas’ best bet at finding a three-down linebacker on the roster — better than Bell, Kendricks or 2024 third-round selection Marist Liufau. Of the undersized options, he has the sideline-to-sideline range and violence into contact that will remain viable against the run. If he converts two promising preseasons into successful regular-season play, he’ll quickly become a playmaker Zimmer deploys on his complex blitzes, too. So obviously the author of the ESPN piece is a little off-target in saying Eric Kendricks might be forced into a starting role; Zimmer actually brought Kendricks in to be the starter and to lead the defense. But beyond that, there is some merit to Overshown being an x-factor player. Cowboys fans have seen the talent in training camp and preseason, but haven’t seen it on the field yet when it counts because of injury. But Overshown is now healthy. “I feel great,” said Overshown through his trademark ear-to-ear smile. “Just making it to the season healthy is a plus, so we’re already doing better than last year.” […] “I felt great even going into the last [preseason] week,” he explained. “It was just making sure I was healthy enough for Week 1 and making sure there were no bumps or bruises, or something that could’ve been avoided.” Overshown’s ability to run with faster receiving-types should automatically qualify him for some third-down duty. He also shows plenty of ability to be productive in run defense with the addition of some beef ahead of him at defensive tackle. His speed and agility might also be an asset when it comes to deploying Zimmer’s blitz package. For all those reasons calling him an x-factor is legit.
How the Cowboys front office is trying to cheat the system to help them get over the hump
Filed under: How the Cowboys front office is trying to cheat the system to help them get over the hump There is a method to the madness of the Cowboys penny-pinching ways. By Aug 31, 2024, 3:00pm CDT Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports As we come down to another contract deadline, the Dallas Cowboys continue to find themselves in another financial standoff with a star player. It’s become such a common thing for this organization and it’s been all anyone’s talking about over the summer. This is the way the front office works. It’s beyond frustrating for fans and it’s a never-ending supply of storylines for the media. This is the Cowboys’ way. The difficult thing to understand about all this is why the front office chooses to operate in this manner. There are three big differences between them and many other teams. The first is that the Cowboys don’t want to overspend tomorrow’s resources. If they wanted, they could do some creative bookkeeping and restructure several contracts to free up more cap space. The Cowboys have more restructuring potential than half the teams in the NFL. Restructure potential courtesy of overthecap.com This table shows where teams are now in terms of cap space (circle) and their possible cap space with the maximum restructures employed (diamond). The Cowboys have the potential to go from $7.2 million in cap space to $63.7 million, freeing up an additional $56.5 million. You may notice that the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns have very little restructuring capability while a team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have plenty of flexibility. The Cowboys are in the middle of the pack when it comes to moving money around. They could do more if they wanted to, but as we know, they choose their battles carefully. While borrowing from the future is an interest-free loan on an available credit that keeps rising, decisions they make now can hinder decisions they want to make tomorrow. The Cowboys try to be responsible with their financials as do most teams as 75% of the league has at least $30 million of restructuring potential. Not only do the Cowboys have more spending power in their back pocket, they are cheap in free agency. Free agency is an opportunity to strengthen the roster by bringing in outside talent to address needs. The Cowboys are super thrifty in this department. They shop for deals. This is aggravating for many fans and it’s understandable as it certainly seems like the team could at least try to be a little more active in free agency to improve the roster. While it’s frustrating on the surface, it’s actually a good thing the team avoids this roster-building pitfall. Free agency is like doing your grocery shopping at the corner convenience store. Everything is overpriced and a great majority of people who shop that way are getting ripped off. Instead, the Cowboys put a large amount of faith in their young draft prospects on very cheap rookie deals. All this money-saving the Cowboys are doing culminates into this third and final front office strategy, re-signing their cornerstone players. This brings us full circle to our initial problem where the front office drags out these negotiations. The Cowboys are doing this for one reason, and one reason only and that is to save money. Some will try to convince you that waiting this out costs the team more money, but it doesn’t. The front office is trying to cheat the system and get away with paying their star players less than market value. We already got a behind-the-scenes look at the CeeDee Lamb negotiation courtesy of Jane Slater where the front office held their breath as long as they could trying to get him to take less money, only to finally end up caving and paying him what he’s worth. Did this delay end up costing them more money? No, but they didn’t get the discount they were looking for either. Jerry and Stephen Jones will plead to us that they are trying to save enough pie for others. They’re not lying. This team has a lot of talent that costs money and they’ve had to let good players walk in free agency. The challenges they face are real. And despite knowing that the Cowboys can afford to spend more money, we also know they are financially strapped if they want to continue operating in the environment they are so comfortable in. And they do. So, the net result is that the front office attempts to take matters into their own hands and squeeze out cheaper deals from their star players to have an added advantage. Why would they do this? Because years of having one of the top rosters in the league hasn’t been enough to win in the playoffs. Whatever is holding them back, the front office is trying to fix it by stretching their dollar to create an even stronger team. Expecting their star players to accept less than they’re worth to help the team have more cap space is not only unfair to that player, but it also disrupts the market value of other players in the league. While it might be well intended for the greater good of the team, it’s shady. The team has gotten away with getting great deals before from players like Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Tyron Smith (twice), but they can’t keep doing that forever. Sometimes you have to pay a player what they’re actually worth. For years, the Joneses have sat in their suite and watched helplessly as another high-expectation season comes crashing to a halt. They have no control over how the players perform in those games or how the coaches coach. All they can do is provide the best possible roster. And while many disagree with their approach, the front office continues to look for an edge, and like it or not, this remains the Cowboys’ way.
