Molly McVety / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images It has been a tough week in the NFC East. Giants exploring potential sale of minority stake in 100-year-old New York franchise – Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports Up to 10% of the Giants may soon be sold. The New York Giants are exploring the potential sale of a minority stake in the NFL franchise, the team said in a statement obtained by NFL Media on Thursday night. The team has retained Moelis & Company, an investment bank and strategic adviser, to examine the possibilities around selling a non-controlling stake in the team. This announcement comes in response to an initial report from the Sports Business Journal that reported on the potential sale. “The Mara and Tisch families have retained Moelis & Company to explore the potential sale of a minority, non-controlling stake in the New York Giants,” the club said in a statement, via NFL.com. “There will be no further comment in regard to the process.” The Mara family has owned the franchise in some capacity since its inception in 1925, when it was founded by Tim Mara. More recently, the team has been split 50-50 between the Mara and Tisch families since 1991. John Mara and Steve Tisch have been in control of the organization since 2005. While there was no specific reason given surrounding the possible sale of a minority stake, this isn’t an unprecedented practice in the league. The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills are among a handful of teams that have completed minority sales of their franchises. The league also approved a vote to allow private equity firms to buy up to a 10% stake in organizations last August. The report from the Sports Business Journal indicated that the Giants are looking to sell up to 10% of the team. Of course, the price for the New York franchise will be a fascinating situation to follow. The Philadelphia Eagles sold 8% of the team in a pair of deals last year, which valued the team at $8.1 billion and $8.3 billion. Given the New York City market, it’s possible, if not a certainty, that the evaluation for the Giants will exceed that of their division rival. ‘The connection we have in this locker room is pretty special’ – PhiladelphiaEagles.com Eagles players reflected on their season as they cleaned out their lockers. Eagles players were back at the NovaCare Complex on Thursday to clean out their lockers before Friday’s Championship Parade in Philadelphia. For many of them, it’s the first time they will experience anything like this – there is expected to be more than a million fans decked in green cheering them on each step of the way up to the Philadelphia Muesum of Art. As they packed up for a final time this season, players reflected on their memories from the season and how excited they are to celebrate with the fans. “I’m excited for it. Can’t wait. It’s going to be crazy, I’m sure. I’m just excited to see all of the people and to be able to celebrate with the whole city,” rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean said. The rookie likely had the most memorable birthday he will ever experience – winning a Super Bowl and getting a pick-six in the game. He shared his favorite memories of his outstanding rookie season: “Spending time with the guys, really. The connection we have in this locker room is pretty special, I think. For center Cam Jurgens, his favorite memory of the 2024 season came on the field, and it was with a guy who was just a little popular in his first season in Philadelphia. “This game right here (Week 17 vs. Cowboys) when Saquon (Barkley) broke 2,000 yards. That was such a historic landmark for Eagles franchise history, for Saquon, and for us to be a part of it. We know how much hard work we put in, how dominant we were, and to reach that milestone it felt pretty good,” Jurgens said. The Nebraska native will experience an Eagles Championship Parade for the first time on Friday. “I’m just super excited to see everybody. I know what it means to me, what it means to the team and the franchise, but I don’t fully grasp what it means to this community and Philadelphia and all of the fans out there and how it plays such a role in their lives. I can’t wait to see that,” Jurgens said. Commanders ‘have chance to take a big leap’ in 2025 NFL season – Darius Hayes, Sports Illustrated More surprises may be in store in Washington in 2025 after surprising everyone in 2024. After a surprising run to the NFC Championship Game, the Washington Commanders enter the offseason with momentum and significant questions. With rising star quarterback Jayden Daniels leading the way, the Commanders are positioned to take another leap forward. However, general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn must navigate a critical offseason to solidify its roster and maintain its newfound success. ESPN writer John Keim highlights both the potential for Washington and their challenges. “After unexpectedly reaching the NFC Championship Game, and with a young rising star at quarterback in Jayden Daniels, the Commanders have a chance to take a big leap,” Keim said. Washington has the financial flexibility to be aggressive in roster building. “They do have the third-most salary cap space available and seven draft picks,” Keim said. That kind of capital gives the team the ability to target key free agents and make strategic draft selections to reinforce its roster. However, there are significant roster concerns that must be addressed. “But they have 28 unrestricted free agents and the second-fewest players under contract for 2025. Washington has only two receivers under contract for 2025,” Keim added. With so many players potentially leaving, General Manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn must decide which core pieces to retain while identifying external upgrades. The offensive and defensive lines are

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The Cowboys really need some help at defensive tackle. The Dallas Cowboys have plenty of holes to fill this offseason, but the one glaring issue is the defensive line. With Osa Odighizuwa, Chauncey Golston, Linval Jospeh, and Carlos Watkins expected to hit free agency, that leaves just three defensive tackles on the roster as they head into free agency. Mazi Smith, Denzel Daxon, and Justin Rodgers are the three players under contract for the 2025 season. Smith is the only player that has played snaps at the NFL level and as most Cowboys fans know it has not been pretty so far for the former 2023 first-round pick. In year two, Smith finished as the 207th out of 219 eligible defensive tackles according to Pro Football Focus. Smith has spent most of his time at the 1-technique for Dan Quinn and Mike Zimmer’s defense and will likely do the same for new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. The most important position in the Eberflus’ system is the 3-technique, which is where Odighizuwa spent his time over his four years with the Cowboys. With Odighizuwa rumored to be valued around the league at around $20M average annual salary, the Cowboys will have a tough decision to make regarding their home-grown 3-technique. Odighizuwa is listed as the 12th best free agent heading into free agency according to Fox Sports, with Philadelphia Eagles DL Milton Williams coming in at 11th in their rankings. With Odighizuwa and Williams headlining the defensive tackle group this upcoming free agency, the Cowboys could be forced to franchise tag Odighizuwa, which would guarantee him approximately $23.5M in 2025 or pay him around $20M per year on a long-term deal. The Cowboys would be wise to attempt to reach a long-term deal with Odighizuwa before the start of free agency and maybe save a few bucks on his deal, because if he does reach the open-market the Cowboys would be in a tough position to match offers he could receive from 31 other teams with the way they do business. Without Odighizuwa, the Cowboys defensive tackle outlook looks mighty bleak, but with the defensive tackle market in the shape it is in, paying him upwards of $20M a year may not be the best use of resources either. That predicament is what leaves the Cowboys in a very scary place as they enter 2025. Defensive tackle is a big need for the Cowboys even if Odighizuwa is re-signed, but without him it becomes a major blinking light. The 2025 NFL Draft is loaded with talented defensive tackles, highlighted by Michigan’s Mason Graham. After Graham, Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen, Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams, Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders, Toledo’s Darius Alexander, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon, Tennessee’s Omarr Norman-Lott, and Texas’ Alfred Collins are viewed as plug-and-play 3-techniques in this draft class. The Cowboys have a big decision to make regarding Odighizuwa, but with or without you can expect the team to be very aggressive hunting interior defensive linemen in this upcoming draft.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The latest news about the Dallas Cowboys is here. Micah Parsons opens up about Cowboys’ coaching changes, offseason plan of attack – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com Micah Parsons talks about having his third different defensive coordinator in three seasons. For the third time in as many years, there will be a new defensive coordinator in Dallas, as Matt Eberflus returns to take on the role following a one-year reunion with Mike Zimmer, who returned following Dan Quinn’s decision to depart for the Washington Commanders. That’s three coordinators in Parsons’ four seasons in the NFL, and he has still produced no fewer than 12 sacks in a single season, despite missing four games due to a high ankle sprain in 2024. “It’s just learning a new system and getting another coach’s adjustments to how I like to play, what I like to do… ” said the four-time Pro Bowler after spending the morning with Make-A-Wish children at the Great Wolf Lounge in Grapevine. “Obviously, it is challenging with a third [defensive coordinator] and [another change] is obviously not the greatest thing in the world but, I mean, that’s part of being a pro. “You’ve got to make adjustments.” Acclimating quickly to what Eberflus and his completely overhauled defensive staff will expect and look to do will be aided by Parsons’ decision on OTAs and other voluntary portions of the Cowboys’ offseason program. Brian Schottenheimer’s full Cowboys coaching staff officially announced – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated It’s a new era on the sidelines in Dallas with Brian Schottenheimer’s staff fully complete. On Friday afternoon, the team officially announced the new coaching staff for the start of the Brian Schottenheimer regime. From key coordinators to specialized assistants and the strength and conditioning staff, every role has been filled. There is now some renewed optimism that the team could be shifting to a run-focused approach that would take some weight off of Dak Prescott and greatly benefit the entire offensive unit, while the defense will be under new direction with stars littered throughout the roster. A complete look at Brian Schottenheimer’s staff can be seen below: The Dallas Cowboys finalized their 2025 coaching staff under Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer. pic.twitter.com/9LMk7TQN5w — Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) February 14, 2025 Troy Aikman expects Cowboys to compete in 2025, but says Dallas has ‘uphill climb’ ahead – Staff, DMN Troy Aikman talked about the Dallas Cowboys stand in the NFC East heading into 2025 on Sportsradio 96.7 FM/1310 The Ticket (KTCK-AM) This week Dak Prescott said that he thought the Cowboys were very close to the Eagles. Two years ago they certainly were probably better than the Eagles, but this year it wasn’t close on the field. Going into this offseason and next season, do you think he’s right and Jerry and Stephen [Jones] kind of feel the same way or do you think there’s a bigger gap between those two teams than they realize? Aikman: “I totally get where Dak was coming from and in his mind there’s no reason for him not to feel that way. He was hurt, as you know, and when he’s healthy they’ve played with Philadelphia, they’ve played with Washington. I think they are closer than what the records would suggest, but I’m not sure that’s the right way to look at it. Philadelphia, it’s not like they’re going to stay put, they’ve proven that. Who’s to say they’re not going to be better than they were this year? And Washington, when you consider what they were able to do last year and now they’ve got their quarterback in place, it stands to reason that they’re going to continue to be better and bolster that roster as well. It’s an uphill climb for Dallas with some of the changes, but I don’t think for a second that they won’t be able to compete in the NFC East.” I saw some of the pundits that laughed or took shots at Dak for those comments and I just think it fills up a day’s worth of content for February after the Super Bowl because I do think Dallas is gonna be in the conversation and be competitive, but they’ve got to get better as we know. There’s a lot of areas within that roster that need to be better, but hopefully those things get addressed. So yeah, I would not disagree, assuming that Dak is healthy, that they’ll be competitive and at least have a chance, but I also think these other two teams are going to be better as well. And then where the Giants fit into that is anybody’s guess.” Schottenheimer and Eberflus to fight the same enemy: 3 biggest questions surrounding brand new Dallas Cowboys coaching staff – Mauricio Rodriguez, AtoZ Sports The Cowboys new staff has quite a bit to figure out heading into the 2025 season. How much will Brian Schottenheimer let Klayton Adams influence the run game? On paper, Schottenheimer’s staff is impressive. Instead of going for the buddy hires so typical of an NFL coach that’s been in the league for a long time, the new Cowboys head coach drew in people from various schemes and philosophies. He got Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator, who ran a night and day rushing offense in Arizona that used counter and pulling blockers at the highest rate of the league. He hired Derrick Foster as RB coach from a New Orleans Saints offense majoring in the wide zone scheme. For the offensive line and wide receiver coaching positions, he went into the college football world to make his hires. On paper, it’s a great collection of coaches. Now for the most difficult part: Schottenheimer will have to ensure he works his ideas into the offense and subsequent play calling. In particular, Schottenheimer needs to allow Adams to influence the run game to keep it from becoming stale. He’ll have to defeat the stubbornness every coach has inside him to do so. Can Jerry

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images The Cowboys may not actually be as close as Dak Prescott says. In the aftermath of the Philadelphia Eagles beating the Kansas City Chiefs to prevent the Chiefs from a three-peat, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott spoke to the media. Prescott didn’t mince words and said it was the Cowboy’s turn to win one of their own, and the team was close to winning a title. Not so fast, Mr. Prescott. There are reasons why the Cowboys have a lot of work to do, and changes to make before they can be seriously considered to win a championship. Here’s where the Cowboys and Eagles differ what separates the Eagles from being a contender from the Cowboys. The offensive line When comparing the Eagles and the Cowboys, the first thing that stands out is the differential in the offensive line. For years, Dallas had one of the most dominant offensive lines, and the Eagles weren’t too far behind. Recently, the Cowboys have had to retool the unit due to departures in free agency and many of their players getting older, like Tyron Smith. Meanwhile, the Eagles have done an great job in replacing Jason Kelce with Cam Jurgens, and their offensive line continues to thrive in short-yardage situations. The Cowboys are hinging their hopes on the future of their offensive line based on the development of Tyler Guyton, who had a rough first year in the league. He struggled with technique and penalties. He’s talented and of tremendous size, but there is much room for improvement. Terence Steele, the team’s starting right tackle, has regressed since signing a five-year, $82.5M extension in 2023. There’s some hope with how well Cooper Beebe fared as a rookie at center. However, the murkiness around the future of Zack Martin casts a cloudy outlook on the future of the Dallas offensive line. The receivers The advantage again goes to Philadelphia from the big boys upfront to the skill position players on the outside. Dallas has one legit wide receiving threat with CeeDee Lamb, and he is terrific. Lamb is an All-Pro receiver with several Pro Bowl appearances, but who else do the Cowboys have after him? The Cowboys’ passing success mainly depends on CeeDee Lamb and opposing teams try to slow him down with bracket coverage. We’ve seen teams do just that and force someone else to make a play to less than inspiring results. Jalen Tolbert has shown flashes but not enough that you feel that he is a viable number two option in a competent passing attack. Meanwhile, the Eagles have a Heisman trophy winner in DeVonta Smith as their #2 wide receiver behind A.J. Brown. Not many teams can boast that about their roster. This may be overkill, but the Eagles also have a former first-round pick as their third wide receiver. (Jahan Dotson) The Eagles don’t find themselves sputtering on offense because the other team took away their best receiver; they turn to the best option that can also make a play. The front office Arguably, the biggest reason why it’s not close between the clubs is the effectiveness of the Eagles’ front office. They constantly look to improve their roster through every opportunity they are afforded. They don’t sit idly by in free agency and put all their hopes into the NFL draft like Dallas. In today’s NFL, you must embrace free agency, which is why the Eagles zeroed in on Saquon Barkley. By prying him away from a division rival, they fortified their roster while weakening one of the challengers for the division title. Without Saquon Barkley, the Eagles wouldn’t have won the Super Bowl. In contrast, Dallas had their shot at Derrick Henry but passed based on their aversion to signing external help and settled for a disastrous reunion with Ezekiel Elliott. Henry wasn’t even an expensive signing for the Baltimore Ravens; Dallas’ front office merely balked at the chance to take a great player at a position of need because they did not want to be active during the early stages of free agency. Speaking of the draft, regardless of how proud the Cowboys’ front office is of their ability to draft and their faith in draft picks, their approach to drafting has also been flawed. This sums it up well: Based on the consensus draft boards from 2023 and 2024, here’s what the #Cowboys‘ 1st and 2nd round picks would have looked like if they had followed a best player available strategy. Consensus BPA:No. 26 EDGE Nolan Smith (14) No. 58 OG O’Cyrus Torrence (32)No. 29 DB Cooper… pic.twitter.com/IYFKCE6ECV — Dominic White (@DomWWhite) February 11, 2025 A lot of times, the best answer is the simplest one. When great talent falls to you, don’t overthink and take the best player available. That’s what benefited the Eagles so much. Build the best roster, and do not try to plug holes at needs because you don’t line your roster with the proper help from free agency. Dak Prescott Finally, the man of the hour, Dak Prescott. While it’s admirable that Prescott was expressing confidence in his team and the belief any good leader needs to have, he’s also a reason why the Cowboys aren’t close to winning a championship. In the postseason, he hasn’t fared well in his last two postseason outings against the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers. He has thrown six touchdowns versus six interceptions in those two games and lost by an average of 11.5 points in those contests. Also, his health is a concern. He went on season-ending injured reserve last season for a hamstring injury after missing five games in 2022 with a thumb injury. Also, Prescott doesn’t have the same mobility he used to, whether by choice or he doesn’t have that extra gear anymore. The recent injuries, the lack of mobility, and postseason track record hinder the probability that he can put everything together while being straddled by an out-of-touch front office to take

Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Here is our scouting report on Josh Simmons from Ohio State We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at offensive tackle, Josh Simmons from Ohio State. Josh Simmons OTOhio State BuckeyesSenior3-star recruit6’5”310 lbs Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images History Josh Simmons was born on December 26, 2002, in San Diego, California. Initially he attended Madison High School before moving to Helix High School in La Mesa, California. Recognized as a three-star recruit, Simmons committed to play college football at San Diego State University in 2021. In 2022, Simmons played right tackle for San Diego State and started all 13 games for the Aztecs. He played a total of 724 offensive snaps and allowed 21 total pressures and four sacks, both led the team. He also registered 17 penalties which was second-most in the nation. After the season ended, Simmons entered the NCAA transfer portal and joined Ohio State. His transfer to Ohio State was partly due to his athletic potential and fit for the Buckeyes’ offensive line needs. Simmons quickly earned the starting left tackle position for the Buckeyes and started all 13 games. He played a total of 825 offensive snaps with 443 of those coming on passing plays. He allowed 15 pressures and only one sack but did lead the team with eight total penalties. In 2024, he continued as the starting left tackle but suffered a season-ending knee injury which required surgery against Oregon on October 12. His performance before the injury was notable, with no sacks allowed in the season leading up to his injury. His athleticism and improvement from year to year were highlighted by teammates and coaches, earning him Third-Team All-Big Ten honors for his 2024 season despite the injury. 2024 Statistics 306 Offensive Snaps158 Passing Snaps0 Sacks Allowed1 Pressure Allowed1 Penalty NFL Combine/Pro Day TBC Awards Third-team All-Big Ten (2024) Scorecard Overall- 88.1Speed- 80Acceleration- 84Agility- 81Strength- 90Pass Blocking- 84Run Blocking- 75Discipline- 77 THE GOOD Simmons is athletically gifted for the position showing excellent quickness, change of direction, and balance. He’s a fluid, loose mover with very good play strength. He has experience at both left and right tackle. Physically imposing with a powerful, urgent style. He quickly establishes contact with sticky hands and active feet, allowing him to sustain blocks and move defenders off the line. Exhibits clean, crisp setups in both flat and angled pass sets with good pad level, active hands, and easy redirect skills. He has a strong base to anchor against bull rushes and shows good spatial awareness for pass protection schemes. Showed significant improvement each season, demonstrating a high ceiling for development. He has experience at both left and right tackle. TAPE TIME OT Josh Simmons Ohio State ✅ THE GOOD✅#scouting #NFLDraft #Buckeyes #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/807rffX8ot — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) February 13, 2025 THE BAD Suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2024, which has raised questions about his health going into the draft. His medical reports will be crucial to monitor. Hand placement can be sloppy at times, leading to balance issues when he lunges or extends. He can be overly aggressive, sometimes leading to loss of leverage which then leads into penalties. While there are many highlights of dominance, there’s inconsistency in his performance, particularly against more fast-twitch edge rushers. Can sometimes have slow footwork off the snap (although his 2024 take looked hugely improved in this regard). TAPE TIME OT Josh Simmons Ohio State ❌THE BAD❌#scouting #NFLDraft #Buckeyes #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/qALvgba5E3 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) February 13, 2025 THE FIT: Before his injury, Simmons was considered a slam dunk potential first-round pick with some evaluations projecting him as a high-first-round selection. His injury has introduced some uncertainty, but his talent and previous performances suggest he could still be a high pick if medical checks come back positive. He is a high-upside offensive tackle prospect with the potential to become a cornerstone player at the NFL level. His combination of size, strength, and athletic ability makes him intriguing. With the right coaching, his technical flaws can be addressed, potentially leading to a pro-ready player with impact starter capabilities. He is seen as a universal scheme fit at offensive tackle, capable of thriving in various offensive concepts due to his dynamic athleticism, agility, and power. Teams running zone-blocking schemes might particularly value his traits. The Cowboys have had issues with their offensive line, particularly at tackle positions. Simmons could provide an immediate upgrade if he returns to full health post-injury. His experience at both tackle spots gives the Cowboys flexibility in their line setup given the uncertainty of the offensive line heading into next season. Simmons could be an excellent fit for the Cowboys, particularly if they can secure him at a value that accounts for his injury risk. His athletic profile, combined with the potential to be a dominant force on the offensive line, aligns well with the Cowboys’ needs. However, Dallas would need to be thorough with their medical evaluations and have a strategic plan for his integration. If the Cowboys have a chance to draft Simmons in the first round, they would likely consider him if they’re satisfied with his medicals. His potential as a long-term starter could justify the risk. COMPARISON Christian Darrisaw, Minnesota Vikings BTB GRADE 17th CONSENSUS RANKING 17th(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services)

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching staff is objectively impressive. The Dallas Cowboys have finalized their first coaching staff under Brian Schottenheimer, and it’s a group that’s received plenty of praise. Schottenheimer plans to call offensive plays, but he filled out his offensive staff with coaches that come with strong track records for player development and also bring unique schematic backgrounds to the table. Elsewhere, Schottenheimer went with experience. Matt Eberflus didn’t work out as a head coach, but his run as the Colts defensive coordinator was really strong, and his Bears defenses were always stout. At special teams, Nick Sorensen has experience in addition to having also been a defensive coordinator. Both coaches will allow Schottenheimer to focus more directly on coaching the offense, similar to the structure Mike McCarthy had with Dan Quinn (and later Mike Zimmer) and John Fassel. What’s lost in all of these staffing decisions, though, is one key factor, and it’s something that separates Schottenheimer’s staff from the rest of the crowd: he chose quality over connections. The NFL is known to be a good ol’ boys league, where coaches get jobs more so because of their connections than whether or not they’re actually good. We saw this most recently with the Sean McVay effect after the Rams saw success under McVay, and some could argue it’s why Schottenheimer has stuck around in the league as long as he has. Whether or not that’s true, Schottenheimer did not take that same approach to building his coaching staff. With his staff completed at 18 total coaches, there are just five coaches who have previously worked with Schottenheimer. Two of those coaches are holdovers from the McCarthy staff: Steve Shimko, who was promoted to quarterbacks coach and had worked with Schottenheimer at both Georgia and Seattle, and tight ends coach Lunda Wells. The other three coaches are Sorensen, his assistant Carlos Polk, and defensive pass game coordinator Andre Curtis. Polk only has one year of crossover with Schottenheimer – the 2021 season in Jacksonville – but that also saw him assisting Sorensen, making that more of a Sorensen hire than Schottenheimer simply bringing in someone he knows well. That’s similar to Curtis, who was there for all three years of Schottenheimer’s years with the Seahawks but also served on Eberflus’ Bears staff, making that more of a reunion with the new defensive coordinator. Speaking of Eberflus, the decision to bring him in as defensive coordinator felt obvious to some because of his ties to the organization. That said, Schottenheimer and Eberflus have never been part of the same staff and have no obvious connections. It would be naïve to suggest Jerry Jones didn’t play any part in bringing Eberflus back to Dallas, but Schottenheimer’s willingness to embrace it – despite knowing a ton of other coordinator candidates from his various experiences – speaks volumes about what he was looking for. This is even more apparent on the offensive side of the ball. Klayton Adams offers plenty of reasons to be excited, but he has zero ties to Schottenheimer. The additions of wide receivers coach Junior Adams and offensive line coach Conor Riley were also out of left field, having no real connection to Schottenheimer or anyone on staff, but rather just being good coaches getting hired because of their merits. The same can be said of pass game specialist Ken Dorsey, a former coordinator who brings plenty of valuable expertise and insight into the room. Dorsey has just over a decade of coaching experience but no ties to Schottenheimer or Adams. The closest you can get to a connection is that Dorsey was QB3 for the 49ers in 2005 under new offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy; that’s really it. Schottenheimer built his staff in much the same way Abraham Lincoln built his presidential cabinet: rather than filling it with party loyalists, as was the tradition, Lincoln sought a diverse group of differing philosophies that would later be coined the Team of Rivals. Schottenheimer doing the same thing in Dallas is significant in today’s NFL. Take a look at the other head coaching hires, for example. Both Lions coordinators – Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn – left for head coaching jobs and filled their staffs with at least three coaches from Detroit. They also each added a couple coaches with ties to Lions head coach Dan Campbell. In Boston, Mike Vrabel reunited with longtime Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and also hired nine different coaches that worked with him on the Titans prior to his firing. And while Kellen Moore has yet to make any official hires to his Saints staff, all reports indicate that he’ll bring Brandon Staley – his former head coach with the Chargers – in to run the defense. Additionally, two of his assistant coaches in Philadelphia have been touted as frontrunners to be Moore’s offensive coordinator. This is just the way things work in the NFL; it’s more about who you know and not about how good you are. That’s why Schottenheimer’s staff, and the process by which he built it, is deserving of such respect. There’s no guarantee that this staff will work out, but Schottenheimer has at least improved his odds by seeking outside voices and infusing his coaches rooms with creativity and new concepts.