Micah Parsons has been sorely missed by Cowboys defense, now he’s gone for good – Reid Hanson, Cowboys Wire Sans Micah Parsons less is… well, less. Micah Parsons’ days are done in Dallas. Following a tumultuous negotiation period, the Cowboys ultimately decided enough was enough and sent their star All-Pro pass rusher packing to the land of […] Micah Parsons has been sorely missed by Cowboys defense, now he’s gone for good – Reid Hanson, Cowboys Wire Sans Micah Parsons less is… well, less. Micah Parsons’ days are done in Dallas. Following a tumultuous negotiation period, the Cowboys ultimately decided enough was enough and sent their star All-Pro pass rusher packing to the land of cheese, pine trees, and Chicagoland vacation homes.Cowboys fans overwhelmingly landed on the outraged side of the situation, calling Parsons a generational player and impossible to replace. Looking at the Cowboys defense, it’s hard to argue to the contrary. Parsons hasn’t just been the best defender on the team, but he’s arguably been the best defender in the entire NFL. He’s been a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate who’s typically led the league in pass rushing efficiency.His impact isn’t just reflected in his own stat sheet, but stats across the defense. The Cowboys’ defense has been overwhelmingly better with Parsons on the field because of the gravity he pulls. According to Bill Barnwell, the Cowboys are the top ranked defense in the NFL, by EPA standards, when Parsons is on the field. When he’s on the sideline, Dallas is the second worst. It’s something that’s not likely to change anytime soon because NFL defenses are trending in a direction that supports it. Look no further than the reemergence of 2-high coverages. Over the past few years NFL defenses have moved away from the old. Seattle single-high model and towards a Vic Fangio 2-high scheme. Teams have found packing the secondary with coverage and placing shells over the top has been far more fruitful than filling all the gaps and crowding the line of scrimmage. This coverage focused direction means fewer players rush the passer. That’s especially true for Matt Eberflus, Dallas’ new defensive coordinator. Eberflus doesn’t blitz often and when he does it’s only with one additional pass rusher. Like most of today’s coverage-focused defenses, he relies on the individual play of the four upfront to provide most of the pressure. Schemes such as this make elite players extra valuable since they are reliant on winning individual battles. That’s why trading Parsons is such a head scratcher.Parsons was a player who demanded double-teams and still won. Without him those double-teams will fall onto the shoulders of players who struggled to just win their one-on-ones. 3 Dallas Cowboys Trade Targets after Micah Parsons move – Mark Heaney, Inside the Star Who the Cowboys could add with the trade capital afforded to them after the Parsons trade. Micah Parsons just exposed Jerry and Stephen Jones in the worst possible way -Luke Norris, The Landry Hat Parsons reveals how Jones’ conducted bad business with him prior to the trade. The long-running contract dispute between the Dallas Cowboys and Micah Parsons finally came to an end on Thursday, as Jerry Jones, who stated less than a week earlier that he had no intentions of trading his disgruntled superstar, did just that, shipping the four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher to the Green Bay Packers. In return, America’s Team received a 2026 first-round draft selection, a 2027 first-rounder, and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, whom Green Bay took in the first round of the 2016 draft with the 27th overall pick. Both players involved in the deal spoke with the media on Friday, with each explaining how they found out what had transpired. Clark says he was getting his daughter some ice cream when he got the news. He admitted to being taken aback at first, but says it sank in when he got a phone call. “I was shocked, but once Jerry [Jones] and all those guys called me, Schotty and everybody, I just felt wanted. It’s a blessing, I’m appreciative of it,” Clark said. So, Clark gets a phone call that includes Jerry Jones, as he should, and that’s great. Parsons, meanwhile, had his introductory press conference on Friday for the Packers and was asked how he found out. More specifically, he was asked if he had been informed by either Jerry or Stephen Jones, or if he had received the news from his agent, David Mulugheta, to which Parsons replied, “Pretty much all through David,” and simply shrugged his shoulders. So, no phone call from Jerry (or Stephen) for Micah. Yeah, that’s about right. I mean, so much of this saga over the last few months centered around the fact that there was no communication between the two sides for months. So, why would anyone, especially Parsons himself, expect the end of said saga to be any different? As Parsons tells it, he and Jones met back in the spring to discuss leadership. As one would expect, the subject of Parsons’ contract extension came up, but Micah never felt that it was a formal negotiation and told Jones that Mulugheta would be reaching out to “get things done.” But when Mulugheta reached out, the Cowboys just didn’t respond. And things just got worse and worse from there. With the lack of communication and absolutely zero progress, Parsons ultimately requested a trade. And while both sides did plenty of talking in the media about the situation, they failed to do any talking with each other, at least not until things reached a boiling point. Despite Jerry Jones’ shenanigans, the Cowboys emerge with a meaningful purpose – Dan Rogers, Blogging the Boys A different look at the trade beyond the doom and gloom. There was once a time when Jerry Jones was a big gambler. His risk-taking ways that made him millions in the oil business transferred over to his football decisions after buying the Dallas Cowboys in
Jerry Jones’ trade of Micah Parsons feels like a power play
The Dallas Cowboys made a move so shocking that it was momentarily paralyzing. A move that some would deem as unthinkable. Dallas traded away Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Parsons is a star pass rusher nearing the prime of his career, and trading him to one of the team’s biggest rivals, Green Bay, […] The Dallas Cowboys made a move so shocking that it was momentarily paralyzing. A move that some would deem as unthinkable. Dallas traded away Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Parsons is a star pass rusher nearing the prime of his career, and trading him to one of the team’s biggest rivals, Green Bay, is all the more stunning. Parsons has been named a Pro Bowler in each of his first four NFL seasons and has been named an All-Pro in two of them. In his short career, he has racked up a staggering 52.5 sacks, good for the sixth-most all-time in that span behind names like Reggie White, J.J. Watt, and Derrick Thomas. Although Green Bay sent the Cowboys defensive tackle Kenny Clark, a multi-Pro Bowler himself, and two first-round picks for Parsons, it still doesn’t feel like enough compensation for a player of Parsons’ caliber. The question is, why? Why would Jerry Jones do this? Simple: Jerry Jones has to do it his way or not at all. As has been famously highlighted throughout the years, and featured in Netflix’s recent documentary, the rift between Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones was the prelude to the end of the Dallas dynasty of the 1990s, and whether you side with Johnson or Jones as to who was right, the only opinion that truly matters and carries weight is of Jones himself, who serves he team’s owner and general manager. Jones had a way of doing business that didn’t work for Johnson, and Jones, unwilling to cede to his coach, parted ways with a coach that had won him two Super Bowls. In over the 30 years since, Jones’ hubris and self-righteousness have gotten worse, despite the team not winning a championship since the 1995 season, and this has caused the Cowboys to seemingly jog in place over the past three decades. Jones’ approach has only been exacerbated by the team’s rising value, now $13B as of this year, and perhaps vindication for himself. To make matters worse, his son Stephen became a more prominent figure in the team’s operations, often echoing his father’s business tactics but also senselessly justifying them as well. As for the Parsons trade itself, the cost of the contract shouldn’t really be a major factor if you think about it. The rest of the NFL has proven that contracts and salary cap figures can be moved around to make the pricy agreements work. Granted, had Parsons received his asking price, a deal would have been done, and everything would have been water under the bridge. Except, it wasn’t being conducted on Jones’ terms and how he likes to do business. In a sit down with ESPN’s Stephen A Smith, Jones cited having to be “comfortable” about the cost, which speaks more to his personal sentiments as a businessman than NFL owner, and doesn’t align with how contracts are ironed out in today’s NFL. On the Ross Tucker Podcast, Andrew Brandt, a longtime sports agent who negotiated contracts for the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, weighed in on what Jones tried to do with Parsons: It appears that Jones tried to circumvent Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta, and had a handshake deal with Parsons without the agent present. Unfortunately, that blew up in Jones’ face, and with Jones no longer wanting to play ball with Parsons and his representation, became what was the last straw and the trade was made. More than anything, the decision to trade Parsons is about Jones wanting to exert control and send a message that he still is the head honcho at the board room table. Jones had made it a routine to drag out contract negotiations with his premier players, such as CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, and Dak Prescott, before deals were struck, but not before leaking the contract figures and using the media to frame the player as asking for too much or being greedy. A way of Jones putting pressure on the player but making it seem like the ball was in the player’s court, very similar to Stephen Jones saying last month that Parsons has to want to be paid. What happened to Parsons feels strikingly familiar to when the Cowboys approached Tyron Smith in 2014 about a new eight-year, 110M contract without his agent being present. Smith didn’t sign the proposed the contract on the spot, and opted to speak with his presentation before taking the deal anyway. “Late last week, the Cowboys approached me with a deal I told my agents I wanted to sign,” Smith said in a statement released by his marketing firm. “My agents explained the pros and cons of this deal versus one that may be shorter term and/or higher guarantee. After careful consideration, I decided this long term deal was exactly what I wanted. “Over the past three years, the Cowboys organization and Jones Family have helped me through trying times and I felt this was my opportunity to return the gratitude. I am beyond grateful for the Cowboys staff, my teammates, and the fans, and wanted to ensure I was locked in as a ‘Cowboy for Life.’ I want to thank everyone for their support and look forward to having a star on my helmet for the remainder of my career.” Two different players, with two different players personality, resulting in wildly different outcomes. Jones has to understand that the days of old aren’t the way things are done anymore and a handshake deal or number written on the back of a dinner napkin is made for TV like his Netflix special. Ultimately, Jones drew a hard line in the sand, asking
Countdown to the season opener: Day 5 Troy Aikman
We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we are running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football.Today – number 5 Troy Aikman Born: November 21, 1966. West […] We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we are running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football.Today – number 5 Troy Aikman Born: November 21, 1966. West Covina, CaliforniaPosition: QuaterbackDallas Cowboys: 1989-2000Awards: Super Bowl champion- XXVII, XXVIII, XXX Super Bowl MVP- XXVII Pro Bowl- 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year- 1997 USA – CIRCA 1990s: Troy Aikman of the Dallas Cowboys laughs circa 1990s. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images)Sporting News via Getty Images Troy Aikman played quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 2000, guiding the franchise back to glory in the 1990s. Drafted first overall in the 1989 NFL Draft out of UCLA, Aikman endured a rough rookie season but quickly developed into the steady, accurate passer that became the cornerstone of Dallas’s dynasty. He led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles, earned six Pro Bowl selections, and was named Super Bowl XXVII MVP. Known for his poise, accuracy, and leadership, Aikman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Best known for: Aikman was best known for being the steady hand and leader of the Cowboys’ 1990s dynasty, orchestrating one of the most balanced and dominant offenses in NFL history. Lesser known fact: Before football became his path, Aikman was a talented high school baseball player and was even drafted by the New York Mets in 1985, but chose to pursue football instead, playing his initial college career at Oklahoma under head coach Barry Switzer. 4 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys History
Dallas Cowboys slated to have multiple first-round picks for first time since 2008
Thanks to their trading of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers this week, the Dallas Cowboys are currently set to have multiple first-round selections in back-to-back NFL drafts for the first time in quite a while. We are saying that they are set to have them because by the time it comes down to […] Thanks to their trading of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers this week, the Dallas Cowboys are currently set to have multiple first-round selections in back-to-back NFL drafts for the first time in quite a while. We are saying that they are set to have them because by the time it comes down to making selections, it is possible that Dallas could have moved around. You know how that goes. Assuming the Cowboys make multiple picks in the first round it will mark the first time that they do that in almost two decades. You obviously saw the title of this post and know that the last time this happened was 2008. The Cowboys picked 22nd and 25th in that NFL Draft and took Felix Jones (Arkansas) and Mike Jenkins (South Florida), respectively, with the selections. In case you are curious, the first pick in question (22 overall) came to Dallas by way of the Cleveland Browns during the first round the year prior. Cleveland jumped up to Dallas’ spot to take Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn and sent their 2008 first-rounder as part of the package to do so. As noted the Cowboys will theoretically have multiple picks in the first round in consecutive seasons which gives them the opportunity to add a lot of firepower to the future of the team. While neither the Felix Jones nor Mike Jenkins picks worked out wonderfully, we shouldn’t read into the quality of those selections as they were basically a generation ago. Much has changed for the Cowboys and their draft process since. Still, it is quite interesting how long it has been since Dallas took home more than one player in the first round of an NFL Draft. All we have to do is wait about seven months to see how it goes. 11 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Draft
Dallas Cowboys announce death of linebacker Lee Roy Jordan
Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan has passed away. He was 84 years old. The Cowboys announced the news on social media on Saturday and noted Lee Roy Jordan’s place within franchise history. For anyone unaware, the Cowboys became who they were in the early days of the franchise partly because of the play […] Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan has passed away. He was 84 years old. The Cowboys announced the news on social media on Saturday and noted Lee Roy Jordan’s place within franchise history. For anyone unaware, the Cowboys became who they were in the early days of the franchise partly because of the play of Lee Roy Jordan. He was one of the most ferocious linebackers in his era. He starred for the Alabama Crimson Tide at the collegiate level where he won a National Championship. As the Cowboys noted in their statement, Lee Roy Jordan was the first person who Jerry Jones enshrined in the team’s Ring of Honor. You cannot quantify the impact that he made on the Cowboys in the beginning of the franchise’s existence. He helped the organization find stability and was one of the cornerstones of Tom Landry’s Doomsday Defense. Lee Roy Jordan was a part of the first Cowboys team to win the Super Bowl (Super Bowl VI following the 1971 season) and will always be remembered as one of the greatest players to wear the uniform. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones. May he rest in peace. 0 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys History
NFC East news: Nabers looking to lead; Daniels and McLaurin don’t miss a beat
Giants budding superstar taking on leadership role in year 2 – Matthew Legros, Empire Sports Media New York’s WR1 wants to improve in his leadership this season. New York Giants standout wide receiver Malik Nabers is ready to be more of a leader in 2025. Giants: Malik Nabers wants to do more as a leader next […] New York’s WR1 wants to improve in his leadership this season. New York Giants standout wide receiver Malik Nabers is ready to be more of a leader in 2025. Giants: Malik Nabers wants to do more as a leader next season With 10 days remaining until the start of the new NFL season, Nabers stated how he intends to prod himself to make more of an impact with his teammates (per Big Blue View’s Sam Kirk): “It’s not natural, personally, but sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone,” Nabers said of being a vocal leader. “If we want everything to go right this season, your best players have to do those things.” Nabers’ outspoken rookie season forecasts leadership capabilities Though Nabers attests to struggling with vocal leadership, he was not shy to sound off to the media when things went awry with the Giants last year. The LSU product boldly called out Giants head coach Brian Daboll after he was not targeted until the second half of their blowout 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12 of last season. That highlights the strong overtones that many of his comments to the media have. On the field, his play does the talking, exemplified by his 1,204 receiving yards as a rookie. Now, his teammates are seeing what he’s capable of from a leadership standpoint ahead of Week 1, as fellow Giants pass-catcher Darius Slayton attested to (per New York Giants on SI’s Patricia Traina): “I think he’s grown a lot in his routine, his habits, and trying to lead when he can. He’s grown a lot in those areas, which are some of the most important ones,” Slayton raved. Thus, New York figures to have another talent alongside Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson who can steer the Giants toward more wins next season with a culture they can build upon. Commanders’ duo of Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin reunites on the practice field – Associated Press Despite the offseason contract saga, McLaurin and Daniels haven’t missed a beat. ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Jayden Daniels publicly supported Terry McLaurin’s case for a new contract extension. As he now aids the Washington Commanders top receiver’s expedited ramp-up period before Week 1, the franchise quarterback offers more than words. “Whatever we have to do to get ready for Week 1,” Daniels said Thursday of helping McLaurin’s acclimation period after skipping training camp because of a contract dispute that was resolved earlier this week. The QB was all smiles discussing the return of his most popular playmaker, given that he spent camp without his two projected starting outside receivers. Noah Brown missed significant time with a knee injury, while McLaurin, entering the final year of his current deal, pushed for an extension. McLaurin got it Monday, a contract through 2028 valued at up to $96 million, signed Tuesday and got back on the field Wednesday to resume preparations for the season opener Sept. 7 against the New York Giants. Washington’s offense, fifth in scoring at 28.5 points per game last season, paved the way to making the playoffs and reaching the franchise’s first NFC championship game appearance since the 1991 season. The passing duo of Daniels, the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and McLaurin, a second-team All-Pro, provided the spark. During McLaurin’s return on Wednesday after missing all of camp and some offseason workouts, he made an over-the-shoulder catch that was reminiscent of special moments from last season. “It’s like riding a bike,” McLaurin told Daniels. The on-field absence — McLaurin was with the team after turning his four-day hold out into a hold-in — didn’t sway Daniels’ level of trust when throwing to the two-time Pro Bowler. “I don’t think that changes,” Daniels said. “Same amount of trust.” Spadaro: Tyler Steen earns his locker stall and a major shakeup in Dallas – Dave Spadaro, PhiladelphiaEagles.com Steen will be able to breathe a sigh of relief for his matchup on Thursday. With the 2025 regular season just seven days away, some notes as the Eagles focus in on Dallas and the NFL’s first game of the season on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field. This has been a staple of the Eagles’ locker room at the NovaCare Complex for years: In the far right back corner, the starting offensive line has its lockers lined up, left to right. Farthest away is left tackle Jordan Mailata. Next to him is left guard Landon Dickerson’s locker. Next to him, center Cam Jurgens. At the very end, right tackle Lane Johnson. The lone empty spot has been filled, and with that, Tyler Steen is smiling. He is the starting right guard heading into Thursday’s regular-season opener against Dallas and he is darn pleased with the work he’s put in, the progress he has made, and the play he has shown this spring and summer. Steen, a third-year player from Alabama, has a high level of confidence with the opener ahead. “Very confident,” Steen said on Thursday afternoon. “I’m really confident in the guys we have in that room. I plan to lean on those guys. Just make sure we communicate well and that we’re on the same page and I think everything will go well.” And now he’s starting at right guard for the Eagles with the Dallas Cowboys coming to town next week. He’s in the starting locker, after all. “That’s cool. The starting five, all on that side of the locker room. Cool,” he said. “I plan on staying there. I stayed focused on putting my best foot forward every day. I wasn’t concerned on winning the job or whatever. I just
Phil Mafah move makes Cowboys RB rotation clear
Just a day after the Dallas Cowboys cut their roster down to 53 players, they made more moves on Wednesday. One such move saw rookie running back Phil Mafah added to the injured reserve with a designation to return, meaning he’ll have to miss at least four games before he can return. That means the […] Just a day after the Dallas Cowboys cut their roster down to 53 players, they made more moves on Wednesday. One such move saw rookie running back Phil Mafah added to the injured reserve with a designation to return, meaning he’ll have to miss at least four games before he can return. That means the Cowboys will have just three running backs on the roster to start the year: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and rookie Jaydon Blue. Hunter Luepke is also there, though he’ll likely be used more at fullback and tight end. After ending the preseason with just as much uncertainty around the running back rotation as the start of training camp, the Cowboys have now made things perfectly clear with their roster decisions the past couple of days. Each new week of camp brought with it the growing suspicion that Williams was going to be the first one up to bat in the run game. He’s received the most first team reps of anyone in practices, and was the only running back on the roster to not play a single snap in the preseason. He seems likely to be given the lion’s share of carries early on this season. Sanders once seemed to be in the same boat, given his veteran status, but a poor performance in his lone preseason performance may have shifted things. His skillset is similar to that of Blue, as both are more slender, athletic runners with plus ability catching the ball out of the backfield. Were it not for Blue’s injury that kept him out of the first two preseason games, and then ended his third one prematurely, it’s possible that Sanders would have been cut on Tuesday as a redundancy for Blue. That’s something to keep in the back of our minds for when Mafah is ready to return from the injured reserve, too. As it stands now, though, it seems like Williams will be the top back with Sanders likely being relied on for running ability outside the tackles and in pass-catching scenarios. Blue will undoubtedly get some work, too, but the coaching staff may introduce him into the offense gradually due to 1) being a rookie and 2) having had less time than others in the preseason. Of course, we also know from practices in camp that Brian Schottenheimer intends to utilize KaVontae Turpin at running back for some select plays. Turpin is unlikely to ever carry the ball more than five times in a game, but his utilization there also adds complexity to this rotation. It’s still fair to wonder if this rotation will even work out. Neither Williams nor Sanders have been reliable starting running backs in quite some time, and Blue may not be ready for a heavy workload right out the gate. We haven’t even seen Williams play a snap of real football with a star on his helmet, after all. Nevertheless, we now at least have an idea of how the carry distribution will go in Week 1. 0 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Roster
BTB draft radar: Week 1 college football preview
Every week here at Blogging the Boys, we’ll spotlight the biggest college matchups and the players who could soon wear the Star. If you want to get a jump on who might help America’s Team in the years to come, this is your weekly college football guide. GAME OF THE WEEK The number one ranked team, […] Every week here at Blogging the Boys, we’ll spotlight the biggest college matchups and the players who could soon wear the Star. If you want to get a jump on who might help America’s Team in the years to come, this is your weekly college football guide. GAME OF THE WEEK The number one ranked team, the Texas Longhorns, takes on the number three ranked team, the Ohio State Buckeyes, in an absolute stormer for Week 1 in the college football calendar. This feels more like a playoff game after both teams met in the CFP last season, and Texas will be seeking redemption from Ohio State after losing in the semifinal. The Longhorns usher in a new era with Arch Manning, arguably the highest-profile quarterback prospect in college football history, making his first start of the season against the Buckeyes. Meanwhile, Ohio State is working with a new quarterback in Julian Sayin, as well as revamped offensive and defensive coordinators. What makes this game so huge is Texas wants to flip last year’s playoff script, and a win would validate Arch Manning and their direction to kickstart their playoff campaign. For Ohio State, a win here would prove they are ahead of curve in the college football arms race, with massive NIL expenditure that was put into place and help the team get recognition as playoff favorites. Game Overview Matchup: Texas Longhorns (1) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (3) August 30, 2025, at Ohio Stadium, Columbus Kickoff Time: 12:00 p.m. (EST) Ohio State favored by 2.5 points Arch Manning’s first start for Texas Player Watch Texas: Arch Manning, QB Let’s get the obvious one out the way here. Does Manning play the 2025 season and declare for the draft? It’s unlikely. But this game will be an interesting start on his journey to 2026, and a great test to see what the quarterback prodigy actually looks like after a year of quietly waiting and watching. Can he handle the pressure or is it all too much? The Buckeyes will certainly be out for blood on this one. Anthony Hill Jr, LB Hill delivered an outstanding 2024 season with 113 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He possesses elite football instincts, reacting quickly and avoiding being deceived by misdirection. He’s adept sideline-to-sideline, disrupting screens and perimeter plays, and flashes strong blitzing ability. While engaged, Hill finishes strongly and his strength is clear, but refining his contact technique when facing good offensive linemen could elevate his game further. Getting better in coverage, especially covering tight ends is a huge area he needs to work on this year. Malik Muhammad, CB Muhammad is a naturally gifted and versatile cornerback who blends fluid athleticism with technical polish. He moves with excellent hip flexibility, smooth backpedal, and explodes out of breaks with elite closing speed—traits that make him effective in both press-man and zone schemes. Muhammad isn’t without areas to refine. He occasionally opens his hips too early against vertical routes and gives savvy receivers too much cushion in off coverage. His tackle technique, although aggressive, sometimes lacks proper form, leading with the shoulder rather than finishing with a wrap-up. Michael Taaffe, S Taaffe is a high-IQ, instinctive playmaker who has grown from walk-on to All-American and team captain. He showcases elite pattern-matching skills in coverage and shines in special teams as a proven ball hawk. Taaffe’s ceiling in man-to-man matchups or complex safety rotations remains somewhat untested, especially if moved into hybrid roles like the Texas “Star” role. He also faced a minor setback with offseason hand surgery, though reports confirm he’s fully back in live tackling, blocking, and coverage. DeAndre Moore Jr, WR DeAndre Moore Jr. is a promising wide receiver and set to take on more in 2025. He has a great blend of size, skill, and versatility, and as he continues to refine his route running and expand his playmaking abilities, he has the potential to become a standout receiver in the SEC this year. With his work ethic and determination, Moore is poised to be a key contributor to Texas’s offensive success. Ohio State: Caleb Downs, S Downs is a dynamic safety known for his exceptional football IQ and versatility. Standing 6’0” and weighing 205 lbs, he possesses the physical attributes to excel in various defensive roles. His instincts and anticipation are elite, allowing him to diagnose plays quickly and make decisive breaks on the ball. Additionally, Downs contributed on special teams with a notable 79-yard punt return touchdown against Indiana. He can be overaggressive at times, leading to occasional missed tackles or being out of position. His ability to disengage from blockers in run support is another area for improvement. Carnell Tate, WR Tate is a physically gifted receiver whose combination of size, agility, and catch radius makes him a challenging matchup for defenders. He demonstrates the ability to stretch the field vertically while also contributing reliably on intermediate routes, showing versatility in multiple offensive concepts. If he continues to refine his separation techniques and capitalize on YAC opportunities, Tate has the potential to become a go-to weapon for Ohio State and a legitimate NFL prospect. Max Klare, TE Klare transferred this year from Purdue and his transition to Ohio State presents an opportunity to refine his blocking and further develop his receiving skills in a competitive environment. With his size, hands, and route-running ability, he has the potential to become a key contributor in Ohio State’s offense and a strong candidate for the NFL Draft. Sonny Styles, LB Styles is a dynamic linebacker with the potential to be a game-changer for Ohio State. His blend of size, speed,
Report: Micah Parsons’ podcast created issues in Cowboys locker room that went up to Dak Prescott
Micah Parsons is no longer a member of the Dallas Cowboys. In fact, he has already had a press conference as a member of the Green Bay Packers. It is over. While we are all intent on moving forward the reality of the situation is that there are going to be details about the fallout […] Micah Parsons is no longer a member of the Dallas Cowboys. In fact, he has already had a press conference as a member of the Green Bay Packers. It is over. While we are all intent on moving forward the reality of the situation is that there are going to be details about the fallout between Parsons and Dallas, the one that led to him being traded away for two first-round picks and Kenny Clark, for some time. We might be hearing about them even years after this dust settles. It did not take that long for quarterback Dak Prescott to get roped into it all. On Friday there was a report from Albert Breer in Sports Illustrated that detailed what happened between Parsons and the Cowboys, obviously there was a lot of that going around. One line stood out from Breer’s report. In noting that Parsons’ podcast, the one he regularly does where he discusses matters across the NFL and otherwise, Breer mentioned that it was an issue within the locker room. He specifically made mention that it was an issue to some degree for Prescott. As we said, the pacing of this negotiation wasn’t wholly dissimilar from what we all witnessed with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last year, or even Zack Martin the year before that. Once the team arrived in California for camp in 2023 and ’24, their negotiations were put on the back burner, the same way Parsons’s were this summer. Basically sending the message that if a deal isn’t done that works for the team early, the player has to wait. That said, there is a difference between this negotiation and the previous three. Martin, Lamb and Prescott are/were very popular in the locker room. That’s not the case with Parsons, who has rankled teammates in different ways, seen by some as egotistical and self-centered. His podcast has created issues, too, that go all the way up to quarterback Dak Prescott. The reason this feels significant is because Dak Prescott is rarely connected to stories like this. Dak generates some passionate emotions in terms of thoughts around his play, but it feels fair to say that we hardly ever see him in this kind of regard or anywhere near it. If this reporting is true then the “what are you doing” nature of trading Parsons may make more sense to some people. In a world where everyone was rubbed the wrong way, maybe alleviating the team of Parsons’ presence improves group morale. That is all based around this report being true, though. If it isn’t true then it is hard to draw that same kind of line. We should note that the article has no on-the-record quotes, or even vague off-the-record background references to where this information came from. What do you believe? 38 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Roster
Report: Micah Parsons’ podcast created issues in Cowboys locker room that went up to Dak Prescott
Micah Parsons is no longer a member of the Dallas Cowboys. In fact, he has already had a press conference as a member of the Green Bay Packers. It is over. While we are all intent on moving forward the reality of the situation is that there are going to be details about the fallout […] Micah Parsons is no longer a member of the Dallas Cowboys. In fact, he has already had a press conference as a member of the Green Bay Packers. It is over. While we are all intent on moving forward the reality of the situation is that there are going to be details about the fallout between Parsons and Dallas, the one that led to him being traded away for two first-round picks and Kenny Clark, for some time. We might be hearing about them even years after this dust settles. It did not take that long for quarterback Dak Prescott to get roped into it all. On Friday there was a report from Albert Breer in Sports Illustrated that detailed what happened between Parsons and the Cowboys, obviously there was a lot of that going around. One line stood out from Breer’s report. In noting that Parsons’ podcast, the one he regularly does where he discusses matters across the NFL and otherwise, Breer mentioned that it was an issue within the locker room. He specifically made mention that it was an issue to some degree for Prescott. As we said, the pacing of this negotiation wasn’t wholly dissimilar from what we all witnessed with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last year, or even Zack Martin the year before that. Once the team arrived in California for camp in 2023 and ’24, their negotiations were put on the back burner, the same way Parsons’s were this summer. Basically sending the message that if a deal isn’t done that works for the team early, the player has to wait. That said, there is a difference between this negotiation and the previous three. Martin, Lamb and Prescott are/were very popular in the locker room. That’s not the case with Parsons, who has rankled teammates in different ways, seen by some as egotistical and self-centered. His podcast has created issues, too, that go all the way up to quarterback Dak Prescott. The reason this feels significant is because Dak Prescott is rarely connected to stories like this. Dak generates some passionate emotions in terms of thoughts around his play, but it feels fair to say that we hardly ever see him in this kind of regard or anywhere near it. If this reporting is true then the “what are you doing” nature of trading Parsons may make more sense to some people. In a world where everyone was rubbed the wrong way, maybe alleviating the team of Parsons’ presence improves group morale. That is all based around this report being true, though. If it isn’t true then it is hard to draw that same kind of line. We should note that the article has no on-the-record quotes, or even vague off-the-record background references to where this information came from. What do you believe? 38 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Roster