Bob Donnan-Imagn Images We are getting closer to football season. By the time the Dallas Cowboys face the Carolina Panthers in Week 6, we will have gotten an extended look at the team versus the NFC East and the NFC North, games that are important for conference seeding as it relates to the playoffs. While five games do not make a season, they will give us a barometer of what the team is capable of against good teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, and whether they can handle developing teams like the Chicago Bears and New York Jets. Carolina is a team that is rebuilding, but there is a renewed energy around the team, thanks to how they finished the season under new head coach Dave Canales. Carolina lost seven of their first 8 games in 2024 and were outscored by their opponents 124-271 in those contests. Former first overall pick Bryce Young was benched after two games but managed to regain the starting job in Week 7 and looked like a new man. He had confidence, he had accuracy, and most of all, the team had belief. Carolina would lose three consecutive one-score games against the Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Kansas City Chiefs, all playoff teams, at the tail end of the season. Carolina is a spunky, resilient group with a lot to prove. Here are three players who could come up big versus Dallas when the least expect it. Mike Jackson Here’s a name that Cowboys fans may vaguely recognize. Mike Jackson was a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys back in 2019 out of the University of Miami. Although Jackson was released during final cuts of his rookie season, the team liked him enough to keep him on the practice squad until he was signed to the active roster by the Detroit Lions. For a time, Jackson bounced around the NFL until he found a home with the Seattle Seahawks. While Jackson did play well with his opportunities, he was buried too far on the depth chart behind players like Tariq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon to see adequate playing time. Fast forward to 2024: Jackson is named the starting cornerback for the Carolina Panthers opposite of Jaycee Horn and has his best season as a pro. Per PFF, he ranked tenth among qualified cornerbacks in solo tackles with 67 and ranked seventh in receptions allowed. Furthermore, Jackson had 17 passes defended, which was tied for third in the league last season. He looks every bit the part of somebody who has had to claw his way to stay in the NFL, let alone be in a starting lineup, and it shows in how he plays. He aggressively plays the ball through the hands of wide receivers to dislodge the ball at the catch point. He’s chippy and he fits exactly what Panthers defensive coordinator Eviro Evero wants from his cornerbacks. While in terms of talent, the Cowboys still have the advantage at wide receiver, Jackson has the mentality to spoil the reunion with the Cowboys. Ja’Tavion Sanders Collectively, the Panthers’ offense last year was largely disappointing. Although Chuba Hubbard saw success and rushed for nearly 1,200 yards, the passing game was mostly non-existent in the early part of the season as Young and Andy Dalton alternated starts up until the halfway point of the season. Much of that falls on the arm of Bryce Young, who, again, to his credit, made strides towards the end of the season. The Panthers are searching for any type of consistency in the passing game its and its wide open as to who could step up to warrant more targets. One option that stands out is tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. Though his production was modest last year, he was still sixth on the team in receiving yards and fourth in receptions. I don’t know what I expected but I was very impressed by Ja’Tavion Sanders as a rookie. I did not expect him to be as trusted in-line as he was and, especially for a rookie, he was pretty good. The development has been great. Technique is better and he pass protects well too. https://t.co/aFgCj2AG3P pic.twitter.com/RJLW36G12D — Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) July 1, 2025 Sanders has great vision with the ball in his hands and is simply too fast for most linebackers to keep up with. He makes very difficult catches thanks to his premier athleticism. If given the chance, he can run away from a defense down the seams. He can be flexed in the slot or lineup as an in-line tight end and is better than advertised as a blocker. Sanders could make a back-breaking play if the Cowboys aren’t careful. Xavier Legette Similar to Sanders, Xavier Legette is a wild card that could elevate the Panthers’ passing game. Despite his size at 6’3”and 227 lbs., Legette can play outside as the X receiver or in the slot. He’s got very good change of direction at the top of his routes and can easily separate from a defensive back across the field. To no one’s surprise, with his height, he’s got a big catch radius and can haul in difficult throws away from his body. He’s also very fast and can stretch the field vertically. On the negative side, he does need more refinement on his routes and doesn’t have the same gear coming out if his breaks throughout his route tree. Plus, there are lapses with concentration that lead to drops, and he had five last season. He has the talent to be a difference-maker in the game; it’s just whether he’s got it in him to consistently get the better of the Cowboys’ secondary.

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Your Sunday morning Cowboys news 6 most explosive Cowboys heading into the 2025 season includes two defenders – Ben Grimaldi, Cowboys Wire These are the most likely Cowboys to make a game-changing play in an instant. The Fourth of July is known for fireworks, and with the Dallas Cowboys known as America’s Team, it feels like an appropriate weekend to identify their most explosive players. The Cowboys weren’t a team that excelled in lighting up the scoreboard in 2024, but this offseason has changed the outlook for 2025. With a healthy Dak Prescott back at quarterback, the offense could return to grilling up 40-burgers once again. The Cowboys added speed and explosive pieces to a team that already had some playmakers, which should make them fun to watch; and it’s not just on offense where the team has exciting players. Here’s a look at the six most explosive players on the Cowboys. WR CeeDee Lamb He might not be known as a speedster, but when the All-Pro wide receiver has the ball in his hands, he makes big plays. Lamb gets open with ease and if he makes a defender miss, he’s off to the races and rarely caught. Lamb has eight touchdowns of at least 40 yards in career, a number that swells to 11 if including scores of at least 35 yards. He’s a premiere WR and a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. WR George Pickens One of the biggest pieces the offense added in the offseason was trading for the vertical threat who thrives on big plays. Pickens dominates as a deep-ball WR who makes contested catches without needing a ton of separation. The Cowboys needed a WR who could win down the field and Pickens was the perfect player for their offense. Pickens led the NFL in yards per catch at 18.1 in 2023, and he did that without a top-tier quarterback. Finally pairing Pickens with a top caliber QB like Prescott means fans should expect fireworks. WR KaVontae Turpin One of the more overlooked playmakers in Dallas is their kick return specialist, who also contributes on offense. Turpin is an All-Pro kick returner who scored on both punt and kick returns last season. Turpin has grown as a WR in each of his three years with the Cowboys and can also be used out of the backfield. The speedy, twitchy Turpin has found the end zone as a receiver five times, as well as a runner once, making him one of the most versatile and explosive players on the roster. Cowboys’ worst contract is painfully clear (and it’s not Dak Prescott) – Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat Injuries have been the issue for Trevon Diggs. Dak Prescott does not have the playoff success to validate his record-setting contract, but quarterbacks aren’t paid based on playoff success. If that was the case, only a handful of QBs would currently have big-money extensions. They are paid based on regular-season success. When Prescott is healthy, the Dallas Cowboys are seemingly always in the playoff hunt. That year-to-year consistency carries a ton of weight, which is why Prescott’s contract is not the worst on Dallas’ payroll. That mantle belongs to Trevon Diggs, who signed a five-year, $97 million extension with the franchise in July of 2023. The deal is worth up to $104 million with incentives and its $19.4 million annual average value made him the fifth-highest-paid cornerback at the time. Trevon Diggs’ extension has not aged well for the Cowboys Diggs is now the eighth-highest-paid CB based on AAV, but regardless the Cowboys have not gotten elite cornerback play from their ball-hawk. A lot of that has to do with injuries. Diggs has played 13 of a possible 34 regular-season games since signing his extension. He suffered a torn ACL just two games into the 2023 campaign and sat out the remaining six games last year with another knee injury that required surgery. The second operation is especially alarming as it was performed to repair damaged cartilage. In fairness to Dallas, this is more an unfortunate run of luck than a poor use of resources. Diggs was a no-brainer extension candidate at the time of his extension. He was only 24 years old and had racked up a league-leading 17 interceptions over his first three seasons. Health notwithstanding, though, Diggs did not play up to his contract in 2024 before his season-ending injury. His 56.6 PFF player grade was the worst of his career and ranked 145th out of 222 cornerbacks, per PFF. Furthermore, his 43.9 run-defense grade ranked 206th at the position. That can be attributed to his 12 (!) missed tackles. The GOAT of the Dallas Cowboys – Cody Warren, Inside the Star Why this Cowboy is the greatest in the history of our storied franchise. When fans debate the greatest of all time (GOAT) in Dallas Cowboys history, emotions run high. From the star-studded ’70s dynasty to the triplet-powered ’90s, the franchise has produced NFL legends. But when the dust settles, one name consistently rises above the rest—Emmitt Smith. In terms of production, longevity, leadership, and championship impact, Smith holds the crown as the undisputed GOAT of the Dallas Cowboys. Why Emmitt Smith Is the Greatest Cowboy Ever 1. NFL’s All-Time Leading Rusher Numbers don’t lie, and Emmitt Smith’s numbers are historic. With 18,355 yards and 164 rushing touchdowns, he’s the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, surpassing Hall of Famer Walter Payton. Even two decades after his retirement, no player has come close to his record. Smith’s dominance wasn’t a flash in the pan; it was consistent year after year. Smith posted 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, an NFL record, and carried the ball a staggering 4,409 times in his career, also the NFL record. His durability and toughness were unmatched, especially at a position known for short careers. 2. Three-Time Super Bowl Champion Emmitt Smith wasn’t just a stats monster—he was a winner. During the Cowboys’ 1990s dynasty, Smith

Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 61) with some Cowboys history 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 running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 61. Andre Gurode Born: March 6, 1978. Houston, TexasPosition: CenterDallas Cowboys: 2002-2010Awards: All-Pro- 2007, 2009Pro Bowl– 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images Andre Gurode played offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys from 2002 to 2010, after being selected in the second round (pick 37) out of the University of Colorado. Initially playing both guard and center, Gurode eventually settled in as the Cowboys’ starting center, where he became a dominant force thanks to his size, strength, and nasty streak. He earned five Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro honors, anchoring an offensive line with his talents that the league considered as one of the best centers of his era. Who can forget this number 65 for the Cowboys, Andre Gurode! #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/xU2nNalNts — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 4, 2024 Best known for:Gurode was best known for his physical dominance and Pro Bowl consistency as the Cowboys’ starting center, serving as a tone-setter in the trenches for nearly a decade. Today in Sports History 2006 – Albert Haynesworth (#Titans) kicked off the helmet of Andre Gurode (#Cowboys) and then scraped his cleat across his head. Gurode required 30 stitches & suffered blurry vision from the attack. The NFL suspended Haynesworth for 5 games without pay. pic.twitter.com/EAnmdk5hVI — History of Sports (@BeforeFamePics) October 1, 2018 Lesser known fact:Gurode was involved in one of the most shocking moments in NFL history. He was the victim of Albert Haynesworth’s face stomp in a 2006 game, which led to Haynesworth receiving a five-game suspension, the longest for an on-field incident at the time. Despite suffering facial injuries that required stitches, Gurode chose not to press charges, earning widespread respect for his professionalism and composure. Photo by James D. Smith /Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images

Photo by David Becker/Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys have had some really solid draft picks in their history. When it comes to NFL roster construction there is zero doubt that free agency is important. This is a message that we have tried to convey to the Dallas Cowboys for years, with little success, as they generally choose to play the role of wallflower when teams are handing out contracts to players on the open market. America’s Team prefers to build the bulk of their roster by way of the NFL draft, which is certainly sound in theory, and in their defense they have good reason to believe that. The Cowboys have been a very good drafting team as of late, but they have been a particularly good drafting team across the whole of NFL history. Recently the folks at ESPN put together a list of the best draft pick at every single draft position ever. Yes, you read that right. Ever. Several Dallas Cowboys are the greatest draft pick ever at the spot they were taken There were several Cowboys who made the worldwide leader’s list. To be clear here there were some players who suited up for Dallas that were initially drafted by other teams. You’ll see that the first of such kind was Deion Sanders and he was obviously originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. The spirit of the exercise was such that the players in question ideally (with some obvious exceptions) delivered for the team who selected them. Clearly there are players who also deliver elsewhere like Sanders. Here is every Cowboys presence that came in on ESPN’s list (which you can view in its entirety here). The only other unique situations aside from Sanders are Terrell Owens, Charles Haley and Steve Wisniewski. Obviously both Owens and Haley joined the Cowboys after being drafted by San Francisco, T.O. had a stop in Philadelphia before, and while Wisniewski is on this list he made his name more with the Raiders. All told there are 14 players on this list and given that there were 262 total picks with listed names that means the Cowboys have had a hand in (one way or another) 5% of the greatest draft picks at every spot ever. Not too bad! This is certainly a unique exercise and its nature offers players like Tony Hill, DeMarco Murray, Eugene Lockhart, Rayfield Wright, Kevin Gogan, Jay Ratliff and Gary Cobb to be remembered fondly. These players all contributed in different ways during their days in the silver and blue – Rayfield Wright is also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame so he was quite the return on investment – and particularly so relative to how they first landed on the team. If it is not obvious, the number of picks in each round has grown over NFL history. This is why Kevin Gogan was taken a full numerical round after Jay Ratliff but 18 numerical picks ahead of him. One might wonder if Dak Prescott would make it at pick number 135. He is certainly a divisive subject, but finding a franchise quarterback so late in the draft (Kirk Cousins is on this list at his spot to this point) is a huge hit. Ben Solak, the author in question, went with Ken Riley and it is hard to not see why. A tricky debate here. Riley was selected in 1969, 47 years before the Cowboys took quarterback Dak Prescott with the very same pick. It took Riley 35 years to make the Hall of Fame, which he finally did posthumously in 2022. I don’t think Prescott will make the Hall, but I’d argue his impact as a fourth-round quarterback in today’s game is equivalent to Riley’s impact on the Bengals of the 70s. Riley gets the edge as a Hall of Famer, but Prescott remains one of the best Day 3 picks in the history of the draft. Not for nothing, but also at pick No. 135: Josh Sitton! Joe Horn! Rob Ninkovich! What a pick! Herschel Walker is on this list as you can see and you can argue that he provided the biggest impact what with how the team leveraged him for assets that helped build the 1990s dynasty. It is a fascinating overall discussion in that sense. Did ESPN leave anybody off in your opinion? If so, who?

Wm. Glasheen-Imagn Images Cowboys finish in the NFC East is a debate Don’t look now, but within a few weeks we’ll have the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard beginning training camp. The long offseason will start its concluding phase as the team begins preparation in earnest for the 2025 NFL season. It will be a season of renewal for the Cowboys. After a disastrous 2024 that ended with a 7-10 record, Dallas will be trying to prove that was an anomaly and that their roster is a playoff-worthy unit. The big change for 2025 will be the presence of Brian Schottenheimer as the new head coach. Schotty is trying to build a different kind of culture in Dallas, and he is also looking to do things his way on offense. It has to be said that the head coach has done a lot this offseason to rebuild the confidence of a team seeking a playoff spot. And the most direct route to the playoffs is to win the NFC East division. But they currently have the Super Bowl champion Eagles, and the NFC conference championship game participant, the Commanders, to deal with. Oh yeah, the Giants are in there too. We asked you where you think the team will finish in the NFC East and it was a very split vote. Cowboys fans are thinking anywhere form third to first in the division for 2025. We’ll have to see how it all plays out. Our friends at FanDuel currently have the Eagles at -135, the Commanders at +220, and the Cowboys at +550. The Giants bring up the rear at +2400. So the oddsmakers don’t believe in the Cowboys this season, but some of you do.

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images If Dallas can contain these players, they should easily ground the Jets.  The New York Jets had a forgettable 2024 season. After a 2-3 start, head coach Robert Saleh was fired after only five games. New York attempted to make the best of the situation and appease Aaron Rodgers by making a midseason trade for Davante Adams. Ultimately, the team never recovered from their turmoil and finished 5-12 on the season. After hiring Aaron Glenn as their new coach and informing the Rodgers that they were moving in a different direction, New York looks to start fresh once more. The Jets signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40M contract to be their starting quarterback. Despite the talent on their roster, the Jets still appear to be an enigmatic group. One should expect the Cowboys should roll the Jets in their Week 5 matchup. Yet, here are the opponents who could unexpectedly even the playing field for the Jets. Braelon Allen On paper, the New York Jets had one of the most talented offensive rosters in the NFL. Unfortunately, they couldn’t put it together, and one of their promising prospects got put on the back burner. Breece Hall is one of the most explosive and efficient runners at the position. However, the Jets missed an opportunity to utilize a one-two punch of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. Last year, the Jets had a run/pass ratio of 63 percent passing plays versus 37 percent run plays. Hall had 209 carries versus only 57 for Braelon Allen. That should certainly change this season, with the Jets sure to emphasize the running game more after signing Justin Fields to be their starting quarterback. What a play by Braelon Allen on this 3rd & 1 wildcat. Leaps to grab the snap, has to make a quick cut to evade an unblocked defender, then plows through the hole and trucks a 335-pound DT (Benito Jones) to get the yard he needs. Knocks Jones’ helmet off. pic.twitter.com/fWJY6IQ08X — Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) December 11, 2024 Allen is a powerful downhill runner with a sturdy build. He also has soft hands as a receiver out of the backfield with good lateral quickness and nimble feet on his jump cuts for a player of his size. New York could look to wear the Cowboys down by having them defend the lateral run game with Fields and Hall early in the game and then look to grind the game out with Allen between the tackles in the later stages. It’s paramount that the Cowboys limit Allen’s (and Fields) by forcing the Jets to be one-dimensional early. Mason Taylor For Jets rookie TE Mason Taylor, football is the family business. The son of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor and nephew of another Hall of Famer, Zach Thomas, Taylor has the skills of a player wise beyond his years. Though technically not officially signed to his rookie contract, Taylor has dazzled at OTAs and minicamps. Taylor has great hands and makes tough catches on passes away from his body. He is undeterred by oncoming defenders and looks unfazed at the catch point. Once he catches the ball, there’s very little wasted movement, and he gets upfield quickly. He’s smoother than he is fast, and that also creates a problem because he can run a more varied array of routes to get open. If Taylor emerges as a rookie, he could become the go-to guy for Fields on underneath throws. Taylor could also become a red zone threat for the Jets in his first season. However, he still needs to refine his blocking. Will McDonald IV Although the Jets had a disappointing season, Will McDonald quietly emerged as one of their defense’s most consistent players. In 2024, his production spiked from three sacks as a rookie to 10.5 in his second season. McDonald has a terrific get-off from the line of scrimmage from the snap and uses his long arms well to keep offensive tackles’ hands off him. He’s also very agile and has great balance when turning the edge to close in on the quarterback. And a second sack on the day for Will McDonald. pic.twitter.com/jj7RSFy1U8 — Glenn Naughton (@JNRadio_Glenn) December 1, 2024 McDonald has plenty of quickness to beat interior linemen across their when rushing from the inside. He also has a great arsenal of moves to get around the offensive tackle. With that said, McDonald has some work to do as a run defender and can be exposed in that area of his game. If he is lined up against Terence Steele, that works in favor of the Cowboys. However, Dallas may want to have a running back or tight end chip McDonald on the way out for a pass fee times to offer Steele some help just in case.

Chris Jones-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Cowboys is here. Cowboys Depth Chart: Which running backs have the edge going into training camp? – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram The running back battle is one of the more intriguing situations on the Cowboys roster. SAFE (2): Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue When Schottenheimer said this offseason that he uses multiple receiving backs in his offensive system, Javonte Williams and Jaydon Blue immediately came to mind. Williams’ 52 receptions in 2024 with the Denver Broncos was the sixth-most across the league at the running back position, and Blue’s 368 receiving yards were the 10th-most among all FBS running backs in college football last season. There isn’t a solidified starter in the room just yet, and that player could very well come from outside of this duo. But with the receiving ability of Williams and Blue, it would be tough to find a reality where either are not on the roster on cut day. ON THE BUBBLE (3): Miles Sanders, Phil Mafah, Hunter Luepke Miles Sanders is about as close to being in the “safe” category as a player could be after a strong showing in OTAs and minicamp in his first offseason with the team, but he remains on the bubble because of his recent on-field performances over the last two years (637 yards and three touchdowns in 27 games). If he had been signed to a multi-year contract in free agency, maybe there would be more confidence in his ability to be a safe option going into camp. What Schottenheimer decides to do with the running back position will be interesting, as the standard three running backs on a 53-man roster could see an exception if he decides to carry a fourth. Hunter Luepke doesn’t necessarily factor into that thinking with his unique role as a fullback and outside blocker, but Schottenheimer hasn’t yet commented on if he values his role as much as Mike McCarthy did. Rookie Phil Mafah is probably the biggest question mark in the room. While he does bring more physicality and potentially more value in short yardage situations, can he be productive at the NFL level without breakaway speed and a receiving game to match? Cowboys must secede from predictable offensive tendencies – Reid D Hanson, Cowboys Wire Dallas certainly needs to get more modern on offense. Predictability can be an NFL offense’s worst enemy. In today’s game, deception is almost as important as the talent on the field. If opposing teams what to expect before the snap, then they are smart enough to know how to beat it. While this applies to both sides of the ball, it is one of the many changes Cowboys fans hope to see implemented from new head coach Brian Schottenheimer in 2025. When it comes to their offensive tendencies, Dallas needs to declare independence from transparency. It’s one of few advantages of having a first-time head coach at the helm — no one knows exactly what to expect. Even though Schottenheimer has been in Dallas for two years, he’s been stuck in a supportive role behind Mike McCarthy. With McCarthy now out to pasture and Schottenheimer seizing the play caller role, it’s anyone’s guess what an unbridled Schottenheimer offense looks like. And that’s a good thing. Which position is the most pressing need? DallasCowboys.com Dallas has several positions that still need help. Tommy: I’ll stick with what I’ve been saying all offseason: Defensive tackle. Yes, the Cowboys kept Osa Odighizuwa in the fold and that’s a good thing. He’s been their most consistent player on the interior of the defensive line and still has a lot of room to get better. Outside of Odighizuwa, I’m not the most confident in the rest of the room there especially with how much the Cowboys have struggled to stop the run in recent years. I hear the arguments about how teams had more success running outside on Dallas than on the interior, but the Cowboys still gave up 5.1 yards per carry on runs inside and outside in 2024. If you get to the runner before they can reach the outside, you don’t have as many issues defending the outside run. Mickey: Previously would have said wide receiver, but the Cowboys took care of that pressing need by trading for veteran George Pickens. That still leaves the Cowboys with a couple of pressing needs, but the good thing is, more so from a depth standpoint. First, the backup offensive swing tackle. Who is that? Currently would seem to be Asim Richards entering his third season but only having played in 21 games with but one start. Maybe veteran Rob Jones could be a candidate, but the Cowboys signed him to primarily provide some veteran depth at guard, though first rounder Tyler Booker seems to have that starting right guard already locked up. Jones did play tackle in college at Middle Tennessee State. They will stay on the lookout for an inexpensive backup alternative when roster cuts some down. And then cornerback for sure, especially without knowing when two-time Pro Bowl corner Trevon Diggs will be ready to resume playing since still rehabbing from his knee surgery and at this point can only hope third round draft choice Shavon Revel, still rehabbing from his torn ACL suffered after the third game this past season at East Carolina, will be ready to start the season. After that, it’s DaRon Bland, maybe last year’s fifth-rounder Caelen Carson and veteran Kaiir Elam, the former first round evidently bottoming out in Buffalo. Latest Trevon Diggs video should fire up Dallas Cowboys fans – Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated The former interception king continues to make strides in his rehab. Diggs is again working his way back to health following offseason surgery and while the updates have been positive, none have been as encouraging as the one that surfaced this week. Diggs was seen taking 1-on-1 reps with Florida State wide receiver Elijah Moore, and he looked

We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 62) with some Cowboys history 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 running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 63. Terence Newman Born: September 4, 1978. Salina, KansasPosition: CornerbackDallas Cowboys: 2003-2011Awards: Pro Bowl– 2007, 2009 Photo by R. Diamond/WireImage Terence Newman played cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2011, after being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft out of Kansas State. Known for his speed, intelligence, and technique, Newman became a long-time starter in the Cowboys’ secondary. He recorded 32 interceptions and 122 pass breakups (most in team history) during his time in Dallas and earned two Pro Bowl selections. A steady presence in the backfield, Newman was often tasked with covering opponents’ top receivers and remained a consistent playmaker for nearly a decade. He remains sixth in Cowboys history in interceptions, holds the record for most breakups and ranks ninth in most tackles made. It’s been 10 years since Roy Williams & Terence Newman have seen each other. Watch as the two reunite & talk all things #CowboysDraft. First & Then presented by @DrPepper Zero Sugar pic.twitter.com/IuCB8Ul1Ue — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 26, 2021 Best known for:Newman was best known for his longevity as a shutdown corner in Dallas, playing for a total of 15 seasons in the NFL and retiring at the age of 40. Here is the selection of #Cowboys CB Terence Newman during the 2003 NFL Draft: pic.twitter.com/9BoyzZ9Iv4 — Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) June 13, 2023 Lesser known fact:Newman was a college track star, posting a 10.20-second 100-meter dash and 21.17-second 200-meter time at Kansas State, setting school records. This blazing speed helped him become one of the fastest players in the NFL during his career. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 62Terence Newman#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/VfTGbq8CN1 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 4, 2025

Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Cowboys roster review for the safeties As we wrap up our 2025 roster bubble series, it’s ironic that our final position may not even have one. For this year’s Dallas Cowboys, safety may be the easiest spot to predict who will and won’t make the roster. That isn’t to say surprises aren’t possible, but it means one of our veterans may have to suffer a big fall to make room for one of the hopefuls. Three guys we know will make the team are Malik Hooker, Juanyeh Thomas, and Markquese Bell. Hooker has not only become one of the more underrated Cowboys, but he’s also now a bridge player to help his teammates adapt to their new defensive coordinator. Hooker played under Matt Eberflus from 2018-2020, albeit with a lot of injury issues during that span. Hooker isn’t a superstar but he’s a solid starter, and his presence this year may be more valuable than ever. An exciting backup for the last two years, Thomas might be starting for Dallas in the near future. He’s also cheap, not being eligible for unrestricted free agency until 2027. He’d make for exceptional depth this year, locking him onto the roster, but also has a real shot at competing for the starting job. Thomas offers more athleticism and coverage ability than Donovan Wilson, which is big for the two-high safety approach that Eberflus is known for. Bell just got a new three-year deal to stick around in Dallas, so the team likely has a plan for him at least in 2025. The Cowboys could’ve gone with just a one-year restricted free agent deal to keep Bell. Experienced both on defense and special teams, plus having some positive flex from his one year at linebacker, Bell covers a lot of bases. While these are the only guys we’re prepared to declare as locks, we’re highly confident that Wilson and Israel Mukuamu will also be on the team. That would give you five safeties, which is probably all Dallas would carry. But since there’s a foreseeable chance one or both of these veterans won’t make it, let’s dig into them a little more, and also a few of the guys who could steal their jobs. Donovan Wilson As mentioned, Wilson may have a hard time fighting off Thomas for the starting job. He was a better fit in Dan Quinn and Mike Zimmer’s defenses, able to do more work closer to the line of scrimmage where his hard-hitting style shone. Wilson has always had to make up for coverage liability with playmaking, and that could be harder with Eberflus. The Cowboys can also clear about $7 million in cap space by releasing or trading him. The fact that he wasn’t a cap casualty last March was already surprising to some, so something happening now wouldn’t be out of nowhere. Israel Mukuamu Still officially listed among the safeties, Mukuamu’s job security may come more for his versatility as a cornerback option. He’s been getting work there so far this offseason, which could prove vital with Trevon Diggs, Shavon Revel, and Josh Butler all questionable at best for Week 1. Though he got a fairly minimal one-year deal to return to Dallas this year, Mukuamu’s experience and versatility will make him hard to oust. Alijah Clark Dallas made Clark their highest-paid UDFA and he’s the current frontrunner to sneak onto the roster. Clark offers position flex as a safety and slot corner, with the latter being of high importance right now after Jourdan Lewis’ exit and other CB injury issues. He’s been making noise so far in the spring camps, but it will take a lot more than that to force his way past one of the veterans. His best hope is likely that Mukuamu goes to cornerback full time.

John Jones-Imagn Images The latest news from around the division. Cover 3: Biggest question remaining for Giants – John Schmeelk, et al., Giants.com Three weeks prior to training camp, here are some questions surrounding New York. John Schmeelk: I thought about doing something basic for this one like “who will be the Giants’ second starting outside cornerback” or “will someone play well enough in training camp and preseason to unseat one of the starters on the offensive line” – but I decided against it. While those questions are certainly important and I’m interested in seeing how they are resolved, neither is the biggest question I still have about this team. The same goes for questions about how they will deploy the running backs and edge rushers. Those potential answers might impact wins and losses, but they are not big enough for me. My thoughts still go back to the quarterback position, but not in the way some fans might be thinking about it. Russell Wilson is the team’s starting quarterback. The team needs the stability that he brings to the position in terms of leadership, organizing the offense, and getting the team into the right plays. The confidence the team has in him was palpable throughout the spring. Physically, his arm and deep ball are still more than good enough to succeed in the NFL. I need to see if Wilson, coupled with the Giants’ scheme and offensive line, can get his sack rate down a bit. Last year, Wilson had an 8.9% sack rate, which was fifth-highest in the league, only better than Jalen Hurts and three young quarterbacks (Will Levis, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye). If the Giants can get Wilson’s sack rate down to the 7% range, which would put him towards the middle of the league in the neighborhood of Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, and Dak Prescott, the offense will have a real chance to be excellent. The reason this is still a big question for me is we haven’t seen it yet with pads. Without contact in spring practices, you can’t see anything regarding the offensive line, pass rush, or how the quarterback will handle it. Commanders set to reveal bold new look with upcoming uniform announcement – David Harrison, Sports Illustrated New… or old… threads are on the way for Washington. Washington Commanders fans won’t have to wait long before seeing what the next effort to reconnect with the franchise’s proud heritage will be. According to a report from SportsLogos.net, the Commanders will be the first of several teams to unveil their new alternate helmet and jersey. “Our sources have indicated that the Washington Commanders will be the first to reveal a new alternate helmet and jersey on July 9,” the report says. The team confirmed the report’s accuracy a short time later. Earlier this offseason, radio host Kevin Sheehan stated that he had information that the new uniform will resemble one of the uniforms used in the previous eras of the franchise’s history. Sheehan also clarified that it would not be the most recent logo used prior to the team switching to the Washington Football Team before becoming the Commanders. There are two candidates we specifically discussed as potential inspirations for the new alternate uniform, starting with the spear helmet logo first worn in 1965. The other candidate we could foresee inspiring this new uniform would be the Circle-R logo, which debuted in 1970. Overall, the thought is that the new alternative uniform won’t be a replica or throwback, but rather a new design inspired by one of the older ones. Perhaps, we could be in store for a mashup of all previous uniforms, with something from each era’s threads brought in to create a new, fresh look. The report that revealed this date also suggests that this alternate uniform could be used similarly to the way the New York Jets introduced a throwback version of their uniforms as an alternate in 2023 before switching to that throwback look completely as the team’s 2024 road uniform. ESPN’s Adam Schefter shuts down latest Eagles trade rumor involving Steelers’ stud pass rusher – Kelsey Kramer, A to Z Sports Don’t believe everything you read. Pittsburgh Steelers star defender T.J. Watt has been absent this offseason, fueling trade rumors, with the Philadelphia Eagles emerging as one of the teams he’s been linked to. As enticing as the idea may be for the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles to add another elite pass rusher like Watt to an already loaded defense, the odds of general manager Howie Roseman making that a reality appear slim. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that move is highly unlikely due to the financial hurdles and the Eagles’ current focus on extending their own young stars rather than taking on a massive veteran contract. “I think the Eagles are planning and budgeting to pay their own players,” Schefter said during an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic. “They’re going to have any number of young stars from Jalen Carter to the two cornerbacks [Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell] that they drafted last year, they have to go pay in the future. They already paid Zack Baun, and they paid Saquon Barkley. At some point, they’re going to have to address the offensive side. “There’s so many contractual situations that you have, and it makes it hard to go trade for a TJ Watt and pay him upwards of $30 million dollars a year. It just doesn’t work. Would you love to have him? Of course. Every team would. But can you make it work feasibly, financially, and structurally? That would be incredibly challenging for the Eagles to do.”