Zack Martin still mulling over his football future: ‘I want to try to get healthy’ :: The Mothership Link In New Orleans for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award announcement, the 11-year veteran talks like his window for playing in a Super Bowl may have already closed. “I mean, it’ll be cool to experience it as a fan, but [I] obviously wish we could have played in it at some point in my career.” Martin said. He estimates he’s still four to six weeks away from declaring his plans for next year, but he admits that retirement and playing for another team are both realistic options. “Still trying to figure out what the next chapter in my life looks like, whether that be playing football here in Dallas, playing football somewhere else, retiring, whatever that may be, that’s what I’m trying to figure out.” Cowboys defender with two years left on $21 million deal may no longer fit :: Cowboys Wire Link Dan Quinn and Mike Zimmer both used a lot of stunts, blitzes, and disguises from the Cowboys’ defensive personnel. But under Matt Eberflus, veteran Malik Hooker probably won’t be able to play centerfield as a single-high safety with the same regularity. He (along with Donovan Wilson) posted the lowest-graded qualifying season of his career this past season. He’s an expensive player coming off a down year; in a new scheme, that three-year, $21 million extension he signed with Dallas in 2023 suddenly may not be worth the investment anymore. 2025 NFL Free Agency: 1 player each team should sign this offseason :: The 33rd Team Link With DeMarvion Overshown likely rehabbing for most of 2025, Eric Kendricks likely gone, and Marist Liufau in just his second season, the Cowboys need linebacker help. Robert Spillane is coming off back-to-back strong seasons in Las Vegas. A never-miss tackler and a player who doesn’t come off the field would serve the Dallas defense well. And a bonus for the budget-conscious Joneses? He could probably be had at a not-astronomical price. One offseason move for each NFC team: Seahawks should extend Geno Smith; Cowboys need RB help :: NFL.com Link Just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean it’s not absolutely true. Of all the issues for Dallas in 2025, the Cowboys simply must go double-barrel at running back. Rico Dowdle made major headway last year once he was treated as a starter, so bring him back. But give him help; of the eleventy-billion mock drafts done this offseason, about 10.9999 billion will peg Ashton Jeanty to the Cowboys. If not the Boise State star, it has to be an explosive talent to replace what the team lost in Tony Pollard. Cowboys coaching hire shows them once again putting cart ahead of horse :: Cowboys Wire Link The team has hired former NFL player and ex-Patriots staffer Tiquan Underwood as assistant wide receivers coach… except they haven’t yet named an actual wide receivers coach. It’s not the first time the Cowboys have filled an underling slot before bringing on the superior. It’s a risky move from a personnel and chemistry standpoint, to be sure, but there were reports that Underwood was being actively wooed by Florida State. Brandon Aubrey: Cowboys’ new emergency QB? :: Tommy Yarrish Shawne Merriman shares football journey, Chargers & Dallas Cowboys stories with Jesse Holley :: Unfiltered with Jesse Holley Link The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker shared how he was very nearly drafted by the Cowboys in 2005. He says in a meeting with Jerry Jones, the owner told him the team might take him if he fell to the 11th pick. He says he got nervous, though, when head coach Bill Parcells promised, “We’re going to work the [expletive] out of you. I can’t wait to work your [expletive].” Dallas ended up selecting DeMarcus Ware; Merriman went to the Chargers one pick later. Hometown Hero: Arp honors favorite son DeMarvion Overshown with sign :: Tyler Morning Telegraph Link He’s played in just 13 games over two years, but Overshown is already the best thing to ever come out of tiny Arp, Tex. And the city wants to make sure visitors know it; they’ve erected a sign honoring the former Longhorn and current Cowboy right on Highway 64 as drivers enter town. Chiefs’ Clark Hunt praises Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer: ‘I think he’ll do a great job’ :: Dallas Morning News Link The Chiefs owner, hoping to win his third straight Super Bowl and his fourth Lombardi Trophy in six seasons, remembers the 25-year-old who was once an assistant in Kansas City in his dad’s final year as the team’s head coach. “I’m so glad that Brian Schottenheimer is getting a chance to lead that organization,” Hunt said of Schottenheimer’s new role as Cowboys head coach. “He’s somebody we thought quite a bit about as a young man. I’m glad he’s getting that opportunity.” Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens beefing over who was better :: Terrell Owens Former Steeler thinks Pittsburgh could’ve beaten Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX with ‘another quarter’ :: Steelers Depot Link Kendall Gammon claims that, despite three second-half picks thrown by QB Neil O’Donnell, the Steelers “might have been” just another 15 minutes away from pulling off a come-from-behind win over Dallas in Super Bowl XXX. They did score 10 points in the fourth quarter, but they also allowed a late Emmitt Smith dagger of a touchdown. And given the costly turnovers, it’s hard to imagine that Pittsburgh would have had that kind of comeback in them… no matter what the Steelers’ long snapper now says 29 years after the fact. Tunnel of Darkness: Nightmarish Cowboys season is about to come to a close :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys have been done for a month, but Super Bowl LIX will mercifully bring the official end to an embarrassing season for the franchise. But the mess of a year wasn’t a surprise to those who had been paying attention. From an all-too-passive offseason
Cowboys coaching hire shows them once again putting cart ahead of horse
Cowboys coaching hire shows them once again putting cart ahead of horse Ben Grimaldi The Dallas Cowboys are busy building their coaching staff, but there are still holes to fill before it’s complete. One role was checked off when the team hired Tiquan Underwood as the assistant wide receivers coach. There’s just one problem, the Cowboys don’t have a WR coach yet. This isn’t the first time the organization has built the coaching staff backwards. Underwood, like Jason Garrett and Kellen Moore before him, has been hired before his superior. This instance isn’t nearly as egregious as bringing the offensive coordinator onboard before the head coach, but it’s still an odd way to build the staff. What if Underwood and the WR coach don’t get along, or their ways of teaching don’t line up? Then it could be an awkward season where the coaches’ messages to a team that has several young WRs doesn’t help their players development. Underwood is qualified to have the gig; he spent six years in the NFL despite being close to Mr. Irrelevant as a late seventh-round pick in the 2009 draft. During his time in the league, Underwood caught 63 passes for 1,006 yards and six touchdowns. As a coach, Underwood has spent time with five different teams, both in college football and in the NFL, and as a WR coach in four of those stops. Last season, Underwood held the same job with the New England Patriots that he’ll have in Dallas. At 37-years old, Underwood also brings some youth to relate to young WRs like Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Jonathan Mingo and Ryan Flournoy on the roster. This isn’t questioning the credentials of Underwood, but the Cowboys continue to put the cart before the horse when putting their coaching staff together. Maybe the team didn’t want to lose the promising young teacher, as there were reports he might take a job at Florida State, but it’s still strange to see the organization hiring an assistant before the coach. Dallas still needs to find it’s WR coach to advise a group of WRs led by CeeDee Lamb. And if the reports are true, the team is expected to add a young receiver early in the draft, so they’ll need a coach to help study the best receivers available, and to guide if they select one. Conventional wisdom says the Cowboys should hire the WR coach first, then let him help pick who he wants to work with as his assistant. That didn’t happen in this case, and it’s another example of the Cowboys building the coaching staff backwards. The organization remains consistent, but for the wrong reasons.
Cowboys defender with two years left on $21 million deal may no longer fit
Cowboys defender with two years left on $21 million deal may no longer fit reidhanson Matt Eberflus is the Dallas Cowboys new defensive coordinator and with him comes a new defensive scheme. As a former Cowboys coach, Eberflus isn’t foreign around these parts. His scheme is much more straight forward than that of Dan Quinn or Mike Zimmer. He stunts less, blitzes less, and disguises his coverages less. For safeties like Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker it means a higher proportion of split safety looks. This impacts both players since most of those two players’ careers have been spent in some form of single-high secondaries. By most predictions, Wilson won’t be able to play in the box as often as before and Hooker won’t be able to play centerfield as often as before. Hooker’s ability to effectively play as a single-high safety made him a valuable commodity for the Dallas defense over the years. His range and consistency made him a top player at one of the NFL’s most demanding roles. With more split safety looks on the horizon, Hooker’s top skill, his range, loses some of its value. Split-safety looks like Cover 2, 2-man and Quarters don’t require the same extraordinary range as a Cover 1 or Cover 3 scheme. As such, the role is easier to fill and doesn’t require a high investment cost. Hooker signed a three-year, $21 million extension in 2023 that runs through 2026. At a cap cost of $7.5 million in 2025, Hooker is one of the top-10 cap hits and certainly qualifies as a high investment cost (per OTC). The Cowboys got a taste of Hooker playing more diverse coverage roles in 2024 when Zimmer increased the amount of 2-high looks Dallas played mixing and matching Wilson and Hooker in the process. It didn’t turn out well. Both safeties posted their lowest graded qualifying seasons of their respective careers in 2024. In previous seasons in Dallas, Hooker was a player most teams avoided. He was rarely targeted and routinely ranked among the best safeties in yardage allowed. Playing in a less demanding split safety role more in 2024, Hooker appeared to regress, giving up more yards than ever before in Dallas. Not focusing on his area of expertise, as demanding as that expertise may be, was a bad thing for Hooker and possibly a sign of things to come in 2025. Like Wilson, his counterpart, Hooker’s return to the Cowboys in 2025 is far from assured. He’s an expensive player coming off a down year. Significant costs could be saved by letting him go if the Cowboys think they can adequately replace his production. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Cowboys Headlines: Cooper Kupp’s potential fit in Dallas, 2 assistants hired, Micah Parsons says he almost quit football
Cooper Kupp says Rams are looking to trade him ‘immediately’; could the Cowboys be a fit? :: Dallas Morning News Link With word coming down that he’s actively being shopped, Kupp could fit in nicely behind CeeDee Lamb in the Cowboys passing attack. While the Rams have expressed a willingness to absorb some of a $29.7 million cap hit in order to move Kupp, it seems unlikely that the Joneses will fork out what it would take to get 2021’s Offensive Player of the Year. Myles Garrett trade odds for 31 NFL teams :: Dawgs by Nature Link Very shortly after Garrett announced his desire to be traded out of Cleveland, Vegas put up odds for all 31 teams on where he might wind up. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Cowboys lead the list at 4/1 odds. (Philadelphia and Washington are up there, too.) Garrett specifically says he wants to go contend for a Super Bowl, and while Dallas has been a mix of contender and mess lately, a move this big seems unlikely for Jerry Jones after the year he’s had. Which is exactly why it will remain a tantalizing possibility to so many… Report: Cowboys to hire RB coach with ties to Alvin Kamara, Austin Ekeler :: Cowboys Wire Link Derrick Foster will come to Dallas fresh from working in New Orleans with Alvin Kamara for a year. Prior to that, he helped lead Austin Ekeler to his best three years of production with the Chargers. Now he’ll be tasked with turning around a Cowboys ground game that was near the bottom in most categories last season. Cowboys hire David Overstreet as their cornerbacks coach :: ProFootballTalk Link Overstreet was with Matt Eberflus in both Chicago and Indianapolis, so his addition to the Dallas defensive staff shouldn’t be a huge surprise. The Dallas native is the son of the late David Overstreet, who chose the CFL after the Dolphins made him first-round pick in 1981 and then joined Miami for the 1983 season before losing his life in a 1984 car accident. Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons explains why he almost quit football :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Parsons is no stranger to hard work, but he says the grind at Penn State nearly drove him to quit the game just two months in. “I was in a 4 a.m. group, like when we had to have, like, morning workouts at 4:00 a.m. Like, I was in that era of, like, like, pain and suffering, like, before they kind of like, tweaked it out,” he said on his podcast, talking of the pre-NIL days. “Yeah, it’s sweet now, bro.” Anti-Jerry: NBA’s Mavs show Cowboys fans the flaws of a professional GM :: Cowboys Wire Link Mavericks GM Nico Harrison defended the Luka Dončić trade by citing things like culture, fit, defense, and conditioning as reasons. It was a move that made Jones and the Cowboys look good. But unlike Jones, Harrison doesn’t have the benefit of eternal job security on his side; that no doubt contributed to the highly controversial roster move. Say what you will about Jones and the Cowboys’ unique power structure, but the man has to weigh the long-term value of a superstar player in a way that Harrison did not. If anything, maybe that leads to a lack of aggressiveness in making offseason moves to help the Cowboys win now. Ranking Dončić-to-Lakers among biggest Cowboys, Mavs, Rangers, Stars trades :: Cowboys Wire Link Dallas sports has seen its share of stunning blockbuster trades. The Cowboys’ acquisition of Lions wide receiver Roy Williams in 2008 was one, as was the trade for Amari Cooper 10 years later and getting Joey Galloway eight years before. Landing Charles Haley was the final touch the dynasty needed, but nothing will likely ever compare to the 1989 deal that sent Herschel Walker to Minnesota for a truckload of draft picks that kickstarted three Super Bowl runs. Lance Zierlein 2025 NFL mock draft 1.0: Giants land Travis Hunter; Bengals add WR for Joe Burrow :: NFL.com Link The network’s draft analyst thinks the Cowboys will look to their D-line in the first round. He picks Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen, who he says will be a disrupter on all three downs. In this mock, Dallas leaves Jalon Walker, Luther Burden III, Nic Scourton, and Emeka Egbuka on the board to grab Nolen. WATCH: Cowboys return ace KaVontae Turpin dominates Pro Bowl… on defense?!? :: Cowboys Wire Link Turpin put his blazing speed to good use on defense during the NFC-AFC flag football game, bagging both Joe Burrow and Russell Wilson for sacks and preventing a touchdown by chasing down Brian Thomas Jr. at the goal line. The return specialist thought he’d be taking home the MVP trophy but says he had fun moonlighting on the other side of the ball. Super Powers: What 1971 Cowboys had the current Cowboys need :: The Mothership Link The Cowboys’ first Super Bowl-winning squad boasted a stellar offensive line who paved the way for 25 rushing touchdowns that season. (Dallas had just six this year but played three more games.) They also had a linebacker corps with two future Ring of Honor members. And, of course, they got MVP-caliber play from their quarterback, as Roger Staubach was the runner-up for the regular-season award. Come closer to that on those three fronts, and the 2025 Cowboys will be well on their way to a sixth Lombardi Trophy. Washington owner Josh Harris says Commanders will remain team’s nickname :: The Athletic Link Despite a vocal contingent of fans who want to return to their former nickname, the Cowboys’ longest-standing rivals will remain known as the Commanders, says the team’s owner. The name isn’t exactly a fan favorite, but many inside and outside team headquarters began embracing the moniker over their 12-5 regular season and two road playoff wins last month.
Tunnel of Darkness: Nightmarish Cowboys season is about to come to a close
Tunnel of Darkness: Nightmarish Cowboys season is about to come to a close Ben Grimaldi With Super Bowl LIX on the horizon, the nightmarish 2024-25 season for the Dallas Cowboys is about to mercifully come to a close. After three straight 12-win seasons that included two NFC East titles, the Cowboys floundered through an embarrassing campaign. The mess of a year couldn’t have been a surprise to those paying attention. It began with a disaster of an offseason where the front office decided it was better to wait and sign their best players to extensions until training camp. That mistake was compounded by the team deciding to not participate in free agency while allowing many of their own free agents to walk out the door. It was a disappointing offseason that was made worse by Jerry Jones’ “all-in” comments. Savvy fans knew better than to believe the Cowboys were going to spend money and be aggressive in acquiring talent since it would’ve signaled a major change in organizational philosophy, but it was something that followed the team around for months leading up to the regular season. When September arrived, things appeared to turn. The team extended quarterback Dak Prescott on opening day and blew out the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. The Cowboys’ performance provided hope that the previous six months of worrying were all for nothing. Reality smacked the Cowboys in the face in Week 2, and the disaster many predicted was beginning. There were numerous blowouts throughout the year as the team finished 7-10 and in third place in the division. Dallas finished a putrid 2-7 at home, which included an embarrassing incident with the sun shining through the large windows and AT&T Stadium contributing to a losing storyline against the Philadelphia Eagles. The episode was made worse by Jones remaining defiant that the franchise wouldn’t draw the curtains for Cowboys games like the stadium does for other events. The Cowboys weren’t just getting humiliated, they were finding new ways to lose. Their special teams unit blocked a punt late in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, which turned disastrous when cornerback Amani Oruwariye tried to recover and run with it. Instead of a game-winning play for Dallas, Oruwariye fumbled the ball away and the Bengals recovered it, which led to the winning score just three plays later. Injuries were also a theme for the Cowboys, who had many of their best players miss chunks of the season, including Prescott, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and CB DaRon Bland. As if the team’s record wasn’t bad enough, it was a season that saw the Eagles soar back to the top of the division fueled by free agency pickup of the year, running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley, who came from another division rival, ran for over 2,000 yards. To make things worse, the Washington Commanders saw a resurgence under rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who looks like he’s going to be a problem for the Cowboys’ defense for years to come. The Eagles and Commanders both finishing ahead of the Cowboys and making the postseason further stuck the knife into the craw of Jones’ organization. It also had to hurt that the top two coordinators during McCarthy era in Dallas both played big roles in the Eagles and Commanders’ success. Kellen Moore and Dan Quinn left the Cowboys and found prosperity with NFC East rivals. The 2024-2025 season still might not have felt so bad if the postseason hadn’t been a kick in the teeth for the Cowboys as well. The team didn’t make the playoffs, but that didn’t stop the embarrassment. The Commanders beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to advance to the divisional round where they pulled off a major upset of the Detroit Lions, making it to their first NFC Championship game in 33 years. That left the Cowboys with the longest title game drought in the NFC. It didn’t make things better that the Commanders’ win over the Lions meant they’d matchup with the Eagles, who got a home game as the No. 2 seed, for the right to go to the Super Bowl. When Philadelphia won that game, it marked the third Super Bowl appearance for the Eagles in the last eight years, a feat that crushes every Cowboys fan who counts the Eagles as their biggest rival. This hasn’t been a fun season for the Cowboys, and it could hit a peak level of frustration if the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX. Hopefully that doesn’t happen, there have been too many dreams coming true for the Cowboys rivals in 2024-2025, while they have been living in a nighmare. Thankfully, the NFL season is about to end and the reset can begin. A shot at better season in 2025 is just around the corner. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Anti-Jerry: NBA’s Mavs show Cowboys fans the flaws of a professional GM
Anti-Jerry: NBA’s Mavs show Cowboys fans the flaws of a professional GM reidhanson Dallas Cowboys fans have not been pleased with the front office of their franchise. In the minds of many, the frugality of the team’s top decision makers has led to too many missed opportunities over the years. It’s a trend that appears to be continuing into 2025, and a resentment that’s been unrivaled in the local DFW fanbase. That is, until the Dallas Mavericks told Jerry Jones to hold their beer. The Mavericks recently made news for all the wrong reasons this week. They took a generational talent, just entering his prime, and flipped him for a player who’s great, but, by most accounts, past his prime. Other side dishes were included in this smorgasbord of lopsidedness but for the most part it was a trade of Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. The Mavericks GM, Nico Harrison, defended the trade citing things like culture, fit, defense and conditioning as reasons why the trade was made. These issues may have very well existed, but to most fans, they hardly justified trading away a perennial MVP candidate. It was a move that made Jones and the Cowboys look good. Considering what’s happened for them over the past two seasons, that’s saying something. Jones has been on a mission of austerity as of late. While he’s re-signed his must-have superstars, he’s been essentially asset stripping his roster by parting ways with costly second and third-tier players, rounding out the roster, coaching staff, and support personnel the cheapest way possible. A reason why he would do such a thing is a fatal flaw within the structure of the team. Jones isn’t just the general manager and chief decision maker but he’s also the owner. What he doesn’t spend on players, coaches, and support personnel, he gets to keep in some ways. That’s not something any other GM in the NFL can say. Other GMs are given a budget and are fairly determined to spend to the limits of that budget in the name of winning. Unlike Jones, they can be fired if they fall short of expectations therefore, they have to make every season count. The demand to win now is significant, so understandably the life expectancy of a GM is fairly low. Based on these same motivating forces, the Cowboys have no comparable urgency to win and every financial reason to save. Up until this week, Harrison was regarded as one of the best GMs in the NBA. The former Nike executive has stacked the Dallas roster and made the 2024-2025 Mavericks one of the deepest and most talented teams in the league. He’s gone to the Conference Finals twice and the Finals once in a short time and done so with wildly different rosters. Even with Harrison’s success he feels the pressure to win now and has wasted no time making moves to achieve that goal. Unlike Jones, Harrison doesn’t have the benefit of eternal job security on his side and that has presumably led to a highly controversial roster move. When asked about how the Doncic trade affects the Mavericks in the long-term Harrison showed why even a traditional GM structure has flaws. “[Anthony Davis] fits right along with our timeframe to win now. And win in the future. In the future to me is three or four years from now,” Harrison clarified to reporters. “The future, 10 years from now, I don’t know. I think they’ll probably bury me and J [Kidd] by then. Or we bury ourselves.” Harrison isn’t a fan of the Mavericks, but rather he’s an employee. He’s not married to the team like the fanbase is. There’s a good chance he’ll be gone in three or four years, making Doncic’s long-term value unimportant to him. Fans are critical of the move because they’ll still be Mavericks fans for the next 10 years. After Harrison is gone and Davis is retired, they’ll still be watching Doncic dominate the NBA and it will probably be extremely painful. That day could realistically be just five years away. This kind of thing isn’t an issue for Jones and the Cowboys. Jones loves his Cowboys franchise and if anything, he cares too much about the long-term good of the team and not enough about the urgency of the here and now. He probably would have cashed on the Doncic brand in perpetuity. He probably wouldn’t have surrounded him the same depth of talent as Harrison has done, but he would have kept him. If fans had to pick which is GM setup is better, most would probably point to the traditional type of GM like the Mavericks have. But as Harrison just showed everyone, even that has its problems because most GMs aren’t concerned about life after they’re gone. For universal Dallas fans, it’s the worst of both worlds this year. Guess it’s a good time to be a Stars fan. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!
WATCH: Cowboys return ace KaVontae Turpin dominates Pro Bowl… on defense?!?
WATCH: Cowboys return ace KaVontae Turpin dominates Pro Bowl… on defense?!? Todd Brock Speed kills in the NFL. Even more so in flag football. So it’s perhaps no surprise that Cowboys return specialist KaVontae Turpin, easily one of the fastest men in the league, stood out even among the sport’s all-stars in the flag football finale of the 2025 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando. But Turpin being the NFC’s most impactful defensive player? That wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card. The third-year pro had an outstanding season, despite the Cowboys’ thoroughly underwhelming 7-10 record. Of all kick returners leaguewide who had more than 12 chances, Turpin’s 33.6-yard average was tops, and his 10.9-yard punt return average was seventh-highest among those with double-digit tries. Most notably, he was the only player in the NFL to return both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in 2024, with his 99-yard spin-move house call versus Washington serving as one of the most electrifying moments of the entire 272-game schedule. Special teams is what put him into his second Pro Bowl, one of five Cowboys honored with a berth this year. But Cowboys fans saw Turpin take a leap in his pass-catching prowess, too. After being used only sparingly in the passing attack over his first two seasons, the 28-year-old was Dallas’s fourth-most-targeted wide receiver, earning his first two starts at WR and finishing the 2024 campaign with 31 catches for 420 yards (all far and away career-highs) while playing on nearly 27% of the offense’s snaps. But it was Turpin’s pass-rush skills that caught everyone’s attention on Sunday. Sent on with the defense by NFC coach Eli Manning, Turpin used his otherworldly quickness to catch Joe Burrow well behind the line of scrimmage for one sack on a two-point conversion attempt… …And then pinned Russell Wilson for a nine-yard loss later in the game. All told, Turpin ended the exhibition with five tackles, including a touchdown-saving stop when he chased down Brian Thomas Jr. from behind and pulled his flag at the 1-yard-line. It was a dominant effort playing a completely foreign position, enough so that Turpin himself thought he’d be coming home with some hardware. “I feel like on defense on the blitz I got the quarterbacks rattled and had them throwing fast balls,” Turpin said per the Orlando Sentinel. “I was supposed to win MVP. I don’t know why they didn’t give it to me. But it’s all fun and games and I feel like everybody had fun and it was all worth it.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] (Jared Goff and Byron Murphy ended up taking home the MVP trophies after the NFC’s 76-63 win.) Turpin’s performance, though, may have some legitimately wondering if he’ll be deserving of a spot on the Team USA roster when flag football makes its debut at the 2028 Olympic Games. At the very least, maybe new Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus would want to consider designing a few special packages that use Turpin in 2026. Of course, Turpin may find a bit more pass-rush resistance when the opposing team is allowed to deploy actual offensive linemen. But for one day in Orlando, at least, Turpin was a one-man wrecking crew… on defense. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Ranking Doncic-to-Lakers among biggest Cowboys, Mavs, Rangers, Stars trades
Sports fans who went to be at a reasonable hour on Saturday night woke up to a mind-blowing report on Sunday morning. And for local fans of the Dallas Cowboys, or anyone who has assumed an allegiance to Dallas area sports, a blockbuster NBA trade just as the Cowboys’ head coaching and staff search is settling in their souls is not what they were looking for. On Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks jettisoned their central figure Luka Doncic, sending him to the organization most of the fans despise more than any other, the Los Angeles Lakers. In return, they received 31-year old superstar Anthony Davis, along with Max Christie and a future first-round draft pick. Neither the 25-year old Doncic nor Davis (nor Lebron James for that matter) were informed of the trade talks before things were announced. So fans of both orgs and all participants are in stunned disbelief right now. In citing his reasons for trading Doncic (defense), Mavs general manager Nica Harrison may have catapulted himself in Jerry Jones territory, at least temporarily. The hold Doncic had on much of the local Dallas fanbase is surreal; some might say he’s a more well-liked star than Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. Fandom will be reshaped by this, and while the on-floor results will ultimately dictate whether this is a good trade or not. The Mavs are 26-23 and in eighth place in the West, after making the NBA finals last year, falling to the Boston Celtics four games to one. But for now, where does this rank among stunning trades in this generation of Dallas sports? Our Top 10 follows. 10 Acquiring WR Roy Williams from the Detroit Lions (2008) GREEN BAY, WI – NOVEMBER 07: Roy Williams #11 of the Dallas Cowboys drops the ball in the end zone against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 7, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) The Cowboys gave up a 1st and a 3rd round pick for Williams (while swapping their sixth for Detroit’s seventh), but then game Williams a brand new deal with a ton of money 9 Cowboys acquire WR Amari Cooper from Raiders (2018) Dec 9, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper (19) celebrates an overtime touchdown with teammates against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports The Cowboys entered 2018 with a disgusting internal opinion that they didn’t need any weapons for Dak Prescott. They learned the error of their ways, and send a first-round pick to the Raiders for the former Alabama product. Cooper lasted less than four years with Dallas but almost had 4,000 yards in that span. His trade for just a fifth-round selection is still stuck in the craw of many fans. 8 Acquiring WR Joey Galloway from the Seattle Seahawks (2000) EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 15: Wide receiver Joey Galloway #84 of the Dallas Cowboys pulls in a reception during the NFL game against the New York Giants on September 15, 2003 at Giant Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 35-32 in overtime. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) The chalk-outline of the Cowboys dynasty gave up two first-round picks in an effort to stay relevant, only for the WR to tear his ACL. One of the picks was used on RB Shaun Alexander who won a league MVP award. 7 Stars acquire Tyler Seguin from Boston Bruins (2013) Nov 25, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) stretches during the warmups before the game against the Dallas Stars at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images The Bruins, apparently upset with Seguin having a life outside of hockey, traded him to the Stars in a now lopsided 7-person trade. Seguin went on to a ton of All-Star appearances, has scored over 300 goals with Dallas and stabilized that franchise. 6 Mavericks acquiring PG Jason Kidd (2008) November 15, 2009; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd (2) brings the ball up the court in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports The Mavs sent a group of five players and two first-round picks to the New Jersey Nets to acquire the point guard who was integral in their only championship season. 5 Rangers trade away Mark Texieira (2007) Mar 21, 2007; Mesa, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman (23) Mark Teixeira against the Chicago Cubs at Hohokam Park in Mesa, AZ. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Mark J. Rebilas The Rangers traded Teixeira to the Braves for minor league prospects Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz and Matt Harrison, who set the stage for the club’s back-to-back trips to the World Series in 2010, 2011. 4 Mavericks trade for Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash (1998) Dallas Mavericks’ center Dirk Nowitzki (L) and Maverick’s guard Steve Nash watch from the bench against the Sacramento Kings’ during game four of the NBA Western Conference at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California 11 May 2003. Nowitzki was ejected later in the fourth quarter as the Kings’ defeated the Mavericks, 99-83. AFP PHOTO/John G. MABANGLO (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO / AFP) (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images) Somehow, the Mavericks turned Robert Traylor and Pat Garrity into Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. Nowitzki of course went on to become the greatest Mavs player in their history, leading the team to the 2011 NBA championship, their only trophy. 3 Mavericks trade Luka Doncic to LA Lakers for Anthony Davis Dec 12, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports No one knows how this blockbuster will work out, but suffice to say, based on the talent levels
Cowboys Headlines: Club hires new OC, does Super Bowl LX logo predicts Dallas?
Cowboys hire offensive coordinator whose strength is OL, run-game philosophies :: Cowboys Wire Link: The Cowboys search for an offensive coordinator is finally over, bringing aboard a run game mastermind who transformed the Cardinals into a rushing powerhouse the previous two seasons and is expected to do the same in Dallas. For Will McClay, Cowboys, strengths of 2025 NFL draft could align with team’s weaknesses :: Dallas Morning News Link: Dallas owns the 12th pick in the 2025 NFL draft meaning the previous season didn’t go as planned yet luckily, this year’s crop of prospects aligns perfectly with what the Cowboys need to improve on next season. Matt Eberflus’ defensive philosophy demands Cowboys re-sign this player :: Cowboys Wire Link: New Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has historically preferred to generate pressure on the opposing team’s quarterbacks with just his front four making the re-signing of this interior defender vital for early success. Sources indicate the Cowboys had real interest in Pete Carroll before deciding on Brian Schottenheimer :: Blogging the Boys Link: Dallas is content with new head coach Brian Schottenheimer and many fans have come around to his promotion. That shouldn’t discount the fact that the Cowboys reportedly had real interest in new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll. This 60-game starter for the Cowboys is on hot seat heading into 2025 :: Cowboys Wire Link: A new coaching staff almost always brings change and one Cowboys defender has been identified as a player whose future may be in doubt. New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has a big decision to make on this six-year veteran. Senior Bowl Day 3 practice notebook :: The Mothership Link: The final practice of the Reese’s Senior Bowl was dominated by a few defenders and names such as linebackers Shemar James out of Florida State and Oluwafemi Oladejo from UCLA put their names on the proverbial draft map. Dallas Cowboys making one thing clear in Schottenheimer era: They will ‘run the damn ball’ :: Fort Worth Star Telegram Link: Years of forcing Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to play “Hero Ball” and not supplying him with alternative options have seemingly run their course in Dallas as all signs point to the Cowboys getting back to “running the damn ball.” Former Dallas Cowboys coordinator earns NFL on FOX Coach of the Year :: SI Link: Dallas is assembling a very good coaching staff but there will always be those who wonder about the past. Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn won the NFL on Fox Coach of the Year award just one season after departing Dallas. 2nd interview scheduled for Cowboys OC frontrunner as new candidate emerges :: Cowboys Wire Dallas began the day searching for an offensive coordinator but as the day progressed, the Cowboys hired their guy. It may not be a total loss as the other candidates who interviewed could end up on the coaching staff in different capacities. Does the leaked Super Bowl LX logo mean Dallas Cowboys are Super Bowl bound in 2025? :: KENS5 Link: A conspiracy has taken place lately as the colors of the Super Bowl logo have come eerily close to the two teams playing for the ultimate prize. A leaked photo of next year’s graphic has Cowboys colors which will surely ignite the fan base. Free Agency: Targets Cowboys could reunite with their new OC to strengthen offense :: Cowboys Wire Link Klayton Adams will likely reach back to his recent troops to help solidify Dallas’ OL. There are several free agents who should be under consideration for the front office.
Free Agency: Targets Cowboys could reunite with their new OC to strengthen offense
Free Agency: Targets Cowboys could reunite with their new OC to strengthen offense K.D. Drummond One of the oldest tenets of the NFL, at least since the early 1990s, is that new coaches like to steal from their old teams when they relocate. One needs to look no further than Dan Quinn pilfering Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Noah Igbinoghene from the Dallas Cowboys once he became Washington’s head coach. With Brian Schottenheimer moving up from offensive coordinator to head coach from within the organization, there isn’t any opportunity there, but his new offensive coordinator could assist in that regard. Klayton Adams has been named the Cowboys’ newest assistant, and he spent the last two seasons as the Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach under Jonathan Gannon. Because I’m a sweetheart, here’s how often AZ ran general run concepts with Klayton Adams. #Cowboys [image or embed] — John Owning (@johnowning.bsky.social) January 31, 2025 at 6:48 PM With that, the gaze immediately turns to the Cardinals list of 2025 free agents, and it just so happens that several of their offensive linemen are free agents. Three of those are of particular interest to Dallas. First and foremost is Kelvin Beachum. The 13-year veteran is still going strong at 36-years old, grading at a 75.4 (out of 100) in pass protection according to Pro Football Focus. In fact, Beachum has graded out green or better (green and blue are the positive ranges) every season since his rookie campaign in 2012. With Dallas having to give serious consideration to replacing Terence Steele this offseason, Beachum may be the perfect bridge player. In fact, two of his three highest-graded games were as the starter at left tackle. At minimum, Beachum should be an immediate addition as the club’s swing tackle, and then Dallas can consider things from there. Also to be considered is Evan Brown. The 29-year old was the Cardinals starter at left guard, playing over 97% of the team’s offensive snaps in 2024. Brown graded out as a 73.5 in pass protection, allowing two sacks on the year. Brown is a journeyman, former UDFA who began seeing consistent starter minutes in 2021 with Detroit, while also playing in Seattle before joining Arizona in 2023. This was his first full season playing left guard, lining up at center in 2021 and 2023, and right guard in 2022. That brings up Will Hernandez. Hernandez was always associated with Dallas during the 2018 draft, as a UTEP product who was caught working out with several of the team’s linemen throughout the process. Hernandez played in just five games this season before suffering a severe knee injury. The team never detailed what kind, but it’s believed to have been an MCL, not an ACL. If so, his recovery for 2025 could be to the point he could pass a physical in March. Henderson was a second-round pick of the New York Giants, No. 34 overall, who has had an up-and-down career. 2024 was the best ball of his career prior to the injury, and he has spent the last four seasons at right guard after his first three at left guard. The Cowboys could be in the market for a right guard with Zack Martin headed to free agency and also contemplating retirement. The Cardinals options don’t end with Hernandez, as the player who replaced him in the starting lineup — Trystan Colon —is also set to hit free agency. With four options, all with starting history, it would probably be more of a shock if one or more didn’t end up in Dallas to join Adams.
