The Dallas Cowboys signed Dak Prescott to a four-year, $240 million extension right before the season started. It ended a long, tedious waltz that grew from a bad place, the 2020 and 2021 franchise tags and extension where the quarterback never blinked. For the second consecutive series of negotiations, the signal caller bested Jerry and Stephen Jones, and is now the owner of the best contract in pro football. On the surface, it’s easy to see how this settles the QB situation through contract end, the 2028 season. It doesn’t, and perhaps that’s a good thing. Prescott is certainly in a category of quarterbacks who, when things are properly surrounding him, can play at an MVP level. He has however yet to be on a team that’s attained postseason success and as such, Dallas should not close the door on the position as a place to improve. And because of that, the Cowboys should consider the drafting ways of the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons, and it a player they deem a franchise changer is available, pull the trigger. There’s clearly an argument to be made for spending a first-round pick on a player who would be able to help immediately. The Packers sat Jordan Love for three years and in that time were unable to win a second championship under Aaron Rodgers. The Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a deal this spring and then drafted Michael Penix two months later; time will tell if they would’ve been better served grabbing immediate help. There’s also an argument to be made that the Cowboys’ string of first-round hits has taken the last two seasons off with the selection of Mazi Smith and Tyler Guyton. The hope is now seasoning will turn these duds into studs, but they are not immediately helping the team. So a case can clearly be made for shaking up philosophies on multiple fronts. In this exercise, we’ll envision Dallas playing the long game, as they’ve already admitted they’re in a soft rebuild. Drafting a QB in the first round and having them sit at least one year and likely two, gives Prescott time to change the narrative. And though he has a no-trade clause again, that is simply a right to sign off on a destination, rather than saying a trade will never happen. If the Cowboys win in 2025 or 2026, then they’d have a seasoned first-round QB they could trade away on a rookie deal with multiple years of team control. If they don’t win, a fresh start would make sense for everyone and even with no trade there’d be cap relief from moving on as early as 2026, with significant relief starting in 2027. There’s little reason not to leave the possibility open, and certainly no reason to not explore the path in a mock draft exercise in mid-October. Here’s a look at a 2025 NFL draft simulation for the first three rounds, conducted on Pro Football Focus. Cowboys pick at No. 16 The current draft order projection for Week 7 is that the Cowboys’ 3-3 record will slot them at No. 16. Cowboys Team Needs Sep 28, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones on the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat New Orleans 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Dallas has needs all over the place, and as always will have to balance their free agent moves… ahaha just kidding. They’ll need to balance their availability projections. If they need to fill two positions pretty equally, and one is top heavy and the other is deep, it’s probably a better decision to grab the prospect from the top-heavy position. Dallas is in need of a running back, wideout, defensive end, and defensive tackle. They could also potentially need safety help, depending on if they give the youngsters a chance to show their worth, along with linebacker depth. And as explained above, QB shouldn’t be ruled out if one who they think is special is staring them in the face. Top 15 picks ahead of Dallas BOULDER, COLORADO – APRIL 27: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes warms-up prior to their spring game at Folsom Field on April 27, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) New England Patriots: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado Cleveland Browns: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Mason Graham, Michigan Carolina Panthers: CB Will Johnson, Michigan Los Angeles Rams: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Tennessee Titans: Safety Malaki Starks, Georgia Cincinnati Bengals: DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan New Orleans Saints: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri Arizona Cardinals: Edge Nic Scourton, Texas A&M Las Vegas Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State NY Giants: OT Will Campbell, LSU Miami Dolphins: QB Cam Ward, Miami NY Jets: WR Isaiah Bond, Texas Seattle Seahawks: CB Benjamin Morrison Denver Broncos: WR Emeka Egbuka No. 16: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders Apr 27, 2024; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) prepares to pass during a spring game event at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports A Dallas native, the 6-foot-2, 215 pound signal caller has existed in the spotlight his entire life. Strengths from Pro Football Network’s early 2024 scouting report: Has a decent overall size and frame density for the QB position. Has the arm strength to drive velocity outside the numbers into the deep third. Can dice up defenses on seam and crossing patterns with high-velocity lasers. Quick-twitch pocket navigator who can generate instant torque and velocity on release. Has shown he can plant his front foot accurately and cleanly execute quick game passes. Has good pre-snap autonomy and command, calling out blitzes and adjusting protection. Can recognize single-high safeties pre-snap and freeze them at midfield with his eyes. Able to process coverage modulations and identify leverage advantages post-snap. Able to work through his progressions quickly left to right and land on his check down. Flashes the ability to anticipate windows over

3 things Cowboys need to change during bye week to salvage 2024 season Mike Crum The Dallas Cowboys are 3-3 and currently a single game behind the NFC East division leader Washington Commanders. Still, the team doesn’t feel competitive because it has only one quality victory; its three losses were all at home, and two weren’t even competitive contests. Owner and GM Jerry Jones has already said the team isn’t bringing in new players or making coaching changes, so they will need to get better this bye week with what they already have here, and they can make it happen. Players returning from injury will make a difference. DaRon Bland is an All-Pro corner. His return will make an immediate impact. Micah Parsons could be back against the San Francisco 49ers, and having a top-tier pass rusher always helps. Rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton and rookie corner Caelen Carson should return as well, and their reps now should get them better for later in the year. Brandin Cooks and Marshawn Kneeland are a few weeks away, and Demarcus Lawrence will eventually return. Still, the losses to the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens happened with almost all those players available, so the Cowboys must go beyond injuries to solve the issues they’ve had so far this season. One of the key solutions is better play calling, a strategy that proved successful for them last year. The offense needs to incorporate more creativity, put the ball in the hands of their quarterback, Dak Prescott, and get it to their superstar receiver, CeeDee Lamb. Lamb had 32 receptions for 467 yards and two touchdowns at the bye last season, which happened to be the same break point as this season, Week 7. He has 34 catches for 475 yards and two scores, nearly identical stats. However, Lamb’s performance skyrocketed after the bye, with 101 receptions for 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns. This transformation for Lamb could be the key to the 2024 season. His improved play takes pressure off of the other weapons on the team, the run game, and the defense. The other key to a Dallas turnaround is limiting self-inflicted mistakes. The team is tied for third-worst in turnover differential at -6. Prescott has to be more disciplined with the ball, especially in the red zone. Penalties are another high priority; the Cowboys are in the bottom five with 47 penalties, including 11 false starts, which is also in the bottom five in the NFL. False starts are about self-discipline, which can be emphasized during the bye and throughout the rest of the season. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys Top 30 Player Rankings: The Best of a Bad Lot at the Bye Week K.D. Drummond This article was going to have a much different tone if things had worked out differently on Sunday. A victory, heck even a hard-fought close loss, and the tenor here would be jovial about things to come and how the rest of the season contained so much potential. Instead, Cowboys fans are reeling and the owner is spiraling, doubling and tripling down on cutting the knees out from under a propaganda machine known as the team’s flagship radio station. The truth is, even before the injuries began to mount at an accelarated rate, the best talent on this team was struggling. Players weren’t living up to their potential, and the problem may be as simple as the fact that a lame-duck coaching staff, combined with contract disputes through the offseason have led to the lack of intensity in preparation that leads to blowout losses against teams that actually care. As such, there’s quite a shakeup to the player power rankings from the public perception. No. 30 – No. 26 October 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Hunter Luepke (40) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports 30 ) S Malik Hooker 29 ) DE Carl Lawson 28 ) DE Tyrus Wheat 27 ) FB Hunter Luepke 26 ) P Bryan Anger No. 25 – No. 21 Sep 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye (27) celebrates his interception during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images 25 ) WR Brandin Cooks 24 ) S Juanyeh Thomas 23 ) S Donovan Wilson 22 ) OC Cooper Beebe 21 ) CB Amani Oruwariye No. 20 – No. 16 Nov 19, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) celebrates his score against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports 20 ) OT Terence Steele 19 ) DE Marshawn Kneeland 18 ) WR Jalen Tolbert 17 ) CB DaRon Bland 16 ) DT Osa Odighizuwa No. 15 – No. 11 Sep 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (9) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images 15 ) DE Chauncey Golston 14 ) CB Caelen Carson 13 ) TE Jake Ferguson 12 ) CB Trevon Diggs 11 ) WR KaVontae Turpin No. 10 – No. 6 EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 26: DeMarvion Overshown #13 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium on September 26, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) 10 ) LB DeMarvion Overshown 9 ) RB Rico Dowdle 8 ) LB Damone Clark 7 ) DE DeMarcus Lawrence 6 ) OL Zack Martin Top 5 ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 10: Brandon Aubrey #17 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a 33-13 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) 5 ) ST Brandon Aubrey 4 ) WR CeeDee Lamb 3 ) QB Dak Prescott 2 ) OG Tyler Smith 1 ) LB Micah Parsons Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Wrong: Run defense hasn’t been fixed… Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The Cowboys went into the offseason with a few glaring weaknesses and one area that was supposed to be prioritized hasn’t been fixed; run defense. They are giving up over 143 yards a game on the ground, which is over 30 yards more than they allowed last year. Sadly, it’s been at home where Dallas’ defense has been even worse. Mike Zimmer’s unit has gotten run over to the tune of 648 rushing yards, and nine of the 10 scores they’ve given up have come at AT&T Stadium. That’s an average of 216 yards allowed a game when they’ve played at home. The organization knew this was a problem, and they did little to solve their woes. Trading for one past-his-prime defensive tackle (Jordan Phillips) and signing another of the same ilk (Linval Joseph) has not helped. Second-year DT Mazi Smith also hasn’t taken the next step in his development, which has exasperated the issue. Smith’s played well in spurts, but he hasn’t been consistent enough to be the difference maker the interior of the defensive line needs. There’s still a long way to go to improve the rushing defense in Dallas. Wrong: … And neither has the rushing attack Ken Blaze-Imagn Images As bad as the Cowboys have been at stopping the run, they’re just as bad at running the ball. This was another place the team knew they had to get better in the offseason, and they addressed their lack of running back talent by bringing back Ezekiel Elliott, who is about done, signing Dalvin Cook to the practice squad, and re-signing Rico Dowdle to go along with Deuce Vaughn. Through six games, the trio hasn’t produced much except for one solid outing from Dowdle, when he was given most of the work. The rushing attack has yet to have a 100-yard rusher, while surpassing 100 yards on the ground just twice as a team, topping out at 109 yards in the Week 1 win. The Cowboys rank last in rushing yards a game at 77.2, a sad commentary for a franchise that prides itself on running the ball and being physical. Going back to the merger, the Cowboys have never been last in the league in rushing, and they have 11 weeks to keep that streak alive. Working in two rookies on the offensive line probably hasn’t helped their cause, nor has the deterioration of veteran right guard Zack Martin’s play. It also doesn’t help that the team has been down double-digits early in games, forcing them to abandon the rushing attack. The Cowboys need to find their ground game and figure out who their lead RB is going to be if they want to improve as a running team. With a lack of high-end talent at the position, this isn’t an easy fix. Right: Jalen Tolbert stepping up Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images Before the season began, no one knew who the third wide receiver was going to be in the offense. WRs CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks were set as the top two options, but there were a host of others vying for the next spot. As it turns out, it’s been the WR who was supposed to be the guy all along. Jalen Tolbert has taken his game to the next level as the WR has become a valuable contributor in the passing game. In just six weeks, Tolbert has already surpassed his reception and yardage totals from his first two seasons. Tolbert ranks second on the Cowboys in yards (290) and targets (34), while also being third in catches with 24. Tolbert’s biggest play came on the game-winning catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5, and he backed that up with one of the best catches of the season against the Detroit Lions last week. The third-year WRs emergence has been one of the best things going for the passing game and he’s heading in the right direction for an offense that needs play makers. Wrong: Coaching staff Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Through six weeks, there hasn’t been much to celebrate for the Cowboys, and the coaching staff is a big part of the disappointment. On offense, McCarthy’s scheme looks like one of the worst in the NFL, it’s stale, stagnant and predictable. There’s not enough motion or creativity, and what has been one of the top units in the league since McCarthy arrived (with a healthy Prescott) has become extremely boring to watch. The running game is non-existent, the passing game hasn’t found their rhythm, and red-zone efficiency is 30th in the league at 37.5%. Six weeks in, and the Cowboys are averaging just 336.5 ypg, and only 21 ppg. That’s not nearly good enough. Sadly, the results are worse on the defensive side of the ball. The rushing defense is getting gashed, the entire unit is 24th league allowing over 356 ypg, and they’re 30th in points allowed at 28 per game. The defense lacks physicality and the change to Zimmer’s scheme hasn’t worked out as hoped. This group has looked nothing like the defense from the past few years, even before the injuries zapped their depth. The adjustments, or lack thereof, haven’t worked and the coaching staff needs to figure it out in a short period of time because they aren’t getting the job done. The bye week is good time to find some answers. Right: Special teams Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images One of the real bright spots for the Cowboys this season has been their special teams. Kicker Brandon Aubrey continues to be a weapon, going 17-19 on his field goal attempts, which includes being 8-9 from 50+ yards, including approaching the NFL distance record on several occasions. The team is in scoring range as soon as they cross midfield, which is key for a struggling offense. Return man KaVontae Turpin has been one of the best return men in the league through six weeks as

Troy Aikman blasts Cowboys’ lazy play, including superstar WR: ‘It’s got to get a lot better’ Todd Brock Cowboys fans looking to point fingers at the factors responsible for the team’s underwhelming (and often humiliating) 3-3 start will start to run out of digits in a hurry. The porous defense, the near-total lack of a run game, poor offensive line play, an absurd number of penalties, debilitating injuries to key playmakers, terrible tackling, questionable coaching and scheming- all are without question blameworthy. But one of the franchise’s greatest legends turned his attention to another area of concern this week, and he did not hold back in his criticism. Three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Troy Aikman went off on the Cowboys’ current crop of wide receivers during a call-in with Dallas radio station 96.7/1310 The Ticket on Thursday morning. “I think the routes are terrible,” Aikman said on-air. “I think they run terrible routes. And I’ve thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee [Lamb] has got to improve his route-running.” Lamb would, at first, seem to be an odd choice for singling out when trying to pinpoint the Cowboys’ myriad problems this season. The three-time Pro Bowler and league’s defending receptions leader is in the top 12 in catches and third in targets through six weeks of play this year. His 467 yards are fifth-best at the position, and his yards-per-game average ranks him seventh overall. Volume isn’t the issue, according to Aikman. “As a quarterback, if you’re not certain where guys are going to be consistently, it’s hard to play the position. That’s what I see. I see lazy guys coming off the line of scrimmage. Sometimes they run; usually if they do, it;’s because they’re anticipating they’re going to get the football on that play. But if they’re not, they don’t. And it all ties together. I’m not impressed with that part of it.” It’s worth noting that Cowboys wide receivers coach Robert Prince, who has been with the team since 2022, took on an additional job title this year, that of pass game coordinator. Have the extra responsibilities taken some of his focus away from time spent working with his receivers on the finer points of their game? To be fair, the Cowboys receiving corps gets very thin and very inexperienced very quickly after Lamb. Veteran Brandin Cooks hasn’t played since Sept. 26, leaving Prescott to have to lean heavily on Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin, and Ryan Flournoy (43 combined career catches entering 2024) instead. A cursory look at Dak Prescott’s numbers suggest that even if his receivers aren’t totally reliable, the quarterback is still somehow making it work. Prescott ranks third in passing yards and completions. His 63.4% completion rate, however, ranks him just 23rd, a figure that lends credence to Aikman’s theory. Prescott is having to work hard to find his receivers, but they’re often not holding up their end of the bargain. The Hall of Famer says that’s not the case with the true contenders around the league. “I just finished watching the Baltimore Ravens because I have them this week,” said the Monday Night Football color analyst. “You put on film of theirs and watch their receivers run routes, and they come off the football. So does San Francisco’s, and Green Bay’s, and others. But it’s hard to play the [quarterback] position if you’re not certain how guys are going to run routes or where they’re going to be. And I’m not speaking for Dak [Prescott]. Dak may say, ‘Hey, I think [their routes] are amazing.’ But as a former quarterback watching it, it’s got to get a lot better.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] But any improvement is going to have to be internal, as the Cowboys don’t appear to be considering bringing in outside help before the trade deadline. Six-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams was just dealt to the Jets, and noted route-running technician Amari Cooper– himself a former Cowboy- was just shipped to Buffalo. And if Dallas drops another few games over their next gauntlet of games, it’s not unthinkable that they may look to send Cooks packing for whatever future draft capital they can get. That means the route-running that Aikman is already calling “terrible” and lazy” could very well stay right where it is for the duration of the Cowboys’ 2024 season. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

This Cowboys player somehow has 4x as many penalties than tackles reidhanson Most NFL teams reserve just three roster spots for special teams. Kicker, punter and long snapper are standard protocol for league roster builders, and very few top minds will deviate from such a mindset. The Cowboys, always eager to disrupt, aren’t most NFL teams. Dallas doesn’t follow the usual do’s and don’ts of roster building because they dedicate an extra roster spot to teams. C.J. Goodwin has been that man for them, and despite offering almost nothing in the way of offense or defense, Goodwin has managed to stay firmly affixed to the roster based solely on his special teams play. The majority of his time with the Cowboys, it’s been money well spent. The ace has been a coverage team savant, slicing his way through double teams, burning his way around corners, and imparting his will upon return men as he made arm tackle after arm tackle in various punt and kick coverage situations. Lately he’s been far below dominant, going from asset to liability in less than two shakes of a lamb’s tail. Goodwin, a man Dallas has employed since 2018, has gone from untouchable gunner to undeniable progress stopper, overnight. Special teams has long been regarded as a valuable commodity in Cowboys Nation. From Bill Bates to Kenny “The Shark” Gant, the gunner position has been a respected spot from coaching staff and fans alike.  For years, Goodwin has fit that bill. But Father Time is undefeated and Goodwin, 34, might have finally met his match. Through six games in 2024, Goodwin has just one tackle to his name. To make matters worse, Goodwin has been a magnet for penalties, getting called for four already this season and making more than a few people wonder what exactly he’s offering the Cowboys at this point. With a penalty to tackle ratio of 4:1, Goodwin’s days are possibly numbered in Dallas. As injured players make their way back into the fold in coming weeks, the Cowboys need to think long and hard about what’s best for the club. Goodwin is no longer the special teams ace he used to be and appears to be playing below replacement level. Using his roster spot on a younger player with better potential seems like a better use of resources in both the long term as well as in the present. The Cowboys might have held on too long with Goodwin and if they really respect special teams play as much as they’ve shown in the past, they have to consider moving on. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys sign little-known DT with injury history to practice squad Todd Brock The Cowboys are trying to patch the holes in an injury-riddled defense by bringing in more depth, this time a player who is already quite familiar with pro football trainers’ rooms. The team signed defensive tackle Jalen Dalton to their practice squad on Wednesday following an earlier workout. Dalton is a 27-year-old North Carolina native who has seen time with four NFL teams, an XFL squad, and a UFL club, but has very limited game experience. After going undrafted in 2019, the 6-foot-6-inch Dalton signed with the Bears but did not survive final cuts. Late in the 2019 NFL season, the Saints brought him aboard their practice squad. Two separate season-ending injuries cost him both the 2020 and 2021 campaigns; he was released without ever seeing the field for New Orleans. Dalton got a new chance with the Falcons in 2022, but another injury in the preseason saw him released before Week 1. Atlanta brought him back midseason, and he finally turned a practice squad stint into seven game appearances that season. He had 13 career tackles, playing 145 defensive snaps. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] A 2023 waiver claim by Carolina never worked out; Dalton was released with a failed physical designation after four days. He looked to the XFL next; he was signed by the Seattle Sea Dragons in late 2023 but never played for them before the team folded in the XFL/USFL merge. He was picked up by the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in 2024’s dispersal draft and logged 12 tackles and two sacks over seven games… before being moved to injured reserve in May. Osa Odishizuwa led the Cowboys defensive tackles with 40 snaps in Sunday’s 47-9 loss to Detroit. Mazi Smith played 32 snaps; nose tackle Linval Joseph had 29. Defensive tackle Phil Hoskins was released from the Dallas practice squad on Wednesday to make room for Dalton. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Headline-grabbing radio rant ‘on-brand’ for Jones, Cowboys Jul 26, 2022; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at training camp press conference at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports “It’s on-brand for Jerry Jones, who everybody believes wants attention, good or bad. I know he prefers good,” said Werder. “But when you’re coming off the worst home loss in your 35-year history as the owner,” he continued, “I think there’s some expectation Jerry’s probably not going to be in a very good mood for quite some time. And he wasn’t. He was mad, as he probably should be.” The team’s 47-9 mauling at the hands of the Lions was a shocker in every way, but Jones’s public clapback live over the airwaves quickly became the bigger story, even, as Werder noted, on a day that was plenty newsworthy around the rest of the league. “Here we are: the Jets make a trade for Davante Adams and reunite him with Aaron Rodgers. And on the same day, the Buffalo Bills get Amari Cooper. And Tom Brady becomes a part-owner of the Raiders. And we’re all talking about the Cowboys and Jerry Jones.” Flagship station factor muddies the waters Aug 24, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks to the media before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Jones has gotten testy and bristled at a reporter’s question here or there many times over the years. But Werder points out that 105.3 The Fan being the Cowboys’ own flagship station adds an extra wrinkle to this current narrative. It certainly changed how Jones apparently thought Tuesday’s interview should have gone. “Jerry made it clear he had a certain expectation that he’s talking to a partner. And he does it, and he expects to be treated a certain way,” Werder said. “‘But I don’t see you as an independent journalist’- this is Jerry- ‘I see you as somebody who represents our brand as a partner.’ “People want him to take responsibility as the general manager, and maybe he didn’t quite do that, and maybe he shouldn’t have threatened the jobs of the people who were asking the questions… but that’s part of the job [of the media]. People get mad at your questions.” Cowboys fans’ frustration at fever pitch since January Sep 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys fans react during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images There’s lots of anger to go around in Cowboys Nation these days. Werder has been there for some of the darkest days: the 1-15 season, the barren wasteland of quarterbacks between Troy Aikman and Tony Romo, the careers of many a Cowboys star who came and went with no tangible success to show for it. But he acknowledges that the frustration is at a fever pitch these days. And as stinging as the team’s three losses this year have been, Werder believes the organization still hasn’t recovered from the playoff beatdown they received in January. “What happened to them in the first round, at home, in the loss to Green Bay, really caused a lot of people in the fanbase to stop believing in this franchise. It set up Jerry trying to demonstrate, through player acquisition, that he was determined to improve the roster… I think people wanted a commitment from Jerry that he was going to make significant personnel upgrades, and instead, he did just the opposite,” explained Werder. “People are outraged that Jerry as a general manager didn’t honor his obligation in the way they they thought was necessary, to go out and build a better roster, and that what’s happening now was going to be the obvious outcome of that failure. He’s alienated the fanbase, and now they feel more justified than ever in publicly criticizing him, and that criticism now comes from everywhere.” Breaking different kinds of stories with ‘Table of Honor’ initiative It’s never a dull moment covering the Cowboys, not even for Werder, who’s pretty much seen it all. But even the 64-year-old is still getting new opportunities. Werder has partnered with Rockin’ Protein to announce a $100,000 donation to Folds of Honor, to help the organization provide scholarships to the families of America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders. As part of that initiative, Werder moderated a discussion titled “Table of Honor,” where he shares the extraordinarily moving stories of three of those families. One of the heroes Werder met was Brodie, a 20-year Navy SEAL (now retired) who was injured in a firefight in Afghanistan when a he kicked a live grenade away from his team and sustained shrapnel damage that remains in his leg to this day. “He never even went home!” Werder told Cowboys Wire. “And he’s so full of humility, which is really striking to someone like me, who goes to NFL games every week and watches these athletes celebrate themselves for every small achievement- a first down requires a personalized dance that’s well-rehearsed and choreographed- and these people take incredible risks on behalf of the country and suffer unimaginably and yet don’t talk about it.” The “Never Settle Stories” that Werder helps the families share are touching and inspiring, but they go even beyond tales of great sacrifice. Thanks to the scholarships made possible by the outreach effort, these are lessons about perseverance and making sure those acts of bravery and courage are paid forward to the next generation. Consider Allie, whose father died from a spinal cord injury he suffered during a parachute jump while he was an Army Specialist. Her scholarship allowed her to get a Master’s degree in music therapy, a calling she discovered during her dad’s rehab journey. Allie put it best, Werder said, when summing up how life-changing the Folds of Honor scholarships can be for recipients: “You’re not just giving them college scholarships, you’re making better people, who