Extended CeeDee Lamb Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images It took much longer than expected, but the wide receiver finally got his extension. Lamb’s massive deal came in right where everyone thought it would, just under Minnesota Vikings’ WR Justin Jefferson’s deal in terms of total money and average annual salary, although Dallas’ WR got more for his signing bonus. The work on the field is important, but locking Lamb in was one of the biggest things the team needed to do before the season began. Without Lamb, the passing game would be anemic, and the offense would lack punch, so the extension had to get done. Now the eyes of the football world are on quarterback Dak Prescott, but at least the Cowboys completed one of their goals, which was working out a new deal for their superstar WR. Mission accomplished. Found WR depth Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Heading into camp, the Cowboys lacked quality depth at receiver, especially with Lamb not guaranteed to be in the fold. The expectation was that Lamb’s deal would get done, but without him, the team got a long look at some of the other options to fill out depth at the position. Those first team reps were now available to a host of WRs, and the Cowboys found a few to step up at the position. The hope was that third-year WR Jalen Tolbert would improve, and he had a great camp to earn the WR3 role. Pint-sized WR and return man KaVontae Turpin was also expected to have a role, but beyond that, the Cowboys were searching for WRs to turn into quality options. Jalen Brooks showed a second-year leap that saw him win a job convincingly and rookie Ryan Flournoy impressed after he returned from an early camp injury. Flournoy scored in each of the team’s final two preseason games and found his way comfortably onto the 53-man roster. The size and athleticism for Flournoy showed up on tape and he’s picked up the nuances of the game to match his physical gifts. It remains to be seen how big of a role he’ll have as the fifth or sixth WR on the roster, but the Cowboys might have found something special. Dallas came into camp with a bunch of guys at WR, but they go into the regular season with six quality options. The team found good depth at the position this summer. Improved the offensive line Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports One of the big goals for the Cowboys heading into training camp was about remaking their offensive line. The team had lost two starters, one of them an All-Pro and a 13-year starter, and needed to usher in a new group. Early returns weren’t positive when first-round selection Tyler Guyton wasn’t starting at left tackle and third-round pick Cooper Beebe was the second-team center. Veterans Chuma Edoga and Brock Hoffman held down those jobs initially, which wasn’t a sign of an upgraded offensive line. Things turned around quickly as Guyton showed rapid improvement and Beebe settled down to make progress with his biggest weakness, shotgun snaps. Both rookies didn’t take long to work their ways into the starting lineup. The original starting five the Cowboys began camp with on the offensive line is not who they are heading into the regular with, and that’s a good thing. Guyton and Beebe showed they were worthy of their selections and the unit is a much better group now than they were when they arrived in Oxnard. Both rookies are ready to play large roles, which was the goal when they were drafted. Eventually created defensive line depth Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images It was evident heading into training camp just how thin the defensive line was for the Cowboys. There were a few starters and a small group of veteran backups, but the team needed to find some depth at defensive tackle. The team let competition for the younger guys go on for almost the entirety of camp before eventually finding some quality help. The Cowboys traded for veteran DT Jordan Phillips and signed Linval Joseph in late August to give the defense some more beef in the trenches. Neither are full-time players anymore, but they do give Dallas a better group at DT. Depth wasn’t good for the defensive line when camp began, and the Cowboys set out to find some. It took looking into veteran options and swinging a trade with a division rival to find some help, but it eventually got done. The team accomplished their mission of finding depth on the interior of their defensive line. Find out if Trey Lance can play Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Finding out if Lance was a capable QB was one of the more difficult things the team had to do heading into training camp. If he got the reps and couldn’t play, the Cowboys would be mocked for the trade that brought him to Dallas and they’d lose an option at quarterback if Prescott doesn’t re-sign. Jones and McCarthy knew the team needed to see more and unfortunately, they probably didn’t like the results. For a team that likes sure things, this was a gamble they had to see play out. Lance was a mixed bag of results, but it’s evident he still needs more time to develop. That’s time the Cowboys no longer have. The former third overall pick has the ability to make plays with his athleticism and legs but struggles in the passing game and reading defenses. Lance flashed some potential, but he also threw five interceptions in an ugly Week 3 preseason performance. The results of the summer were clear, Lance couldn’t overtake primary backup QB Cooper Rush and isn’t ready to start games if needed. Dallas had to find out if Lance could be a option to play in meaningful games, or possibly start in 2025, and they found out that isn’t likely. The result is disappointing, but the team accomplished the goal

How to buy Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns NFL Week 1 tickets Nick Wojton The Dallas Cowboys’ regular season begins in less than one week! The Cowboys and Cleveland Browns will kickoff their respective regular seasons with a Week 1 matchup on Sept. 8, 2024, at 4:25 p.m. at AT&T Stadium. This opener features two teams from different conferences that will have high expectations heading into the 2024 NFL season. That will make for an exciting matchup. Limited tickets remain for this first game in Cleveland. SHOP: Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns tickets In terms of the Cowboys, a big year awaits the names at the top: Quarterback Dak Prescott and head coach Mike McCarthy. Is this their last chance in Jerry World? On the flip side, the Browns will have their front office brass, head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry, around for awhile after their offseason extensions that were signed. But can DeShaun Watson solidify himself as their starting quarterback after recent injury struggles? Will the Cowboys or Browns take this Week 1 battle between two teams that want to start off on the right foot? Tickets for this contest start as low as $185. Shop Cowboys at Browns Week 1 tickets We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Cowboys Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

NFL names Cowboys’ Cooper Beebe among 10 most overlooked rookies reidhanson NFL.com scout and occasional Cowboys contributor, Bucky Brooks, knows a thing or two about college players transitioning to the NFL. The former player turned writer and scout, makes a living breaking down film while explaining and projecting player performance. He’s a draft expert and someone many people turn to for informed and insightful takes. While looking through a list of NFL rookies hoping to make splash in their first season in the league, Brooks named a Cowboys rookie as one of 10 overlooked rookies who have “showed serious flashes” this preseason. The player he mentioned was aspiring starter, Cooper Beebe. The Cowboys took a gamble when they selected Beebe in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. It’s not that the Kansas State guard was a poor prospect because he was actually very well regarded in the draft community. Dane Bruglar at The Athletic even slotted him in as the No. 3 guard in the class rating as his 38th ranked prospect in the draft. What made Beebe a gamble was role the Cowboys were going to ask him to play. Drafted as a center, Dallas wanted Beebe to play a position he wasn’t acquainted with in the past. In his 48 collegiate starts, Beebe played at left tackle, right tackle and left guard, but never center. The Cowboys strategy was a rebuttal for what scouts perceived to be Beebe’s biggest weakness, arm length. For as much as Brugler liked Beebe as an NFL prospect he did admit his 31.5-inch arms could be a dealbreaker for some team scouts. Interestingly enough, the Cowboys are one of those teams who value arm length to an extremely high degree. They just found a way to work around the issue. At center arm length isn’t as much of a factor as it is at other spots along the line. Center is often seen as an extra blocker who either takes part in a double-team, picks up blitzes, or slices the defense in half getting up to the second level. They aren’t susceptible to long-armed defensive lineman like the other linemen are. The reason all dominant short-armed guards don’t make the transition to center is because the center position is challenging in its own way. NFL centers are required to be one of the smartest players on the field. Based on previous Wonderlic scores, center ranks as the second highest scored position in the NFL. The Wonderlic test, designed to measure a number of items up to and including intelligence, has been widely used in the NFL for years. Center falls just one point behind offensive tackle and one point ahead of quarterback in average scores. Tasked with recognizing defenses and calling blocking assignments, center plays a vital role in both phases of the offense. It’s why many (this writer included) thought Beebe might struggle as a rookie and Brock Hoffman could possibly start. Low and behold, when the pads came on and the contact was real, the cream rose to the top and Beebe, not Hoffman, stood out as the man to beat. “Obviously, once you get in a game it’s easier,” Beebe said. “The playbook shortens down and it gets easier, but I think I’ve been doing well. There are some weird looks here and there that I’ve got to continue working on but, overall, I think I’m doing pretty well.” Brooks at NFL.com sure thinks so. He saw Beebe flash signs of dominance saying, “the rookie has shown impressive skills controlling the point of attack from the pivot.” Brooks even doubled down saying that playing between Zack Martin and Tyler Smith, Beebe could play like an all-star as a rookie. For as bold at that is to say about a third-round rookie, it’s hard to find a Cowboys fan or media member who disagrees. It’s hard to tell where the 2024 season will take the Cowboys, but most believe the success of the team hinges on the Cowboys’ ability to replace two-fifths of their offensive line with a pair of rookies who came into the summer with major question marks. By all accounts Tyler Guyton at LT and Beebe at center have answered those questions by exceeding all immediate expectations. The Cowboys organization was hoping for it, Cowboys fans were seeing it and now the national media is predicting it. Beebe is going to make some waves in Dallas. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

3 reasons why Prescott signing before Week 1 make sense for Cowboys QB K.D. Drummond Seven days and counting. The Dallas Cowboys will hit the field to begin their 2024 campaign in just a week’s time, and time is running out on their window to extend quarterback Dak Prescott. The MVP runner up from 2023 has imposed a soft deadline for the organization to put their money where their mouth is and make him the highest-paid player in the league. If the two sides can’t agree, Prescott has said that he isn’t interested in negotiating when actual games are happening, so he will end up hitting free agency. We covered three reasons why Prescott may not want to re-up just yet. The Cowboys’ drought, anticipation of a bidding war and uncertainty with the coaching staff are all great reasons for Prescott to wait until next offseason to want to sign. But there are certainly reasons why he’d want to get the deal done now before they take on the Cleveland Browns. Prescott is immensely integrated with the city of Dallas. His foundation, Faith, Fight, Finish, as well as other philanthropic efforts are based in the area. Prescott has recently expanded his family unit and while families relocate across the country all of the time, most prefer to stay where they set their roots. Also, the perks if he can win in Dallas are unfathomable. He’d be a king in the state for ending the drought of 30 years and there simply isn’t a better way to forge lifelong opportunities than being an NFL champion from Dallas. Also on the table, he’s the big dog at said table. The Cowboys have been approaching Prescott with unacceptable contract offers for half a decade now, and he’s never caved. In fact, most would say that after being franchise tagged when they didn’t give him an acceptable offer through three and four career seasons, he’s owned owner Jerry Jones in negotiations. A no-trade clause is one thing, but forcing the second tag before signing (meaning any future tag would be the third at 140% prior salary) AND getting a no-tag clause for this negotiation was a masterpiece. He’s given no quarter to the man who believes he’s the best in the business at GMing. Finally, Prescott’s rapport with teammates is certainly a thought to consider. Prescott is the true leader of the team and when a player is beloved in the locker room (not always synonymous with leadership) like he is, there’s an emotional tie. The quest to finish what was started in 2016, to complete the mission, is something that is certainly weighing into Prescott’s thought process as he surveys the landscape across the league. It’s not just Prescott who is going to be asked questions in every city they travel to for 2024; his teammates are going to grow tired of it as well. Also, he’s no dummy. He’s rather wise, and the grass is not always greener on the other side. And while it’s unlikely he could price himself out of Dallas, getting things done now to remove any distractions throughout the season seems a smart move.

Cowboys fortunate how their WR situation fell into place reidhanson The Cowboys entered training camp with a clear and present need at the receiver position. Yes, they had one of the best WRs on the planet in CeeDee Lamb, but behind him was a grab bag of unknowns and mysteries. The veteran of the bunch, Brandin Cooks, turns 31 in September and is coming off his worst season in five years. Was he still the guy or was he on decline? The developmental players, Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks, have just 30 career NFL receptions between them and had given little indication last year they were ready to be relied on for a top-three role in 2024. And the rookie draft pick, Ryan Flournoy, was a project player from a small school who was in many ways a longshot to ever play in the NFL, let alone earn a roster spot as a rookie right out of camp. The Cowboys weren’t just hoping their WR room would step up and play better than they did last season, they were banking on it. The issue at WR became even more apparent after CeeDee Lamb sat out camp amidst a contract dispute. But it seems to have all worked out. Not only did Lamb just sign an extension and make his way back into the fold, but the players the Cowboys were banking on to improve successfully paid out as well. Cooks looks like his down season last year was more about his usage than slippage. Tolbert looks like he has a firm grasp of the WR3 position and may even be the heir apparent for Cooks as Dallas’ No. 2. Brooks looks like he can step in and play a variety of roles, namely filling the hole left by Michael Gallup at the X. Even the rookie Flournoy showed he’s more than just a project player; he’s someone who could be special. Training camp has to be seen as widely successful for the Cowboys WR position. Hitting on one projection is impressive enough but the Cowboys appeared to hit on multiple projections. This feat can’t be understated. No one disputes the offense runs through Lamb. It’s probably why the Cowboys gambled at all the other WR positions. Seeing these young prospects improve is important for 2024 and also in seasons beyond. With Lamb as the second highest paid WR in the NFL, it’s important for the Cowboys to keep costs low around him. Populating the WR depth chart with players on rookie deals is a must going forward. Exceptions can be made for modestly priced veterans, but generally speaking, the strategy is leaning on rookie contracts to keep positional spending affordable. The entire WR depth chart has explicably fallen into place perfectly for the Cowboys, positioning the team for success in 2024 and beyond. Related articles Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

3 reasons Dak Prescott would be crazy to re-sign with Cowboys now :: Cowboys Wire Link: Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has maximized his leverage and the team has very few options remaining. Prescott on the other hand has multiple pathways to chose but these three reasons would make crazy for him to re-sign with the Cowboys. Why Jerry Jones’ waiting game with Dak Prescott’s contract isn‘t such a bad idea :: Dallas Morning News Link: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sometimes need additional interpretation for what he tells the media. His latest comments about the ongoing contract negotiations with signal-caller Dak Prescott could be deciphered as the 81-year-old owner wanting more from the quarterback position. How many players on the Dallas Cowboys earn more than $10 million a year? :: Fort Worth Star Telegram Link: Headlined by the usual suspects like quarterback Dak Prescott and future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin, six Cowboys players earn more than $10 million per season. Those numbers rank Americas Team at the bottom compared to the Dallas Mavericks and the Texas Rangers. DeMarvion Overshown full go for Cowboys opener vs. Browns: ‘I’m ready to strap ’em up’ :: The Mothership Link: Dallas lost linebacker Demarvion Overshown last year due to a torn ACL. This year, Overshown was hobbled by a hip-pointed which limited him towards the end of training camp. With Week One now the focus, Overshown is ready to “Strap ’em up.” Free agent scouting report: A closer look at new Dallas Cowboys RB Dalvin Cook :: Blogging the Boys Link: The Cowboys signing running back Dalvin Cook to the practice squad comes with plenty of questions. The answers will only come as the games begin, but looking at what he’s done in the past gives hope that he can turn the clock back and provide Dallas with much-needed production. Why each of the Top 10 Super Bowl contenders will (or won’t) hoist the Lombardi in February :: The Athletic Link: The Athletic gives Dallas the sixth-best percentage (5.7%) of winning Super Bowl LXIII behind NFC teams such as the 49ers and Lions. Philadelphia is also ahead of Dallas despite the rift between their quarterback and head coach while also replacing both coordinators. Dak’s in full control :: ESPN Aging stars won’t solve Cowboys running back problem in 2024 :: Inside the Star Link: If accolades were a contest, the Cowboys have the most decorated running back room in the NFL. Dallas is banking on a revival while skeptics believe the Cowboys should have already made a move for a young runner sometime this offseason. Cowboys tie reduced training-camp interest to lack of postseason success :: Pro Football Talk Link: If one were to have glanced at the stands during Cowboys training camp, there was a noticeable difference compared to years past. A usually overflowing crowd making all kinds of ruckus sounded more like a light roar and that was because fewer fans were in attendance this season. Dallas ties the drop in attendance to the lack of team success in the playoffs. Ryan Flournoy number change :: R.J. Ochoa The NFL’s Most Valuable Teams 2024 :: Forbes Link: In an announcement that shocked very few people, the Cowboys are once again the most valuable franchise in all the NFL according to Forbes. Listed slightly over $10 billion, Dallas leads from the front when it comes to off-field ventures and branding. The inagural list ranked the Cowboys first in 1998 at an estimated $413 million; an increase of 2,346% since.

With bar lowered, a new deal for Dak would feel like Cowboys win reidhanson Think back to the start of the 2024 offseason. The Cowboys were fresh off their humiliating playoff loss to Green Bay and Jerry Jones was elbow deep in “all-in” declarations in a calculated attempt to quell the uprising within the fanbase. Draft season was in full effect and free agency was fast approaching. Top 10 free agent lists populated the landscape and Cowboys fans were busy debating which internal free agents Dallas will retain and which external free agents Dallas will target. The window was open for another year the only question was how wide the front office was willing to pry it. As everyone would soon come to realize, Jones’ “all-in” statements weren’t remotely true under even the loosest of definitions. To make matters worse, not only did the Cowboys have little intention to sign outside talent to their roster, but they also didn’t even plan to retain their own top free agents. The “we like our guys” statements made every year were now suddenly starting to lose traction since they hadn’t even done a good job of retaining their own. When the Cowboys opened training camp with CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons’ contract situations still unresolved, expectations seemingly fell to an all-time low. In just a matter of months sentiments went from “who are they going to bring in to put them over the top,” to “who can they afford to lose this year and still be competitive,” to “are they even going to keep their own super stars?” The bar has been dropped so low, even the most obvious re-signing, Lamb, was rejoiced as a wonderful accomplishment. It almost didn’t matter the negotiations dragged on through the entire preseason. Suddenly just retaining their own obvious players for market values felt like wins. Just days before the start of the regular season, Prescott’s contract situation remains unresolved. There’s hope the Cowboys can retain their franchise signal caller beyond this year but there are certainly no assurances of it. Prescott holds all the leverage, and the Cowboys let the issue drag on dangerously long. In what feels like a 50-50 situation with Prescott, the Cowboys are a flip of the coin away from a multiyear rebuild. Disaster is at the door and the bar has been lowered so much, just re-signing Prescott would now feel like franchise-saving win. If the fanbase was told in February their team would re-sign Lamb and Prescott this year, the news would likely be met with some form of “well, duh.” Today it would be cause for champaign. That’s how far expectations have dropped for this front office. This may go down as one of the most emotionally wild offseasons in years for Dallas. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

3 reasons Dak Prescott would be crazy to re-sign with Cowboys now K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys took care of their most pressing contract situation last week, extending wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for another four years through the 2028 season. Lamb is now making the most net income of any non-QB, playing half his games in no-state tax Texas and averaging $34 million a season. Lamb was one of three superstars Dallas had to worry about, but issues remain on the contract front when it comes to quarterback Dak Prescott. Like Lamb, Prscott is entering the last year of his deal. Unlike Lamb, Prescott reported to offseason activities and training camp. With much conversation about whether or not the team will be able to reach an agreement with their franchise player, along with whether or not they should, one question hasn’t been asked very often. What is the incentive for Prescott to agree to a deal now? Here are three reasons why he may be more willing to stay on the market than people may realize. Cowboys History ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 20: Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on as the Dallas Cowboys take on the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) The Cowboys have been blessed with two finds at the quarterback position; do fans realize that Tony Romo joined the club over 20 years ago? While Romo likely isn’t going to make the Hall of Fame, he and Prescott have regularly been among. the league’s best quarterbacks at various times in their tenure. Yet the organization cannot make progress in the playoffs. From Prescott’s perspective, he’s 5 months away from being able to choose his own franchise and it could be one that has proven capable of putting together a world champion some time this millenium. Bidding war maximizes his value on the street New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) on the sideline in the second half. The Giants fall to the Cowboys, 23-16, at MetLife Stadium on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. Nfl Ny Giants Vs Dallas Cowboys Cowboys At Giants Even if Prescott intends to remain with the Dallas organization, why would he not maximize his value? The 2025 free agent market is absolutely barren, unless Russell Wilson or Justin Fields rejuvenates their stock to a tremendous level this year. The bidding war for Prescott would be absolutely insane, regardless of what his detractors think about him. Prescott is a proven winner with a .640 regular season winning percentage, and has two top-six MVP finishes in his eight years. Kirk Cousins has a career .531 winning percentage, has never sniffed an MVP vote is 36 and just got $45 million a season. With Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa signing extensions with their team, there’s going to be a bidding war, especially with the 2022 QB class falling into the abyss already. Resigning without knowing the coaching staff and system makes little sense Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter of their wild card playoff game Sunday, January 14, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Green Bay defeated Dallas 48-32. The final point, who knows what’s going on with Dallas next season? Prescott has now played through three systems, learning under Jason Garrett while winning rookie of the year, while excelling with both Kellen Moore and Mike McCarthy’s system. But Dallas could turn over the apple cart this offseason with their coaching staff. Signing now, while the front office could certainly lean on his input, limits his options as far as his next system should the Joneses move on from McCarthy. Waiting to see what they do following the season gives Prescott additional leverage in the decision, for better or worse. If he doesn’t like the hire, he can go find a team who he does agree with their philosophy. And if there’s an opening for a team he’s dreamed about playing for? Even better. There are plenty of reasons why Prescott would want to sign with Dallas before the season starts, but these are tangible explanations why the ball isn’t exactly in Dallas’ court, regardless of what their offers look like. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys named favorites to land Bill Belichick in 2025 reidhanson When Bill Belichick left New England over the offseason the Cowboys were one of the first teams mentioned as a possible destination. Dallas was coming off a postseason implosion against the lower-seeded Packers, and head coach Mike McCarthy had just a season left on his deal. A coaching change in Dallas wasn’t just possible, it was kind of expected. As luck would have it, McCarthy was able to hold on in Dallas another year. The Cowboys front office opted to roll it all back for one more year in 2024 and that meant letting McCarthy serve out the entirety of his contract with the dreaded lame duck status ominously looming over him. Belichick, widely considered a surefire Hall of Famer, inexplicably signed with no one. The legendary coach set his sights on 2025 to resume his coaching career, with the Cowboys, once again, serving as a favorite landing spot to onlookers. Jeff Howe from The Athletic recently called the Cowboys “the obvious connection.” From Belichick’s point of view, he needs to find a team built to win now. At age 73, he’s probably not interested in a complete rebuild. He’s just 15 wins away from passing Don Shula on the all-time wins list, which, provided Dak Prescott is retained, is a feat he could easily achieve in less than two seasons with the Cowboys. From the Cowboys point of view, Belichick would add legitimacy back to the coaching ranks in Dallas. Jerry Jones has long been accused of hiring “yes men” at head coach. Presumably soured by the Jimmy Johnson experience, the impression is Jones wants to ensure he receives the bulk of the credit the next time ultimate success is achieved. Whether that’s fact or fiction is difficult to say but it’s a widely held perception he’s been fighting since the turn of the century. He pushed back on this roughly 20-years ago when shocked the world by bringing in Bill Parcells. Belichick would put those same “puppet” accusations to bed if he were brought in to follow the ever-pleasing McCarthy in 2025. As was the case with Parcells, it would require compromise on both sides to make such a marriage work. The Cowboys’ personnel department has been far more successful finding talent than Belichick has been since taking a leadership role in personnel in New England. They would need to retain that power. At the same time Belichick would have to be king of the kingdom in matters of final roster and playing time. The front office would have to back off. In other words, the front office would be in charge of buying the groceries, but they would have to get out of the kitchen completely when it was time for Belichick to cook dinner. On a short-term basis, Jones and Belichick could easily use their friendship to make a working relationship work. Considering the term would only be in the 2–3-year range, it’s not asking too much of them. Whether or not the marriage would be beneficial for both parties is a different story. Barring major injury, a Prescott-led Cowboys squad would surely push Belichick over the top by 2026. Even if they couldn’t find success in the postseason, Belichick would come out of the union a winner based on his all-time win record. The Cowboys, on the other hand, may not be much better off. Belichick would offer toughness, preparedness and postseason strategy to a team that’s seemed to lack all three elements. But as a defensive minded coach his success has been largely based on Tom Brady’s awesomeness on the offensive side of the ball. For as good as Prescott is, he’s no Brady. Prescott needs a coach helping him in the postseason, not leaning on him. Therefore, an offensive minded coach is probably the better option for the Cowboys. Then again, there’s no telling who the Joneses would consider at head coach after McCarthy anyway. Oftentimes the candidates come out of the recycle bin. When McCarthy was hired, the alternatives being considered weren’t exactly inspiring. Ben Johnson or Bobby Slowik seem like great options for the Cowboys if they are indeed hunting for a head coach next offseason. But if the list of candidates doesn’t include them but rather features a series of defensive coaches and retreads, maybe Belichick is the best option. One thing is clear – the Cowboys and Belichick is a very real connection for a reason. Both sides can make it work and both sides have something to gain from the other; wins for Belichick and street cred for the Joneses. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!

Cook will help Cowboys ‘play wide open,’ per McCarthy, but don’t discount Dowdle Todd Brock The addition of four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook may have muddied the waters, at least in terms of projecting which ballcarrier will get the lion’s share of the workload in Dallas this season. But to hear head coach Mike McCarthy tell it, that’s kind of the point. Cook will start out on the Cowboys practice squad as he acclimates himself to the playbook and ramps up to game speed after working out on his own all spring and summer. But the team clearly has plans for him on Sundays, and he’ll eventually join a platoon that already includes two-time rushing champ Ezekiel Elliott, a resurgent Deuce Vaughn, and Rico Dowdle, who many observers have said looks like the best back of the bunch this offseason. “What’s the definition of ‘committee?’” McCarthy asked reporters during a Thursday press conference. “As a play caller, you want to play wide open- first, second, third down- and you want it to flow. My definition of ‘committee’ is: it’s a long year. You want to be able to have distribution throughout that position because of the toll that it takes on the running back position.” As for which one opposing defenses see in the Dallas backfield, McCarthy explained, it will all depend on the moment. “We don’t want to necessarily be in personnel groups that every time this particular player runs in or this particular player runs in [the defense knows what’s coming]. After three or four weeks, you have major tendencies,” he warned. “We want to be able to utilize all those guys but stay in a normal flow.” The late signing of Cook- just 12 days before the season opener in Cleveland- does throw a wild card into how the Cowboys’ running back committee has looked in camp and the preseason. But the coach confirmed that signing the former second-round draft pick- who’s had four 1,000-yard campaigns in seven NFL seasons- was no spur-of-the-moment impulse purchase. “There’s been interest for quite some time,” McCarthy said. “Personally, I’m a fan. I’ve seen him run down the sideline from the opposite side of the field too many times. He’s just a hell of a player. I think when you just look at our roster additions this year, we’ve added some veteran experience- more than we’ve had in the past- and he’s a great example of it.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] But pairing Cook with Elliott- the two have combined for over 15,000 career rushing yards and seven Pro Bowl nods- should in no way leave Dowdle, who has a grand total of 385 rushing yards after four injury-filled pro seasons, as the odd man out. McCarthy readily admits that the undrafted South Carolina product will see “a lesser role” only on special teams this year, and that’s because the plan is for him to play more in the Cowboys offense. “I think I definitely should get a bigger role this year, and I’m looking forward to it,” Dowdle said after Cook’s signing, per The Athletic‘s Jon Machota. “The more you can do, the better. When you can catch out of the backfield, run routes, and also run the ball well, it’s hard to take you off the field. I want to be a three-down back.” And being in a timeshare with two longtime workhorses doesn’t worry Dowdle in the least. “One guy is not going out there, being on an eight-play drive, staying eight plays in a row or something like that,” he said. “It’s kind of flipping it: four and four, having a third guy come in, just making sure we have fresh legs on the field at all times.” Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.