The Cowboys quarterback should be in no hurry to sign a contract, but there’s one point that’s getting lost in the drama surrounding his bid to become a $60 million man, says one NFL analyst. In this edition of News and Notes, we’ll touch on that, and we’ll also get into a report in which former Cowboys staffers say they’re hearing that head coach Mike McCarthy is quickly losing patience with his situation in Dallas.
Elsewhere, a brash rookie is already stoking the fires of the Cowboys-Giants rivalry by going directly at Trevon Diggs; you’ll love the cornerback’s response. We meet the international player giving the Cowboys a new roster exemption, we ponder making a move on a wide receiver once thought to be a trade target, and we look to the recent past for clues on how a small-school prospect might be methodically developed starting in 2024. We’ve got a look at the NFC East’s offensive lines, we check on the real grass suddenly growing inside AT&T Stadium this weekend, and we go through the franchise history books to find the men who remain the only Cowboys draft picks ever from their respective schools.
Damien Woody: Dak Prescott holds all the leverage vs. Cowboys :: ESPN
The two-time Super Bowl champ believes Prescott “holds all the cards” in the standoff with the Joneses and has no reason to sign a contract right now, even if it were to be offered. There could be teams that “run through walls” to try to sign him in free agency, but that doesn’t mean Prescott won’t ultimately be back with the Cowboys in 2025. There are unique perks that come with the QB position in Dallas, and that could be turn out to be the deciding factor.
What in the hell are the Dallas Cowboys doing? :: Go Long
One former Cowboys staffer calls the current situation in Dallas “crazy” but admits “it doesn’t ever really change” there. The ex-employees cited feel that making McCarthy and the assistant coaches endure 2024 on the final year of their contracts is a mistake, and they say that Dak Prescott is “a really good quarterback who is capable of taking a team to the Super Bowl” but is being asked to overcome too much in Dallas. According to those that one source has talked to, McCarthy is “getting fed up with” the no-win position Jerry Jones has put him in and the repeated undermining that comes from the very top of the organization.
This rookie WR will flourish if Cowboys deploy a Miles Austin development plan :: Cowboys Wire
Austin’s incredible 250-yard NFL breakout game came only after the small-school kid with the big-time physical presence had years of methodical background development under his belt. The Cowboys were patient with Austin, and it paid off. Ryan Flournoy seems to be cut from the same cloth; hopefully, the Cowboys give him the time to learn the nuances of playing wide receiver at this level.
Giants rookie WR Malik Nabers ‘looking forward’ to going up against CB Trevon Diggs :: Blogging the Boys
Nabers wasted no time inserting himself into the Giants-Cowboys rivalry, listing Diggs as the opposing cornerback he’s most looking forward to battling this fall. Diggs quickly responded with a ninja emoji and a not-so-subtle reminder that the Cowboys have beaten Big Blue in 13 of their last 14 meetings.
Ranking NFC East offensive lines as roster churn hits everywhere :: Cowboys Wire
Once again, the Eagles are tops in the East, despite the retirement of Jason Kelce. Dallas is hot on their heels, though, with Zack Martin and Tyler Smith leading the way and two promising rookies coming on. Washington has not made OL an area of strength, and the Giants’ line tests very poorly in leaguewide rankings.
Wide receiver the Cowboys nearly traded for is now available for nothing :: The Landry Hat
Sometimes it’s the deals you don’t make. Dallas was said to be kicking the tires on trading for Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims before the 2022 season, but it never came to fruition. The athletic Mims, a former second-round draft pick, spent last year on Pittsburgh’s practice squad, but the Steelers have now released him outright… just in case the Cowboys still want to take a flier.
Tyler Smith hosts youth football camp in Fort Worth :: Savannah Huemoeller
3 Cowboys rookies look to join exclusive list of franchise's all-time draft picks :: Cowboys Wire
Marshawn Kneeland, Ryan Flournoy, and Nathan Thomas will be the first-ever Cowboys draft picks from their respective schools. Other notable 1-of-1s in the franchise’s history include Roger Staubach (Navy), Leon Lett (Emporia State), Larry Allen (Sonoma State), Harvey Martin (East Texas State), DeMarcus Ware (Troy), Jethro Pugh (Elizabeth City State), and Dexter Coakley (Appalachian State), each of whom has a story worth sharing of how they came to wear the star.
AT&T Stadium shows off grow lights for real grass at Copa America :: FOX 4 KDFW
The Cowboys’ home venue is currently sporting real grass this weekend for three international soccer matches. Video that hit social media this week showed rows of special grow lights helping the newly-planted grass. The U.S. Men’s National Team faces Bolivia on the new pitch at AT&T Stadium on Sunday. The Cowboys’ artificial turf will be back in place by the time the team hosts its first preseason game.
International player exemption opens roster spot :: Inside the Star
The international player exemption used by Isaac Alarcón basically allowed the Cowboys an extra roster spot for three years. Now defensive lineman Denzel Daxon will do the same. Daxon was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, and though he got offers from big programs like Miami, Georgia, and Tennessee, he opted to attend Ohio University and then later transferred to Illinois. The 6-foot-2-inch 320-pounder has earned rave reviews from coaches and looks to be a raw talent worth developing.
