Latest news with #Cowboys'
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys Headlines: Trevon Diggs in doghouse; JJ Watt blasts Jerry for injury comments
If Cowboys fans thought 2025's training camp would open without any drama at all, they were sorely mistaken. The traditional press conference to kick off the summer sessions in Oxnard laid plenty of landmines that are sure to keep the team in the headlines as genuine practices get underway. Owner Jerry Jones glibly addressed the Micah Parsons contract situation, but in the process managed to throw his star defender and even his franchise quarterback under the bus, according to some. His comments drew the sarcastic ire of one of the game's most popular voices and once again called into question why Jones continues to do business in a way that effectively kneecaps his own teams. Management also spoke on both Trevon Diggs's decision to workout away from the facility and the pay cut he'll see as a result. Some are seeing it as setting the table for the organization to make a big move. Meanwhile, we'll spotlight the rookie running backs: Jaydon Blue speaks out on the recent criticism from an ex-Cowboys staffer, and we'll explain why Phil Mafah could prove to be the steal of the draft. Also, Brian Schottenheimer shares his thoughts on KaVontae Turpin's recent arrest, and Jerry Jones makes two surprising revelations: one about his dealings with agents, and one about his thoughts on giving up the GM title. All that, plus what ChatGPT forecasts about the Cowboys' chances for success this coming season. Jerry, Stephen Jones address Trevon Diggs situation :: The Mothership Link "He understood when he decided he was going to train in South Florida, he understood what the consequences would be," Stephen Jones said of Diggs, referencing the half-million-dollar hit the cornerback will take as a result of not meeting the workout clause in his contract. Jerry Jones added, ""We expect a player paid like Trevon to be here all the time. We expect him to be leading." Trevon Diggs is in Dallas Cowboys' proverbial doghouse. Is writing on the wall? :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Management's obvious disappointment over Diggs, his workout attendance, and his apparent lack of leadership is being viewed by many as laying the groundwork for the high-priced cornerback to depart Dallas after the 2025 season. Despite there being four years left on a nine-figure contract extension Diggs signed in August 2023, the Cowboys could move on from his deal next offseason and save over $15 million. Jerry Jones 'Not the least concerned' on contract talks, takes shot at Parsons, Prescott :: Cowboys Wire Link The owner took a somewhat glib attitude when asked about his star defender's contract negotiations. Jones pointed to similar impasses with Zack Martin and Emmitt Smith, noting that the latter's holdout in 1993 ended with a Lombardi Trophy. Jones also observed that, "Just because we sign him, doesn't mean we're going to have him," going on to remind reporters that Parsons missed time last year and Dak Prescott missed the final one-third of the season after signing a record contract in September. JJ Watt calls out Jerry Jones for awful handling of negotiations with Micah Parsons :: Link Former three-time Defensive Player of the Year and future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt had some sarcastic thoughts on Jones bringing up injuries to Parsons and Prescott while talking about the former's contract talks. Anytime you can publicly take a dig at your star quarterback and your star pass rusher simultaneously, right before the season begins, you just gotta take it," Watt snarked on X. "Nothing makes guys want to fight for you more than hearing how upset you are that they got hurt while fighting for you." Parsons retweeted Watt's post without additional comment. Jerry Jones' worst NFL enemy remains Jerry Jones :: For the Win Link "Contract Extension" Jerry is great for his stars' checking accounts, but he actively hinders the roster around them. His propensity to drag his feet early in negotiations creates financial bottlenecks down the line for a team that's perpetually high on star power and often low on depth. The strategy keeps costing him money while antagonizing the players on which he relies. It's an approach that perennially keeps the Cowboys from turning its stars into a constellation. Jerry Jones opened Cowboys camp with a revelation, but it wasn't a Micah Parsons deal :: Dallas Morning News Link In a remarkable peek behind the curtain, Jones revealed that he only rarely speaks to agents, even when they represent his top players. Stephen Jones added to the intrigue by saying that his father didn't even have conversations with Todd France during negotiations for Dak Prescott's record-breaking deal last summer. For the Parsons talks, it will be agent David Mulugheta, Stephen Jones, and Adam Prasifka, the Cowboys' senior director of salary cap and player contracts. Cowboys open camp down $15 million of talent as three CBs, LB start on PUP/NFI lists :: Cowboys Wire Link Trevon Diggs, DeMarvion Overshown, and Josh Butler will all be on the Physically Unable to Perform list as training camp gets underway. Third-round rookie Shavon Revel, Jr. will be on the Non-Football Injury list. The official designations, all expected, were announced Monday. All four players are recovering from serious knee injuries. Dallas Cowboys comment on arrest of Pro Bowl receiver, former TCU standout :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link KaVontae Turpin's July 5 arrest on marijuana and weapons charges has not gone unnoticed by the Cowboys coaching staff. "He understands that there is a standard with how we conduct ourselves," head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday. "He knows that he needs to be better." Any disciplinary actions against Turpin taken by the team are expected to be internal. Cowboys rookie RB Jaydon Blue responds to 'borderline lazy' label from former Dallas assistant :: CBS Sports Link Ex-Cowboys staffer Glenn Smith made waves recently with criticism leveled against the rookie running back, but Blue isn't buying it. He responded on social media by saying, "lmao taking time out yo day to make fake article about me for attention." Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas also came to Blue's defense, stating that the fourth-round pick hasn't "had 1 issue on or off the field." Sleeper Alert: Cowboys 7th-round pick is the one RB no one is talking about :: Cowboys Wire Link Despite a crowded committee shaping up in the Dallas backfield, Phil Mafah could be a bruising breakout. A one-cut runner with patience to wait for openings and the strength and physicality to create his own openings, he's a workhorse between the tackles and a willing blocker in pass protection. If he can put a shoulder issue behind him and return to his pre-injury form, he could prove to be a very valuable role player for the Cowboys. Jerry Jones has mulled stepping down as Cowboys GM for 'small fractions of seconds' :: Bleacher Report Link The 82-year-old admitted to giving a passing thought to something many Cowboys fans have clamored for for years. But his position as the team owner gives him the ultimate out. "Personally, I don't have any problem justifying when somebody says, 'Well, do it differently. Why don't you just watch it on TV?' I don't have to. I paid too high a price in my mind for doing what I'm doing, and I'm ready to do it again." 4-year vet DE hopes to find roster spot amidst four 1st-round, three second-round picks :: Cowboys Wire Link Luiji Vilain joined the Cowboys practice squad last fall but was never called up or elevated for a gameday. Still, the club liked the veteran DE enough to ink him to a futures contract. The Wake Forest product now faces a long haul to make the 53-man roster, with names like Dante Fowler, Payton Turner, Solomon Thomas, and Donovan Ezeiruaku also being added over the offseason. And that list doesn't even include the promising young ends who were already in the Cowboys locker room. AI makes game-by-game predictions for Dallas Cowboys 2025 season, playoff appearance? :: Cowboys Wire Link Open AI's ChatGPT looked at a number of factors in crystal-balling the Cowboys' 2025 season. In this forecast, the team gets off to a strong start and carries an 8-3 record into Thanksgiving, but then things get rocky. They go .500 over the last six games to finish at 11-6, likely good enough for second place in the NFC East and a wild card berth. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Cowboys' Micah Parsons at Training Camp; Jerry Jones Sparks Contract Drama
Given that the Dallas Cowboys have gone 29 seasons since appearing in an NFC Championship Game — the longest drought in the conference — owner Jerry Jones has found himself occasionally considering whether to step down as general manager. "Yes, momentary," he said Monday. "Small fractions of seconds, I promise you." With his player personnel duties seemingly not changing anytime soon, Jones remains focused on how to get the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl. That seems unlikely to happen anytime soon without a happy, healthy and productive Micah Parsons in the fold, and the star defender's contract dispute was the primary topic of discussion Monday before the start of training camp. "There's nothing new about what we're talking about here today relative to contracts," Jones said. "If you say, 'Well, if you don't get him in you're going to lose the first two games, then go on to win the Super Bowl,' well, we'll take that," he continued, referencing running back Emmitt Smith's 1993 holdout. There were no updates on the on-field status of Parsons — who was present for the start of camp — from Jones, executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones or new coach Brian Schottenheimer. It's the second straight offseason where financial dealings with standout players risk overshadowing the Cowboys' football preparations. The ever-loquacious Jerry Jones alternated between praising Parsons' business acumen and pointing out he had dealt with an injury for the first time in his career, missing a handful of games because of a high ankle sprain. He seemingly took a dig at Parsons' durability when probed about what they'd do if he didn't practice. "He was hurt six games last year, seriously," Jones said. "I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league, and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year in Dak Prescott. So, there [are] a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money." When asked if the average annual salary is part of the reason why the Cowboys haven't been able to come to terms yet on a deal with Parsons, CEO Stephen Jones said it wasn't "productive to talk about any details about what's holding what up." "Contracts are four, five years, OK?" Jerry Jones chimed in. "There's a lot of water under the bridge if you step out there and do something in the first two or three. … There's a lot to look at over a lot of years that could make a big difference. "Have you ever heard of any clubs committing to any players, and they didn't pan out after they committed to them? We have." Jones also indicated that he had yet to speak to Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta. Still, the 82-year-old Jones said he still enjoys making player personnel decisions, even against the backdrop of constant criticism. While Parsons didn't directly respond to Jerry Jones' comment, it appears that he was displeased with what his team owner said. He reshared a social media post made by former NFL star J.J. Watt that read, "Anytime you can publicly take a dig at your star quarterback and your star pass rusher simultaneously, right before the season begins, you just gotta take it… Nothing makes guys want to fight for you more than hearing how upset you are that they got hurt while fighting for you." Parsons had 12.0 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 13 games (Jones mistakenly said that Parsons missed six games), the lowest tallies of his four seasons in Dallas in each category. The 26-year-old defensive end is present at camp, something the elder Jones appreciates, but it isn't clear if Parsons will participate in the first practice. He's going into the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, and the Cowboys would be able to apply the franchise tag in 2026. The edge rusher market exploded this offseason. Only five players have eclipsed Nick Bosa's previous record mark for the highest salary among edge rushers ($34 million), with T.J. Watt becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history last week; he signed a three-year, $123 million deal, giving him an annual salary of $41 million. Previously, Prescott participated in training camp last year before getting a new contract before the start of the season that made him the NFL's highest-paid player. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb held out of camp before receiving a new $136 million, four-year contract with $100 million guaranteed last August. Those protracted dealings came ahead of a 7-10 season that marked the end of Mike McCarthy's five-year run as coach. Tuesday will serve as an indication of how Parsons feels about his contract talks with the Cowboys. Even though he did report to the team for training camp, he could opt not to participate in the team's first training practice and "hold in," an approach that has become popular among players in contract disputes who are aiming to avoid getting fined. Parsons admitted on the "Six Feet Under" podcast earlier in July that he thinks Cowboys ownership has made contract talks "more complicated than it has to be," but he said in a separate interview with PennLive last week that he's "going to get mine no matter what." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! 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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jerry Jones 'Not the least concerned' on contract talks, takes shot at Parsons, Prescott
It didn't take long for Micah Parsons and his contract to become a main topic of conversation at the Cowboys' state of the franchise press conference Monday. The traditional Q&A session, which put owner Jerry Jones, COO Stephen Jones, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer behind the mic ahead of Tuesday's opening practice, was barely underway when the assemblage of reporters asked about the edge rusher's status. Parsons, who has made the Pro Bowl in all four of his seasons thus far, is widely expected to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL at some point. Many thought that point would have already come by now, as the 26-year-old has made no bones about wanting to get a deal done earlier rather than later. But such is not the way the Cowboys like to do business. "I am not the least concerned about having any dangling participles out here on a contract," Jerry said, using a somewhat out-of-place grammar reference to make his point. While Cowboys fans would have liked the Ts to have been crossed and the Is to have been dotted long ago for the best defender in the game, the Cowboys owner maintains that he's not the least bit frustrated that Parsons isn't locked up to a long-term pact. "Not at all," he explained, flashing back to times it has all worked out in the past between the club and holdout stars. "Two years ago we were here, and I think Zack Martin wasn't here, and you had a situation although he had a contract. You work through that." Jones even found a way to subtly promote the upcoming Netflix docuseries chronicling his ownership of the franchise and how a not-dissimilar contract impasse eventually resulted in a Lombardi Trophy in the 1993 season. "I was looking at this documentary and spent some time going back on the Emmitt Smith negotiation and what was going on there," Jones offered. "There's nothing new about what we're talking about here today relative to contracts. You say, 'If you don't get him in, are you going to lose the first two games then go on to win the Super Bowl?' Well, we'll take that." But getting smug about a championship story from three decades ago doesn't help the 2025 team, who is decidedly not coming off a title season or looking to simply keep their hot streak going. While the '93 squad could look to Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and others in Smith's absence, this current iteration of the Dallas defense would be barely a shell of itself if Parsons found himself playing in the final year of his deal with no promises beyond 2025. Parsons has hinted he may make a business decision and "hold in" while the team is in Oxnard, not participating in any drills or practices for fear of a fluke ankle turn or ACL tear that would cost him a literal fortune. Bizarrely, Jones himself brought up the ever-present specter of injury, hinting at it as a factor in why the organization is just as happy to wait to make things official. "Just because we sign him," Jones offered, "doesn't mean we're going to have him. He was hurt six games last year. [Ed note: It was actually four.] Seriously. I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the [way through the] year: Dak Prescott. There's a lot of things you can think about- just as the player does- when you're thinking committing and guaranteeing money." To try to help illustrate the uncertainty of life in the NFL, Jones at one point compared football players to cars, thinking back to a time when he remembers a new Buick costing just $5,000. "I've seen 'em go dead at at $5,000, and I've seen 'em go dead at $50,000," he said. "It's just the times you're in and the money you're in. I'm not trying to be cute." But if not cute, the mention of Prescott's season-ending hamstring injury as some sort of complaint about the team's lack of return on their $240 million investment in the quarterback certainly came across as grossly cavalier and incredibly callous. And it has absolutely nothing to do with Parsons's current situation. If anything, the former first-round draft pick is following in Prescott's footsteps by showing up at camp and being present with his teammates, even as his own payday uncertainty is an ongoing top news story. It's all part, the team seems intent on emphasizing, of Parsons graduating into his new expected role as a true leader in the locker room. "When you're up there in that top ten percent, so to speak, of the league and that top quartile of your team," Jones stressed, "leadership is really big. And leaders exhibit themselves when you're negotiating as well. So I'm appreciative of Micah being here." Schottenheimer is too, though he was adamant that whether or not his superstar edge rusher practices, the tenor of the team's work in Oxnard will not change. "However this thing plays out, it's going to play out," the coach said. "The fact that Micah's here: he's talked all offseason about wanting to take more of a leadership role, he's talked about wanting to be great. We know he's a great player. We're excited he's here. There's a lot of ways to get this thing done, but like we've said, we're committed to having him take that next step, not just as a player but as leader." Parsons is, after all, technically under contract for 2025... as is every Cowboys player in attendance. That was the very first point Jones made sure to call out in the press conference. But the blatant reminder that Parsons is already locked up for the upcoming season- at the relative bargain price of $21.32 million- was quickly followed by a push for him to step up in other ways, to apparently prove he's worth north of $40 million a year. "I'm big into- and I'm not alone, either," Jones explained, "showing anything you can do for leadership if you're going to be one of these guys that are in the top drawer of all the money." Make no mistake: Parsons deserves to be in that top drawer. And just as history has shown- with Emmitt Smith, with Zack Martin, with CeeDee Lamb, and with Dak Prescott- he'll almost certainly get there. The Joneses have to do it their way, though, and that means dragging it out while the boss spins tales of the glory days and drops corn-pone zingers and suggests all manner of impossibly shrewd backroom negotiations. But in the end, Parsons will get his money. Jones himself basically admitted as much. "Of all of the players that I've ever negotiated with," he said, "Micah Parsons is as savvy and knowledgeable and understanding of his financial business relative to football as any player I've ever been around." But the extended song and dance to get there is- maddeningly for fans- just part of the process for Jones. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Business
- NBC Sports
Jerry Jones on Cowboys docking Trevon Diggs' pay: He didn't earn it; he didn't come
The Cowboys confirmed that they have enforced the de-escalator clause in Trevon Diggs' contract, lowering the cornerback's base salary from $9 million to $8.5 million, because he didn't rehab enough at the team facility. 'The de-escalation is contractually spelled out,' Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday. 'When he decided to train in South Florida, he understood what the consequences would be.' Dallas places base-salary de-escalator clauses in its large contracts, all but guaranteeing participation in the offseason program. The team had the option of not enforcing the clause, and Diggs is believed to be the first Cowboys' player to see his base salary lowered because of it. His contract stipulates he participate in 84.375 percent of the offseason program at the team facility. 'He didn't earn it; he didn't come,' Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. 'That's in his contract that he doesn't get that unless he's going to be here. . . . Those are contractual things as Stephen said. It would be very detrimental to the team not to abide by the agreement.' Diggs tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a Week 3 practice in 2023. Diggs now is rehabbing the same knee after chondral bone graft surgery Jan. 23, which entails transplanting pieces of bone tissue into the joint to stimulate growth. Jerry Jones was critical of Diggs rehabbing away from the facility in 2023, and on Monday, he made it clear the team expects more from Diggs after signing him to a five-year, $97 million contract extension in 2023. 'We expect a player paid like Trevon to be here all the time. We expect him to be leading,' Jerry Jones said. 'That's not new. That goes all the way back to Deion [Sanders]. Deion was not necessarily given to come to the weight room. I explained to him that it meant a lot for him to be in there. . . . It needs to have some show with it. 'So, it's important. It's important to have the right body language in every respect when you are one of those rare, rare financially paid and gifted players. You've got to have some leadership about you.' Diggs, who could miss all of the 2025 season with his injury, is a two-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL with 11 interceptions in 2021. He has played only 13 games the past two seasons, while totaling three interceptions.
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Dak Prescott: Nobody's more disappointed than I am with team's playoff results
The Cowboys' 30-year Super Bowl drought predates Dak Prescott, but entering his 10th season, the quarterback understands the criticism of his 2-5 postseason record. He said this offseason that he wants to win a championship and 'be damned if it's just for my legacy or if it's for this team. It's for my personal being, for my sanity. The legacy will take care of itself.' Prescott was the MVP runner-up to Lamar Jackson two seasons ago and is closing in on all of the team's major passing records. But he does not have what Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman do, which separates him from consideration as the greatest in team history. '[Criticism] comes with the territory,' Prescott told Clarence Hill of All City DLLS. 'That comes with the $60 million. It is what it is. And if I'm sensitive to the truth, then I've got a problem with life. Nobody's more upset; nobody's more pissed; nobody's more disappointed about that than I am. Nobody wants to win more than me. I have the proof in what I do, in my hours and my habits of preparation. I understand it's a team game, but at the end of the day, the quarterback is paid to fill in those gaps, and when you're not playing well, to understand that and to bring the team back. And have I done that when I needed to? Absolutely not in those crucial times. And if I had, the record wouldn't be 2-5. That's being a realist. However, I know what I put into this game. I do it all for a purpose. And when I go through the fire, that just says it's shaping up what's to come. 'I would bet on myself, and I'd bet on the work that I put into this thing any day. And trust me I'd give the money I make to win and be broke. I'm not sensitive to it. It is what it is. And trust me, that's my point. Nobody's more disappointed than I am about that. All that does is that elevates the work that I put into this and how I approach it.' Prescott's hamstring is fully healthy, and he's got new additions around him, including wide receiver George Pickens, running backs Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders and Jaydon Blue and right guard Tyler Booker. His confidence in himself has not wavered, and he's ready to write another chapter. 'What I've been through in life, [criticism] doesn't affect me,' Prescott said. 'It comes with the territory. It comes with $60 million [a year as the league's highest-paid player]. I get to live out my dream. They get to continue to make judgements. And if that's talking negative on me, that's them. I have the pen in my hand. I'm going to work. It's being confident and knowing that I can get better.'
