Latest news with #NFCChampionship
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Cowboys' Dak Prescott Has Positive Pre-Camp Message
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It's time for the Dallas Cowboys to get back to work. Dak Prescott and his team will be back on the field in Oxnard, California, on Tuesday to kick off another important stretch of training camp. On the eve of training camp, Prescott took to social media to recap his busy offseason. He sent a strong message with his caption. "The story of life begins and ends with family," Prescott wrote in quotes. "Thankful for a Great Off-Season, it's only UP from here!" For the second time in his career, Prescott is returning to action after missing a large chunk of the season. Back in 2020, an ankle injury forced Prescott out of the lineup after just five games. When he went out, the Cowboys had a 2-3 record. Prescott threw the ball for 1,856 yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions. He didn't get a chance to lock in and hit his stride. Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Arlington, following year, Prescott returned to action for all 16 games. He led the Cowboys to an 11-5 record. The veteran quarterback completed nearly 70 percent of his passes, throwing for 4,449 yards. He went off for a career-high 37 touchdowns while throwing just 10 interceptions. Last year, Prescott followed up one of his best seasons by appearing in just eight games. He threw for under 2,000 yards and tossed 11 touchdowns, along with eight interceptions. When he went out, Prescott's Cowboys held a disappointing 3-5 record. It was a rough start for Prescott during the first season of his four-year, $240 million deal. As Prescott spent the offseason recovering from his hamstring-related setback, the quarterback revealed that he had just one more obstacle to clear before getting back in action for training camp. Since there haven't been any notable injury announcements on the offensive side of the ball from the Cowboys, it seems Prescott is on pace to be a full participant in training camp this summer. The Cowboys have a lot of pressure to bounce back in 2025. With a new head coach in the picture, they are looking to make big improvements after a 7-10 season. It won't be easy, considering the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles were the latest representatives in the NFC Championship game. With Prescott back in action, the Cowboys hope their major investment can pay off this year. For more Dallas Cowboys and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
6 Eagles with the most to prove during training camp
With rookies and veterans now at the NovaCare Complex for training camp, we're looking at the six Eagles with the most to prove. The Eagles held a marvelous Super Bowl 59 ring ceremony on Friday. After the final celebration of February's win over Kansas City, Philadelphia will now officially turn the page and quickly refocus on the task at hand. The hunters are now the hunted, and the Birds will report on Tuesday with the mindset of defending their title and staying hungry in the process. Lost in the celebration is the urgency that several key players and one high-profile assistant coach will face over the next few weeks, as each individual plays a crucial role in a potential return to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara. With rookies and veterans now at the NovaCare Complex for training camp, we're looking at the six Eagles with the most to prove. OC Kevin Patullo Nick Sirianni's longtime confidant, who had previously served as the passing game coordinator, was promoted to offensive coordinator after Kellen Moore accepted the head coaching position in New Orleans. Following the issues that arose with Brian Johnson two years ago, Patullo will be under the microscope. The last time Philadelphia hired from within, Brian Johnson had a one-year run with the Eagles' offense, and things imploded so severely that the Eagles lost six of their final seven games. Patullo has a machine, and he'll need to mold that juggernaut into his personality. DB Kelee Ringo The Eagles lost Darius Slay (Steelers), James Bradberry (free agent), Avonte Maddox (Lions), and Isaiah Rodgers (Vikings) in free agency and signed Adoree' Jackson. Even with those moves, Philadelphia didn't draft a cornerback until the fifth round when they selected Mac McWilliams out of UCF. Ringo is the biggest winner of the offseason and'll have the inside track to be a starter. DT Jordan Davis The Eagles exercised the fifth-year option on Jordan Davis this offseason, and the 2022 first-round pick will look to capitalize on the six tackles and two sacks during the Super Bowl run. Davis (6-6, 336 pounds) has started all 40 regular-season and postseason contests over the past two seasons, but needs a strong season to warrant a long-term extension. TE Dallas Goedert Goedert (team-record 52 career playoff catches) led the Eagles in receptions (17) and receiving yards (215) in the postseason. After reworking his deal, the talented tight end could earn his first out-right Pro Bowl nod. OL Tyler Steen Tyler Steen went from likely starter to a reserve in 2024, starting three games, including the NFC Championship, and playing more than 400 snaps on offense (including postseason games). Entering his third season, Steen (6-6, 321 pounds) will look to win the right guard job that opened up when Mekhi Becton signed with the Chargers in free agency. DB Sydney Brown The Eagles traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Houston for Kenyon Green, opening up a starting role for Sydney Brown or Tristin McCollum. Brown is a physical safety who is stout on special teams but doesn't operate efficiently in space or match up against elite pass catchers. Enter Andrew Mukuba, a Swiss army knife from Texas who could keep Brown relegated to special team duties. Mukuba can play the slot, operate in space, and play with range, drawing comparisons to Gardner-Johnson.
NBC Sports
18 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Micah Parsons takes note of shade from Jerry Jones
Micah Parsons should not have shown up for training camp. Owner Jerry Jones is going to lowball him. Guaranteed. And the only way to avoid it would have been to stay away. Micah seems to realize it. He re-posted a tweet from J.J. Watt criticizing Jones for comments he made on Monday, during which he justified concerns about paying Parsons and quarterback Dak Prescott by pointing to time they missed due to injury in 2024. 'Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're gonna have him,' Jones said regarding Parsons. 'He was hurt six games last year. 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 year. Dak Prescott. So there's a lot of things you could think about when you're — just as the player does — when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money.' For starters, Jones exaggerated the extent of the absences. Parsons missed four games with a high-ankle sprain, not six. Also, Prescott missed nine of 17 games (52.9 percent, not 66.667 percent) with a hamstring injury. More important: Who gives a shit? Players get injured. You don't lowball them because they might get injured. THEY DO. That's the point of contracts that give them protection against injury. Without those protections, teams will be far more inclined to screw them. As Watt put it, '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.' Although the CBA is structured to make it much harder for a player to walk out after he shows up, Parsons may have to do it in order to get the best possible deal. If he doesn't, Jones WILL lowball him and, if Micah doesn't take the last, best offer, the Cowboys WILL kick the can until 2026. If that happens, Parsons should demand a trade after the season to a team that will pay him what he's worth, and that won't use the inevitability of injury against him. Meanwhile, Cowboys fans, is it really a mystery as to why your team hasn't made it to the NFC Championship for 30 years and counting?
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Latest update on WR Terry McLaurin's contract status with Commanders
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is reportedly willing to explore every option for a new deal, including requesting a trade, according to FOX Sports' Henry McKenna. The All-Pro wideout is entering the final year of his contract, and the communication breakdown has led to him voicing his frustrations publicly. It's an unexpected turn of events for a player who led the Commanders in receiving and served as quarterback Jayden Daniels' favorite target during his run up to an NFC Championship appearance last season. McLaurin is still hoping that he ultimately gets a deal done with the Commanders, per McKenna, but he is also willing to shake things up, if necessary, to get an extension. McKenna wrote: "If necessary, McLaurin will explore every option, including a holdout, a hold-in and a trade request, per the source. "Everything will be on the table," the source told me." It's hard to envision the two sides not coming together and getting a deal done, but if the situation goes completely off the rails, the Patriots are a team that would likely show serious interest in trading for McLaurin. I recently put together multiple trade packages New England could offer in a potential deal with the Commanders. McLaurin hauled in 82 receptions for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. He's a proven veteran with a solid track record of working with young, inexperienced quarterbacks. Given all of the uncertainties surrounding Stefon Diggs' recovery, the addition of another elite playmaker, like McLaurin, would be a sure-fire game-changer. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Minnesota Vikings draft new CB in 2015 NFL re-draft from PFF
The 2015 NFL Draft was one of the best in Minnesota Vikings history. They landed three future Pro Bowlers, even adding another one in undrafted free agency. The class was a driving force in the team's NFC Championship run in 2017. But it could have been better. With the 11th overall pick, the Vikings took Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes with their first pick. Waynes played mostly special teams as a rookie, making only one start. He began making his way into the lineup in 2016, starting eight of the 15 games he played in. Waynes was a regular starter by the 2017 season, intercepting seven passes from 2015-19. The pick was far from a disaster, but Waynes was constantly compared to the next cornerback taken in the draft. With the 18th pick, the Chiefs took Marcus Peters, a player with off-field issues but plenty of playmaking ability on the field. Peters won Defensive Rookie of the Year, intercepting a league-leading eight interceptions, returning two for scores. He followed that up with an All-Pro season in 2016. Because of that, PFF had the Vikings take Peters in their 2015 re-draft. Marcus Peters, on the other hand, instantly became an interception machine — first with the Chiefs, then the Rams and Ravens, and finally with the Raiders. Peters recorded 36 interceptions over his eight-year career and earned single-season coverage grades above 79.0 in 2016, 2017 and 2019. To be fair to the Vikings, Peters' off-field issues led to him being traded after the 2017 season. But that probably doesn't justify the decision. Even if he was good enough for a shorter stay, he had more of an impact than Waynes ever did, and his playmaking ability opposite Xavier Rhodes would have given the Vikings a terrifying cornerback tandem for three seasons.
