Latest news with #StephenJones
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys' Jones Addresses 'All In' Confusion in Roster-Building
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys need to get their catchphrases straight. This offseason, Jerry and Stephen Jones obviously shifted into a different gear from where this franchise was a year ago. No, the Cowboys' 82-year-old owner didn't go "wildcattin''' as was the case decades ago. Advertisement But entering the 2024 season, Dallas let 11 starters/rotational players leave via free agency ... and barely lifted a finger to replace them. And they did so, by the way, on the heels of Jerry announcing theatrically that the franchise was "all in'' on chasing a title. It was - much to the chagrin of Cowboys Nation - empty gibberish. The Dallas front office wasn't "all in'' in any traditional sense. "Mail it in'' is more like it. Fast-forward to this offseason. Dallas has acquired a dozen veterans, most with starter credentials. The Cowboys made 4 trades, capped by a successful plan to land a No. 2 receiver to complement star CeeDee Lamb resulting in George Pickens rolling into town. Advertisement Sidebar: There is obvious risk in the Cowboys' trade. The talented receiver had more than his share of emotional outbursts on the field and, reportedly, in the locker room. He's got one year left on his contract so he might not be a long-term answer. The Cowboys admit this is a gamble of sorts. ... and most Dallas fans love it because it fulfills a year-old promise to be "all in.'' Except for one problem. Stephen is slapping back at the use of the phrase. 'I don't buy into all that. Name one person that isn't all in,' Jones said via SI 'I'd hate the fans to hear their owner say that people aren't all in, when you're competing in the NFL. Advertisement "I mean, it's kind of a joke. Every year we line up, we're moving our chips in.' Yeah, but ... umm ... errrr ... Stephen, last year, you did not "move your chips in.'' And the "all in'' phrase came from your own boss, your own dad. Maybe it's a harmless, innocuous thing. But it would be comforting for the Cowboys to have a real philosophy match up with their unreal phraseology. ... that's all. Related: Cowboys Micah Parsons Speaks Out Strongly on 'Handshake' Deal Report Related: Cowboys In Pickle With Familiar Opener Against Eagles
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cowboys Jones Details 'Good Feeling' for Fans After Winning Offseason
It was shaping up as a defining offseason for the Dallas Cowboys, and changes both on and off the field left many wondering exactly where the direction of the franchise was going. But as we sit here today, the direction the franchise is going is a positive one. No, that does not mean the Super Bowl here we come, but it is more about the moves to get the right coaches and the right type of player in the building. Advertisement The free agency period saw a host of starting-caliber players walk through the doors at The Star, plus the draft haul, which has been lauded, not to mention the type of characters new head coach Brian Schottenheimer wanted in his locker room. All players who are locker room leaders and love football. And Cowboys COO Stephen Jones is happy with how the offseason has gone for the franchise. ... and surely hopes the "good feeling'' is shared by fans. "When you break the huddle, you always want weapons," Jones said. "I saw something where CeeDee (Lamb) and George (Pickens), if you put their stats together, I think they may be the two most productive guys over the last two years on one team. We were needing that, and you bring the juice of (Jaydon) Blue. Advertisement "Then, beefing up that offensive line for Dak (Prescott), I just think the offseason really came together good for us, and we feel really good about our football team. When you start to look at all the guys we're going to get back that didn't play last year, it's a good feeling." Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and owner Jerry Jones (right).Kyle Terada-Imagn Images That "good feeling" certainly beats the feeling Cowboys Nation had 12 months ago as the "blow it up" concept was in full swing, and now, some are sneakily bullish on Dallas in 2025. Now, we aren't crowning anyone yet, and we haven't even gotten to training camp, but there has been a clear plan of attack from Schottenheimer, who appears to be hitting all the right notes in getting this team built the way he wants. Advertisement There is an uplifted mood, if you will. Dak Prescott is returning from his hamstring injury with another weapon in George Pickens, a rebuilt offensive line, and a run game projected to be better than last season. Not to mention the defensive additions of Donovan Ezeiruaku, Shavon Revel Jr., and the free agency signings of Jack Sanborn and Dante Fowler Jr. So it's no wonder Stephen feels good about this offseason's work. Because, in a nutshell, it has been. Now it must translate onto the field. Related: Cowboys Get U2 Comparison in Whiny Colin Cowherd Rant Related: Cowboys George Pickens Jerseys On Sale Despite Missing Key Detail
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What's Cowboys 'Pull The Trigger' Reasoning On George Pickens Trade?
The Dallas Cowboys desperately needed a receiver and, post-draft, pulled the trigger on a trade for Pittsburgh Steelers star George Pickens. But how did that trade eventuate? With the need for a running mate for CeeDee Lamb well documented, it was seen as the last piece of offseason business before the Cowboys could tie everything neatly into a bow and head towards OTAs and training camp. Advertisement The draft was where most thought Dallas would take a receiver with Tetairoa McMillan a clear favorite, but as Cowboys COO Stephen Jones explains, once the draft came and went, the front office moved swiftly to get the Pickens trade over the line. "As we did more and more homework, as I said going into the draft, we didn't know if we were going to get a receiver high or not, we were certainly considering it, when we didn't end up doing anything at receiver because it's the way the board fell," Jones said. "After the draft, we had several options on the table and dug in even more in terms of understand what each player brings to the table, and we thought George was the right answer and decided to move quickly and pull the trigger." Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) looks on in the third quarter against the Gilligan-Imagn Images So there are a couple of really good nuggets here. Advertisement First, the Cowboys didn't "reach" for a receiver after missing out on McMillan. The franchise could have been forgiven for frantically going after Emeka Egbuka or Matthew Golden, but they stayed true to their draft board, potentially knowing they had Pickens and Rashod Bateman in their back pockets. And the second one is once Dallas realized its situation with Pickens, there was no prolonged talks about the trade, it was a quick deal. The franchise knew what it wanted and as Jones said "pulled the trigger" on the trade. Two acts that will surely make Cowboys Nation feel a little better about the offseason work. Dallas needed a receiver, and when things didn't go its way in the draft, it stuck to the plan and got a good haul. Then, once Pickens was in their crosshairs, it was go time. Advertisement So it is clear that the Cowboys had a plan of attack at receiver, and while the path to landing the sometimes-controversial Pickens wasn't exactly straightforward, once the front office knew all they needed to know, the decision was easy. And now Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have a weapon who is going to help them tremendously, and it's all because the much-maligned Cowboys front office was proactive in making a move to signal their 2025 intentions. Related: Cowboys 4 New Starters Projected in Dak-Led Offense Related: Cowboys Get U2 Comparison in Whiny Colin Cowherd Rant
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys' Jones Offers Micah Parsons $200 Million Contract Update
The long saga that is the contract situation of Dallas Cowboys' pass-rushing linebacker Micah Parsons doesn't appear to be any closer to being completed than it was a month ago. With a contract set to make Micah the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, naturally, a deal of that magnitude takes the longer it goes, the more nervous fans sit in their seats. Advertisement They want a Parsons deal as soon as possible. And Cowboys COO Stephen Jones thinks something will get not right now. "I don't comment on close or far away or any of that," Jones said. "Those things, usually, when the right things come together and everybody's ready to do a deal, then it happens. Certainly, we want Micah here, and he knows we want him here, and I think ultimately, we'll get something done." Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons celebrates a sack against the Las Vegas Raiders at AT&T Miron-Imagn Images So it appears that a contract will get done with Micah and the Cowboys, it will just take time. ... with sources having told that Jerry Jones and Micah have had discussions mentioning a deal for five years worth $200 million. Advertisement But as we saw last offseason with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, these contract situations can be a distraction, and for a new leader of the locker room in Micah, no doubt, he wants to get his deal done before training camp so he can focus on football. Whether that happens or not is unknown, but going by Stephen's words, there is a positive thought to Parsons' potential extension. So it isn't closer than it was a month ago, but the Cowboys want No. 11 to stick around. The best way to do that and eliminate all of these unnecessary headlines is to put pen to paper and sort out Micah's future. Which will happen in due not imminently. Related: Cowboys Oddest Schedule Demand Not a Death Sentence for Playoff Run Related: Cowboys George Pickens Jerseys On Sale Despite Missing Key Detail
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Dak Prescott Breaks Silence On George Pickens Trade
FRISCO - It seems that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and new receiver George Pickens are now part of a mutual admiration society. Last week, upon being traded from Pittsburgh to Big D, Pickens called Prescott a a "very prolific and smart'' QB. Advertisement On Wednesday, Prescott broke his silence on the trade and shared his first public thoughts on Dallas getting the controversial superstar talent. 'We've connected,' Prescott said on 1310 The Ticket. 'I'm excited. You turn on the tape, you see a guy that can catch the football. You put the football anywhere in his vicinity, very strong hands, more than a 50-50 catcher. He thinks it's his ball when it's in the air. "I'm excited for him.'' Last week, Dallas sent to Pittsburgh a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in exchange for the 24-year-old wide receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick. Advertisement And now CeeDee Lamb has a partner. And Dak has a dangerous - maybe in more ways that one - weapon. For months, Dallas COO Stephen Jones has conceded that the Cowboys roster needed an "explosive No. 2'' receiver. Dak obviously agrees. Said Dak: "I know we needed some help at that position. I know that CeeDee needed some help. I think when you have a guy like that, it's hard to double team two guys.'' Prescott, who is coming off season-ending hamstring surgery from a year ago, then rattled off some other names of note. 'And then when you have other guys, whether it be (Jake Ferguson), Jalen Tolbert, (Jonathan) Mingo, guys who have had reps and know how to get open in the league, I think we're putting together a nice group of weapons.' Advertisement Pickens' emotional outbursts are part of his work in progress here; nobody in Dallas is denying that. But in terms of weaponry? He caught 59 passes for 900 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games last season. He had set career-highs with 63 receptions, 1,140 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games in 2023. And he's done that without ever having a Pro Bowl QB like Prescott. ... All of which puts Dak and George on the same page when it comes to being "excited.'' Related: CeeDee Lamb Fires Off 1-Word Ego Message on George Pickens Trade Related: Cowboys Thanksgiving Against Chiefs Will Be Stuffed With Silly Stereotype
