Category: Jaylon Smith

Dressed to the 9s: Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith takes over Tony Romo’s jersey number

The linebacker will buy the existing inventory of No. 54 gear in order to wear his old college number in 2021, with the ex-QB’s blessing.

The most polarizing player on the Cowboys’ current roster is about to raise the ire of fans of the most polarizing player in the Cowboys’ recent past. But make no mistake: linebacker Jaylon Smith has a clear-eye view of what he wants.

Smith will switch to a new jersey number in 2021, going from his previous No. 54 to No. 9, the number he wore at Notre Dame and in high school. ESPN’s Todd Archer cited multiple sources as he tweeted the news.

Of course, legions of Cowboys fans still have Tony Romo jerseys hanging in their closets, so there’s sure to be a preponderance of No. 9s at AT&T Stadium this season and beyond. The Cowboys famously do not retire jersey numbers; Romo wore the digit for his entire playing career, 2003-2016.

No. 54 has a rich history within the Cowboys franchise, too, having been worn by Ring of Honor defenders Chuck Howley and Randy White.

Owner Jerry Jones said last month that while the organization prefers that negotiations over jersey numbers happen strictly between players, he did intimate that Smith assuming the number of the beloved ex-quarterback might call for an exception.

“If anybody wants 9, we’ll have to represent Romo on this side of the table,” the owner said in a press conference on draft weekend, “to determine how much it’s worth to have No. 9 on, so to speak.”

Smith did reportedly reach out to Romo about wearing his old number moving forward, as per Archer.

According to the team website, third-year safety Donovan Wilson, who had been wearing No. 37 thus far in his career, is also switching into his Texas A&M number, No. 6.

First-round draft pick Micah Parsons had already been issued the No. 11 jersey he wore at Penn State, taking over that number from wideout Cedrick Wilson.

With new rules governing the numbers that each position can legally wear, Smith would have been able to complete the switch next year for free simply by making his request. But to get out of the No. 54 for the 2021 season, Smith will have to buy out the current inventory of jerseys and shirts bearing that number.

Smith was one of the first players to post a doctored image of himself wearing his preferred number when the league revealed it would broaden its numbering restrictions.

“Those guys have to negotiate those changes,” Jones said regarding potential switches in April. “We are very aware of what happens relative to the personality’s identification with a number. It’s not frivolous.”

The amount of money Smith will have to pony up to buy out all the existing No. 54 gear won’t be frivolous, either.

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Jaylon Smith reportedly safe as Cowboys consider cap clearing moves

Jaylon Smith has taken a step back since signing his in 2019. However, the Cowboys aren’t considering making him a cap casualty.

Jaylon Smith signed a five-year extension worth $64 million with $35.5 million in guaranteed money in August of 2019. Ever since he inked his name on the dotted line, the Dallas Cowboys linebacker hasn’t lived to the expectations of his deal. He’s looked slow at times, missed plenty of tackles, been a liability in coverage, and seemed to celebrate making plays when the Cowboys are being dominated on the scoreboard.

It’s led to many wanting him off the roster whether it be a trade or a release, but not the organization. According to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Cowboys aren’t considering releasing Smith for salary cap purposes.

The Cowboys are considering ways to clear cap room through contract restructures and releases.

But one option that is not on the table is the cutting of maligned linebacker Jaylon Smith, according to a source.

If the Cowboys were to go the route of making Smith a post-June 1 cut, that would create $7.2 million in cap space. Also, his $9.8 million cap hit in 2021 would be $2.6 million in dead cap money with another $7.2 million to be charged in 2022. The Cowboys would have to release Smith prior to March 21 or his 2021 salary becomes guaranteed.

Team owner Jerry Jones gave Smith quite the endorsement in November during the Cowboys bye week.

“We don’t have a player out there that doesn’t have things that he doesn’t want to improve on and can be better,” Jones said. “But, boy, I’m glad we got him. He’s one of our cornerstones and he’ll get better and better and better.”

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy echoed Jones’s thoughts once the team’s dismal 6-10 campaign concluded.

“The fact that he lines up every day, the fact that he practices hard every day, plays hard, I thought he gave us some big-time, productive games,” McCarthy said. “I think he’s probably one of the ones that was challenged the most as far as the scheme change. I just love his approach and the way he’s gone about it.”

Former defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s hybrid scheme didn’t do Smith any favors. Although he had a career-high with 154 tackles (second in the NFL) he received a putrid 54.2 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2020. Despite an obvious drop-off, Smith was confident in what he put on tape.

“I mean, watch the film,” Smith said late in the year when asked if he saw himself being with the club in 2021. “But for me, it’s a blessing to be able to play this game. So many people thought I’d never play ever again. So for me, I’m my worst critic and I’m my biggest fan. I’m gonna keep at it, keep grinding, but the guys that know football and know our scheme and watch film. I don’t have to speak for myself. It’s all there.”

The Cowboys will have a new mastermind of their defense in 2021 in Dan Quinn. During his days with the Seattle Seahawks, he was the architect of the infamous “Legion of Boom” defense which dominated the NFL with consecutive top-ranked units in 2013 and 2014 and was the spearhead for back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, winning one title.

He’s already figuring out roles for the Cowboys personnel defensively and could possibly turn around Smith’s play and get him back to his 2018 level under a traditional four-man front.

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Jaylon Smith: Cowboys defense ‘ready to bounce back’ under Dan Quinn

The Pro Bowl linebacker recalls what went wrong for Dallas in 2020 while looking forward to working with his new defensive coordinator.

Thirty teams’ worth of players, coaches, and staff will have their eyes turned toward Tampa this weekend, watching the last two squads compete for the Lombardi Trophy they all started off chasing. For everyone but the Chiefs and Buccaneers, the chase for next year’s championship has already begun.

While actual practices and official work sessions won’t get underway for some time, it’s often those first offseason moves, those still-fresh reflections on the season gone by, those early conversations between new coaches and players that lay the foundation for whatever successes are to come in the next year.

Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith has already started the wheels turning about the 2021 season in Dallas.

Speaking this week with NFL Network, the 2019 Pro Bowler says he’s especially looking forward to getting back to work with new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

“I actually talked to Dan last week,” Smith revealed. “We got a chance to chop it up for a while, just talking about what we’re trying to accomplish and what’s in store. I’m excited to get after it, man. He’s a guy around the league that everyone loves, very energetic, he’s proven that he can win. And he’s going to get some guys that are locked in and ready to bounce back.”

Goodness knows the Cowboys have plenty to bounce back from, after a 6-10 season that most fans would prefer to wipe clean from the memory banks.

“So many things we endured,” Smith recalled, “from the injuries, to losing our quarterback, new system, not having an opportunity to really learn it fully right away; we learned as we went, the death of our brother Markus Paul- rest in peace- you name it. But when you put those pads on and you line up, it’s about 11-on-11. And we didn’t do a good enough job of executing and playing together. A bunch of highly talented individuals coming together but not being on the same page, not understanding initially what we’re supposed to do and how to do it the right way. You lose your confidence. And for us, we had to battle. And that’s why, around the end of the season, getting a chance to turn it around and just do better, it gives us momentum going into this next season. We’re hungry, we’re motivated.”

Watching two other teams- who themselves had their own challenges and obstacles to overcome in 2020- duke it out for the sport’s ultimate victory will just add more fuel to that fire.

“Looking forward to watching this game on Sunday, which will be a heck of a game. And we envision ourselves there. That’s where we want to be.”

Smith is the Cowboys’ nominee for this season’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The winner of the prestigious honor will be announced Saturday night during NFL Honors.

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4 players the Cowboys could trade or release this offseason

The Cowboys may be in need of additional cap space, but they may also just be prudent in certain roster decisions separate from money needs.

When it comes to the Cowboys roster heading into 2021, things aren’t as fluid as they have been in years past. They certainly have a number of decisions to make, as 22 of their 24 free agents are still up in the air. The biggest name of course is Dak Prescott, but at the worst most have to assume he’ll be franchise tagged if they don’t work out a long-term agreement.

While there are moves to be considered as far as restructuring players in order to create cap space, here we’ll focus on four players who could end up never wearing a star on their helmet again. This isn’t any sort of prediction for things to come, but rather a run down of what could happen and the financial and draft ramifications of such.

News: Verdict is in on Jaylon’s value; Moore, Fassel stay with Cowboys

Dallas’ maligned linebacker was put under a microscope, plus the Eagles turned their noses up at Cowboys assistants.

Kellen Moore and John Fassel have recently piqued the interest of the Philadelphia Eagles for their vacancy at head coach. On Thursday that interest came to an end as they hired Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni. The Dallas Cowboys lost several starters in free agency in 2020, and are now projected to receive the maximum of four compensatory picks in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys underachieved this season with a 6-10 record, however, ESPN predicts that with a healthier roster and improved secondary they can return to the playoffs next season. Jaylon Smith had a forgettable year, and Bob Sturm of The Athletic dives into whether or not he’s worth holding onto going forward. Amari Cooper’s value since arriving in Dallas, the future Xavier Woods, and more are covered in the news and notes.

Cowboys Jaylon Smith to have wrist surgery

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith is set to undergo left wrist surgery. He will be available for the 2021 offseason program.

The offseason allows players the opporutnity to fix any nagging ailments and that’s what Dallas Cowboys’ linebacker Jaylon Smith is set to do. According to ESPN’s Cowboys writer Todd Archer, Smith is scheduled to undergo left wrist surgery.

It is not considered to be anything serious and Smith will be ready for the offseason program.

In 2021 Smith is scheduled to make a base salary of $7.2 million which becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the new league year, and carries a $9.8 million towards the cap. Smith is signed through the 2025 season after signing a six-year, $68.4 million contract in 2019.

Even in what has been considered to be a down year for Smith, he lead the team in tackles with 154 overall and has posted 120 or more tackles in three of his first four active seasons.

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Cowboys News: Dak’s contract leverage, Jaylon criticism, draft targets

After going 4-7 without Dak Prescott, Jerry Jones says je couldn’t have more leverage when it comes to future contract negotiations.

2020 was a rough year for Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott after failing to ink a long-term deal and suffering a season-ending ankle injury. However, after the team went 4-7 without him, Jerry Jones says he has plenty of negotiating leverage. Jaylon Smith has been the subject of ridicule due to a regression in his performance, but Cowboys COO Stephen Jones applauded his effort and preparation in a recent interview with 105.3 The Fan.

The defensive side of the ball will need reinforcements in the NFL Draft after one of the worst seasons in franchise history, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr list Iowa’s Dayvion Nixon and Alabama’s Patrick Surtain as possible targets with the 10th overall pick. DeMarcus Lawrence speaks on Nolan’s defensive scheme, why losing to the New York Giants in Week 17 may end up being a good thing, and what pending free agents should be resigned, and more are covered in this edition of the news and notes.

Watch: Jaylon Smith hit has Eagles sending tape to NFL for dirty hit

Was this a dirty hit by Jaylon Smith, or just part of football?

The Cowboys don’t have a reputation as a dirty team, but for the second time in the 2020 season, one of their players may have notably crossed the line. It’s not uncommon around the NFL for it to happen as it’s an emotional, violent game played by gladiators. Still, it does shock a play made by a member of the team is considered dirty.

Earlier in the season, second-year defensive tackle Trysten Hill pulled a gator roll on Seattle Seahawks RB Chris Carson, causing the back to miss a few games. On Sunday, LB Jaylon Smith was involved in a play some feel may have had bad intentions. Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said he is submitting the late third-quarter play to the league for review.

On the 2nd-and-10 play with 0:34 remaining, the Cowboys were up 30-17 with the Eagles in Dallas territory following Andy Dalton’s interception to Darius Slay. From the 28-yard line, the Eagles call a draw and Smith engages with the pulling left tackle, Jordan Mailata.

Mailata approaches gingerly, and before turning his attention back inside to where the play is happening, Smith delivers a blow to Mailata’s head.

The Eagles were flagged for holding on the play, but if the league agrees with Pederson’s assessment, there may be a fine heading Smith’s way.

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Cowboys nominate Jaylon Smith for Walter Payton Man of the Year honor

The linebacker will wear a special helmet decal marking the honor, recognizing his work empowering minority entrepreneurship initiatives.

Cowboys fans have had a love/hate relationship with linebacker Jaylon Smith in 2020, often making him the target of their frustrations with a defense that seems to often lack hustle and the poster boy for an organization that seems to overpay some players before they’ve proven their long-term worth.

Those criticisms deserve to be set aside for a day at least. Smith was honored by the league Thursday for his community service activities off the field when he was named the Cowboys’ nominee for the 2020 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

Always one of the team’s most active participants in local community outreach efforts, Smith has personally spearheaded initiatives to encourage minority entrepreneurship. He founded the Minority Entrepreneurship Institute to help open doors for others to start businesses and succeed financially.

From the Cowboys official website:

“Smith has pledged $2.5 million over 10 years to spur MEI investments and is adding co-investors across the country who share in his beliefs. His hope is that minority entrepreneurs will be the game-changers who can make a changing economy come to life.”

“Jaylon exemplifies every quality that this award celebrates,” Cowboys executive vice president and chief brand officer Charlotte Jones Anderson said in a statement. “He has a light that he wants to share and shine on others that is rare. We are excited to see what more he can accomplish through his work with minority entrepreneurs and the many other endeavors that he supports.”

Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, and Rico Dowdle were among the first Cowboys players who took to social media to congratulate their teammate.

A player from each team in the league was nominated; notables include Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, Seattle’s Russell Wilson, and Miami’s Byron Jones, the former Cowboys cornerback.

The nominations were announced on Good Morning Football.

Smith and the 31 other nominees will wear a special helmet decal for the rest of the season signifying the honor. All will see their work celebrated during the week leading up to Super Bowl LV and have a $40,000 donation made to the charity of their choosing. The award’s winner will be revealed during the NFL Honors event, with a $250,000 donation made. That winner will also wear a jersey patch for the remainder of his playing career.

Several Cowboys have won the NFL Man of the Year award: Roger Staubach in 1978, Troy Aikman in 1997, and Jason Witten in 2012. The award was re-named for Payton shortly after his death in 1999; the Bears running back had won it himself in 1977.

Nationwide, the award’s corporate sponsor, is encouraging fans to vote for their favorite nominee on Twitter by using the hashtag #WPMOYChallenge followed by the player’s last name. The player tagged most between December 10 and January 17 will receive a $25,000 contribution to their charity of choice; second- and third-place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5,000 donations, respectively.

Congratulations- and a celebratory swipe- to Jaylon Smith on being nominated for the NFL’s most prestigious accolade.

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Weekend News: O-line woes continue, Cowboys-Ravens pushed back as Jerry defends Elliott, Smith

The Dallas Cowboys will be without Zack Martin and Cam Erving for multiple weeks. Cowboys-Ravens game pushed back to December 7.

The Dallas Cowboys have once again taken a major blow to their offensive line. Zack Martin and Cam Erving will miss multiple weeks with calf and knee injuries, leaving an already porous offensive line in further disarray. The Baltimore Ravens, along with a number of other NFL teams have recently been bombarded with COVID cases, which has forced the NFL to make a number of changes, including rescheduling the matchup between the Cowboys and Baltimore from next Thursday to Monday, December 7.

If there was any speculation team owner Jerry Jones regrets paying Ezekiel Elliott or Jaylon Smith he put it to rest on 105.3 The Fan on Friday, saying those coins were spent in the right place. Randy Gregory, who hadn’t recorded a sack since December of 2018, had his first multi-sack game against the Washington Football Team on Thursday. The Cowboy’s five most important free agents in 2021, how Amari Cooper was the only noteworthy player on Thanksgiving, and 10 truths about the Cowboys’ loss to Washington, and more are covered in this edition of the news and notes.