Category: News and Notes

The decision by Bruce Arians to step down as Buccaneers head coach puts a former Cowboys assistant in the big office in Tampa. Also late-breaking Wednesday, news that the Cowboys and Chargers are working on plans to hold a joint practice between the two clubs this summer.

Tons of draft news to get to, too, including player profiles of four prospects worth getting to know, a mock that looks to the middle of the defense, and a glimpse of what one Ohio State speed demon could bring to Dallas. Stephen Jones is talking about linebackers- one that he passed on as well as one he can’t wait to see, Jourdan Lewis is throwing up the deuce in 2022, and a Cowboys receiver could be packing his bags for the desert. All that and more is in this edition of News and Notes.

Stephen Jones has all but nixed the notion of six-time first-team All-Pro joining the Cowboys as the team’s draft strategy continues to evolve behind the scenes. While taking a linebacker may be in the cards, there’s one draft-day move that would be the biggest mistake Dallas could make, according to one outlet. Making the right picks is why head coach Mike McCarthy says he skipped the league meeting in Florida; it could be a job-saving decision before it’s all said and done. One mock draft has the Cowboys addressing the offensive line, and a former first-round stud shares the story of how he nearly became a Cowboy before the team went back on its word.

In non-draft news, Michael Gallup’s 2022 debut may come later than hoped, Micah Parsons can expect to keep bouncing around on defense, captains’ workouts are heating up, and a former Cowboys backup will come marching in to a new locker room this season. All that, plus new overtime rules and a look at the star power that America’s Team draws… in the stands. Here’s the News and Notes.

Jerry Jones speaks. After weeks of uncharacteristic silence from the Cowboys owner, Jones held court at the league meetings with Dallas beat reporters and covered plenty of ground. Over the course of a morning chat, he detailed the team’s draft-day strategy, pulled back the curtain on why the team traded Amari Cooper and how they lost Randy Gregory, updated Michael Gallup’s recovery from ACL surgery, and commented on the Cowboys culture in the wake of several off-the-field scandals. He also found time to ask a judge to throw out the paternity lawsuit pending against him and make some serious allegations of his own about possible extortion.

Elsewhere, a closer look at just how big a deal the re-signing of Jayron Kearse could prove to be, keeping the Bobby Wagner hope alive, examining whether CeeDee Lamb should be returning punts, revisiting the draft class of 2018, checking out the power rankings, and looking into why no one cares about safeties… but why everyone may have to start. That’s all up in News and Notes.

As the league meetings get underway, one Cowboys notable is missing. Without Mike McCarthy there for any media Q&A, that leaves Jerry Jones to face the press. The Cowboys owner has been M.I.A. lately amid a handful of controversies both on and off the field, but the silence may end this week.

Elsewhere, an ex-Cowboy takes a shot at the team as he meets with reporters for his new club, and we learn that the Dallas front office tried to keep its struggling kicker in the building. Bills quarterback Josh Allen isn’t a fan of Trevon Diggs’s recent what-if scenario involving his brother, we get a glimpse into the day-to-day life of real-life cowboy James Washington, and the grades are out on which NFL GMs do draft-day trades the best. All that, plus a seven-round mock that also says the more picks, the better. Here’s your Monday morning News and Notes.

The majority of the dust has settled for Dallas in free agency, so how is their depth chart shaping up? Take a look at the Cowboys roster from multiple different angles, including a position-by-position assessment and an explanation as to why Dallas may be due for some regression in 2022.

Dallas must now turn to what is traditionally their biggest team-building tool, the upcoming NFL draft, to continue the improvement of their squad. With a number of needs it can be tough to tell who the Cowboys are interested in, but their 30 official visits will help to show fans what prospects and positions Dallas may be prioritizing, and the Cowboys have already conducted six of said visits.

Plus, a look at the top five prospects at each position, Greg Zuerlein’s new landing spot, and Trevon Diggs dream for his brother to join him in Dallas. All that and more in Saturday’s news and notes.

Micah Parsons was a revelation in his rookie season, but he can’t do it alone. The Cowboys are expected to beef up their linebacker corps either in free agency or the draft, but the team has a recent history of getting it wrong with first-round defenders. We’re sorting through the class to see who would be a stellar fit for the star, just as the defense’s leader seems ready to pass the torch.

Elsewhere, Jayron Kearse makes it official, the Cowboys fill their final coaching staff opening, and the first of 30 official prospect visits is apparently on the books. We look at an intriguing edge rusher coming out of the SEC, examine which Cowboys will be expected to step up into larger roles in 2022, and prepare for a new next-door neighbor at AT&T Stadium. That’s all ahead in News and Notes.

Dallas’s newest wide receiver is endearing himself to fans right out of the gates; James Washington not only gave a sly dis to his former team by claiming he was underutilized in Pittsburgh, but proved he may just be the most cowboy cowboy on the Cowboys, all in the same conference call. But he may have competition in the WR room, as one outlet says the team should be looking hard at another AFC free agent pass-catcher.

Elsewhere, plenty more draft-day prospects to grade- including two cornerbacks to pair with Trevon Diggs- and also, an under-the-radar defensive lineman may be on the cusp of hitting the big time in his return to the silver and blue. We’re looking at the new hire for the Cowboys coaching staff, guessing which Nittany Lion defender Dan Quinn might be interested in this year, checking the team’s progress toward its offseason goals, and considering which new overtime proposal solves the current conundrum. That’s all ahead in News and Notes.

The Dallas Cowboys have lost more big-name players than they have added or retained through the first week of free agency. This includes Randy Gregory, who spoke for the first time recently about his decision to make a move to Denver.

Dallas has since secured two defensive ends, bringing in Dante Fowler and re-signing Dorance Armstrong, to go along with DeMarcus Lawrence.  Lawrence was extended earlier in the week. According to his agent, he accepted a very team-friendly deal to stay with the Cowboys. Second-year end Chauncey Golston will also be in the mix, what is expected out of the 2021 third-rounder?

Fans may have to wait until the draft to find the Cowboys next new substantial roster additions, as the club’s recent history shows a strong preference of building through the draft and re-signing that homegrown talent. However, after freeing more than $20 million in cap space, the Cowboys could re-enter the conversation for some of the league’s top remaining talent.

With a new quarterback in Washington, and multiple first-round picks for Philadelphia and New York, are the other NFC East teams going to close the gap in 2022? All that and more in this weekend’s news and notes.