Dallas City News

Michael Irvin questions unity of Cowboys and their star players – Clarence Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame receiver has questions about the team locker room.

Irvin’s ire is specifically directed at quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons for not policing their family members from taking shots at the team on social media in the aftermath of the loss to Green Bay.

Irvin readily acknowledges that owner Jerry Jones has done little in the offseason to improve the roster.

“They haven’t done anything,” he said.

But he is particularly bothered by the three guys — Prescott, Lamb and Parsons — who are in line for massive contract extensions. Three guys, he says, are the keys to the team.

“The biggest problem is who you’re paying,” Irvin said. “We’re about to take three guys who I hear Dak’s people talking noise in the media all the time, CeeDee’s people talking on social media and Micah Parsons people, talking in the media or Micah himself.

“We got our top three guys that we’re about to give all the money in the world. And their families (are) always running their (expletive mouth) in the media. That is a hard place to be. So what it says to me is you’re about to give money to three guys that are not even together.”

Irvin is speaking about incidents since the the loss the Packers. He’s referring to when Lamb’s mother called out Prescott on Facebook as well the brothers of both Prescott and Parsons shared their feelings about the team, scheme and contracts on social media.

Super Bowl or playoffs? Realistic goal for 2024? – Staff writers, DallasCowboys.com

The only question that needs to be answered this season is if it ends in a Super Bowl run.

Nick Harris: There’s no question that the 2023 version of the Dallas Cowboys failed to reach their ceiling. That ceiling was a Super Bowl appearance, in my eyes. And yes, with how free agency shook out paired with an added layer of pressure going into 2024 with the expiring contracts hanging over the team, that ceiling is lower. But I still see a reality where the Cowboys can finally get back to the NFC Championship Game. I still like Dallas in games against Detroit, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. It’s just San Francisco that I can’t see Dallas getting past until the group actually does it. I think a realistic goal is a playoff appearance with the ceiling being reaching that NFCCG.

Mickey Spagnola: The goal always is winning record, win the division, of course qualifying for the playoffs and as we know with the Cowboys 28-year NFC title game desert, get to the conference title game. Realistic? Why not. We know the Cowboys lost a bevy of players in free agency. We know they are incorporating three new defensive coaches. But look, the Cowboys sent 10 players to the Pro Bowl last season, and of the 12 players from last year no longer on the roster heading toward training camp, not one of those Pro Bowlers is missing. Oh, and they have Trevon Diggs, the previous Pro Bowl corner returning from his torn ACL. Developing depth might be the Cowboys key factor to taking the next step.

Kyle Youmans: It’s nearly impossible to look at the current makeup of the Cowboys roster and say they’re more talented than they were a year ago. But if there’s a lack of confidence in the overall makeup of the roster, that’s being over critical. This team returns eight players from the 2023 AP All-Pro lists, losing only Tyron Smith during free agency this offseason. Making them one of the best rosters in the NFL and the favorite in the NFC East. Dallas has a chance, just as they have the last three seasons, to win the division and make a run in the playoffs. So, that’s the goal. Win the division, make a run in the playoffs, and everything will be okay. Anything less than that could make the 2025 offseason a complete overhaul.

2024 Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster projection – Todd Archer, ESPN

A look at the 53 before training camp officially kicks off.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10): Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Brock Hoffman, Zack Martin, Terence Steele, Chuma Edoga, Cooper Beebe, T.J. Bass, Asim Richards, Nathan Thomas

Guyton, the first-round pick, needs to be ready to play immediately in replacing Tyron Smith. Hoffman has the edge on Beebe at the center spot as camp opens. Bass can play all three interior spots, while Richards is working at tackle and guard. Holdovers Josh Ball and Matt Waletzko are about to have their final chance to make an impression.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): DeMarcus Lawrence, Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith, Micah Parsons, Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, Chauncey Golston, Carl Davis, Viliami Fehoko Jr.

Parsons might be listed as a linebacker, but he’s an edge player. He could move around more under new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer than he did under Dan Quinn. After a disappointing rookie season, Smith has to deliver, but the Cowboys could still look for veteran defensive tackle help, which is why Davis gets the last spot, for now. Fehoko, a fourth-round pick last year, could be trade bait and will have to impress early after not playing as a rookie.

LINEBACKERS (5): Eric Kendricks, Damone Clark, DeMarvion Overshown, Marist Liufau, Willie Harvey Jr.

Kendricks is the most important addition of the season because of his knowledge of Zimmer’s defense. Kendricks understands what needs to be done at all three levels. Overshown showed promise last summer before tearing an ACL, and the expectations are high for him in his return. It’s time for Clark to be a consistent playmaker. Don’t rule out Damien Wilson if the Cowboys go to six linebackers.

Lewis on Zimmer, Diggs and staying with Cowboys – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com

Cowboys slot corner on the new scheme.

This offseason was wrought with poaching within the NFC East, though most of it was at the hands of Dan Quinn, former defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys who departed to become head coach of the Washington Commanders before reaching back and signing away several free agents from Dallas to the nation’s capital; but he failed with Jourdan Lewis.

The veteran cornerback opted to buck that trend and re-sign with the Cowboys for the 2024 season, and when asked what drove his decision, Lewis was open and honest.

“I knew that there would be a change in scenery, and that schematically it would help me,” he said as the Cowboys funneled off of the buses on Day 1 in Oxnard. “Just trying to be a focal point of the defense, and understanding that I can make some plays in the defense. And I’m home, Dallas is home for my family, my kids, so it was kind of like a no-brainer, honestly.”

Speaking on a change in schematics, Lewis will remain under defensive backs coach and newly-promoted assistant head coach Al Harris, but work to learn the ways of Mike Zimmer — the former Cowboys’ defensive coordinator returning in 2024 to take over the role vacated by Quinn.

As stated, Lewis believes this defense will give him many more opportunities to do damage in what will be a full season removed from his devastating foot injury.