Talkin' Cowboys Break: Kicking Off #CowboysCamp

What's watch the old thing? Yeah, that's all like Ela posture exactly. Not well, I could work either way, like well, you know, old miss yeah, old Mike, Come on, everybody, Okay with this heat wave quote unquote that's going on down here southern California. Okay, nobody's feeling sorry for us, not at all, but they are, you know, they are kind of talking about it here that the locals are like, man, this is the hottest it's ever been any I guess

it feels good. Yeah, you want a weather report, a quick one seventy two degrees, it says, all right, now it doesn't feel like that. I bet it feels like about eighty. Let's see what it says we're doing. Okay out here, we're just getting rolling. Cowboys are about to get rolling. Hey. By the way, guys, Yeah, we'll have

some long sleeves occasionally out here. We'll have our daily shows throughout camp, Talking Cowboys, Cowboys, Break, Hanging with the Boys as well, And today's show is just a primer, just an appetizer leading into the annual Training Camp State of the Union press conference with Jerry Stephen, Jason Garrett and uh so we're just getting you guys set, everybody ready to go. What time we'll be doing those other shows? I believe nine am Talking Cowboys, okay, Pacific time, followed

immediately by the break at ten am Pacific. Hanging with the Boys is in the afternoon, thirty two thirty Pacific player guests, they get, They do a good job of that show. Shannon, they hustle. He's a special guest booker there. Ye, maybe you should change the nickname you have for it. Yeah, Brian hanging with Shannon. Exactly. Let's not forget a six time pro bowler. Nate Newton's on there, Yeah, exactly, Nates

on here? Right? Is he here? He said he'd be here and telling for the press conference that starts at eleven o'clock. Come by and see him if you see any of the sign autographs and stuff like that. So, as I pointed out to Rob, this is the official start of training camp right here. This is the show. Our show is. Nothing else has happened here. I mean there's radio road just okay, they don't count fair enough. So we're getting everybody started. Let's star partners exactly. Let's

ignore those guys, right, but the fan too, Mick. Yeah, let's get it about doing their thing. All right, let's get started. As Dallas Cowboys dot Com goes, this is right kicking out of the game. The reason for that, we're beating the presence. All right, Let's let's get you under control here. I starts you off with some news items.

Let's that they're gonna get addressed probably in this press conference here, Mick, start starting with Randy Gregory, who's been in the news quite a bit in the last few days. He's gonna be the conditional reinstatement is going to be lifted at I'm told one o'clock here, so three o'clock Central time, four o'clock, that's when the NFL does their business, and they'll put it down the wire so he'll be eligible to do whatever he's capable of doing, or what

the Cowboys decide he's capable of doing. So my guess is, I just can't imagine he's going to go out there the first practice and do everything everybody else is going to do depending on how he does this morning on his conditioning test. Okay, fair enough, fair enough with that, there's a roster spot. You know, you got to create

a roster spot. And I think you know, as the last we've heard that they're weighing their options because there's been some talk that David Irving might not be reporting on time or to start with, and if that happened, you can put him on a list of did not report, which takes a roster spot. So there's a player out there. I don't know who it is. I mean, you guys might know there's a player that's probably you know, not

not long for this. I keep pack kind of like yahip yesterday, you know, but but I don't know who that is. And you know why why being in a hurry. You know, if David Irving is not going to report and there's their spot, and then knock on wood there might be an injury, you never know, and so um. But but I would imagine if Irving does get here, Gregory's reinstated officially, then somebody they got to release somebody.

And the word, Brian, it's not official yet, but the word we're hearing about David Irving is if he's not here for the start of camp, it's an excused absence continuation of you know what we've seen part of the offseason where he was allowed to handle some personal business from the team, absolutely and we've all that's been well documented that he had some things he was going through with, you know, his girlfriend, the other of his child, and you know, you were hopeful that the time that was

spending the offseason that he could have been able to kind of put that all behind him. And then the suspension, you know, came the four game suspension, so things kind of piling up on him right now. And as we get ready for camp, it you you talk about, uh, you know, kind of a one unknown coming back where you know, Mickey and and Nick we're talking about the conditioning and you know, I was hearing some very positive

things about Randy Gregory being out here in California working out. Now, is he in condition to where we've seen at the Star, You know, probably not, but it's gonna be good to have him back. I was really worried, guys, that the league was going to hold him out longer. Yeah, these practices here in Ox Starry, we get so much out of it watching the practice and that. You know, it's the compete periods, it's the team stuff, it's all that.

I was really worried that the commissioner was going to hold him out for four or five days and then him miss those significant practices. Now he can jump in and just as maybe productive as a Charles Tapper or somebody like that. It's one of these guys, I mean, coney, these guys, these defensive ends are trying to make the team. And now again that's Randy Gregory, but you know, David Irvy just continues to get to a point where you're like,

when is he ever going to get a break. But you know, like I said, with him missing the first four games, the Cowboys are now a little bit of a luxury to be able to say, okay, step back, go do what you need to go, do what you need to do to get things together and then come on back. And there's some question about that depth at defensive tackle immediately too. You know, you don't have Irving for the first month. He's not potentially not going to be a start a camp, and then Malee Collins as

a question mark. Yeah, maybe a pup pup today won't be able to start practice of foot surgery. So there's guys that are gonna have to step up there early in camp as they look for the first preseason game. You know, the thing on Randy Gregory now he may be able to take part in the first couple practice is because there's no more than an ota or right camp, right, there's no pads and then the key thing will be to put the pads on as he ready on his

hand and there's no rush, right. I mean, goodness, you waited this long. Yeah, you know you got to make sure he's out there because I guarantee you at some point he's gonna pull a hamstring. I mean, I was didn't want to hear that right there. I didn't want to hear that, and I but I wanted to. I wanted I just didn't want him to miss any opportunities on the field, you know, I didn't want him to have to be you know, okay, it's you know, three four days and he's over there with Britt Brown working

by himself or with the strength of staff. I wanted Randy Gregory in there competing with him and Charles Tapper and and Cony Ealy and all those guys. I wanted to see, Hey, you know, let's start to try and figure some things out at this defensive end spot. But well, you bring up a big question too, And I know you guys are concerned about the defensive tackle spot. Yeah, you know where how's that rotation going to play? You know?

And we we've we've seen some guys and I've been nobody's been cheerly any more than this jihad Ward trade that they made with Oakland during the during the draft for what I've seen with him athletically play and you know, but he's gonna get a chance to go up against Zach Martin and guys like that, and that's where you're gonna learn a lot about jod Ward. But you know who else who you know, who else, Brian Price, who

else is gonna come along? They're gonna need some guys to step up and kind of give them a little bit of an indication that that, okay, going forward, we can we can count on these guys to do the job. You got a guess on who's gonna take MALIEK Collins a spot? Wow, I think he's out. Yeah, I think. I think what you're going to see. To me, I look at this in a couple of different ways, and I think that I like with us, I've seen with

jahad Ward, but he'll do the three right. But the Jones Donte Jones, I think that's where because that's what we saw initially. Mickey, you'll remember this very well. That's what we saw during the OTAs in the mini camp. I think that's the initial way they're gonna go, and then let's see what happens behind that. Okay, what's the rotation going to be? Well, you know, this group too

does a pretty good job. If a guy's a backup guy, they might have an afternoon practice where all of a sudden, Nick Eatman queating, oh wait, hey, somebody's getting first team reps. So if you get a second team guy to get a little burned with the with the first offense or first defense, to kind of see if he can he can handle the workload, and I anticipate that's what they're gonna do. Price. Brian Price, I don't disagree with. He was doing some good things before he got hurt last year.

And you know, one of those big body guys takes up a lot of space. There's a need for that. He's got a unique skill set. You know. Rod likes Manaronelli likes guys that can get up the field, bright trade pass rushing, don't have to necessarily be the big, sloppy nose tackle. I'm not saying Brian Price is big and sloppy, but he is a true Yeah, you know,

he's the Nick Hade version. You know, Nick Haye played a couple of seasons being that way, you know, being that guy that kind of holds things up on the line of scrimmage, can play a little bit outside the tackle box, you know. I mean, that's they've got to find. You know, there's something We went back. I mean I went back and listened to our draft coverage and I was we're all kind of talking about what is something

they might have missed out on on all this picks. Well, they you traded for a guy like jahad Ward, But I didn't think he was a one technique. We were cheer leaning for a one and I don't know if they necessarily, you know, they obviously feel good about Brian Price to not make a move like that. So we'll see how it might be something we're having one of our shows, one of the two shows, three shows, and it's Hey, they brought so and so in as a defensive tackle just to take a look at because they

might not like the rotation the way it is. I still think coney Ely is gonna factor into this thing in a weird way. I don't disagree with to look like a defensive end. I mean he looking he's looking like attack. Well remember he said he was trying to lose weight. Trying Yeah, he said, as he's a little heavy, but he's really excited about being here because he respects what Rod Rod Marinelli is his style of coach. And

Mickey can attest this being a missourialum. Coney Ely was an upfield player on the edge, attack the edge, attack the edge, attack the edge. So if they could get coney Eely back to that level where he was at Carolina, where he wasn't at acting player instead of a read you know, like a read hold the point read react

kind of a guy. His game's built more like Nick's talking about up the field play maybe the three technique, get inside, and I could say I'm moving inside absolutely, pass Rusher, maybe out Nickel absolutely, depending on how things play out absolute the right defense events fine, ye, which we have no clue other than Tyrone Crawford, right yeah, and then what happens. Yeah, he looks better than Madden, right yeah, Madden thing was a mess, but no he he I think, I think and we night, well they

changed it though, you know, the slim him down. I wish, I wish Madden can do that to me, slim me down. But remember we were all when when the thing with with Randy Gregory started, we started hearing the word. We met with Rod Marinelli at the Star, Yeah, and he was very excited about the fact of his guys being those upfield players and he we, I mean one of us asked him about Crawford and remaking his body. He says, yeah, you know, get guys up the field, up the field.

Gopie Bulky, go get up the field. So yeah, that's kind of that's kind of I think Crawford is one of those guys. That kind of said, okay to me to play right in, I'm not gonna get eight ten sacks, but maybe I could get four or five sacks, but maybe I could be a little bit more, have a little bit more agility getting up the field and getting those sacks. That's one thing that I wish that fans would kind of recognize a little bit more. He got. He got the contract, and he gets viewed a lot.

He gets beat up for the money that he makes. That contract was was supposed to be for a defensive tackle, and it was good money for defensive tackle. He gets moved out to end and you gotta remember his body moving up down ten pounds here, fifteen here, and he's not that edge rusher. So he's now getting compared to

these edge rushers and he's not doing that. It was like, what a waste of money when in reality, you know he should be playing more inside and you're you're right, Brian, four to five sacks for him is really a good year, which is what he had last year, right, And we have to remember why he ended up at right defensive end. They couldn't stop the run if you remember the Denver game, right, Yeah, so they needed him over there to stop the run, and they kind of calm that whole thing down after

that game. So he served a great purpose. Yeah, this is the thing. I'm not making apologies for a player because again, I think a lot of us out there we look at the money and say, it's not worth the money. It's not worth it to us to have that guy. Why is he here? Why not get rid of him, redo his contract. I wish people could sit down with us and watch tape. I wish you could

sit down and watching people watch the game. I get it, But when you watch the All twenty two, there's things he does that in the old baseball is saying that doesn't show up on the box score. He does a lot of things that doesn't show up on the box score. If you look at some of the things with Sean Lee running into the football, it's because, like Mickey said, he's holding it up, he's allowing guys to get to the ball. He's working down inside, he's playing square in

the gap. These are things that Rod Merinillian. Those guys are happy to have him, whereas Joe and Flower Mounds not so happy because they see a guy that should have you know, fifteen Sacks. It's the equivalent out here. What can we I'm always gonna use Joe and Flower moun or something like that, will there because somebody Vick and Ventura Vick. Yeah, I love it? Yeah? Can I officially? Can? I officially? I was like, what's the city, what's the

what's the flower mound out? And I officially confirmed that Randy Gregory's here. Yes, you're gonna get some trouble. But than that, he's here. Okay, oh goody good. One more thing about him. That's why Micky's sitting in an angle. Keep it. I wanted to my job. I wanted to circle back to him. But one more thing on Crawford. The other thing about him and fans may I don't know. You may roll your eyes at this, but everybody's talking about leadership right because guys moving on, they're a younger

football team. This is a guy that if you talk to the Marcus Lawrence credits Tyron Crawford with helping develop him along the way two boys guys, and then you talk to Taco Charlton, Tyron Crawford is a guy that comes up up helping these young guys get better and look at where DeMarcus Lawrence is right now, look at where Taco could go. You know, you know Lawrence is

here too. Yeah, real quick, just just just the thought on on you know what you get with Crawford and I look at him as what he You know, you should be proud of the way he played with going through the shoulder of the problems. I mean, he's one of those guys you almost have to go get him off the field, right, you know. And there's a lot of things he does in in the locker room as far as the leadership you're talking about accountability of the

players around him. He's bought into the program totally. But the fact that he lines up in plays hurt. And you don't ever hear about it. Now you hear about it when we do shows, you know, and you or you talk to me, it's like, yeah, I'm a little banged up, but you know, hey, nothing, I'll make it. Because there's there's a theory out there. Some guys not necessarily on this team anymore, but you know anymore, Right, you want to put bad tape on the field. Oh yeah,

guys that don't want to play hurt. Oh the king of bad tape is now in the division. So yeah, Oh so anyway, there's that as well, the component that makes him think, oh yeah, so if you go let's go back to Gregory real quick. Yeah, I've heard he's in great shape. It's about two hundred and forty five pounds, which when you think about when he was here previously before a suspension guy had trouble keeping weight on. Yes, great shape. You see what kind of condition he's in?

What they're in? No hurry to find out what kind of condition he's what kind of what kind of expectations can you question twenty? I believe from thee I think we may just go down the list here until till eleven o'clock. Uh, what can Is it too early to try to put because you guys just mentioned a lot of new and and incumbent defensive ends that can be part of this rotation. He's got some competition here. Sure, What do you guys think for Gregory? Yeah? What can

he what can he be for this team? And is he in competition for a job or do you think if if he shows enough, I don't think so. I don't think he may like is he on the fifty three? Yeah? I just think they put so much time and efforts to try to get him to this point. I think that he's gonna at least he's gonna get through, you know,

this year. I think this year for sure. And to answer the question, I just think that, you know, when if he's out there and he's healthy and he can go, he gives you some freakish skills off the edge a little bit. I don't know if he's you know, like you said, holding the edge. I think it's third and eight and you get to that point, third and eight,

third and nine. He's great to have out there. Yeah, they're they're just gonna have to see what kind of shape he's in, because I thought I read his workouts and with the guy in California that he was working out what started when he petitioned the league for reinstatement some sixty days, so it wasn't like for two years he's been out there busting his butt. Yeah, my guess is, and you know, when guys work out on their own, they don't never work out like they're working out here.

So I just think they're gonna be very cautious with him to start and kind of judge maybe what kind of shapes he in before they even let him the conditioning test. Rob. I'll take the counterpoint of this. They went point, I'll go counter. I don't think he's guaranteed a roster spot. And and I understand what they're saying about all the work and stuff like that. I think a lot of the work it was behind the scenes

where they have Do they have contact with him? They weren't supposed to, but you know, there's things that you can probably do, try and help whatever. But with all the competition at the position, I don't think it, you know. And the sad thing about it is he doesn't have practice squad eligibility. I was told, yeah, so well he

shouldn't he played. But I'm saying, though, if they don't have if he can't make this team, if if they keep him as the fifty third guy over a Coney Eely or a Charles Tapper or somebody that has a better camp, shame on them for that. That's kind of where I was going is there's there's a long game here with him. But even all the time he's missed talking about change. I like how we're promoting all our series here twenty questions, point, counterpoint, let me just get change.

My answer I saw them do do this with a tight end. Yes, last year, he might not make the team, he'll be around. Yeah, you're gonna you're using the old theory of like in the back of the day in the eighties where used to stash cats. He'll be around. Yeah, I don't know. I don't find him apartment. I just go far. No, I just somehow some list. There's a list for this, and he'll well, he'll be on it. If he's not. But I think he if I think he will, yeah, if he's If he I think if

he's good enough, and this is just my thought. If he's good enough to make the fifty three, that's a great story. If he comes out here and is not as good and they just say, Okay, we're gonna force this, force this, force this. But then they come to Nick's realization, it's like, Okay, he's got a concussion, he's got a bad shoulder, he's got something that we can you know,

maybe that's the case. But I'm gonna disagree with one thing, with with what Nick said about potentially doing that, which I you know, I'm okay with as a former personnel guy. But we've already he's already sat out long enough. You know, he's already he's already sat out long enough. I mean he's been gone now what two years. Basically, there comes a point in time where you have to say, you know what, he's gonna move on. You have to move on, or my gosh, everything you did the last eighteen months

was the right thing to do. Yeah. I think they're doing right by Randy Gregory to get him an opportunity to play well. And it's important. It's up to him to make the team to be fully reinstated. Whenever that becomes official. That's huge because he needs to get in preseason games and he needs to get to get his feet wet again on the field. He needs to have he needs to have four sees to have one sack of game playing in the fourth quarter against a kind

of a half mediocre backup tackle. Yeah, get some confidence rush and then if you know, you get him going all of a sudden, and then you get that to the you know, maybe playing that whole Houston game at the end. Just but get him, get him going. But I think he has to make this team. I just don't think this is going to be a gift. And especially if Charles Tapper now here I'm saying about Charles Tapper, you don't have to cut a defensive end. Well, I

don't know. There's gonna be seven, seven guys and eight guys inactive on game day. Ring will be on the suspended list for the first month. So that's I'm just saying, though, it depends on you because you're gonna have to carry it. You're going to carry the third quarterback. Okay, how many extra receivers are you gonna carry? Six? How many tight ends are gonna carry three? See, that's what I'm saying. What if what if all of a sudden, the guy that Nick's talking about does have a good camp. What

if Rico gathers? Yeah, what if Freco Gathers makes this team? What if Rico? What if they don't want to? What's the upside? Who do they got more invested? Who's the up what's the upside between those two guys. That's what I'm trying to figure out. Well, if one of them and we don't know, that's why we're here. Yeah, if I think the one, I would rather have to be honest with you, because I think he could help the

team if he's on his game. Is Randy Gregory. I don't know if Freco Gathers, but I look at this though, is if Rico Gathers has a similar training camp to how he had last year, he's going to be a consideration for the fifty three. So what's your numbers? What's your numbers? If you're if you're you, Mickey, you're very adamant about that, and I'm with you, carry three tight ends go forward. But there might be something where there's some positions where they're gonna have to say, Okay, well

what about that fourth who's the fourth safety? Right now? It's Huff? You know, do you want to go into that you want to go to season with Huff being your fourth safety? I mean they might have to make some moves to and carry extra safeties just because they don't trust who they had is the third and fourth guy. If he's playing, you are talking about roster talking, he's playing in four in the fourth quarter of four preseason games, yeah, he'll have four sacks. I'm with you. I'm with you

on that. I'll just go ahead and say, feeling dot Com, I hope, I hope you're absolutely because if he and then what happens after that? If Yeah, he was Lawrence Taylor two years ago and then all of a sudden, you know, he was. If he if he gets a sack of if Taylor, if he gets said Jake Taylor from Jake Taylor, couldn't cut it. But if if he if he has a sack of game in four preseason games,

he makes his fifty three. Yeah, if he, I'm I'm with you, guys, if he shows enough of I've been off eighteen months, but I can help this team at some point. Yeah, they've invested so much, and obviously we haven't even talked about the programs and protocols in place for him off the field to maintain his eligibility, and he's got to follow those and if he does, if he takes one step off the road, he's done with football for the rest of his life in the NFL.

That's yeah, very very likely. Or it's like being on the balance beam in gymnastics. Got to be able to walk it. I love the analogy. All Right, we've we've hit Randy Gregory for a good half hour or so. Let's uh, let's talk some other stuff. I don't think we're taking breaks here. I think we're going right up hill. Prescott the Draft show. Yeah, there's another one just to draft show. There we go promote the draft show that's coming up in a few months as well. Did you

bring your Tommy Johns to training camp? I did? I got him on right now, Beck, Brian, you're gonna get cow buzz in here. Somehow may get cow buzz in there. Check it out. It's up on the side, right one, right now. Yeah, there was a couple of there. We got some good cow buzzing. He was great. Okay, before we get to draft, we got to see what this team can do on the field and the expectations of this football team. I guess I'm just gonna go with

a broad macro view here. What what do you think of the expectations of this football team as we lead into a state of the Union for a team and when nine and seven last year, with some injuries, with

some suspensions, didn't make the playoffs? What do you think the field the buzzes around this football team right now, from them around them and the outside Because I don't I don't think a lot of people from the outside are given this team a lot of a lot of love, to be honest, Yeah, I think though the outsides got them nine and seven, and they're firing the head coach. Yeah,

that's problem. That's pretty popular, I think just because of the turnover on this roster and Jason Garrett's admitted, Look, we've got three guys on the team that are thirty year older. It's young, it's it's unproven in some spots, but they are getting back some key guys, hopefully for a full season. Zekiel Elliott and the running game and all that. That's their formulas still right to try to get this thing done right at one time, and Mickey

has beat the drum about this. If you looked at what they were able to do offensively leading up until the suspension, there were twenty eight point games, thirty three point games, forty point game. You know, I think that's what they want to get back to. They want to get back to that team that beat the Kansas City Chiefs before Ezekiel Elliott went out. That was a team that was did not other than the one big play before half, you know that the that they made that

Hill made before half. They didn't give up a big play in that game. They didn't. They they were they were sound on defense, They ran the football a guy like Terrence Williams was nine targets, nine receptions. You know, they were getting people involved. I think that's the type of football they want to play and they're capable of playing that way. Will the schedule they'll allow them, and you don't know that. I think it's a very difficult one.

I think going you know, having to play the NFC South, it's going to be difficult for him. You know, road games, when you get that, when you got to go to Carolina to start the year, I think that's gonna be very difficult. And then you got the AFC South. You know, Jacksonville has much improved playoff team, championship team. You look at Houston, They're not going to be as bad. Watson

will be healthy. I mean there's some there's some potential pitfalls down the road, but they've got to find ways to get back to what they were really good at. Running the football, protecting the quarterback, uh, not giving up big plays, and playing really good in the red zone and then being on offense being good in the red zone.

That's the recipe for winning. They could beat anybody in the league when they play like they did against Kansas City, because that's kind of a complete game for them, Yeah, best best game in the year. And you know, but then again, they're capable looking like they did against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thanksgiving, you know, giving up big plays, not protecting, not running the football. If that's the team you get, yeah, you're gonna have a lot of problems.

But I think they're closer to the Kansas City team myself than I do the team that played against the Los Angeles Chargers. You know, the good thing about all those teams, you said they got to play, so does everybody else in the NFC. No, No, that's and that's gonna make it difficult to not forget that. No. No, and I'm sure that an't gonna have some difficulty too. I'm sure on Jaguar right now they're saying, well, hey, you got to play the NFC East. Now they're probably saying, oh,

we get to play the Cowboys. Well that's a that's a trip they have to make. You know, they have to come and you just play the games that are there. But if again, this team is very capable of playing like they did every week against Kansas City. They're capable of that offensive line, play protection, receivers, getting open, preventing big plays, playing well in the red zone, getting a turnover to kill the game at the end, Terrence Williams catching the ball to get a first down and stay

and bounce to keep the clock going. They're capable of that kind of play minus to play at the end of a half. That's exactly right, which I use as an example for the new kickoff rule, with the head coach saying, you know, when you have big spaces like that and you get a player like Tavon Austin, you kind of end up with maybe that play at the end of half. I was trying to be funny. He

didn't think it was funny, no, but he agreed with me. Well, that's that's my expectation as team, you know, my expectation that there could be some growing pains at left guard. We've talked about it. I think I think, I think all our eyes and we're gonna, you know, have compete period out here, and you're gonna get to see Connor Williams go up and get some of these defensive tackles, you know, and we'll see that. But I think there'll

be some growing pains. The great thing that I'm excited about this team as the rookies that they've added, because they've been able to watch them as drafted players. But they've been in. They've been at the Star the whole time they've been in. They've been at the Star every time I look out the window, they're out there working out.

You know, they're maturing, they're getting better, they're getting you know, they're getting physically, they're getting stronger, they're getting in shape, and they're gonna rely on a lot of these kids to have to play. You know, Michael Gallup is going to have to go out there and find a way to beat Terrence Williams out of his job. I don't think Terrence Williams is gonna let him have the job. But that's good. Let Michael Gallup go out there, Let

him go compete. Let Connor Williams, you know, learn at left guard a little bit, you know. But again, there could be some some a little bit growing pains with you. But if there's growing pains there, I think they've got alternatives. Yeah, I don't think they have to move anybody around. Sure, I don't think they have to sit there and watch

him fumble around. If he can't do it right, They've got backups that have played in the league that can actually step in there, guarantee you they'll play as well as Jonathan Cooper. Yeah, that's that's the key. They went through last year thinking Okay, we're okay now and then and I give him credit for this, because sometimes when you're getting that personnel side of it, you're thinking, Okay,

we'll be fine, we'll be okay, we'll be fine. And they think that and something happens disastrous, like that run that they had in Atlanta, and it's like, Okay, we need to do something different. And that's the sign of somebody that you just don't beat your head against the wall. You find a way to say, Okay, let's go out and get a capable swing tackle. Let's go out and draft a capable left guard. Jerry said at the draft

press conference. Why Connor Williams is here, Yeah, Atlanta, Let's draft a Layton Vanderis, who's got a physical who's got the physical presence to play as a mike linebacker. Let's figure out what we need to do. Jalen Smith being healthy. There's a lot of positive things that are going to be in this camp. It's just got to all kind of come together and some of these guys can't have bad days. You know, the guys that are the consistent ones.

As we talk about these practices, consistent guy, consistent guy, consistent, those will be your fifty three players. Some of these guys will find a way to cut themselves out here. They will cut themselves because of not being consistent, not playing well in preseason games, and that's that may will make your team better. Nick, how do you size this whole thing? That was our top question on twenty questions yesterday as we flew out here. I think this is

a good football team, honestly, I really do. I think that when you look at what they came back from last year, Um, if they can, they obviously have to stay healthy, and I think they've done a good job. There are three main injuries or setbacks they had last year, or Zeke, Tyrant, smish on Lee and whatever order you want. They they've they've upgraded the tackle position, They've upgraded linebacker.

They're just counting on Zeke kind of being Zeke. I don't think they've really added like a true backup if he goes down or maybe well you know better, Yeah, you'll see it, you know, right. They figured out things in that Giants game. I think this is a pretty good football team. I really do. I think you're sitting you're right there at the nine and seven, eight and eight. You got to get two wins to get above that. There's gonna be about four games this year that go

one way or another. They it's got to go your way. The only thing that I'm I'm not worried about. I'm just thinking we'll see it. I want to see Dan Bailey because these games come down to field goals at extra points, good point, and I think it'll be fine. But we need to see that and he needs to show it. But I really do think this is a good football team because every time they play those at

offensive line and Zekiel Elliott should be an advantage. And if you can run the ball and do those things and just enough of a passing game to kind of get them off you a little bit. I think they can win every single I mean I can win every game. I think they can win every game. I was gonna ask you guys, though, when well, who was all part of the are you closer to Philadelphia or not? Who was part of that twenty question? I wasn't in that question.

It wasn't the question, it's the it's the talent of oh yeah, I don't think yeah, we weren't on that one. I was on it. And yeah, how close to the Eagles as far as personnel one? What did you say on that one? I kind of felt like that they were, Yeah, I went matchups, but you know, you're you're some of the key spots though you're looking at quarterback. At one time you thought, yeah, pretty close, and then you know Carson Wentz had an MVP but Dax had an MVP

type season as well. Offensive lines, man, it could be, but you know, defensively, I think that's where they've got right now, at least defensively across the front seven. I think that the Eagles are probably a little bit better the Cowboys maybe a corner a little bit better, you know. So it's not as the gap between the two to me is not huge. I mean if it was, if it was huge, I would say, Okay, this team will be the Eagles are gonna be twelve and four in

Dallas is nine. I didn't think Philadelphia was answering that question the year before. Oh no, I'm with you. See how vast change they then they did some really good things. They Yeah, they had some guys hit they had and the Cowboys are very capable of some of their draft

picks doing exactly. You know, the Eagles had a fifth round offensive tackle step in for a Pro Bowl left tackle, So you have to have some good things happen, and you know, they got in their in their coach obviously handled things well at the end of the year with

their quarterback. I think thirty to fifty three on the on the roster, that's where I think teams like the Patriots and the Eagles always in the Steelers sometimes they always kind of get you there because because yes, the injuries happened, and how do you sustain them and all that. Talent wise, I mean, you can line the Browns up and and and the Bucks and the Cowboy and everybody up and they're gonna be great right off the top,

great right, awesome players. As you start getting up to fifty three, that's where the Eagles and I think they do a good job. That's what that's that's why when you're looking at this team, a, yeah, Tyren Smith will be great, but it's Cam Fleming, is Marcus Martin or the tight ends these guys exactly, something's gonna happen. And and you know Layton vander esh yesh Lincoln spoke to us yesterday and said, look, I've got to stay healthy.

He it's been an issue for him. So they've they've tried to address depth at spots where they know they can't afford to lose guys, so they got backs who want to play. That's fair. Well, I was gonna go to that because I think he's right. Well, you're right. I was with Brian. I don't think and to your point, Mick, I don't think it's that big a gap. I think every year the NFC East, there's there's not a lot of margin for error between these teams. And we saw

what the Cowboys did. They bounced back in twenty sixteen Eagles did. They were kind of mirrors of each other in a lot of ways. So we'll see. I think if they can line up and run the football like they normally do, they can they can have that formula for success that they've always had. Even though the Eagles have done a nice job. I mean, trade for Michael Bennett that helps their defense out, we'll see. I was

just gonna say you're talking about corners this year. You know, you got some young guys coming in, you know, coming into their second year. I think we're sitting here next year, twelve months from here, I think I think you got the two best corners in football, the best cornerback duo in football. Wow, I really think so. No, I mean, right now, we'll see if that they got to play out.

But I think we're sitting here if we fast forward twelve months, I think Cheeto and Jordan Lewis, I think the two are gonna be this is the best combination of corners in the NFL. I really think so. And Jordan Lewis is in a spot right now where he's been that second team battling for spot duty. But he's no doubt a talented young player. That guy's gonna be. Do you kind of see him then taking over You're gonna go on, just go on that ledge and say

he's gonna take over the right corner spot. That something's gonna happen with Byron Jones. I mean I'm not saying something. I mean like he's gonna outplay Byron Jones. So I think, Mickey, you're down that line, aren't you. I just said, I gotta see it. Yeah, Byron Jones hasn't played corners since he was a rookie, right, and I don't. It was only four games, didn't play that well, so you know the body size says, Oh he's gonna be great. Yeah.

The new technique they're gonna use it cornerback gives him an opportunity. Right now, you gotta see it. Let's let's go. It seems like they've kind of taken Jordan Lewis and maybe thrown him out with the trash a little bit. Though he was he was a guy. It was your starter at right, owner and then all of a sudden, Chris Richard group comes in. Well somebody's got to play in the slot. Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. No,

I don't. If you look at with the way the OTAs in the mini camp were rolling out, it was there was Anthony Brown well that they were kind of sharing it. There's there's time, to your point, there's time to earn jobs. Yeah. Yeah, so we'll see. But where I was going because if he goes outside, then who's in the slot? Aw? You sold on Anthony Brown. See that's another question you have Anthony Brown was greatest rookie year,

badest sophomore season. You're hopeful when they took him out of the starting rotation, he was actually playing a little bit better. You know. That's he came on the second half. Yeah, exactly when the after the after the Los Angeles Charger to Bacle and they said, okay, just throw the young kids. Finally the young kids were all healthy enough to all play together. They threw him out there and let him go,

and it was a better group. I think the consensus maybe across this table is Cheeto health willing can take a step forward, maybe a major step forward. Because we saw him ball out in December. I think I think he's the best one you got in that secondary myself

so where I was going and Mickey led me there. Defensively, what this team, what they can add to this team, because we've talked about Zeke in the running game, but quietly, this is a football team that was eighth and defense last year did a pretty nice job, had some struggles when Sean went out. Chris Rashard's impact and maybe these young guys taking a step forward, like you said, vander esh helping at linebacker, Maybe this defense help Smith, Maybe too.

This might be a surprise defense too, if Jalen Smith is healthy and vander ash is what they think. Think about this. Damian Wilson's been the starter of the last two years of strong See we're going here. He may be a backup. I was That's exactly what I was thinking. So they've created a little bit of depth, right if if indeed those two things pan out, I'll tell you. And Joe Thomas hasn't been bad, and then and then

march Lillard, justin march Liard weren't bad. They got a ton of reps in the OTA, so they could build a little depth there with those, with all those that linebacker. Maybe it went from a position of like, yeah, from a position that went from a big question mark too huh. This group's gonna potentially be all right though. And you know, when we were talking about the defensive end, we didn't even mention Dorence Armstrong or Taco Yeah. Yeah, and and

so there you're right, there's kind of a bat. But you gotta have a backup on the left side. Sign Lawrence. I think he TACCOs. That guy, I think tacos are. I think tacos are left in and he hey, bring him off the bench, let him kind of get some work there, you know, let them other guys fight it out.

Let that right in, fight it out. And if you if you're good enough to be part of what Nick was talking about, Mickey, the kicking guys in and out, nickel packages and stuff, that's a that's a sixty percent of the game as well. So if you can rush, go for it. You know you brought up Bailey, I guarantee you when they go to kicking drills, we're all marking it down again. For the last three or four years we went and took a break. We got water. Right,

it's gonna make them. He might miss one out of ten, there's gonna be some charting going now. We're gonna chart again, right exactly, just to see. Now he kicked well, it looked like in the in the OTAs and and he kicked what he's been kicking out there by himself. And it's not gonna be a lack of work because he goes out there with his six footballs, the little kicking tea and he kicks six and he goes and by himself, and he's been out there late at night, picks up

the balls, or walks back starts again. So the key thing will be yeah, up here, you think it was like a golf swing for him when he came back from injury. They the routine, Yeah, out of his routine. I think that, yeah, yeah, and then you start you miss one and you start es doubting yourself and you know it's snowballs. So maybe the time off he gets back to being the Dan Bailey where when they get to kicking and h August twelfth or thirteenth, where go

get our water. That's the point nobody's really brought up, Nick. I don't think it was among the twenty question. Maybe it was Dan Bailey yeah, and the kids, yeah yeah, and getting that pays back. I think the question was is he the biggest bounce back player? And yes, yeah, you know anybody else needing a big bounce back. I know you talked a lot about you know, Cole Beasley

needs to get back into that group. Um, But but you know there's some other guys that you know, I think he's the biggest one, but there there's there's a handful of players that you're like, you know, and maybe not from here, but I know Tavon Austin feels like he needs to bounce back in his career. And have you know last year wasn't his best year. Yeah, so yeah, it's funny. I'm considered thinking we've done this show now

for probably forty five minutes. We haven't talked about Winton, and we haven't talked about Dez Bryant, and we haven't talked about the quarterback either. Real amazing in the passing game. And it's kind of you're sitting and you're thinking about coming to a coming to a training camp without Jason. I was on the on the on the charter getting ready to take off. I saw LP farther up the cabin, and I swear for a second I thought it was winning.

I thought it was winning, And because it just used to see him, it's strange, not how many camps is this for you? I think this is the first one you've ever had without him. First one was three when he was a rookie third round pick. So yeah, it's it's odd, no doubt. It is strange too that that that the two players that were probably this time last year, we probably couldn't talk enough about Dez Bran and what he could do. Jason Witten, you know, is it time

to replace Witton? What do you know? You know, you know all that. So it's a it's amazing how this this this works, you know, with the with your roster. He really really one of the things that that I'm looking forward to seeing is is who replaces those two guys out here out here in the practice field. One thing about Dez you can say, what do you want about him? He rose the level of competition for everybody on that field. He would he'd come to practice, he'd

bring it. He'd be talking smack out there. Then the DV dbs would come up, and I mean he brought that intensity Witton same way Whitten wouldn't. He would be talking trash as well. And so those two guys right there, you knew every day they were gonna bring it, and I think that really helped them practice. Who's gonna be that guy who's going to be the ass kicker out here? Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna miss Witt And walking by training camp live and dropping an F bomb on us. You know that

was that you're right in the middle of action. Remember when he told when he caught that pass on that safety had been a first round pick at another place. And he just yelled at the whole Media's like, get the scrub out of here. The guy had been a first round pick. H he was, he's you'll meet he's an as nice a guy as you'll ever meet, but he's he was kind of a lunatic out there on the field for fifteen years and a good way. I

mean like he set the tone for this team. And you're right, I don't know des gets enough credit for that too. On the field, challenging guys, challenging the DBS. There's only one guy that's got enough cred to be the lunatic. But it doesn't pan out because there's not contact one on one with a running back. Yeah, Zeke could get people fired up. Yeah, but they're not gonna get the opportunity because number one, they're not gonna tackle.

I'm gonna hit him right and let Yeah last year that was hanging over his head and right happened out here. He wasn't the same, hope, but he could stir He could stir things up. But if you think about everybody else, so we see it's gonna be a quiet camp. Well, I just don't see I don't see one of me. I want to I don't see one of those receivers having the personality or the cache. Yeah, go spike a ball at a DB's toe. I have a feeling it's gonna be the opposite way where guys like we talk

about a wooz here. Maybe the defensive back. I see, it'll be interesting to see having those one on one periods. How much these defensive has a little bit in that that's got to do it. I saw a little bit of training camp. He's gotta do it. He's got to stop the drill and yell. And I saw him. Oh he can do That's aw him do it. Yelled at Chaz Green. But but are you gonna do it? Are you gonna do it? At Tyrn Smith? But but what he can't do is pick on the defense. I would, Yeah,

the quarterback can't pick on the other side. One of these offensive guys to pick on the defens I'm gonna see like Lewis and those defensive backs start yelling at Dak and then draw him into the fray and then well they were already doing what I'm saying, Yeah, and their position coach gets a little fiery too. Oh yeah, ye receivers. Yeah, So there's that element too. Christoph Shar's gonna bring it every day in practice too, from the sideline wearing his cleats, which how many coaches DC do that.

You mentioned the wide receivers, right, yes, he did. You mentioned the wide receivers. Let's go, let's go there before we get out of here, and Dak obviously Okay, you're asking who's gonna bring the fire at receiver. Well, maybe maybe these guys are gonna have to because of the competition they're in. Brian. This nicely laminated roster that you gave me, it's got twelve receivers on it, and there's no there's there's no set role for any of these guys,

including Cole Beasley. We know he's gonna be a key figure what they do, but where he lines up, it's it's it's really an unfinished situation that these guys have to earn roles of all the positions on this depth chart that you look at receivers. May I said earlier, I said, players find ways to cut themselves. The receivers that'll be the group. They will find their best five or six out of that group. Now they might have to go get it one off waivers or whatever, if

it makes a difference. But that group that that is the one group that has to be consistent every day. You have to play with tired legs, You have to concentrate, you have to make plays. You can't have bad days. And if especially if you look at okay, we think you know with Beasley, Gallop, Herns. Oh, three guys, right, that's kind of that's kind of guys making the team. Maybe now now you're thinking about fourth guys that Terrence Williams is it? You know who who else is going

to make I mean, they've got some other spots. Guaranteam contract them, have them make the team. Okay, well if that's if that's the case, then you've only got two more spots for the rest of those guys if you think about that. Yeah, but but somebody out of that group is going to elevate themselves. Uh, Noah Brown can elevate himself, or Noah Brown can cut himself. You know, I'll tell you the position that I'm looking at is, and I don't know if I've ever seen this in

any position ever on this team is tight end. Yeah. Yeah, you look at the guys there. Could they cut a fourth round pick if he doesn't play well. I mean, I think you then that's the borderline. You know you would hood. I don't think they want to. There's not a lock out there. I'll tight end. There's not a lock. Nine career catches on that group right now, all by Jeff Swain, and it's nine more than us. Yeah, combined. Well, I don't know. I mean, I've never had and we

haven't had a chance media game count. Yeah right, but I no, no, absolutely, that's so wide open. It's the position that's always been seemed like, to me, the most stable. You don't even think of it. You never thought about it because number eighty two would come walking down with the ramp with his blue bands on his arm, and he's not going to do that. So now I think a lot of people I'm I'm really interested on the offensive side there, I really really am. I'm interested on

the receivers and the tight ends. I think that those guys have got to find a way to have good days. They cannot have bad days because you have a bunch of bad days, they're gonna have somebody else in your spot. And we mentioned Terrence Williams briefly. We're not sure if he's a day one get practice guy right now, right coming off foot surgery. I am at some point he'll

be ready. Yeah, I've been. I've been. You know. The great thing about officing at the Star is you can turn around and watch the field and seeing him run around out there, and I know they're gonna be cautious with him. I gotta be careful about that. But I think he's gonna play with a chip on his shoulder this year. Yeah. I think Terrence. I think Terrence has got enough in his gut. And I know people probably say that's not true, but I think he I think

he sees what's going on. I think he's embarrassed by what happened, you know, in the off season. And I think that it would have said that. And if we hadn't pulled up in the parking lot yesterday and you saw the jokermobile, but the job, he's a car. Here's Paul. But I'll tell you this though, I'll tell you this though he I think there's a lot I think this

would be the chip on his shoulder. I think I think he'll be one of these guys when we get done in twenty five days talking about this camp and we won't put this thing to bed and I and I'm gonna go on record. I think he's gonna have a really good camp. And if running straight ahead means anything, he was running really hard last week outside at the start, I mean really hard. Yeah. Yeah, Now, I didn't see a lot of cutting going on. I think there's something

about him. If he's ready. We don't anticipate in any suspension, right, I don't know. I can't haven't heard anything about that. No, it could be a big big deal if if that did happen, because then you're talking about if he Yeah, well no, I'm guaranteeing he's gonna have a good year. And if he gets suspended, then I look like a jack, you know what. Yeah, well, if he gets I mean, they usually don't suspend you for stupidity maybe, you know. I think if they would have done it, they would

have done it by now. Now we've seen some suspensions right before the season started. Remember always when we get the waiver wired, it's like, ah, earlier are eight games in? Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll see on that. Okay, we got a couple more minutes. Press conference is gonna get rolling here just in a few minutes. Jerry Stephen, Jason Garrett. I would imagine all the principles here. Let's touch on Dak real quick, because we've talked about the guys he's gonna be throwing too.

Is it. What's the challenge? It seems like a big challenge for him or a big opportunity how you look at it. Big season for him. He wants to improve his own game, his footwork, accuracy, all those things, but he's also get on gotta get on the same page with these new guys he's try. It's kind of a double edged sword for him going into his third season. Guys, this is uh, you know, I've said it many times. I mean, he's no longer young quarterback anymore. As far

as what guys are looking at him. Um, I think they made a decision between him and Dez and then they picked him. Um. I don't know if Witten's decision had anything to do with him, but they made it clear Dak Prescott is their quarterback. They're putting their eggs in his basket, and so they're making it friendly for him and all this stuff, and it's time for him to go make the place. I mean, this is it. He is not a no more grace period. You're the guy.

You gotta go lead the team. Mickey loves that term. All he's got to do is play like he did the first eight games this season with Zeke on the field, and everybody forgets that. Yeah, but it's awfully good the first eight games, right. But we said this when he was a rookie. These guys come in the league and they take the league by storm. Are you gonna be Robert Griffin and Colin Kaepernick over here? Are you're gonna

take it to another level and be better? And like Russell Wilson because they're trying to figure out Russell Wilson, it's too as well, and they can they figured other guys out. I think they figured out that last year, I really do. I think they said, we're taking you're not getting any easy throws. We're not you're not giving you beasily and I give you got beat this over the top with Dez and he's gonna have to do that,

I think. And I think, you know, Dez is not here because I think they felt like they could bring in guys that are on the same page with him more than he does. Were for some reason, they just I don't think they any problems off the field, but on the field they didn't seem to match. I think the X factor and all that is Michael Gallop. Okay, yeah, pretty well. Could they need guys that could separate. They do need guys that could say its big enough. Yeah.

If they find guys that could separate, that will help Dak Prescott again, get Cole Beasley going again. That's that's to me, that's gonna be the key the easy throws. But get Michael Gallup and those guys. You guys find guys that separate that then they get it done. Yeah, and well that's true. And we we've watched Gallup in the offseason workouts, Mick, you and I. He shows flashes of a pretty explosive guy on the outside that can get open. And he kind of reminds me of Antonio

Bryan a little bit the way he runs. You know what caught my attention. We were on the plane and I walked by him and he had stood up, and I was like, I didn't realize he was that big. Yeah he is. I mean, what do they listen him at six six foot? Yeah, he's six foot what is it? Nick? I used to know the measurements right up. All right, that's pretty close. They're pretty good about that. Yeah, I just he was he seemed bigger when he wasn't out on the field with all the other guys. Maybe guys

a good separate give him. Those guys have helped Dak And you know what, we don't seem to be in a hurry here. Well it's it's past eleven Pacific and we're still rolling. But no, I'm saying they're they're still conditioning. They are. Yeah, what does that mean? That means I don't think the press conference starts. Yeah, that it's gonna be at least fifteen minutes. Okay, so you guys keep going so we can make up for our fifteen minutes? Right's nick going? You think you guys want to ask

Jason Garrett, Jerry Jones at this press conference? What would you like to know about this team as they head into what seventeen I think it's sixteen practices over the next three weeks out here? I would like to know. This is gonna sound really strange because I I you know there Stephen Jones likes to talk about the talent acquisition business. You got that from Parcels I wonder if

they're really monitoring the situation with Earl Thomas. I wonder if they're looking at that and saying, is that something, Mickey? You think? Is that a back burner? Is that even not a possibility? Should Brian shut up even talking about it? But no, I think they keep their I think they keep their eye on it. But I think what everybody forgets is everybody's looking at it and go, yeah, you give him a second round pick, give them the third round pick. Do you want to give yeah, him fourteen

million dollars a year. I'm gonna try for three years and guarantee them thirty million of it. I'm gonna try, and I'm gonna try and do what I did with the quarterback in Minnesota. I'm gonna give him a three year deal at thirteen million dollars and guarantee the whole contract. I'm gonna But do you want to do that? Yeah? I do. With somebody that's that old. I'm not worried. I think he's playing it. I think he still plays

at a high level. I think he can help. I think he's physical note back there that he could still help in the in the running game stuff. I just like the fact that this is my this is my argument, Nikki. When Shawn Lee goes out the defense, I don't think they have anybody that holds that defense together. And I think that I think Earl Thomas can hold this defense together if something happens to Shawn Lee, and I think he could give you help in the middle of the defense.

It's like I say, if you get improvement. Now, we don't know what's going to happen to defensive tackle, but you look at the good defenses. You know, Mike Linebacker could be, Jalen Smith could be, Vandersch could get a good thing there. If you have a real, true free safety, and if you pair him with Jeff Heath, you allow you to do some things with Jeff Heath if you want to do him, because Jeff Jeff He's shown he

can make He's capable of making plays. But I feel like though that if when you do lose Shawn Lee, you don't have somebody that kind of keeps the defense on track. And I'm willing to take a shot at a veteran player that I think still has some elite skill to his game, and I'm gonna pay him. I'm gonna pay him for three years until I can find a better solution for that, and and and then who are you willing to forfeit to put that money towards him compared to somebody else. I don't know that's going

to need to be paid. I don't know the next year. Yeah, I don't know the total cap situation. But I got my I'm I'm looking at I don't know. I think that if if Lawrence plays well enough, I think that they will try their very best to sign him. Okay, and I think you gotta sign Dak. I now, you gotta. Then you gotta give you gotta Dak one more year? Right? Do you got him on his fourth year? So right after this sea? Yeah, so that's what I'm saying. I

And then Zeke, Yeah, I'm not, I'm not. I don't think I'm looking at Zeke as a long term guy here, because this is how I look at Zeke. You got him for the fifth year option, right, Yeah, correct about that? But that cat that caught, right, But then you pay him that and then if you want to franchise him and then you could say move on. I understand that, but those are probably fourteen fifteen million dollars contracts for

one year. I think that the way that you if it's the market, we'll see what the market ends up to being with the running back. But I am trying right now. If I'm Jason Garrett, I am trying right now to win football games, and I think the best way to do that is to get players that I know I can rely on back there, that I can know that I could put my I could hang my hat on Earl Thomas and say, Okay, he's gonna solidify my defense. He's gonna help him. Sean Lee, you know,

de Marcus Lawrence. Give me as many of those guys that have the ability to turn games around, then why do you think Seattle's reticent on giving him? I think fourteen million dollars a year. I think John. I think John wants to And I haven't talked to John Snyder and John is a dear friend of mine, but I haven't talked to him about this, and he won't talk to me about Earl Thomas. He won't do it. But if if I had to, I think John wants to retool his team. I think he's I think he's willing

to move on from the team as it is. You know, make some roster moves. His draft was kind of a little bit different, and he took some guys that I probably wouldn't have taken myself where he took him. But my knowing John, he's just gonna remake his defense is what he's gonna try and do. And he, you know, he's comfortable. I don't me personally, I don't think that. I don't think Earl Thomas sits out games. Earl Thomas

is not going to sit out. No, he's not. So so John John's saying, Okay, if you sit out games, you're leaving money on the table. Johnson Johnson. Now John's gonna make a determination does he want a second or third round pick in this draft or does he want one in two thousand and twenty that's where he had because he's gonna get a third round pick of Earl

Thomas takes off and walks. So I just think that to me, if you're a team that's trying to do things and be proactive, I'm I'm I'm making that call. What do you feel about? How do you feel about? And I respect what you're saying, I really really do. Yeah, And there's always the financial commonents everything in the NFL. How do you feel about what they have right now at safety? Because we talked about the corners, but that's we haven't really talked about Xavier Woods, who's probably right

now penciledana is that free safety? He is? And then you've got Cavon Frasier, I think entering his third year. I think that's the one position where you have really the most questions. Well, they don't. I don't think they have after Xavier Woods as a free safety. I don't think there's anybody behind him. Yeah, that's that you would say, let's go. Yeah, I mean he has played both. You'd

rather him. They like Heath to play from depth because that way he can use what we saw on our you know, on our tail of the tape where he could see range run. That's where that's when, Yeah, when you play him down and in all Actually, yeah, now you trust Jeff Heath to go make a game saving play. I don't know if you necessarily trust Xavier Woods to go make a game saving play. Coaches will tell you on this team, the safeties are interchangeable. Is that fair?

Because like you guys are saying, different safeties have different skill sets where you're comfortable playing them. So are they all interchangable? Well, it depends on how you're interchanging. Because if you talk to Chris Richard, he's telling you that Woods is a single safety hide that can go sideline to sideline. So he's got that image in his mind right now, right that this kid can do that. Now,

how well we're gonna find out here real soon. Yeah, he's It's there's no question he's you know, he was thrown out there in the Nickels situation and showed up pretty well. But I I say, I'm I'm trying to say, I'm trying to if it meant for me to to solidify the spot, that's what I'm trying to do with with by signing Earl Thomas. I think trading for I think it Xavier Woods may make the decision for the

Cowboys Bingo. I think you're onto something there because if he plays well, then they're sitting there going, okay, we can They can't. They can't have questions at at three of the spots, like they can't have questions They know Jeff Heath can play well, but they can't have questions at the back of at at the starting spot. Next to him and the other three that you can't. And I said it earlier. You know, we're gonna learn a lot about Huff here. You know, Huff is now your question.

More question, Huff is your fourth safety on the roster because you don't want Cavan Frasier playing single safety high, No, you don't. He's got to be closer to the line of scrimmage. Yeah, and special teams absolutely, that's what he is. He's a special teams player. Let's say they let's focus right now there ahead. Yeah, yeah, I'm not this is my opinion on that. This is not I'm not taking Will mcclay's opinion or Jerry Jones's opinion or Stephen Jones

on on the situation. If it was me and I was in that personnel office, I would argue for a reason why, and then Will Will could say if Brian stops, sit down, you know, get away, you know. But I would if if I was Uh, if I was Alex Loomis, or if I was Henry Schroka or you know, or Judd Garrett, whoever, I would I would say, why are

we not thinking about this? Why are we not? And to Mickey's point, it could be we could get two weeks into this thing and they say, you know what, there's not a good solution behind there's we got one safety and three others that can't really play, So maybe we need to go do something to make him. I just think everybody needs to remember there's there's there's two parts to this Oh Thomas thing. I know John, I know the way John thinks. But I again, he will

not talk to me about Earl Thomas. So if they if they agree on compensation, then do the Cowboys get permission to talk to his agent. That's the only way I would do this deal. And I think I think we were close because I don't want a guy on a one year deal, right, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, you're gonna you're the only way you make this trade is if you say we want to talk now, we'll see how much Earl Thomas really wants to play in Dallas.

If Earl Thomas doesn't want to play and he tries to hold yet for fifteen million dollars a year, then you could say, no, we're not gonna go play with the Raiders. Yeah go play, Yeah, go play with the Raiders, or go play in Seattle for twelve million dollars a year now, Stephen reference this. I think on draft weekend, a plan B in house. You know, folks on the guys they have in house. Yeah, they have guys on

this roster with flexibility to play corner or safety. You please don't take Cheeto, Who's gonna be a good corner and playing at safety? And I know you're tired of moving Byron Jones around? Yes, look who who out there? Yeah, Cheeto's my corner, Yeah, left corner. I'm not gonna worry about safety if if if I'm getting beat because of my safety, then I got I got some other problems

probably going on. Right. No one's ever not gone to a super Bowl and said, you know, if I just had a better safety, yeah, I'd have gone to the super Bowl. I think that there's some things I think he can help. I think it's a bonus in this situation with the young secondary. If this was a veteran secondary, I wouldn't argue this point for Earl Thomas. I wouldn't do that. I mean, I love Earl Thomas, but I think he could really help. He could help develop Cheeto.

He can maybe help Byron Jones develop, you know, Byron. He could. He could kind of keep an eye on Byron Jones and say, Okay, I'm gonna this kid over here, Cheeto can play. I'm gonna kind of keep an eye keep you know, keep him out of trouble, you know, in the Nickel stuff. You know. I just going back and watching him play. He still plays at a high level.

He still plays if he if he was like Eric Reid and Kenny Vaccaro and those guys that the Cowboys aren't looking at that don't play at a high level, then I, you know, I would I would not do this. I think Byron can play corner I assistently at a high level. I mean he's done it. We've seen him play it. I think Mickey's right. I think there's a lot more questions there. I like the fact of how aggressive he is. I like the length. I like his ability,

the athletic ability to turn in run. I think the fact that he's playing the right corner will help him because most teams in the league are right handed, meaning they attack the left corner. So if Byron can kind of we've seen Byron, I mean we did tail the tape again. We saw a Byron cover a big tight end down on the goal line, fourth down play, be physical, get inside, keep from the interset, you know, keep from getting interference. That's yeah, Byron Jones is capable of covering,

but it's a matter of staying with guys. And that's what's going to be the trick. And I think the way they're playing it now, they'll give them an opportunity to be in man but kind of looking right back in right, not playing catch up with your back to the quarterback right. And that's kind of what he's been teaching out here. So again, that's what we're here for. We're gonna see they think they know, but they don't know. Well,

the things tend to take care of themselves. You know, you'll you'll see very quickly if there is a depth problem at defensive tackle. You'll see if there's a problem at safety, and you'll see if there's not a capable wide receiver of being one of the five or six right, you'll see that. And you'll get to see who the backup quarterbacks are too. You know, you'll get to see

that little competition as well. We're still vamping Cowboys State of the Union training camp, Press Commerce coming up momentarily. Kent's gonna tell me to get off the air here when it's time. Guys, give me, give me a couple names when they get out to practice tomorrow. And like you said, Micky won't be in pads, but maybe when they get to pads, give me a couple of names

of guys you're gonna be watching out there. Johad Ward right from the start, tell me why because they don't have another guy I think that can play that position of David Irving's not there, or play it the way that Marinelli wants it played. I mean, who else would move in there? You know you're gonna take one of the defensive ends and move into the three technique. MALIEK. Collins not playing yet. He played it well and he can maybe slide over there. But then, okay, now who's

playing the nose? So to me, jehad Ward has a lot to say with basically what goes on on that defensive line. So to me, I want to see him with pads on Rod Marinelli Saturday, a week from Saturday, at the Saturday Saturday, we get the pads. Rod Marinelli told us he made a statement quote a statement in the offseason workouts. No pads with what he did out there. He also says pads are everything. So I say that that'll be my number one guy right now. Who you got,

broad man? You know what I'm gonna focus on, because I think they're going to rely on a couple of rookies to start. I think they're I think they're gonna you know, they want they would like Michael Gallop to step up and bet Terrence Williams out of a job. I think they want the left guard to be Connor Williams. You know they drafted him to be. I'm gonna I'm interested to see the OTAs in minicamp. Those reps did not look too big for those guys at the time.

Now we've had some time, we've had some conditioning work, we've had some you know, guys to mature a little bit. I'm I'm interested to see these young, these rookie guys and go go down the list, who who is the guy of the rookies, of the drafted rookies that the game is not too big, a big four and they could come out here and they function and it's a great pool. Blocked by Connor Williams down on the goal line, Michael gallop with a clutch catch on the two minute drill.

You know, uh, you know, I'm interested to see Armstrong. Oh nice, he gets around, you know, he's in he's in there working against Tyrn Smith, or he beats Tyrn Smith, or he beats Lyle Collins for a sack. You know. That's I'm focusing on those rookie guys because I think they're they're looking at those kids and they're saying and that. And we during the draft show, we were talking about maybe they'll trade these picks, maybe they won't take all these picks. They made all these picks for a reason,

you know, and they got players. They went out and got players, and so if you're gonna do that, you better go play them. You better figure it out. And that's where I think that to me, And it doesn't really answer your question because it's such a big you know, big Oh yeah, Brian, look at rookie's good for you. Look. But I think deep down in their heart, they're looking at these kids and they're saying, Okay, maybe this guy can help us. Maybe this guy can help us here.

Maybe the guy can help us here. It's less of a veteran football team. This year, first five draft choices for sure they need guess right, there's two in the fourth Yeah yeah, yeah, that to me. And if you're not gonna count them, but hey, can can Mike White beat out Cooper Rush who was outstanding here last year? Cooper Rush basically in the game Cooper Rush put put Kellen Moore into coaching if you if you think about it, mean because he went from being the backup to being

you know, practice squad. And then some of these young guys. It doesn't have to be September ninth, but how about by the bye week, maybe they move into and start taking some serious reps or or starting and a couple of them could do it. I don't think in this coverage we're gonna have we're gonna sugarcoat it, because if kids are playing well, I always say they're playing well. If they're playing bad, we're gonna say they're playing bad.

But I'm really interested to see if these these rookies, like Mickey said, the four or five six of them can step in and immediately help this team and then are part of are part of the defense, are part of offense, part of special teams, whatever that takes. When they're when you're scouting rookies like this when the pads come on, do you have to give them a little longer leash and evaluations because this is the first time going through this, or do you have to see something

I don't want? Hey, you know what if if if if Layton Vanderish is playing scrape linebacker and making and tackling or wrapping up a Zeka Ellt on the edge, give me as many of those reps as you can. You know, give me that. But I don't think these kids. I think these all of these kids played big time football and so they understand, Hey, we're gonna line up and play and line up and go. And I'm I'm okay with that. I'm okay. I'm watching Alan Hearns. I'm

watching him. Can he take ownership of that extra sive spot? And maybe he doesn't have to be Dez Bryant, but can he Can he do most of what Dez did production wise last year? If they can get that out of him, with the running game, with the way they want to play football offensively, I think they'll be in

pretty good shape. And he's got a major opportunity to step in and be a guy for Dak that teams have to account for at least and maybe that See, that's that's another part of this where we've discussed like do they need a number one receiver? I say yes, But there's a second part of it. I think there's times where Dak needed guys to separate last year the other guys and there was guys were singled up and it wasn't always pretty and he didn't have anywhere to

go with the football. Sometimes Zeke's will help with the separation. Yeah, who were they scared of? Last year? They could sink back? Who were they scared of? Yeah? Defensive scared of Alfred Morris, nice running back, but they weren't scared of him. So who was gonna beat you Dak and Dez? Yeah? Do

you think we'll see? And I know it's maybe a talking point, maybe not, But are we going to see something different from Scott Linahan or are we gonna go back to Mickey what you were talking about with a two thousand and sixteen attack where it's built on a running game, it's built on moving uh dack around, it's built on that or is that or we are we gonna see? I'm sure that you know, you know vic and Ventura wants more creativity. Yeah, well, I mean that's

what I'm saying. I mean, Vici Ventura is saying, well, well, who brought us creativity? Creativity? Get you know here? You are, Brian, you're bitching about the basilely not getting open, But how about some creativity? You know? I think that's where I think that's where you know again. And I'm gonna sit there and say, oh, scheme specific they're doing this, this and that. Do you think we're gonna see any adjustments? And adjust it's a bad word because it's like it's

it's like it's like a game time thing. But are we gonna see some things differently that we haven't seen in the last two years with a team that predominantly ran the foot think the fact that Tavon Austin's here is a sign that they may try to do some things differently, or at least after the fact that they move. Possibly Beasley gets snaps outside, you get a bigger guy inside with Hearns, and you got Zeke that you can throw the ball too. More of that would be good,

And you know, is that creative? No Emmett Smith caught forty fifty sixty balls this season while he was running and winning rushing championships. So now you've got something. The linebackers are going to be more occupied by Zeke's presence because now when you when you when you do the play naked bootleg, the linebackers not running out there immediately right, gotta go, all right, press confers coming up. Shortly finished that thought. Tomorrow a