Talkin' Cowboys: Reacting To Jerry's Comments

Rob Phillips here on stage right outside Ford Center at the Star, joined as always by Mickey Spagnola, Brian broad Us, and a special alumnus of Talking cow Boys, Nate Newton. Getting everybody fired up out. I'm excited, man, welcome back. Yeah, man, right as you one here the last time I left for good to see you too. Yeah, I appreciate that, Nate. Always good to be around you. I know a lot of good football knowledge in that big brain of years and always be a big hit. Is always good to

be outside to this kind of training camp. Vibe to it right solutely. Yeah. We're on Cowboys Way. We're right across the street from City Works and Kane Rosso, So come on out and join us. We're gonna be here for an hour and after that, we got more show We got draft shows right yeah, yeah, We've got several more shows left in the day. And hey, this is a three day deal out here. Yeah. Brand opening ceremony, Nate live entertainment, special appearances, dining in, shopping specials, notable

prizes for the public. Oh you wrote that down so you wouldn't miss a bee. I'm prepared, man, you know that, and including Easter Sunday. Wow, So will we be back tomorrow? Are you guys to be back tomorrow? Now? This is us. We're just doing a day of shows today. Fly. Everybody better pay attention. This is one time, only one shot right here, So just down the way here, Jerry Jones just had a special ribbon cutting ceremony to kick this off.

I mean, the Star has been around for a couple of years now, but now all of the entertainment district is ready to go. So many different shops, dining options, retail, outstanding may or Fish Road. Jeff Channey was out there as well, so kicking things off, We're here to provide a little extra entertainment for you and talk a little cowboys. We're here for the next hour. And man, it's been a while or a lot has happened in the last week. It seems like it's been forever since we've gotten together

and talked. It has been together. Free agency talk. We can get into that. We can get into some draft talk because we do have Bryan broad Us here. Yeah, let's start with free agency and what the Cowboys have done really in the last five six days. Added six new players on this roster, said goodbye to a couple of guys, not Dez Bryant. He is still on the roster. By the way, Wow, shots, how you take shot shots?

That's a lot of speculations. The question hasn't gone away. Okay, it will not go away until something is resolved one way or another. The Cowboys are expected to meet with him at some point. We'll see. But let's talk about what they've done in free agency. Guys, thoughts on the five signings they've had that they've also traded for a new fullback as well. Nate added a couple offensive lines. The Marcus Martin Cameron Fleming, what do you think about him?

What I think is I think they come h Well, one guy came from Cleveland, so U well, I don't know what to think about him. But the other guy that report on him. Yeah, yeah, I'm Marcus Martin, the guy from New England. He's uh, he's the guy that been in the system, knows a lot about adjusting, doing games, adjusting from week to week. That's what the New England Patriots does. Well, that's what I hope the Cowboys. My

game is not about free agency, fellas. My thing is about the new coaches that they've brought in and the offensive line coach. I want to know he's been with the Cincinnati being what thirty Paul Alexander and they said, Coach Alexander have seen every scheme, every defensive front, every

secondary coverage, every linebacker twist and turn and blitz. I want to see what we do with this officive line since we got a new offensive line coach here, what what would we do to make adjustments during games if we're missing the player And I'm talking about not only a running back, but I'm talking about another offensive lineman. We got three guys that are all pros, and now we got Collins, who's at the right tacker. We don't know how he's gonna be situated in training camp. We

got him at right tacker. I want to know if we what we would do at the left guard, and what would we do once a guy's missing an officive line? That's my big issue. What would have So in your ideal world, what would you want to happen? Well, I would like for the scheme to be more efficient and ready to a doubt because last year we lost Tyrone Crawford at left tackle. Seemed like we just want to rate Tyron Smith. Tyron Smith. We just went to we went to raid. We didn't know what was going on.

We had like we was lost. That shouldn't have happened to us. These teams don't have that type of offensive line that we have. We lose one guy and we still have two all pros left. We need to say hi to Hell. Hey, what's about Hell? What's going on? Yeah? Hey? By the way, we do have a live mic out here, right, yeah? Yea. If anybody's got any questions, I'm coming to you ready, I'm going fellas, Hey, I'm worried about the coaches, not

the players, thank you. So, what I was going to ask Nate from an ideal standpoint, what would you want to happen on with personnel on that offensive line? Yeah? I think that they're in a point right now where they've talked about potentially moving Collins. You know, we we with Martin. You know, he's a guy to me. He might have played at Cleveland, he was at San Francisco. The Browns were a team that didn't have they had like the Cowboys, they had a lot of value at

their guards. They went out and got some money. So Martin was a guy that wasn't inactive, was inactive really every game, so he had a hard time getting on the phild. He's twenty five years old. I went back and watched him and I kind of compare him guys to the early Ron Leary type of a body, you know,

the big, boxy kind of square player. Maybe a little bit trouble getting second level blocks and stuff like that, but the power that he played with the ability to work with the tackles, you know, those kinds of things I think are really inviting because he does have those kinds of traits and he's a guy I think that's got potential to be a starter at left guard. And I think that's what the Cowboys were thinking. They're they're

trying to Mickey we went under all our shows. Was always talking about upgrade, the guard upgrade Byron Bell, right, So that's I think what they did. Their plan was, Okay, let's go out and sign guys like Fleming. Fleming started in the Super Bowl, starting the AFC Championship game. I watched him against Pittsburgh. You know, he's made some good starts against good teams and held up, you know, no worse for wear. So I feel like they they've got that,

that that little bit of that that better depth. If they if they say, Okay, we're gonna move college, which Mickey and Drop I wouldn't do personally, I think that I feel like that, you know, he's You've invested the year, the growing pains early. By the end of the year, though, he was one of your better offensive linemen, and I think that's a I think that's a credit to him, and I'd hate to see them take that away, much like what we saw happen with Chaz Greene having to

play guard and talking about Byron Jones too. It's safety spot, you know, can you keep him at one spot and get him developed at a spot that's best for him, corner or safety. It looks like Nate is shagged question out there with the masses out here at the start. Hey, fellas, Yes,

I got Trevor from Saginaw Man. All right. He has the question, um, so if Darwin James is gone, if he's the first one gone instead of Minka, do you think that that's would trade up for Minka the same way they went with James and that kind of ten to thirteen area. Yeah, that's that's it. That's a very good question, sir, Really really is you know Mica Fitzpatrick from Alabama. They went in there and they have worked out those kids, and you know, he was a guy

that they have some familiarity with. I think that where you have to wonder, Okay, is this guy a corner or is he a safety? You know, and some people have kind of It's a little bit like Jalen Ramsey was a couple of years ago during the Zeke draft, where all of sudden people said, okay, he's a safety, but Jacksonville plays mc corner. I don't know if they would necessarily go up to draft Mika. I think that they because maybe the little bit of the thought of

what does he play. I'm interested to find out if they in fact he's a thirty visit. But even they might think he's out of there because he was always a guy. It was a top five consideration until all the quarterback shuffling went up, so he might be an odd guy out him Nelson, So what do you think? What are you thinking? Is I haven't listed as a corner. Okay, I haven't listed as a corner, and I always thought yeah, yeah, I will say you look at safety and that's a

spot that you could assuming Byron Jones as a cornerback. Again, Yeah, that's a spot you look at and say, Okay, that could be a draft target for you. Talk to Stephen Jones at the owner's meetings in Florida this week. He did say there is a school of thought when you look at what they've done in free agency, maybe you need to go get a free safety who can cover. But they haven't found anybody on the market that fits

what they're looking for scheme wise. Before we go back out to Nate, I will say this though, Yeah, because you look at what Kenny Baccaro has done, right, and then you look at Tyrn Matthew more down players play slot that cover stuff good. But maybe they're looking for a guy that's more of a true free Yes, you know, and that's I think that's where you know, that's why you get Earl Thomas rumors because you have that he has that ability to play as a true free sat.

All right, let's go back to Nate and you know what, it's gonna be a little change of face here. We gotta gotta to settle the dance problem. We got Chris and Michael from Holland Village. All right, thanks guys. I know you're tired of hearing questions about the Dak situation, but I have a question and maybe a suggestion. So obviously, you got the team not wanting to spend so much money on him, and you got him not wanting to

take a pay cut. Is there a win win situation where they renegotiate a performance based or incentive based contract where he can claim victory and say, yeah, I'm gonna come out and show everybody I'm gonna make more money, but the team is protected in case he doesn't. Good question. I would imagine that's the idea if you think about what the Cowboys did with Brandon Carr when they reduced

his base salary that last year. They basically cut it in half, but guaranteed him not only money for that year, they guaranteed him money the next year that ended up counting against the salary cap last year. So there are ways to do that and put some performance bonuses in there. And uh, what you don't want to do is embarrass the guy, right, and you don't want to embarrass him in the locker room. And I think that's gotta be their goal if they're gonna mess with that with that contract.

So it sounds like tomorrow next week, maybe before the draft, although Steve Stephen Jones said over there in the Lincoln Um showcase room that they have really no timetable on it. It's not like we gotta do something before the draft. Yeah, we'll see how that goes. Yeah, Diz was in this morning working out. So his plan and focus is to try and get prepared. But they're gonna protect themselves and they're gonna they're gonna do right by Diz too. It's

a very good question. Jerry was just asked again. He was asked two days ago by US in Florida. Have you talked to No, they have not had to sit down yet. He got asked again. Now he's back from Florida. He said he kind of had a little fun with the media, didn't he make? Yes? He did? So, where were you in Florida? Rob I was in by the way, he had a little fun by saying what Steven or Jerry? Jerry? He said, I've told I told des not to come in here because I want the questions to keep going.

I wanted the cowboys to stay in the news, which is great and you know it's good press, right, you know what, there's a sliver of truth in that by why not? Why not? This was this is the new Romo thing? Right? It was all about Romo last year? What are they gonna do with Tony? Same thing with Dez Brian. You and I have gone back and forth on this, like I don't have a great feeling about

what's gonna happen here. I think there's if you if you see some of the tea lea read some of the tea leaves from Jerry this week, it's like there's there's a chance, depending on what they work out with him, that he, you know, he'd be back. He doesn't want to speculate that he won't be back. But Stephen Jones has talked about we've got a business decision to make so. Yeah, I mean talking about contract numbers and all that is the right path, But what what's the solution? I don't

think anybody knows you. So here is the new term that Jerry Cone today deliberate planned confusion. And that's what you got going right now, which is what means what? Which means that he's deliberately not telling you anything to confuse the situation. But Nate Newton will settle this situation. I'm not gonna settle it, man. But I have a guy named Robert who I want to call it Thomas from from planet. He has a question about all these receivers. So how do you think it's gonna settle out? With

this huge roster of wide receivers? There's too many of them. Where do you start? Yeah, this is that's a great question, because I'll tell you why. It's you know, you have ninety men on the roster, so they don't have to do anything quickly. I mean they could even draft and then think about how they want to cut down things once they get going. But I don't think they're in any hurry right now to do anything as far as roster reduction, and with the with the soon to be

ninety man rosters. They could keep this thing as long as they want. But the way I think it's gonna shake out, I think they're gonna have their meeting with Dez. I think they're gonna figure things out with him. He's gonna get on board, and then we'll see how that goes from there. But the other receivers, I think the most important thing. The thing that kind of bothers me a little bit, that gives me a little pause, is

that they didn't have this discussion with him earlier. Yeah, if they didn't say, listen, does this is what we need to do? Are you with us on this? Are you with us on that? And maybe you couldn't get all the parties together. But Jerry did mention that, Yeah, the timing has been an issue. I just wish they would have been able to meet with him early and say, listen, this is what we want to do and then you can make your plan about having to sign guys and

stuff like that. But I don't. I just don't feel like they're any real hurry right now to reduce the roster at this moment. So if everybody had been paying attention to Jason Garrett at the owner's meeting. The word he kept using to answer the gentleman's question about too many people at wide receiver was competition. Yeah, those guys will decide for you, because I don't think there's any cut and dried guy out there that just says, Okay, I got this spot. Don't don't, don't come around me, right,

I'm a starter. Right. And and the other thing that will settle your question is injuries. Right. Don't think you're so deep until you get through training camp, because somehow, some way, every time you think of the position is too deep, two guys get hurt, and all of a sudden you're looking around going huh, I ain't got enough wide receivers for practice. We also found out this week to speaking of that, Terrence Williams head surgery in the offseason for a fractured foot, and it could cost him

some of his offseason work. So you're looking at depth editions there with the signings of Alan Hearns and Deante Thompson. So hey, take a stab at which method Carpel Meta Tarsl was busted. I'll just say fourth. Oh, it's the fifth. It's always always the fifth, taking the fifth. All right, we got more quick question. Then we go to break. Jack is speaking from Jack from Michigan. He's got a question. Do you think DVD he's gonna have any big impact this year? David Irvin? Do you think you have an

impact this year? David Irvy? Absolutely, he better. Yeah, because they need him to have an impact at that three technique on the defensive line. And he had an impact in the eight games he played last year, So if he can double up for an entire season, boy, he'll be a pro bowler. Yeah. They need they need him to play well, they really really do, especially with some

of the things that are going on inside. I also feel like they'll check out the draft and we get to that that maybe you'll have a guy get added that could be an undertack or a three technique playing behind him or with him or in a rotation because they might only have him for one year and then they need to think about that spot again going forward, Nate, are these people visiting from Michigan? Yes, y'all visit. Come on, this is the mom and what's your name now? Debbie?

Very welcome, Debbie. I thought that was going to ask about Chomp. Somebody asked about David Man oh, they got just got good. Are you going on to San Antonio? We're thinking about it on Monday, all right, So if they win, huh, if Sister Jean, if they can beat Sister Jeane, we'll see what We'll see what happens. All right, Let's take our first break, guys. When come back, we can talk more about the free agent editions we touched

on wide receiver. They added a new linebacker as well, and Brian went to some pro days too, so let's get into that when we come back next on Talking Cowboys. It can be hard to find the right resource for learning about important financial matters. You search how to build savings, you end up reading about the one weird ingredient from supermarkets that can make you taller. That's why Bank of America build Better Money Habits dot Com, a safe little

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exclusions and warranty limitations apply. So when you move for details, this is talking Cowboys. Brian Broadness. Tell me about Tommy John and why you love it so much. I'll tell you what, guys, Tommy John was my best friend. I was on the road the last three days hanging out of pro days. Tommy John underwear, socks, t shirt. Everything you need from Tommy John you can get and it's comfortable and have to wash them. Yeah, yeah, I got enough pair of something that's really has packed a bag

fulham Tommy John very affordable underwear. You go to Dallas Cowboys dot com forward slash Tommy John or come right here because I've got mine. You're wearing yours right now. Got him on. That's not t m I at all. That's awesome, But Tommy John, it's absolutely the best underwear you can wear, so go get you something. Thank you, Brian. Welcome back to Talking Cowboys out here at the Star in Frisco. It's the grand opening of the entertainment district

out here at the Star. We've got Nate Newton out on the street, man on the street getting questions from fans. What you got? Hey, Hey, I just wanted to point out to you there are people behind us too. Yeah, and I want him to join us. I got map from saging on spotting over here. And now he's gonna ask you about a guy in the draft, and I'm like, who is this guy? All right? I called Trevor over but I said, you know, we got one better. We got broddies. Yeah, so here we go, Matt stunt me here.

Do you think that Jesse Bates would trade up? I'm sorry, I forgot the question about Jesse Bates, the safety from Wake Forest. Would you trade up for him? Yeah, don't worry, he got it. We got it. Wait o, Yeah, I tell you Jesse Bates and it's a it's a good quite good name too, from Wake Forest to safety. He's one of the true free safeties in this draft. So probably, you know, more like a probably a second round guy. Guy you would probably hit at fifty it you might

have to go. Maybe he could go a little bit behind that, but I didn't feel like he was a first round safety. The guy I really liked, I think would be a that I would personally like at fifty is Galden from Tennessee. He plays the slot and he could also, like you know, he tackles very well. He was wound to tend to see his better players in the secondary. But Bates is a really good player. Because

you're absolute right, he's a true free safety. When you say himple played deep, he could play with range, he could come downhill, he can cover. It's a really good name to keep an eye on. Thanks for the question, and let's let's touch on some drafts here. Brian I answers Mickey's questions from earlier. I was in Orlando for the owners meetings. Stayed across the street from SeaWorld, by the way, with place the Ritz is kind of fancy. Yeah, yeah, these guys at the Ritz. I worked at the Ritz.

I didn't exactly have a room there, Okay I didn't. I didn't spring for the for the fee, but it was a great time. Learned some good stuff. I kind of wish I could switch places with Brian because he was down in my home away from home college station. And then I stepped up to that place in Austin too where they played football too and went to some pro days. So what are your thoughts on what you

saw out there? Christian kirk Malik Jefferson, Yeah, those guys, yeah, I'll tell you what though, and both both schools were

more than kind to us going through there. We were actually working on a little bit of a documentary, a mini document if you want to say, kind of a day in the life of a scout, and so we were following Walter Julife, longtime national scout here with the Cowboys, and then Sam Garza who's got that area, and they were, you know, Will McClay and Stephen Jones were kind enough to let us talk to them and shadow them a little bit and do some things. So it was really

cool that way. But from what I saw though, a lot of defensive players at the University of Texas that potentials. You know you talked about Jefferson, Elliott, the safety is a possibility there. Poonafford, I think was the one, and Mickey got a little dose of poona Afford this morning, a big dose when we were doing the Blitz. When we're filming the Blitz, So yeah, it's if you're if you know, most of those guys are probably second day

type of players. The one first round guy they have is Connor Williams, the big tackle and you know from Coppell right from Kapell, a local kid, and the New Orleans Saints worked him out. And you know, the Saints lost their starting right tackle to retirement this year, so maybe they're thinking of hitting it again this year like they did last with Ramchek, who played very well for them. So yeah, the the it was really impressive to be

a part of that. Christian Kirk, Yeah, I learned about Christian Kirk that he was going to get a workout from the Cowboys from Kyle Valaro was going to go to College Station yesterday and after we went through the day before, he was going to go through and put him through a little bit more extensive workout. People are looking at him as more of an potentially a slot player, but you got to determine if he could play on the outside. I think that's what Kyle Valaro is gonna do.

Go down there jam him up a little bit, try and make him run some routes where he has to fight through suppress. He's a little bit shorter guy. I like to describe him in the body type of what Steve Smith looks like. You have' you ever seen Steve Smith kind of the rocked up compact compact but but but it's got really good quickness, catches the at ball well, and there's explosive. He's also a punt returner. Do we need any it help because it looks like lunch is over.

I think we're good. We're good good by the way. So my question is do you think do you think he can play outside? You know, I tell you what, though, I have my doubts about that. Okay, I really really do. I think he's gonna have to be. People are gonna try and put him outside. And Steve Smith was just rare the way that he was able to get outside like that. I just don't see when you watch him play. He's got a slot body, but he doesn't have slot

quickness like when you watch Cole Beasley play. You know, Beasley's that able to get in and out of routes. The quickness and the Kirk it's hard for him to get started. But once he gets going, then you then you've got that ability or he's got that ability to make So I think it's gonna be difficult for him. I think he's gonna have to find ways to do his damage inside. And you know, I don't know if

somebody would take that in the first round. You watched him. Yeah, can he play outside because he's got what they call long speed, right. Yeah, Like Bryan said, once he gets going, I wouldn't discount him being able to do anything in this league. In addition to kick return, he did that, did that very well. He's just an impressive guy. And he's a different type of receiver than Larry Fitzgerald. I not I'm not making a direct comparison, but they talked

about Fitzgerald coming out of college. He didn't have elite speed and all that kind of stuff, but he just knew how to get open, he knew how to he knew how to make plays. And I think Kirk's gonna have a ten year career in this league and be and help a team. There's been a lot of games. Absolutely, Yeah, we'll see where he goes. By the way, Jason Garrett was in Cowboys staff at SMU today. Cortland's Sutton, another wide receiver. Yeah, they're taking a look at and Jason

Garrett at Alabama's second pro day yesterday. So it's that time of year where they're taking a look. And that's not unlike Ohio State a couple of years ago, where look, Bama's got twenty prospects every year, So you might as well just take a look at everybody while you're down there. Yeah, and that's probably what they did. That's exactly what they look at. Xanne Medina, team player, passing out water. She's the best. All right, let's go back to Nate. We

have we have kindred from McKinney. All right, that's tired to say. And he has a question about our head coach. If Jason gard wins ten games or less, does he come back next year? Is it a playoff season? Playoffs? He gets in the playoffs. Oh, he's good, he's good. He's good in the playoffs. I think you are unanimous there, I think so, Yeah, I agree to didn't make the playoffs. He didn't make the playoffs then, and we may then when we might be talking about somebody else. But you know,

that's the whole thing. I think Jason understand He comes from a family where his dad was a coach. His dad had been on STAPs where they got let go. You know, this is I believe his eighth season is the head coach of the Cowboys. As the head coach, so yeah, he understands the nature of the beast. There's a lot of expectations with the fans, there's a lot of expectations in that building across from us over here

with the owner and his family as well. So yeah, I think that he needs to find a way to win games and getting the playoffs and hopefully win some playoff games. If not, then really all bets are off. So, Rob, did you like the way Jerry answered the question? I guess it was yesterday on the gap between the Cowboys in Philadelphia. I understood where he was going and I thought it made a lot of sense. Do you want

to repeat what he's said? Well, he said, if you're talking about the gap, if you're talking that they won the Super Bowl Philly did and the Cowboys didn't even make the playoffs, then that looks like a significant gap. Yeah, but they don't think it's that wide of a gap. I think they feel like they missed an opportunity to make the playoffs. They didn't handle some of the injuries they had and absences they had talking about Zeke's mansion as well as the Eagles handled their losses. There's no

question about it. But I think when you're talking about the job Jason Garrett has done, let's not forget that two years ago this team won thirteen games with their quote unquote third string quarterback to start training camp, so they have him frustrated in ability to adjust and coach up and have next man up. Didn't do as well a job as a team collectively handling those those absences last year, and Philly did and give him all the credit in the world to win the Super Bowl. Very good, Nate,

Hey Fellas, Yes, we got Billy from Louisville. And before he asked this question, he's not I'm not the only guy running around with something pink, you know what. But he has a question about about Daz. All right, Yes, I I just wondering what you guys thought about the chances of Daz coming back. I've heard that one a couple of times. Yeah, today, I think they're good. Yeah, I do. I think that they're gonna figure out way.

He's gonna sit down and talk this out. And you know, if I think Daz would, like Mickey said, all along, treat him with respect, I think that he will in turn come back. He understands the business side of this. He's been a veteran player. Now he w to be here. I think that they're they're gonna have to get through

some hurdles here. I think there's obviously some people in the organization at certain parts like the maybe see move on, But the people who are making decisions, they're the ones that are gonna have to say, Okay, no, he's staying and you guys need to be quiet. So yeah, I feel like though that there's a good chance he stays. But then again, I've gone back and forth with this, Yeah, I really have. I mean, I think we've all struggled

with this. Mickey's been pretty consistent about it. But I just worry a little bit about if if all of a sudden that you know, we've seen somebody, two or three people come up and say, Okay, we need to do this different, and it influences Jerry in that way, and that that's the thing that would worry me a little bit. Let me read you two quotes from Jerry this week to kind of encapsulate the death situation right now.

He said, we need to talk, and I certainly have not had a thought about talking with him that did not anticipate him being with us. There you go. The other thing he said was with regard to the receivers they've added, doesn't impact his situation. He said, I like our mix. I think these two guys we signed in what we might look at at any level of the draft, plus what we might get work out with Dez gives us a good looking receiver outlook. So they are factoring

him in. Yeah. Now, a conversation, though, still needs to be had. And the speculation is what do they do with his contract? He's got a twelve What does it make? A twelve point five million dollars base salary and a sixteen point five million dollars cap hit And that's a lot, and that's a lot to slide in when you look at the other receivers on this roster. So when you look at the other receivers on the roster, if he's not here, who takes his place? I've been saying that

you know I've been saying that all offseason. They have to believe that Hearns would you're gonna make that bet. It's not my job to make the bet, it's my job to say it. Who I think they would think that he would be that replacement. But I do think that Hearns and Dez are very similar in their style. Now, are they would? I'd rather have Dez Bryant, Absolutely I would, But I'm just saying the style in which they play,

I think is very very similar. Okay, if we look at and I did this the other day, the wide receivers under contract right now, Terrence Williams, Cole Beasley, Ryan Switzer, Noah Brown, Deonte Thompson, Alan Hearns, I'll throw Lance Lenore in there. Sure not. Death's finished the season? What six touchdown catches? Right? All those guys I just mentioned they totaled six touchdown catches. Nobody had more than two, and three of them had zero. So you feel comfortable going

to battle with out Dez? No? Not not. Not on the face of it. However, I do agree with what Brian said that they might make you death. They might. I don't think I don't. I don't think it but they're making a serious bed. I think I think every offseason you have to project to some degree. I think we all would be love to have Devi's Bryant at the high level that he played at three years ago. I think we'd all love that. And we're all saying

that Dez Bryant is a better player. I'm saying he's very similar to Hearns, not maybe numbers wise, but where he's similar is how he plays. And so that's where I think it's not our job to make the bet. They're making the bet. And and and again that's guy's jobs. Online. If if I was a scout, I would argue against getting rid of Dez Bryant. I would, but I but I'm not in that building. I'm not on the outside

of the building anymore. And I'm thinking, okay, and watching how they've watched them try and protect themselves with certain ways of bringing players in. What do they do they lose Keith Smith. I wouldn't have necessarily lost Keith Smith, Yeah, but what they do They went out and got OLDA Wally, so yeah, yeah, So what has it been for them? It's been reactionary moves. So why can't with Dez here, Alan Hearns take snaps away from Arence Williams. Oh, I

think they're gonna try that. I think they're gonna try that. Yeah, I mean Bryce Butler did. Yeah, I think they're but but how many snaps at Bryce Butler play a game? Fifteen? Maybe probably got hurt. Yeah, And then see, now if you're if you're you know, you got a coach here

that they actually they they love well. Derek Duley no longer here at Missouri, but you've got an offensive staff that was very happy about having Terrence Williams back because because Terrence Williams gives him a little bit as a blocker, he's kind of a he could be a player they use on the move, right, not really stuff that Alan Hearns is kind of his cup of tea. But if you you know, you want to get him involved. Yeah, I personally don't take Dez Bryan off the field. I

don't think I take Cole Beasley off the field. But if you tell me, okay, Alan Hearns is going to play the Z for you, you can do it effectively. That's kind of the way they need to go. Separate from the death situation when they looked at her. I feel like they saw a guy that a couple of years ago had a fourteen hundred yards season, had ten touchdowns. He's only twenty six years old. He's had some injuries the last couple of years, but there's a lot of

potential there. They like the like the person, they like the receiver, so they think they can help him. But Mickey spoke to I think it's about competition. They're creating competition on the offensive line too. We're not really sure who the starting five is gonna be there. I don't see yeah, and if you look at who the thirty visits are going to be next week, I guarantee you it's gonna be guy. There's gonna be some receivers in

that mix. And so there they might this might be a whole redoing, much like they did with the defensive backslash, because they haven't made a change at wide receiver in five years. Five years? Right years? Ye Okay, Hank tight Nate, we got a question right on the other side. Let's take our final break of talking Cowboys and we'll go back to Nate on the street at the Star in Frisco, grand opening of the entertainment District next on Talking Cowboys.

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Cowboys Way talking some cowboys on Cowboys Way. We got Nate Newton out there, man, getting fan questions. What you got Nate, No, I got some great dudes out him. Man, these dudes came from Chicago. Yeah. Yes, we got Jackson and we got Noah. No, they got Noah and they got Jackson, and they both got Cowboy T shirts out. You give him. Give me your name again, so I got short term. Remember I give you. I'm Jackson. What's up, Jackson? What is your question? What do action do you think

the Cowboys would go in the draft? What direction? What direction? I think they could go any direction in the first round except quarterback and running back. I'll tell you what, Jackson, I think this is. He's Mickey's right about keeping an open mind about things because they've worked out a lot of different guys. You're kind of at the mercy of really what the board is at nine team, because you might have eighteen first round grades and then you get

the nineteen and you maybe you've lost a guy. With all the quarterbacks that are going early in this draft, you've got to hope they're gonna push some cats to you. Jerry spoke to that this way. So they're kind of looking. Maybe they've got some picks that they can move up at they see guy. I think that the positions I would watch on defense, I'd watch defensive Yeah, I'd watch defensive tackle. I'd watch linebacker, and then I would watch safety.

Those I'd watch those defense. I don't know if they'd go corner, but if I had to guess, I would say linebacker would be the first one and defensive tackle will be the second one. Jackson, Chicago is a big city. What what what town you live? Iniats? Okay, see Mickey's from Chicago. I grew up at Chicago Heights, Chicago Heights, the mean streets. Okay, we got no no what's up? The real special for y'all? What do you think Man'zelle's gonna end up a good one? Now? Brian was at

his workouts effort six million dollar quest. That's a smart man. Watch out for that kid growing up. Yeah, I'll tell you what you know. I'll tell you what you know that Johnny manziel I was at the pro day at Texas A and M the other day and he was thrown for Christian Kirk and I will say this, physically, he looked really good physically. I mean how he wasn't you know, big or Doe looking very night that he was.

He was well put the doe Doe, yeah, doe, you know Nate when I'm talking about kind of a Doe looking guy, kind of a but but he threw the ball really well. The placement of the ball like downfield, the underneath stuff that he did, the comebacks, the curls, the slants. I think he leaves three passes out of about thirty eight that he threw. So yeah, I don't know where New England has kind of been a team

rumored did they like him? But I wouldn't be surprised if somebody bring after watching him work out there that more teams all, they're all teams who represented Day and M. I wouldn't be surprised if somebody brought him in just for a workout, just to see some of the things that we saw the other day. So do you think he will really play in that developmental I think he will. That's his intent. Springly Spring late springle in Austin, and then if he doesn't after that, it's then the CFL. Yeah.

So yeah, he's gonna play. It's just he's named after Nolan. Ryan expressed, Man, oh, so this is mom and dad. Come on the welcome They're they're hare for football and baseball huh and basketball? Oh yeah, yeah, they're coming all through. Yeah. I see Cowboys shirts, cup shirt, Go Ramblers, Yeah, Loyola. Yeah, big weekend. All right, thanks for the question, guys. I may be the only one here that saw them win a national championship. That is nineteen twenty stop six? Was

that I think sister was. She was forty, he was sixteen. She was full what are you talking about? Making? Taking out with her at the student union. She was probably hidden spanking my hand for talking about I was wondering which way you were going? Ye do Hey, speaking of the previous question we got about the draft. Yeah, it's my job to come up with polls on this show,

right when Taylor's hosting. Yeah. Yeah, So along the lines of the previous question, Hey, after seeing what the Cowboys have done in free agency, their top priority in the draft should be and I got four options Brian, you might not agree with all these I said linebacker. Yeah, offensive line, because you can never have enough true safety or I left a spot for other. Hello, this is first round, first round or top priate priority. So yeah, she wish you would have the offensive line. Maybe would

have been speaking to line or tackle? Are you other? I think I'm more I think I'm mooring the linebacker mode, to be honest with you. Know, they keep saying it, and Jason mentioned the other day that they need to bring in more linebackers. Yeah, so I don't know if that meant free agency and or the draft, but I would imagine someplace in that first three rounds linebackers take. Yeah, I think they're hunting linebackers. I really do. Again, thirty visits.

We'll see next week. Right, who wall is on that list? Sean Evans Abama, They were down there yesterday. Look at him along a lot of guys. Yeah, they they need to kind of think about things. If we're kind of getting into a mode where, uh, you know, you're thinking about maybe a will linebacker, what are you gonna do with Sean Lee? Not to try and put Sean Lee to pasture or anything like anytime soon, because you showed last year you need him off the field. Yeah, but

here's you know, here's a guy again. You talk about financial considerations and things like that, so, uh, you know, you have to kind of look to the future, and they, you know, need it. They need a guy as a guy could play a mic potentially backup Will Right, much like Anthony Hitchins did last year. I wouldn't look at Joe Thomas here as every playback. I wouldn't look a him as as Anty Hitchins. I'm with you. I would look at him more like he is a Kyle Wilburg

special teams player. That's a better Justin Durant and Mickey. You and I were talking, Rob, I think you went upstairs at the time we were to my lunch that they needed a better Justin Durant. And still the million dollar question too on top of that is Jaylen Smith and what his role would be in this defense next year. How much of a load would he be ready to handle. I don't think we asked Jason Garrett that the other day in Florida and he didn't. He didn't want to

put a snap count on him here in March. But they feel like physically he'll be better. I still agree, Mickey, You're right, they're gonna look for more linebackers. They had look Hitchens and Sean Lee collectively missed a nine or ten games last year, and you don't have Hitchins next year as well. He's back with and Jalen Smith was

in no way ready to play sixty snaps. Yeah. That was the thing that hurt him the most is the fact that they we we kind of thought that Jalen Smith was going to kind of ease his way in, and easing his way in was thrown off the boat into the ocean. Yeah, and swim back to land. Right, so right, and so ken So we're you're removed from all that. Can they count on him sixteen games at sixty snaps a game ready for that? I think physically he'll be ready. Physically, I think physically he will do

everything in his power to be ready. I think he'll do everything he can to work out. I'm sure we'll have he'll have a golf cart at training camp because he'll be the offseason award guy. He'll be one of those guys who we always see. He gets the Jason Witten, it's the tyrant Smiths the guys that get the Jeff Eaths, that get the golf carts, but will the nerve cooperator. I think that what we're starting to hear, Mickey, and I know that you kind of talked to the same

guy as I do. That his ability to raise his foot is becoming more prevalent. I believe he said at the end of the season, he doesn't get tested for that. Yeah, And Jerry said, yeah, he said he. I've talked to coaches, trainers, doctors and they all feel like he'll be from a physical standpoint much better. Absolutely. I agree. Hey, what's got? Hey, this is my last guy that's a zip from Mississippi and now he lives in Nashville, but this is a

Mississippi state guy, So he has a nice question. Go dogs, go doggs. Hey, I'm just out here looking for Dak and I'm hoping you got How do we build a core around Dak? I'll tell you what. That's that's a that's a that's that's the whole that's right there. That that's a great question again because to me, it is about the offensive line. It is about the running game. It is about who's catching the football on the outside.

It's about getting Cole Beasley better. It's about Mickey's offensive line approving the health at the left tackle and the left guard getting a little bit better. You know, anything that you can do to help Dak, I think you have to exhaust those opportunities, right, you know, he he wasn't a fluke his rookie year. That guy's a good football player, you know, a fourth round pick. Yeah, I mean, hey,

maybe they caught lightning in a bottle. But early in the season that team, he was running it pretty well when they when they were five and three, they had him. Yeah, and then you know, and then they have the shell shot game in Atlanta, which you know, I mean, you don't, that's that's one of those rare footballs. He sacks Rose Mickey noticed a blee in the last eight games of the season when he didn't have Tyron Smith for a little stretch, and you didn't you know, you were revolving

door at your left tackle spot. I mean that all factors in. He was sacked thirty two times last year, twenty two in the last eight games. So what changed, Well, Tyron Smith missed three of those games and parts of two others. Yeah, Well, he was injured and they didn't have a quality backup. So we're almost back to where we started this discussion, Nate, who do you want it right tackle? Who do you want it left guard? And

who do you want to be the backup tackle? If I'd had my way last year, Mick left our right tackle in another moved out to that position. I wanted to keep the middle strong and just worked for one side, and that was the right tackle. Yeah, but now you have to have the best five guys on the field right and so if we got a better right tackle than we do left guard, didn't we have to put that guy at right tackle and Lyo once again have to go back over to the left car if because

you can, I ask you, how difficult? Go ahead? So so basically I did this. I played right Yeah, I know, yeah, I know. We're in the same situation they were last year training camp. Right, Yes, because I thought was if if who's a better right tackle right right? It took compared to the left guard right, is Chas Green a better guard, and you can leave Lale Collins at tackle or is Laale Collins a better tackle and I can

find somebody to play guard me? I would leave it like it is now because he found a home last year I think brought us. What was your assessment of Layo Collins by I really I I'm with Mickey on this. I would have the fact that he he went through the growing pain early in the campaign to him playing right tackle, and then by the end of it, I thought he was one of your better linemen. Yes, and I'm kind of at the point where I'm like, you know what, I don't I don't want to. It's the

same thing with Byrne. It's the same thing with with with j Jones. But by there goes the Star magazine. Yeah, oh taking off early today they may Yeah, make sure that my issue. Make sure you take out the sign magazine. Deal is this right here with the offensive line, leave it like it is, find your left guard. And this is where an offensive line coach shows how he's gold by making this fit, by making this work, by finding out what they do do as a as a group

together real well and make it work. How difficult was it for you to switch back and forth? Been tackle guard? Been the great athlete that I was. I sweated and I almost had a fit when Jimmy said you go on the right tackle. Yeah, that means I had to stay in shape all year long. I played at my lightness. I think I played all year under three twenty. As soon as they moved back to the left guard, I

went back to three thirty. Yeah, so it's easier. Let me ask you because you were a teammate with Larry Allen, and I know Larry Allen's a Hall of Fame place. How did Larry feel about and he both positions? He was an all pro, so maybe this is a bad comparison. How did he feel when he I mean, he probably popped a big dip in and he didn't really care and he just laughed. I mean he didn't laughed and scratched the head. But but your one did. He liked

playing more than the other. I think he liked the playing the left side, whether it was left tackle or left guard, right, because he that's the way he made his money and that's why he Okay, so he knew that he was he was destined for greatness and he was gonna make money wherever he was. It's a bad example probably now, but tackle ended up being a necessity because they didn't you didn't have anybody else to put out that time, right, Roland. Like you say that that's

that's a unique guy. I like it. It's what I had to do. It was much harder for me to go to right tackle because I didn't have a security blanket. I had to deal with open space and guys been you know. Once I got a guy going in the direction for as that left guard, I had it because it was sold up limited space that he had to be a quick move. I had it, so right, What was you what was worse having to face Reggie White or Jerome Brown? Uh? Drove this one. You always talk

about someone who killed me? Yeah, to pick somebody else, John Randall, Oh my god, it gets worse. I'd tell I was blessed to play with with four of the great guys, and I had to work. You know, I faced all pros. Seemed like every game. You know, it was harder to go out of that right tackle because

it's just too much space. Let me ask you this though, with with and is this why maybe Jerry Jones Stephen Jones have this best five theories and and maybe even Jason Garrett being the head coach, because it was really about in your era, the Super Bowl era, it was about the best five. Yes, yes, it was. They were winning. And they show up in training camp in ninety two and Jimmy says Tony Wise, Eric Williams, and I don't care whose feelings were hurting, and that was gonna be me.

That was him, and it's like, fix it, make it work. And then they kicked Nate inside and yeah, I went. I went to jim and say, you say the best five And this one time I staffed Kevin Gogan is so deep into I'm not a Kevin Gogan. Oh all right, before we get out of here, I got a simple question for you guys. How do you feel they've handled free agency to this point? Because they might at this point they might be done for a little bit, unless

opportunity presents itself. What do you think about what they've done? Adding replacing trading could be the next thing that we see. Yeah, maybe not the addition through trading, and that maybe in the draft or trying to move to get guys. I personally we all felt like that they were going to wait, but the guys that they were able to target to get again, when you get a guy that was a starting right tackle in an AFC Championship game, in a

Super Bowl and you know did well there. I think that's a credit to you right there and get them for a reason, right your deal? Yes, see what you got. I think that you know, going out and get Herns. You know again, you could say what you want about the numbers and that's you know, well we'll figure that all out. But I think they again, Will wants to protect himself, you know, and so he knows he's got

ten draft picks coming up free agency. I'm okay with what they've done because now it's allowed them to take a wide net in in the draft and go the directions that they want to go draft purely as they always say that why not, why not? I'm gonna say this go ahead, And I started out like this, it's free agency will benefit me once I see how they handled is and where that situation shirts and how this offensive line coach. Because of these if these two guys

work out, yes, then they've hit a home run. They need that. They need to hit on home run on some of these bottom fishing. What if what the bottom bottom fishing? That's what they called me. Don't do that you end up being an all pro type bus six time pro bowler Man bomin Hey sometimes you find a big old catfish down rights. My cat. We gotta get out of here. Thanks to Mickey, thanks to Brian, thanks to Nate, thanks to our crew, thanks to Jacob, Alex

Chris Beam producing. Yes, everybody in the back, and thanks you guys for your questions up here. Thank you, this is fun. We got the Draft show up next. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.