OXNARD, Calif. – Thought we'd start today, the second day of these minicamp-type practices here in Cowboys training camp, by potentially redefining a couple of word definitions.
First, "participating."
Webster says: "Having or taking part in an undertaking, activity or discussion."
That is what we were told Micah Parsons would be doing during Tuesday's first practice of training camp as he is angling for a contract extension to his fifth-year option of $24 million guaranteed. To me, and I'm no wordsmith, participating means being involved in drills. Maybe not 11 on 11, but more than just watching after participating in the opening-stretch portion of practice that he actually did with the entire team.
Now, Parsons says he's going to jump back in there once his tight back loosens up. We'll see. Or if not then, he's conducting a "partially" hold-in while doing what he can in campaigning for that lucrative extension that so far the Cowboys seem in no hurry to execute, causing Parsons to say the team has not extended his agent an offer. But as I've learned over the years, the last thing you want to do is extend an offer because chances are the answer is going to be "not enough," and the only result being the price must go higher.
Another thing: Sounds as though while Parsons says the Cowboys have yet to extend him an offer, well, his side has yet to make a financial ask of the Cowboys for what they are demanding.
The other word that I think needs adjusting is "leadership," and the Cowboys have used this term in reference to what owner Jerry Jones expects from players if making them the highest paid at their respective positions. Dak Prescott is the prime example of Webster's definition:
"Ultimately, leadership is about influencing others to work towards a common goal."
That being winning in the case of the Dallas Cowboys.
But leadership to me is earned, not self-proclaimed. Leadership to me is not standing in front of the room preaching or pounding on a podium to get everyone's attention, and everyone is not built to be a leader, so to speak.
The proper term for what the Cowboys are looking for Parsons to display is the act of bonding. Hang with your teammates. Get to know them as much off the field as on the field. Have shared experiences. Sort of as he began doing this offseason in the locker room, especially that day when playing what appeared to be a championship ping-pong match with rookie Jay Toia, who, by the way, can handle a paddle unexpectedly well for a 342-pounder.
And we're not talking about bonding one day here and one day there. Everyday. That's the way to earn the respect needed to take that "shot" at becoming a "leader."
- New Title: Adam Prasifka has worked for the Cowboys in the player personnel department for 25 years. His official title is senior director of salary cap/player contracts. He is a stickler for helping co-owner Stephen Jones manage the salary cap and the nuts and bolts of new player contracts. Well, on Tuesday, Parsons coined Adam with a new nickname: "The Inbetweener," this in reference to the person in between the player's agent and Stephen and Jerry. Give Parsons credit for knowing the inner workings of negotiations.
- Auto-man-tic: What sort of impression has George Pickens made already on the Cowboys, and specifically new play-caller/offensive manager/head coach Brian Schottenheimer? Well, just the other day Schottenheimer was referring to the fourth-year receiver's ability to get open, that we've already seen during the offseason and these first two training camp practices. Made an amazing catch on the sideline Wednesday, though ruled out of bounds incomplete coming down while cramping up. But just the same. Well, Schottenheimer said if teams want to play Pickens in man coverage, "He's open." No greater compliment.
- Green Dot: This might surprise most with the first-team linebackers in the 4-3 defense lining up with Jack Sanborn in the middle and Marist Liufau and Kenneth Murray outside. But Schottenheimer points out two things about Murray, the sixth-year veteran out of Oklahoma. First, his nickname is K-9, in reference to the K for Kenneth and imagine the 9 for his No. 59, or maybe, quite possibly a canine reference for being a "dog" of a 'backer, leading the Titans last year with 95 tackles in 14 games before being traded to the Cowboys this offseason. And then there is this from Schotty, also referring to Murray as "the Green Dot," meaning Murray is wearing the green dot on his helmet, signifying he has the coach-to-player hearing device in his helmet to relay the defensive calls in the huddle, usually worn by the MLB. And of his play, Schottenheimer prefaces that Murray is sort of a "quieter" type guy, but that, "He's a grown-ass man out there."
- All Podium: Do yourself a favor by calling up CeeDee Lamb's podium appearance from here Wednesday afternoon following practice on DallasCowboys.com. Just transcribing some of his precious quotes would not do justice to his 19-minute Q&A. Got to hear this, making me think Lamb is first-team All-Podium, no matter who might come next. That good, and as a tease, when asked how it feels to be back in training camp for the first time since 2023, since he missed all of last year's camp while in negotiation for his long-term extension, Lamb begins by saying of how he feels now, "Man this is amazing. … At first, I didn't realize I was totally oblivious to the truth" about what he was missing in his absence, then going on to say all the things he's now doing, finishing with, "You miss out on those types of things when you love the game." Don't miss out on this.
- If You Were Here: First, there was a little skirmish – already – involving safety Markquese Bell and rookie tight end Tyler Neville that spilled into the sideline. That, in turn, interrupted practice when the players all milled around, causing Schottenheimer to call up the team to admonish them for wasting time … There was this run by Javonte Williams where he put his foot in the ground, made one cut, then cut again to avoid a tackle and he was on his way …Dak was throwing absolute darts all over the field, the ball rarely hitting the ground … Except for the throw when cornerback Kaiir Elam picked him off … While there were a few impressive throws by quarterback Joe Milton, like the medium-depth crossing route to tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford threading the needle, too many times seemed as though he was pulling the ball down to take off to run. Just seems he needs to see things quicker.
And the final word from this first week of camp goes to Jerry Jones, having to answer what seems like in the opening press conference the perfunctory question about if he has "momentarily" entertained the notion of stepping down as the general manager, even though we have known for several years he leans on Stephen Jones, vice president of player personnel Will McClay and the head coach for managing the day-to-day personnel decisions.
Jerry, very cleverly, began with, "Uh, yes … momentarily."
How long a moment?
"Small fractions of seconds, I promise you that," Jones responded.
Why did you talk yourself off that ledge?
"Well, I didn't have any trouble talking off it because those were obviously painful moments when I'd be thinking like that. That's not why I'm here. From my part, that's not what it's been about from that standpoint.
"Plus, what is such a misnomer, and I really want to emphasize this: Probably unlike most general managers … that's not how I've operated as general manager of the Cowboys. I have Schotty, I have Stephen right at this particular time. My point is, there is such inclusion and discussions, and as you know, melds into a real good feeling about where we are. So I'm not sitting up there throwing darts about a player, or not I'm sitting here addressing financially about whether or not to extend a contract going forward, but I have huge incentive to do it right.
"So I ask these guys constantly, whether we're drafting a player, whether we're getting one in free agency. I mean, I'm covering it with them, going over it in detail, why or why not, why or why not, all the time. I don't know that I would put my inclusiveness with any one in sports to the general manager duties."
And there you go, once again, same question, same answer. And stay tuned, same question, same time coming to you again next year.
