GLENDALE, Ariz. – Sometimes this game of football can just make you smile, even if it's just a preseason game, no more than a mere exhibition, the word NFL circles hate to hear.

Even if the Cowboys were playing second and third stringers, and of the 91 guys on this roster, Brian Schottenheimer was quick to point out the Cowboys sat 29 once again in Preseason Game 2, just as they did in last week's win over Seattle.

And again, this has little to do with a Cowboys 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals here Saturday night at State Farm Stadium and thank our lucky stars our insurance premiums must help put a roof in this place, since when we entered around 3:30 p.m. the temperature outside was 114.

No, this all had more to do with what happened within the game than the final result, though this is the Cowboys' first 2-0 start to a preseason schedule since 2007 for whatever that's worth, and the first time the Cowboys have beaten the Cardinals in whatever type of game is being played out here in the desert where we're told it's a dry heat since 2017. Hey, let me tell you, hot is hot.

By now you likely have heard all about Shiyazh Pete, the 6-9 rookie free agent guard whose best shot to remain with the Cowboys is to be signed to the practice squad, assuming he will clear waivers after the Aug. 30 roster cuts trim the team to 53 players. No matter to the Navajo Nation. He is one of them, the first according to all accounts Native Navajo to ever play for an NFL team, Pete having been raised on the Navajo Nation Reservation in New Mexico.

And his people came in droves to watch "Petey" play, so proud of one of their own playing in this game, the president of the Navajo Nation located in Arizona coming to the game as guests of the Cowboys and Cardinals. Pete got a standing ovation behind the Cowboys bench after playing six snaps in the game, causing the humbled Pete to say after the game, "That was incredible." The Cowboys recognized him with special cheers in the locker room, Pete breaking down the team after the game. And telling you, as we were walking the length of the field to reach where our buses were like an hour after the game finished, there still were a good 200 people still in the stadium, leaning over the rails shouting his name, wanting his autograph, a selfie with their guy, the smiles on all their faces was a sight to behold. So proud.

Made me even smile, a reminder this country is the melting-est of melting pots there is, a lesson that we all came from somewhere. Did your heart good to witness.

Then there was the game. Joe Milton, in a heated competition with Sam Howell for the Cowboys backup quarterback job, played the best game of his now three-year NFL career, as if last Saturday's second half hadn't been already. His numbers were great, completing 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards, two touchdowns and a stellar 151.4 QB rating. Even QB sneaked in for a touchdown. So now, in two halves of football so far this preseason Milton has completed 21 of 25 passes (84 percent) for 286 yards, 3 touchdowns, no picks, no sacks, for a QB rating of 153.92, not far from a perfect 158.3.

His composure was even better. Hanging in the pocket to throw the ball instead of running at the first sign of danger. Moving out of the pocket, keeping his head up looking down the field, as he did on his eight-yard TD toss to Malik Davis on the run and awaiting patiently for Jonathan Mingo's double move with the pocket breaking down to nail him in stride for that 53-yard touchdown throw.

Oh, and before his half was completed here came that man again, Milton rolling away from pressure to his left nailing Cam Brown with like a 20-yard pass on the run that Brown turned into a 70-yard pass play, and despite his darnedest effort to score, diving headfirst, arm outstretched in his best Dez Bryant Lambeau leap impersonation of his own toward the goal line, yet coming up one yard short of the end zone. And for real, this Brown is not going anywhere, and just had to be happy for him, an undrafted rookie free agent receiver who told me when asked if he was disappointed not being drafted, actually said he took this "as a blessing" to be able to sign with the Cowboys. At this point, the Cowboys might think the blessing is theirs.

Then there was Shavon Revel, last year's third-round draft choice with first-round talent having to spend most of 2025 rehabbing the ACL he tore three games into his final season at East Carolina. Why the first series of the game Revel, in a battle with veteran Cobie Durant for a starting cornerback job, intercepted a pass, then weaving his way to the Arizona 12 where Milton drove the Cowboys to their first of four consecutive first half scoring possessions three plays later.

A well-deserved attaboy for him.

Enough? Naw there is more. Finally, after trading a 2025 fourth-round draft choice for Mingo at the 2024 trade deadline, Mingo coming into his own, showing why Carolina used a second-round draft choice on the speedy Ole Miss receiver. He first started to emerge in training camp. Then showed some special teams promise, and we're talking in coverage but also with some blocking skills, now having four receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.

And now doing what we learned in J-School at Missouri never to do, saving maybe the best for last, and have told this Jaishawn Barham story over and over again, the versatile third round draft choice having played middle linebacker at Maryland then defensive end at Michigan saying this over and over again during the rookie minicamp when asked which position was his best:

"I play football."

Barham, you see, is not comfortable doing interviews. Not yet anyway. Prefers to let his play do the talking. A groin strain kept him out of the first preseason game. Limited him practice all last week. But Saturday night the versatile player who oozes middle linebacker skills, started in the middle. Played 22 defensive snaps, five more on special teams.

His play was screaming loud and clear.

Three plays into his NFL preseason career Barham stops a run play for minus-one yard, exactly what we've been seeing in Oxnard the first couple of weeks. Next possession Barham was Johnny on the spot to drop Arizona tight end Rivaldo Fairweather on a six-yard pass play. Next possession there is Barham again, a rough-housing tackle of Cardinals RB Evan Hull for just one yard.

By halftime, Barham had registered five tackles, and that one for a TFL. No. 55 is another rookie battling for a starting inside linebacker job among the likes of Dee Winters and DeMarvion Overshown and guarantee you he opened some eyes out here.

Mine? They've been open ever since that day in May, with menacing eyes, when saying flatly, "I play football," though Barham didn't want to talk about this performance in the locker room after the game. So Schotty talked about it for him, saying, "I saw the physicality I thought I'd see but I want to see the film before I speak too much on him, but I saw him rocking heads if you will."

Reminding me of another J-School lesson. No matter the subject's willing participation or not, still write the story. Consider it written.

See what I mean, smiles all around as the Cowboys headed out into the night, having closed the Oxnard portion of training camp with a second preseason game victory, and were heading home immediately after the game to DFW, arriving roughly 4:15 Sunday morning.

Exhausting, but hey, home at last.