FRISCO, Texas – Since knowing someone is going to ask me this, might as well go ahead and ask it myself:
What stood out to you during the Cowboys minicamp? The first one under the jurisdiction of head coach but longtime NFL assistant Brian Schottenheimer, as the Cowboys now break until flying off to training camp in Oxnard, California, on July 20.
Glad you asked.
Two things made a huge impression on me. First, this one play during minicamp.
Second, of all things, ping-pong.
Collectively, witnessed a whole bunch of good things over the three weeks of OTAs and the three-day minicamp, though with a few concerns cropping up on the field of play. But we take all of this with a grain of salt since these practices consisting of helmets, jerseys and shorts are, as like to say, no more than flag football without the flags.
Start with running back Javonte Williams catching my eye. His speed. His wiggle out of the hole. Now two years removed from his torn ACL in 2022, appears to be a football playing dude.
Of course, Tyler Booker. Two months into his 21st year of age, man, is he ever big for a guard, 6-5, 321. Strong. Quick. Smart. Could go on and on.
Rebounding defensive end Sam Williams. Shows little sign of having torn his ACL in camp last year. Someone said just look at his biceps. I did. Looks strong enough to play the run on the right side. Looks fast, during this get-off drill, beating Micah Parsons to his blocking dummy five yards away. Appears ready to start training camp.
Buffalo castoff Kaiir Elam, a first-round pick entering the final year of his rookie contract. Fast. Appears to cover well. Speed-reads receiver routes. Maybe, just maybe … OK, won't get ahead of myself.
Dak Prescott, showing no signs of the torn hamstring tendon ending his 2024 season after just eight games. Not just his movements, but throwing the ball with authority, having no problem counting on his repaired right leg to help thrust his throws.
Last season's traded-for receiver Jonathan Mingo, showing signs of being more than just a keeper.
And don't go to sleep on last year's undrafted rookie tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford. Appears to be more than just a solid blocking tight end.
Oh, and the must-listen-to Schottenheimer press conferences, providing insight, depth and unabashed ability to answer any question.
But we'll hold judgment on the depth at the nose tackle position, the depth at cornerback, the heady Jack Sanborn being able to hold down the middle linebacker position at 234 pounds and just who emerges as the offensive swing tackle.
Now, the two blinking lights.
First, The Play, and it's not as if this is singular. Just a prime example, this one happening during 11-on-11 Tuesday, coming right at me standing behind the end zone, left sideline to me.
Dak Prescott throws a beauty of a deep ball down his right sideline to a sprinting and wide-open George Pickens. CeeDee Lamb had run a "mirror" route on the other side, but he's angling over. Pickens catches the ball in stride and CeeDee escorts him into the end zone, where they celebrate the would-be touchdown, as if they scored together, the equivalent of Lamb receiving the second assist on a goal in hockey since he had drawn coverage over to his side.
And then here comes Dak, sprinting down field to join the celebration, dapping up both guys almost as soon as they sauntered through the back of the end zone. Quite a sight to see.
Made me think, we're going to see a lot more moments like this, dispelling this notion the Cowboys have a "No. 2" receiver to pair with CeeDee. You know what? Now thinking they've got two "No. 1" receivers, defenses go ahead and pick your poison. You just watch, these online sites wanting to list their top-10 moves of the offseason? This Pickens acquisition for basically a 2026 third-round choice will prove to be top five, if not higher, for this Cowboys offense.
So far, so seamless an addition of a guy the folks in Pittsburgh sent to the Cowboys with heavy baggage. Yet listen to Schottenheimer:
"He comes to work every day with a smile on his face. He is very personable when you get to know him. I love being around him. I love talking to him about life. I love shooting baskets against him. … I talk to him a lot about ball and his experiences at Pittsburgh, and what he likes and what he doesn't like. And he's been amazing.
"He was the last guy to leave the practice field (Thursday). I think that speaks volumes of the fact that he's excited about what we're building. And I'm a big GP fan.
He's not the only one.
"He's been outstanding," says COO and co-owner Stephen Jones, not known for his hyperbole. "I think he's thrilled to be here, and we're thrilled to have him."
And if that is not enough confirmation, then there is this from maybe the most important guy in the equation, Dak, who quickly debunks any notion the Cowboys have inherited a problem child.
"Yeah, I don't think that's why you should ever really listen to what somebody else says about somebody," Dak said. "I think you should judge everyone from, not judge, but find out for yourself who they are and allow them to reveal their character to you. The guy has been great. He's been phenomenal. It's a guy that loves football, loves his teammates. He's been excited every day that he's been there.
"He's been early, so no concerns on the personal matters of GP and anything about it. Just super excited that he's on our team. He's one of us and he's a brother, and he's about continuing to grow and making sure that we're putting the best out there and that's his approach."
And here is a warning to opposing defenses, when asked about the play that at least impressed me, the catch as well as the "team" celebration in but a minicamp practice, here is "GP's response:
"It's good. It's a good thing, like I said, the more I get up to speed. We're going to have a lot more of those moments too."
Now for the afore-mentioned moment, the one in the locker room. The one around the newly installed ping-pong table, complete with paddles – some guys now have their own – and enough balls for a Power Ball lottery spin.
From where I was standing, to the left is Micah Parsons, who thinks he should win whatever game is being played. To the right is the very humble, quiet, seventh-round draft choice, rookie defensive tackle Jay Toia of UCLA, all 342 pounds of him. The most un-looking ping-pong player you've ever seen.
Let me tell you, this was high level, nearly the entire locker room gathering around. Every point, and some were long, was celebrated, depending on who you were cheering for. And you know Micah, emotional, energetic, boisterous, trying to get under the kid's skin, but Toia, stoic, never changing his expression. How hard he was competing, his backers doing the cheering for him.
Man, this is exactly what Schottenheimer was hoping to establish with his new team, and let's put a little shine on the new part. No longer in that locker room is the usual old hands, Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, Jourdan Lewis, Brandin Cooks, Eric Kendricks, Cooper Rush, Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Linval Joseph. Culture, comradery. Competition. Pressure, no matter the endeavor.
And there stood Schotty, quietly watching in the background, out of the way. Wish had a picture of the knowing smile on his face screaming, Yeah, this is it, exactly what I'm striving for.
Not sure what the score was along the way, but appeared to come down to the last point, Micah celebrating the win, but Toia, for a rookie, holding his own no matter all eyes were on 21-year-old newcomer. Dang, how hard he wanted to win. So authentic.
But win Schottenheimer did, quietly to himself celebrating the scene, knowing this family atmosphere is growing, a huge offseason objective.
"It's compete every day, and they were having fun with it," he said, as if looking on like a proud father this Father's Day Weekend. "There was a lot of trash talk going on. I want to play Micah. I beat the (devil) out of Dak all the time when I play him. So Micah is next. I'll put that out there for Micah, see if he wants to accept the challenge over the break.
"But yeah, I thought Jay had him. I thought Jay had him and then just couldn't finish him."
No matter who won, the Cowboys won. And for that matter, won the offseason, too, for whatever that's going to be worth, leaving behind good vibrations with the addition of GP and ping-pong, too.
Now on to Oxnard, wheels up in 42 days.
And somehow got the feeling "the table" makes the scene as well with the 'Boys but five miles from the beach.
