Mick Shots: They Play Football

While the 2026 full schedule comes out on Thursday, the Cowboys at least know they will play football on Sunday night, Sept. 13, against the Giants in the season opener now 18 weeks away as the Cowboys offseason moved into the phase where footballs and rookies were back on the field during Monday's workout that should please rookie Jaishawn Barham, whose favorite interview answer has been "I play football."

Talk about a deep dive into this past weekend's Rookie Mini Camp, the guys pulled the curtain way back giving impressions not only of Caleb Downs but high marks for Jaishawn Barham and Malachi Lawrence, looking the part and their versatility. And with Nate joining the show, certainly putting emphasis on getting these young guys on the field as soon as possible.

No matter what else happened in this 2026 NFL Draft, the fact Ohio State "football player" Caleb Downs unexpectedly fell into the Cowboys lap made this entire draft process wildly successful. That began an extensive look at the two first round picks, along with adding players the Cowboys previously traded for with what would have been picks in this draft.

Sharing final thoughts before the start of Thursday's NFL Draft, starting with the range of possibilities with the 12th pick in the first round, naming the middle linebacker position as being hopeful, and analyzing what might happen with the first 11 picks. Then what to do at 20, ,maybe trade down a tad. Plus, pointing out the Cowboys draft success when selecting between 1-17 in the first round, and possibilities in later rounds.

NFL Draft excitement hitting feverish pitch, now just 10 days away, and after a little Masters talk, the guys hit the draft hard, starting with analyzing the Cowboys 20th pick, then middle linebacker talk as biggest need at 12 and Bill emptying his Big Green Notebook on an undersized cornerback saying why not.

Mickey Spagnola, Everson Walls, Hek' ma Harrison, and Bill Jones debate key NFL Draft strategy questions for the Cowboys two weeks out from draft day, discuss jersey number changes and the Cowboys' defensive needs heading into the draft.

Sure there is March Madness in play, but March Football is real, now that the NFL meetings are going on, and the Cowboys still are dabbling in free agency. Updates galore from the meetings today, status of George Pickens, still interest in middle linebackers, state of the tight ends and reminder next week's Mick Shots will be 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Bill Jones, Everson Walls, and Hek'ma Harrison are without Mickey Spagnola this week to discuss JSN's record-breaking contract in Seattle, what it means for the Cowboys — can they afford to extend George Pickens, the impact it would have on the salary cap, and a little March Madness banter.

Whole lot of ground to cover, since legal tampering and free agency began following last Monday's show, and as we know the Cowboys were quite busy, trading for DE Rashan Gary, followed by signing defensive secondary free agents, restructuring contracts to create salary cap room, trading a couple of defensive tackles to recover a third round draft choice, then pointing out the need at linebacker.

The Cowboys turned into busy beavers over the weekend, restructuring contracts to create more salary cap space and by the opening of NFL legal tampering on Monday, having agreed to trade for Packers defensive end Rashad Gary and doing their due diligence on other potential moves, the guys posing several "would-ya" possibilities.

With a week between shows, the guys tackle a plethora of topics, with George Pickens being franchised, the Cowboys needs if playing a 3-4 base, but not forgetting a four-man nickel front, to nickel back, to needs at outside and inside linebacker, to potential first-round draft candidates, to even Everson asking Mickey "what's up with your boy," who happened to be kicker Brandon Aubrey.

The podcast seating arrangement might have changed, but not the quality of information, starting with excellent analysis of the U.S.A. gold medal winning Olympic hockey game victory over Canada, then turning to the Cowboys re-signing RB Javonte Williams, cutting LB Logan Wilson and the next steps, like signing WR George Pickens and K Brandon Aubrey to preferable long terms deals, cap implications and thoughts on new DC Christian Parker.

With Everson out, Nate Newton high-tailed it over to join the show, interrupting sports talk to discuss the surprise Presidential Pardon he received the end of last week, how the news was broken to him by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and how grateful he is after paying his debt to society and changing his life. Oh, did talk sports, the Cowboys ability to franchise George Pickens and new linebacker coach Scott Symons.

The guys take a deep dive into Seattle's Super Bowl victory over New England, making a point of emphasizing how the Seahawks defense made all the difference in the world. Bill equates the Seahawks trade of Russell Wilson to the Cowboys Herschel Walker trade to Minnesota, and continued irrigation of Darren Woodson being ignored in the Hal of Fame voting.

Covering a whole lot of ground, starting with a review of the assistant coaches having been hired, starting with the new DC Christian Parker and two of his assistants, then positions the Cowboys still need to fill and now ramifications of all 10 NFL head coach positions being filled. Plus, don't forget about still improving the offense and picking the Super Bowl winner.

Bill Jones, Hek'ma Harrison, Everson Walls and Nate Newton discuss the latest Dallas Cowboys news and notes on Mick Shots

The guys covered a lot of ground Tuesday morning, Mickey apologizing for his temper tantrum on the previous show, emotionally mentioning the death of Emory Tyler, the former Cowboys Bus driver and friend and then on to the four playoff games over the weekend and Monday night's CFP championship game, along with a look at the Cowboys current defensive coordinator candidates so far.

That season finale loss to the Giants produces an array of Shots, though starting first with Black Monday for NFL coaches, then getting back into the same ol' Cowboys defense failing, DC Matt Eberflus' future, needing to refurbish nearly all defensive positions, the Clowney Affect and what the Giants had going.

The guys begin talking about the final game of the season,. To play or not to play certain players, but then dug in on the Trevon Diggs saga, even tuning into head coach Brian Shotteneheimer's press conference to hear him answer the first few questions on releasing Diggs and then giving their thought on the subject before actually making picks and picks to click for the final game of the season against the Giants.

Breaking news strikes in the middle of the podcast, the Cowboys outright releasing CB Trevon Diggs with one game left in the season and three years left on his non-guaranteed base salaries, and the guys react, no one really surprised this saga has come to this end. Also talk of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and position of greatest need going forward.

With the Christmas break after beating Washington, almost forget the Cowboys won on Christmas Day. So much to discuss, including Bill's annual family Christmas lineup introductions, how this season very well could have been a perfect 10, NFL playoff teams, oh those Eagles and a Cotton Bowl around the corner.

Merry Christmas to all as we approach Christmas Day, making a point of discussing quarterbacks and their development, how Chargers QB Justin Herbert with no pressure tore up the Cowboys defense, the Cowboys Pro Bowlers, the line moves and the possibility the Chargers, and maybe Denver, where the best opponents the Cowboys faced this year.

Digesting the loss to the Chargers with the help of Nate in Frisco, focusing on moving Tyler Smith to left tackle, the fact the Cowboys were somewhat forced to play Trevon Diggs at corner, the plight of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and a defense having given up at least 30 points eight times this season.

Trying to pick up the energy, the guys are trying to figure out the last minute changes the Cowboys are making on the roster with the news of DaRon Bland needing foot surgery, how that impacts the cornerback position for Sunday and Trevon Diggs' potential status. Plus, some surprising Picks and To Clicks.

And the focus today turns to the Los Angeles Chargers for Game 15, and while the Cowboys have slim chances of qualifying for the playoffs, playing to win still is the priority. Then the change of DC Matt Eberflus moving into the coaches box to call the defense, the Chargers tough defense but struggling offense, Justin Herbert and what's up with Trevon Diggs.