Excitement Around Training Camp and the Usual Contract Drama
You can feel it in the air, and no, we are not talking about the dreadful heat that is called summer.
It’s Christmas in July for Cowboys fans as training camp has officially begun, and football time in Texas is right around the corner.
There’s a lot of optimism out in Oxnard for this year’s edition of the Dallas Cowboys. The biggest one is the addition of new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. With a new coach comes new offensive and defensive strategies, as well as an assessment of how well he will mesh with the roster.
Last season was disappointing, and there’s no other way to put it, even though injuries played a significant part in their missing the playoffs.
The good news is that Dak Prescott is healthy and is looking to have his team back in the playoffs this upcoming season.
However, what is a Dallas Cowboys training camp without some drama, and this year is no exception, in the name of Micah Parsons.
What will Jerry and company do with their all-talent defensive end? What we know is that Parsons has said he wants to remain a Cowboy but is also okay with the team moving on if need be. Let me state right off the bat that I believe the Cowboys are going to sign Parsons to a long-term deal and will be willing to back up the Brinks truck to do so. However, this story has played out almost every time in a training camp when a star player is due a new contract, with Jerry Jones running the team.
We know this will likely go down to the wire, and both sides will probably end up agitated if a deal is not done sooner. When the deal is done, however, they will make peace and everyone will be happy.
Here’s the kicker: What exactly will the salary number be, and how does it affect the rest of the team’s salary cap?
Dak Prescott took negotiations down to the wire and was not afraid to let it be known that teams in free agency would be more than happy to meet his number. Jerry Jones did just that at a higher rate than most fans were comfortable with. Parsons, on the other hand, is a whole different ordeal. Parsons is considered one of the best defensive players in the game, if not the best. Not trying to bash Dak here, but honestly, other teams know he is a good player, but they do not consider him in the top five in the NFL. The fact is that when a contract is signed, the odds are high that Parsons will be the highest-paid player who is not a quarterback in league history. Something short of that record will be shocking.
Is Parsons worth the money he will receive?
For what he brings to the table on the defensive side, the answer is yes. The Cowboys need to get this done sooner rather than later, not only to put this mess behind them but to have Parsons on the field and get the chemistry required for a successful season. I hope this does not linger throughout camp and come down to the wire as has been the case in seasons past.
With the contract dilemma getting all the headlines in Oxnard, let’s not forget that this team is stacked and is a Super Bowl Contender. Last season’s playoff miss has Cowboys Nation hungry for another shot at a Super Bowl. It has been a while since they’ve been to the big dance, and Coach Barry Switzer was on the sidelines.
Optimism is high, and in training camp, every team in the league has the hope of being the one crowned champion at season’s end. Injuries always play a significant role in a team’s season, as last year was undoubtedly a notable example. This season, the injury bug should theoretically not hit the team as hard as it did last season.
The whole world will be watching and seeing just how this year’s edition of America’s team performs.
Cowboys fans, let’s get excited because no matter what, football is back and all is right with the world.
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