The latest news around the Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys create stir around Micah Parsons negotiating as Jerry Jones attempts to cut agent out: ‘I don’t know his name’ – Jori Epstein, Yahoo Sports!
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have a unique way of negotiating contracts.
Parsons asked Jerry and Stephen Jones to connect with Mulguheta to negotiate, multiple sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports on Tuesday afternoon. Neither Jones has made that call, sources also confirmed.
Mulugheta has had conversations with Adam Prasifka, the Cowboys’ director of salary cap/player contracts. But even Jerry Jones said Tuesday the deal can’t be done without him as “I write the check.”
Jones indicated interest in negotiating only with Parsons and without involving his representation.
“The agent is not a factor here or something to worry about,” Jones said. “And I don’t know his name. My point is, I’m not trying to demean him, but this isn’t about an agent. … I’m not demeaning the agent. I’m just saying everybody can do this, and that’s talk directly to a player.
“And frankly most people that negotiate with me will tell me that that was better.”
While Jones said multiple times he was “not demeaning” Mulugheta, league sources believed the comment about not knowing Mulugheta’s name was indeed demeaning. Mulugheta has negotiated record-breaking contracts for NFL stars including Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and a slew of top defensive backs.
Mulugheta became the first agent in NFL history to negotiate more than $1 billion in player contracts in a single year, according to a September announcement by his agency Athletes First.
Brian Schottenheimer on Cowboys’ offseason additions, what’s ahead – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com
The vision head coach Brian Schottenheimer has for the Cowboys is becoming clearer.
“We’re always looking to create competition,” Schottenheimer said. “We’re certainly not done, whether that remains in free agency over the next couple of weeks or whether that’s through the draft. We really wanted to attack the front on both sides of the line of scrimmage.”
The offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage have been a big emphasis in Dallas’ offseason, with the team resigning Osa Odighizuwa, adding Solomon Thomas, Payton Turner and Dante Fowler on the defensive line, and Robert Jones as an offensive guard. Schottenheimer believes it’s not only important for the Cowboys to compete in the NFC East, but in the league as a whole.
“The game is played in the trenches. It really is,” Schottenheimer said. “And it doesn’t matter if that’s the first play, the last play, whatever it is, but it’s always played up there at some point, whether it’s trying to stop the run or having a hold up in pass protection when you’re playing in a two-minute drive. So I think we’ve done a nice job with that to start.”
Schottenheimer reiterated that he’s looking to construct the roster from the outside, in, with a focus on players that get isolated in their roles. That would include cornerbacks, wide receivers, defensive ends and offensive tackles. The Cowboys have made some additions at those spots in free agency but are still looking to find more game changers through avenues like the 12th overall pick in the draft.
“We don’t want to ever pick 12th again, all right, let’s be honest,” Schottenheimer said. We don’t want to pick that high. But you’re looking for guys that influence the game. How do you influence the game? You rush the quarterback and you get sacks, strip sacks, fumbles, whatever it is. You score touchdowns.”
An emphasis for the Cowboys, and every NFL team, has been setting up their free agency additions to merry along with draft targets, something Dallas is confident in with just over three weeks to go until the first round begins.
“I feel like we go into this draft with a lot of confidence,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, we’re not done in free agency. we’re always looking to acquire; we’re always looking to compete on the personnel side of it. But I do feel like we’ve set ourselves up going into the draft where hey, we’re sitting in a certain spot, that’s the best player available, let’s go take him.”
Dak Prescott’s agents provide behind-the-scenes look at the negotiation process with the Cowboys – Dan Rogers, Blogging the Boys
Todd France, Dak Prescott’s agent, pulls back the curtain on what negotiating with the Jones family is like.
Four vs. Five
The Cowboys engaged in conversations about getting a deal done after Prescott’s third season, which is the earliest a team can offer a veteran contract to a player on a rookie deal. It’s been stated repeatedly over the years that the big holdup with his first deal is the length. The Joneses wanted longer terms, which lowers his overall cost, while his agents wanted a four-year deal, allowing Dak to hit the market sooner and capitalize on a market that would then be much higher. There’s really not much to say about this issue as both sides had good reasons for wanting what they wanted. It’s not surprising that things ended with a standoff.
Baiting with guarantees
With neither side willing to budge on the length, the front office enticed Prescott with very high guarantees. The hope was that a player who had made less than $3 million over his first three seasons would jump at the opportunity to secure so much money. But France was not having it. He and Prescott had great conversations where they brainstormed every scenario and developed contingency plans. They felt good enough about their options that they were okay letting things play out without a deal. It was tough to turn down that much money, but in the overall grand scheme, more money could be made by holding strong.
Tag, you’re it
We all know what happened after the two sides failed to reach a deal. The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on him in March of 2020. Negotiations continued in the summer leading up to the July 15th deadline, but once again, the obstacle was the length. And once again, no deal got done. Prescott plays on the tag for $31.4 million that year, and sadly, tragedy strikes. Dak suffers a catastrophic foot injury in Week 5 and misses the remainder of the season. The critics came out in full force on how negligent it was for Prescott to not take the deal, but his side never looked back. All the focus was put on the healing process. Fortunately, surgery and recovery go well and Prescott heals up fine without any concerns about his future.
Next Man Up: Where Jalen Brooks fits in WR room – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
Dallas could use another play maker at wide receiver. Here’s why Jalen Brooks shouldn’t be the forgotten man.
The Present: The wide receiver position is an interesting spot for the Cowboys as we turn the calendar to April. Players such as Brooks should have the opportunity to compete for spots, but currently, it’s still unclear just what the entire receiver room will look like. With the departure of Brandin Cooks to the Saints in free agency, it opens up a spot for the moment for players such as Brooks and Jalen Tolbert to take a leap. Obviously, CeeDee Lamb headlines the wide receiver spot and there could be more snaps for KaVontae Turpin and Jonathan Mingo. The Cowboys have already said they wouldn’t mind adding more help at receiver before the draft, and then taking a receiver in the NFL Draft is never off the table. So it won’t be easy for Brooks to make an impact, but receiver is one position that seems to have a big learning curve. This is where he must separate himself and have a stellar offseason and training camp, leaning on the experience he has with Dak Prescott and Brian Schottenheimer’s system.
The Future: Being a draft pick gives Brooks a four-year contract and his salary shouldn’t be too much where the Cowboys would want to go younger. This season, Brooks is expected to count $1.16 million, including a salary of $1.03 million. Where he Brooks has to stand out the most is be one of the top special teams players in the room, not to mention someone who can be reliable as a receiver. What helps Brooks is having the combination of being a bigger-body receiver who can also get down the field. But while he led the team in receiving average per catch, Brooks had one of the lowest catch-percentages on the team, catching just 12 of 30 targets. So being on the field is one thing, but he’s got to be a player who can move the chains and be a trusted receiver fro his quarterback.