This year, look for a piece each week about the prior week of top stories and the upcoming topics for the opponent the Cowboys will be playing. This will be a one-stop shop for some fun takes and a quick break from reality.
With that being said, let's go.
The Real Deal With Jaylon Smith
We've talked at length at K&C about our first ever interview with Jaylon Smith in Oxnard. We were the first show to get a sit down talk with him, and first impressions are hard to let go of.
That's why I went out on a limb in his second season and said I wouldn't trade him for Jaylon Ramsey, despite getting blasted by other hosts and fans for my take.
Now, I feel a little vindicated.
Sometimes you see genuine people and feel like their integrity and work ethic will not let them fail.
That's what I saw then, and it looks like Smith's heart and desire have gotten him into top 5 money in the NFL.
Yes, it's smart for Smith to work with a businessman like Jerry Jones in order to build a future beyond football, just look at Ndomukong Suh, he's paired himself with Warren Buffett to learn how to build and grow businesses.
It's also smart of Smith to try to get some money while he can and get back to the business of football where as he said "I'm an expert in that field."
Having Smith in that locker room sets the bar for everybody sitting around him, and he's got a number of teammates that aren't just collecting checks, but trying to build a brand reliant on winning, because as Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson all know, winning in DFW puts you in a legendary status that gives you a meal for life.
What's Been Earned
I have only one problem with "The Joke" that Jerry made about "Zeke Who?" and it's that he followed up with "I have earned the right to joke."
Our boss once came to us and said it's very difficult to walk the line of being one of the guys and being the boss because sometimes the lines get blurred. We've always set out to show him that when it's go time, we go and when it's fun time, we fun.
At the moment, there is a bitter dispute between the Jones' negotiations and the Zeke group.
Jerry says he earned that right, and if I'm Ezekiel Elliott, I feel like I earned the right to be paid as the rushing leader. We don't know all of the particulars on the contract negotiations, but we can say there has been a ton of public flaunting that seems very unnecessary when you are trying to do something that will make both sides happy.
Unfortunately, I don't think either side will come out of this feeling things are peachy keen.
Big Stars Quiet
Injuries are always a concern, and the status of guys like Demarcus Lawrence, Byron Jones and Amari Cooper are brought up on a daily basis. I know football is happening and we want to see all of the stars rocking the show, but Jason Garrett said it and there is no doubt in my mind it's the right plan of action.
"I think the focus is more on week one for the Giants."
This season is very important for Garrett and while the preseason is a great way to churn the roster and maximize your talent depth, it's also a great way to lose a star before anything important happens.
These guys put so much wear on their bodies during the regular season, and if you've ever walked into the locker room after a practice or game, you can see it with almost every appendage on every player wrapped in ice or bandaged up. Garrett knows how much is on the line for him and some of his players, so he's perfectly content waiting saddle up the horses until it's time to ride.
Hopefully, this keeps up,
From the Dallas Cowboys press notes, the Cowboys defense ranks fourth in the NFL, allowing only 13.5 points-per-game, while holding opposing offenses to only 304.5 yards-per-game (12th) and also ranks fourth in interception rate, picking off 3.85% of opponents' pass attempts.
I know it's preseason, but that means your secondary is doing its job across the board, and that's without Byron Jones handy. The biggest complaint about this defense in the Rod Marinelli era has been creating turnovers, and the Rams last year were able to recover a huge percentage of fumbles last year. If the Cowboys can tip the scales with their defense, the offense will run very smoothly.
I Know Its Not Cowboys Related But…
The XFL team in DFW will be the Dallas Renegades, and it's met with a yawn from me.
I'm a huge fan of Bob Stoops and a huge fan of liking a team in your area, but I am still not quite certain of the talent level or the excitement for what's at stake with this new football regime.
We've seen so many other failed products run their course and while I know Vince McMahon has the money to back this thing and wants to leave a legacy behind of success rather than this one failure from the past, I just don't know if the market will be there.
With the NFL, it's the Super Bowl and all of its glory. Years and years of rivalries, emotions, heartbreaks and victory have been set behind and we just can't get enough of the addiction.
I don't know if the XFL will have the patience and humility of being No. 2 long enough to withstand the time it takes to grow.
Catch the K&C Masterpiece tonight after the Rangers on 105.3 The Fan or 1053thefan.com
