Dallas, TX
The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best rosters in the NFL
Perception is reality. This is true in many aspects of life. How you walk, talk and present yourself is often how you are perceived by people you interact with in many ways. This is true at work, in social circles, you get the gist.
My own personal perception of the Dallas Cowboys this offseason has been that things have been Very Not Good. But we are sort of through the eye of the storm of the offseason and now in the final weeks before training camp begins. This time of year allows a little bit of introspection and assessment that isn’t compromised by the emotions of something important (free agency, the NFL Draft, etc.) happening in conjunction.
It remains true that things did not have to happen like this and that there were more (seemingly) efficient ways of handling the offseason for the Cowboys. Taking care of superstars needing contract extensions should always be something done in March and not once you are in Oxnard (assuming that happens) as just one example.
Still, though, the Cowboys appear to be fine on paper. And the football cognoscenti seems to agree.
Offseason waters seem to be settling on perception of the Dallas Cowboys
Narratives are like perceptions. Some would say they are identical. They are crafted and weaved for a variety of reasons and a certain flap of the butterfly’s wings can turn them from one thing into another. In our world those wings look like playoff wins.
To be clear and more importantly fair this is the way that it should be. Legacies are etched in stone by what you do when the moment is biggest and the stage is brightest. But this can be true in the same way that we do not have to act like everything outside of these is meaningless. That being said, if you know the former then you cannot act like the latter is all that matters.
As far as narratives are concerned, do you know how many teams won more games than the Cowboys last year? One. No, not the Kansas City Chiefs. It was the Baltimore Ravens who got bounced by them at home in the AFC Championship Game (yes, they reached it).
The Chiefs are the only team over the course of the last three years to have more regular-season wins than Dallas. We appropriately regard KC to be incredible but conversations these days put Baltimore in that mix as well and their MVP-winning quarterback (the only one to finish ahead of Dak Prescott in that award race). People should put Baltimore there as they are very good.
The Detroit Lions have been given all sorts of kudos as of late (again, well-earned). Nobody brings up that they blew a 17-point lead in the NFC Championship Game to the San Francisco 49ers. People have long forgotten about Dan Campbell’s questionable decisions on multiple fourth downs that blew up in his face and allowed the Niners the opportunities to mount their necessary comeback. A missing narrative.
On the subject of San Francisco, remember when Kyle Shanahan chose to take the ball first in overtime of the Super Bowl? Against the Kansas City who we just noted was the very best team in the universe? And then that decision blew up in his face? Did you even remember that this happened? Probably because you are wise, but that narrative is also absent from offseason fodder and discussion.
The Dallas Cowboys should absolutely be criticized for some of their decision-making over the course of the offseason, but it sort of feels like we have lost the plot a bit. Today’s NFL kingdom is a monarchy ruled by the Chiefs. but the Cowboys are at worst on the board of advisors or cabinet or whatever immediately-below board of governing powers you want to call it.
Pay attention to what oddsmakers are saying about the Cowboys
Let’s take a look at how some of the aforementioned cognoscenti are evaluating the Cowboys in our current moment.
Recently the folks over at PFF ranked every roster in the NFL and Dallas came in at number 9. Here is the full top 10.
- San Francisco 49ers
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Philadelphia Eagles
- New York Jets
- Baltimore Ravens
- Detroit Lions
- Houston Texans
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Dallas Cowboys
- Buffalo Bills
This is an evaluation of rosters and obviously that includes things that have happened over the course of the offseason. There are some extenuating circumstances involved like that the Jets will have Aaron Rodgers available for the season unlike last year after his unfortunate injury and that Joe Burrow will be returning for the Bengals.
But are we really willing to go this far and suggest that Dallas should be that far down? It would have been nice to see Dallas add a more prominent running back, some help at wide receiver and to not lose Tyron Smith, but there is no individually crippling thing that they endured. Was there?
Meanwhile, are we overlooking Philadelphia trading away Haason Reddick? They added to their roster substantially so maybe things even out a bit, obviously Buffalo is down after trading Stefon Diggs to the Texans.
PFF’s Steve Palazzolo argued that Dallas should be ahead of a few teams here (he specifically listed the Jets). Sam Monson noted that the Cowboys are particularly strong at top-shelf positions in quarterback, wide receiver and pass rusher (again, extensions would be nice) and that they have two different cornerbacks in Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland who have shown quite the ability to generate turnovers.
Let’s take a look at how the folks over at DraftKings currently view the landscape of the league. Here are teams with the largest projected win over/unders.
- Kansas City Chiefs…………. 11.5
- San Francisco 49ers………. 11.5
- Baltimore Ravens…………… 10.5
- Buffalo Bills…………………… 10.5
- Cincinnati Bengals…………. 10.5
- Dallas Cowboys……………… 10.5
- Detroit Lions………………….. 10.5
- Philadelphia Eagles………… 10.5
Last year’s Super Bowl teams are rightly at the top with 11.5 each, but the next step below features all of the would-be contenders including the Cowboys.
Projected win totals are also not the end-all-be-all but neither the New York Jets nor Houston Texans are listed at 10.5 and still are ranked higher from a roster perspective. Teams with worse rosters can win more games, but you get the overall picture.
The noise of the offseason for the Cowboys (all of the “all in” stuff didn’t help) coupled with the inactivity has all been taken to the exponential power over the lack of contract extensions for faces of the franchise, and has to a degree warped the way that we have viewed this team.
Nobody is saying that they are going to win the Super Bowl. But they appear to have as good of a chance to do so as anybody else.
Fans of Japan’s national team have captured and warmed hearts, though it had nothing to do with the match against the Netherlands and everything to do with what happened when it was over.
When the Japan vs. Netherlands FIFA World Cup match ended, many fans headed for the exits, but Japanese fans reached for trash bags instead.
Viral cleanup effort captures global attention
The now viral photos show hundreds of Japanese fans cleaning up their section of Dallas Stadium. Trash bags in hand, they picked up cups, wrappers and anything left behind.
The Japanese men’s team even left their locker room spotless. No one asked them to do it.
“It’s kind of a habit or natural, I guess,” said Nina Shimaguchi, with the Japan American Society of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Shimaguchi wasn’t surprised. The value of cleaning up is a sign of respect and the habit starts young.
“The Japanese education system, we don’t have custodians from elementary to high school, so we have to take care of hallways, restrooms,” she said.
But for many, it goes beyond being tidy. Shimaguchi says it’s tied to what’s called “Shintoism” and the belief that everyday things carry meaning.
“Shintoism is rooted in Japan, where we think all natural items have a spirit, like a tree, stones,” Shimaguchi said. “Which go into all our daily items as well … There is a saying that one rice grain has seven spirits in it…”
Outside Dallas Stadium, thousands of Dutch fans added to the World Cup energy, chanting and celebrating long after the final whistle.
Team Japan leaves lasting impression on and off the field
But in the silence, a simple act of cleaning up is sparking millions of views and a bigger conversation about culture, curiosity and kindness.
“Through the game, probably many people see, ‘Oh that’s the culture,’” said Shimaguchi. “And that’s the next step of people trying to learn, trying to know…That kind of positivity remains.”
Kindness above all else.
Team Japan plays a game this Saturday in Mexico and then returns to Dallas Stadium in 10 days to play against Sweden. And if history is any indication, they’ll do what they did before: leave the stadium spotless. Maybe even inspiring a few others to do the same.
Each and every game is important in the NFL, but there are certain ones that probably carry more weight than others for the Dallas Cowboys. With one of the toughest schedules in the league, this is something the Cowboys need to take to heart this year. One single loss could be the difference between making the playoffs or not.
With that in mind, we decided to identify what we believe to be the five toughest games on Dallas’ schedule this year, excluding NFC East division rivals. Each one of these teams are playoff contenders, and as such, should be tough matchups for the Cowboys with playoff hopes hanging in the balance.
Week 5 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After an international game in Rio de Janeiro against the Ravens followed by a road game against the Texans, the Buccaneers will come to Dallas. Due to all of the traveling in back-to-back weeks, anyway you look at it, this is a tough matchup against a talented team. Hopefully playing at AT&T Stadium for only the second time on the year will invigorate them and result in a victory. Otherwise, a loss could affect their postseason hopes as well as their seeding in the playoffs.
Week 6 @ Green Bay Packers
After facing the Buccaneers, the Cowboys get a 10-day reprieve before they hit the road again to take on the Packers. The matchup between these two teams last season ended in a 40-40 tie in overtime and is expected to be a close game once again. Green Bay always plays the Cowboys tough regardless of what’s on the line, but considering this could be Micah Parsons’ first game back this year there could be added incentive to win. Again, this is yet another important game for Dallas as far as how it impacts the postseason.
Week 10 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Ever since Kyle Shanahan started running things, the 49ers seem to have the Cowboys number. These two teams could potentially meet up in the playoffs if things play out right, making this a preview of a possible future. It also features two players who swapped teams via trade this offseason, Osa Odighizuwa and Dee Winters. This adds even more intrigue to an important matchup in the NFC. Hopefully the Cowboys can take advantage of home field advantage. A win here could cement them as serious contenders.
Week 13 @ Seattle Seahawks
Playing the defending Super Bowl champions in the tough environment at Lumen Field could possibly be considered the toughest game on the Cowboys schedule this season. While the Seahawks have lost some key players both offensively and defensively this offseason, they are still considered one of the top teams in the league this year. This will be a grueling matchup for the Cowboys considering the the top teams they face previously up to this point, but hopefully they can tough it out before heading into their bye week.
Week 15 @ Los Angeles Rams
After trading for Myles Garrett and the potential return of Aaron Donald from retirement, the Rams are one of the heavy Super Bowl favorites right now. This is a team who invested heavily on the defensive side of the ball and has enough talent on offense to stand toe to toe with Dak Prescott and Company. Dallas will be coming off their bye week hopefully rested and recuperated, but for the second game in a row will be attempting to pull off a victory on the road in hostile territory. At this point the season, this came could have huge playoff implications.
Multiple sources have confirmed to The Kitchen a blockbuster Major League Pickleball trade that sends Tyra Black from the Dallas Flash to the Columbus Sliders in exchange for rising women’s player Danni-Elle Townsend.
Dallas will also get an undisclosed amount of cash as part of the deal — the max per trade is $200,000.
The deal had not been made official by the league as of Sunday night, but is expected to go through.
UPDATED ROSTERS
Columbus Sliders: Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger, Alexander Crum, Parris Todd, Tyra Black, Judit Castillo.
Dallas Flash: JW Johnson, Augie Ge, Ivan Jakovljevic, Danni-Elle Townsend, Brooke Buckner, Albie Huang.
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Instant reaction
Columbus is having a strong season so far (12-4), and this trade makes them a serious threat to repeat as Major League Pickleball champions.
Black has previously had success with both Todd and Daescu on the PPA Tour, earning a silver in women’s doubles with Todd at this year’s Indoor National Championships in January and a bronze with Daescu in mixed doubles at the Mesa Cup in February.
It’s unclear which lineup the Sliders will go with in mixed doubles — Daescu has had success with both Todd and Black. It’s worth noting that Black has played almost all of her MLP matches with a lefty (Augie Ge) the past three seasons, so she would presumably be a good fit with CJ Klinger.
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The trade also makes sense for the Dallas Flash, who are having a down year by their standards (4-6). Black was only eligible to be kept through the remainder of 2026, while Townsend can be kept through 2028. So this move allows them to build for the future with Townsend, who has been having a great rookie season in MLP. She is 10-6 in women’s doubles this season and 9-6 in mixed doubles.
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