Sports

Howe: What I'm hearing on Cowboys contract talks with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons

Published

2 years ago

August 9, 2024

Howe: What I'm hearing on Cowboys contract talks with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons

OXNARD, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys remain stuck in an extraordinarily complex situation with three of their stars’ contractual status.

Quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons are all up for new deals, though they’re all in very different phases of negotiations with the team. However, if the Cowboys extend all three, they will be rostering three players who will be among the highest paid — if not the highest — at their position simultaneously.

All three negotiations are interconnected, with the Cowboys having to be mindful of the cap gymnastics that will become necessary to keep the trio in Dallas long-term. After spending time this week at the Cowboys’ training camp, here’s the intel we have been able to gather from league sources:

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First, Prescott has had a tremendous camp, and he dazzled during the Monday practice session. The Cowboys have been impressed by the quarterback’s ability to block out the business side when it comes to his own performance.

But now to the business side. Prescott is playing in the final season of his four-year, $160 million contract, and there’s a unique challenge with his extension talks. Due to void years and a prior restructure, Prescott is set to earn $29 million in cash this season while incurring a cap hit of about $55 million.

Because an extension would continue to push that dead money into future years, it’s a far greater hurdle to cross from a cap perspective. It’s also unique. Prescott is among 19 quarterbacks who make north of $30 million annually, and none have signed a second big-money extension with their team. That’s important to note because of the dead-money factor.

And among the 16 quarterbacks averaging at least $40 million annually, the 31-year-old Prescott, is one of only four on the other side of 30. While the standard number for a franchise quarterback has ballooned to $50 million over the past year — if not even higher — none of the eight QBs at that number have celebrated a 30th birthday.

That’s not to say that rule won’t be broken in short order. It’s simply an expected negotiating point from the team side.

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For Prescott, he’s seen quarterbacks with lesser statistical resumes soar past his contractual value, and the new standard is now $55 million annually. Because Prescott’s timing is so advantageous, he’s been asking for north of that number, which is his well-earned negotiating right.

From a cap perspective, it would actually make more financial sense for the Cowboys to allow Prescott’s contract to expire after the season, eliminating the $26 million in dead money from future books. From a logical perspective, however, such a strategy could backfire because the temptation of the open market and the QB-desperate teams lurking would pounce with offers that could shatter historical benchmarks.

Prescott knows that. So, while he’d surely appreciate something closer to market value in cash this season, he recognizes the bank account will be just fine with a little patience. Remember, he’s been through all of this before.

The Cowboys badly want to keep Prescott through the duration of another long-term contract. It’s why they’ve been trying to execute an extension before free agency becomes more of a temptation.

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Also, the idea of starting over at the position doesn’t appeal to an organization that has won 36 regular-season games over the past three seasons, second to the Kansas City Chiefs (37). It hasn’t translated to playoff success, but the Cowboys are contenders due to their overall talent. Prescott only aids that stance.

At this point, it doesn’t appear the Cowboys and Prescott are close on an extension, and the cap dynamics and leverage points explain why that’s been the case.

This one feels closer. Lamb and the Cowboys have made progress, but it’s still shy of the point where the sides are assuming a guaranteed resolution.

Lamb is holding out and has informed the Cowboys he won’t report to camp without a new deal. He is currently operating under the terms of his rookie contract’s fifth-year option, which is worth $17.991 million.

The collective-bargaining agreement calls for the Cowboys to fine Lamb $40,000 per day in camp, but they are likely to rescind those fines upon the execution of a new contract. An elimination of fines is only permissible because Lamb is still on his rookie contract.

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Last season, Lamb led the league with 135 receptions, finished second with 1,749 yards and tied for third with 12 touchdown catches. The 25-year-old, who was the No. 17 pick in the 2020 draft, has improved his production profile in every season of his career.

Justin Jefferson ($35 million annually) and A.J. Brown ($32 million) recently reset the market, and there’s no question Lamb’s number would also exceed $30 million annually, which would make him the fifth member of that club.

The discrepancy is where Lamb should fall between Jefferson’s deal and Brown’s contract. Jefferson is widely viewed as the best receiver in the league, and he got his contract with an organization that has a quarterback on a rookie deal. Brown, another physically dominant receiver, got his deal after quarterback Jalen Hurts signed his massive pact. The other pair of $30 million wideouts, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tyreek Hill, are also working with $50 million quarterbacks.

The Cowboys seem to be reluctant to hit Jefferson’s APY with Lamb, so the concession could be the guaranteed money. Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million contract includes about $88.7 million fully guaranteed (roughly 63 percent), while Brown’s three-year, $96 million extension includes $51 million fully guaranteed (roughly 53 percent).

Eying the two contracts, is a four-year deal worth $30 million to $32 million annually including 63 percent in guarantees palatable?

Those numbers might make the most sense. Knock down the APY and kick up the guarantees to find a compromise, and it’d help with the Prescott negotiations. That’s why there are reasons to believe Lamb’s contract could be the first to be agreed upon.

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The defensive chess piece’s contract is on the back-burner for now, but it’s been on the Cowboys’ minds for a year. He’s in the fourth season of his rookie contract, so he’s now eligible for an extension, but the Cowboys have also exercised his fifth-year option for 2025.

Understandably, the Cowboys have more pressing business with Prescott and Lamb before diving all the way into the Parsons pool. But there could be a significant cost in waiting, because Parsons’ price tag could rise, especially if he delivers another healthy, productive season.

Parsons, 25, has been incredibly consistent with 40.5 sacks through three seasons, but his athleticism as a second-level linebacker has made him unique. The Cowboys won’t be playing the semantic game of treating Parsons as a space linebacker, which would drive down his value.

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San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa set the bar last year with a five-year, $170 million deal including $88 million fully guaranteed. That $34 million annual benchmark will be the target point, though the league seems to still view Bosa as the superior player.

But again, if Parsons stays healthy, he’ll once again be on the short list of Defensive Player of the Year candidates and should be within his right to ask for Bosa money, especially after a couple years of cap inflation.

That’s just something the Cowboys are going to have to stomach down the road. With Prescott a more pressing matter and Lamb out of camp, the organization must prioritize accordingly.

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It’s not a stretch to envision a scenario where the Cowboys eventually employ the league’s highest-paid quarterback, a top-two receiver and the highest-paid defensive player. But even with concessions from the players, they’re still looking at premium-priced players at each position, and therein lies the challenge ahead with keeping this star-studded roster together.

(Photo of CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons: Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images)

Sports

Deion Sanders mourns loss of Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder: ‘One of my favorites’

Published

6 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Deion Sanders mourns loss of Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder: ‘One of my favorites’

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Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Dominiq Ponder died this weekend, the team’s head coach Deion Sanders confirmed on Sunday with a social media post.

“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends and loved ones,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”

Ponder was 23 years old.

Details of Ponder’s death are not yet known.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against TCU Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)

Ponder, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound signal caller, joined the Buffaloes and “Coach Prime’s” program in 2024 after spending time at Bethune-Cookman before making his way to Boulder.

Last season, Ponder played just two games for the Buffaloes while serving in his backup role. He recorded two rush attempts and one pass attempt.

The Opa Locka, Fla., native also received tribute from a fellow quarterback with the Buffaloes, Colton Allen.

Bethune-Cookman QB Dominiq Ponder takes a snap during the Wildcats’ spring game Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Daytona Stadium. (IMAGN)

“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote on Instagram. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”

Ponder was going to be a part of Colorado’s spring practices, which are set to begin on Monday. It’s unknown if Sanders will postpone the start due to Ponder’s passing.

Ponder also received a tribute from the University of Central Florida.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (Tyler Tate/AP Photo)

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“Our prayers are with Dominiq and the Ponder family along with all in the Colorado football program,” the university’s football account on X wrote.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

Sports

No. 2 UCLA women dominate rival USC to finish Big Ten play undefeated

Published

7 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

No. 2 UCLA women dominate rival USC to finish Big Ten play undefeated

Sunday was “Senior Night” for the USC women’s basketball team at Galen Center, but it was the other team’s seniors who stole the show.

Gabriela Jaquez scored 14 points, Kiki Rice had 11 points and four assists and Lauren Betts had 15 rebounds and five assists as UCLA wrapped up the regular season with a 73-50 victory over its rival and finished undefeated in conference play for the first time since going 18-0 in the Pac-10 in 1998-99 under Kathy Olivier.

Having already clinched the regular-season title, UCLA became the first team to navigate the Big Ten schedule without a loss since Maryland in 2014-15.

“These are two elite programs, we knew it would be different tonight, we knew they’d come with fire,” said UCLA coach Cori Close, who improved to 9-4 against the Trojans since counterpart Lindsay Gottlieb started at USC in 2021. “We knew we’d have to do it with our defense, our rebounding and by taking care of the ball.”

It was the Bruins’ 22nd consecutive win, one shy of the record they set last season. Since their lone loss to then-No. 4 Texas on Nov. 26 in Las Vegas, they have won by 20 or more points 17 times.

Ranked second in the nation in both the Associated Press and coaches’ polls behind defending national champion Connecticut (30-0), the Bruins earned the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament in Indianapolis and got a bye into Friday’s quarterfinals.

Charlisse Leger-Walker, nicknamed “X-ray vision” by teammates, equaled her season high with 20 points for the Bruins (28-1, 18-0) while Gianna Kneepkens added 14 points and five assists.

“Anytime we play together we know we can win,” Leger-Walker said. “We did a good job looking into the scout. Every game we just think about going 1-0. People scouting us know that all five players on the court can score the ball.”

UCLA center Lauren Betts, left, controls the ball in front of USC forward Vivian Iwuchukwu during the first half Sunday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

UCLA held USC to 27% shooting in the teams’ first meeting — a 34-point Bruins victory at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 3 behind Betts’ 18 points. It was USC’s most lopsided loss under coach Lindsay Gottlieb. On Sunday, USC shot 39% and was only three for 19 from three-point range.

“Going undefeated [in conference] is a great step in the right direction towards what we want to accomplish,” said Jaquez, who appreciated the flowers she received before the game from USC. “I love this rivalry. It’s super fun to play against them and it was nice that they honored us too.”

UCLA jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the first five minutes and carried a 19-11 advantage into the second quarter. The Bruins widened the gap to 18 points by halftime, holding the Trojans scoreless for the last 3:08.

USC (17-12, 9-9) opened the second half on an 11-2 run but gave up 14 second-chance points and allowed 22 offensive rebounds.

UCLA guard Kiki Rice, front, and forward Angela Dugalic celebrate as USC guard Kennedy Smith walks away.

“If we get more possessions than our opponent we’re most likely going to win,” Close said. “We didn’t allow one basket on an out-of-bounds play and they lead the conference in that.”

Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson, USC’s leading scorer, got into early foul trouble but still finished with 12 points. She was held to 10 points on four-for-15 shooting in the first meeting.

“It was a great crowd, we were in the fight but we didn’t rebound or shoot well enough,” Gottlieb said. “We wanted to keep them out of our paint. We swarmed Betts, double-teamed her and got it out of her hands but other people scored.”

Londynn Jones, who spent three seasons in Westwood (playing in 108 straight games) before transferring to USC for her senior year, was held to six points in the team’s first meeting and nine points (on four-of-10 shooting) in the rematch. The Trojans’ other senior, Kara Dunn, was held scoreless in the first half and finished with eight points.

“I love Londynn,” Close said. “We think she looks better in blue, but we love her and I told her that. I appreciate all she gave to our programs.”

Asked if this is the best team she has ever coached, Close had a one-word answer.

“Yes.”

Sports

Israeli national gymnastics team suspends all activities after Iranian counter-attack

Published

18 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Israeli national gymnastics team suspends all activities after Iranian counter-attack

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Israel’s national gymnastics team has suspended all training and team activities amid the recent Iranian counter-attack on the country following the U.S.-assisted strikes on Iran.

The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) provided a statement to Fox News Digital announcing the violence has caused “unavoidable disruptions.”

“The current security situation in our region has resulted in unavoidable disruptions to our regular training schedule and has created significant uncertainty regarding the national teams’ professional plans, particularly as we are at the outset of the international season,” the statement read.

“At this time, all training activities have been temporarily suspended, pending approval from the relevant authorities to safely resume operations. Naturally, the suspension of training and the closure of airspace are causing considerable stress and concern. However, the safety and well-being of our gymnasts and professional staff remain our highest priority. We sincerely hope for safer and calmer days ahead, when we can focus solely on sport.”

A source within the team told Fox News Digital on Saturday that the gymnasts have been moving between bomb shelters since Iran’s counterstrikes began.

Israel’s gymnastics team is considered one of nation’s strongest Olympic programs alongside its Judo and sailing teams. The team is only a week removed from a successful trip at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Germany, where the country’s star Artem Dolgopyat won the gold medal in floor gymnastics.

Now, the team will have to seek safety until the attacks are over.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has directed all U.S. government employees and their family members to continue to shelter in place either in or near their residences as Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel.

Additionally, the embassy announced that due to the security situation, it would be closed on March 2, and did not give an estimate on when it would be reopening. The closure includes consular sections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

The embassy also said it is “not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel.” It noted that Ben Gurion Airport remains closed and there there are neither commercial nor charter flights operating from the airport.

On Friday, ahead of the launch of Operation Epic Fury, the embassy gave all non-essential workers permission to leave Israel, with reports that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged those looking to leave to do so as soon as possible.

Iranian airstrikes killed at least eight Israelis on Sunday as Tehran’s latest missile barrage landed just miles from Jerusalem.

The strikes landed in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh. Initial reports said four people were killed when missiles landed in a residential area on Sunday, but that death toll rose to eight, according to Israel’s national emergency service.

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Iran’s military has carried out counterattacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East after a joint U.S.-Israeli strike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.

The strikes also killed several other top Iranian leaders, including the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.