Sports
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.
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
‘Demon’ Finn Balor settles score with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42
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LAS VEGAS – Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio were once brothers in arms in the Judgment Day. The two helped the faction run “Monday Night Raw” for several years.
As championships and opportunities came and went, the rift between Balor and Mysterio grew. It came to a head when Balor caused Mysterio to lose the Intercontinental Championship to Penta. Balor leaving the Judgment Day left Mysterio and Liv Morgan as the leaders with JD McDonagh, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez sticking around.
Finn Balor is introduced before his match against Dominik Mysterio during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The latter four chose to ride with Mysterio and attacked Balor on one episode of Raw.
The bitter war led to a match Sunday night at WrestleMania 42. To make matters more interesting, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce made the match a street fight hours before the show was set to begin.
Balor had vowed to bring the “Demon” out and he certainly did.
JACOB FATU PUTS DREW MCINTYRE IN THE ‘REAR VIEW’ IN UNSANCTIONED MATCH AT WRESTLEMANIA 42
Finn Balor is introduced before his match against Dominik Mysterio during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Balor made his way to the ring in his “Demon” gear, dripping with red and black paint. Mysterio was in a mask with other Mysterio supporters.
The two then proceeded to beat the crud out of each other.
Mysterio wrapped Balor’s head in between a chair and hit a 619 on him. He tried to pin Balor, but to no avail. At another point, Mysterio tossed Balor through a table set up in the corner.
As many have learned, it’s hard to keep your demons down. Mysterio learned the hard way.
Balor would not give up. Balor clotheslined Mysterio, hit him with a chair multiple times before wrapping his head in between the chair and drop-kicking him into the corner. Balor put Mysterio onto a table and hit the Coup de Grâce for the win.
Dominik Mysterio is introduced before his match against Finn Balor during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Balor excised his own demons, while Mysterio is still haunted.
Sports
Ryan Ward has a solid debut, but bullpen blows it again as Dodgers lose to Rockies
DENVER — What do you know? The once-stampeding Dodgers have been caged by the Colorado Rockies.
With a 9-6 loss Sunday at Coors Field, the two-time defending World Series champions lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Dodgers again couldn’t hold a lead, letting the Rockies tee off for 15 hits.
Nor could the Dodgers keep up offensively at the hitter-friendly park — though they put some pressure on in the ninth inning, when Shohei Ohtani led off with a ground-rule double and the Dodgers scored twice to cut the lead to three runs. Then the new guy, Ryan Ward, made the final out in his big league debut, robbed of a hit and a chance to keep chipping away by a diving Troy Johnston in right field.
Before that, the Rockies — who beat the Dodgers twice in 13 meetings all of last season — chased starter Roki Sasaki from the game in the fifth inning and then ruffled the Dodgers’ relievers. That included closer Edwin Díaz, who came on in the eighth and promptly gave up three singles, a walk and two runs before being pulled with the Dodgers trailing 8-4.
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki gave up three runs on seven hits in 4-2/3 innings Sunday against the Rockies in Denver.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
He and Blake Treinen combined to face eight batters without getting an out.
“They both weren’t sharp,” said manager Dave Roberts, who had theories but not many answers — though he did have real concern, especially about Díaz, who recently had his right knee checked out by the medical staff.
Roberts said the closer wanted to pitch after nine days off, even though it wasn’t a save situation. But his velocity was slightly down (95.4 mph vs. 95.8) and so, “today was a tough evaluation,” the manager said.
“It really was,” Roberts said. “Because, you know, I know what it’s supposed to look like, and when it doesn’t look like that, it gets a little concerning, really.”
And losing for the second time to the Rockies, who are now 9-13? Being in danger of losing their four-game series, after arriving in Denver without having lost to a National League opponent, against a club that hasn’t made the postseason since 2018?
It’s well below the bar the Dodgers have set, and it added a bitter note to Ward’s otherwise sweet debut.
Ward punched a big league clock for the first time wearing No. 67 and cranked his first hit off Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen in the fourth inning, lining a changeup to right field for a single that scored Andy Pages, made it 3-0 and got the 20-some members of Ward’s party up, jumping in place, hugging and high-fiving.
“When I was on first base, I got to see them all jumping around up there,” Ward said. “That was a pretty special moment.”
He also singled in the sixth and swung on the first pitch in his first at-bat, a fly out in the third inning.
The Dodgers gave Sasaki a 2-0 lead in the third. Alex Freeland drove in Hyeseong Kim, and Shohei Ohtani doubled in Freeland — and extended his career-best on-base streak to 51 games, moving past Willie Keeler into third place in Dodgers history.
Sasaki went 4-2/3 innings, threw 78 pitches and gave up three runs on seven hits, striking out two and walking two. His ERA after his fourth start: 6.11, worst in the six-man rotation.
The Dodgers fell behind 6-5 in the seventh when Treinen — who was cleared Friday after he was struck in the head by a batted ball during batting practice — gave up four consecutive hits, including a two-run home run by Mickey Moniak.
The result likely will be a minor detail when Ward tells the story years from now about getting the call after first baseman Freddie Freeman was placed on the paternity list.
The Dodgers’ No. 19 prospect and reigning Pacific Coast League MVP spent the last seven years in the minors. Last season, he hit 36 home runs and drove in 122 runs with a .937 on-base-plus-slugging percentage for triple-A Oklahoma City, and he has a 1.020 OPS and four homers this year.
Ward made it a point to improve his chase rate, draw more walks and get on base more frequently, everything the Dodgers asked of him. He also passed the broadest patience test.
“The plate discipline, being a better hitter … he’s done all that,” Roberts said. “He’s improved his defense. But honestly, for me, just not to let his lack of opportunity in the big leagues deter him. That’s easy when you get frustrated and let it affect performance, and he hasn’t done that.”
If anything, Ward said, the waiting made him better.
“I used it to keep going. ‘OK, if I’m not there yet, what do I have to do to get there?’” he said. “‘What part of my game do I need to work on to keep getting better?’
“I used it as fire to keep working.”
That will be the Dodgers’ assignment too.
In the finale of the four-game series Monday, the Dodgers are expected to start left-hander Justin Wrobleski (2-0, 2.12) against Colorado left-hander Jose Quintana (0-1, 5.63).
Sports
ESPN’s Stephen A Smith hears boos from WrestleMania 42 crowd
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LAS VEGAS – Danhausen’s curse may be real after all – just ask Stephen A. Smith and the New York Mets.
While the latter dropped their 10th game in a row, Smith got his share of the curse on Saturday night during Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. Smith was in attendance for WWE’s premier event of the year and heard massive boos from the crowd.
Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Smith was sitting ringside to watch the action. The ESPN star appeared on the videoboard above the ring at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He appeared to embrace the reaction and smiled through it.
The boos came after Danhausen appeared on “First Take” on Friday – much to the chagrin of the sports pundit. Smith appeared perplexed by Danhausen’s appearance. Smith said he heard about Danhausen and called him a “bad luck charm.”
Danhausen said Smith had been “rude” to him and put the dreaded “curse” on the commentator.
WWE STAR DANHAUSEN SAYS METS ‘CURSE’ ISN’T EXACTLY LIFTED AS TEAM DROPS NINTH STRAIGHT GAME
Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Smith is far from the only one dealing with the effects of the “curse.”
Danhausen agreed to “un-curse” the Mets during their losing streak. However, he told Fox News Digital earlier this week that there was a reason why the curse’s removal didn’t take full effect.
“I did un-curse the Mets. But it didn’t work because, I believe it was Brian Gewirtz who did not pay Danhausen. He did not send me my money so it did not take full effect,” Danhausen said. “Once I have the money, perhaps it will actually work because right now it’s probably about a half of an un-cursing. It’s like a layaway situation.”
Danhausen enters the arena before his match against Kit Wilson during SmackDown at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on April 10, 2026. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
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On “Friday Night SmackDown,” WWE stars like The Miz and Kit Wilson were also targets of Danhausen’s curse.
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