OXNARD, Calif. – And we start, Camping Out 2024 here at the River Ridge Sports Complex, where the temps hovered around 60 degrees this morning, and by noon has warmed up to 71.
Not bad, right, and Wednesday became the Dallas Cowboys official reporting day that began with a morning stretch to get the blood flowing.
Appears all hands are on deck, with 85 of them on Tuesday's charter flight, and all the rest arriving by the 3 p.m. deadline. The exception, of course, being CeeDee Lamb, withholding services during a contract negotiation wanting an extension in the final year of his contract.
Dak is here despite being in the final year of his contract. So is head coach Mike McCarthy, despite also being in the final year of his five-year contract. Geesh, wonder if a head coach has ever held out trying to gain negotiating leverage in the final year of a contract? Just asking. Seems to be in good spirits.
Now we are aware of a minor hiccup to the start of training camp, the traditional camp opening press conference originally scheduled for Wednesday pushed back to accommodate the schedule of owner Jerry Jones, but seems to be a good chance of that taking place on Thursday, the first scheduled practice of the 21 planned to take place here but five miles of the Pacific Ocean.
Plus, the Joneses reported to camp on time, just before the 1 p.m. reporting deadline for the players, showing up around 12:30 p.m. (PDT), so no fines will be assessed.
Now remember, the first four practices are in the ramp-up mode, per the CBA, with the pads finally coming on next Tuesday.
So folks, time to get started ourselves, throwing down some opening shots to kick things off, though the official Opening Ceremony not taking place until Saturday.
Why here we go.
- No Harm: Look, know so many are concerned the Cowboys haven't reached a long-term agreement with Lamb but so far he hasn't and won't miss much since the next few practices are no more than OTA types. And as you can see, other teams are having problems with player contract, too. It happens. Heck, can remember the days when guys such as Emmitt Smith (twice) and Michael Irvin missed entire training camps or the days covering this team spending more time chasing unsigned players and their agents than concentrating on what was going on at camp. This will get done. Plus, since Lamb has a guaranteed $17.99 fifth-year option deal, guys don't miss paychecks, especially when guaranteed to get paid $1 million a week. Let that sink in
- For Example: Former Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper, on the final year of his five-year, $100 million deal he had signed with the Cowboys that Cleveland inherited, was going to withhold services fishing for an extension. Well, the Browns and Cooper came to an agreement, the Browns guaranteeing Amari the $20 million base salary, while paying him $10 million of that up front, and giving him an opportunity to make $5 million more.
- Speaking Of: Former Cowboys wide receivers, Michael Gallup surprisingly decided to retire, but that doesn't really surprise me after seeing him struggle last year returning from his torn ACL the end of the 2022 season. Never seemed to be a guy motivated by money, and just his personality, didn't see how he would fit into living in Vegas for long. Plus, it's not as if the Raiders money-whipped him while signing him to a one-year free agent deal worth just $1.75 million, including $327,500 signing bonus and $827,500 guaranteed. One of the good guys with these Cowboys, who must account $4.35 million in dead money for releasing him.
- ThirtySomething: See where NFL.com did a ranking of the Top 30, 30-year-old players in the NFL. The Cowboys had three players in the rankings, starting with Dak Prescott (31 on July 29) ranked fourth, DeMarcus Lawrence (32) ranked 20thand Zack Martin (33) ranked 29th. Sorry, Martin is a much better player than the 29th-ranked 30-year-old. If you are curious, the Top 5 in this ranking are: 1. Tyreek Hill, 2. Trent Williams, 3. Chris Jones, Dak and 5. Matthew Stafford. The former Cowboy Cooper ranks 19th and former Cowboys OT Tyron Smith an honorable mention.
- Where's The Beef: Well, at least not here at the Cowboys training camp site since that VIP double-decker seating stands of last year that caused such a stir from the neighboring home owners has been lowered to one level, sort of even with their huge brick wall barricading the practice field from the homes. That means the homeowners can go back to offering short-term rentals during training camp since clients can now see the practice field from the upper floor windows. A lot of excuses were made last year for getting their dander up, like too much shade, the blocking out of sunlight and lowering property value when it was really about the loss of pre-planned revenue. Ain't it always about the money.
- Field Of Green: Now the two grass fields won't be tested until practice starts on Thursday, but the grass is really green and seems to be thicker than in previous years. That is a good sign, even it's from my own test, just putting like 165 pounds and no cleats down during the inspection.
- Can't Wait: Here are a few things I can't wait to see, especially once the pads come on Tuesday: Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe at left tackle and center. Without CeeDee at wide receiver, will be keeping an eye on young receivers Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin and Jalen Brooks. Any cornerback not named Trevon Diggs, Daron Bland and Jourdan Lewis. Defensive ends Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland. Of course, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn. TE Luke Schoonmaker. And for sure, Mazi Smith, all just for starters.
- Camping Shorts: Was told around the final minicamp chances were good that Diggs would be placed on PUP, just to make sure he has time to continue rehabbing his ACL repair, and that it would have nothing to do with any hesitancy the Cowboys might have of being ready for the start of the season . . . As for the other ACL repair guys, TE John Stephens, LB DeMarvion Overshown and WR David Durden, all are expected to be ready to start practicing . . . As for Mazi, rehabbing from shoulder surgery all offseason, jury still out on his immediate practice availability . . . Wonder if the Cowboys will ever get to the point of paying a defensive tackle the money the Packers paid to extend Kenny Clark, three years, $64 million . . . Didn't take long for The Pack to extend Jordan Love, signing a one-year extension for $13.5 million guaranteed with up to $22.5 million possible since his fifth-year option would have paid $20.27 million that certainly beating the Cowboys in the playoff game had something to do with Green Bay's confidence in him
And for the last word this first day of training camp, let's go to third-year left guard Tyler Smith, the Cowboys 2022 first round draft choice I'm guessing they wish they could rinse and repeat that type of player every year. And not just from a talent standpoint, but from a good guy standpoint with a team first mentality
"Being in the O-Line room, being around the great guys I have, being around Zack, Tyron (Smith), Jason Peters, all those guys, they imparted on me a lot of knowledge," Tyler said as one of the two chosen players to speak once the buses arrived from LAX here at the training camp site on Tuesday. "And it's my job to pass that knowledge on and continue to make sure our standard of our room is held, you know, long after I'm gone, and especially while I'm here."
Maybe being a Tyler is the key to drafting, since the Cowboys have hit with Tyler Smith, had hit with Tyler Biadasz and are hoping beyond hope they have hit with the next first round Tyler, Tyler Guyton.
