Hangin' with the Boys: Freaking Out Friday?

It's time for our yearly trek through the schedule to see what games we think the Cowboys are going to win or lose. Are we looking at another 12-win season? A division title? Are they Super Bowl contenders or still building toward something? Plus, a few calls and more. Let's play some real football!

Micah Parsons may want to be a stealthy assassin moving around in the defensive scheme, but he's going to be the first player offenses look for on the field. So how can the Cowboys keep him from wearing down? And how long is it going to take for the defense overall to gel in Mike Zimmer's new scheme? Plus, can Deshaun Watson still be a game-changer?

Shannon, Jesse, and Nate discuss the latest Dallas Cowboys news and notes and preview Cowboys vs. Browns.

So is this running back by committee thing going to work? Will it be hard for the backs to get in a rhythm? Some say yes, others say no. Plus, of the starting rookies, which one do you have the most concerns about – Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe or Caelen Carson? And the latest on the Cowboys negotiations with Dak Prescott. Is the team smart to want a shorter-term deal?

Lot going to discuss on this hump day. Were there any surprises in the final cuts? Dalvin Cook is being added to the practice squad. Can he contribute? What should we be concerned about as we head into the season? The team's health? A new defense? McCarthy in his final year? A tougher schedule? Plus, a rant from Nate about young linemen and, um … feet talk?

Look who got signed right before we went on the air. Now under contract, will CeeDee Lamb be ready come Week 1? How long will it take for him and the offense to get in sync? And what's our concern level with DaRon Bland's injury? Can the Cowboys ride out his absence? Plus, early cuts, Deuce on the loose and more!

With one preseason game left, who are some of the players who really need to show out? And then what happens? How many might the Cowboys keep at wide receiver? Linebacker? Running back? Plus, what do all these additions on the defensive line mean? A lot of questions are about to be answered.

In the case of CeeDee Lamb, it's time to purchase now, please. His presence alone will not only help the other receivers and tight ends, but the running game will improve as well. But once he does sign, how long will it take for him to ramp up? Plus, is Trey Lance improving? And what does Tyler Guyton need to work on?

There are a few teams who tackle to the ground during training camp. As Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, "You can't box without sparring." So if the Cowboys want to get more physical, should they be following that same philosophy? Plus, how much should Guyton and Beebe play against the Raiders? They need reps, after all. And Jesse had a chance to catch up with some coaches during his trip to training camp.

Sure we wanted to see what Trey Lance could do, which was both good and bad, but yesterday's preseason game was about more than just the QB. There were standouts on defense, others who showed improvement, and a few who raised concerns. Time to break down the Cowboys' first game action of 2024!

Are joint practices with other teams a good thing? You bet, especially for the first-teamers who won't see action in the preseason games. Speaking of, what should we look for this Sunday? Aside from Martin, this offensive line needs reps. Will they get any? Plus, why are so many linebackers in the building?

Should we start worrying yet about CeeDee Lamb being on the field come Sept. 8? And what will the Cowboys do with Cooper Beebe if Brock Hoffmans wins the center job? Plus, will we really see a running back by committee, how tough is it to transition to linebacker, and a great breakdown from Jesse on what happens after the MIKE is identified.

How do CeeDee Lamb's teammates feel about him holding out? They're not worried. Heck, they get more reps. Plus, Micah Parsons had good things to say about coordinator Mike Zimmer. Will we really see the star edge rusher used in different ways this year? And we got a chance to see the new kickoff rules in place on Thursday night. Could be some exciting (and scary) times ahead. Time to bring in the weekend!

How did Tyler Guyton look yesterday in the padded practice? Our resident expert Nate Newton said good but not great. Hear what he has to say about the rookie and some of his fellow offensive linemen. Plus, Jesse digs deeper into the Dak Prescott contract situation. Hey, he's going to get paid, no doubt about that, so what's taking so long?

Losing Sam Williams was a tough blow for both the player and team. Where is his mindset right now? How will the Cowboys cover his loss? One thing is for sure, though. Life in the NFL marches on. Plus, Tyler Guyton is now working out with the first team offense and held his own against Micah Parsons. But how will he fare when the pads come on? That's when the alphas find out who the true alphas really are.

Training camp is now underway, and so are we! Time to catch up and take a look at what we'll be watching in the coming weeks. Is Mazi Smith ready to take a step forward? How will the Cowboys handle the quarterback situation with Trey Lance? Can Mike Zimmer bring a new level of toughness to the defense? Plenty of questions to be answered, and we're just getting started.

Jesse, Shannon, and Nate discuss the passing of Cowboys legend Larry Allen, comments from Micah Parsons at mandatory minicamp, and CeeDee Lamb handling business.

Jesse, Shannon, and Nate discuss if Micah Parsons is improving on his leadership qualities, the WR market, and get into some Mavericks talk.

With the beginning of OTAs, should rookies like Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe be working with the first-team unit immediately instead of with the second-stringers? Or do the veterans deserve some respect and an opportunity to show what they can do? Plus, with teams allowed to have 10 OTA practices, why are the Cowboys only holding six? And within all that, what are they going to do with Trey Lance?

The schedule is out, so it's time to break down the good, the bad and the ugly of the Cowboys' road ahead. Sure, the back half looks advantageous, but man, how about that first half? Plus, Mike Zimmer had some things to say about Mazi Smith and how a change is coming, Mike McCarthy gave us a preview of Ezekiel Elliott and the running back attack and, well, are they ever going to get a deal done with Dak Prescott?

Sometimes it's just a matter of a player getting with the right team and the right system. Nate shares stories of what it was like for him coming into the league and how players like Hall of Famers Charles Haley and Randy White helped him. Which is what today's rookies will now need as they get their first taste of the NFL this weekend. Plus, is there any chance the Cowboys will move on from Dak?

The Cowboys had a good draft, but how productive will they really be as rookies? Especially when guys like Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe may be learning new positions. Is this a slow rebuild where their real impact will come in 2025? Plus, what should we expect from Ezekiel Elliott in his return? Is there any juice in that running back room? And looks who's finally back … it's our man, Nate!

They don't call it a War Room for nothing. People have their own agendas and the players they want to draft. Who a coach may want isn't always who a scout covets. Also, are the Cowboys for sure going offensive lineman in the first round? Should they trade down? Would they again take a chance in the second round on a player coming off injury? And, of course, our predictions. Let's kick off Draft Day!

Should CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons be at these Phase I workouts instead of getting ready on their own? Our man Jesse explains why that's not a problem. Also, fans are frustrated with the lack of movement on the big contracts, but is this just business as usual in the NFL? What's the hold up? There's also a new running back on board, and does the success of the other local teams have any effect on the Cowboys?

There were reports out there that some within the Cowboys were getting exasperated with Micah Parsons. But how does that work with "sources"? Jesse gives an inside look at what it may be like for players and the media. Plus, does it really matter? Hey, if you can play, if you're winning, people will tolerate a lot. But if not? Well, what was once considered passion soon becomes a distraction.