Dollars. Dak. Dallas.

It is currently September 3rd, 2024. The night before Opening Kickoff in Kansas City and Dallas continues to be in the spotlight for the 206th straight day. It has been the typical rollercoaster of an offseason for the Cowboys. Contract disputes, hold outs, bringing back an aging vet, and drafting young rookies for the O-line. As one season ends, a new season is upon us for the potential last season in the Dak Prescott Cowboy Era. 

During the offseason, Jerry never shied away from the spotlight no matter what he did. Whether it was arguing over $1 MILLION with Ceedee Lamb or bringing back Zeke, we learned once again that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, we are all living in Jerry’s World. The Cowboys look to be trying to push for a “Last Dance” type season with no new contract for Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy in the final year of his deal as Head Coach of America’s Team. The Cowboys became the first team in NFL history last season to win 36 games over 3 seasons without winning, or even appearing, in a Super Bowl. They have had the talent, they have had the weapons, but they still can’t get over the hump of the first 2 rounds of the playoffs. I have been alive for 23 years and I still can’t figure out why they continue to have the Yips against San Francisco or Green Bay. Rodgers wasn't even there this time! Luckily the circle of life came around for the Packers as they lost to SF the following round and were bounced from the playoffs. 

I harp on the bad a lot for this franchise, but there was some good that came from the offseason. They look to have found Tyron Smith’s replacement in Tyler Guyton out of Oklahoma and Cooper Beebe out of Kansas State to replace Tyler Biadasz in the draft. Along with both those anchors, they drafted Caelen Carson out of Wake Forest who looks to be CB2 with Daron Bland out for 6-8 weeks with a foot fracture. Mike Zimmer was hired to replace Dan Quinn who left for Washington this past offseason and took our players with him. I will die on the hill that he had one foot out during the playoff game the way he was calling plays. Zimmer has been working hard with the linebackers and interior defensive lineman to try and stop the run at a better rate this year. Finally, the big move of the offseason as we all know was the new contract for wide receiver Ceedee Lamb. He became the second highest paid receiver in the NFL behind Justin Jefferson and looks to be a Cowboy for life at this pace. Now we just need Jerry to start worrying about Dak and Micah’s new contracts so we aren’t stuck with Trey Lance for the foreseeable future. 

This season will be one that will truly test me as a fan. They have gotten younger and faster, but have never found a way to cash in their checks. After 3 straight playoff exits before the NFC Championship game, this is the year the Cowboys have to put all their chips in (Remember when Jerry said he would go “All In”? LOL). I have never been a Cowboy fan to say, “This is our year!”, and I never will be, but this looks like it will have to be the year to try and make something happen. We don’t know what the future holds for Dallas at the QB position, so might as well go for something big this year. A new defense in Zimmer, and a second year of Dak playing QB with McCarthy calling the plays has me hopeful, but scared. The Cowboys enter the season with the 15th hardest schedule in the NFL and many big games against 2023 playoff teams. There is one stat that stands right in the way of the Cowboys success: there hasn't been a back to back division champion of the NFC East in 20 years. Luck and stats are definitely not on the Cowboys side, per usual. If all goes well with this team, I predict the Cowboys to go 10-7 at best and make the playoffs as a Wild Card team. If you get into the dance, you never know what can happen. I promised myself this year that I would try to limit expectations in the regular season, since I know we can win there, but I know if they beat Cleveland in Week 1, I will be back on the hopium and believe we can do it. Dak, I have defended you for years and I don’t plan on stopping. You have become underrated in your abilities and I know deep down you have what it takes to get us past the Divisional Round. We believe in you 4 and know you are going to make this franchise proud. Week 1 kicks off Sunday September 8th at 4:25 EST in Cleveland. The whole world is watching. Tom Brady in the booth for his debut and Kevin Burkhardt yelling out a big, “HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS!”