So why not put your best athlete in a position? Here's what I'm

going to say to counter what's your point being there.

When you had Micah Parsons, Micah Parsons, to be honest, with what he was able to do without having an interior defensive line and any kind of pass rush, Mozzie Smith couldn't get a push to save his life, which means that the quarterback could easily step up on most plays and feel comfortable.

Now, because you've got Kenneth Williams, you've got Odo in there, and you've also got Kenny Clark, you're going to get a push up the middle, which is going to make that quarterback be uncomfortable.

You think about Tom Brady.

He couldn't stand for the rush to come right at him.

And that's going to keep them out wider.

So it kind of goes hand in hand.

So why not put your best athlete in a position? Here's what I'm

going to say to counter what's your point being there.

When you had Micah Parsons, Micah Parsons, to be honest, with what he was able to do without having an interior defensive line and any kind of pass rush, Mozzie Smith couldn't get a push to save his life, which means that the quarterback could easily step up on those plays and feel comfortable.

Now, because you've got Kenneth Williams, you've got Odo in there, and you've also got Kenny Clark, you're going to get a push up the middle, which is going to make that quarterback be uncomfortable.

You think about Tom Brady.

He couldn't stand for the rush to come right at him.

And that's going to keep them out wider.

So it kind of goes hand in hand.

I know the guys, we get it off our chest, it's over with, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think that was one of the big learning curves for me coming from playing basketball and then coached at my alma mater there at Greenview out in Jamestown and then was asked to be a part of the legacy program, which never could I have imagined how much of a life change that would be for me and all the things that I would learn from that experience.

But Yeah, I mean, that's one of the early things that I think I became aware of is that Legacy at the time was a relatively small school.

It was Xenia Christian at the time.

And, you know, the basketball program, like a lot of the programs at a small school, you know, you're just trying to just get numbers, right? Like, can we just even fill out a team? It's not so much, are we gonna be good or, you know...

well.

Did he not play great in the exhibition season? He played pretty

good.

Yes, but can we talk about practice game? Not a real game.

I don't mean any disrespect, okay? But we're talking about no game planning, going against the Cardinals, and the Cardinals will probably be down there in the bottom with the Commanders.

We're not talking about, you know, and here's the thing.

He played really good against Cardinals, played fantastic against them.

Then the following week, it was more inconsistent.

Mark, how do you think Stephen Jones and Jerry Jones, how do you think their offseason went?

Did he not play great in the exhibition season? He played pretty

good.

Yes, but can we talk about practice game? Not a real game.

I don't mean any disrespect, okay? But we're talking about no game planning, going against the Cardinals, and the Cardinals will probably be down there in the bottom with the Commanders.

We're not talking about, you know, and here's the thing.

He played really good against Cardinals, played fantastic against them.

Then the following week, it was more inconsistent.

Mark, how do you think Stephen Jones and Jerry Jones, how do you think their offseason went?

when, especially when you have CD and you've got George Pickens, you need a competent backup.

You need, you need somebody that's in there.

Now, here's the thing.

If you listen to Brian Schottenheimer, he said that Sam Howell was slightly ahead of Joe Milton.

Now, Joe Milton looked great against the Cardinals in a preseason game.

Let me say again, he looked great against the Cardinals in a preseason game.

It's a different story when you're out there actually playing against competent first play, you know, your fir- your starters out there, okay? So, um, I'm wondering if this is a case where the Cowboys are trying to elevate him some more so they can get more of a trade value.

The depth level on your football team, in your opinion, how do you think it looks this year going into the season?

You

need somebody that's in there.

Now, here's the thing.

If you listen to Brian Schottenheimer, he said that Sam Howell was slightly ahead of Joe Milton.

Now, Joe Milton looked great against the Cardinals in a preseason game.

Let me say again, he looked great against the Cardinals in a preseason game.

It's a different story when you're out there actually playing against competent first, you know, your starters out there, okay? So I'm wondering if this is a case where the Cowboys are trying to elevate him some more so they can get more of a trade value.

The depth level on your football team, in your opinion, how do you think it looks this year going into the season?

Mark, how do you think you did in your first test with preseason football?

we sitting here and we talking about a practice game not not a real game we sitting here talking about practice okay so don't get too upset philly about what you saw last week because half of those guys won't be on the roster and i'm going to say the same thing for us however what i will say is the attitude that we had going into that game was incredible especially on defense Last year, our first preseason game, we had 19 missed tackles.

Do you know how many missed tackles we had in that game? How many? Zero.

Zero.

That's fundamentals.

And I'm going to say we have better talent and they're better coached this year than they were last year.

Are they as good as everybody's out there putting? You know, time will tell on that one.

Has Dak made him that much of a different player?

Mark, how do you think you did in your first test with preseason football?

We sitting here and we talking about a practice game, not a real game.

We sitting here talking about practice, okay? So don't get too upset Philly about what you saw last week cuz half of those guys won't be on the roster.

I'm gonna say the same thing for us.

However, what I will say is the attitude that we had going into that game was incredible, especially on defense.

Last year, our first preseason game, we had 19 missed tackles.

Do you know how many missed tackles we had in that game? How many? Zero.

Has Dak made him that much of a different player?

Got you.

Got you.

Greatest offense there is.

That's Dak's mantra for this year.

This season, look, greatest offense there is.

Gotti.

Look, Dak is – I tell you what, Dak is putting everything on himself.

But how are you going to manufacture that pressure?

Gotti.

Greatest offense there is.

That's Dak's mantra for this year.

This season, look, greatest offense there is.

Gotti.

Look, Dak is – I tell you what, Dak is putting everything on himself.

He's setting his sights out, and he is trying to motivate his players.

But how are you going to manufacture that pressure?

What's year two gonna look like with Schottenheimer?

Well, here's what I'm gonna say is, I mean, Schottenheimer last year, Jerry Jones did what Jerry Jones does.

He got somebody he was comfortable with to be the coach.

And Brian Schottenheimer, you, you know, you can't go against your boss.

He did exactly what he had to do.

He had to let Matt Eberflus fail in order for him to be able to get the guy that he wanted.

And it seems like, and again, there's no... we've only had two padded practices, but it seems like the attitude and everything else is different.

Saquon Barkley or your boy that runs the ball, what's his name? Williams.

What's year two going to look like with Schottenheimer?

Well, here's what I'm going to say is Schottenheimer last year, Jerry Jones did what Jerry Jones does.

He got somebody he was comfortable with to be the coach.

And Brian Schottenheimer, you know, you can't go against your boss.

He did exactly what he had to do.

He had to let Matt Everfuss fail in order for him to be able to get the guy that he wanted.

And it seems like, and again, there's no, we've only had two padded practices, but it seems like the attitude and everything else is different.

Mark, who do you think has a better year this coming season? Saquon Barkley? What do you think guys are better here, Shaquan Barkley or your boy that runs the ball? What's his name, Williams?

see it? Because,

okay, you know why? Because he's got fuck you money.

It doesn't matter, okay? He's got fuck you money.

Because, see, he was pissed off at Amari Cooper and said, you know what? I give no fucks.

I'm going to send you to the worst place I can, and I don't care what I get back in return.

I'll take a fifth round pick for it.

Just send him to fucking Cleveland.

How much credit do you give Dak for putting George Pickens on a professional lane?

They just gave him a record-setting deal.

Hey, look, one of my issues with the Eagles, and their medical staff does do a pretty good job.

Excellent, excellent job.

But I do think that oftentimes they either wait too long or rush guys back.

I thought Landon Dickerson came back way too early.

A few years ago, you remember when Deshaun Jackson literally played like nine games or tried to play instead of just getting a surgery and getting it over with.

I really feel like Jalen Carter the same thing you should have just rested him you know the one thing you got to remember is that when Jalen Carter came back after that injury with the shoulders he goes into that 49ers game so he's got like two sacks and he was probably the second best player on the field after missing all that time so to me I I think that I think that they should have rested him earlier and and it might not have been an issue but it obviously was dude they had to pull him out of games because it would tighten up on me.

So it's really, am I right when I say this? It's either he does well or he doesn't do well is going to determine the 26th season and whether or not you're going forward with him.

How much turnaround on that defense in Dallas you're going to have this year?

I'm hoping that we can get to 15.

But more than anything else, the biggest thing we need to turn around is getting takeaways.

We were third worst in getting the football.

We got 12 total takeaways in the season.

And when you look at a team like Seattle, their defense was number, no, I'm sorry, they were second in takeaways.

The Bears were number one in takeaways.

I have

How much turnaround on that defense in Dallas you're going to have this year?

I'm hoping that we can get to 15.

But more than anything else, the biggest thing we need to turn around is getting takeaways.

We were third worst in getting the football.

We got 12 total takeaways in the season.

And when you look at a team like Seattle, their defense was number, no, I'm sorry, they were second in takeaways.

The Bears were number one in takeaways.

I

Because Gary's, aren't you expecting big things out of him? Because to me, I think he's your Jonathan Grenard.

I think you're right on that because here's what's going to help our edge rushers.

I'm not sure what we're going to have.

We have a lot of good guys.

I don't know if anybody's going to elevate up their high.

But when you can get a push in the middle, and that's where our strength is, that changes everything.

If your nose tackle can get one or two yards of penetration, that quarterback is not stepping up in the pocket, and it makes it more effective for your edge rushers.

But what I'm saying is, I mean, for a team that finished second place in under 500, that's a pretty rough start out of the gate, bro.

Mark, do you think in the run game, Williams is going to have a bigger year? Or do you think it's going to be a lesser year? Because for me, for you guys to win the East, he's

got to be 1,500 yards this year.

I don't know that it would be great because that takes pressure off of Dak because you're more balanced.

You know, that's where you're talking about 4,600 yards.

I don't want to see Dak have to throw for 4,600 yards.

The Eagles have the winning formula.

Don't make your quarterback throw for 4,000 plus yards and put every single game in his hands.

That proved out in 23 and 25.

this year.

I don't know that it would be great because that takes pressure off of Dak because you're more balanced.

You know, that's where you're talking about 4,600 yards.

I don't want to see Dak have to throw for 4,600 yards.

The Eagles have the winning formula.

Don't make your quarterback throw for 4,000 plus yards and put every single game in his hands.

Be balanced.

That proved out in 23 and 25.

Tell us more.

Yeah.

So my daughter and I, we've been, it's kind of our thing when we go on vacation.

So my son and I, we golf.

And when it comes to my daughter, we end up, we scuba dive.

So we've scuba dived for probably a good 15 years now.

And we've, like you said, we've seen a lot.

Tell us about how that works at a high level.

The 2026 off season for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys has been what?

A 180 from usual.

How? How? Typically, we're going into training camp still having major position holes.

I mean, we've gone to training camp where we've had CeeDee Lamb as the only guy that's called a touchdown pass as a wide receiver.

We've gone into training camp where...

We've had Leighton Van Der Esch is the only linebacker that has any experience when he's literally a guy who's one play away from being injured for the season.

Usually we're still grocery shopping during and after training camp to fill out a roster.

Huh.

if this guy has another season like that?

I've actually said that because, with me, I looked at it and said the Cowboys would be stupid not to go ahead and extend him longer.

You gotta look at CeeDee Lamb, he had that great season two years ago, you know, 1,700 yards.

The last two years he's been a little bit nicked up, and he's slowed down, and he's a little bit older, and he has the drops.

And you look at now George Pickens is a younger guy.

I believe after next year, the Cowboys actually could have an out with CeeDee Lamb, and you could look at that and say, "I got the next guy right here." Now, my, my thought process at least, and, and I could be completely wrong, is one of the reasons why they've held off on George Pickens is they're trying to see what Ryan Fennoy is.

If Ryan Fennoy is really stepping up and becomes really good, then one of those guys becomes expendable, and that's where they're kind of gambling with the price tag going up.

The Cowboys don't spread the cap money around because they give these high-end guys these deals, and before you know it, you're gutting your own line.

if this guy has another season like that?

I've actually said that because with me, I looked at it and said the Cowboys would be stupid not to go ahead and extend him longer.

You gotta look at CeeDee Lamb.

He had that great season two years ago, you know, 1,700 yards.

The last two years he's been a little bit nicked up, and he's slowed down, and he's a little bit older, and he has the drops.

And you look at now George Pickens is a younger guy.

I believe after next year the Cowboys actually could have an out with CeeDee Lamb, and you could look at that and say, "I got the next guy right here." Now, my, my thought process at least, and, and I could be completely wrong, is one of the reasons why they've held off on George Pickens is they're trying to see what Ryan Fennoy is.

[laughs] Yeah.

We have to

win.

You're preaching to the choir because if it were me, I would look at this.

Shut up, Philly.

No, seriously.

What you should be doing is, hey, look, we just gave a test.

He's bitch slapping you, Mark.

Do you think Stephen Jones elevates the team, or do you think, again, like Philly just said, I don't know how the Cowboys are going to be run because, quite frankly, over the last 30 years, it's been all about Jerry.