Tyler Smith: Super Bowl is "realistic goal" for Cowboys
Cowboys guard Tyler Smith is feeling that optimism about his own team, even if it's been 30 years since Dallas advanced to the NFC Championship.
Asked about his team's goals for 2025, Smith said this, via Todd Archer of ESPN.com: "Super Bowl champions. That's always the expectation."
It's the expectation for plenty of the 31 teams that eventually won't make it to the top of the mountain.
"I think it's a realistic goal, yeah," Smith said.
Why is it realistic?
"Because we can win a Super Bowl," Smith said. "Why not? Why can't we win? Do you think it's unrealistic?"
It's realistic, technically. They are one of the 32 teams that have a chance to do it. Whether they'll be good enough to overcome the elite teams in the NFC and then to outscore the eventual AFC champion is a different issue.
"I think we built a great core on offense; the addition of [receiver] George [Pickens] and all the other key pieces," Smith said. "I think drafting [guard Tyler] Booker [in the first round], he's going to be a hell of a guy just to bolster the front line. And we have many guys across the board, but those are some of the guys who are the key pieces on what we do this year."
Smith isn't wrong. But there are many variables, starting with health. A rash of injuries can derail expectations. Even if the Cowboys manage to avoid losing key players for extended stretches, can they compete with the likes of the Eagles, Lions, Buccaneers, 49ers, Rams, Commanders, Vikings, Packers?
While the team's three decades of Super Bowl futility are irrelevant to whatever happens this year, it's hard to forget about the forgettable seasons. Hovering over all of it is whether the front office can get linebacker Micah Parsons's contract situation resolved.
Even if he shows up on Monday, he likely won't be practicing until a deal is done. And that could be enough to make an early-season win become a loss, with that loss being the difference between winning the division or missing the postseason entirely.
They'll have a great opportunity, right out of the gates. They start the season in Philadelphia. Beat the Eagles, and they'll be on their way.
Either way, there will still be 16 more games to go. Which will include contests against all teams from the NFC North (which sent three teams to the postseason in 2024) and the AFC West (which did the same).
How realistic their chances are in January will depend directly on what they do from September through December.
Still, July is the time for seeing the glass as half full. Even if, yet again, it comes up empty.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Notre Dame trending in the right direction for elite 2027 wide receiver Matthew Gregory
The arrival of running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider from Penn State has already paid dividends for Notre Dame, and more good news could be on the way. The Fighting Irish extended an offer to elite 2027 wide receiver Matthew Gregory in early June, and there is positive momentum for his potential commitment. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound five-star prospect is ranked as the No. 39 overall player nationally in his class by the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and he has several offers outside of ND, including Penn State, Florida State and Maryland. But he has praised the relationships he has made across the Irish coaching staff in a report from Kyle Kelly. During his sophomore season in 2024 at Owen J. Roberts (Pottstown, PA), Gregory recorded 850 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 48 catches. He also had six interceptions while playing on the other side of the ball, and he has been clocked at 4.35 when running the 40-yard dash. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions. Follow Dave on X: Miller_Dave This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Momentum building for Notre Dame in recruitment of WR Matthew Gregory
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Manchester United vs Bournemouth: Friendly prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h, odds
Manchester United take on fellow Premier League side Bournemouth this week as their pre-season preparations continue across the pond. Ruben Amorim's side kicked off their US tour with a 2-1 win over West Ham, which saw Bruno Fernandes score both goals. The summer started with a 0-0 draw with Leeds in Sweden. United are back in Chicago for the first time in a decade, having faced Paris Saint-Germain at Soldier Field in 2015. The club's tour concludes against Everton in Atlanta on Sunday. Date, kick-off time and venue Manchester United vs Bournemouth is scheduled for a 2.30am BST kick-off on Thursday, July 31, 2025. The match will take place at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Where to watch Man Utd vs Bournemouth TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League. MUTV are also providing a live broadcast of the game. Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and website. MUTV is available through Manchester United's official website. Man Utd vs Bournemouth team news Manchester United fans will have to wait a little longer to see Bryan Mbeumo in action for the first time, with Amorim confirming the summer signing will not face the Cherries. The head coach told reporters: "Bryan is starting slowly. He is not going to play in the next one. We hope to have Bryan in the last game [against Everton]. He's training now, so we'll see." Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee missed the win over West Ham, wtih the former sidelined with a knock and the latter recovering from a "small issue". Goalkeeper Andre Onana has returned to training but will not feature during the tour. Bournemouth have a fully fit squad together Stateside. Man Utd vs Bournemouth prediction It is a fool's errand to make predictions for these pre-season games - after all, the result is secondary - but Manchester United have played two games so far this summer without yet showing much improvement from last season. Bournemouth, meanwhile, have scored plenty across three pre-season fixtures so far, including a 3-0 win over Everton last time out, suggesting they are clicking slightly better as the new Premier League approaches. Bournemouth to win, 3-2. Head to head (h2h) history and results Man Utd wins: 14 Bournemouth wins: 5 Draws: 5 Man Utd vs Bournemouth match odds Man Utd to win: 10/11 Bournemouth to win: 15/8 Draw: 15/8 Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Deion Sanders cancer diagnosis: Colorado coach reveals he had bladder surgery after tumor
Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and his medical team revealed that he had bladder cancer and had his bladder removed but is now cured from cancer. He held a news conference Monday, July 28 in Colorado to discuss it after being away at his estate in east Texas in May and June while he recovered. He was accompanied at the news conference by his doctor, Janet Kukreja, and Colorado athletic trainer Lauren Askevold. "It's been a tremendous journey," Sanders said. "It's been tough." He said he lost 25 pounds and "can't pee like I used to pee" but was grateful and is starting his third season as coach at Colorado. "I depend on Depends," Sanders said with sense of humor. He also encouraged men to get screened for the condition. "I always knew I was going to coach again," Sanders said, ending any rumors that he planned to retire. Deion Sanders' health history Sanders, 57, declined to disclose his condition until now, even though he acknowledged in late May that he had suffered an unspecified health setback. He missed several events during that time, including the May 24 wedding of his star player from last year, Travis Hunter, along with Colorado's annual youth and high school football camps on campus in June. Recruits who came to campus in June were told he was out sick. He also missed a speaking appearance scheduled for June 8 in Florida but still said he was OK on social media without revealing what the problem was. He made an appearance at a Big 12 Conference media days event in Frisco, Texas, July 9, but declined to talk about his health. He didn't return to Colorado until July 25, two days before his players were due to report to campus for the start of preseason camp. He has a history of blood circulation issues in his legs and has said blood clots run in the family, with one uncle dead because of it. He spent 23 days in the hospital in the fall of 2021 and said he nearly died there as he battled compartment syndrome on his left leg and had two toes amputated from his left foot. He missed three games because of it that season as head coach at Jackson State in Mississippi but healed enough to lead his team to a 11-2 record that season, including the three games he missed. He underwent more surgeries to fix blood clots in the summer of 2023 and even had to miss a Pac-12 media days event because of it. What does Deion Sanders' contract say in this regard? He agreed to a new five-year contract earlier this year worth more than $10 million per year. It requires him to notify the athletic director if he's absent for more than five consecutive working days. It has a disability provision: 'If after engaging in the interactive process with the University's Center for Disability & Access, Coach is deemed unable to perform the essential functions of his job with or without reasonable accommodation, this Agreement will automatically terminate, and Sanders' salary and all other benefits shall end in the month of such termination notice.' If he decided to retire from coaching, it says he wouldn't have to pay liquidated damages to the university to buy out his contract but would owe some damages if he retired and then changed his mind to coach somewhere else. Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deion Sanders cancer diagnosis: Colorado coach reveals bladder surgery