5 Takeaways from Cowboys presser as concern builds for Diggs' future, Parsons contract

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3 days ago

The Dallas Cowboys' 2025 season is officially underway. The team reported to Oxnard, CA for their annual training camp pilgrimage on Sunday, and Monday was the team's opening press conference. As is tradition, it wasn't just the head coach who held court. Brian Schottenheimer was there as the big dog for the first time ever in his career, but he was of course overshadowed by the front office.
Owner Jerry Jones and son Stephen held court and took the lead as the local media was ever so happy to accommodate by directing most of the questions towards them. With a potential contract hold-in by the teams best player Micah Parsons ready to be in effect on Tuesday, there was plenty of attention given to those thoughts. However that wasn't all that was discussed. There was an inkling of actual football conversation that took place.
Here's a look at the top five takeaways from the afternoon media session.
1. Schottenheimer sees RB1 competition as open battle between Sanders, Williams
The Cowboys signed two veteran running backs this spring, Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, while letting Rico Dowdle walk in free agency. Schottenheimer isn't giving either the edge, but they clearly are the primary competitors for the lead role in the committee, not Texas rookie Jaydon Blue.
2. Jerry Jones is angry at himself, not Micah.
The biggest news of the day, or at least the tidbit that got the most attention, was Jones' response to a question about Micah Parsons' contract. The Cowboys have been able to extend Parsons beyond his rookie deal for over a year, and now stand to go into 2025 without having him locked down. Jones talked as he does, but got everyone riled up when he added his two cents to a question about Parsons that actually was directed towards Schottenheimer.
He went on a journey that talked about the fact he could sign Parsons and the team still not have him available due to injury, saying Parsons missed six games last season (he only missed four). That moved into him speaking on paying Dak Prescott the largest NFL contract ever last year and only seeing him for 1/3rd of the season.
He spoke about paying players too soon, and flat out referenced that they should've waited to pay Trevon Diggs and Terence Steele when DLLS reporter Joe Hoyt asked why did they pay them early and make CeeDee Lamb wait.
Both of those players had huge question marks when they were given long-term deals. There are no such questions around the NFL about Parsons, which means Jones is punishing himself.
3. Schottenheimer's style
When asked about his plans for his first training camp, Schottenheimer spoke about being a physical team and winning the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. He also spoke to the team's upcoming joint practice against the Rams, indicat
4. Trevon Diggs might not be here at the end of 2025, much less in 2026.
Neither of the Joneses missed any attempt to speak on their anger over Trevon Diggs (knee) not rehabbing with the club this offseason. The team docked him $500,000 for doing his work in Florida instead of under the watchful eye of the team. Diggs' contract had a de-escalator for not being a part of the offseason program, and the front office had already spoken publicly about their belief he didn't take his 2024 knee rehab seriously and that it led to the re-injury.
Diggs was one of four players placed on the PUP/NFI list, earlier on Monday. The Joneses referenced him to show what a leader doesn't do, and as highlighted above, spoke about paying players too early without getting a full understanding of those type of characteristics. Along with the drafting of Shavon Revel this past April, this clear public assault feels like the Diggs trade market is open as soon as he's able to be on the field.
5. Good opportunity to look at several players whose contracts are up in the near future
Stephen Jones said they'll be in communication with the representatives of guys like DaRon Bland, George Pickens and Tyler Smith, star players who are entering the final years of their rookie contracts. Jones offered a rebuttal to a question that they may have already begun negotiating with Smith.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys press conference covers RBs, Parsons and Diggs leadership