Joe Mixon Traded to Texas! (But Not to Cowboys): Free Agency Tracker
MARCH 12 MIXON MOVES Our guys at TexansDaily.com at SI broke the story of the Texans zeroing in on Joe Mixon …
And the running back is indeed coming to Texans. But to Houston, not to Dallas, where the Cowboys remain empty-handed in the running back department.
The Bengals were going to cut Nixon. But they are now trading him to the Texans, rather than releasing him..
MARCH 8 PICKS The Dallas Cowboys officially have their 2024 NFL Draft order set after Friday's release of the compensatory draft picks for all eligible teams.
The Cowboys will receive the No. 39 in the fifth round (173 overall) and the No. 41 in the sixth round (216 overall). The fifth-round pick comes from the loss of offensive lineman Connor McGovern while the sixth-round pick came from the loss of tight end Dalton Schultz.
The Cowboys were just one of nine teams that received multiple compensatory picks.
MARCH 6 COWBOYS RE-SIGN DEFENSIVE LINEMAN The Dallas Cowboys retained some defensive depth on Wednesday by re-signing backup nose tackle Carl Davis.
Davis appeared in three games in 2023, Week 15, 16, and 16, seeing 30 snaps in the regular season.
It wasn't a very successful season for Davis, who was waived off of the Seattle Seahawks practice squad. Dallas acquired him in November before briefly shuffling him into game action.
Davis has previous experience with several teams, most of which came with the Baltimore Ravens (2015-2017) and New England Patriots (2020-2022). He'll look to provide the Cowboys extra help on early downs in 2024.
FEB 13 FLOYD TO DC The Commanders are hiring Cowboys staffer Sharrif Floyd as their assistant D-line coach, NFL Network is first to report.
Floyd, the former standout Vikings defensive tackle - where he of course played for new Dallas coordinator Mike Zimmer - moves with Dan Quinn from Dallas to Washington.
Why not keep Floyd here with Zimmer coming in? Hopefully old wounds have healed. But at the end of Floyd’s time in Minnesota, he took offense to what he felt were dismissive public statements by the coach.
Zimmer was quoted in September 2016 saying the oft-injured Floyd was "kind of out of sight/out of mind," and that he's "used to" Floyd being on the injury report.
The player, two years later, was bothered by that.
"These words were used to slander my name, tarnish me as a person and a player," said Floyd in 2018. "So easy to forget the kinds of years (I) had when your support system has so much BS to say about you."
FEB 11 SUPER SWIFT Pop icon Taylor Swift, here in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl to cheer for Chiefs boyfriend Travis Kelce vs. the 49ers, was just caught on the big screen at Allegiant Stadium during a TV timeout …
And at first she was loudly booed by this Niners-heavy crowd … until the audience realized they weee watching her engage in a live chugging contest in her suite.
Then came some cheers as she chugged a beer and slammed down the cup. Yes, she won the contest.
FEB 8 D WINNER NFL Honors on Thursday here in Las Vegas during Super Bowl week has announced the league's Defensive Player of the Year and Myles Garrett, the Cleveland Browns defensive end, is the top guy. Other finalists included DaRon Bland (Dallas Cowboys cornerback), Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders defensive end), Micah Parsons (Dallas Cowboys linebacker) and T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker).
The Voting for AP Defensive Player of the Year:
Myles Garrett 23-13-11=165
TJ Watt 19-11-12=140
Micah Parsons 7-16-6=89
Maxx Crosby 0-5-6=21
DaRon Bland 1-2-3=14
FEB 7 DALLAS BLOCKS! Joe Whitt Jr. is joining Dan Quinn in Washington as the Commanders’ new defensive coordinator, and the Cowboys cannot stop that because it's a promotion.
But Quinn wants to also interview Dallas assistant Lunda Wells, the tight ends coach - and the Cowboys have declined the Commanders’ request, thus blocking the move.
Per the report, the Commanders were wanint to speak to Wells about coaching their offensive line, where he also has experience.
Wells, inside The Star, is given credit for helping the development of Dallas' tight ends, most recently first-time Pro Bowler Jake Ferguson.
FEB 7 ZIM, RON, REX AND WINK The Cowboys have a "type'' when it comes to their D-coordinator search. Read the latest here.
FEB 1 ZIMMER IN? Dan Quinn is taking the top job in Washington and compelling names are being attached to the defensive coordinator spot he leaves behind in Dallas.
Now on that list: Per a source. Mike Zimmer is interested in coming back to Dallas.
Zimmer, 67, has a resume that shows he can oversee any defense, knows the Cowboys ‘experience’ from his time as a top aide here, knows today’s college game (from working with Deion Sanders), and of course has been a head coach.
“He gets it,” a source said of Zimmer’s general skills and fit.
Zimmer’s head coach background is a common theme at The Star. If Joe Whitt goes with Quinn, a replacement could be Al Harris or Aden Durde - but both would be rookie coordinator’s in head coach Mike McCarthy’s lame-duck season.
But Ron Rivera (who CowboysSI.com was first to report will be interviewing with Dallas), along with names like Mike Vrabel, Brandon Staley and (for fun!) Bill Belichick?
Head coaching experience will matter here.
JAN 28 AB IN BIG D Antonio Brown has on numerous occasions talked about wishing to make an NFL comeback via the Dallas Cowboys. For an assortment of reasons - many of them behavioral concerns - that is never, ever going to happen.
But if AB wants to come to Big D to "perform''? A place called "The 5 A.M. Theater'' has given him the (NSFW) stage upon which to do so.
So, with no further ado, here's AB "singing'' something called "Get Your S*** On!'' ... complete with half-naked twerking girls, no real lyrics and no real artistry. Enjoy!
JAN 25 DURDE IN DEMAND Aden Durde, the British-born Dallas Cowboys assistant, is suddenly in demand.
Green Bay, the Rams and Atlanta are seeking permission to speak to the Cowboys defensive line coach, per ESPN.
durde and quinn
Durde, 44, He has been with Dallas since 2021 and is a trusted lieutenant of Dan Quinn's. There is a thought that if Quinn gets a head coaching job in either Seattle or Washington that Durde might be his choice as defensive coordinator. The Cowboys surely think highly of Durde in the same way.
JAN 23 ALARCON TO SF The San Francisco 49ers have signed Mexico native Isaac Alarcón to a reserve/future deal, ending the Dallas Cowboys' experiment with the former NFL International Player Pathway Program prospect.
The Cowboys waived Alarcón as part of the 53-man roster cut-down ahead of this season, but the league allowed him to continue on the practice squad, where he has spent his entire career. The 25-year-old has yet to make an appearance in an NFL game, but this season switched from working as an offensive lineman to working on the D-line.
JAN 17 TWO RBS SIGNED As CowboysSI.com reported last week, WR Martavis Bryant is coming back to the Cowboys on a futures deal.
And with Tony Pollard set to be a free agent, Dallas has also signed running backs Malik Davis and Snoop Conner to future contracts.
Conner spent 2023 on the Jaguars’ practice squad. after having been a fifth-round pick from Ole Miss. Davis has been in Dallas for the last few years and is considered a possible backfield contributor.
JAN 14 BLACK AND WHITE The Cowboys are scheduled to take on the Packers in the NFC Wild Card game on Sunday afternoon here at AT&T Stadium and while QB Dak Prescott dressed all in black ("Here We Gooo!'') for his arrival, pregnant girlfriend Sarah Jane Ramos followed the team's request to "White Out'' the place ...
And so she is wearing all white.
Dallas, the No. 2 seed in the NFC, wants its fans to rock the building in uniform unison ... and Ms. Ramos is all-in!
The Cowboys and the Packers are scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. CT on Sunday. The NFC Wild Card Game will air on FOX.
JAN 13 BROWNOUT The Cowboys are healthy for the NFL Playoffs. Their archrivals from Philly? Not so much.
Star receiver A.J. Brown has now been ruled OUT injured for the Eagles at Bucs Monday night playoff game. Combine that with QB Jalen Hurts barely throwing in practice all week due to his mangled finger and Philly seems to be facing an uphill battle here.
Meanwhile, Dallas is all systems go for its Sunday home game against visiting Green Bay, with only backup QB Cooper Rush's illness an issue.
Depending on how the playoff dominoes fall, Dallas could play host to the winner of the Eagles-Bucs game next week.
JAN 11 PACKERS CB INJURED IN PRACTICE Green Bay star cornerback Jaire Alexander was reportedly injured in practice on Wednesday ahead of his team's Sunday Wild Card game against the Cowboys.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur reported that Alexander had “kind of a freak deal yesterday … stepped on someone’s foot and rolled an ankle,” per Rob Demovsky.
LaFleur indicated Alexander's status is day-to-day as the cornerback sat out of practice on Thursday.
JAN 10 PLAYOFF INJURY UPDATE Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on Wednesday here inside The Star that Tyler Smith (foot) and Stephon Gilmore (shoulder) will be limited in practice today.
Gilmore is “making really good progress,'' the coach added, suggesting that the vet cornerback - who will be in the rehab group today - might carry a light load this week and then Dallas can “cut him loose” on Sunday in the playoff game against the Packers.
Smith will also take is slow in his plan to return to the field. And also in the offensive line, Zack Martin, who missed the Washington win due to illness, is healthy and ready to work.
JAN 10 CLEMENT FREE Former Cowboys running back Corey Clement was cut from the Arizona Cardinals roster, freeing him to add depth to a playoff team this postseason.
The move was reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
“The Cardinals are releasing veteran RB Corey Clement from the practice squad today, per source, giving him a chance to join a playoff team that needs depth,” Pelissero posted on X.
Clement appeared in just three games for the Cards this season and is probably best known for his tenure in Philly.
In 2021, Clement appeared in all 17 games for the Cowboys - mainly on special teams - but posted 33 carries for 140 yards and six catches for 29 yards and one touchdown.
JAN 8 RIVERA FIRED Washington Commanders fans think that beating Dallas is the be-all/end-all. Maybe owner Josh Harris does as well.
On Monday the Commanders fired head coach Ron Rivera, and while he was likely out the door anyway as the Commanders recorded an eighth consecutive loss and concluded a 4-13 season?
Getting crushed by Dallas - twice - surely didn't help.
Rivera's time in Washington ends with a 26-40-1 overall record, one playoff appearance, one NFC East title and zero winning seasons. And ...
In Week 18, the Cowboys won 38-10. In the teams' first matchup of the season, Dallas also crushed Washington, 45-10.
Harris had to watch his new team get outscored by its archrivals 83-20?
Yes. That has to be in play here, if only just a bit.
JAN 7 DAK & CEEDEE DOUBLE DIPS The Dallas Cowboys have a commanding 28-10 lead over the Washington Commanders after quarterback Dak Prescott opened the second half with a six-yard touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb.
That was the second straight Cowboys drive that ended in a Prescott to Lamb touchdown as the pair connected right before halftime.
JAN 7 PAY THE BILL? A Bill Belichick trade? That might be in play in New England as we seem to have reached an end to an era ...
And old Cowboys pal Jimmy Johnson is now revealing the Patriots asking price to be ... a first-round pick.
We're not sure where the iconic former Dallas Cowboys coach got his information, presented on the FOX pregame show as part of Jay Glazer's report that Belichick is indeed done, one way or another, in New England.
Jimmy mentioned that Bill "is my friend.'' So maybe the new Ring of Honor member got it from Bill himself?
JAN. 5 EX SUPER BOWL MVP FUELS BELICHICK-TO-COWBOYS RUMOR - Ex New England Patriots Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman sees a "tough conversation" coming Monday between Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft and also a potential new landing spot for the coach.
As in, "How 'Bout Them Cowboys?!"
Asked by FS1's Colin Cowherd Friday if Belichick would take the Panthers job, Edelman snapped "no way!"
"But," he continued, "what about Dallas? What if Mike McCarthy gets knocked out of the playoffs early? Bill over there with that Top 10 offensive line and talent ... they'd at least be fundamentally sound. McCarthy gets a lot of penalties and that clock management ... in the game against the Lions the moment just looked too big."
Belichick has been linked to the Cowboys by multiple voices - from former quarterback Scott Zolak to long-time sportswriter Gary Myers - since the middle of the season. The six-time Super Bowl champion coach is enduring the worst season of his 24-year career in Foxboro and is scheduled to address his future next week.
JAN 5 COLLINS HONEST ABOUT MATURITY Tell the world he's coming home.
The Dallas Cowboys have brought back a familiar face for their upcoming playoff run, signing former offensive line standout La'el Collins to their practice squad this week. Collins confirmed his Dallas return with a commemorative Instagram post, depicting him leading the Cowboys' offense onto the field before a game at AT&T Stadium during his first term with the team.
"I’m blessed," Collins wrote in the accompanying caption. "Ima give you everything in me. I love you #HOME" [sic]
That's nice. But there is something bigger going on here: Has La'el grown up?
"I just (want) to be an open book for anyone that'll listen, and anyone who wants someone to hear them out or wants advice," said Collins, who earns credit here for admitting to his issues with behavior and maturity. "I've been through a lot of different things, and I've grown a lot.
"I'm 30 now,'' he reflected. "And I remember coming into this thing at 21, and I thought I knew it all. But I didn't know nothin'.''
Collins was one of the headliners of the Dallas offensive line after the team signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He would go onto play seven seasons in Dallas before spending the most recent two years in the Cincinnati Bengals' system. Collins comes to the Cowboys (11-5) as they nurse a few injuries on their offensive line, including ailments for Tyler and Tyron Smith.
He won't play this weekend. But after that?
Cowboys personnel boss Will McClay was the guy who called Collins to offer him a chance at coming home. La'el's response>
"Hey, let's make it happen - Let's go win this thing!''
DEC 30 TYLER SMITH UPDATE The Cowboys won the game, but lost the lineman - and yet in the end, it appears a "scary-sounding'' injury might end up OK for standout left guard Tyler Smith.
Over the course of what became a 20-19 win for playoff-bound Dallas over the Lions, Smith was down and appeared to be grabbing his left foot. He did eventually walk to sideline under his own power while heading for the medical tent and accompanied by medical staff.
In the locker room after the win, Smith said that he strained his plantar fascia and that an MRI would be forthcoming.
And now we have more details, with NFL Network reporting that the "complete'' tear of the plantar fascia is actually "good news.''
Yes, that sounds counterintuitive. But is seems that the tear means this won't be a long-term issue as the team plays at woeful Washington next week before heading into the postseason. ... and there is speculation that Smith could actually play despite the injury.
T.J. Bass replaced Smith in the starting offensive line in this game for the Cowboys.
DEC 29 DEUCE SHOULD BE LOOSE SATURDAY VS DETROIT With Rico Dowdle ailing with an ankle injury, the Dallas Cowboys are expected to bring back a fan favorite to the fold.
Head coach Mike McCarthy announced during an appearance on The Fan that Vaughn, the sixth-round rookie, will serve as Tony Pollard’s top rushing spell option come Dallas’ Saturday duel with Detroit (7:15 p.m. CT, ESPN/ABC). Vaughn, who became a bit of a Dallas folk hero for his preseason performance and his draft story, which saw his father Chris, the Cowboys’ assistant director of scouting, make his call to Arlington.
“Deuce will be up this weekend,” McCarthy said. LWe got a plan and looking forward to it.”
Vaughn has played in six games this season, amassing 38 yards on 21 carries and 30 more on six catches.
DEC 26 JAYLON TO PITTSBURGH Jaylon Smith, the former Dallas second-round pick and one-time Pro Bowler, is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to his agency.
Smith, who overcame a devastating injury from his final game at Notre Dame to forge a successful career in Dallas, will open on the Steelers practice squad.
DEC 25 ZEKE LEAP The New England Patriots on Christmas Eve benefitted from a trademark Ezekiel Elliott move in what became a big comeback win over the Denver Broncos.
That move? Cowboys fans know it ... it's that "hurdle'' that he did so often in a Dallas uniform ... and it helped him get to the goal line in this game.
Elliott took a backfield pass from Bailey Zappe during the third quarter and headed toward the end zone. ... but then encountered a defender ...
And Elliott hurdled over him and then made the dive toward paydirt.
The Patriots moved to 4-11 with the win. They are going nowhere except the NFL Draft. But "Vintage Zeke'' was a fun moment.
DEC 24 DRIVE RUINED Dallas opened Sunday NFL Week 16 in a textbook manner, with a lengthy, clutch and impressive drive ... until the goal line was approached, at which time rookie fullback Hunter Luepke appeared to bull his way into the end zone for a game-opening score.
Except Luepke didn't have the ball.
The Cowboys fumbled the handoff exchange between Luepke and QB Dak Prescott, ruining a truly ideal way to start ... and spoiling the team's openly-stated "start fast'' desire.
DEC 23 KELVIN MOVED The Seattle Seahawks have made some roster moves ahead of Sunday's meeting at the Tennessee Titans, with cornerback Kelvin Joseph - the former Cowboys second-round pick - maybe shifting back into the spotlight.
"Joseph and (Ty) Okada will bolster Seattle's secondary depth with safety Jamal Adams ruled out due to a knee injury, and cornerbacks Devon Witherspoon (hip) and Tre Brown (heel) listed as questionable,'' wrote the Seahawks official team site.
Joseph was signed to Seattle's practice squad last month after being cut by the Miami Dolphins, who traded for him from Dallas.
DEC 15 BILLS RULE OUT TWO The Bills defense is about to be short-handed as safety Micah Hyde (stinger) and defensive end A.J. Epenesa (rib) are both ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. … who happen to be the highest-scoring team in the NFL.
Buffalo (7-6) and Dallas (10-3) are set to kickoff at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday in a nationally televised FOX broadcast.
DEC 13 AUBREY HONORED! After becoming the first player in the history of the NFL to kick two field goals of at least 59 yards in one game, Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
He's enjoying an incredible rookie season as this is his second Player of the Week honor after winning it in Week 8 too.
Against the Eagles, Aubrey successfully kicked field goals of 60, 59, 45, and 50 yards.
DEC 10 MICAH ILLNESS? 'ALIVE' ANSWER The Dallas Cowboys enter their "Sunday Night Football'' matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles having spend the week with a clean bill of health ... until Sunday morning, when it was revealed that Micah Parsons had come down with what seems to be a flu-like issue.
The Cowboys say Micah will play, and given the All-Pro's history in Dallas, we should not be surprised.
Earlier this week, Parsons talked of wanting to be a player who could not be "fazed,'' of being "unstoppable'' and "un-(bleep)-with-able.''
So surely an illness won't "bleep'' him up, right?
We can also reflect back to October 2022 for a glimpse into Parsons' approach. They were playing the Rams, and they were underdogs as Dak Prescott was out.
But they won as a 22-10 upset win with was sealed with a Parsons strip-sack - even though he was hurting.
Parsons said his left groin injury occurred late in first quarter. He kept playing, of course, while spending some sideline time on an exercise bike.
Then-defensive assistant George Edwards checked on Parsons to see if he was a "go.''
"George,'' Parsons told him, "as long as I'm alive, I can go.'"
That was true then. We bet it remains true now.
DEC 7 SHAQ CITES SIRIANNI AS DIFFERENCE OVER COWBOYS It wasn't exactly Brotherly Love but a certain sense of familiarity drew Shaquille Leonard to Lincoln Financial Field.
Leonard, a newly-minted Philadelphia Eagle, spoke about his decision to don green as his new employers prepare to do battle with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night (7:20 p.m. CT, NBC). As the long-time rivals sought a defensive difference in the homestretch of a season that has each on top of the NFC East, each tried to woo Leonard. According to the four-time All-Pro, a familiar face in the head coaching spot in the form of Nick Sirrianni ultimately provided the difference.
“Nick and I were together in Indy. Nick is a great coach, great competitor,” Leonard declared, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I wanted to go somewhere that fit me, to a coach who knew who I was as a person and as a player.”
Leonard spent his first three NFL seasons (2018-20) working against Sirianni's offensive sets when the two shared time with the Indianapolis Colts. Under Sirianni's watch as offensive coordinator, the Colts appeared among the top 10 offenses and reached the playoffs twice in three years. That success drew the Eagles attention and they hired Sirianni to succeed Doug Pederson in 2021.
Going up against Leonard in practice appeared to leave a lasting impact on Sirianni, who has amassed a 33-13 record over two-plus seasons in Philadelphia, which has hosted his first head coaching job of any kind.
“He’s got a knack for the football,” Sirianni said in Tolentino's report. “That isn’t just my vision of watching him play recently, but also the practice reps I have against him. So, him in pass coverage, his length and his instinct is really outstanding‚ and he’s got a nose for the ball.”
DEC. 4 COWBOYS RADIO VOICE OUT OF HOSPITAL - Iconic Cowboys' radio voice Brad Sham is out of the hospital, resting up and hoping to return for Sunday night's showdown against the Eagles at AT&T Stadium.
Said Sham in a text to CowboysSI.com Monday afternoon, "Exhausted after 3 days in the hospital. ... Resting up and hoping to be back Sunday night."
Sham, 74, said he "fell ill" on the way to the Cowboys-Seahawks game last Thursday night. He checked into a hospital for tests and was kept over the weekend. A member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, he has been the team's signature voice since 1976 except for a three-year stretch in the 1990s when he joined Eric Nadel in the Texas Rangers' radio booth.
DallasCowboys.com host Kyle Youmans called the 41-35 win over the Seahawks along longtime color analyst Babe Laufenberg.
DEC 3 WITTENS REACH HIGH SCHOOL GLORY Flanked by his sons CJ and Cooper, renowned Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten capped off his third season at the helm of Liberty Christian High School in championship style.
The Argyle-based private school dominated the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Division II state championship game on Friday night, dominating Regents to the tune of a 52-10 final. This championship victory comes just two years after Witten endured a two-win campaign in his debut and also secured the first perfect season in program history.
"These kids have taught me so much," Witten told Jett Beachum of CBS News Texas after the game. "This is why I fell in love with the game as a kid, the life lessons we learn and these kids will take this with them for the rest of their life."
