'Make people think': How the Cowboys plan to contain Brock Purdy and the versatile 49ers offense
Because in the eyes of Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, this contest will feature a face off of mad scientists. The Cowboys have not faced a collection of weapons as versatile and talented as the 49ers this season. And yet, after eight games playing the bulk of snaps as the 49ers quarterbacks … how inexperienced is Brock Purdy anyway? The decision enabled the Cowboys to play with physicality and versatility, simultaneously covering for their lack of depth at cornerback while liberating defensive play callers to disguise applications. I feel like I can beat anybody.”The more Parsons beats his matchups, the more likely the Cowboys beat the 4-point favorite 49ers.
wftv.comCowboys’ Micah Parsons fiercely defends Tee Higgins after Bart Scott suggests blame in Damar Hamlin incident
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons jumped to the defense of Tee Higgins on Tuesday after ex-NFL player Scott Bart suggested he was in part to blame for the Damar Hamlin incident.
foxnews.comNFL injury tracker Week 17: Cardinals QB Colt McCoy out vs Atlanta with concussion symptoms
Cardinals QB Colt McCoy out, DeAndre Hopkins questionableArizona Cardinals’ quarterback Colt McCoy is experiencing more concussion symptoms after clearing protocols on Wednesday, head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters on Friday. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts doubtfulPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts recently returned to practice for the first time since his shoulder injury. Obviously Jalen (Hurts) had a good practice yesterday and went out and looked like he did some things really well. Cornerback Adoree' Jackson has been out since Week 11 with a sprained MCL but returned to practice on Wednesday. Linebacker Azeez Ojulari joined him at practice and was listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
wftv.comWith Eagles QB Jalen Hurts' status uncertain, Cowboys plan to 'be ready for both quarterbacks'
Then news broke Monday afternoon that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts may not play. The loss of any team’s starting quarterback hurts. That doesn’t factor in his rampant ground threat, Hurts’ 747 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing each most among NFL quarterbacks this season. The divergence is highly relevant for a Cowboys team that just allowed 192 rushing yards in a 40-34 overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. "If we look at the Eagles," Parsons wondered, "is it Hurts or the team?"
wftv.comHow Sunday Night Football's Melissa Stark balances football, four kids and an opportunity few ever get
"He said he felt Tua Tagavailoa had a lot of similarities to Kurt Warner's game," Stark, NBC's Sunday Night Football sideline reporter, said. From 2000-2002, Stark was even ABC's Monday Night Football sideline reporter alongside Michaels and John Madden. “I have 10 to 12 stories that are prepared based on the game,” Stark explains. This attention to detail is on full display during this pre-production meeting in the truck, led by Sunday Night Football coordinating producer Rob Hyland. And having fun with it.”Through 14 weeks of Sunday Night Football, she's proud of how she has.
wftv.comCowboys LB Micah Parsons responds to frenzy after comments on Jalen Hurts' MVP candidacy
The Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker understood the high-interest NFL climate, how the Philadelphia Eagles' fan base embraces the word’s “fanatic” etymology as exuberantly as any does. “No pun intended or no disrespect to Hurts,” Parsons said. The last defensive player to win the award was Giants outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986. Parsons is the reigning NFL defensive rookie of the year after a campaign featuring 13 sacks, three forced fumbles, 20 tackles for loss and 84 tackles for loss. He's currently the odds-on favorite for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, per BetMGM.
wftv.comCowboys star LB Parsons stokes Eagles rivalry a week early
FRISCO, Texas — (AP) — Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons didn't wait until next week to get people talking about the Philadelphia rivalry again. Yeah, the young star knows the Cowboys face Jacksonville and Trevor Lawrence on Sunday before the Eagles and Jalen Hurts on Christmas Eve. Miller said, “I think it’s a little bit of both, man,” to which Parsons replied, “It’s system and team!”“I'm not trying to make no enemies,” Parsons told Miller. “I'm pretty sure they hate me,” Parsons said in response to the first question, about backlash from Eagles fans. “I’m going to worry about the Chicago Bears this week, mate, worry about this game,” left tackle Jordan Mailata said.
wftv.com'Humble-pied': Mike McCarthy stands by OT gamble, but Cowboys' loss to Packers sends glaring message about postseason viability
"I'm not trying to be rude," McCarthy said after a 31-28 overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers. McCarthy signaled the Cowboys to go for it on fourth-and-3, but Prescott's last-ditch attempt under heavy pressure fell short. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy raises his voice when telling us OT penalties were “very, very, VERY frustrating” after he felt they’d had control. The Packers have now beat the Cowboys in nine of their past 10 outings, including playoffs. In what seems like a Cowboys tradition against Rodgers, Dallas played hard but left itself too little room for error.
wftv.comRespect the 'roach': Why Cowboys are on alert as Mike McCarthy returns to face Aaron Rodgers, Packers
He plans to implement it Sunday at Lambeau Field in head coach Mike McCarthy's return, facing a Green Bay Packers team led by McCarthy's longtime quarterback Aaron Rodgers. You can’t have no remorse in this game (or) it turns up to bite you.”So consider Parsons and his Dallas Cowboys teammates on full alert. But the Packers’ top running back, Aaron Jones, threatened a stout Buffalo defense two weeks ago for 143 rushing yards. The Cowboys know their rush defense (24th) is far inferior to their pass rush (fourth). “They’re trying to take away parts of our game,” Parsons said.
wftv.comMidseason NFL awards: Patrick Mahomes is MVP. Colts are worthy of relegation. And let's give applause to J-E-T-S and G-E-N-O.
This week’s Four Verts column is dedicated to the players and moments that have made the 2022 NFL season so special and memorable. Offensive Player of the Year: Tyreek HillHill is having the best season of his career in his first season in Miami. He has been so dominant he should get MVP consideration, but Mahomes has him edged out for now. Relegation Award: Indianapolis ColtsThe Colts claim to be an NFL team, but they just pulled off the real life equivalent of a Ted Lasso hire. Going from ESPN airwaves to the head coach of an NFL team over the course of a few days is the decision making of a franchise that isn’t serious right now.
wftv.comCowboys' Prescott, Parsons rumble to 49-29 win over Bears
David Montgomery fumbled in the open field after a catch in the third quarter, and Parsons fell on the loose ball. “You’re always gonna have ups and downs in the game,” Fields said while acknowledging he should have simply touched Parsons. His 10-yard toss to Cole Kmet got Chicago back within 13 after his gaffe on Parsons put Dallas up 42-23. Prescott was 21 of 27 for 250 yards with an interception in his second game back after missing five with a fractured right thumb. It was overturned on review, and Prescott's second TD pass was a 1-yarder to tight end Jake Ferguson instead.
wftv.comPrescott, Parsons rumble, stumble to 49-29 win over Bears
ARLINGTON, Texas — (AP) — Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, Micah Parsons returned a fumble for his first NFL score and the Dallas Cowboys beat the Chicago Bears 49-29 on Sunday. David Montgomery fumbled in the open field after a catch in the third quarter, and Parsons fell on the loose ball. Instead of touching Parsons down, Fields jumped over him. Prescott opened the scoring with a 7-yard run on a nifty play design by offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. His 10-yard toss to Cole Kmet got Chicago back within 13 after his gaffe on Parsons put Dallas up 42-23.
wftv.com'Challenge accepted': How Micah Parsons used a Cowboys loss as inspiration for game-changing play
FRISCO, Texas — Micah Parsons had, according to Next Gen Stats, virtually no chance. He brought Parsons into his office for a closed-door meeting to discuss: Here are plays Parsons could make and didn’t. Micah Parsons hovered near the 25-yard line as Goff threw — then he bolted. Micah Parsons said Cowboys DC Dan Quinn inspired his goal line stop. “He just made the decision to say, 'I can go make this play,'” Quinn said.
wftv.comIs Dak Prescott starting for the Cowboys on Sunday? 'I am'
“Welcome back,” the Dallas Cowboys linebacker told quarterback Dak Prescott, “to the s*** show.”Prescott wasn’t only a full participant in Dallas’ heaviest practice of the week. Returning from Sept. 12 surgery on a thumb fracture, Prescott is also ready to re-enter game plan. Expect perhaps some tape for comfort, but Prescott said he was not limited or on a specific rep count during practice. The Cowboys are 4-2 overall and went 4-1 in his absence behind backup quarterback Cooper Rush, the lone loss coming on Sunday night at Philadelphia. “I’m not going to act like I didn’t have a broken bone a few weeks ago,” Prescott said of continuing maintenance.
wftv.com'Doomsday is back': How a stellar defense has carried Cowboys to a 3-1 start and hearkened memories of the glory days
The Dallas “Doomsday” Defense helped the Cowboys to two championships and five total Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s. And when our time comes, we’ve got to be sitting on the top of that mountain.”But how and when will it be fair to recognize what the Cowboys' defense is building? The 2013 unit led the league in points allowed, yards allowed and takeaways. The lone touchdown drive the Cowboys allowed each of the last two weeks was buoyed by ground games. “You see the (points allowed),” Parsons said.
wftv.comCowboys and their dominant defense continue to love Trevon Diggs, even as the advanced stats don't
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs reached for the ball, his arm disrupting its trajectory just slightly. “Super huge,” Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons told Yahoo Sports from his locker after the 25-10 win. And yet, a review of his box score from Sunday seems almost erroneous: zero solo tackles, zero assisted tackles, zero combined. Last week, he intercepted New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones' final pass attempt in a 23-16 Dallas win. Both starting cornerbacks had interceptions, while safety Donovan Wilson recorded a game-high nine tackles including a quarterback hit on a blitz.
wftv.comCommanders, who have given up most sacks per game in NFL, now face a Micah Parsons motivated by teammates' taunts
On Sunday, Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera adopted a broad lens through which to diagnose his 1-2 team's performance. The nine sacks allowed in a 24-8 loss to the Eagles resulted from "probably a combination" of factors, Rivera explained. On Thursday, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons praised those other guys, specifically the Commanders’ weapons and capacity for explosive plays. Parsons had just asserted that to sack Wentz, he must get to Wentz’s spot faster than the quarterback himself. Dallas’ defense has allowed just one touchdown per game vs. Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals and Saquon Barkley’s Giants.
wftv.comMaher kick lifts Rush, Cowboys over Burrow, Bengals, 20-17
ARLINGTON, Texas — (AP) — Brett Maher kicked a 50-yard field goal as time expired, and the Dallas Cowboys held on to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 20-17 on Sunday after losing a two-touchdown halftime lead. After the Cowboys stopped the Bengals with about a minute remaining, Cooper Rush got the Cowboys in range for Maher to help Dallas win for the second time in his two career starts filling in for an injured Dak Prescott. A 10-yarder to CeeDee Lamb put the Cowboys (1-1) in range for Maher, who kicked a 54-yarder in the first half. Rush directed 75-yard touchdown drives on the first two possessions for Dallas after the Cowboys went without a TD in the opener against Tampa Bay. The Cowboys sacked Burrow six times in the first three quarters after he went down seven times in the opener against the Steelers.
wftv.comPackers QB Aaron Rodgers earns 4th MVP award, 2nd in a row
The Associated Press 2021 NFL awards had a bit of everything, starting with Aaron Rodgers becoming the fifth player to repeat as Most Valuable Player. Not even one of Tom Brady's best performances — in his final season — came close in the MVP race, with the Buccaneers quarterback getting 10 votes. Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp got one vote for MVP, but he easily took top offensive player honors. Kupp led the NFL with 138 receptions, 1,829 yards receiving and 15 touchdown catches while leading Los Angeles to the NFC West title. Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, a unanimous All-Pro like Kupp, led the NFL in sacks with a record-tying 22 1/2.
wftv.comThe Latest: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers wins 4th MVP award
So much so that he took his second straight award, receiving 39 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. ___Cooper Kupp has added the AP Offensive Player of the Year award to his triple crown of receiving for the 2021 season. A unanimous All-Pro, he received 35 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. Kupp finished far in front of Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (10), Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (three) and Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (2). He went somewhere in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league — right to the top.
wftv.comThe Latest: Bengals QB Burrow wins Comeback Player honors
Burrow has won the AP Comeback Player of the Year award as he led Cincinnati’s worst-to-first improved in the AFC North. Burrow, getting ready for Sunday’s Super Bowl, of course, is the second Bengal to take the award, which was announced at NFL Honors. ____Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons was so sensational in 2021 that he swept the voting for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. He’s the first defensive rookie to be a unanimous choice; Marcus Allen, Ben Roethlisberger and Anquan Boldin did it on offense. ___T.J. Watt has made it a brother act for AP Defensive Player of the Year.
wftv.comThe Latest: Bengals WR Chase catches top rookie award
In the Bengals’ worst-to-first AFC North rise, and then deep into the playoffs, Chase was a major contributor. ____Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons was so sensational in 2021 that he swept the voting for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. He’s the first defensive rookie to be a unanimous choice; Marcus Allen, Ben Roethlisberger and Anquan Boldin did it on offense. ___T.J. Watt has made it a brother act for AP Defensive Player of the Year. Pittsburgh’s All-Pro edge rusher who tied the NFL sacks record with 22 1/2, joined older brother J.J. in taking the award at NFL Honors on Thursday night.
wftv.comThe Latest: Dallas LB Micah Parsons unanimous top rookie
(AP Photo/Ed Zurga) (Ed Zurga)INGLEWOOD, Calif. — (AP) — The Latest on NFL awards:Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons was so sensational in 2021 that he swept the voting for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. He’s the first defensive rookie to be a unanimous choice; Marcus Allen, Ben Roethlisberger and Anquan Boldin did it on offense. ___T.J. Watt has made it a brother act for AP Defensive Player of the Year. The Steelers star received 42 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league, far outdistancing Dallas rookie linebacker Micah Parsons (five) and three-time winner Aaron Donald (three). Rookie linebacker Micah Parsons was a revelation under Quinn’s guidance.
wftv.comThe Latest: Sackmaster T.J. Watt wins top defensive player
(AP Photo/Ed Zurga) (Ed Zurga)INGLEWOOD, Calif. — (AP) — The Latest on NFL awards:T.J. Watt has made it a brother act for AP Defensive Player of the Year. Watt, a unanimous All-Pro selection this season, follows his brother, who was the top defensive player in 2012, ’14 and ’15 with Houston. Last month, the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys and former head coach in Atlanta told other teams interested in hiring him to guide them that he was going nowhere. He was one of 12 assistants to get a selection, but second place was far back: Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier with four. A defensive coordinator for Seattle’s Super Bowl champion for the 2013 season, Quinn turned around a unit in Dallas.
wftv.comThe Latest: Cowboys DC Dan Quinn wins top assistant award
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — (AP) — The Latest on NFL awards):Dan Quinn is staying in Dallas, accompanied by his AP Assistant Coach of the Year award. Last month, the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys and former head coach in Atlanta told other teams interested in hiring him to guide them that he was going nowhere. He was one of 12 assistants to get a selection, but second place was far back: Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier with four. A defensive coordinator for Seattle’s Super Bowl champion for the 2013 season, Quinn turned around a unit in Dallas. —More AP Super Bowl coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comExcuse the typo: Cowboys botch Vander Esch's name on jersey
The Dallas Cowboys are off on the wrong foot before their playoff opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch's name was misspelled on the back of his No. 55 jersey during pregame warmups. Vander Esch was still wearing the botched jersey in the game.
news.yahoo.com5 players are unanimous choices for AP's NFL All-Pro Team
NEW YORK — (AP) — Five players, including dynamic pass catchers Cooper Kupp and Davante Adams, are unanimous choices for The Associated Press 2021 NFL All-Pro Team. While Donald is a perennial pick — the three-time Defensive Player of the Year makes the team for the seventh time in his eight pro seasons — Watt is on it for a third time. My coaches and teammates are the people that put me in a position to make splash, help us win, and this recognition honestly doesn’t come without them.”Like Donald, although not nearly as often as the offense-wrecking DT, several players are making another appearance on the All-Pro Team. Three-time All-Pros are Colts linebacker Darius Leonard, Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward. Parsons has been so outstanding he's also considered a strong contender for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
wftv.comParsons, Mixon latest stars added to COVID-19 list
(AP Photo/Roger Steinman) (Roger Steinman)Dallas star rookie linebacker Micah Parsons and Cincinnati running back Joe Mixon were the latest big-name players added to the COVID-19 reserve list Wednesday. Mixon joins Bengals sacks leader Trey Hendrickson and a handful of other key players for Cincinnati on the COVID-19 list headed into Sunday's finale against Cleveland. Hill on the list and activated receiver Trenton Irwin and cornerback Trae Waynes after they missed last week's game on the COVID-19 list. The Jets activated defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, running back Tevin Coleman and tight end Tyler Kroft from the COVID-19 list. The Seahawks placed starting defensive tackle Al Woods and practice squad defensive tackle Myles Adams on the COVID-19 list.
wftv.comBateman back for Minnesota, but no Parsons for Penn State
Minnesota is getting its star wide receiver back for an abbreviated Big Ten season. Minnesota announced Wednesday that Rashod Bateman was cleared to play this season by the NCAA and Big Ten after opting out in August. At Penn State, coach James Franklin closed the door on All-America linebacker Micah Parsons returning to the Nittany Lions. Both Bateman and Parsons opted out of the 2020 season before the Big Ten postponed amid concerns about the pandemic. Purdue All-America receiver Rondale Moore, who opted out early like Parsons and Bateman, was cleared to play for the Boilermakers last week.
Parsons, Sewell among AP preseason All-Americans not playing
Parsons and Oregon tackle Penei Sewell are among 11 players selected who are not slated to play this fall. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Oregon tackle Penei Sewell are among 11 players selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America first team who are not slated to play this fall. Tackles x-Penei Sewell, junior, Oregon; Alex Leatherwood, senior, Alabama. Linebackers y-Micah Parsons, junior, Penn State; x-Hamilcar Rashed Jr., senior, Oregon State; Dylan Moses, senior, Alabama. Safeties x-Jevon Holland, junior, Oregon; Trevon Moehrig, junior, TCU.
Fleck, Gophers dismiss momentum loss: 'Kind of make-believe'
Viewing the loss of the 2020 schedule in a vacuum, however, is never the perspective that Fleck and his staff and players would take. The more time we have to build this football team, the better were going to be, Fleck said. The pandemic already cost the Gophers one star player, with NFL-bound wide receiver Rashod Bateman opting out for health reasons. The original 2020 slate had plenty of advantages for the Gophers, with no Ohio State or Penn State on the schedule and no road games until October. Now were going to do it our way, Fleck said, adding: There will be another season.
Spring college football: When? How much? Who plays?
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said before a spring football season is planned, there has to be a discussion about fall 2021. He said conversations about a spring football season have been minimal, but there has been a theme. If the NFL does nothing to accommodate spring college football some of the sure-things are almost certain to leave. There is so much to sort out, including the NCAA signing off on a spring football season. At this point in time, we'll see.__Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
AP Source: Pac-12 Commissioner meets with player group
Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott met with representatives from the #WeAreUnited college player group, with much of the discussion focused on the conferences health and safety protocols. The players have demanded the Pac-12 address a list of concerns about COVID-19 protocols, racial injustice in college sports and economic rights for college athletes. Players around the country are already opting out of the coming season, with some saying goodbye to college football for good. Maryland coach Mike Locksley announced six players, including starting quarterback Josh Jackson and two starting offensive linemen, were opting out. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25