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The Dallas Cowboys are no stranger to the spotlight. In fact, many blame the constant media circus and scrutiny that Jerry Jones has embraced since purchasing the team in the late 1980s is part of the reason the team has struggled to find real success in the last 30 years. Jones has turned that investment of a couple hundred million dollars into a double-digit billion-dollar franchise, the richest in all of sports.
That's happened because he's been savvy enough to lead the way as the NFL has realized what kind of media darling they could be. And now the latest venture for the league, in-season Hard Knocks, will feature the Cowboys and the rest of their NFC East brethren.
After the cameras cut off from following the Buffalo Bills through training camp, they will move to the cities of Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington and New York as the division looks to maintain it's status as the NFL's toughest group. While the focus won't be nearly as strong as when the show has just one team to focus on, many Cowboys are surely going to be central figures in the weekly broadcast.
Here's our best attempt at ranking the personalities who will get the most air time, and what makes them compelling in 2025.
Many felt when the Cowboys hired Schottenheimer this past offseason, eschewing candidates who every team wanted to interview for one that no one had on their radar it was a bad decision. But Schottenheimer has at least navigated the offseason adeptly, changing the minds of some fans with each public speaking engagement.
The real test of course is whether or not the team can win games with him and his new offense, and if he doesn't, will things fall apart or will the players rally behind him? The son of legendary coach Marty Schottenheimer was an unknown to most casual fans before stepping into the most famous coaching job in America. And now he'll have the chance to either shine or wilt under the glare of the spotlight.
Unless something truly astonishing happens, Prescott is going to once again enter the new season as the NFL's highest-paid player. Making $60 million per year, his new four-year extension officially kicks off this season. To make things even more compelling, Prescott is yet again returning from a catastrophic injury, the same way he was when the team was featured in the training camp version of Hard Knocks in 2021.
Prescott is now the elder statesman of the team with the departures of Zack Martin (retirement) and DeMarcus Lawrence (free agency), having been with the team since 2016. The leadership qualities everyone raves about will be on full display for the football world.
The Cowboys made a huge splash following the draft when they traded a future third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in order to acquire the enigmatic receiver out of the University of Georgia. Pickens will likely be playing for a new contract, either as a one-year rental for Dallas or with the Cowboys themselves.
The fourth-year star is likely going to allow the new offense to excel, but he has a reputation for being difficult to work with. Having the glare of the cameras on his personality and actions could lead to some cringe-worthy moments for the team, or riveting television for fans who love drama.
There's no person in the universe who loves the spotlight more than Jerry Jones, and fans better believe that part of this deal is going to be cameras following Jones around, chronicling his moves as the richest man in sports. During 2021's Hard Knocks, fans learned Jones loves to salt his Egg McMuffins, and there's certainly going to be no shortage of delectable tidbits and morsels of Jerry-Speak available for the producers to splice into their footage of action from practice and games.
Jones has a reputation as a meddler, so seeing just how much he interferes in Schottenheimer's first year as a head coach will make for more than a few dramatic moments.
Whether or not Parsons signs an extension during this offseason or not, his contract situation is going to make for compelling television. The game's best young pass rusher it's seen in some time, perhaps ever, is destined to take on a bigger leadership role now that Lawrence is no longer with the team.
The two even had it out on social media during free agency. Will Parsons be able to live up to the pressure now that it's his team? Will he be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league at that point, or will he be barreling towards free agency with every game played?
Also interesting will be the fact that Parsons has a weekly podcast he films on the team's off day every week, one that he refuses not to conduct during the season. So when things are presented on Hard Knocks to the football world, he'll have a chance to offer his takes and rebuttals with a major platform that isn't diluted by the decisions of the local media.
Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Which 5 Cowboys will fans consider Must-See TV on Hard Knocks?
Continue reading...
That's happened because he's been savvy enough to lead the way as the NFL has realized what kind of media darling they could be. And now the latest venture for the league, in-season Hard Knocks, will feature the Cowboys and the rest of their NFC East brethren.
After the cameras cut off from following the Buffalo Bills through training camp, they will move to the cities of Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington and New York as the division looks to maintain it's status as the NFL's toughest group. While the focus won't be nearly as strong as when the show has just one team to focus on, many Cowboys are surely going to be central figures in the weekly broadcast.
Here's our best attempt at ranking the personalities who will get the most air time, and what makes them compelling in 2025.
5. Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer
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Many felt when the Cowboys hired Schottenheimer this past offseason, eschewing candidates who every team wanted to interview for one that no one had on their radar it was a bad decision. But Schottenheimer has at least navigated the offseason adeptly, changing the minds of some fans with each public speaking engagement.
The real test of course is whether or not the team can win games with him and his new offense, and if he doesn't, will things fall apart or will the players rally behind him? The son of legendary coach Marty Schottenheimer was an unknown to most casual fans before stepping into the most famous coaching job in America. And now he'll have the chance to either shine or wilt under the glare of the spotlight.
4. Quarterback Dak Prescott
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Unless something truly astonishing happens, Prescott is going to once again enter the new season as the NFL's highest-paid player. Making $60 million per year, his new four-year extension officially kicks off this season. To make things even more compelling, Prescott is yet again returning from a catastrophic injury, the same way he was when the team was featured in the training camp version of Hard Knocks in 2021.
Prescott is now the elder statesman of the team with the departures of Zack Martin (retirement) and DeMarcus Lawrence (free agency), having been with the team since 2016. The leadership qualities everyone raves about will be on full display for the football world.
3. WR George Pickens
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The Cowboys made a huge splash following the draft when they traded a future third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in order to acquire the enigmatic receiver out of the University of Georgia. Pickens will likely be playing for a new contract, either as a one-year rental for Dallas or with the Cowboys themselves.
The fourth-year star is likely going to allow the new offense to excel, but he has a reputation for being difficult to work with. Having the glare of the cameras on his personality and actions could lead to some cringe-worthy moments for the team, or riveting television for fans who love drama.
2. Owner Jerry Jones
You must be registered for see images
There's no person in the universe who loves the spotlight more than Jerry Jones, and fans better believe that part of this deal is going to be cameras following Jones around, chronicling his moves as the richest man in sports. During 2021's Hard Knocks, fans learned Jones loves to salt his Egg McMuffins, and there's certainly going to be no shortage of delectable tidbits and morsels of Jerry-Speak available for the producers to splice into their footage of action from practice and games.
Jones has a reputation as a meddler, so seeing just how much he interferes in Schottenheimer's first year as a head coach will make for more than a few dramatic moments.
1. Defensive End Micah Parsons
You must be registered for see images
Whether or not Parsons signs an extension during this offseason or not, his contract situation is going to make for compelling television. The game's best young pass rusher it's seen in some time, perhaps ever, is destined to take on a bigger leadership role now that Lawrence is no longer with the team.
The two even had it out on social media during free agency. Will Parsons be able to live up to the pressure now that it's his team? Will he be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league at that point, or will he be barreling towards free agency with every game played?
Also interesting will be the fact that Parsons has a weekly podcast he films on the team's off day every week, one that he refuses not to conduct during the season. So when things are presented on Hard Knocks to the football world, he'll have a chance to offer his takes and rebuttals with a major platform that isn't diluted by the decisions of the local media.
Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Which 5 Cowboys will fans consider Must-See TV on Hard Knocks?
Continue reading...
