The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their final padded practice in Oxnard earlier this week on Wednesday.
Practice wasn't free of drama.
Two different scuffles involving Tyler Biadasz, Micah Parsons, Brock Hoffman, and Sam Williams prove that the team is just anxious for the regular season to start.
They may be brothers on the field, but if you have brothers you know a scrum here and there is healthy for your relationship.
It raises your level of respect for each other, and honestly you grow closer knowing that if your teammate is willing to stand up against you, he will most certainly stand up versus opposing players.
There has been a noticeable amount of feistiness amongst the players throughout camp, and I liken it to iron sharpening iron.
If I had to use one word to describe the Cowboys offense this season, that word is “flashy”.
Dallas will once again field one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, a unit that is the highest scoring offense over the past two seasons.
One could argue the additions of Brandin Cooks and Deuce Vaughn, plus a more featured role for Tony Pollard would net more points than the previous two years.
As loaded with talent and explosiveness that the offense is, the defense might have more firepower, and certainly more attitude.
The overall tone of this team has changed, and we have the defense to thank for it.
Let's take a look at instances throughout training camp where players show us the type of attitude necessary to win a championship.
Jayron Kearse
“We ain't taking sh*t from nobody — all 32 teams — we ain't taking sh*t from nobody. Whether it's our offense or the next offense.”
“We're trying to show we're the best in the business, so it gets spicy out here, it's gonna get spicy on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays; whenever we line up, that's how we're gonna come.”
Those words came out of veteran S Jayron Kearse's mouth this week regarding the two scuffles during the final padded practice in Oxnard.
Micah Parsons also had a few choice words after he was directly involved by exchanging blows with C Tyler Biadasz.
“I'm here to make them better… this is where championships get started — right here in camp. The goal is to bring that out… It's only one goal at the end of the day.”
Even Dak Prescott knows it's all love when asked about it, stating “What you see are two units who are ready to see another unit.”
No drama. No hard feelings. Just two of the best units in the NFL trying to show each other who is more dominant.
Micah Parsons
One of my colleagues here at Inside The Star wrote a fully detailed piece on the Parsons interview, and you can read about it here.
Parsons has watched the last two Super Bowls from a suite, and he's tired of not being on the field participating in the game.
He took it personally, as Michael Jordan put it before rattling off three straight NBA championships after returning from a short stint in baseball.
In an interview with former Pittsburgh Steelers S Ryan Clark, Micah gave his thoughts when asked how badly he wants a championship.
“I want it early, bro. I want it bad. (chuckling) I'm tired of watching Super Bowls in suites. I'll tell you that right now.”
Parsons is the best player on the defense, and arguably the best player on the entire team.
Despite having only two NFL seasons under his belt, he is already one of the unquestioned leaders on and off the field.
His work ethic is unmatched, and his youthful joy for the game is contagious.
Mazi Smith
Rookie Mazi Smith might be the newest and youngest addition to the roster, but he already has mirrored the same mentality as the previously mentioned veterans.
In an interview a couple of weeks ago, Mazi was asked if he talks trash on the field.
He stated he doesn't really do that, and responded with this golden comment:
“I don't even like football. I like hitting people.”
Mazi echoes the sentiments of so many other players on the defense.
It doesn't matter who is line up across from them, they will feel the wrath of a defense that is predicted to be among the best in the league.
Personally, I hope Dallas starts every game on defense first to set the tone for the entire game.
I'm calling my shot now. The Dallas Cowboys, if relatively healthy, will finish the 2023 season as the best defense in the NFL.
Even if they don't grab that number one spot, they surely will crack heads along the way.
