Cowboys Ex Declines Rams Coach Offer

As established by Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb’s new full-back tattoo … 

The photos are courtesy of artist Andres Ortega out at Onder Ink in Arizona, one of four people who worked together on the art.

Per TMZ Sports: “An iconic photo of Kobe chewing on his jersey now sits on Lamb's right shoulder blade, accompanied by a black mamba with its tongue out. On his left shoulder blade, there's a huge image of a jaguar. Just below that, there's a Spartan warrior -- and to the right of that, there's an I-45 sign that represents the highway that runs through Dallas. There's also a crucifix, a crown and the words "My Story Isn't Over."

FEB 21 SKIPPING OFF Former Cowboys running backs coach Skip Peete - a mentor and teacher to Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard - is moving on with a new job.

NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports that Peete is headed to the Tampa Bay Bucs in the same role (of running backs coach.) Peete notably coached a trio of backs in Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard and Malik Davis who all finished the year without any fumbles and is credited with Pollard’s development.”

Peete was let go by coach Mike McCarthy at the end of the 2022 season in a shuffle of the coaching staff.

FEB 17 EX COWBOYS SIGN WITH RAVENS The Ravens have always like Brent Urban. And they have come to like Daryl Worley. So both of the former Cowboys are re-upping in Baltimore.

Worley and Urban - each of whom had a cup of coffee in Dallas (Worley in 2020, Urban in 2021) - provide depth for a Ravens defense that was playing at a high level over the second half of the season.

Worley, 27, appeared in eight games last year for the Ravens. Urban, 31, came to the Ravens for a second time when he was signed prior to last season and played in 16 games.

FEB 3 COWBOYS MOVE ON The Jaguars have signed running back Qadree Ollison and the Ravens have signed cornerback Trayvon Mullen, both of whom were part of the Cowboys late in the 2022 season.

Ollison spent the entire 2022 season on the Cowboys practice squad but was elevated to play in three games during the regular season. Mullen, a former second-round pick, was part of Dallas' revolving door at cornerback at year's end but was no longer on the roster for the playoffs, freeing the Ravens to sign him off waivers.

The Cowboys have made similar moves with their own futures contracts. Among the 90-man signees: receivers Antonio Callaway, Dennis Houston (who started the 2022 season on the 53-man roster) and Dontario Drummond, offensive linemen Issac Alarcon, Alex Taylor, Alec Lindstrom and Brock Hoffman, tight end Seth Green and defensive backs Juanyeh Thomas, Tyler Coyle and Sheldrick Redwine.

FEB 12 SUPER BOWL CONTROVERSY, CHIEFS WIN To the delight of Cowboys Nation ... the Kansas City Chiefs are hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after a 38-35 win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The game was one of the Super Bowl's most entertaining games, coming down to the final drive.

In the red zone, the Chiefs drove down inside of field goal range to take the lead with just under two minutes to go. On 3rd-and-8 with just under two minutes to go, Eagles cornerback James Bradberry IV was called for holding on Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Harrison Butker knocked down the game-winning field goal with just seconds to go, leading to a Chiefs Super Bowl win.

And the NFC East enemy Eagles fall short ... much to the delight of Cowboys fans.

FEB 8 IRVIN BENCHED Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin says he is “baffled” by NFL Network’s decision to bench him as an analyst on Sunday's Super Bowl in the wake of a woman’s complaint about his conduct this week in Arizona.

 “Honestly, I'm a bit baffled with it all," Irvin said to The Dallas Morning News. “It all happened in a 45-second conversation in the (hotel) lobby. … I came into the lobby and I talked to somebody. I talked to this girl. I don't know her, and I talked to her for about 45 seconds. We shook hands. Then, I left. ... That's all I know." 

NFL Network did not specify the details of the woman's complaint. A Glendale Police spokesperson told the Morning News that they had no knowledge of any incident involving Irvin, the three-time Super Bowl champ and Pro Football Hall of Famer.

FEB 5 DIGGS VS. DIGGS Trevon Diggs 

vs. Stefon Diggs? It's bragging rights within the family, and otherwise sort of silly fun.

What happened? Little brother Trevon of the Cowboys picked off big brother Stefon of the Bills after the star wideout - "playing QB'' in the flag-football game that is now the centerpiece of the Pro Bowl - tried to throw a pass.

Trevon grabbed the interception in the red zone and almost returned it for a touchdown.

Big deal? Hardly.

Fun deal? Sure!

FEB 4 DALTON TO DC? We've seen this "reported'' but we will more honestly put in under the heading of "buzz'' ...

The Washington Commanders are thinking of moving on from Logan Thomas ... and thinking of making a free agency bid on Dallas' Dalton Schultz.

They'd have to find the cap room to do it; maybe dumping veteran quarterback Carson Wentz would help. At the same time, the Cowboys have their cap challenges in keeping Schultz, who has spent the first five seasons of his career building to this point, last year earning the franchise tag (and the $10.9 mil salary) and this time around maybe expendable at The Star as Dallas has developed two kids who might take over the tight end spot.

One issue for the Commanders: If they opt to rely on rookie Sam Howell at QB, this sort of move is affordable. But if they decide to spend in the quarterback market, Schultz likely wouldn’t work there ...

But we still wonder if he'll work in Dallas.

FEB 2 TYRON BACK? All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith has undergone surgery this week ... But this doesn't sound like a worrisome one.

Tyron, who made his 2022 debut late in the year after the early injury in which he "tore his hamstring from the bone,'' this time had arthroscopic surgery on his knee - a relatively minor thing.

And what's the plan going forward for Tyron, who turned 32 in December?

"I have no reason to believe he won't be (back in 2023,'' said COO Stephen Jones of the Cowboys, who have the future Hall of Famer under contract for one more season, with a $17.6 million cap number (and no real saving if he departs).

FEB 1 TOM AND GISELE Tom Brady has officially retired, and while details on how the retirement decision went down are emerging, his ex-wife Gisele is "trending.''

"Tom Brady informed the Bucs today at 6 am he’d be retiring," ESPN's Jeff Darlington said on Twitter this morning. "One aspect I’d been mentioning for a bit now: Brady for months implied to many close to him that it was going to be either a return to Tampa or retirement. Tough for many to believe, including those close, but he meant it."

Brady's statement is above, and some Cowboys-related thoughts are here.

The Cowboys got to say the last official on-field goodbye to Brady, 45, who, despite his 2022 divorce from model Gisele, reportedly maintains a close relationship with her and their children.

JAN 30 ANOTHER PRO BOWLER The Dallas Cowboys will have another guy in the Pro Bowl Games … but not for the preferred reason.

Because Eagles center Jason Kelce is going to the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl festivities in Las Vegas need a replacement … so Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz has been added to the Pro Bowl.

That gives Dallas eight honorees: Biadasz, Zack Martin, CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard (injured), Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, DeMarcus Lawrence and KaVontae Turpin.

JAN 29 QB ARREST University of Georgia star quarterback Stetson Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships and is now eligible for the April NFL Draft, has been arrested in Dallas for public intoxication.

Bennett, 25, was taken into police custody around 6 a.m. CT on Sunday morning after police received reports of a man banging on doors in the 1600 block of Tribeca Way.

According to DPD, when officers arrived, they found Bennett and "determined he was intoxicated."

Bennett was taken into custody, transported to the City Detention Center and booked. Authorities did not release any bond information at this time.

Bennett started his college career as a walk-on and was a Heisman Trophy finalist this past season after leading the Bulldogs to a 15-0 record and SEC championship. 

JAN 28 ZIM IS IN Former Cowboys coach Mike Zimmer, who became close with Deion Sanders during their time together in Dallas, is joining Deion’s  staff at the University of Colorado.

Sanders confirmed that in a YouTube visit. Zimmer - in 2021 the Vikings head coach - having served as an analyst for Sanders at Jackson State in 2022.

“Coach Zimmer’s coming,” Deion said, with the possibility that he’ll be the Buffs’ defensive coordinator. “Forget the titles; (his hires( know this game and they know kids and they’ve been capable of making tremendous decisions with the kids and the young men in mind. So that’s what I adore the most — understanding how to establish the relationships with these young men.”

JAN 27 EAGLES 'RIPS' Jalen Hurts has been dealing with that shoulder injury since way back on Dec. 18, but he will be playing for the Cowboys rival Eagles in the NFC Championship Game against the Niners ...

And on Friday, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni offered an update on his star quarterback.

"He's still getting treatment and stuff like that but he's ripping it like any normal week," Sirianni said.

Before this year, Hurts wasn't considered much of a thrower. That has changed to so degree ... and he remains a dangerous runner. On Saturday in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, he had 154 passing yards, 34 rushing yards and three total touchdowns in a beatdown of the Giants.

Now Hurts gets the 49ers defense that topped the Cowboys last week in the playoffs while causing Dak Prescott to throw a pair of interceptions.

The 49ers-Eagles game will kick off at 2 p.m. CT.

JAN 27 MORE FUTURES The Cowboys continue to sign up their Reserve/Futures guys, with 11 players so far this week coming back from the practice squad - now including popular offensive tackle Isaac Alarcon.

Alarcon has been with the Cowboys for three seasons on the NFL International Pathway program but has "run out of eligibility'' there. But Dallas believes he's developed enough to merit a spot on the 90-man offseason roster. ... in addition to his presence as a way to connect with the international fan base.

Others signed to futures contracts this week are wideouts Antonio Callaway, Dontario Drummond and Dennis Houston, tight end Seth Green, O-linemen Alex Taylor, Brock Hoffman and Alec Lindstrom, and DBs Tyler Coyle, Juanyeh Thomas and Sheldrick Redwine.

JAN 26 MCCARTHY AS LANDRY? As part of his Thursday season-ending presser, Mike McCarthy dropped a bomb of sorts. ...

McCarthy said that team owner Jerry Jones told him this week that he wants McCarthy to coach the Cowboys as long as Tom Landry did. “I said, ‘OK, that’s a long time.’”

How seriously are some fans and media taking this?

Way too seriously, of course.

Jerry is obviously not only speaking hyperbolically (what's new!) but also figuratively ... and symbolically.

He's trying to express his support for the coach, who has won 12 games in back-to-back seasons ... and who despite that seems to be somewhat of a punching bag for critics.

For what it's worth, the legendary Landry coached the Cowboys for 29 seasons.

Mike McCarthy, with three seasons under his belt, is presently 59. 

So Mike, to fulfill Jerry's "vision,'' would coach the Cowboys until age 85.

Again ... Jerry is talking hyperbolically (what's new!) but also figuratively ... and symbolically.

In actual news, Dan Quinn tells CowboysSI.com that he's staying ... and McCarthy, when asked by us about Kellen Moore's job security, could not promise the same outcome.

JAN 26 PFT 'BEHIND THE SCENES' The Cowboys have given every indication that they are keeping coach Mike McCarthy.

But ProFootballTalk.com - as it so often does - has other, more conspiratorial ideas.

The Cowboys have "parted ways'' (i.e., fired) a number of assistant coaches. All of this is painful. None of this is unusual.

And yet Mike Florio at PFT writes ...

"And it makes me wonder whether something else is going on behind the scenes. Something like owner Jerry Jones discreetly lining up the replacement for the head coach before firing the head coach, because Jones will fire the head coach only if he gets the replacement Jones wants. ...

And then Florio mentions "Sean Payton’s candidacy.''

We think it's odd that the firing of assistants somehow equals the firing of their boss, though anything is possible. We don't think it's odd to float the name of Payton here, even though it's being done (again and again) without any real evidence.

And I guess we should no longer be bothered by the idea that a report is going to take us "behind the scenes.'' ... regardless of whether there is any such access to that place "behind the scenes.''

Want a simple fact, rather than speculation? McCarthy is holding his season-ending press conference with us here at The Star at 3 p.m. CT.

If he announces that he’s stepping down to make room for Sean Payton, we will let you know.

JAN 24 WHERE IS JERRY? Radio silence? From owner Jerry Jones?

Jones’ cancellation of his Tuesday radio show on 105.3 The Fan naturally leads to speculation - as Jerry well knows and does not mind - about what’s “rumbling” here inside The Star.

Is it about to head coach Mike McCarthy's staff job security? About the guys out of contract (including George Edwards, Joe Philbin and Doug Nussmeier)? About possible departures of Dan Quinn?

A full-staff postgame meeting is normal. So is some period of football mourning. How about a press conference? When’s that? And … well, Jerry is a busy man.

So … radio silence. But this is Jerry. So the Cowboys won’t be silent for long.

JAN 23 SIGNINGS: The Cowboys are now free - unfortunately - to begin the assemblage of a 90-man roster via “futures” contracts.

The list so far features five players from the practice squad: Wideout Dontario Drummond, centers Brock Hoffman and Alec Lindstrom and DBs Sheldrick Redwine and Juanyeh Thomas.

Stay tuned here for more signings …

JAN 23 RUMBLINGS OF CHANGE? Sunday's playoff loss at San Francisco did not change the mind of owner Jerry Jones in regard to head coach Mike McCarthy's job security.

"No, no, no,'' Jones said when asked about the idea of dismissing McCarthy after his 12-5 regular season. "Not at all.''

But that doesn't eliminate the possibility of change on the staff.

Of course, there is Dan Quinn, as this 19-12 loss may have been his last game as Dallas’ defensive coordinator as he's being pursued by Denver and elsewhere as a head coaching candidate.

And there is offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, up for a Panthers interview ... though this 12-point output probably doesn't help beef up his resume.

But in the Monday morning postmortem, 105.3 The Fan morning host Shan Shariff made note of the fact that Jerry and Stephen Jones canceled their Monday and Tuesday planned appearances. ... and the observer certainly could infer that the cancelations are due to more pressing matters inside The Star.

Like staff changes? Or maybe just a staff meeting, the second of which is commonplace after Cowboys games.

Worth noting: Late Sunday, Jerry explained to us how some change is inevitable - and used iconic Cowboys coach Tom Landry, dismissed by new owner Jones in 1989, as evidence.

“The system recognizes and rewards excellent coordinators and excellent coaches,” Jones said. “So you can’t think that your life’s over when you look ahead and think that you’re not going to have the same people as coordinators or even coaches. (But) ... they do come and go. They all leave. Closest thing to that was the one that left when I got here, coach Landry. I’m really not trying to be cute.

"Especially when you have success, you know there’s turnover.''

And maybe when you have playoff failure, too.

JAN 20 PAYTON, KELLEN INTERVIEWS ON HOLD Professional soccer player Anton Walkes has died following a boat crash in Florida, authorities said Thursday, a tragedy that impacts on the sports world in Charlotte.

Walkes, 25, was a player for the MLS club Charlotte FC, owned by David Tepper, who also owns the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

Tepper said all involved are "devastated by the tragic passing of Anton Walkes. ... He was a tremendous son, father, partner and teammate whose joyous approach to life touched everyone he met.''

In light of the tragedy, Tepper and the Panthers contingent, which had been in New York to interview head coaching candidate Sean Payton on Friday, instead traveled back to North Carolina while putting Payton's interview on hold.

Also postponed is the Panthers’ planned visit with Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

JAN 17 ANOTHER DQ SUITOR Add the Indianapolis Colts to the Dan Quinn interview request list.

The Cowboys defensive coordinator, who will interview for the top job with the Denver Broncos on Friday, is also on the wish list in Indy. Quinn will of course juggle the visit or visits while he prioritizes his preparation for Dallas' Sunday playoff game at San Francisco.

JAN 16 PAYTON UPDATE The Houston Texans have completed an interview with Sean Payton, an NFL source tells TexansDaily.com.

Meanwhile, Payton himself has offered a revelation, saying that the cost to trade for him for any interested team would be "a mid- or late-first-round pick.''

Payton has meanwhile dismissed the idea of the Cowboys as a viable destination for him as he exits "retirement.'' ... as Mike McCarthy looks to be secure in Dallas.

Payton is a top candidate for the Denver job, as is Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who will interview with the Broncos on Friday.

Jim Harbaugh has pulled himself out of Denver consideration, opting to remain at the University of Michigan.

JAN 14 BYE KLIFF! FOX is reporting that former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury - dismissed this week - is telling potential employers (who might want him as an offensive coordinator) that he is not available at this time.

And why not?

Kliff apparently bought a plane ticket.

A ticket to Thailand.

A one-way ticket to Thailand.

JAN 14 SEAN SWEEPSTAKES The Denver Broncos and top head-coaching candidate Sean Payton ... might be a match?

The Washington Post reporting that the Broncos "appear to be the front-runner" for Payton, the former Saints' Super Bowl-winning coach.

Payton, 59, is scheduled to meet the Broncos in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning.  Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is also high on the Denver wish list.

JAN 13 MCVAY TO STAY Sean McVay retiring?

That will have to wait another year.

The Super Bowl-winning Rams coach has decided to keep working rather than take a break and go in TV, per multiple reports.

McVay recently told his assistants that they can seek other employment, and in his own media visits has given cryptic responses about his future … 

There were rumors that McVay might leave last year after the Rams won Super Bowl LVI over the Bengals, with reports that he had received a five-year, $100 million offer to join the Amazon broadcast booth.But now he’ll stay on after a losing season and rebuild … at least until a year from now, when we’re sure we’ll be covering the same story again.

JAN 13 BILL'S REPLACEMENT? They said they might be "making changes.'' The New England Patriots seem rather serious about this. From our Patriots SI crew in Boston:

"In an atypical display of transparency, the Pats issued a statement on Thursday night both confirming their intention to begin interviewing potential offensive coordinators, and to announce that they have “begun contract extension conversations” with inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo on staying with the team long-term.

The new extension for Mayo - who is getting feelers from other hiring teams - will likely come with an upgraded title (possibly, defensive coordinator?) and it perhaps is setting the stage for Mayo to be the successor to Bill Belichick, age 70, as head coach?

Read more here.

JAN 11 HIRE SEAN. FIRE THE REST Writes our man Mike Fisher: "Welcome back to the NFL, Houston Texans. You are almost a real, live, viable professional franchise again. ... All because you put in an interview request for Sean Payton.

Payton is the "prom king'' of this Coaching Carousel, by far the most proven commodity among the "new'' potential head coaches. We don't really need to rattle off his resume, but ... In 16 seasons with the Saints as head coach, Payton helped guide the team to seven division titles, three NFC Championship Games (2006, 2009, and 2018) and a victory in Super Bowl XLIV. 

And Fish's suggestion for the hapless Texans, should Payton truly be interested?

Complete control. Like Belichick. Like Popovich. And everybody else get the hell out of his way.

Fish's Sean Payton column is here.

JAN 11 2 OC MOVES? The Jets parting ways with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, league sources tell CowboysSI.com. ... a shuffle that is happening just as Dallas' Kellen Moore - "the smartest guy in every room!'' - enters the Coaching Carousel as a candidate for the top job in Carolina.

JAN 10 WASHINGTON FIRING The Washington Commanders are looking for a new offensive coordinator after firing Scott Turner on Tuesday.

Turner, 40, coordinated the Commanders offense for three seasons on Ron Rivera's staff, but Washington finished 20th in total offense this season, averaging 330.3 yards per game.

There are a number of candidates who could be linked to the job, but perhaps the biggest name could be former Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired on Dec. 26 after going just 4-11 through 15 games.

The big reason he was hired by the Broncos was his success in leading Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to an MVP award in 2021 in his age-37 season.

Rodgers is expected to be a free agent this offseason and could be looking for a change of scenery, especially after the Packers missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record.

It's a longshot for Rodgers to move to Washington D.C. in 2023, but there was interest for him to come to the nation's capital when he was mulling his future a year ago. But if he were to go, bringing along his former offensive coordinator could elevate the Commanders from a good team to one of the league's elite.

Turner is of course the son of former Cowboys Super Bowl-winning coordinator and Washington head coach Norv Turner.

JAN 10: DQ RESPONDS, HARBAUGH VISITS The Dallas Cowboys finished the regular season with a disappointing 26-6 loss on the road to the Washington Commanders, but that hasn't slowed the interest in league circles in Dan Quinn as a head coach.

But on Monday, Quinn himself "slowed'' things just a bit.

"Anybody asks you, you're flattered, ..." Quinn said Monday inside The Star about the interview request from the Broncos. "So just right where my feet are and enjoying, and then we're gonna (have) a kick-ass week."

That is the Cowboys' defense coordinator's rather standard answer to such questions, but it is also the truth in how he conducts his business. Yes, Quinn is yet again a candidate for the Denver job, a vacancy he interviewed for a year ago before Denver ultimately chose Nathaniel Hackett. 

Meanwhile, the Broncos on Monday conducted a visit with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. And Sean Payton remains high on their wish list.

JAN 9: KLIFF FIRED Last March, Texas native Kliff Kingsbury signed a six-year extension as the head coach of the Cardinals.

And now it’s over.

Kingsbury led the Cardinals to a record of 4–13, their worst record since Kingsbury arrived in Arizona, and now he’s been fired.

JAN 9 QUINN DENVER REQUEST  Dan Quinn and the Cowboys have received from Denver a request to interview the defensive coordinator, as first reported by NFL Network.

Quinn was a finalist for the same job a year ago. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has vowed to again keep Quinn working at The Star.

JAN 8 LOVIE OUT, EAGLES COACH IN? Houston Texans coach Lovie Smith has been fired, and sources tell us the Texans and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will have mutual interest moving forward.

Smith finished 3-13-1 in his lone season in charge.

Several league sources have labeled Gannon as a top candidate for the Texans' potential opening after he made a strong impression during two interviews last season before the Texans promoted Smith from defensive coordinator.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero are other highly regarded candidates.

JAN 8: QUINN VS. THE DENVER FIELD Sean Payton's people have whispered that he's not interested in the Denver Broncos. And Jim Harbaugh this week came right out and said he's planning on staying at the University of Michigan.

Both were ... um ... fibbing. And what they actually decide to do figures to impact the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff, especially defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Read all about it here.

JAN 8: LOVIE OUT? Sources tell us that coach Lovie Smith's job security is considered to be in serious danger heading into the final game of another dismal season for the Texans. Furthermore, we are told Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and Houston would have mutual interest if the job comes open. Stay tuned ...

JAN 8: PEES RETIRING? Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees is no stranger to hanging up the play sheet.

Pees, 73, is the NFL's oldest coach and has twice retired, once following the 2017 season with the Baltimore Ravens before reversing course a month later and joining the Tennessee Titans, and again two years after, ultimately coming back to coaching after a season off once Arthur Smith took the head coaching job in Atlanta.

And if he retires again? Here's the in-house list for the Falcons jump-up.

JAN 2: 'DUMB' MOVE - RON IN JEOPARDY? Cowboys at Commanders comes on the heels of this story: "Dumb' Coach Ron Rivera Getting Fired by Dan Snyder?'' This is worth monitoring ... all because of a commitment to Carson Wentz.