Dallas Cowboys

"I would say that if you walked away from practice you'd say, 'Hey, who the hell was #58!?'"

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy says Aldon Smith is KILLING it in his first official workouts with the team ... this despite the dude being away from the game for the past 5 YEARS.

McCarthy praised the hell out of the embattled pass rusher Thursday ... calling Smith's skill set "extraordinary" and his return from a long layoff "impressive."

"I'm very, very happy with where Aldon is right now," McCarthy said ... before adding, "Aldon is off to a very good start. He's impressive. Still very impressive."

It's a pretty shocking report from the Cowboys head man ... Aldon hasn't played a down in the NFL since the 2015 season -- and has battled legal troubles and substance abuse issues during his time away.

But, Smith's sober now, and he told us this offseason he busted his ass in Jay Glazer's gym in L.A. to get his body back into NFL shape ... and clearly, it's all paying off.

"You can see his power and his length is extraordinary," McCarthy said.

Smith was officially reinstated by Roger Goodell back in May.

The Cowboys open up the season in less than a month ... and seems Smith might actually be one of their starting defensive ends for the game.

Huge blow for the Dallas Cowboys ... star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy just suffered a gnarly quad injury in practice -- and the team now says he's DONE for the 2021 season.

Reporters on scene in Dallas say the defensive lineman -- who just signed a 3-year, $18 MILLION contract with the team this offseason -- went down awkwardly during Monday's workout.

According to multiple witnesses, McCoy was stepped on by a teammate in a routine drill -- and could NOT put weight on the leg as trainers helped the 6-time Pro Bowler to the locker room.

Cowboys exec Stephen Jones confirmed a short time later that McCoy ruptured his right quad tendon -- and will now be headed for season-ending surgery.

32-year-old McCoy was expected to be a key player in the middle of the Cowboys' defense this season ... head coach Mike McCarthy had just praised him earlier this month, saying, "we look for him to be a force inside."

Dak Prescott spoke out Wednesday on the tragic passing of his older brother, Jace ... and the Dallas Cowboys QB said emotionally, "it's tough, obviously."

"He meant a lot to my family, meant a lot to me," the 27-year-old told reporters in his first news conference since Jace's passing. "He's part of the reason I am a quarterback."

"When I was a little kid, he's the reason that I first started throwing the football."

Jace -- one of Dak's two older brothers -- died suddenly at the age of 31 this past April. The family has not publicly revealed the cause of death.

Dak was clearly torn up over the loss. In fact, it took the QB nearly four months to open up about it all publicly ... telling reporters Wednesday he's now making it his life's mission to carry on his brother's legacy.

"It's been a tough year," Dak said. "It's been a tough year for me personally. It's been a tough year for my family. It's been a tough year for this country and this world, obviously. So, it's all been tough."

Dak says he leaned on his Cowboys teammates and his other family members to get him through it all ... adding, "I have a great family to count on, to lean on. Great supporters here, great teammates. Great coaches."

As we previously reported ... Dak and Jace were extremely close -- the two famously filmed a Campbell's Chunky Soup commercial together in 2019, where the QB praised Jace and his other brother for being a great support system.

Jerry Jones says the Cowboys might be backing off his "toe the line" national anthem kneeling policy ... with the Dallas owner telling media members Wednesday he's considering a new rule.

The 77-year-old, who has famously threatened to cut players if they kneel during the pregame song, now says he's going to have an open dialogue with his team over the policy.

Jerry told reporters he's currently trying to find a way that pleases both protesters and staunch flag supporters when it comes to the team's newest anthem kneeling rule.

"Somewhere in between there," Jones said, "as we get together with our team, as we discuss with the team, somewhere in between there is how we're going to handle it."

Jerry says he's been in contact with several powerful people over how the Cowboys should move forward with the policy ... saying both past and current U.S. presidents have shared their feelings with him on the matter.

"I have talked to literally double handfuls of very, very engaged people," Jones said. "I have had input from ex-presidents, I've had input from presidents."

"I've had input from a cross-section of our players, former players and I will continue to have input. This is a very serious matter."

It's GREAT to be Dak Prescott ... dude just showed off his shredded bod by the pool Friday -- and just hours earlier, he made things Instagram official with his smokin' hot model GF!!

Oh, and he just signed a 1-year, $31 MILLION deal with the Dallas Cowboys this month!!!

Yeah ... jealous yet?!

Dak was with the Dude Perfect guys for some trick shot work by the pool this week ... and while we're sure the throws were fun -- DO YOU SEE HIS BOD!?

The 6'2", 238-pound QB has clearly avoided the quarantine 15 ... the NFL star (who hasn't always been the most cut-up guy in the league) looks absolutely jacked.

There's abs. There's pecs. And, there's biceps.

Yup, keep droolin', Cowboys fans!!

Of course, Prescott's got some reason to look good shirtless these days ... he just made things social media offish with his longtime rumored GF Natalie Buffett -- and she's STUNNING!!

The model -- who was once a "Barstool Smokeshow" -- posted a happy birthday message for the QB on Wednesday ... and he wrote back, "My girl!!! Thank you" with a heart emoji.

"Women lie. Men lie. The stats don’t. Go do your homework."

Ezekiel Elliott has clearly hit a breaking point with critics of his game ... the Dallas Cowboys star just went OFF on an epic rant -- clapping back at haters who say he's lost a step.

"Check the stats," Zeke said. "Since I entered this league I have dominated year in, year out. Put some RESPECT on my name."

The 24-year-old has come under fire on multiple occasions in the last few days ... one anonymous coach last week ranked him as the 11th-best RB in the NFL.

Just days later, meanwhile, his Madden rating came out ... and he was only a 92 overall -- making him just the 4th best back in the game.

Zeke decided to lash out against the criticism Thursday ... insisting he's still the same dude that busted into the league in 2016 and destroyed everybody.

"Almost 1800 scrimmage yards and 14 TD’s with no training camp [last season] and now im not the same back," Elliott said.

"I do appreciate the standard you guys hold me to though lol. But I promise you no one holds me to a higher standard than myself."

Bad news, Cowboys fans ... Dak Prescott did NOT reach a long-term deal with Dallas at the deadline Wednesday -- reportedly turning down over $100 MILLION guaranteed.

The superstar QB had been in contract talks with Cowboys brass all offseason about getting an extension done ... but the two sides just couldn't meet in the middle.

26-year-old Dak will now play on the franchise tag in 2020 -- which locks him in as Dallas' QB for only this season at $31.4 million.

Dallas' final offer to Dak was set to pay the 2-time Pro Bowler between $33 and $35 million every year, with over $100 million guaranteed ... NFL Network's Jane Slater reported Tuesday.

But, Prescott reportedly wanted fewer years on the deal ... and the Cowboys wouldn't budge -- so now it'll be back to the negotiating table next offseason.

It ain't all horrible news for either side ... Dak's still getting paid BIG money this season, and Dallas will have another year to decide if it wants to pony up Patrick Mahomes-type money for the quarterback.

And, if things are still undecided by this time in 2021 ... the Cowboys have the option of franchise tagging Prescott again for roughly $37 million.

Dallas Cowboys fans are going to LOVE this ...

Here's video of New York Jets star Jamal Adams openly admitting he wants to be sent off from NY to Dallas ... telling a fan on the street straight-up "I'm trying" to get traded to the Cowboys!

The clip is only a few seconds long ... but it's obviously an awful look for Jets fans and a great one for Jerry Jones' squad.

24-year-old Adams has been the Jets' best player for the last 2 seasons ... but a feud over a contract extension has led the ex-LSU safety to try and push for a trade elsewhere.

There are a handful of teams on Jamal's desired list ... but he appeared to make it clear over the weekend which squad was on top.

Adams -- rolling through a parking lot in a pricey Mercedes -- was asked by a fan, "You coming to Dallas?"

Adams' reply? "I'm trying, bro!"

Of course, the Cowboys tried to make a deal for the playmaker last season ... but the Jets reportedly wanted much more than the 1st round pick the Cowboys were said to have offered.

Seems likely NY will still want more in a return for Adams ... but even if the Cowboys were to up the price, Jamal's new contract might be too much for Dallas regardless.

Wanna learn more about Juneteenth?

Leave it to former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Ellis ... who wrote and stars in a play about the holiday!

Ellis -- who spent 11 seasons with the Cowboys -- is now fully immersed in the theater world ... where he writes, produces and acts.

In fact, he created "Juneteenth The Stage Play" back in 2018 ... and has an upcoming performance this weekend.

44-year-old Ellis told CBS 11 in Dallas the focus on the play is to inform the audience about the history of Juneteenth in an entertaining way.

"A lot of people don't know the history," Ellis said ... "and so through our production, our challenge is to make sure it's accurate, make sure people can be entertained -- laughing, crying, happy, upset and all those emotions getting touched upon for one common good and that common good is that you're going to retain the information that's inside the play."

Now, Ellis says he's pushing to turn Juneteenth into a national holiday -- he even started a petition.

"Juneteenth celebrates the anniversary of June 19, 1865, which marks the end of African-American slavery in the United States. It is our belief that Juneteenth needs to be a national holiday and making it one right now would be a huge step in the right direction to start the healing process."

NFL superstar Richard Sherman is taking aim at Jerry Jones for his lack of a public statement amid the Black Lives Matter movement ... saying straight-up the Cowboys owner's "silence speaks volumes."

Sherm told the San Francisco Chronicle this week a message from the most powerful owner in the NFL could do wonders for the fight for social justice ... and he's definitely noticed how the 77-year-old has sat out of the game so far.

"It’s not pulling [NFL owners] like it is the rest of the country,” the 49ers cornerback said. “Because if it was, then they’d speak."

"Jerry Jones, especially, has no problem speaking up any other time about anything else. But when it’s such a serious issue, and he could really make a huge impact on it with a few words, his silence speaks volumes."

Of course, Jerry's team has been very vocal in the wake of national protests following George Floyd's death ... Dallas' social media account released a video last week condemning racism.

Several players -- including star QB Dak Prescott -- have also released statements on the matter and pledged to donate serious cash to the cause.

But, Jones did NOT appear in the team's vid ... and has yet to have a public statement attributed to him -- and the NFL world has definitely noticed.

In fact, former Cowboys star Dez Bryant even tweeted over the weekend he wished somebody had taken Jones -- and his son, Stephen, plus Jason Witten -- to the public protests in Dallas.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott just pledged $1 MILLION "to improve our police training and address systematic racism through education and advocacy."

The 26-year-old -- who's expected to sign a monster new contract soon -- explained why the current climate has motivated him to take action.

"As a black multiracial American, I am disgusted and unsettled," Prescott said.

"As our communities take action, protesting and fighting for the justice of George Floyd and every black life, I am with you!"

"I have viewed these protests and riots in our streets as a form of strength and an attempt to show we as black people have rights that aren’t being perceived as equally as our counterparts."

Prescott says he does not believe in looting or "that violence is the answer" ... but clearly believes things can change with proper education and training.

Prescott does not specify exactly where his donation will go -- but says he won't just be writing a check ... he'll be personally involved.

"I will take action and help! I will act alongside of all of you!"

"We will clean our streets in our communities not only of the looting and violence, but most importantly the racism, racial profiling, and hate!"

The Dallas Cowboys will NOT be California dreamin' this year -- at least for training camp -- the NFL has ruled the team's gotta stay home in Texas for preseason workouts due to COVID-19.

Yes, COVID is still very much a thing!!!!

The league is expected to make the formal announcement Tuesday, according to reports ... with NFL officials clearly believing it's safer for teams to practice at their home facilities for training camps rather than travel.

It's a big bummer for the 'Boys ... they've jetted out to Oxnard, Calif. every year for at least part of their training camp practices for the last 8 seasons.

In fact, the team's spent time in Cali at some point for its training camp practices nearly every year since it's been in existence -- and had planned to come back this summer despite coronavirus concerns.

Of course, the 2020 rule won't just impact the Cowboys ... several teams in the league that have used off-campus facilities for their training camps in the past won't be allowed to this year as well.

The Bills, for example, will not be able to work out at St. John Fisher College in Rocester, N.Y. ... while the Steelers will not make their annual trip to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Penn.

Too bad for Jerry Jones ... one of his favorite restaurants is Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills.

Awesome gesture from Aldon Smith ... the new Cowboys star says he's going to read to kids to help brighten their days -- telling TMZ Sports, "It's just one way I can be a source of help."

Aldon's storytime is all part of a new charity initiative that was put together by WorkForce Software CEO Mike Morini and Jay Glazer's Merging Vets and Players program.

Morini tells us the charity work is pretty simple ... key execs and athletes from all over the country are signing up to read stories and books remotely to children directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Morini says Aldon -- along with a bunch of other athletes like Andrew Whitworth and Robert Griffin III -- jumped at the opportunity when he presented it to them ... saying, "Man, they were all happy to do it."

As for why ... Aldon tells us he understands just how big of an impact the small, charitable act can have on the kids.

"The first thing that went to my head was I was a Tennesee Titans football fan and a Chicago Bulls fan, and you know, I’ve always been a fan of sports and then music, so I loved all kinds of singers and artists," Smith says.

"So, if any of them would have hopped on a phone call or a video call and read a book, it's something I would remember."

Aldon, who was just reinstated by the NFL and will get another shot at pro football for the first time in years, added, "It just goes along with what I’m into and what I’m about."