NFL training camps are famously feisty affairs where fights and brawls are commonplace.
Travis Kelce and Kansas City Chiefs teammates recently had a shoving match while Derek Stingley Jr and members of the Houston Texans almost came to full-on fisticuffs.
The Steelers also had their own skirmish this week when linebacker Elandon Roberts’ shoved new quarterback Justin Fields, leading to a shoving match between the offense and defense.
The Cowboys got in on the action on Wednesday when rookies Caelen Carson and Brevyn Spann-Ford were at the center of a scuffle at the team’s training camp.
The two players got into an altercation near the sideline after undrafted tight end Spann-Ford appeared to hold onto his block a little too long for Carson’s liking.
The fifth-round rookie took exemption to the extras and the pair engaged in a shoving match that saw them both land on the ground.
The rest of the players swarmed in to separate them and eventually things calmed down after a big melee.
“Wish we had that much heart against Green Bay from the defense,” one fan commented.
“More fight here than in the playoffs,” joked another.
The Cowboys have had three consecutive 12-win seasons but have continually come unstuck in the playoffs.
The latest nadir came last season when they were defeated 48-32 by the Green Bay Packers on wild-card weekend in a game that was never as close as the scoreline suggested.
The finger of blame once again pointed in the direction of quarterback Dak Prescott, who looks like an MVP in the regular season but disappoints in the postseason, evidenced by his 2-5 record.
The Cowboys followed that up with an underwhelming offseason, despite owner Jerry Jones insisting in January they “will be all in”.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Jones’ promise failed to materialize and now the Cowboys are trying to get long-term deals worked out with Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Lamb has continued to sit out training, likely until he becomes one of the highest-paid receivers in the league close to Justin Jefferson’s $35 million annual average.
Both he and Prescott can test the free agent market next offseason, with the latter in a particularly strong position due to his no-trade and no-tag clauses.
However, according to Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones, talks with both are progressing well with new offers recently sent out to both players’ representatives.
Meanwhile, Dallas also has to figure out a way forward with star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
Parsons is under contract through 2025 after the Cowboys exercised his fifth-year option, but beyond that he’s looking to get paid with a capital ‘P’.
The All-Pro linebacker is one of the best defensive players in the NFL and wants to be compensated accordingly.
Fortunately for Cowboys fans, the man himself recently said he sees his future in the famous blue and white of America’s Team.
“When you talk about career and legacy, I don’t think there’s a better career you can have than when you’re playing for the star and you have a chance to be the best with the star and you retire a Cowboy,” Parsons said.
“You look at [Jason] Witten, you look at Michael Irvin, you look at Emmitt [Smith], you see they’re still in the community, still active. The star holds so much weight and the legacy that brings.
“Look at Charles [Haley], he still bothers me in the locker room every week. There’s nothing like wearing the star when you do it the right way. So in terms of being here, I want to be here my whole life. I plan on building a house here and being in Dallas forever. I love the city. I love the community. I love for what it stands for.”
The Cowboys remain optimistic that a resolution on Prescott, Lamb and Parsons will be found before the start of the season.
Mike McCarthy’s team kick off the 2024/25 campaign on Sunday, September 8, when they go on the road to face the Cleveland Browns.
Their first home game will take place a week later against the New Orleans Saints.
News Summary:
- ‘More fight than in the playoffs’ – Dallas Cowboys players spark huge melee as Prescott and Lamb contracts situations continue to heat up
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