Top merch movers, raiding UFL ranks, minority owners?
No matter how the Cowboys do on the field, they always seem to win big at the cash register, and 2023 was no exception. Three Cowboys were among the top merchandise sellers in the league; we’ll tell you who in this edition of News and Notes. The front office may be doing some shopping of their own, looking to the UFL for a possible late-spring bargain on defense, even as one of their former head coaches is promoting a wide receiver talent hidden away in St. Louis. In other money news, we’ll look at what the potential introduction of minority owners in NFL franchises would mean for the Joneses, and an ex-Cowboy explains why the front office’s current negotiation tactics are both illogical and insulting to current players.
Meanwhile, Jourdan Lewis is ready to reinvent the wheel again, we explore how the backfield workload could break down this season, a Cowboys assistant is making moves toward an upward climb, and Jason Witten’s name is about to be overwritten in the NFL record books in one key category. All that, plus a former Cowboys defender takes the league and an ex-team to court, and a divisional rival sees a big-time playmaker make a sudden decision that leaves the team reeling.
When it comes to moving merchandise, the Cowboys remain among the league’s top sellers. For the 2023 offseason and season, Dallas had three players in the NFL’s top 20 in terms of officially licensed retail sales of player-branded swag. Micah Parsons ranked highest at No. 9, while CeeDee Lamb finished 13th. Dak Prescott came in 20th.
The Cowboys will host Willie Harvey Jr. on Tuesday. The onetime Iowa State Cyclone spent three years in the Browns organization and was the UFL’s tackles leader this spring. He’ll have the chance to join an LB room in Dallas that’s long on names but short on sure things.
The veteran has averaged a defensive coordinator change every two seasons, so he knows there will be a learning curve under Mike Zimmer. “But at the same time, we’re professionals,” he said. “That’s our job, to go out there and perform in any scheme that we’re in.” Lewis looks to put 2022’s devastating foot injury fully in the rearview and once again be a leader of the defense.
Hakeem Butler was the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, led the league in receiving yards, and has one NFL game with Philadelphia on his résumé. But the former Cowboys coach told him after his Brahmas team beat St. Louis over the weekend that he deserves another shot and that he’d be talking up the 28-year-old to teams. (Within hours, the Carolina Panthers were reported to have locked Butler in for a workout.)
Tight ends coach Lunda Wells was one of 28 assistant coaches from around the league participating in this year’s minority accelerator program, which took place during the team’s OTAs. “It’s always been inside my mind to be a head coach,” he said. “It’s always been a goal of mine to be a leader of men. This is an opportunity to be able to grow and know what they are looking for in a head coach.” This was the fifth iteration of the program; the NFL now has a record nine coaches of color for the 2024 season, including six Black coaches.
Marcedes Lewis saw his first NFL action a month before Tony Romo burst onto the scene in 2006. Now Lewis has re-signed with the Bears for his 19th pro season. With appearances in four more games, he’ll break Witten’s record for most career game appearances by a tight end. Witten still holds the mark for most game appearances in a Cowboys uniform.
His best days may be behind him, but Elliott figures to be the cornerstone of the backfield this season, with an estimated eight to 10 attempts per game. Dowdle is the next man up, with maybe a few more carries than Elliott. Look for Deuce Vaughn to be a change of pace, averaging two to three rushes per outing. If Royce Freeman makes the team, he’ll likely pull similar numbers. Hunter Luepke will probably make the roster; Malik Davis and Snoop Conner have to be considered dark horses, and Nathaniel Peat will be waiting in the wings.
Former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker (and onetime Dallas depth piece) says “The Cowboy Way” is either insulting or illogical, depending on how you look at it. It’s bad enough if Jerry Jones wants to let other teams dictate the market price for his star players, but even worse if he’s still somehow waiting to see more in the way of performance from proven leaders like Prescott, Lamb, and Parsons before he pays up.
Industry experts believe that Jerry Jones would be among the biggest beneficiaries of private equity firms being allowed to invest in NFL franchises. (But with his personal net worth, he actually needs it the least.) Such a move- currently being looked at- could potentially give Jones and the Cowboys more liquidity, leading to possible upgrades to AT&T Stadium and additional investments in other Jones businesses. Private equity firms already invest in teams in the NBA, NHL, MLS, and MLB. As minority owners, those outside firms would likely have no say in football matters like personnel, free agency, or trades, but it could lead to higher ticket prices for fans.
The former Cowboys defender is seeking repayment of over $500,000 in league fines for the use of doctor-prescribed THC to treat social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Gregory also names the Broncos in the suit. According to the suit, Gregory first sought permission from the league in March 2023 to use a prescribed form of synthetic cannabis during non-work hours, but he was denied. The lawsuit claims the NFL and the Broncos’ refusal to make “reasonable accommodations” is discriminatory under Colorado law.
The Cowboys’ division rivals have been dealt a blow as the 31-year-old tight end elects to walk away from the game after bring traded to Big Blue in March 2023. Waller says a “very scary” health situation he experienced in November has caused him to rethink his priorities. The Giants now move forward with with Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, and fourth-round draft pick Theo Johnson at the top of their depth chart.
Cowboys News: Top merch movers, raiding UFL ranks, what minority owners would mean for Joneses
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