Cowboys news: Jerry Jones pretty much confirms the Cowboys are signing Malik Hooker

There’s only one right way to start off your week. Hint: you’re already doing it here.

Sounds like the Malik Hooker deal is done.

Analyst describes Cowboys safety situation as ‘a mess right now’ – Steven Mullenax, The Landry Hat

The Malik Hooker signing may be a response to issues on the back-end.

In 2018, Kazee led all NFL safeties with seven interceptions. Just to put that number in perspective, the last time the Cowboys had any player record seven or more picks in a single season it was cornerback Everson Walls with nine interceptions back in 1985. But Kazee is also coming off a season-ending Achilles injury that limited him to four games in 2020.

By adding a ball-hawking playmaker in Kazee to a safety depth chart in Dallas that already included fellow free-agent signee Jayron Kearse, last year’s starter in Donovan Wilson, plus veterans Darian Thompson, Steven Parker, and rookies Tyler Coyle and Israel Mukuamu; it appeared Quinn had a good amount of talent to work with.

But apparently, it isn’t enough as news broke on Friday that the team was once again visiting with free-agent safety Malik Hooker. The former first-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts originally meet with the Cowboys back in March but Dallas opted to sign Kazee instead.

Dolphins Star Xavien Howard ‘Likes’ Cowboys; Dallas Signs Vet CB – Mike Fisher, Sports Illustrated

Howard would cost the Boys a haul should this unlikely marriage happen.

And what does disgruntled Miami Dolphins standout corner Xavien Howard “like’’? A photoshop of himself in a Dallas uniform.

It’s somewhere between “silly’’ and “dangerous’’ to attach too much gravitas to a social-media post – though it is clear the standout cornerback, who failed to show up for the Dolphins mandatory June minicamp, feels displeasure with his contract situation.

The Cowboys entered camp here in Oxnard with many thinking they have a need at the position. One national media outlet is suggesting a “hypothetical” deal in which Dallas packages a 2022 first-round draft pick and o-lineman Connor McGovern for Howard.

The problem withe the “hypothetical’’ idea is that with all due respect to B/R, there is nobody here inside The Star who has bothered with such a “hypothetical’’ – not only because of the first-pick price, but also because of something else B/R acknowledges (but conveniently ignores): Howard, just two years ago, signed a Miami deal totaling $75 million over five years

Connor Williams, Cowboys’ backup center? What began as an OTA experiment now seems like a plan – Michael Gehlken, Dallas Morning News

Williams is excelling in the role so far.

What began as an experiment seems today like a firm plan. The Cowboys’ primary backup center in 2021 likely will be a starter, as Williams can slide from left guard in the event of a Biadasz exit. Williams is working at both left guard and center in camp, seeing second- and third-team reps Sunday at the latter.

There are moments when Williams is certainly no Travis Frederick.

On Saturday, with the third team, he airmailed a shotgun snap over quarterback Ben DiNucci’s head.

But the positives have outweighed the negatives so far, especially when considering how new all this is for a former collegiate tackle. On Sunday morning, coach Mike McCarthy called that same Saturday practice Williams’ “best day” so far at center. Williams appeared to follow up the performance with a better one Sunday, not repeating the miscue from the day before.

Can Ben DiNucci earn the Cowboys primary backup QB job this summer? – Steven Mullenax, The Landry Hat

The backup QB spot is still up for grabs.

The Cowboys entered training camp last week with DiNucci, Gilbert, and Cooper Rush as the team’s backup quarterbacks behind a healthy Prescott, who appears to have successfully rehabbed from his injury. The trio of backups have two games of starting experience in the NFL combined.

Dallas still seems unsettled at the position as the team reportedly visited with a couple of free-agent quarterbacks this offseason in Jeff Driskel (who later signed with the Houston Texans) and Brett Hundley, the latter being a former backup passer for now Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy during his time with the Green Bay Packers.

But perhaps DiNucci could change their minds this summer. Here’s what McCarthy had to say about the development he’s seen from his young quarterback this offseason according to the team’s official website …

Micah Parsons using every day to prove the Dallas Cowboys right – Tony Catalina, Blogging the Boys

Parsons is meeting expectations — and then some.

The idea that Parsons can be used as a designated pass rusher as well as be an athletic off the ball linebacker is what has changed many of the naysayers minds on the pick. There is questions about the value associated with a 12th overall selection not warranting the use on an off the ball linebacker, but when that player is used in a weapon type role on the defense, that can change. The Cowboys are putting a versatile, and playmaking, athlete on the second level of their defense that can create issues for an opposing offense. That seems to be the plan here for Parsons as they are moving him up and down the first two levels of the defense regularly.

Since the day Parsons came to Dallas he has been nothing but himself. He has worked hard, been an eager-to-learn rookie, and has embraced the locker room culture. Most importantly he has been unafraid of hard work and a heavy course load. Dan Quinn and the staff will continue to throw the kitchen sink at him, and how he continues to respond and rise to the challenge will be his legacy with this organization going forward.

The team has a star in the making and they are determined to put Parsons in the best position to succeed. It’s likely we will see Parsons all over the field and being used in many different ways.

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