WEBVTT - Talkin' Cowboys: The Jaylon Decision 0:00:07.360 --> 0:00:09.880 The following is a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com 0:00:09.920 --> 0:00:20.840 and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. This is He's Talking Cowboys, 0:00:21.280 --> 0:00:24.680 screaming live from the Dallas Cowboys World Honours at the 0:00:24.760 --> 0:00:36.320 Star in Frisco. And now your hosts, Isaiah Stanback, heck 0:00:36.400 --> 0:00:42.240 My Harrison, Rob Phillips, and Kyle Yeoman's we have got 0:00:42.320 --> 0:00:46.920 a midweek edition of Talking Cowboys presented by Tostitos, the 0:00:47.000 --> 0:00:51.080 official chip and the official dip of the Dallas Cowboys. 0:00:51.120 --> 0:00:55.840 Here from the SWBC studios as the Star in Frisco. 0:00:55.880 --> 0:01:00.000 Is that the bull dance right there? Hump day? Oh 0:00:59.640 --> 0:01:06.080 he was happy more Feeling the flow, Feeling the flow. 0:01:06.120 --> 0:01:08.839 Heck Ma Harris and Isaiah stand back, Rob Phillips, Kyle 0:01:08.880 --> 0:01:11.560 Yeoman's with you, Chris Beam is in the back and gentlemen, 0:01:11.600 --> 0:01:14.800 we have plenty of news to get to. We've only 0:01:14.800 --> 0:01:16.920 got forty five minutes of the show and we're gonna 0:01:16.959 --> 0:01:19.720 need every single one of them to hit what happened 0:01:19.800 --> 0:01:24.080 last night and the reaction or counter reaction to what 0:01:24.240 --> 0:01:30.440 happened as the Dallas Cowboys release Jalen Smith linebacker, Pro bowler, 0:01:31.440 --> 0:01:35.800 either fan favorite or fan not so favorite, depending on 0:01:35.840 --> 0:01:37.839 who you talk to. I mean it goes both ways. 0:01:38.440 --> 0:01:42.280 Jaylen Smith no longer a Dallas Cowboy. Rob Phillips, how 0:01:42.280 --> 0:01:44.520 did this thing go down? I actually thought this was 0:01:44.560 --> 0:01:46.319 going to happen in the offseason. I thought we'd be 0:01:46.360 --> 0:01:49.280 having this conversation in like I don't March February, March. 0:01:50.800 --> 0:01:55.160 I think this decision was complex, just like his time here. 0:01:56.720 --> 0:01:59.240 You know, you look at his entire career here and 0:01:59.440 --> 0:02:02.320 you can't lose side of what a great comeback story 0:02:02.440 --> 0:02:04.960 it was for him in twenty sixteen. I know he 0:02:05.040 --> 0:02:09.120 has his detractors, lots of them from the fan base 0:02:09.200 --> 0:02:11.560 and the media as well, but you can't lose sight 0:02:11.639 --> 0:02:14.800 of that. It's a complex story, the way he emerged 0:02:14.840 --> 0:02:16.640 as a starter and then by the end of it 0:02:16.680 --> 0:02:19.120 was only playing about half the snaps. The reason why 0:02:19.160 --> 0:02:23.519 they cut him, decided to release him, is partly about performance, 0:02:23.840 --> 0:02:26.680 and it's partly about money. You know, he was playing 0:02:26.720 --> 0:02:29.280 fifty six percent of the snaps the first four games 0:02:29.280 --> 0:02:32.440 of the season, and on top of that, they're willing 0:02:32.480 --> 0:02:35.720 to eat what seven million whatever it is for the 0:02:35.760 --> 0:02:39.280 rest of this season because you know, partly because there's 0:02:39.320 --> 0:02:41.720 that injury guarantee, and you remember he had, I think, 0:02:41.800 --> 0:02:44.480 risk surgery in the offseason if he were to have 0:02:44.560 --> 0:02:47.120 a major injury. He camp as physical next year. That's 0:02:47.160 --> 0:02:51.120 like nine million guaranteed next year. So his agent's amazing. 0:02:51.200 --> 0:02:53.200 They had a decision to weigh when you're playing, you know, 0:02:53.280 --> 0:02:56.680 the player that's playing that little snaps. I mean, it 0:02:56.760 --> 0:02:59.400 was it's a complex decision, and I really thought I 0:02:59.400 --> 0:03:01.399 didn't think he'd back next year, but I thought he'd 0:03:01.400 --> 0:03:03.920 play out this season. Didn't happen four games in, No, 0:03:04.040 --> 0:03:07.040 it did not. Jalen Smith had five years fifty point 0:03:07.080 --> 0:03:10.000 one million, or excuse me, fifty point seven million dollars 0:03:10.080 --> 0:03:13.919 left on his contract. His relief leaves behind sixteen point 0:03:14.080 --> 0:03:17.679 six million dollars of dead cap to the Cowboys. Nine 0:03:17.720 --> 0:03:20.160 point eight of that is going in twenty twenty one, 0:03:20.200 --> 0:03:23.960 and that's also seven point two million dollars cash, and 0:03:24.040 --> 0:03:27.240 then twenty twenty two six point eight million dollars. So 0:03:27.360 --> 0:03:29.720 not only is it close to ten mill this year, 0:03:29.760 --> 0:03:32.960 it's close to seven mill next year of dead cap. Jesus, 0:03:32.960 --> 0:03:35.480 And that's exactly what Jalen Smith has coming his direction, 0:03:35.520 --> 0:03:39.000 which makes it, at least from an outsiders standpoint, look 0:03:39.080 --> 0:03:43.800 like something led to this decision. I mean the complex 0:03:43.920 --> 0:03:47.200 nature of it means that nothing is straightforward, right, I mean, 0:03:47.560 --> 0:03:51.640 I think overriding, it's it's the last you know, there's 0:03:51.640 --> 0:03:55.119 a drop in performance if from his twenty nineteen Pro Bowl. 0:03:55.160 --> 0:03:57.760 If there wasn't, we wouldn't be having this conversation. And 0:03:58.200 --> 0:04:00.520 Micah Parsons might not be here and I don't Neil 0:04:00.600 --> 0:04:03.120 might not be here. And I think, you know, he 0:04:03.240 --> 0:04:05.440 ran into a situation where he's not playing as much, 0:04:05.720 --> 0:04:08.440 and you know, they decide. I guess they felt comfortable 0:04:08.640 --> 0:04:11.200 enough with the depth going forward that they could make 0:04:11.200 --> 0:04:14.400 this decision, even if it meant eating some salary like 0:04:14.440 --> 0:04:17.760 you just mentioned, Kyle, a lot of salary here. Yeah, 0:04:17.880 --> 0:04:20.360 what do you think it? No, you know what I'm 0:04:20.400 --> 0:04:23.360 wanting to hear from from Isaiah and missus stand back 0:04:23.520 --> 0:04:26.400 in Seattle. I said to him before, I said, before 0:04:26.400 --> 0:04:28.400 you even open your mouth, make sure you don't get 0:04:28.400 --> 0:04:31.479 that call from Seattle from your mama telling you to hey, 0:04:31.760 --> 0:04:41.200 watch yourself, it's happen so well, Mama standing back already, Daddy, Well, um, 0:04:41.360 --> 0:04:43.360 so a lot to talk about you guys. Yes, I'm 0:04:43.400 --> 0:04:46.680 not talking giants today. We're not talking a lot to 0:04:46.680 --> 0:04:49.720 happen here, Um, Jayleen Smith, First of all, I want 0:04:49.720 --> 0:04:52.400 to thank him for his time here, his contributions, because 0:04:52.440 --> 0:04:54.480 there's a lot of work that goes into being a player, 0:04:54.520 --> 0:04:56.159 and he made a lot of commitments to this team. 0:04:56.279 --> 0:04:59.440 He busted his about to get back. The organization obviously 0:04:59.480 --> 0:05:02.280 committed to him coming off that injury, and I feel 0:05:02.279 --> 0:05:04.320 like he gave it his all. I do feel like 0:05:04.320 --> 0:05:07.279 he gave it his Allum, Sometimes given it your all 0:05:07.360 --> 0:05:10.240 isn't enough, and that's the unfortunate thing about pro sports. 0:05:10.520 --> 0:05:13.000 And he found himself in a situation like Robie just said, 0:05:13.320 --> 0:05:17.480 where competition kind kind of came upon him right a little. 0:05:17.560 --> 0:05:19.960 Last year there was a heck of a year unfortunate 0:05:20.120 --> 0:05:22.960 in a bad way, and because of that, the team 0:05:23.000 --> 0:05:24.960 had to make alterations. The team brought in a new 0:05:24.960 --> 0:05:27.599 defensive coordinator, team brought in some more depth, They brought 0:05:27.640 --> 0:05:29.320 in some veterans, they brought in some young guys, and 0:05:29.320 --> 0:05:31.240 they wanted to create this culture of competition, which we 0:05:31.320 --> 0:05:34.320 hit on yesterday. When you don't rise to that level 0:05:34.360 --> 0:05:38.440 of competition, then things happen in this league regardless of 0:05:38.480 --> 0:05:40.880 what I and I mentioned this as soon as Queen 0:05:41.000 --> 0:05:43.400 came on I told you guys from my time with Quinn, 0:05:43.400 --> 0:05:45.080 he doesn't give a dog on how much money you make. 0:05:45.800 --> 0:05:47.960 He don't care. You don't, You don't. There's no pecking 0:05:48.040 --> 0:05:50.400 order simply because of what your salary says that you make. 0:05:50.440 --> 0:05:53.200 You don't just you don't receive things simply because at 0:05:53.200 --> 0:05:55.839 playing time you have to earn it. And I think 0:05:55.839 --> 0:05:58.160 the Cowboys were still committed to him even up until 0:05:58.160 --> 0:06:00.400 I don't remember what the date was up until contract 0:06:00.440 --> 0:06:03.440 was guaranteed. There was March twenty first, Right March twenty first, 0:06:03.440 --> 0:06:05.240 they had a decision to make do we keep him 0:06:05.240 --> 0:06:06.960 on a roster or do we let him go, trade 0:06:07.040 --> 0:06:11.440 him whatever without any consequences. Well, they still at that 0:06:11.520 --> 0:06:13.560 March twenty first, obviously they felt good about him. And 0:06:13.560 --> 0:06:16.520 that's why it's surprising, you know, even even with the 0:06:16.560 --> 0:06:19.360 moves afterwards, with Parsons and all that. For sure, so 0:06:19.440 --> 0:06:21.640 at that date they obviously felt like he can make 0:06:21.680 --> 0:06:25.400 a contribution to this team, right enough. Seven however much 0:06:25.400 --> 0:06:26.760 money he was going to make this year right now 0:06:26.800 --> 0:06:28.880 at this point at seven point two, right but whatever 0:06:28.880 --> 0:06:30.760 it was for the for those four games including that, 0:06:30.800 --> 0:06:32.880 I don't know what the total is, Yeah, but they 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:34.640 felt good enough about him to have him on a roster, 0:06:35.320 --> 0:06:38.960 and then something happened. Something happened. New guys showed up. Right, 0:06:39.080 --> 0:06:42.679 new decordinator who makes decisions shows up and said. Maybe 0:06:42.680 --> 0:06:44.440 he was like, that's not he's not a good fit 0:06:44.480 --> 0:06:47.000 for us. Maybe he's not making enough enough good plays. 0:06:47.000 --> 0:06:48.960 Maybe he's not making the right decisions. Maybe guys don't 0:06:49.000 --> 0:06:51.840 respect him. Maybe he's not just competing with these young 0:06:51.880 --> 0:06:53.880 guys and he's not receiving that will he doesn't. Some 0:06:53.920 --> 0:06:55.760 guys are used to being in the limelight, and when 0:06:55.760 --> 0:06:57.680 new guys show up and compete, they kind of backed down, 0:06:57.760 --> 0:07:00.480 or they feel as if they should be given something right, 0:07:00.480 --> 0:07:03.039 like they're entitled to something when they have to really 0:07:03.080 --> 0:07:05.880 earn their spot. I don't know. Maybe he said that 0:07:05.960 --> 0:07:07.719 one of the coaches moms had an Audie belly building. 0:07:07.760 --> 0:07:16.040 I really don't know, right, but something happened, something, something happened. Heck, 0:07:16.080 --> 0:07:26.400 what you just saying? What did you just say to 0:07:26.480 --> 0:07:31.320 that point to give somebody seven point two million dollars 0:07:31.320 --> 0:07:36.120 to go home, take your ball and go home, et 0:07:36.440 --> 0:07:40.520 phone home seven How often have you seen that? You 0:07:40.560 --> 0:07:43.120 don't see it a lot? Two million dollars I can 0:07:43.200 --> 0:07:46.560 eat that. Ye two point five three's a lot of money, 0:07:46.680 --> 0:07:48.360 all right, But we can eat that if it's not going, 0:07:48.520 --> 0:07:50.240 if he's not a good fit for this team, and 0:07:50.280 --> 0:07:53.320 he's not you know, you know, conducive to our environment. 0:07:53.680 --> 0:07:57.680 Seven million dollars we could have got two kJ rights 0:07:57.720 --> 0:08:01.679 for that m. That's a lot of money. And even 0:08:01.840 --> 0:08:06.000 with a surprise mid season release, it doesn't always happen 0:08:06.040 --> 0:08:08.760 to where they're just handing out cash. Look at Stefan Gilmore, 0:08:08.800 --> 0:08:11.880 which yes, we will talk about later. The Patriots released 0:08:11.960 --> 0:08:15.960 him yesterday as well, or will release him today. I 0:08:16.000 --> 0:08:19.160 guess I should say so. But there's no money guaranteed 0:08:19.200 --> 0:08:20.880 on that deal at all. I mean, there was a 0:08:21.040 --> 0:08:24.160 money esque move that needed to be made there from 0:08:24.160 --> 0:08:28.440 the Patriots standpoint here. That's that's what's confusing. Is is 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:31.960 it just the sole factor of Hey, down the line, 0:08:32.040 --> 0:08:34.320 it could be more money. Let's try and nip this 0:08:34.360 --> 0:08:36.880 before it really gets any bigger. You know, I think 0:08:36.920 --> 0:08:39.079 when you look at Jalen Smith's career, and that's that's 0:08:39.080 --> 0:08:41.080 something that's going to take care of itself. The numbers, 0:08:41.120 --> 0:08:43.319 the Pro Bowl, all of those things, you know, and 0:08:43.559 --> 0:08:45.920 the appreciation from the fans and what he'd done, and 0:08:46.520 --> 0:08:48.760 the negative stuff is going to be there as well. 0:08:49.120 --> 0:08:51.960 But you know, when you talk about the March deadline, 0:08:52.000 --> 0:08:54.640 I think at that point the Cowboys didn't know they 0:08:54.679 --> 0:08:56.840 were in limbo and they had to sign that at 0:08:56.920 --> 0:08:59.600 least to have the depth of what they had. Now 0:09:00.120 --> 0:09:02.640 people will say that this is a Micah move, but 0:09:02.720 --> 0:09:05.160 to me, I think it's a Ken O'Neill move. And 0:09:05.240 --> 0:09:08.040 the reason being is Neil has shown you that I 0:09:08.080 --> 0:09:11.800 can't take that off of the field, just even running 0:09:12.280 --> 0:09:14.840 passing all of those things, because then I'm tipping my 0:09:14.880 --> 0:09:16.880 hand on what my coverages are and what I'm doing. 0:09:17.080 --> 0:09:19.640 And for dan Quinn that wasn't gonna work. You saw 0:09:19.679 --> 0:09:22.080 them try certain things at the beginning of the game 0:09:22.200 --> 0:09:25.680 against Carolina and you saw our linebackers completely get blown 0:09:25.720 --> 0:09:27.720 out of the way. You can't do that with a 0:09:27.760 --> 0:09:31.120 guy that can't read and react because his physical limitations, 0:09:31.120 --> 0:09:34.800 because of his figures, physical limitations. I've never seen a 0:09:34.840 --> 0:09:38.520 guy to be sent home with seven million dollars excuse me, 0:09:38.559 --> 0:09:42.040 seven point two and on top of all of that, 0:09:42.440 --> 0:09:46.440 just the money that I want to go into what 0:09:46.480 --> 0:09:48.760 he paid to were number nine, All of that stuff. 0:09:48.800 --> 0:09:52.760 But this guy has literally tried many times in his 0:09:52.840 --> 0:09:58.320 career to reinvent renew his career because of all of 0:09:58.320 --> 0:10:01.400 the devastating things that happened to him coming into the league. 0:10:01.600 --> 0:10:04.280 But the truth of the matter is, you have guys 0:10:04.360 --> 0:10:06.400 now on your team that you that is no longer 0:10:06.600 --> 0:10:08.760 it's an excuse to keep them on the bench. You 0:10:08.840 --> 0:10:11.200 gotta find out what Jabril Cox has because he's showing 0:10:11.280 --> 0:10:14.520 you something in practice, So you gotta the guy has 0:10:14.559 --> 0:10:17.960 to be inserted, and you cannot take number forty two 0:10:17.960 --> 0:10:21.079 out just to keep number nine on the field, and 0:10:21.400 --> 0:10:23.600 those things, I think dan Quinn and I have to, 0:10:23.800 --> 0:10:26.200 you know, applaud him for making that decision because he 0:10:26.240 --> 0:10:28.160 did what was best for the team and the youth 0:10:28.240 --> 0:10:30.240 movement that they have and where they're going with these 0:10:30.280 --> 0:10:32.920 new guys. You know, you just gotta applaud the organization 0:10:32.960 --> 0:10:35.760 for doing him. It's the timing that's the weird part. 0:10:35.840 --> 0:10:38.880 But I completely agree with you all the way through. Again, 0:10:38.880 --> 0:10:41.040 I though I think it's they look at how much 0:10:41.080 --> 0:10:44.600 he's playing, and there is that you know the reports, 0:10:44.960 --> 0:10:47.120 and I think they're accurate. There is that injury guarantee 0:10:47.160 --> 0:10:49.840 for twenty two coming out there, and they that's a risk. 0:10:50.040 --> 0:10:53.200 That's a financial risk that they had to look at. 0:10:53.240 --> 0:10:57.040 I will say this, there's been no indication it was 0:10:57.040 --> 0:10:58.760 any kind of issue with him with the lack of 0:10:58.840 --> 0:11:01.200 playing time. Mean, you look at his his playing time 0:11:01.360 --> 0:11:04.920 last year. He played ninety eight percent of the defensive snaps, 0:11:04.960 --> 0:11:07.560 and you say what you want about his production after 0:11:07.679 --> 0:11:09.920 he missed that first season and rehab with Britt Brown 0:11:10.040 --> 0:11:12.160 all year in twenty sixteen to get back from that 0:11:12.280 --> 0:11:16.959 career threatening injury, he was always available. And I bet 0:11:17.000 --> 0:11:18.959 teammates are shocked because there's a lot of he was 0:11:19.040 --> 0:11:21.920 the guy that broken broke down the huddle before kickoff 0:11:22.240 --> 0:11:25.679 on Sunday against Carolina. I bet guys are shocked. So 0:11:26.120 --> 0:11:28.480 but look it, Isaiah hit it. You guys hit it. 0:11:28.559 --> 0:11:31.080 I mean, it's about competition, and I'll take it one 0:11:31.080 --> 0:11:34.440 step further. I think it's also Jayron Curse has stepped 0:11:34.480 --> 0:11:38.680 into this kind of hybrid safety linebacker role where they've 0:11:38.720 --> 0:11:41.559 got three safeties on the field, this big nickel role, 0:11:42.000 --> 0:11:44.360 and he's not coming off the field. You got Kean 0:11:44.400 --> 0:11:47.920 O'Neil probably coming off COVID this week, and you mentioned 0:11:47.960 --> 0:11:49.920 your Bill Cox. I'm interesting if maybe he plays a 0:11:49.960 --> 0:11:51.520 little bit more. I don't know if it's gonna be 0:11:51.559 --> 0:11:54.520 a lot more, but he's only gotten four snaps. Yeah, 0:11:54.720 --> 0:11:56.679 maybe they are wanting to take a look at him 0:11:56.679 --> 0:11:58.880 a little bit more, you know, and he's got that 0:11:59.080 --> 0:12:02.360 speed and coverage ability that they're using. Curse for that 0:12:02.440 --> 0:12:04.240 that Kean Neil can brain that kind of stuff. The 0:12:04.280 --> 0:12:05.599 weird thing is that I don't think that this is 0:12:05.640 --> 0:12:08.000 the last move that the Cowboys make. If you talk 0:12:08.040 --> 0:12:11.520 about who's on what on I are and the guy said, 0:12:11.679 --> 0:12:13.640 I mean, because you're gonna have to make some some 0:12:13.840 --> 0:12:16.959 moves because of that competition that's coming. You know. It's 0:12:16.960 --> 0:12:19.520 almost like we're still in training camp as the season 0:12:19.679 --> 0:12:22.120 is going on the way that guys are still competing 0:12:22.160 --> 0:12:24.079 against each other. So look, man, this is just a 0:12:24.240 --> 0:12:26.839 very interesting move. I'm sure it shocked the hell out 0:12:26.840 --> 0:12:28.760 of a lot of guys on this team, but I 0:12:28.840 --> 0:12:31.160 think it put a lot of other guys on notice. 0:12:31.960 --> 0:12:37.880 Yeah it no bodies says the environment you want. You 0:12:38.000 --> 0:12:40.719 brought this up like a long time. When guys come 0:12:40.760 --> 0:12:43.520 off I are though, like recently, yeah, what do they do? 0:12:44.600 --> 0:12:48.360 There's now there's one open spot. I mean, Donovan Wilson's 0:12:48.360 --> 0:12:50.920 coming back to from injury. They gotta find snaps for him. 0:12:51.200 --> 0:12:55.480 It's uh, it looks like some depth fellas more depth 0:12:55.480 --> 0:12:57.640 than we've seen in a while, more depth than fifty 0:12:57.720 --> 0:13:01.640 three man roster can hold at some certain spots. I 0:13:01.720 --> 0:13:05.640 will say we just kind of a going along, going 0:13:05.679 --> 0:13:07.880 along with what Rob said. And I really liked the 0:13:07.960 --> 0:13:10.360 point that Heckma made a moment ago of talking about 0:13:10.679 --> 0:13:14.319 how what are you laughing about? Now? What's going on? 0:13:14.679 --> 0:13:18.360 I just went French for a second. Oh yeah, now 0:13:18.400 --> 0:13:20.200 I know what you're talking about. That that's an inside 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:23.760 joke among this show. We had a couple of people 0:13:23.840 --> 0:13:26.920 reporting throughout the night last night saying, sources tell the 0:13:27.000 --> 0:13:31.360 cow Told or from the Cowboys tried unsuccessfully to trade 0:13:31.679 --> 0:13:35.760 Jalen Smith. Oh did everything they had asked him to do. Ultimately, 0:13:35.840 --> 0:13:39.960 the guys, like Heckno was saying, Kean O'Neil, Layton, Vander Esh, 0:13:40.160 --> 0:13:44.000 Michael Parsons, Drabill Cox and and their depth led to 0:13:44.160 --> 0:13:47.040 the decision, which is why we didn't really see that 0:13:47.160 --> 0:13:49.680 decision made in training camp, like you said, they were 0:13:49.760 --> 0:13:52.920 in limbo. I love that point. So why could you 0:13:53.080 --> 0:13:55.800 not trade this guy as straight up contract or is 0:13:55.840 --> 0:13:59.040 it more so the performance. How much money was he 0:13:59.080 --> 0:14:02.400 supposed to make this year including the four game Let's 0:14:02.400 --> 0:14:06.000 talk about how much he's already made in total. Yeah, 0:14:06.000 --> 0:14:08.640 I gotta look at his nobody's will, the seven millions 0:14:08.679 --> 0:14:11.160 guaranteed Chris being do you know what that is? This 0:14:11.480 --> 0:14:14.680 is the time. But anyways, nobody's gonna pay four million 0:14:14.720 --> 0:14:19.160 extension that he's signing. Nobody's gonna pay for him for 0:14:19.240 --> 0:14:22.600 his production. Okay, that's that's just let's just talk pure football. 0:14:22.880 --> 0:14:26.360 His contract. The Cowboys gave him a very nice contract 0:14:26.440 --> 0:14:31.240 that was a very Um, Jerry loved him. I'll say 0:14:31.280 --> 0:14:33.920 that Jerry loved him and gave him a very favorable contract, 0:14:34.080 --> 0:14:37.120 and it put this team, this organization in a bad position. 0:14:37.360 --> 0:14:41.080 Um when he did not put up that production, right, 0:14:41.200 --> 0:14:42.440 he didn't put it. When he doesn't put up that 0:14:42.480 --> 0:14:44.040 production in order, When you get paid like that, you're 0:14:44.040 --> 0:14:46.360 supposed to be a dominant force. You're supposed to be 0:14:46.360 --> 0:14:49.160 somebody that they circle on. Every time the often steps up, 0:14:49.280 --> 0:14:50.960 they circle you. You better know who it is due 0:14:50.960 --> 0:14:52.920 it is. He's a dog, right And I don't think 0:14:53.280 --> 0:14:55.120 aside from one year, I don't think Jayalen was ever 0:14:55.240 --> 0:14:58.400 that guy, right, so when you start calling another team, 0:14:58.480 --> 0:14:59.960 say hey, you want to pick up seven million dollars 0:15:00.360 --> 0:15:03.560 for him? No, you know, into that point, you know, 0:15:03.920 --> 0:15:05.840 it's just you know, kJ is my dog. But like 0:15:06.440 --> 0:15:09.360 kJ Right j R. He signed with with Las Vegas 0:15:09.400 --> 0:15:11.440 for three and a half million dollars. I can get 0:15:11.440 --> 0:15:12.880 a kJ Right for three and a half million. But 0:15:12.880 --> 0:15:16.200 you want me to pay seven million for him? Yeah? No, 0:15:16.680 --> 0:15:18.640 not above market value? Yeah not at this point in 0:15:18.680 --> 0:15:21.200 his career. And I think the only thing that I 0:15:21.520 --> 0:15:25.440 disagree with is that gave him. I feel like done, 0:15:26.360 --> 0:15:30.840 he earned it, and he signed a team friendly deal. 0:15:31.120 --> 0:15:33.680 Is the way that they said it was a team 0:15:33.760 --> 0:15:37.120 friendly deal when he signed it. So let's being fair 0:15:37.240 --> 0:15:40.040 to to Jalen Right. It came to a certain point 0:15:40.120 --> 0:15:44.400 where the speed just wasn't there. He couldn't move him, puppies, 0:15:44.440 --> 0:15:46.960 and you saw it. You know, they say the eye 0:15:47.000 --> 0:15:49.600 and the sky don't lie. And if it don't lie 0:15:49.680 --> 0:15:51.240 to us and we're seeing it, it don't lie to 0:15:51.320 --> 0:15:53.320 them back there when they're seeing it. It's like, damn, 0:15:53.360 --> 0:15:55.720 this is what we had designed. Dog. Where are you going? 0:15:56.200 --> 0:15:59.560 You know, So you can't continue to have credibility if 0:15:59.600 --> 0:16:02.320 you're a guy playing to that level, and you have 0:16:02.400 --> 0:16:04.720 a guy sitting over here on the bench that can 0:16:04.840 --> 0:16:07.280 give you more than that, and you're paying that guy 0:16:07.520 --> 0:16:09.440 twice what you would have paid the guy that you 0:16:09.560 --> 0:16:13.200 just mentioned, right, So that they put themselves in a 0:16:13.280 --> 0:16:16.320 conundrum that started in March. They had to cut bait, 0:16:16.600 --> 0:16:18.640 and I think they did what was necessary. You're right, 0:16:18.720 --> 0:16:20.800 that was an interesting stretch when he got that extension, 0:16:20.840 --> 0:16:23.880 and you're right, it wasn't like a monster extension. Lyle 0:16:23.960 --> 0:16:26.000 Collins got one two around the same time. It wasn't 0:16:26.040 --> 0:16:29.040 a monster extension. They were in the middle of negotiating 0:16:29.080 --> 0:16:30.920 with Zeke, trying to get him out of the hold out, 0:16:31.320 --> 0:16:34.360 and that was an interesting stretch of how much pies 0:16:34.400 --> 0:16:36.920 available and all that stuff. And he was coming off 0:16:36.960 --> 0:16:40.440 a Pro Bowl appearance. But look, and he led the 0:16:40.440 --> 0:16:43.680 team and tackles the last two years. But clearly they 0:16:43.760 --> 0:16:47.360 felt like more competition was needed, and the snaps show it. 0:16:47.520 --> 0:16:49.720 He's playing fifty six percent of the snaps. He's playing 0:16:49.720 --> 0:16:51.800 half of what he normally does, and that's because other 0:16:51.880 --> 0:16:54.640 guys clearly they thought were playing better. I wonder if 0:16:54.720 --> 0:16:57.320 this move was made in March, there would have been 0:16:57.360 --> 0:17:01.400 a completely different mindset on the draft. Well, I mean 0:17:01.680 --> 0:17:04.080 to ross point I expected him to be gone then. Yeah, 0:17:04.359 --> 0:17:06.120 I was looking at that date like there's no way, 0:17:06.320 --> 0:17:08.880 there's no way. We talked about there's no way they're 0:17:08.880 --> 0:17:11.600 gonna let him get and give him guarantee. First of all, 0:17:12.480 --> 0:17:16.160 bravo to his agent, dog On, I've never seen. I talked. 0:17:16.160 --> 0:17:18.000 I talked to Barry Church Raylier. We talked on the phone. 0:17:18.040 --> 0:17:20.800 We're like, bro, who is his agent? Because to get 0:17:20.880 --> 0:17:24.479 a guarantee, right, isn't he got a roster bonus? Pretty much? 0:17:24.520 --> 0:17:27.240 You got a roster guarantee when you're a starter. How 0:17:27.280 --> 0:17:29.400 do you get a roster guarantee as a starter right 0:17:29.440 --> 0:17:32.240 for a salary of that amount? Right? And then if 0:17:32.320 --> 0:17:35.120 I get injured, if I get injured at any point, 0:17:35.240 --> 0:17:39.639 my nine next year, my nine millions guaranteed. Bam, kudos signed. 0:17:39.640 --> 0:17:42.080 Everybody who's a free agent signed that dude because he 0:17:42.240 --> 0:17:44.680 took care of Jalen. Well, you know, look, man, some 0:17:44.760 --> 0:17:47.480 people played chess, some people play checkers, and when it 0:17:47.600 --> 0:17:50.000 came down to it, the cowboys are sitting there looking 0:17:50.040 --> 0:17:51.879 at it. It may have looked favorable back when he 0:17:51.960 --> 0:17:54.240 signed the deal, but when they were sitting around and 0:17:54.680 --> 0:17:58.080 the Cowboy Club and said, you know what, we're not 0:17:58.160 --> 0:18:00.240 gonna do this nine for US seven million dollars. As 0:18:00.240 --> 0:18:03.199 a matter of fact, kean On, Neil Curse and Michael 0:18:03.320 --> 0:18:05.399 Parsons make it where we don't have to do this, 0:18:05.640 --> 0:18:07.560 and so why would we keep that? And that's still 0:18:08.040 --> 0:18:11.080 is at nine on the cap for next year as well. 0:18:11.480 --> 0:18:13.320 So I mean, they're gonna pay for this move, but 0:18:13.600 --> 0:18:15.119 it was better for them just to go ahead and 0:18:15.640 --> 0:18:18.000 be rid of it, and you know, cut back, like 0:18:18.040 --> 0:18:20.280 I said, cut bait, go to another guy. Keana Neil 0:18:20.359 --> 0:18:23.639 makes what four men? I think it's less than that. 0:18:24.480 --> 0:18:26.119 I'm not entirely sure. I don't have it up in 0:18:26.160 --> 0:18:28.320 front of him. That's expensive boy. You know, for him, 0:18:28.359 --> 0:18:30.320 he's got a chance because he's vested. He's got a 0:18:30.440 --> 0:18:33.400 chance now to be a free agent immediately and try 0:18:33.440 --> 0:18:35.800 to find a spot somewhere else where he might get 0:18:35.840 --> 0:18:37.000 to play more. I don't know if that's going to 0:18:37.040 --> 0:18:40.119 happen this point in the season, but it's possible. There's 0:18:40.160 --> 0:18:42.560 a lot a lot of injuries at linebacker, and so 0:18:42.760 --> 0:18:45.919 it's he's gonna get that opportunity. I feel like he has. 0:18:45.960 --> 0:18:48.240 He hasn't done anything to ruin his reputation in the 0:18:48.320 --> 0:18:51.159 league other than just you know, just guys come with 0:18:51.240 --> 0:18:54.240 a reputation sometimes of being not good in the locker room, 0:18:54.320 --> 0:18:56.480 not being good off the field, and so that's not 0:18:56.640 --> 0:18:59.240 his reputation, and that's This is a guy that I 0:18:59.320 --> 0:19:01.920 gotta say this. This is a guy that does a 0:19:02.160 --> 0:19:04.399 lot of stuff in the Dallas community. He is a 0:19:04.480 --> 0:19:08.600 guy that goes to minority communities and take young kids 0:19:08.720 --> 0:19:11.080 and put them in these data camps and teach them 0:19:11.119 --> 0:19:13.600 how to code. He's a guy that gives money to 0:19:13.840 --> 0:19:18.000 minority businesses. I mean, you don't find a Jalen Jalen 0:19:18.040 --> 0:19:20.480 Smith in your community. And any team that does get 0:19:20.560 --> 0:19:23.639 this guy, they're gonna get a quality person in their 0:19:23.720 --> 0:19:26.200 locker room. So I mean, look, the production wasn't there, 0:19:26.280 --> 0:19:29.280 the play wasn't there, but just keeping it classic. Jalen 0:19:29.320 --> 0:19:31.640 Smith's a good dude as well. Said yeah, I'm glad 0:19:31.680 --> 0:19:33.399 you brought that up. I mean, you you remember back 0:19:33.440 --> 0:19:35.159 to last year he was the Walter Maten Band of 0:19:35.200 --> 0:19:39.080 the Year nominee from the Cowboys, and that's not an 0:19:39.160 --> 0:19:42.560 easy task. I mean, that is a high honor even 0:19:42.600 --> 0:19:45.560 to be nominated from a team, to be a part 0:19:45.600 --> 0:19:49.040 of that award process's at hey, But if being a 0:19:49.119 --> 0:19:52.480 good guy meant you had longevity in the NFL, rob P, 0:19:52.920 --> 0:19:59.520 you play for a lot of years, give you a bust. 0:20:01.400 --> 0:20:03.119 All right, let's take a break. When we come back, 0:20:03.160 --> 0:20:05.639 we're gonna hear from Cowboys Nation. Get your calls in 0:20:05.880 --> 0:20:08.639 eight eight eight eight, five five two two nine seven 0:20:08.840 --> 0:20:12.240 instant reaction from the Jalen Smith News And what do 0:20:12.320 --> 0:20:15.560 you think around what the cowboys are going to do next? 0:20:15.640 --> 0:20:19.560 When we return on Talking Cowboys? Honey, big news? Gary? 0:20:19.720 --> 0:20:22.880 Are you okay? Oh? I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. 0:20:23.240 --> 0:20:25.600 What see? I want the latest smartphone? But the best 0:20:25.640 --> 0:20:27.399 deals are only for new customers. So to get a 0:20:27.440 --> 0:20:30.760 new customer deal, I changed my name to Jackie Flash. Okay, 0:20:31.000 --> 0:20:33.040