The stakes are high for the Dallas Cowboys entering this season, and Marcus Spears believes they must deliver. The ESPN analyst and former Cowboys defensive end explained that he sees this year as a “boom or bust” of sorts for the franchise. Dallas has failed to live up to expectations in recent years, with three […]
The stakes are high for the Dallas Cowboys entering this season, and Marcus Spears believes they must deliver. The ESPN analyst and former Cowboys defensive end explained that he sees this year as a “boom or bust” of sorts for the franchise.
Dallas has failed to live up to expectations in recent years, with three straight 12-5 finishes from 2021-23 only to win one playoff game in that span. Last year, with quarterback Dak Prescott sidelined due to injury, they finished 7-10 and missed the postseason.
Now Prescott is healthy, but other major questions loom over the Cowboys with a little more than two weeks until kickoff of the regular season. Pass rusher Micah Parsons has requested a trade from the team amid negotiations for a contract extension, and his status for the beginning of the year is still in doubt.
“I don’t understand what has happened this offseason but this is a boom or bust,” Spears said on Monday Night Countdown. “This is like buying into a stock and it could literally shoot through the roof or you could lose all your life savings… I’m trying to figure out, one, how will they get Micah back into the fold? Will it be a contract or will it be a force? Or will Micah say ‘I ain’t doing nothing until something happens.'”
ESPN’s Adam Schefterrevealed Monday that Parsons and the Cowboys have made “no progress” on a new deal. That would be a massive hole to fill as he is arguably the team’s best defender, recording no fewer than 12 sacks in any of his four seasons.
Dallas will obviously have to come to some sort of agreement with Parsons if it hopes contend at full strength defensively. However, Marcus Spears also noted that he expects a big leap from the Cowboys offense with Prescott back and the offseason addition of George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Paired with CeeDee Lamb, he will give Prescott two dangerous weapons that could potentially be one of the best duos he’s had in his career. That could lead to a major bounceback, and Spears even went as far as to say Prescott could be an MVP candidate when all is said and done.
“Offensively, I think this team can be as dangerous as anybody if this young offensive line can come together,” he said. “Dak Prescott, finally, has a No. 2 — 1B — with George Pickens coming over from the Pittsburgh Steelers. We already know how good CeeDee Lamb is. Can they get this run game going with this young offensive line? And I think Dak Prescott can be in the conversation for MVP. I think they have enough talent.”
Prescott finished second in the MVP voting in 2023 after throwing for 4,516 yards and 36 touchdowns to nine interceptions. If he can put up similar numbers or even find a way to surpass that this year, it’s certainly within the realm of possibility that Spears’ prediction could come true.
The biggest concern is whether he can remain healthy after injuries have been an issue for the QB over the past few years. The Cowboys kick off the 2025 season on Sept. 4 against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Category: Football
