One Cowboys player is unhappy with his contract situation

OXNARD: What’s fresh? A Cowboys player is dissatisfied with his contract status during training camp. Consider that.

Over 50 years have passed since this began, most likely in the 1970s when quarterback Roger Staubach made a concerted effort to get the attention of Cowboys president Tex Schramm one day when Tex was avoiding his Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

In order to have one of those “ta-dah” moments, Roger, also known as the “Dodger,” ducked past the Cowboys’ administrative assistant, jumped out of the window onto a ledge of the team’s high-rise office building, and sprang in front of Schramm’s office window next door.

According to the story, Tex almost fell out of his chair in shock as he tried to get up and allow Roger in, his feet propped up on his desk.

Asking to be traded sounds trivial now, fifty years later.

What’s the big deal? Come on. In 1984, Randy White skipped training camp. In 1985, Tony Dorsett persevered. In 1990 and 1993, Emmitt Smith famously hung on. In 1992, Michael Irvin waited, signing only a few days before the season began. In 1992, Daryl Johnston and Jay Novacek missed some of camp. Let’s take a look at CeeDee Lamb, Zack Martin, and Ezekiel Elliott in 2019.

Micah Parsons is now providing requests to be exchanged with the intention of openly intensifying the discussions using his limited influence. Even though the defensive end has 24 million reasons to stay here, as guaranteed by the fifth-year option the Cowboys selected, Micah declares in a social media message that he no longer wants to be here.

Let’s see. But keep in mind that salary cap funds are just that—salary cap funds.

Alright, alright. To change gears, a 30-second timeout is called.

Instead of the same old stuff, how about something different?

Here at training camp, the Cowboys offense is moving at a tempo that is unprecedented. Speaking at a pace that breaks the human sound threshold.

KaVontae Turpin, who made his West Coast debut at a Chargers practice in Costa Mesa on August 18, 2022, is well-known to us thanks to his roadrunner beep-beep speed. Against the Chargers’ special teams, this 5-7, 158-pound whippet of a return guy scored on both kickoff and punt returns.

After the practice, I vividly recall questioning him and asking him why he believes a person of my stature could succeed in the NFL while staring him in the eye.

He said, “Speed kills, man.” The former USFL Offensive Player of the Year demonstrated his expertise by scoring kickoff returns of 98 yards and 86 yards for scores in a preseason game two days later. Then, head coach Mike McCarthy essentially guaranteed the rookie free agent a job by telling him he wasn’t leaving.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer seems to be purposefully upholding his winter promise to use Turp’s explosive speed more in the passing game as the two-time Pro Bowl special teamer begins his fourth season. This is evolving every day. He’s opening up. Regular route passes are being caught by him. Additionally, cornerbacks should avoid overplaying him in coverage, as they will realize he is number nine.

“They seem to be attempting to win me the ball, guy. Following a post-practice NFL Network interview, Turpin spent a solid ten minutes signing autographs for those behind the fence and taking photographs with almost everyone who asked. “Like I said, if they want to put me at tight end, I’ll go play tight end,” Turpin said. “Dude, whatever Schotty wants me to do, I’m down for it. I’m a team player first, like I said.

Turpin now has a partner who may push him in a footrace, even though we already know Lamb and newcomer George Pickens can extend the field. Give the distance in yards: 20, 40, 60, or 100. Come on.

His last name is Jaydon Blue, which is appropriate given that the rookie running back from Texas has exceptional scooting skills. Since the blue falcon is, you guessed it, the fastest bird in the world, blue is a perfect choice. Something about this blue color—a blue streak, unexpected—suggests speed and abruptness.

As for a running back, Jaydon showed off his unexpected sprinting abilities after working with the first team this week when Miles Sanders missed practice the other day. Recall that Blue’s time in the 40 was 4.28 on the Longhorns’ Pro Day.

On rushing plays, it is thus not surprising to see the youngster tearing past the line of scrimmage, and we’re not referring to the area outside the tackles. Schottenheimer told me the other day that his cat-like acceleration through the hole is what makes him so dangerous, not simply his all-out speed, which is a concern for defenders. We are conversing inside while slithering through the slightest of cracks. Perhaps you have to be a speedster to understand one.

“With Blue, I’m happy he’s finding his groove, you know, and with me and him on the field together it’s going to be lightning in a bottle, man,” Turpin said. “At the same moment, he came with the thunder and I with the bottle lightning. At the moment, he is discovering his comfort zone.

Turpin, who may be the only player on the squad who can keep up with him, said, “Here’s learning the playbook; the comfort is coming on, and I’m going to help him.”

Now just picture this, and I guarantee you Schottenheimer, Klayton Adams and running backs coach Derrick Foster have, once Blue gets up to, uh, speed with the NFL game and the playbook, getting Turpin and Blue on the field at the same time.

Imagine Turp in the slot, Blue at running back, Lamb to one side, and Pickens on the other. Can’t double everyone. And even in a nickel defense with an extra defensive back on the field, with that much speed, at least one safety has to remain in place. One of these guys, Blue coming out of the backfield or Turpin out of the slot, will draw single coverage from a linebacker. Good luck with that.

Or what if the Cowboys go empty, flanking Blue out wide? He has good hands, demonstrating the other day when making that down-the-field one-handed grab while stretched out on the sideline. Now what? Going zero coverage, meaning manning all these guys? Good luck with all that. Better have a 4×100 relay team in the secondary. Calling 911 won’t help in time.

This all is a work in progress. But Turpin, now more familiar with the offense and earning the trust of the offensive coaches as more than just a gadget receiver, will definitely pose problems for defenses as a legit receiver, and his speed on those jet sweeps will always keep opponents on edge.

Then along comes Blue, and with Pickens and Lamb always deep threats, this could be something special, a handful for defenses, and might leave you drooling. And that right there just might be a welcomed something new.