To David Hermann
FOX SPORTS Dallas Cowboys Writer
Oxnard, California — Trevon Diggs I’m tired of bird apps.
There is no training camp playground like Twitter. This special social media platform uses a deceptively cute bird as its logo.
As any seasoned veteran knows, Twitter is where 10-second video clips of training become stories of training camp. Such was the case with Diggs last week. lose practice CeeDee Lamb and Simi Fehoko made headlines.
The reaction from a world of armchair coaches and footwork professionals was enough for Diggs to deactivate his Twitter account — a decision he briefly explained.
“It’s toxic,” he said. “I’m usually not on Twitter much, but I’m in camp. I’m trying to focus.
This is the epicenter of a unique discussion about Diggs. He led the NFL with 11 interceptions last season, which was enough to see him named a First-Team All-Pro. Look, there are a lot of people who say they give up too many yards to be considered one of the best corners in the game.
It’s been a never-ending debate since last season and will intensify further this fall as it marks Diggs’ final season before he becomes eligible to negotiate an extension.
Asked about Monday’s scrutiny, Diggs said he understands it’s part of the job.
“I feel like it comes with it. Hate comes with success,” he said. “I don’t put anyone first. Everyone is obligated to have their own opinion. All I can do is control what I can control on the field and let my play speak for itself.” ”
That doesn’t mean he wants to see those opinions in his downtime, though.
“I can’t reply to everyone. I can’t reply to everyone. So I want to be on the field and perform without saying anything,” Diggs said.
Dak Prescott expects Cowboys WR to “play a bigger role”.
The Dallas Cowboys hold their annual training camp in Oxnard, California.
The Cowboys had a padded practice Monday afternoon. Here are some highlights from the field.
competition is coming
The Cowboys’ kicker had a solid Monday afternoon, but is it a little too late?
Both Lirim Hajrullahu and Jonathan Garibay had strong practices. Hajrullahu was perfect with his eight kicks and Garibay scored a respectable 6/8. Both men took chances in moments of pressure, as he connected with a 40-yarder at the end of his two-minute drill for the team.
Nonetheless, team officials confirmed Monday night that they will practice four kickers on Tuesday. Maher is clearly a familiar name as he was the kicker for the Cowboys in 2018 and he was in 2019 with mixed results.
“We just want to see what’s out there and see the best kickers out there,” said Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McCrae.
No roster moves need to be done yet as this is just a workout. But it’s interesting to see how keen the Cowboys are to acquire either of his two kickers currently on the roster.
rookie spotlight
If you’re not familiar with the name Markquese Bell, it’s probably time to learn it.
We’ve known the undrafted safety from Florida A&M to be a figure to watch since the spring when the front office gave him $200,000 to guarantee his signing in Dallas. That’s an astronomical number for a guy who didn’t know his name was called in his 2022 NFL Draft.
The thing is, the 6-foot-2, 212-pound rookie continues to show why the Cowboys were so intrigued. First of all, that frame gives him the flexibility to play multiple roles in this defense, similar to current starter Jayron Kurse.
If that sounds hyperbole, ask defensive coordinator Dan Quinn himself.
“What I have seen so far is someone who can play multiple roles, and he has the speed and length to play two spots on defense, both in the safe back end and near the line of scrimmage. I feel I have, as a linebacker,” Quinn said.
On Monday, Quinn gave Bell a chance to show off his ability in the starting lineup. Bell said he might get the chance to slap the quarterback in this franchise, but he said he’s just trying to make the most of the chance he’s been given.
“It means a lot to me to be able to be here, even if it’s only been two or three,” he said. They do — it doesn’t matter what position they’re playing or where they are on the depth chart.”
look sharp
Ironically, the coaching staff was looking for an excuse to attempt a game-winning field goal on the kicker, but that had to wait until the second string was on the field.
Dak Prescott enjoyed arguably the best session of training camp on Monday with a two-minute drill to wrap up practice. The coach sent the starters to the field around his 25-yard line on their own, and he trailed 14-12 in a game that featured 1:36 of play and his one offensive timeout. I was.
Again, a field goal would get the job done, but Prescott wasn’t interested in leaving it to the kicker. He found and led the offense into the opponent’s red zone by completing a 6-of-7 pass.
Seeing his preferred lead well covered, Prescott lofted the ball out of bounds, resulting in the only incompleteness on a throwaway inside the 10-yard line. From there, with 16 seconds to play in a scenario, he floated the ball into the seam to go to a wide-open CeeDee Lamb, allowing a touchdown.
The starting defense gave Prescott a lot of trouble in this camp, but he made Monday’s two-minute job look lopsided.
David Helman covers FOX Sports’ Dallas Cowboys to provide insight and analysis on the NFL’s most famous franchise. Before joining FOX, he covered the Cowboys for nine seasons on the team’s official website, DallasCowboys.com. In 2018, he won a regional Emmy Award for producing “Dak Prescott: A Family Reunion,” about the quarterback’s era in Mississippi.
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