Michael Irvin isn’t lowering the bar for the Cowboys this season. If anything, he’s raising it all the way back to the top.
With Dallas less than two weeks from opening its season on the road against the New York Giants, the Hall of Fame receiver made it clear he thinks the franchise has to get back into the championship picture fast if it wants to keep carrying the weight of its old nickname.
“We cannot remain America's Team if a whole generation of Americans never see us in a championship game,” said Irvin, per Awful Announcing on X, formerly Twitter.
The timing of that warning is interesting, because the pressure on Dallas has been building for years. A generation of fans has grown up seeing the Cowboys as a team that too often becomes a punchline and only occasionally sneaks into the playoffs, a far cry from the days when Irvin, Emmitt Smith and the rest of that dynasty made the franchise a powerhouse.
Still, there’s reason to think this group could at least be relevant right away. The Cowboys spent the offseason revamping their defense while keeping most of their offense intact, and the expectation is that they’ll be able to win plenty of games if the pieces fit.
Dallas also added some important help on defense, including drafting Caleb Downs with one of its two first-round picks, and it kept Quinnen Williams around for the long haul.
On offense, much of the core remains in place, and if Dak Prescott can duplicate the MVP-adjacent form he showed last season, the Cowboys could make a real push in the NFC East.
For now, the first test comes September 13 in New York. That’s when Dallas finally gets to show whether this group can turn Irvin’s words into something more than nostalgia.
In Other News...
Giants Turn To Familiar Ravens Pipeline As Linebacker Need Grows
The Giants added a familiar face to their linebacker group this week, signing veteran Malik Harrison to the practice squad as they look for more help at the position. Harrison comes with a clear connection to the organizations new defensive leadership, having spent five seasons under John Harbaugh with the Ravens before a year in Pittsburgh, and the move gives New York a player who already knows the kind of system and expectations that come with that background.
For a Giants team trying to stabilize its depth, the timing matters. Harrison is expected to be in the mix quickly, but the signing also means the club has to clear room on a 17-player practice squad, adding a small roster decision to a bigger effort to patch up a thin spot on defense. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Still Have One Unsettled Roster Issue Before Week 1
Joe Schoen has made no secret of wanting more help inside, and the Giants are still treating defensive tackle as a spot that could use another look before Week 1. Over the past stretch, the team has brought in several defensive linemen for workouts, while also keeping options on the practice squad, a sign the front office is still sorting through ways to add depth to the middle of the defense.
For a roster that is otherwise trying to get through the final week of preparation, it is one of the last lingering questions on the table. No trade or signing has surfaced yet, but the Giants interest in upgrading that group has not gone away, and the timing suggests the search could continue right up to the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Part Of A Powerful Week 1 9 11 Tribute
The league is marking Week 1 with a wide-ranging tribute to the victims and heroes of the September 11 attacks, and the Giants will be part of it in ways that reach beyond the field. Across stadiums and broadcasts, the NFL is planning moments of remembrance and community-focused efforts, while the Giants and Jets will wear commemorative hats and T-shirts honoring first responders.
The local piece of the gesture is especially pointed in New York, where the Giants, Jets and Washington Commanders are set to donate $1 million to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The NFL Foundation is also contributing $250,000 to 9/11 Day, adding another layer to a league-wide acknowledgment that is designed to be felt in the stadium, on the air and in the communities those games represent. [Read more 🡒]