Cowboys news: DC Mike Zimmer goes off about his exit from the Vikings
Your Sunday morning Cowboys news
Mike Zimmer, back in the NFL, has a lot to say about his Vikings exit: ‘Unfortunately, I hold grudges’ – Mark Craig, The Minnesota Star Tribune
Mike Zimmer doesn’t hold back in discussing the end for him in Minnesota.
This second Cowboys stint suits him. It’s the ideal career rebirth — a much-appreciated resurrection driven in no small part by how miserable Zimmer’s final act in Minnesota played out from the start of the injury-riddled 2020 season to Jan. 10, 2022, when owners Zygi and Mark Wilf delivered the official time of death on the Vikings careers of Zimmer and General Manager Rick Spielman.
Zimmer was crushed. Angry. Sleep-deprived. The rare coaching lifer who had never been fired.
“They asked me if I wanted to address the team,” he says. “And I said, ‘Hell, no. They got me fired!’
“I didn’t know I was supposed to go to HR and sign out or whatever. No one told me. I just got all my stuff, got in my truck, and left.”
[…]
The criticism that hurt most of all wasn’t from Kendricks, although that one certainly stung.It was from Terence Newman, who was an assistant coach at the time after playing cornerback for Zimmer in Dallas, Cincinnati and Minnesota.
Newman spoke with Tyler Dunne of Go Long and detailed what he called a “toxic” atmosphere in Zimmer’s final days.
“That one hurt me bad,” Zimmer says. “Terence was like my son. I called Parcells about that one. I called Terence. He said, ‘Well, that’s how I felt.’ I said, ‘Then, look, we’re done.’ ”
[…]
With four third-round picks, [GM Rick] Spielman selected, in order, quarterback Kellen Mond, linebacker Chazz Surratt, offensive lineman Wyatt Davis and defensive end Patrick Jones II. Zimmer was there for only the first pick.
“When he picked Mond, I walked out of the room,” Zimmer says. “I left the building. I didn’t even talk to him on the phone.”
The two spoke the next morning.
“Rick said, ‘You mad at me?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I think you took four backups when we had guys there I thought were starters,’ ” Zimmer says. “From that time on, it just kind of got worse between us. And I’m not saying nothing was my fault. I’m sure there were plenty of things that were my fault.”
Cowboys talented roster extends to the practice squad – Mario Herrera Jr., Inside the Star
The Cowboys stashing some good players away for a rainy day.
DE Carl Lawson
Carl Lawson was signed by the Cowboys a few weeks ago to add depth to a defensive end room that suffered the loss of Sam Williams to a torn ACL. The Cowboys appeared to give younger players a chance to shine, but no one outside of rookie Marshawn Kneeland has stepped up to the plate.
Lawson was released by the Cowboys initially, causing Philadelphia fans to mock the team after several of us celebrated his signing and the impact he could have on Mike Zimmer’s defense. However, Eagles fans are usually not smart enough to realize that it was simply smart roster maneuvering because, as a vested veteran, Lawson is not subject to waivers.
He was immediately signed right back to the practice squad as he continues to ramp up into football shape, and he will likely be on the active roster week 1 and beyond. The first three games will be a test for Lawson to determine if he will be signed to the active roster.
RB Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook is another veteran that will likely be on the active roster for the first three weeks of the season on a trial basis.
Cook is 29 years old, but he still showed some explosiveness during the postseason as a member of the Ravens’ backfield. Many say that he can still be more explosive than Ezekiel Elliott, who took zero preseason reps.
I’m not sure if the Cowboys did that to preserve his legs, which already have over 2,000 carries, or if he roster spot is so secure that they didn’t feel he needed to take any preseason snaps.
Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys alternate healthy scratches for Elliott and Cook throughout the season in an effort to see which running back is more important to the offense.
Which teams might pursue Dak Prescott? – Mike Florio, PFT
Florio lists 7 teams as potential suitors. In order: Giants, Jets, Raiders, Steelers, Saints, Seahawks, and Rams.
