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The Cowboys did not want to lose Al Harris.
There was quite the exodus of talent, players and coaches, making its way from the Dallas Cowboys to the Washington Commanders this offseason, largely thanks to Dan Quinn — former defensive coordinator of the former turned current head coach of the latter — but Al Harris isn’t one of them.
It’s not for lack of effort by Quinn to poach Harris as well, though, but having the interview request denied by the Cowboys; in a move that is allowed by the league if the position to be interviewed for is not a promotion.
Subsequently, head coach Mike McCarthy then promoted Harris himself, to the role of assistant head coach in Dallas.
“[It’s] more responsibility,” said Harris ahead of OTAs. “On the day-to-day, I’m still doing the things I’ve been doing since I’ve been here. It’s just added responsibility here and there.”
It’s a huge nod to just how superb Harris has been since joining the Cowboys in 2020, a critical addition that helped lead to both Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland quickly becoming historic, record-setting cornerbacks.
The Cowboys are missing a couple of their stars at OTAs.
The Cowboys have opened their Organized Team Activities, but Micah Parsons isn’t there.
Parsons, the star linebacker who wants a new contract, did not attend the opening of OTAs, according to Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram.
Parsons joins CeeDee Lamb as key Cowboys who are not participating in OTAs as they seek new deals. Lamb was always expected to skip voluntary work, but the Cowboys had been hoping that Parsons would show up. Parsons’ agent said in April that his absence from voluntary work was not about his contract, but Parsons would obviously like to get a long-term deal from the Cowboys.
The 24-year-old Parsons has emerged as one of the best defensive players in the NFL since the Cowboys selected him with the 12th overall pick in 2021. He has two years left on his rookie contract, with a salary of just under $3 million this year and $21.3 million next year.
Mazi Smith needs a huge bounce-back year.
Dallas Cowboys | DT Mazi Smith
Smith was celebrated as the Cowboys’ first-round pick (26) in the 2023 NFL Draft but his rookie season didn’t go as planned. Despite appearing in all 17 games, he had just 13 tackles, one sack and three starts while splitting time with veteran Johnathan Hankins.
Coming out of college, Smith seemed more like a force of nature. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic even put him at the top of his annual [College Football Freaks...
