It’s the start of training camp, which means every team in the NFL believes they have a shot at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy come February.
Whether they truly believe it— or if it’s even realistic— is beside the point, at least for the Dallas Cowboys and one player in particular.
Cowboys guard Tyler Smith firmly believes his team has what it takes to be the ones making confetti-snow angels in February. That is the goal for the storied franchise.
“Super Bowl champions. That’s always the expectation,” Smith told Todd Archer of ESPN.com.
“I think it’s a realistic goal, yeah,” Smith continued.
When asked why winning the Super Bowl is a realistic goal for a franchise that hasn’t even reached the NFC Championship game in 30 years, Smith didn’t blink.
“Because we can win a Super Bowl. Why not? Why can’t we win?” he said. “Do you think it’s unrealistic?”
Technically is it realistic? Yes. Is it likely? Probably not. But don’t tell Smith that.
“I think we built a great core on offense; the addition of [receiver] George [Pickens] and all the other key pieces,” Smith said.
“I think drafting [guard Tyler] Booker [in the first round], he’s going to be a hell of a guy just to bolster the front line. And we have many guys across the board, but those are some of the guys who are the key pieces on what we do this year.”
Last season, the Cowboys finished 7-10, with franchise quarterback Dak Prescott playing in only eight games before having season-ending hamstring surgery.
Owner Jerry Jones parted ways with Mike McCarthy after five seasons and promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the position.
Schottenheimer’s first year as a head coach will come with a huge spotlight, as it is the Dallas Cowboys.
Jones knows the risk of hiring someone with no head coaching experience, but he has the utmost faith in the 51-year-old, who has been around the league for nearly three decades.
“I know that Shotty is no stranger to these guys (players),” Jones said back in February during Schottenheimer’s introductory news conference.
“I know he’s no stranger to this building. I get my proverbial ass kicked over needing people in my comfort zone. Without this thing being about me in any way, if you don’t think I can’t operate out of my comfort zone, you’re so wrong it’s unbelievable.
“This is as big a risk as you can take. As big a risk as you can take. No head-coaching experience.”
As big of a risk having Schottenheimer run the ship may be, it will be even riskier if the Cowboys don’t get their star defender a new contract extension.
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All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons is eligible for an extension and has made it no secret that he wants it now.
However, he believes that it will get done, one way or another.
“I just work harder. Like, to me, I look at it like if people don’t see your value, you don’t cry and sit down. You just work harder,” Parsons said last week, via Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.
“You got to show people your value. I just think that’s the difference. Like I go, OK, bet, and I just work.”
As training camp begins for the Cowboys this week, all eyes will be on Parsons and his contract dispute. He is in line to become the NFL’s highest paid non-quarterback, after Pittsburgh Steelers pass-rush T.J. Watt recently took the title.
If Smith’s goal of winning the Super Bowl is going to come true, they will need Parsons on the field.