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Stephen A. Smith has long been an outspoken critic of the Dallas Cowboys organization. But in a rare move, the ESPN host directed praise at the team’s longtime owner and general manager, Jerry Jones.
In late August, the Cowboys boss agreed to a blockbuster trade that sent star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. The decision came just because of the one-year anniversary of Jones rewarding quarterback Dak Prescott with a massive four-year contract extension.
Jones faced backlash in the wake of Parsons’ exit, but considering the Cowboys have exceeded expectations so far this season, Smith believes Jones made the right choice.
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Stephen A. Smith on “ESPN NBA Countdown” at the Intuit Dome on October 23, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
The Cowboys enter Week 8 with a 3-3-1 record. Prescott has thrown for 1,881 yards and 16 touchdowns – both figures rank second in the NFL.
While the Cowboys trail the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, Dallas’ hopes of making the playoffs are very much alive. Smith cited the decision to invest in Prescott over Parsons when offering his prediction that the Cowboys will end up in the postseason.
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“You know, I didn’t like how he handled the Micah Parsons situation,” Smith said on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “First Take.”
“We’ve got to be fair to Jerry Jones, who obviously we’re consistently critical of. This man wanted his money on Dak Prescott. He wanted Dak Prescott… Jerry Jones is all about his way. And his way is I gave this man $60 million to go out there and make myself look good. I’m riding with you. I can afford to make the sacrifice I can afford here, I can afford to make here. and get away … I can afford to let Micah Parsons go … I can afford to do these things because I got you, I got you, and by the way, I got you (George) Pickens to go with CeeDee Lamb, too.”
Smith also praised running back Javonte Williams, who is on pace for the best season of his career.
A close-up of the Dallas Cowboys logo painted at midfield prior to an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
“So you got all the records because Ferguson is no joke either and Javonte Williams runs with the football. And the offensive line wasn’t as bad as you all thought it would be. Look at this offense, right? So they’re winning the way he wants them to win,” Smith added.
Parsons has 16 tackles and 5.5 sacks through six games with the Packers. The defensive end recorded double-digit sack totals in all four seasons with the Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws downfield against the New York Jets in the first half at MetLife Stadium on October 5, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Robert Deutsch/Imagn Images)
The Cowboys have just four playoff wins in the last quarter century and have not reached the NFC Championship game since they last won the Super Bowl in the 1995 season. Despite the lack of recent postseason success, Smith expressed confidence that Dallas will secure a playoff victory in January.
“If he goes out and adjusts and this defense shows something … and the Dallas Cowboys get to the playoffs with that offense and dare say they win a playoff game, then we all have to stand down and be like this: Jerry Jones got us,” Smith said. “We’ve got to stand down. It’s a big if … but if we’re going to religiously crucify him, we’ve got to step back and go like, ‘Damn, he might have had a point.'”
The Denver Broncos host the Cowboys this Sunday.
