Stephen A. Smith found a new way to pile on the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, which didn’t even involve any move the franchise made.
Instead, Smith’s newfound ridicule got sparked by the Houston Texans completing the stunning trade for four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs — all while Dallas itself seeks wideout help.
Stephen A. Smith Shares Why the Houston Texans Have Surpassed Dallas Cowboys
Smith made it vocally clear on ESPN’s First Take that the Cowboys’ Texas counterpart has shown more offseason aggression.
“You’re missing the big headline. They [the Texans] are probably the best team in Texas,” Smith confidently said.
The verbose Smith, known for ripping the Cowboys, wasn’t through with ragging on Dallas.
Of course Stephen A. Smith found a way to make the Stefon Diggs trade about the Dallas Cowboys.
"The big headline is [the Texans] are probably the best team in Texas." pic.twitter.com/ah2nzthi8f
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing)
“What’s going to happen with those Dallas Cowboys is, they’re going to sit up there and monitor this situation. And it’s one thing for you to not win a Super Bowl. That’s bad enough. It’s one thing to not also make an NFC Championship Game in 29 years, that’s even worse. But it’s another thing entirely when you’re not even the best team in Texas,” Smith said.
Smith believes the Texans are better-structured salary cap-wise and more well-oiled when compared to the Cowboys.
“They got a younger quarterback, they have the better coach, and, excuse me, these brothers ain’t gonna cost $60 million against your cap right now,” Smith said.
Does Smith Have a Point in the Texans Being Better Than the Cowboys?
Looking back at last season, both Lone Star State representatives secured the NFC East and AFC South titles in their respective divisions. It’s the third time in NFL history both teams claimed the division in the same season (the others were 2016 and 2018).
However, Smith believes Dallas is in a dilemma given some big contracts attached to the Cowboys.
“I mean, you got to pay CeeDee Lamb, you got to pay Dak Prescott, you got to figure out a way to pay Micah Parsons,” Smith said.
The Cowboys currently have only approximately $6.7 million in salary cap space to work with per Over the Cap. Meanwhile, the other Texas NFL representative still has more than $29.6 million in cap space to work with.
“And all the Houston Texas are doing is saying, ‘Howdy! We right here, and our focus is on the right things.’ You know what I’m saying?” Smith joked.
Houston has implemented an aggressive strategy in building its 2024 roster following the Texans’ stunning playoff run that ended in the Divisional Round.
First, the franchise added Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon via a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals, additionally adding Super Bowl experience to the roster as Mixon owns an AFC title ring from 2021. Houston then turned to adding an extra star layer in the defensive trenches by bringing in Pro Bowl performer Danielle Hunter, who starred on the defensive line for the Minnesota Vikings.
Now, the former Buffalo Bills star Diggs, who has produced four consecutive 100-catch seasons, is the latest piece to cement Houston’s case as a trending Super Bowl contender.
But on the Cowboys’ end, they’ve been criticized and mocked by many, including Smith, for delivering a quiet offseason of free agency spending. Dallas has watched star running back Tony Pollard sign with the Tennessee Titans while longtime blindside protector Tyron Smith signed with the New York Jets.
Dallas happens to be in need of an extra wide receiver after letting go of veteran Michael Gallup. Now, the Cowboys are watching Diggs become a Texas resident. The brother of Dallas cornerback star Trevon is moving to Houston, which got Smith stating the Cowboys are no longer the face of the Lone Star State’s NFL scene.
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