Michael Irvin questions will of Dallas Cowboys in quest to improve with lesser talent
Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin has gone on to be one of the Dallas Cowboys’ biggest fans since his retirement and transition to the media with ESPN and the NFL Network.
But even Irvin has a hard time buying what the Cowboys are selling with their moves this offseason.
Irvin said the Cowboys are not a better team without receiver Amari Cooper, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns, and defensive end Randy Gregory, who signed with the Denver Broncos in free agency.
But Irvin — who was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame over the weekend as a member with fellow NFL legends Darrell Green and Ray Crockett, former Texas Rangers pitcher Darren Oliver and former TCU star basketball player Kurt Thomas among others — is not without hope.
He believes there is a way the Cowboys can be better in 2022.
“They have lost talent. They are not a better team talent-wise,” Irvin said. “This game doesn’t require skill. It requires will. If a team loses a little bit of skill but gains greater will, they call still do great things. If the Cowboys can take the disappointment of that defeat against San Francisco, beating you at home ... if they can take that and internalize it in the offseason and come with less skill and more will and have a better season.”
“If” is the operative word for Irvin in this scenario.
He doesn’t know if the Cowboys have the passion or intestinal fortitude to use that anger and disappointment as motivation.
He was visibly hurt and embarrassed following the loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC wild card game. He had to endure trash talk from ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith, who mocked crying Cowboys fans.
He didn’t remember seeing the same pain from the players.
“They are not as skilled as they were last year,” Irvin said. “When you lack skill, you have to overcome it with will and togetherness. A man’s greatest promise comes from their greatest pain. If they felt the pain like we felt and like those fans ... I want to see them jokers on the field cry like that. I want it to hurt them like that.
“But I haven’t seen that. I hope they cry like karate men, on the inside. But I haven’t seen it outside.”
Irvin remains a big believer in quarterback Dak Prescott. He says Prescott has the talent to lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl.
And he believes the Cowboys can overcome the loss of talent on offense with an improved Prescott following a full offseason for the first time in three seasons.
“Hopefully that improvement can make up for some of the loss of talent we have seen this offseason,” Irvin said.
This story was originally published April 4, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Michael Irvin questions will of Dallas Cowboys in quest to improve with lesser talent."
