Stephen A. is 'PROUD' of Dak Prescott's comments? 😳 + Adam Schefter AGREES with WHAT? 👀 | First Take

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and players. The Bengals and Trey Hendrickson have agreed in principle to a new one-year deal. It will make Hendrickson one of the NFL's highest paid defenders for 2025 with a 14 million dollar raise to 30 million Hendrickson is still scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season Adam

How did both sides land on this revised deal? Well, listen, I think this is the victory Trey Hendrickson gets a 14 million dollar Raise this season this season You don't see players get 14 million dollar raises on one year and the Bengals essentially get to keep his services and they are spared of having to give him

the type of huge contract that some of these other pass rushers have gotten with one hundred million dollars in guaranteed And they now will potentially wind up losing him.

But they'll have them as they're trying to make another playoff run this year. Trey Hendrickson gets to become a free agent after this year. So it's not as much money as he wants but he can test the free agent market. And again we talked about it with Terry McClure.

We'll talk about it with Trey Hendrickson. He was they were both sides wound up worlds apart

Couldn't bridge their differences couldn't figure it out and lo and behold

Less than two weeks to the opener against the Cleveland Browns. They figured out a way even I got it done Now are the Bengals a top AFC threat? I think they could be

Their defense is not going to be much better Despite his greatness 35 sacks over the last two years four and a half more than anybody else in the league Led the NFL in pressures with about 92 last year. Give credit where credit is due, but the defense was still putrid. 25th in scoring, defense worse than that in total defense. They were awful.

And watching them this preseason, it would have been criminal had they not signed them because they're so awful defensively. This preseason, you actually said, if you are a member of the Cincinnati Bengals defensive unit, you should keep that from the public. You should ask the announcers not to even reveal your names. Okay, you shouldn't want your name on the back of a jersey. That's how bad the defense looked this

preseason. Having said that, I gotta give love to Joe Burrow. Now this brother's a stud. We all know what a big time quarterback he is, but I'm gonna remind everybody, Molly. He came on with us Super Bowl week, right on first tip, and called out the Bengals, called out the Augustinians.

I need Jamar Chase here. I need T. Higgins back. We need Trey Hendricks back. He said it by name. We need those three, and give Cincinnati credit for going out and finding a way to get it done. But I don't believe it happens. If Joe Burrow doesn't open his mouth and mandate it because he is

Cincinnati, by the way, right now, he is Ohio when it comes to quarterbacks, they don't have another one. Okay, so I'm just telling you the brother give him credit where credit is due. Not many people in his position would be as outspoken as he was against the organization in mandating what was needed in order for them to be competitive. Now,

he's got to go out and win in the first two weeks of the season. They'll be 11 and 11. They've been terrible. They've been first. I got a lot of wins.

They put all the chips in here. Top AFC threat.

I think there's I think there's tears to this. Like I always say, there's levels to this, there's tears to this. I don't have many. I think there's four teams in the AFC better. Right now, okay? I got the Kansas City Chiefs, I got the Baltimore Ravens,

I got the Buffalo Bills, I got the Denver Broncos. I'm gonna keep tooting my horn about the Denver Broncos. I think the Denver Broncos are here. We keeping the tapes. Yeah, please do. Please do. The Denver Broncos are here. I think the Denver Broncos arguably have the best defense in the league.

Bo Nicks, who came on in the last year, going into his second year. Usually players, you know, go make their biggest jump from year one to year two. Got one of the best play callers, coaches in the National Football League, Sean Payton. He has weapons on offense. Got one of the best offensive lines. Everything is set up, in my opinion,

for Bo Nix to really introduce himself

to the national public that we are here.

Can they win the AFC West?

They can.

I don't think they will, but they can.

Let me say this, because this is a question that I think I want to throw this out to both of y'all real quick. I get where you're coming from. But when we're asking that question about the Cincinnati Bengals, because everybody can, but you don't have to play everybody. Like those four teams. So somebody's going to run into somebody and come play all the time. You understand what I'm saying? I mean, Cincinnati ain't got to play all of them.

You understand? Somebody's going to run into somebody. Cincinnati knock off somebody with that offense held to the yes. Yes, they can with that firepower. No, if your defense is middle of the road. If your defense is the 20th ranked defense in the league, you could possibly win you two to three more games. If you're the Cincinnati Biggers with that often, you might be asking a lot of that. Okay, the same Cincinnati team that has a losing record last year when they scored 33 points. I agree with that. Okay, the same Cincinnati team that has a losing record last year when they scored 33 points. I agree

with that. Three and four. I got about that. How crazy that is. They would have been oh and seven if they didn't have to David if they scored at you understand the point is you're

talking about a team that can put up 30 in their sleep. Can't ignore that.

Can't ignore that as bad as the defense was last year, really the culprit to the season, what robbed them of their playoff hopes was the slow start. They have gotten out to a slow start every single year. And you'll notice this year in the preseason, the regular guys playing. Joe Burrow didn't play in the preseason before. Jamar Chase didn't play in the preseason before.

Tee Higgins didn't play in the preseason. They're out there this summer because Zack Taylor, the head coach, obviously wants to try something different to get them ready to avoid the type of start that's derailed their season in recent years.

This might be breaking news here. Is that your way of saying, Adam Schefter, that you agree with moi when I've religiously stated that there should be an investigation into the coaching staff of the Cincinnati Biggers or what they're doing in the offseason and in preseason because damn it, they can't win games in the first two games and two weeks of the season six

straight years. They are 1 and 11 in the first 12 game. Meaning the two first two games of the last six seasons. They are 1 and 11. What are you doing that? You can't win games first two weeks of the season with these kind of studs?

I mean, I'm just a well, I'm gonna say this though I'm gonna say this if you look at the Cincinnati Bengals over the past few years I think a big part of that reason the quarterback has been hurting training camp Yeah, think about everything Joe Burrows been dealing with in training camp. He had the calf situation He had what the appendix the appendix did you know, appendix, the thumb injury, like all those things like you

start off training camp. You have that going on. Then it just leaves right

last year.

Dallas versus Philly nine days away football fans. Yet the story remains. Jerry Jones versus Micah Parsons being dissected daily from all Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott

finally weighed in yesterday. Take a listen.

I wouldn't say so. As I alluded to it before, I mean, there's been a case of something similar to this the last three years, I believe. So if not before, I mean, I guess, right? Not necessarily.

I think that's, people can take it however they want. I think it's kind of part of the way guys think and See things around here I've got confidence. I've told y'all that well way back when

And I'm just going off of experience. Honestly, no different than mine. So I've got confidence in that

Just hoping which I know he is, he's ready to play. Stephen A., I know you're a really big fan of Dak Prescott's press conferences. So I was just curious of your opinion on his comments just now.

Well, I'm proud of him for finally saying something. Because he usually says nothing. I'm one of those guys that's critical of Dak Prescott from the standpoint, all you gotta do is listen to him from the time he's coming to the league. Play that, you know, play an interview and to just re-air it every single year because it's the same stuff. It's the same thing. He tells you absolutely nothing. He's worse than Mike T when it comes to that, who I call Mr. CIA, right? It's unbelievable. But in this particular instance, I appreciate

him acknowledging that it's something that's been ongoing. Those questions, everybody knows, I got a strong level of affection for Jerry Jones. We have a very good relationship, but I do not approve of what he has done with these contracts, and especially in the case of Micah Parsons. It's significantly worse. And the reason why I've said that, which I told Jerry Jones to his face, is that you are worth $16 billion. Your franchise is worth $12.8 billion. You are renowned as an elite businessman and marketer and you're acting like a conversation with a 25 year old at the time, a football

player for you, is tantamount to a negotiation knowing he has a representation. That is wrong. Now, Jerry's position is that the man called me, he wanted to negotiate, we talked. We had a deal. You know what I'm saying? And the next thing I know he picks up the phone and calls me to tell me, don't call him no more. Call my agent. I don't play that believe me. That's what he said. But Micah Parsons team is saying, nah. Micah met with him

because Jerry wanted to meet with him about leadership. And Jerry turned it into something. So what's he supposed to do? Just get up and walk out the room when the owners there talking to you? He nodded his head, he talked or whatever and said, yeah, but I got my rep and I'm sure y'all will talk about it. So who do you believe? And that's what it really, really comes down to.

In the end, there's no, this is, I don't care how right Jerry think he is, and I love the man, but I don't care how right he thinks he is. In the end, you're not right if you're Jerry Jones for this one reason and one reason only. You were negotiating deals at least three decades before this kid was born. You know good and damn well he's not an agent, he's a player. You're clearly taking advantage. That's inescapable. And that's why I could see why Micah feels the way that he feels.

Well, three sides to every story, obviously. In that full interview, you sitting down with Jerry is available on the Stephen A. Smith Show on YouTube.

Yeah, listen, I just want to – we've been talking about this Jerry-Micah saga now for a couple weeks. Both sides seem like they're very dug in. Obviously, Jerry with the way he goes about doing business is dug in on that aspect. And obviously, Mica, I would assume like there's no way I'm not taking top-of-the-line deal, point-blank period. I want to spend it forward because with Mica not participating in practice at

all, what's his availability for week one? We're literally nine days away from the opening game of the season is the the defending world champion of Philadelphia Eagles. I think if this thing even if Michael Parson signs a deal right now,

I think it would be irresponsible for the Dallas

Cowboys to put him out there.

Interesting Adam, obviously we talked earlier Hendrickson gets done. McClurin gets done. McLauren gets done. What's the latest here?

This is where you draw hope if you are the Dallas Cowboys and you are a Cowboys fan. Because McLauren and the Commanders were nowhere close.

And then they quickly bridged their differences. The Bengals and Trey Hendrickson were nowhere close. And they spent all day yesterday meeting and coming up with this creative one-year solution where he gets a raise this year.

The Dallas Cowboys and Micah Parsons have not discussed a contract at all since Jerry and Micah were together. We're talking three, four months of zero, zero contract discussions. Could it come together as quickly

as McLaurin and Hendrickson? Yes. Could it be solved as quickly as McLaurin and Hendrickson? Yes. But Jerry sounds very dug in here. And Micah already has stated that he wants to be traded.

He hasn't practiced. His back is tight. And these two sides today are nowhere. And it does sound like over time, they are headed their own ways. That doesn't mean that they can't figure out a solution. But neither one right now has been interested in doing that.

I'm hopeful that a solution can be reached. Here's what I said to Jerry, and I'll say it again, right here on national television. You're Jerry Jones. Jerry Jones in his own words said, Stephen, if you look at where we are,

we're not really that far apart. Well, if that's the case, then what's really holding this up is Jerry's pride because Micah said to him, don't talk to me, talk to my agent. Now at some point in time, everybody in Dallas, exactly. No, no, what I'm saying is it makes, at some point you got to look at Jerry and say, does

this really make sense? Because again, if you're not that far apart, what's the holdup? Now, Jerry will tell you, as he said, Dak and I couldn't reach an agreement the first year. Dak played. Dak and I couldn't reach agreement the second year.

Dak played. And then ultimately, he got his bag. Well, what Jerry is saying is, get your behind out there on the field. That's his bag. Well, what Jerry is saying is, get your behind out there on the field. That's his position. My position would be, but you said y'all are close. What's wrong? It's almost like the principle of having to talk to his representation is something you find off putting,

if not offensive. And I'm saying that Jerry Jones, Mr. $ billion dollar man, number one sports franchise. Come on now, come on Jerry, that I didn't tell him.

You know why this is so frustrating for me?

Just looking at it as observed from the outside looking in.

Because it should be simple.

It should be simple. We are talking about a 26 year old, premier past rusher in his prime in the National Football League. This is not scary Terry McLaurin, who's on the other side of 30.

This is not Trey Henderson, who's on the other side of 30. We're talking about one of the best players in the National Football League. All you literally have to do, OK, what did TJ White get? OK, here we go. You make, I don't care if it's a dollar more than TJ White. Steve May, did you know this? And we actually

talked about this on Get Up this morning. That Michael Parsons is the only player in his draft class to have not signed his second deal yet. Right. Hey, Jamar Chase has signed his second deal. P'Nae Sewell has signed his

second deal.

All those guys told me his draft class have signed their second

deal, except one person. The problem is, but the problem is, y'all talking football. It's clear it's not about

football.

It's clear that it's about pride. It's clear it's about you're in a position of power. How dare you pick up the phone and call me after talking to me and telling me, talk to my agent? Because Jerry will tell you how business was done back in the 80s,

the 90s and beyond. And he's holding on to that. This is not about football.

Okay, so let me tell you.

It makes it even more inexcusable is what I'm saying. So let me tell you, so let me tell you this. So is the Dallas Cowboys about winning championships anymore? Evidently not.

Oh, then that's all. Hold on.

Are the Dallas Cowboys about winning championships?

I'm not excusing it. But he did these types of deals with his biggest players, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, in the past when he won Super Bowls. Again, it's a different day and a different time.

He keeps saying that guys. But that's what he feels. That's what he feels. And that's why I could sit there respectfully and say to him that he's wrong and I disagree with it because people in positions of power, particularly old-school dudes, they're really really fixated on how stuff gets done just as much as whether or not it gets done. And that's Jerry. But you know the crazy thing is, okay you talk about, oh Oh Troy He did it with Troy Aikman and Emmett like this is a salary cap era There's ways that you have to construct a team to give yourself the best chance to win a Super Bowl

He's like the way he did with Dak Prescott Holden out to the to literally the only day to give Dak Prescott the highest contract in NFL history. Like, is this the... How are you gonna compete against the Philadelphia Eagles if you keep doing this nonsense year after year after year? They will point to that since their last Super Bowl appearance, they've had more first-team All-Pro players

than everybody in the league. And when was the last time they've been in the NFC Championship game? No, no, no, no, I'm just telling you what the argument is. And then you have Dorotha, then the Ravens, then the Chiefs. And what I'm saying to you is, it's clearly not about football. This is about one man.

Listen, from what my sources tell me, when Micah gave him that call, He instructed Kessler, nobody talks to anybody. Now usually you got Stephen and some guy, Andrew, I forgot his last name, that's negotiating. Adam, Adam, Adam, I'm sorry. Shut it all down, because obviously they got to follow the mandate, who gives the orders?

It's Jerry, and Jerry made that decision. Nobody talks, shut him down. Why? Because he didn't like that. It's not right, it's not the smartest thing in the world. And we know how smart Jerry is as a businessman.

But no matter how big-time your acumen is, it doesn't usurp your pride.

But to Adam's point about hope and to what you just mentioned, Dak Prescott, hours before the season over, gets the extension. CeeDee Lamb held out until August 26.

But if they had gotten those deals done at the start of the offseason when they could have and should have, they could have had more caps based on Derrick Henry.

Of course. I'm just saying in terms of this actually getting done.

As somebody, I'm a little bit familiar with negotiations, here's what the issue is. When you're out there, Micah Parsons, do you understand that he has to walk around on eggshells every you step into your car you walk up and down the stairs you drive Restaurants you got to worry about every little thing when you don't have your bag and Jerry knows it and wants him to sweat Yeah, he doesn't stand this what's it like? How dare you and up it's a little less my sweat, you know

And Micah may not sweat because his back is tight.

There we go.

And so you got all of that going on.

Micah seems pretty good to me.

No, I'm just saying, anything could happen. And what did Jerry say? What did Jerry say to me? He said, he's under contract. Got him three years, Steven. Got him three years, Steven.

He's under contract.