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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 praised the team’s former 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 before the one-year anniversary of Jones rewarding quarterback Dak Prescott with a massive four-year contract extension.
Jones faced backlash following Parsons’ departure, but considering the Cowboys have so far exceeded expectations this season, Smith believes Jones made the right decision.
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Stephen A. Smith on “ESPN NBA Countdown” set at the Intuit Dome on October 23, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Kirby Lee/Image 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’ playoff hopes are still very much alive. Smith cited the decision to invest in Prescott instead of Parsons when he offered his prediction that the Cowboys would 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 have to be fair to Jerry Jones, who obviously we constantly criticize. This man wanted to put 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 and make me look good. I’m going with you. I can afford to make the sacrifice here. I can afford not to do this here. I can afford the luxury of letting Rico Dowdle get away… I can afford to “Let Micah Parsons go… I can afford to do these things because I have you, I have you, and by the way, I also have you (George) Pickens to go with CeeDee Lamb.”
Smith also praised running back Javonte Williams, who is on pace to have the best season of his career.
A detailed shot of the Dallas Cowboys logo painted at midfield before 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 have all the records, because Ferguson is no joke either, and Javonte Williams is running the ball. And that offensive line wasn’t as bad as everyone thought it was going to 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 in six games with the Packers. The defensive end recorded double-digit sack totals in his four seasons with the Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws down the field against the New York Jets during the first half at MetLife Stadium on October 5, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Robert Deutsch/Image Images)
The Cowboys have only 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 makes adjustments and this defense shows something… and the Dallas Cowboys make the playoffs with that offense and the day I say, they win a playoff game, we all have to retire and be like this: Jerry Jones got us,” Smith said. “We have to stand back. It’s a big if… but if we’re going to crucify him religiously, we have to step back and say this: ‘Damn, he could have been right.'”
The Denver Broncos host the Cowboys this Sunday.
