By Jamal Baker
NDG Contributing Writer
The biggest story at Dallas Cowboys organized team activities (OTAs) last week was the absence of three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons during Thursday’s session open to the media. Parsons is in the middle of contract negotiations for a well-deserved contract extension.
“Voluntary, right now, the camp. He was here last week, had lunch with him. Actually bumped into him in the airport. He was going to do some traveling,” Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday. “I have not seen him yet this week. Again, my big thing with all the guys whether they’re here or not, you can get great work in and you can get ready and be mentally prepared. Whether you’re Micah who is not here, here in and out. Whether you’re Dak, [who is always present], it doesn’t really matter. Just put your work in, get ready, there’s a lot of ways to get ready and prepared. I think the league has made it very clear it’s all voluntary.”
Schottenheimer has drawn praise throughout the offseason for the new and fresh culture he is building with the team. Schottenheimer carries himself with a level of what we can call “authentic swagger’’ that resonates with his players.
One trademark of his sideline presence?
When Schottenheimer is working on the field he can be seen rocking his signature visor—a look he recently opened up about.
Schottenheimer credits College Football Hall of Fame coach Steve Spurrier for inspiring him to wear this particular piece of headgear.
“He actually gave me the opportunity to wear a headset on game days,” Schottenheimer said of Spurrier after “Schotty’s’’ transfer to Florida from Kansas. “I had to sit out for a year with the old transfer rules. But he told me that if I went there that he’d let me wear a headset, be involved, be the signal caller, which was great.
“What I didn’t realize was that what that also entailed was anytime he threw his visor, which was probably five to seven times a game, I was responsible for picking it up.”
Schottenheimer, a college QB, continued, “So we’re playing a game. I’m signaling the plays, something happens, and he’s mad. He threw his visor, and for some reason, I was caught up, so I didn’t go and pick it up. And he literally looks at me, he’s like (wondering why I didn’t get his hat). I went and picked it up.
“So like, honestly that’s where I first noticed it. Yeah, I think I look better in a visor than in a hat. I’m losing my hair a little bit, at least up front. But it goes back to Florida.”
The most surprising storyline from OTAs has been the emergence of rookie defensive tackle Jay Toia. The Cowboys selected Toia out of UCLA with pick No. 217 in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The last UCLA defensive tackle drafted by the Cowboys was Osa Odighizuwa and that has worked out beautifully.
Toia is a former rugby player who doesn’t shy away from physicality. The 6-2, 341-pound Inglewood native fills an immediate need for the Cowboys as a run-stopping defensive tackle.
On Thursday at voluntary OTAs, Toia received first-team reps with the team’s starters. Healthy competition is vital to a team’s success to make sure players are constantly pushing each other and looking to get better.
The Cowboys drafted defensive tackle Mazi Smith with their first-round pick back in 2022. The former Michigan star began to show signs of growth last season, but Dallas needs more and inserting Toia in the mix will—if this works out— give the Cowboys an intriguing pair of 1-technique defensive tackles.
The Cowboys will continue their offseason program with OTAs on June 3 and June 5, with mandatory minicamp taking place June 10-12.
