Dak Prescott to teammate: ‘I’ll get you to the playoffs, you need to help us win it’
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The Dallas Cowboys have concluded their minicamp practices, which have become more of an offseason box to check on the road to a much more serious training camp, the preseason, and then finally real football. The amount of actual football things that can be gathered from minicamp has gotten less and less around the league, with some teams hardly taking to the field at all.
A good thing that minicamp does provide is a chance for the players and coaches to address the media, and fans like us to discern what these early quotes mean about the upcoming season. With the Cowboys being on the outside of the playoff picture looking in the last two seasons, and seeing both of those seasons end with a team led by a dominant defense hoisting the Lombardi trophy, this quote in particular from quarterback Dak Prescott in regards to defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is interesting.
Like we said, with minicamp being such a “mini” look at real football activities now, most of the talk around the Cowboys roster and potential depth charts for the time being are still with the caveat of being “on paper”. That said, the Cowboys names on defense on paper show a turnaround that has been borderline miraculous. In the span of one offseason and draft cycle, the roster went from looking bleak with a lack of proven talent after a historically bad defensive performance in 2025, to one that very suddenly has more storylines and potential than imaginable.
There are a lot of things flying under the radar right now when it comes to the layers this defense can develop under first-year DC Christian Parker, and one of them is absolutely the Cowboys going into their first full season with Quinnen Williams at defensive tackle. Parker’s expertise in the secondary paired with his first draft pick Caleb Downs being the best secondary player in the class has created a heavier focus on the backend of the Cowboys defense compared to the trenches. This is especially true when considering all of the other new names in the secondary besides Downs like Cobie Durant, Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, and Devin Moore.
The team’s work at defensive tackle feels like a headline of a year ago compared to the current situation elsewhere throughout the defense, when the team acquired Kenny Clark in the Micah Parsons trade. By the time the team traded for Williams, the writing was already on the wall that the defense was a boat anchor that was going to hold the team back all last year, and Clark being banged up through some of those games did not help either.
Now, Clark and Williams can be part of a full-season plan in a new scheme that rewards size across the defensive line even more. This is evidenced by Dallas trading away Solomon Thomas and Osa Odighizuwa and bringing in Otito Ogbonnia, as well as adding Jonathan Bullard and rookie LT Overton as big defensive ends.
Williams came over from the Jets as a former first-round pick, but New York failed to make the playoffs in his six full seasons there, or last year after trading him away. Having a strong interior pass rush was particularly a characteristic of the teams that did make the playoffs last season, and really bringing Williams through a full offseason program, training camp, and regular season gives the Cowboys hope they’ll be much improved in this area. Williams had a strong debut on Monday Night Football for the Cowboys in Week 11 last season, having 1.5 sacks and five quarterback hits, but had a total of four QB hits in the remaining six games he played in to finish the season.
Naturally, Dak Prescott still sees his offense as the unit that can get the Cowboys to the playoffs, but going into year 11, he understands that opportunities to be a real contender in the playoffs could be fleeting, and getting there with the type of defense Parker is installing could be a real change to get Dallas over the hump. Parker was with the Eagles team that won the Super Bowl two seasons ago, and when it comes to the Seahawks being defending champions going into this season, many teams are trying to replicate their personnel approach to defense with a “Big Nickel” defender plus strong interior pass rush. The Cowboys have marquee names at both spots now with Caleb Downs and Quinnen Williams.
Going into year two of head coach Brian Schottenheimer as the play-caller on offense is one of the top things to look forward to on this side of the ball, but with that it’s also easy to lose sight of the bigger picture of this being year two of Schottenheimer’s team-building as a whole.
Last offseason, all fans heard about was the Cowboys desire to be better in the trenches under coach Schotty. Having a veteran, proven defensive tackle pairing that checks this box for the Cowboys being tougher and more physical on defense is a huge deal. On the other side, their offensive line pieces like Tyler Booker, Tyler Smith, and Cooper Beebe on the interior match that build in the trenches. If games are still won and lost at the point of attack, the Cowboys have put a ton of focus, energy, and development into the players they have leading the charge in this specific area.
The Cowboys didn’t just put in a massive effort to turn around their defense this offseason, they overall leaned even further into how this team wants to look under Schottenheimer. At the very least thy don’t appear to be handicapping their offensive-minded head coach with a predetermined defensive coordinator and mismatched personnel. The football side of things in the organization is as tight as it has been in a while, and getting Quinnen Williams into his first career playoff game would be a nice payoff of this offseason’s work.
Offense wins games, defense wins championships, and early on in minicamp from the very top of the Cowboys leadership, they are showing an understanding of this that is exciting for fans.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
