ARLINGTON
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was joined by Neil Leibman, chairman of Rangers Sports Media & Entertainment Company, and Roger Penske, founder of Penske Corp., as part of “The Opening Lap,” a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, which begins its race weekend Friday.
Jones talked about his first thoughts after checking out the racetrack.
“I want Greg [Penske] to know how much we all appreciate this idea, talking his papa into it,” said Jones. “It’s soothing to see that when you get the context of something well done, I cannot believe my eyes when I see what has been put together out here with this track and the viewing stands and what’s involved. And we always knew that first impressions were everything. This is done right, Greg, really done right. It’s an honor to be associated with it.”
Roger Penske talked about teaming up with the Cowboys and Rangers.
“First, I want to thank our partners on my left here,” said Penske. “It’s an amazing commitment by so many people, I think the teamwork was amazing, I want to thank my son, Greg, who pushed me to say we need to have a race in Texas, and certainly you gotta call Jerry Jones and obviously Neil, you became part of this team. I can’t thank you enough.”
Jones also talked about the Cowboys’ recent moves in free agency, namely the trade of Osa Odighizuwa and what Rashan Gary brings to the team. The Cowboys acquired Gary for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick.
“Started as a first-round draft pick, he’s played to that level in my mind all the way through his career, and he gives us a strong player right there that can give us rush, give us run, give us both,” said Jones.
A pro Bowler in 2024, Gary has had at least 7.5 sacks in four of the past five seasons for the Packers, with whom he had spent his entire seven-year career.
Jones also talked about how difficult it was to trade Odighizuwa, who since being picked No. 75 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, has spent his entire five-year career with the Cowboys.
“Very tough to some degree, he has such high character. He’s done such an amazing job in his career. [Some might say] well, aren’t you going the wrong way when people of his quality, his caliber, aren’t on the team? But that’s the reason we were able to get what we thought was a really beneficial result for the team. We got [a third-round draft pick] that’ll be very helpful to us, and … let’s just put those resources that we’re going to spend there [at] some other spots we need help,” Jones said.
In trading Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys received a third-round draft pick.
The Cowboys are retooling their defense, adding defensive coordinator Christian Parker, Gary and safety Jalen Thompson. Jones talked about how he feels that revamp has gone so far.
”We certainly have moved in really both scheme, as well as players … by the time we’re through with the draft and these guys that we’re signing, these guys that we’re going to draft, they’re going to be on that field, and we think we’ve got the coaches that can get the young ones out and ready to play. So I feel very, very good about it.
“We have nowhere but up to go on defense. It’s not anyone’s fault at all, but we’re going to almost assuredly be much better, and I think we are betting on us improving on offense. That ought to get us with a better feeling.”
The Cowboys will be hoping for a turnaround for a defense that was the only unit in the NFL to yield an average 30 or more points per game.
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Lawrence Dow is a digital sports reporter from Philadelphia. He graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from USC. He’s passionate about movies and is always looking for a great book. He covers the Texas Rangers and other sports.