Jones talked about his first thoughts after checking out the racetrack.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want Greg [Penske] to know how much we all appreciate this idea, talking his papa into it,\u201d said Jones. \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019s involved. And we always knew that first impressions were everything. This is done right, Greg, really done right. It\u2019s an honor to be associated with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roger Penske talked about teaming up with the Cowboys and Rangers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst, I want to thank our partners on my left here,\u201d said Penske. \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019t thank you enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones also talked about the Cowboys\u2019 recent moves in free agency, namely the trade of Osa Odighizuwa and what Rashan Gary<\/a> brings to the team. The Cowboys acquired Gary for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick.<\/p>\n \u201cStarted as a first-round draft pick, he\u2019s 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,\u201d said Jones.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cVery tough to some degree, he has such high character. He\u2019s done such an amazing job in his career. [Some might say] well, aren\u2019t you going the wrong way when people of his quality, his caliber, aren\u2019t on the team? But that\u2019s 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\u2019ll be very helpful to us, and \u2026 let\u2019s just put those resources that we\u2019re going to spend there [at] some other spots we need help,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n In trading Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys received a third-round draft pick.<\/p>\n The Cowboys are retooling their defense, adding defensive coordinator Christian Parker, Gary and safety Jalen Thompson.<\/a> Jones talked about how he feels that revamp has gone so far.<\/p>\n \u201dWe certainly have moved in really both scheme, as well as players \u2026 by the time we\u2019re through with the draft and these guys that we\u2019re signing, these guys that we\u2019re going to draft, they\u2019re going to be on that field, and we think we\u2019ve got the coaches that can get the young ones out and ready to play. So I feel very, very good about it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have nowhere but up to go on defense. It\u2019s not anyone\u2019s fault at all, but we\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n