Jerry Jones hosts boxer Errol Spence Jr at Cowboys mini camp, asks him if he can kick
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones knows that champion boxers are incredible athletes. With their hand-eye coordination and overall speed, surely you can make them into an NFL cornerback or a safety. Add a little weight, maybe spin them down to a linebacker.
But what about kicker? We’re assuming Jones was joking on this topic. The Cowboys owner and de facto GM spent time with Errol Spence Jr at Cowboys mini-camp this week at The Star. Boxing fans know that Spence, who grew up in the Dallas area, is the unified world welterweight champion. He’s prepping for a fight next month in Vegas against Terence Crawford. But on Tuesday, he was a fan as he watched the Cowboys go through mini camp. In fact, Spence is such a Dallas fan, he dropped a we into the conversation when chatting about the Cowboys.
Spence has fought three title bouts at AT&T Stadium. And he’s also competed at Ford Center at The Star. Call him the Cowboys favorite boxer. He’s definitely comfortable around the team. What did Spence talk about with Jones on this trip?
“I joked with him a little bit, told him I could play, I used to play, corner and safety,” Spence said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “He said they might have a kicking job for me.”
Yes, the Cowboys are looking for a kicker. The position is a much-discussed issue. Dallas didn’t re-sign Brett Maher after the kicker suffered a case of the extra point yips during the playoffs. Now, the Cowboys are sifting through the NFL along with the spring leagues to find a replacement.
Mini-camp observers noted that Tristan Vizcaino, the only kicker currently on the roster, was eight of eight on field goal attempts. His final try was good from 55 yards. So there’s probably no need to try out Errol Spence’s leg. Vizcaino has kicked for a variety of teams, including the Bengals, Vikings and 49ers. But will he earn a roster spot with the Cowboys?
So far, he’s the leader in the locker room. Dallas signed Vizcaino for the final playoff game against the 49ers, then picked him up again in February. And it’s his second off-season stint with the team.
Meanwhile, Spence enjoyed himself while at The Star. “It was great being here … kicking it with Jerry Jones, looking at the players,’’ he said. “Hopefully, we have a great season this year.’’
But he couldn’t leave Cowboys practice without chatting about his bout with Crawford, July 29th, at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. Showtime has the PPV. And when talking about the fight, Spence turned promoter.
“This is a legacy fight,’’ he promised. “For me, this is Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns. This is Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad. This is a huge fight.
“Everyone says the Floyd (Mayweather) and (Manny) Pacquiao fight was huge, but they were a lot older. We’re in our primes.
“I feel like this is going to be an amazing fight,’’ he continued. “Everyone knows he has knockout power I have knockout power. We’re going to put on an amazing show, an amazing performance.’’
Jerry Jones probably still wants to know if he can kick.