Dallas — Though it won’t garner much national attention, the Dallas Cowboys’ decision to extend CJ Goodwin’s contract on Thursday is both a wise and an underappreciated move. Along with fellow cornerback Jourdan Lewis, the seasoned special teams ace defied the trend of Cowboys players leaving to play for the Washington Commanders and reunite with Dan Quinn.
More importantly, though, is that he is back to help steady a special teams club that underperformed during his absence due to Goodwin’s October torn pectoral muscle, which terminated his 2024 season.
Now that he had formally inked his new contract, Goodwin drove almost forty-five minutes to South Dallas to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Youth Works/Mercy Chefs, a nonprofit that feeds young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those affected by natural disasters both locally and abroad (such as the recent wildfires in the Texas Panhandle).
He discussed the value of doing community service and how it motivates him.
“I feel it’s our responsibility, especially being the Dallas Cowboys,” stated Goodwin, who is also the chair of the PeGa Foundation in his native state of West Virginia. Giving back to the community is our duty, and it’s a privilege. Being a part of the Cowboys organization and having the opportunity to give back is an immense privilege.”
Goodwin’s leadership and moral qualities combine with his skill on the field to make him one of the team’s most useful players from all perspectives.
Goodwin, who was plucked from the practice squad of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018, is set to begin his seventh season in Dallas. He expressed his pleasure about his most recent contract, highlighting the team’s continued reliance on him.
“Being a member of the Cowboys is truly a blessing,” he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m living the dream—I grew up as a Cowboys fan. There are moments when I have to pinch myself when I wake up. It’s astounding.”
However, what about the previously mentioned former comrades who have joined the Commanders and used their skills? Indeed, Goodwin holds a similar opinion, and no, it has nothing to do with resentment. He knows it’s a business, and on the field, things always work themselves out.
At this time, Goodwin continued to smile as he shared his perspective on the evacuation.
“Yeah, it’s gonna be strange, a little bit, but they’ll be our enemies at that time, yeah, but we’ll talk to them after the game — after we beat them,” stated the experienced defensive back. “It’s a part of the game.”
But he’ll need to regain his full health before he can reach that stage. The good news is that he isn’t just anticipated to beready by spring, as Goodwin clarifies, he’ll be ready by summer.
He responded, “Oh yeah, I’m almost ready now,” when asked if he will be able to make it out of the PUP (physically unable to perform) list before to training camp. “I promise to be ready by OTAs. Even if it was a sad incident, you can recover from injuries, and I will. In fact, I will recover even more from it.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Goodwin will be learning from his fourth coordinator during his tenure with the Cowboys as he attempts to return to action in the coming weeks, working under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and special teams coordinator John “Bones” Fassel.
Zimmer, a Super Bowl champion during the storied Cowboys dynasty, is widely recognized to be a different breed of coach; despite certain adaptations, he remains a quintessential old-school ball coach.
According to Goodwin, that is the exact reason he should be appointed in 2024.
He remarked of Zimmer’s appointment, “I think he’s gonna bring a sense of accountability.” “I’ve heard good things about him, and I believe he will hold us responsible this year. That’s something we require. Having spent a considerable amount of time in [the league], I am aware of how important accountability is, and I believe that this may be the deciding factor.
And, obviously, that’s precisely what Goodwin’s resigning accomplishes for Fassel as well.is among the NFL’s top special teams groups when the former is involved:
Return the scale to its original position.
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