Dallas Cowboys: 3 fun moments from the first episode of Hard Knocks

After much anticipation, the new season of HBO’s Hard Knocks featuring the Dallas Cowboys has arrived. Fans finally got to have an up-close and unfiltered look at the team’s training camp in Oxnard and boy oh boy, it did not disappoint.

Some of the best parts of Hard Knocks have always been the more fun, light-hearted scenes that show viewers the friendship, comradery, quirks, and fun that make up life in an NFL training camp. In that mold, here are three moments from the first episode that I found particularly entertaining:

1. Micah Parsons’ enthusiasm

There were two moments starring rookie linebacker Micah Parsons that you just absolutely have to love if you are a Dallas Cowboys fan, and both occurred during the Hall of Fame game.

The first was when linebacker Leighton Vander Esch told Parsons that he needs to learn which plays are his to make and which aren’t, to which the rookie responded by telling him that he thinks they all are.

The second was when Parsons was begging defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to keep him in the game. Quinn was smart for pulling him in the first preseason game when he did, but you have to love it when a player has a motor like Parsons. The former Nittany Lion’s passion and confidence are evident and it’s clear that he genuinely wants to get every rep he can in order to improve as much as possible.

If there were any concerns about Parsons’ motivation after opting out of his final season at Penn State, they should be alleviated. The rookie linebacker seems fired up and ready to go for the Dallas Cowboys.

2. The Dallas Cowboys’ new mojo moments

Watermelon smashing aside, there were times last season where Dallas Cowboys’ head coach Mike McCarthy just came off as…boring. Obviously, it’s not McCarthy’s job to be particularly interesting. It’s his job to coach and prepare his football team to win on game day. However, having a personality and a system that players buy into is at least a part of that.

So suffice it to say, it was great to see some of McCarthy’s personality have the opportunity to come out during this first episode of Hard Knocks. I loved hearing him tell the team to forget about last season (though the coach used some more colorful language in the episode), and he particularly shined when he unveiled the Cowboys’ new Austin Powers-inspired “mojo moments”.

So what the heck is a mojo moment? Well, the Cowboys describe it as when it’s time for additional confidence, charisma, and performance. It’s something quirky that the team has been playing with to practice situational football.

Is it cheesy? Yep. A little bizarre? Sure. Is it an outdated reference from a wonderful (and still hysterical) comedy that was released over two decades ago? For sure. Will half of the viewers find it pointless and annoying? Most definitely. But was it funny and did the players seem to have some fun with it? Yes and yes.

3. Ezekiel Elliott has never wrapped a gift before

After what was easily the worst season of his professional career, running back Ezekiel Elliott has a lot to prove this season. To his credit, Zeke looks locked in this year. He’s been saying and doing all of the right things and I think he is in a prime position to bounce back big in 2021.

Elliott also has a big personality, so it’s no surprise he was prominently featured in the first episode of Hard Knocks. There were tons of great Zeke moments, especially any time he and an unfiltered Dak Prescott were on camera together.

However, my favorite Elliott moment from this first episode of Hard Knocks? It easily has to be watching him wrap, well try to wrap at least, a birthday present for his best friend and quarterback.

Zeke said it was his first time wrapping a gift and it definitely showed. I am not about to win any awards for my ability to wrap a gift either but hopefully, someone else on the team can come and lend Elliott a hand come the holidays. It looked like he used nearly an entire roll to wrap a single box.

Bonus: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones eats McDonald’s for breakfast…and puts salt on it?

I am not going to lie, this one left me at a total loss for words. I am truly puzzled as to what was happening here. The McGriddle was one thing I guess, but unloading what feels like an entire container of salt onto it? Come on Jerry.