Dallas Cowboys officially sign linebacker Christian Sam, kicker Lirim Hajrullahu

The Dallas Cowboys made a couple of roster moves on Friday afternoon, announcing the official signings of kicker Lirim Hajrullahu and linebacker Christian Sam. There was already a spot available for Hajrullahu on the roster, while Devante Bond was placed on injured reserve to make room for Sam.

This will also mark Hajrullahu’s second stint in Dallas, kicking for them last season. In one game for the Cowboys, he made five out of five extra points and saw all seven of his deep kicks go back for touchbacks. Carolina also used Hajrullahu’s services, going four for five on field goal attempts with a long of 35-yards.

If everything goes to plan, Hajrullahu will be the starting kicker in Dallas next season. He is scheduled to face off against Jonathan Garibay throughout training camp. Greg Zuerlein spent last year as the Cowboys’ kicker but the franchise decided to move on from him after the season ended.

Sam is a native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, returning home and getting back into the NFL. He most recently played for the New Orleans Breakers in the USFL but was also a member of the Tampa Bay Bandits. Detroit was Sam’s last stop in the NFL, being on their practice squad for two seasons.

Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons defends Trevon Diggs

Despite the success of Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs in 2021, NFL analysts still found aspects of his game to criticize. Micah Parsons, Diggs’ teammate and the league’s defensive rookie of the year, isn’t having any of it though. In an interview with USA Today, Parsons defended the former Alabama standout, calling him the best defensive player in the league last year.

“We’ve seen 20 sacks before,” Parsons started, referencing DPOY TJ Watt’s 2021 numbers. “But in this era, we’ve never seen anyone reach 10-plus interceptions. So it’s disrespectful to me, because I think he deserves all the credit in the world and deserves to be named a top-five corner if not the best corner in the league.”

Critics, including ESPN’s Ryan Clark, have highlighted how Diggs gave up over 1,000 yards through the air, but Parsons contends that it’s just part of the corner’s job.

“His (risk) is pointed out more because he has such a one-on-one position,” Parsons said. “People don’t realize that a lot of people gamble throughout the game. Even I gamble. Any time a quarterback gets outside the pocket, it means a defensive lineman gambled because it’s all really a contained rush. The QB should never escape the pocket. Any time a running back gets loose, that means you took a gamble as a linebacker.  

“As a football player, you have to learn to pick and choose your battles and what to gamble.”