Cowboys fans are irate with Jerry Jones and they have every reason to be.
There were no shortage of standout performers in the Dallas Cowboys' dominant season-opening victory over the Cleveland Browns. However, the biggest pleasant surprise was none other than linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who made his NFL debut after a torn ACL suffered last preseason wiped out his rookie year.
Cowboys coaches and teammates have gushed over Overshown's athleticism and physicality from the moment he was drafted. It was on full display in preseason, which hinted that surgery wouldn't hinder his start to the regular season.
Still, it would have been understandable if Overshown came out a little slow. Instead, the 2023 third-round pick was arguably the best player on either side of the ball from both teams.
Used as a spy on Deshaun Watson, Overshown has established himself as a crucial player for Mike Zimmer after just one game. With that performance, he should have the freedom to pick whichever jersey number that pleases him.
Overshown hoped to wear No. 0 with the Cowboys -- just as he did at Texas -- after the NFL approved a rule that allowed players to wear the number. So why won't Jerry Jones bend the rules for the team's budding linebacker? Fans will cringe at the reason.
DeMarvion Overshown reveals why he can't wear No. 0 on Cowboys
“As soon as they made the rule that NFL players can wear zero I was like, the first Dallas Cowboy to wear zero like it’s just meant to be, coming from Texas wearing No. 0 you know this it’s just meant to be and sadly you know it didn’t happen, like that," said Overshown. "That’s Rowdy number and you know I guess me and Rowdy going to have to duke it out but nah, Rowdy my guy and so I think Mr. Jones is going to hold on to that to that number for a while. Hopefully [I] look so good on the field he’ll be like you know what you can have zero."
Overshown doesn't have any hard feelings with Jones (or Rowdy). In fact, the No. 13 jersey is very meaningful to him. The former Longhorn shared that he and his son were both born on the 13th and he has some family members who have anniversaries on the 13th.
If Overshown's Week 1 performance was any indication, he's going to give Jones no choice but to allow him to wear No. 0. He was the Cowboys' highest-graded player on either side of the ball as well as PFF's third-highest-graded linebacker for the week with a 88.6 grade. He accumulated 11 tackles, six defensive stops and a dazzling sack of Deshaun Watson on 4th down that set social media ablaze and made Micah Parsons look like he was running in sandals.
Jones always looks out for his players and has a great relationship with them, but depriving Overshown of the No. 0 because it belongs to the team mascot is asinine even by his standards.
Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, Titans receiver Calvin Ridley and Rams pass rusher Byron Young are notable NFL players who currently wear No. 0. Hopefully Jones comes to his senses and bends the rules because it is childish that Overshown's "Agent 0" nickname is on ice because Jones wants to honor a long-standing tradition.
