Everything's bigger in Texas, including Earl Thomas rumors.
The Cowboys were immediately attached to Thomas after the safety's release from Baltimore, and the pairing makes sense: Dallas has been looking for help in the secondary in a big way in recent years, and Thomas likely still has something left in the tank to give in the NFL.
MORE: SN's NFL predictions for 2020
Hold your horses, Cowboys fans: On Monday, new Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy threw some water on the Thomas-to-Dallas rumors, per the Dallas Morning News' Michael Gehlken.
On topic of S Earl Thomas, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said team had personnel meeting Saturday. “We’re very confident in where we are (with) the 80-man roster. ...I have nothing really to report.” But McCarthy has discussed Earl Thomas with Will McClay. “We read the news, too.”
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 24, 2020
"We're very confident in where we are (with) the 80-man roster," McCarthy said via Gehlken. "I have nothing really to report."
McCarthy added that he's discussed Thomas with Dallas VP of player personnel Will McClay, effectively leaving the door open, albeit slightly, and that the player's fit in the locker room is a huge factor.
The Cowboys have been looking for safety help in recent years, highlighted predominantly by trade rumors attached to then-Jets but now-Seahawks safety Jamal Adams, who was shipped to Seattle in July for a bevvy of draft picks over the coming two seasons. Thomas, a Texas native, also had aspirations of playing for Dallas as recently as 2017, when he approached the Cowboys' locker room after a Seattle-Dallas matchup, urging then-head coach Jason Garrett to "come and get me" if given the opportunity.
Earl Thomas went into Cowboys locker room to talk with Dez. Earl to Garrett: “If y’all have the chance, come get me.” pic.twitter.com/RiGkHB1JsX
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 25, 2017
Dallas also did little to help the safety position in the draft, though fourth-round pick Reggie Robinson II could slide over to safety. Robinson, though, was drafted as a cornerback and a position change might not make the impact that Thomas would have in Dallas' secondary.
That last bit of McCarthy's quote also paints a negative picture for a Thomas signing in Dallas, considering his issues within the Baltimore locker room.
Thomas was released a day after he came to blows with teammate Chuck Clark, and the the three-time first-team All-Pro made his way to Baltimore on a four-year, $55 million after being released by Seattle following the 2018 season. Baltimore voided Thomas' contract on grounds of conduct detrimental to the team.
If there's any one thing we know for sure, it's that these rumors are never cut and dry with Dallas, so expect more news out of the Lone Star State, one way or the other, over the coming days.
