DaRon Bland: It’s A Blessing | Dallas Cowboys 2025

DaRon Bland: It’s A Blessing | Dallas Cowboys 2025

a rich man. Uh uh man. Yeah. Just uh really just want to thank God really um for the opportunity, you know, um where I come from, not a lot of people get this opportunity to be here and um do what I do. So, I just want to thank God for it. When did you find out about the the contract? Was it this morning or last night? Last night? Last night. Yeah. What was your initial reaction when they kind of told you, hey, this is going to happen? Um kind of surprised and uh kind of just a little bit dumbfounded. didn’t believe it uh that I make it be making that much and doing what I do. So, how important was it to get it done before the start of the season now that that on your head? Um yeah, you know, cuz always something you got to uh have in back in the mind just a little bit cuz you my last year the contract. So, uh it was always going to be in the back of my head. What was important to get it done? Yeah. What was the process like for you? Was your did you just tell your agent and stay in the background or were you involved or how did that go? Um well, yeah, it was mostly my agent. um him and the Cowboys communicating. So, uh yeah. What’s this offseason been like for you? Uh a blessing. Uh just to be here and be healthy, you know, um having that last year of missing out so many games and being my first time being hurt, so being it’s a blessing to be here. Does the fact that you’re a dad change things, you know, now that you’ve got the long-term, you know, you’re going to be here and long-term security? Yeah, it changed a little bit, you know. Uh now I really can call it home. It’s not often fifth round picks get that type of money. I mean, just a culmination of having to start and kind of earn your way through. As you look back on these last three years, what do you what do you think worked for you? Um, I would say just being patient and just learning to grow. Um, just having that mindset um that where we’re where I was at at that point was not where it was going to be uh the end point. So, keep driving each each day, taking day by day. Yeah. What was your mindset kind of when you first came in? Um, trying to find my role. um trying to just figure out things, you know, uh you never know in the league you uh not know what you’re going to do, what you what role you going to have. So, it was just kind of everything where I was going to be at. When you got the deal, who was the first person you called or or tell? Of course, my mom. You know, got to let moms know. Yeah. How was what was her reaction? Uh it was good. You know, uh cried a little bit. So, it was good. You had a chance to reflect just on your journey. You weren’t a big time recruit out of high school. You had to go to SAK State, transfer to Fresno State. Mhm. fifth round pick and I mean, yeah, a whole lot. Whole lot. It’s a journey. Yeah. You know, it’s just a blessing, you know, that’s why um I thank God because not many fifth rounders get that opportunities that I had and be in this league and uh be able to do what I do and so I just thank for the opportunity to keep doing what being out here. Is it easier with your role to potentially have to move back inside this year after getting paid? Um yeah, you know, um now that I got the contract, you know, it’s kind of like it’s a new drive, a new motivation to keep going out there and now I got to prove it. So 2023 gets brought up a lot as you’re touring just is that possible to reach that heights again. How do you kind of, you know, use that as as trying to get to that bar again? Um I always see cuz I even me to me I feel like that 23 23 year was something I could still improve on. So uh it’s definitely something I think I can get back to. In regards to your position group as a whole, there’s been a lot of moving parts this off season and during camp, mostly due to injury, but how do you gauge the readiness of the group going into Thursday night playing the defending champs? Um, yeah, we’re all in together. Uh, we’re all trying to get everybody together and trying to get everybody ready to because you never know who’s going to be up. So, it’s all it’s all in one effort. You haven’t defined role yet. Are you slot? Are you outside this week? Uh, I don’t know yet. I guess we’ll see about game time. You said when you came in you were trying to find your role. When did that kind of transition for you of being like, okay, what’s my role to, hey, I’m one of the defensive leaders now? Um, honestly, it’s kind of tough to say. I kind of would say last year kind of a little bit. Even then, I still didn’t have like kind of my official role kind of still moving. Uh, so cuz rookie second year, I was still an nickel. So, I thought I was going to be nickel and end up Trey getting hurt. So, I got moved back to outside. So, it’s just now just now having trying to find a real spot that that’s for me. So, that is a contract add responsibilities. Yes, definitely. You know, um cuz uh they wouldn’t give you a contract unless they see you as a guy to help lead this room and stuff like that. I’m lead this team and be the player that I once was. Um how how about do you think other teams now I mean you you play on an island a lot of times anyway, but do you think any of that changes now that teams are going to either stay away or go at you more? Uh, I mean, I hope the teams do what they do. So, but no, it it don’t change anything for me. Um, still come in head down, do what I need to do, and uh, get to work. You talk to Jerry Jones yet? Not yet. I still got to talk to Stephen and back to your conversation with your mom. Did you guys Has there ever been that point where you told her, “Hey, I can I’m going to be able to make a lot of money playing football or or did you guys never even talked about something?” Uh, we talked about it a little bit, not but not too much. You know, my mom is uh one of the ones that try to support the kids and they always want their kids to support them. I mean, take care of them. So, it’s kind of hard a little bit. So, you think there’s any part of her that was surprised when you gave her the call? Yeah, definitely. You come in as a fifth round pick and everything you do, it’s like, “Wow, this is great. We got this guy in fifth round. Now you get paid.” Are you going to have to fight the urge or have you talked to anyone about just play your game? Don’t feel like you’ve got to live up to the new contract? Uh, I haven’t talked about anybody about that yet, but I kind of already feel like that’s what I need to do. Um, that’s always kind of been on mindset, just stay down and, uh, take things day by day and never know because you never know what could happen. You mentioned trying to find your role, you know, obviously going slot outside and then even last year dealing with injuries and stuff. Do you think maybe at this point you’re kind of comfortable with kind of the chaos a little bit? Yeah, you know, you get comfortable in the chaos. So, uh, after dealing with it so much, you get comfortable with it and understand what things could come with it. And you think that kind of sets you up for this year where you might have to do multiple things and matter of your flex system? Yeah, I feel like it does. You talked about being able to improve upon 2023. Like how much higher can you go production wise? Like what what would you improve upon in 2023? Um I would just say trying to just keep continue being complete corner um inside out tackling making plays picks and everything. So I feel like that’s my biggest goal trying to be an overall player all around. What’s the challenge of the Eagles receivers here in week one? uh you know, with them, you know, they got both AJ and uh Devonte that could make big plays. So, trying to minimize that and uh minimize Saquon, too. So, I’m sure these last few days in the locker room have been pretty wild with Mike coming out. What is kind of the feeling on the defensive side of the ball? Is it, hey, we got to move on to week one or is it still I mean, yeah, you know, uh we’re three three days out from the game, so it’s right now it’s kind of being worried about what we got this week and uh ups to Micah. You know, we love him. you know, that’s our brother still, so we love him. How surprised were you about Micah being traded? Um, for me, it’s definitely a surprise, you know. Um, I came in, yeah, Micah was there was a guy, uh, especially when I made it to the Pro Bowl was a guy, uh, was always there with me, you know, trying to keep my head high and stuff. So, um, it was definitely a surprise. Have you talked to him? Uh, not yet. Coach Shenheimer and coach use the term no house guest. What does that mean to you? U, that’s just like our motto. Um, you know, we try to be physical, you know. Um, nobody’s going to let just let you in our house. So, it’s just, hey, you got to take pay the price come in the house. So, thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. aggressive.

CB DaRon Bland speaks with the media after signing an extension with the Cowboys, the negotiation process, his offseason, and his expectations for the year.

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