Jerry Jones and the Cowboys woke up to tough news this weekend. The league dropped another fine after the heated opener against the Eagles. This time it was LT Tyler Guyton. His fine stemmed from a snap against Eagles rusher Jalyx Hunt. The tackle locked on him, but after the whistle, he threw a sharp open-handed jab straight at Hunt’s helmet. In short, the fine was coming.

The clip exploded on social media within minutes of the final whistle. By Sunday morning, the play was being debated all over the NFL world. And after the 24-20 loss, the Cowboys were once again dealing with more off-field drama. And the result was that Guyton got fined a $12,172 bill for unnecessary roughness.

Even Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer had to weigh in. “We want our guys to play on the edge and not go over the edge,” Schottenheimer said. “He attacked that game from a very, very physical and violent standpoint.” So, the Cowboys want toughness. They just don’t want it to turn into fines.

Meanwhile, the league had already handed out a suspension earlier in the week. Jalen Carter was forced to sit without pay after spitting on Dak Prescott during the game. Because he was ejected without appearing in a play, the NFL ruled the suspension already served. The punishment still meant Carter forfeited his game check, and the message was clear: the league isn’t letting Week 1 slide.

To make it worse, the fines kept piling up. Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau got tagged for $7,186. Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean was fined $11,593 for a facemask. Nolan Smith got fined $11,593 for taunting, while Jakorian Bennett topped the list with a $23,186 hit for a hip-drop tackle. So, Jerry Jones now has plenty to think about, and it’s not just fines.

Jerry Jones extends Tyler Smith on a record-breaking $96 million contract

After dealing Micah Parsons to the Packers, Jerry Jones had to make a statement to the Cowboys fans. So instead of sitting quietly, he acted fast. First came a deal to keep DaRon Bland, and now they’ve locked in Tyler Smith on a four-year, $96 million extension, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

And with that, Smith sits in rare company. The 2023 Second-Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler just became the highest-paid guard in league history, pulling in $81.2 million guaranteed. Jerry Jones has always thrived in the spotlight — some would say he lives for it — and this kind of move guarantees attention. Given Smith’s dependability since arriving as a first-round pick, and the questions at both tackle spots, the timing makes sense.

Still, plenty of fans are already frustrated. They blame Jerry Jones for reacting only after the Parsons trade, just like they’ve criticized his delay with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb’s contracts. But the reality is the past can’t be undone. What the Cowboys can do is plan forward. Securing a 24-year-old anchor for the offensive line is exactly that.

Smith’s numbers back it up, too. Pro Football Focus has given him a 72-plus run-blocking grade in three different years, and his pass protection improved last season. He’s now the steady force on a shaky unit. The Cowboys need the run game to click if they want to contend, and No. 73 is the key. Losing Parsons will sting for years, but this record-breaking investment in Smith gives the Dallas faithful something worth celebrating.