The message arrived quickly and without ambiguity. Just one hour after receiving clear signals that he was no longer part of the team’s long-term plans, Terence Steele chose a response rarely seen in today’s NFL: he
voluntarily expressed willingness to restructure his $91.8 million contract, with one goal in mind — to continue wearing the Dallas Cowboys uniform.
The move comes as the Dallas Cowboys
undergo a significant shift along the offensive line. Coaches have confirmed that Tyler Smith will remain at left tackle over the final two games, while Tyler Guyton is expected to serve only as a swing tackle — a clear signal that Dallas is preparing for a future
without Steele at right tackle. Combined with an “easy out” in Steele’s contract in 2026, his name has quickly surfaced among potential cap casualties.
Rather than wait in silence for a decision, Steele chose to speak — not in protest, but in commitment.
“If the team no longer sees me as the first option, I’m willing to step back,” Steele said. “I can restructure my deal, accept any role, even start from the bench — as long as I can stay here and be ready when the Cowboys need me. Dallas isn’t just where I play; it’s where my heart truly belongs.”
What makes Steele’s stance resonate even more is what he has already given Dallas. An undrafted free agent in 2020, Steele defied the odds to become a full-time starter, logging
over 5,000 career offensive snaps, protecting the edge in some of the league’s most pass-heavy offenses. At his peak, Steele started every game in back-to-back seasons, helped anchor a line that ranked top five in pass protection efficiency, and played a key role in Dallas finishing among the NFL’s top offenses in total yards and scoring. Teammates routinely cite his toughness — playing through injuries, rarely missing time, and lining up against elite edge rushers week after week.
For the Cowboys, the dilemma is complex. The franchise must protect the blindside of Dak Prescott while also creating cap flexibility for a looming retooling process. Steele’s willingness to sacrifice financially could open another path — or at the very least, force decision-makers to pause before closing the door entirely on a proven veteran.
No one knows yet whether Steele’s message will alter the final outcome. But in a league often driven by numbers, his response offered something different: loyalty expressed through action.
In Dallas — where legacies are built on more than just contracts and depth charts — Terence Steele has reminded the Cowboys of a simple truth. Sometimes, a player’s greatest value isn’t found on a balance sheet, but in his willingness
to stay, sacrifice, and fight for the star when the path forward suddenly narrows.
Why Bruins coach Marco Sturm didn’t challenge controversial non-call in ugly loss to Canadiens
In a tie game and time winding down on the second period, Elias Lindholm looked to give the Bruins some momentum going into the third with the go-ahead goal against the Canadiens.
The goal horn sounded. But as quick as it came on it turned off and the officials were signaling for no goal due to goaltender interference.
It appeared Montreal’s own skater interfered with his goalie, not David Pastrnak. But Marco Sturm elected not to challenge the non-call.
“It’s always a group decision,” the Bruins coach said. “I think we thought David had the stick in the goalie’s pad and he couldn’t move. And it was a non-goal-call from the ref, too. So you always have to think about that one. They don’t like to overrule things, too. That was pretty much it.”
Sturm elected to challenge Zachary Bolduc’s go-ahead goal in the third period for goaltender interference. The goal was upheld.
Did Sturm think challenging Bolduc’s goal was a gamble?
“Yes and no,” he said. “All those challenges, I feel like if you look at around the league and even with us, two today, sometimes you never know. Looking back afterwards, could we make maybe a different call on one of them? Maybe. But again, those are split seconds. Sometimes you have to make a decision right away and trust everyone. There’s a lot of guys looking at those situations at once. We made that call and today didn’t happen.”
From there, the Canadiens completely tilted the ice in their favor and earned a 6-2 win over Boston. The four unanswered goals in the third came in a five-minute span.
The Bruins now go into the holiday break on a four-game losing streak. On the other end of that break is a five-game road trip that begins in Buffalo against the Sabres — who have won seven straight — and ends in Seattle.
Bruins are fatigued mentally and physically, hoping break will be a reset
The 2025-26 schedule is a bit more challenging than in previous years due to the three-week Olympic break in February. Because of that, there are more games in the week.
But every team is dealing with the same workload when it comes to the schedule.
“We have to find a way to get out of this,” Sturm said.
The Bruins played a strong first and second period, but the third is when the wheels fell off and the game got away from them. Montreal scored four unanswered goals in a five-minute span as it outworked and outplayed its longtime rival.
“We have structure that we know works and it gave us success throughout the season,” David Pastrnak said after Tuesday’s game. “We have to get back to it before it’s too late. There’s lots of hockey left to be played, but at the same time we have to go back to the details, the structure that we know works.
“What I think is, it’s the mental fatigue,” he continued. “I’ve been seeing it in a couple of games. Sometimes that stuff happens leading into the break.”
The Bruins go into the three-day holiday break on a four-game losing streak. When they return, they embark on a five-game road trip that includes a trip to Western Canada.
“Anytime you can get a rest in this league, especially with a schedule like this, is huge,” Nikita Zadorov said. “I don’t think it’s only physical, I think it’s mental, as well. We still have a lot of belief in this room. We’re a good team, and we’re gonna do it.”