When Dallas Cowboys rookie safety Caleb Downs–perhaps the one player seen as the embodiment of a new approach for the team’s woebegone defense this season–took the field during minicamp last week, it was an encouraging look at the Ohio State standout in his new digs, wearing his navy blue jersey and with the star on his helmet. But for many observers, there was something very much off when it came to how Downs was looking. He was wearing No. 18.
Downs had been No. 2 at Ohio State, and had been No. 2 at Alabama when he played as a freshman for the Crimson Tide. He’d even been No. 2 in high school. Seeing him in No. 18 was a bit unsettling.
It turns out, No. 2 had been claimed already, by Cobie Durant, the cornerback brought in from the Rams in free agency. Durant had No. 2, so Downs went with 18, despite even his own mother putting up a stink about the change. She wasn’t alone.
“The Love of the Star” podcast host Zack Wolchuk this week said he is ending every episode of the show by saying, “The Cobie Durant stuff and the jersey No. 2. We are on a Cobie Durant ‘Drop the Deuce’ campaign. Hand that deuce to Caleb Downs. Cobie Durant, do the right thing.” ANd will continue doing so until Downs is No. 2.
Cowboys Number Choices Catching Notice
On Thursday, Downs’ father, Gary Downs, appeared on the “DLLS Cowboys” podcast and in a wide-ranging interview, was finally asked about Caleb Downs eventually getting the No. 2 jersey.
Downs explained it will be 13, for now: “I believe he is wearing 13 for the OTAs, but I think 2 is still a work in progress. There’s a lot of dominos that have got to fall for him to get the No. 2 but he said, the number don’t matter, he is going to play the same regardless. When it comes to ball, it is going to be about football, it is not going to be about social media, it’s not going to be about his marketing, and it is not going to be about a number. He understands he has to prove himself. So, in regards to the number, he knows that is not the main thing.
“He is also a team-builder. So, he understands that is someone else has that number, he is not going to go in and just take it away from him. That player gets traded, gets cut, it’s what it is.”
Caleb Downs ‘Very Frugal’ With Money
Gary Downs explained that yes, Caleb Downs wants No. 2 but he also confessed that his son is a bit on the cheap side, and is not likely to pay out to Durant to get the number. Unless, then, Durant gives up his number choice out of the kindness of his heart, we might expect Downs to stay in No. 13.
“He is also, he is very frugal with his resources, with his money. So he is not all about paying money, no. He is tight with his money, he saves his money, he is just not like that, man,” Downs said.
“Free or cheap. If it’s free, take 3. I am not saying Caleb is that bad but he is very frugal. But it is not the main thing. If ball is the main thing, the number is a tertiary or a third-order thing. And when he gets the chance to get 2, I am sure he will get it. But he is not focused on it. My wife, his mom, she is serious about him getting No. 2. But he is like, ‘Mom, that don’t matter.’”
Caleb Downs’ Father Explains Cowboys’ No. 2 Controversy