OXNARD, Calif. — Jerry Jones has the reputation of being the most media-friendly owner in professional sports. The Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager has been significantly criticized since purchasing the franchise in 1989 for how much he speaks with reporters.But it’s been a while since Jones gathered with the team’s local reporters to have a group interview session. He did so Tuesday, alongside executive vice president Stephen Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer for the team’s annual news conference to mark the start of training camp.Jones’ previous news conference was at the end of the team’s draft in late April. His public silence has been part of what has been an abnormally quiet Cowboys offseason.“I like the idea that the word is that we have had a quiet offseason relative to, dare I say, off-the-field noise or chatter, whatever you want to call it,” Jones said during what ended up being a 41-minute news conference followed by an 8 1/2-minute walk-off interview session. “I like that. That hasn’t been the case. We’ve had a lot going on and we’ve had to really scramble a lot, the kind of stuff that you don’t see. But it should be that way. It’s supposed to be hard. But we’ve had a very active (offseason). We have made a lot of decisions. We have made a lot of difficult decisions in my mind.“I do like the perception that we’ve had a quiet, uneventful offseason, and let’s see how we can work in that. Perception is big. But what I will tell you is I don’t plan on doing anything around here for the next few days to stir anything up.”Cowboys enter training camp with no contract disputes loomingJon MachotaLast year at this time, Jones was often asked about Micah Parsons and his contract situation. The All-Pro pass rusher attended training camp but did not practice. Things got ugly in the weeks that followed, and Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers a week before the season opener. The year before, star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb did not attend the California portion of training camp as he was seeking a new contract. Heading into the 2023 season, All-Pro right guard Zack Martin had a similar contract holdout.This year has been much different. Although there was the possibility of something similar with standout wide receiver George Pickens, he signed the franchise tag, attended minicamp and is in Oxnard for the start of training camp.Jones didn’t field one Pickens question until the 25-minute mark of Tuesday’s news conference.“He’s a valued part of our aspirations and our potential success,” Jones said. “The combination that he has with the other talent on the team, I think, will make you feel pretty positive about what we’ve got a chance to do. I hope that he comes out here and is the most prolific, successful receiver in the NFL this year. And how would you like to be a free agent and with his credentials and step out there and have a year like that? I wish all of that because if that happens, that (would be) good for us.“This can be a very win-win thing that we’ve done here, us and George being on the team. Make no mistake about it, George could be a Cowboy for the rest of his career, and that’d be a long time. Make no mistake about it. This (franchise tag) just fit for us and thank goodness it fit for him and we got it done.”Jones’ optimism for the season led to him talking about Super Bowl aspirations and potentially making a “substantive” move to upgrade the roster.Stephen Jones also shared his thoughts on where the roster sits entering camp. Notably, Dallas isn’t expected to have a player on the physically unable to perform list or the non-football injury/illness list to start camp. Players held out of organized team activities and minicamp because of recent surgeries, such as edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku (hip) and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot), are expected to be full participants.“I think there’s always moves that you can make to be better,” Stephen Jones said. “I mean, we’re entertaining thoughts on players as we speak right now. I mean, (vice president of player personnel Will McClay) does an amazing job of getting the players and putting them in front of Jerry, myself and Schottenheimer. So we’re always looking for ways to get better. I will say that I think we’ve done a good job of putting together a roster that’s going to take the field (this week).“I do feel like we’ve done a really good job of doing the things that we need to do to improve not only coaching, but also players to give us that opportunity. But, no, we’re not finished. We’re going to look for opportunities every day to improve this roster.”In regard to keeping players on the current roster well beyond this season, Stephen Jones said defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is a high priority.Dallas traded first- and second-round picks to the New York Jets last November to acquire the four-time Pro Bowler, who has two years left on his contract.“We’re very open to that,” Stephen Jones said of a contract extension for Williams. “We want Quinnen here for the long haul. Obviously we’ve got a lot of resources tied up in him, and he knows what we think about him. We’ve had some discussions with the agent about how to go about the process, but certainly he’s one of the best in the business and we know kind of what that market is. Obviously it evolves and changes with each new deal, which is the case at any position. But certainly he’s at the top of the list in terms of people that we want to keep around here long term.”Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones set up shop with reporters Tuesday in Oxnard, Calif., before the start of Cowboys training camp. (Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)Dallas’ offensive line has questions that need to be answered. The Cowboys would love for 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton to have a strong camp and solidify his spot as their starting left tackle. But if that doesn’t happen, look for All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith to move out to left tackle. That would weaken their interior, but their hand could be forced.Schottenheimer said Tuesday that Smith will start at left guard but get tackle reps. He added that right guard Tyler Booker will get work at center.New defensive coordinator Christian Parker was also a topic as he enters his first training camp as an NFL D-coordinator. There’s been a lot of praise for how he has handled things behind the scenes. He now gets a chance to put it on display against an offense that should be one of the league’s best.“The way you know he’s an elite coach is when you walk by his office, and players, I mean multiple players, are in there wanting to listen and talk to him about scheme and things like that,” Schottenheimer said. “But the organization, the way he’s organized this camp on the defensive side of the ball, from the individual section to the tackling circuit drills, to the ball-disruption drills, to the install packages from first- and second-down fronts, pressures, coverages, things like that. He is a first-time coordinator that doesn’t act like a first-time coordinator. … (He’s) maybe the hardest-working coach I’ve ever been around.”The Cowboys will hold their first training camp practice today. The first practice in full pads is Monday.