Cowboys BREAKING: 'Better Call Linval!' DT Joseph Signs with Dallas, Mike Zimmer

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys , led by defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, are talking a good game, and an honest game, when it comes to nose tackle Mazi Smith. But as CowboysCountry first reported, they have also been talking to defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

"Better Call Linval''? Something like that.

The "Mike Zimmer guy from their days together in Minnesota, the two-time Pro Bowler is 35 now, with recent contracts that reflect a natural decline, as last year he joined the Bills on what was essentially a vet-minimum one-year deal worth $1.6 million ... and the year before that was with the Eagles on a cheap one-year, $2 million deal.

This time around? The 6-4, 330-pounder with pedigree - having put in 13 NFL seasons after having been a second-round pick in 2010 - gets a one-year deal that NFL.com says is worth $2.5 million, with a chance with incentives to make $4 million.

And one more thing: with all due respect to 2023 first-round pick Mazi ... Joseph has accomplished things that whole group combined can barely dream of.

Three notes here: One, this idea is not reflective of a Mazi failure at camp; Dallas has moved his weight from 290 to 310 and is teaching him to play a traditional nose tackle role, and he's coming along fine.

And two, Joseph - who as we wrote before would likely prefer to skip the training camp grind - did just that, as the Cowboys are about to break camp in Oxnard and come home to Frisco.

And three, this solidifies the middle, with Osa as the starting 3-tech and old-timer Jordan Phillips (6-6, 350) able to play both spots inside ... and now Joseph coming aboard.

Want more insight? You've come to the right place. The Fish Report ... dig in!

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