There are now two weeks remaining before the NFL trade deadline expires and the Cowboys are in a precarious situation. Sitting at 3-3 on the season and coming off a bye week, the club is in danger of facing a lost season. Dallas is going to travel to two mediocre teams over the next 12 days, the 3-4 San Francisco 49ers and 4-3 Atlanta Falcons. If they survive the trips with one or two wins, they may feel they are in a position to strengthen themselves over the second half of the season. If they fall in both, however, dropping to 3-5, it will probably be time to admit the rebuild has to be fully embraced instead of straddling the tear-it-down dence. In that scenario, the front office would be doing themselves a disservice by holding on to veterans on expiring contracts. Trading away a veteran doesn’t come without caution; players who are projected to sign substantial deals will provide their former teams with an opportunity to earn a compensatory pick aligned with their next contract amount. That creates an interesting situation for several players with Pro Bowls and All-Pros on their resumes. Here’s a look at five players who could bring back interesting draft capital for the Cowboys. QB Trey Lance LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 17: Trey Lance #19 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) Lance has done nothing in the league, yet his athleticism and draft pedigree keep him in the public’s mind as a potential fix. Seeing players who have struggled to begin their careers eventually work it out (Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, Ryan Tannehill, etc) will give some team the hope of discovering a diamond in the rough. With recent injuries to Deshaun Watson and Aidan O’Connell, there may be an opportunity for Dallas to recoup some level of compensation after spending a fourth round pick to acquire Lance from the 49ers last summer. DE DeMarcus Lawrence Wednesday: DNP | Thursday: — | Friday: — Lawrence has made two straight, and four overall, Pro Bowls. He’s currently leading the team in sacks with three, despite missing the last two games as he’s on IR. He’s a two-way player who is normally one of the league’s best at setting the edge. The issue is that Lawrence is dealing with a lisfranc sprain in his foot and may not be healthy enough to pass a physical for his new club. OG Zack Martin Wednesday: Limited | Thursday: — | Friday: — Martin is not the same player who has been considered the best in the league for the majority of his career. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer who has set the standard for interior line play for his generation. At this point, he’s still well above replacement level and there’s a very strong chance his decline is related to the scheme he’s being asked to play under Mike Solari. A fresh start could easily see a career rejuvenation. Which creates a conundrum. With a new staff almost all but guaranteed for 2025, does Dallas try to convince Martin to retire a Cowboy? Is he close to retirement anyway? These are conversations that need to be had with the star over the next two weeks. WR Brandin Cooks CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 08: Brandin Cooks #3 of the Dallas Cowboys catches the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) Cooks hasn’t been impactful this season, but perhaps that has more to do with the knee injury that has him on IR. Set to be available for activation following the Atlanta game, there’s been no word on whether or not that’s a reasonable expectation, but if so, he could be an interesting player to deal. Dallas hasn’t been very explosive on offense, but after Week 9, would there be any point in keeping him on board? He’d be more progress stopper than solution and if a team is offering some level of Day 3 compensation it might make sense to move him and save $3 million or so in salary. DL Chauncey Golston MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 20: Chauncey Golston #99 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Minnesota Vikings during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) Golston is an interesting case as he’s been rather nondescript as a Cowboy and is set to see his rookie contract run out. The 2021 third-round pick has played reasonably well as the depth chart has disintegrated ahead of him and might be looked at as a contributing piece by a team that’s in need of rotation help.
Cowboys given an opportunity to beat the 49ers in Week 8
Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images The 49ers are in a tough spot right now. The Dallas Cowboys have had a lot of success over the previous three seasons by winning 12 games in each. However, they’ve had one mountain that they haven’t been able to climb, and that’s the San Francisco 49ers. No matter the setting or how well they’re playing or not, the Cowboys always fold to the 49ers. Over this span, Dallas has lost to San Francisco three times, including twice in the playoffs. This Sunday, the Cowboys will play the 49ers for the third consecutive time in San Francisco, but one thing is a little different this time around. Coming into this contest, the 49ers have their fair share of injuries, and it got even worse against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL, ending his 2024 campaign. Deebo Samuel, who played just four snaps, left the game with an illness that has been described as “pneumonia-like,” and he has fluid in his lungs. He’s currently hospitalized with no timetable for his return. Also, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he’d be surprised if running back Christian McCaffrey were to play against the Cowboys. Kyle Shanahan confirms WR Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL and he is out for the season. Also adds Deebo Samuel had an illness that was “pneumonia-like” and had fluid in his lungs. Deebo is currently in the hospital. — Clayton Holloway (@HollowayNFLN) October 21, 2024 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan told reporters that he would be “surprised” if Christian McCaffrey were able to play Sunday night vs. the Cowboys, but he added that San Francisco’s star RB could be back after the bye on Nov. 10 vs. the Buccaneers. pic.twitter.com/z62goGjRLW — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 21, 2024 On the other hand, Dallas could be getting some guys back. There’s hope that All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland will make his season debut. He suffered a stress fracture in his foot, which put him on injured reserve. Micah Parsons, who has been dealing with a high ankle sprain, has high hopes that he’ll suit up against the 49ers, but his status is still in the air. Also, rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton is working to get back on the field of battle. He was injured versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and didn’t play against the Detroit Lions. So, he’ll have to show plenty of progression this week in order to be back in as a starter, which will be the case when he’s cleared. This isn’t in any way to glorify the fact that the 49ers are injured. After all, the best teams want to play an opponent at full strength. However, the Cowboys need a win to keep pace in the NFC East. Plus, let’s face it, even at 3-4, the 49ers are a better team than the Cowboys, and they have a better roster. This is all to say that Dallas needs every advantage they can get when it comes to playing San Francisco, which puts much emphasis on them coming out ready to play on Sunday. When the final injury reports come out later in the week, hopefully, the Cowboys will be getting these guys back or at least a couple of them as they look to slay this dragon.
Why the Cowboys getting injured players back still may not be enough to save the season
Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images Even key contributors returning from injury might not be enough to help the Cowboys. Injuries, of course, are part of the game in the NFL, but the Dallas Cowboys seem to have been bitten by the injury bug harder than usual this year. They’ve had several key contributors sidelined due to various degrees of injuries so far this season, but fortunately a number of them could be making their triumphant return to the field shortly. For the 3-3 Cowboys, this is good news. Any team who has some of their best players sidelined usually struggle to string wins together with their backups inserted into the lineup, and Dallas hasn’t been the exception. In fact, seeing them sit at .500 right now with the multitude of injuries they sustained is some encouraging with all things considered. Think about it for a second. Dallas has been without their top four pass rushers for at least the past couple of weeks and their WR2 Brandin Cooks as well. If that wasn’t enough they’ve also had to overcome DaRon Bland missing in the secondary so far this season. And, that’s not even mentioning the players who have been banged up through the first six weeks. So yes, the Cowboys sitting at 3-3 right now is a bright spot in what has been a rather frustrating start to the 2024 season for the organization. And if you’re looking for further encouragement, they could be welcoming back a number of reinforcements in the not-too-distant future, further strengthening their roster for the remainder of the season. While getting some key reinforcements back in action inspires little bit of hope for the remainder of the season, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Cowboys will start playing better. Sadly, reinforcements or not, the Cowboys simply aren’t playing very well so far this season. It doesn’t matter who is suited up if the team as a whole is playing poorly. The Cowboys need to improve in several areas both offensively and defensively. Offensively they need some semblance of a running game, need their receivers to be more detail-oriented to get open, and the red zone efficiency needs to improve dramatically. The expected reinforcements won’t help much there. Defensively, the Cowboys have been trying to tread water with the number of bodies they’ve been without. Getting Micah Parsons back in action will definitely help rushing the passer and the season debut of DaRon Bland will no doubt help Dallas’ pass defense. But, even those two returning can’t improve the overall play of the entire defense. Overall, the Cowboys need to improve in almost every aspect coming out of their bye week. If not, the incoming reinforcements may be too little too late. Just because key contributors will be back in action doesn’t necessarily equate to better play all around. The responsibility falls on the shoulders of each individual player moving forward.
Jerry Jones addresses radio rant, justifies Derrick Henry non-pursuit, shares his lone regret as Cowboys owner
Jerry Jones addresses radio rant, justifies Derrick Henry non-pursuit, shares his lone regret as Cowboys owner Todd Brock Jerry Jones called in Tuesday morning- as scheduled- for his weekly radio appearance on flagship station 105.3 The Fan. And the first question he got, naturally, was about last week’s headline-making tirade, when he awkwardly went after the hosts and even seemed to threaten their jobs, all for their prodding regarding the lack of personnel moves made by the front office over the offseason. “I don’t have anything to say about last week,” the Cowboys owner said… …And then he went for another seven minutes on the topic. “I must tell you, I’m surprised that last week got the attention it got.” The tl;dr version is that Jones isn’t holding a grudge, the hosts aren’t getting fired, and everyone in the long-term relationship understands and expects that there will be tough questions and emotional answers from time to time, because it comes part and parcel with the unique inside exposure that Jones regularly gives to the Dallas media when it comes to the most valuable and recognized sports franchise on the planet. Yet Jones talked a good bit about some of the controversial decisions he’s made, and why, and which one he might do over if he could. The 82-year-old billionaire wandered into his past and brought up a few of his greatest-hit stories, like the coin flip that helped determine the final price he’d pay for the team back in 1989. Oddly, he rehashed that one while trying to explain for the umpteenth time why the Cowboys didn’t pursue free agent running back Derick Henry in the spring. (Jones mentioned Henry twice without ever being prompted; it’s clearly top of mind at the moment.) “In my mind, we’re not playing very good football right now, at all,” Jones said. “And it’s beyond whether or not we have Derrick Henry or not. Derrick Henry is having a career year. I don’t know if he’d be having that career year in our situation. And that’s really something you really do have to look at, because if he had not had as many carries as our running backs have had, then he certainly probably wouldn’t have attained the level of impact he’s had.” For what it’s worth, Henry has 134 rushing attempts so far this season for Baltimore. He’s amassed 873 yards through seven games, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. The entire Cowboys team has 133 carries for 463 yards (over six games), a 3.5 per-attempt clip. “He’s a real good complement to the type of offense they run,” Jones continued of Henry. “We don’t run that type of offense, at all.” No, they sure don’t. Baltimore has a 5-2 mark, having scored a league-high 31.1 points per outing, while 3-3 Dallas is scoring 21 points per game, worse than all but one other club. But the offensive approaches aren’t that dissimilar: the Ravens are currently averaging 28.4 passing attempts and 250.6 passing yards per game; the Cowboys are at 39.7 attempts and 259.3 yards. Baltimore is, in fact, running more than the Cowboys- 34.1 attempts per game as opposed to 22.2- but it’s worth noting that many of the Ravens’ “rushes” are scrambles or designed runs by quarterback Lamar Jackson (about 10 per game). It’s also safe to assume that if Henry were wearing a star on his helmet, there would be a few more runs being called. Be all of that as it may, Jones claims he has no regrets about not pursuing Henry- because of money, because of fit, because of whatever. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] With the team reeling and on the precipice of a complete crash-and-burn, though, Jones spent a lot of his time justifying other past decisions. Over the course of the Q&A, he defended trading wide receiver Amari Cooper for only a fifth-round pick in 2022, despite the fact that Cleveland turned him for a third-rounder just last week. “We went for the dollars,” Jones explained. “We saved almost $20 million for our cap and the future. We took a lesser draft pick to get that savings. When he made this move the other day, Cleveland went for more draft pick and less savings. It was very simple.” Cooper has played in 39 games since leaving Dallas. He’s totaled 178 catches for 2,726 yards and 17 touchdowns and made a Pro Bowl. The Cowboys used that fifth-round selection on offensive lineman Matt Waletzko, who- in two and a half pro seasons- has played all of 19 snaps, mostly on special teams. Yeah, but they did get that cap savings, too. Jones was willing to admit there was at least one thing he’s gotten wrong over his tenure as owner. He told 105.3 The Fan that he regrets firing head coach Wade Phillips midway through the 2010 season. The Cowboys were just 1-7 when Phillips got the axe and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was named interim head coach. The move turned the season for Dallas; the Cowboys went 5-3 the rest of the way, and Garrett stayed on in the position for another nine seasons. But Jones pointed out that things worked out for Phillips, too. Just a few years later, Phillips won a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos, a title that, according to many, likely would not have happened without him as Denver’s defensive coordinator. It was the only time Jones has ever fired a head coach during a season. He’s said he won’t do it again, despite rumors swirling that Mike McCarthy- coaching without a contract beyond 2024- is on borrowed time. Jones seems more than willing to lie in the bed he’s made- with a lame-duck head coach that he won’t dismiss now because of a 14-year-old regret, with a benchwarming lineman that he won’t admit was too little payment for a Pro Bowl receiver he wanted gone, with a broken running game that he insists is fine because he wants the fanbase to believe the
Cowboys and 49ers both look to overcome poor starts to their season when they clash in week 8
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images The Cowboys and 49ers are both in some tough situations entering Week 8. If you had said heading into week eight of the NFL season that both the Dallas Cowboys and 49ers would only have three wins each, you would have been called insane. Both teams finished 12-5 last season, and finished as the two top teams in the NFC. This year however, their seasons aren’t going as expected. Heading into their week eight matchup against each other, the 49ers hold a 3-4 record and the Cowboys hold a 3-3 record. Yikes. While both teams have looked like shells of their former selves this season, a large part of it has to do with their unfortunate injury situation. The Dallas Cowboys have been without All-Pro CB DaRon Bland all year, and been without WR Brandin Cooks, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, and DE Micah Parsons since their week four win against the New York Giants. The San Francisco 49ers may be the only team in the NFL that has had it worse than the Cowboys when it comes to injuries. They’ve been without Madden-cover athlete Christian McCaffrey this entire year (talk about fueling the Madden curse conspiracy), and have been without LB Dre Greenlaw, DT Javon Hargrave, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, S Talanoa Hufanga, and WR Jauan Jennings for several games this season. To make matters worse for the 49ers, star WR Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL in their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The 49ers have undoubtedly owned the Cowboys over the last several seasons. Their previous matchup was a blowout, when they defeated Dallas 42-10 in week five last season. They also notably eliminated the Cowboys in back-to-back playoff matchups, ending the seasons of two 12-5 teams that Cowboys fans were very confident in. While this isn’t the matchup that the NFL was anticipating when scheduling them as the Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 8, this storied rivalry should feature another high-pressure game. It could be argued that these games are “must-wins” for both teams, as they enter a brutal stretch of their season.
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers, 2024 NFL Week 8
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers, 2024 NFL Week 8 Keep track of everything related to Cowboys at 49ers in NFL Week 8 as Dallas visits San Francisco on Sunday night. Contributors: The Dallas Cowboys are back from the bye this week and there is no rest for the weary. Up next for America’s Team is a trip to a haunted house of horrors, fitting for the group’s final game before Halloween strikes. The Cowboys will visit the San Francisco 49ers and look to beat them for the first time since 2020, incidentally a game flexed out of Sunday Night Football which is the very slot that this game will be played. All told the Niners have won three in a row against Dallas and the Cowboys have not beaten them in their own house since 2017. You will recall that as the day that safety Jeff Heath had to serve as the emergency kicker for the injured Dan Bailey. Yes, it has been that long. Some of the faces in the rivalry remain the same with Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Zack Martin, and Kyle Shanahan on the San Francisco side. Players like CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel have been a part of it as well, but all in the time that San Francisco has dominated things. This is one of the more iconic rivalries across all of NFL history that will see yet another chapter written in it on Sunday night. Here’s to hoping it is a page that the Dallas Cowboys have the last word on. Here’s our stream for everything you need to know about it all. We will update it throughout the week to include all relevant news regarding the game, injuries and everything else.
Cowboys Headlines: Dallas healing as injuries hit 49ers, nation’s top college RB prospect eyeing Cowboys?
Updates: Bland’s chances of returning vs. 49ers :: The Mothership Link Bland may finally make his season debut Sunday in Santa Clara. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was noncommittal Monday, but with the cornerback’s 21-day practice window having opened on Oct. 9, he’s likely to return to the lineup sooner rather than later. Cowboys’ Micah Parsons: Return from injury for 49ers showdown ‘still in the air’ :: Cowboys Wire Link The edge rusher suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 4 and has missed the past two games. He’s been in the building over the bye week and is progressing, said McCarthy, but the final decision for whether Parsons plays in Week 8 will come from the team trainers. “They want to make sure — obviously because there’s so many games left,” Parsons said, “that I come back at the best result. Sometimes, it’s not always the player’s decision. It’s the people with the higher pay grade.” 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk out for year with torn ACL, MCL; Deebo Samuel hospitalized :: The Athletic Link As feared, Aiyuk tore an ACL in Sunday’s loss to Kansas City; he’ll miss the remainder of the season. Samuel’s status for Week 8 is uncertain after the receiver was hospitalized with fluid in his lungs. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he’s “not sure if we’ll get [Samuel] back this week or not.” NFL news roundup: Latest league updates from Monday, Oct. 21 :: NFL.com Link The 49ers will also be keeping a close eye on George Kittle as Dallas prepares to visit. The tight end is dealing with a foot sprain and is considered day-to-day. Kittle is the team’s current leader in both catches and touchdown receptions. NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Chiefs fall from No. 1 after win? Lions make case :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys took a tumble even in a week in which they didn’t play. Last week’s 22nd-ranked team drops another spot to 23rd heading into Week 8. Their next three opponents- the 49ers, Falcons, and Eagles- come in 15th, 16th, and 14th, respectively. If the Cowboys can only beat bad teams in 2024, where will they draft? :: Cowboys Wire Link After being a perennial top-five outfit in previous seasons, Dallas ranks just 25th in offensive EPA this season and 27th in defensive EPA. They seem equipped to take care of business only against the weakest teams in the league, but they don’t play an opponent currently with a losing record until Thanksgiving. A 6-11 finish seems entirely possible; based on last year’s draft order, that would earn the Cowboys a top-six or -seven selection. Ashton Jeanty talks the possibility of playing for his hometown Dallas Cowboys in the NFL :: Lone Star Live Link The dynamic Boise State back played his high school ball in the Metroplex, and he admits he’s thought about a homecoming when he turns pro. “Dallas Cowboys, I’m not saying they’re not a good fit,” Jeanty said. “I’m not saying that at all. And I’m from Frisco, played in their practice stadium. I would be a hometown hero if I went there.” Jeanty also mentioned Chicago and Kansas City as preferred destinations. Did the Cowboys make a big mistake letting this weapon walk in free agency? :: Cowboys Wire Link Letting Tony Pollard leave saved the Cowboys between $5 million and $10 million in salary. With Tennessee this season, he’s averaging a career-best 67.8 yards per game and gaining 4.35 yards per carry. While he’d clearly be starting over the team’s current options, his release wasn’t necessarily a mistake. The real error was not adding a young and talented running back through the draft. Where are Cowboys leaders that will save the 2024 season? Do they exist? :: Cowboys Wire Link With a 3-3 record, tons of injuries thrusting younger players into bigger roles, and a lame-duck coaching staff, the Cowboys’ locker room is ripe for a few leaders to step up and take charge of things. Yet it doesn’t seem to be happening. Dak Prescott, Zack Martin, CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, Micah Parsons, Eric Kendricks, Malik Hooker, Trevon Diggs… anyone??? Could the bye week inspire someone to assume the role? McCarthy looking to continue post-bye success :: The Mothership Link The coach is 12-5 in games immediately following a bye, 3-1 during his time in Dallas. In those four seasons combined, Dallas has finished things out after the bye with a combined 25-13 record. Clearly, McCarthy’s process pays off, though he says the team’s habit of practicing hard is very different from practicing well. This is the week to change that. McCarthy: Cowboys coaches to focus on one basic thing to help solve team’s issues :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys have multiple issues coming out of the bye, but McCarthy believes something simple could be a big help in solving them all. “We need to spend more time in group settings,” the coach continued. “We’ve got to get away from as many individual meetings; we need more group. Our connection between positions needs to be higher.” McCarthy also took the opportunity to say he does not agree with Troy Aikman’s recent observation that the Cowboys receivers are running “lazy” routes. “There is definitely need for improvement in every position,” he specified. Top candidates to replace Mike McCarthy as Cowboys HC: Week 8 edition :: Cowboys Wire Link If things don’t improve dramatically, McCarthy will not earn a new contract. Get ready to hear lots more about coaches like USC’s Lincoln Riley, Klint Kubiak, Mike Vrabel, Aaron Glenn, Kliff Kingsbury, Ben Johnson, Bobby Slowik, and two guys you may have heard of- Deion Sanders and Bill Belichick. Uncovering the many layers of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks off the field :: CBS News Texas Link A ten-year NFL veteran, a former Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee, an active contributor to several nonprofits, a doting dad, and even the creator of his own line of hair products (that he’s
Quiet bye week continues the Cowboys’ lack of activity in 2024
Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images Other teams in the NFL made moves last week to get better. The struggling Cowboys didn’t… confirming what we already knew. If you weren’t already a believer in the idea of 2024 being a covert reset for the Dallas Cowboys, this last week may have finally sold you. While other middling teams made moves to hopefully be more competitive this season, Dallas sat on its hands during its bye week. It’s just another indication that the Cowboys’ front office doesn’t seem invested in winning this year. Last week, the New York Jets traded draft picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for WR Davante Adams and finally reached a financial agreement with pass rusher Haason Reddick. The Buffalo Bills swung a trade to acquire WR Amari Cooper from Cleveland. And despite being undefeated at the time, the Minnesota Vikings traded for RB Cam Akers to bolster their depth chart. Of these moves, the only two that were clearly options that would’ve helped Dallas were with the receivers. Granted, Cooper being welcome back in the building or even wanting to return is up for debate. But reuniting Adams with Mike McCarthy could’ve been fruitful. We don’t know how willing the Jets really were to move on for Reddick or that Akers would’ve been much of an upgrade in our struggling RB room, but they still represent activity that teams with aspirations this season are making. We promise to stop referencing Jerry Jones’ “all in” comment from this past offseason one day, but it’s still a noose around his neck for the moment. The words are proven more hollow with every untaken step, including the lack of any trade or significant roster move during the bye. To think there was a time when you could trust Jerry to take action in the name of improving the team. Let’s go back to Amari Cooper. In 2018, the Cowboys were 3-4 going into the bye week and a lack of firepower at WR was a huge reason why. They did something about it, sending a first-round pick to the Raiders for Cooper. He immediately got the offense moving again and helped the Cowboys finish 10-6 and win a playoff game. But that was a different time with a different coach, one that the Jones family still hoped to keep working with. There’s no indication of that with Mike McCarthy in 2024; “lame duck” status is more than confirmed at this point. Not giving him an extension was one thing as it was logical to make him prove he deserved to stick around. But after taking a future-minded approach to the offseason and again remaining quiet at the bye, Dallas is sending a pretty clear message that McCarthy isn’t part of the team’s future. The frustrating part of all this is not the Cowboys’ decision to disengage from this season and work toward a better future, but the front office’s lack of honesty about it. Do you think a different coach can do better? That’s fine. Most of us would agree. Does Dak Prescott need more talent around him to be consistently competitive? Yes. Clearly. Cowboys fans are sophisticated. We have the most talked-about team in football and get insights and education on the game like few others. It takes a lot to fool us, and this half-hearted deception in 2024 is just insulting. We see what the front office sees and what they’re doing about it. They just need to own it and stop pretending, and especially stop threatening media members who call them on their crap. This isn’t to say we should weep for McCarthy. If anything, he’s already been here a year too long. But he’s coaching like a guy who’s stopped caring, and that’s understandable given how little his bosses seem to care about him. We saw this disaster coming, and the Cowboys’ continuing inaction shows that it’s one they were willing to accept,
Top candidates to replace Mike McCarthy as Cowboys HC: Week 8 edition
The Dallas Cowboys still have at least 11 games left in their 2024 season. The mood, however, is pretty grim as the club exits their bye week. Sitting at 3-3, the club will return to the safety of the road for their next contest, a remarkable turnabout from how things have been the last two seasons. Somehow, the pressure of being at home has become too much for the organization, falling woefully behind in four contests (dating back to the wild-card game) and only making one of them competitive. This is the mark of a team without leadership, and the most likely result with the way things are trending is that head coach Mike McCarthy will not earn a new contract and will be cleaning out his office in early January. That will likely set off an intriguing search that if the front office is worth anything (debatable at this point), they are already doing the leg work to form a list of candidates. We’ll do similar work, putting together a watch list of potential replacements; checking in periodically throughout the rest of the regular season. The rankings are obviously subjective, so reader’s shouldn’t get to adjusting their drawers just yet. Honorable Mentions: Dan Pritchard, Cincinnati Bengals OC Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks OC Adam Stenovich, Green Bay Packers OC Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers, DC 13 USC HC Lincoln Riley Dec 27, 2023; San Diego, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The luster may be off Riley as USC is struggling mightily so far in 2024 at 3-4, after regressing in 2023. The Oklahoma run is goated, the initial year in 2022 with the Trojans was magical, but nothing recently has gone according to plan 12 University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; rGeorgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart reacts after the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports The best collegiate head coach since Nick Saban.. he likely makes way too much ($13 million per year) coaching at his alma mater to move, but there’s no process that is sane without at least kicking the tires on the possibility. 11 Saints OC Klint Kubiak Sep 8, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak reacts against the Carolina Panthers during the pregame at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images The Saints started the season ridiculously hot, with back-to-back 40-point outbursts. Things have fallen off badly since then, with five straight losses including three consecutive blowouts. Losing Derek Carr at QB has hurt, but Kubiak’s system is certainly something to keep an eye on, especially if the Saints can recapture some magic. 10 Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith Nov 2, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith at press conference at the PSD Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Grabbing from a fruitful tree is always a wise idea, and snatching Smith from under Mike McDaniel as part of the Kyle Shanahan limb system seems like a wise call. Dallas rarely uses motion at the snap and isn’t particularly good at it; and that’s literally the forte of Smith. Doesn’t currently have play-calling duties though, which could be seen as a knock. 9 Former NFL head coach Mike Vrabel Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel reacts to a Titans penalty against the Seattle Seahawks during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Vrabel was fired by owner Amy Adams Strunk Monday after having two losing seasons back-to-back. Vrabel is a defensive-minded head coach who was able to achieve strong levels of success in Tennessee with a veteran QB who wasn’t well regarded (Ryan Tannehill) prior to their time together. Known as a disciplinarian, pairing him with Dak Prescott would require finding the next big thing as offensive coordinator. 8 Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick Sep 30, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline as they take on the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports For better or worse, the clubhouse leader. Belichick is a huge Prescott fan, Jerry Jones is a huge supporter of retreads and it would be interesting to see if given a competent front office… oh wait. 7 Lions DC Aaron Glenn Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn watches practice during OTAs at Detroit Lions headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Glenn obviously has ties to Dallas, playing two of his 15 seasons with the organization, but the growth of the Lions’ defense under his tutelage has been impressive on its own. In 2020 they ranked 32nd in defensive DVOA. Since Glenn joined they moved to 29th, 27th, 13th and ranked 4th going into Week 7’s action. He’s consistently being highlighted by their players as a phenomenal leader of men. 6 Comanders OC Kliff Kingsbury Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images It appears that Kingsbury’s time away after the disaster in Arizona has done him a ton of good. The offense he’s put together in DC for rookie Jayden Daniels is quite impressive and a stark contrast to what he was doing with Kyler Murray in the desert. That transformation should lead to him having a second opportunity not always afforded. 5 Colorado HC Deion Sanders Nov 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders (right) talks with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports After great success at Jackson State with back-to-back SWAC championships, Sanders has quickly brought Colorado from obscurity to
Troy Aikman, Joe Buck shaded the Cowboys for not signing Derrick Henry during MNF
Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images The whole world is ready to make fun of the Dallas Cowboys any time Derrick Henry does something significant. The Dallas Cowboys did not play a game in Week 7, but as it came to a close they were on the losing end of a shot from someone near and dear to their hearts. Troy Aikman was known for throwing touchdowns for the Cowboys throughout his career, but on Monday night he threw some shade. On the heels of comments about how current Cowboys wide receivers run poor routes, Aikman and his broadcast partner on ESPN Joe Buck had some fun at the expense of America’s Team. If you were unaware, Aikman and Buck had one of two games taking place on Monday night. The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers danced in the desert while Troy and Joe called the matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida. Late in the third quarter Ravens running back Derrick Henry broke off a huge run. You can imagine what came next. THE KING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tune in on ESPN/ABC! pic.twitter.com/jAoL7aHC9h — Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2024 In speaking about Henry and how valuable of an asset he has been to the Ravens this season, Aikman took an indirect shot at the Cowboys for not pursuing him in free agency. “There’s gotta be a lot of teams out there that had opportunities to bring in Derrick Henry that are kind of kicking themselves for not doing it. But he has been an absolute perfect fit for this Ravens attack.” The NBA returns this week, but the first alley-oop of the season is here as Joe Buck slammed home the point that Troy was making. “Can you think of any teams off hand? I’ll just throw this out there, the offseason home for Derrick Henry is in Dallas, Texas.” Derrick Henry was a free agent who anyone could have signed in the offseason or one who the Tennessee Titans could have never let reach that point. In spite of this the Cowboys have become the poster for failure any time he does something notable as mentioned and so far this season that has happened quite often. The reason for this is that Jerry Jones has insisted that the Cowboys could not afford him which runs counter to what any and all information on the internet suggests. That Henry does have a home in Dallas as Buck mentioned and that he on his own seemingly had interest in playing for the Cowboys only adds to the hysteria of it all. This storyline isn’t going away as long as Derrick Henry is playing well. Buckle up.
