Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys are going to be in serious need of pass rushers next season. In 2023, the Dallas Cowboys defensive end rotation was loaded. Dan Quinn had a platoon to deploy with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dante Fowler, Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams, Chauncey Golston, and Tyrus Wheat as their developmental rusher. Heading into 2025, the only healthy players under contract are Micah Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland. That is a glowing, beaming, and screaming red light of a problem. Williams is still with the team but is recovering from his torn ACL, which he suffered in training camp. Dallas has recently become all too familiar with ACL recoveries, with Trevon Diggs, Terence Steele, and DeMarvion Overshown twice over. Fans should keep their expectations of Williams low until he can find his footing again. Carl Lawson’s sack. Lines up in Houston and fights through a chip, but he’s able to create enough momentum that the LT has no chance to anchor or adequately combat Lawson’s long arm chop, especially with Lock drifting back in the pocket. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/1WwFrNbpH9 — John Owning (@JohnOwning) November 29, 2024 That leaves just Parsons and second-round pick Kneeland as the only two legitimate pass rushers and edge players. Lawrence, Golston, Wheat, and veteran Carl Lawson are all entering free agency. Owner Jerry Jones seemed to signal Lawrence’s time in Dallas may not be over just yet, and Lawson indicated this week that he would also like to return to the Cowboys next season if they want him. There could be a world where both players return, and the depth looks much better heading into the draft. However, Lawrence will be 33 next season, and Lawson will be 30. They need to add younger depth around Parsons and Kneeland, which could be a reason to bring back Golston on a front office patented two-year deal for a few million after he had a career season with 5.5 sacks. Through two games–really like the early returns on Cowboys 2nd round DE Marshawn Kneeland (#94). Still putting it together as a rusher but already looks like a plus run defender. Strength + twitch really pops. pic.twitter.com/3WXPUzJS6g — Mina Kimes (@minakimes) August 18, 2024 The Cowboys can’t afford to re-sign all three players. They will need to address other key positions in free agency, too. The draft will allow them to replenish the position at an affordable price tag and provide more extended control under a rookie contract. It would be wise for Dallas to re-sign two of the three. Considering their history with the team, Lawrence and Golston seem like a logical duo. However, Lawson could be the better choice to pair with Golston, not only from a health standpoint, but also because his price tag could be lower than what someone of Lawrence’s status might command. Lawson also had a bounce-back year after his time with the New York Jets, recording five sacks despite being a rotational player at the start of the year. Regardless of who coaches the defense in 2025, that coach needs a rotation of players who can rush the passer and get to the quarterback on any given down. The defensive line was at its best when Parsons and Lawrence could leave the field for a few plays, and Armstrong and Fowler would come in and be just as productive. Parsons and Kneeland need help. The Cowboys have free agency and the NFL draft to figure out how to solve this problem.
Cowboys O-lineman draws curious fine for Week 18 moment that penalized Commanders
Cowboys O-lineman draws curious fine for Week 18 moment that penalized Commanders Todd Brock “Big-Time Brock” has drawn a big-time fine… for something that seemed awfully small when it went down in the Cowboys’ season-finale loss. Brock Hoffman, starting at right guard since the late-November injury to Zack Martin, is being fined $5,472 for unsportsmanlike conduct following a fairly innocuous play in the Cowboys’ Week 18 meeting with Washington. The moment came just two minutes into the second quarter, on Brandon Aubrey’s 41-yard field goal that put Dallas up 6-0. After the kick sailed through the uprights, officials threw a penalty flag and called Commanders defensive end Daron Payne for unnecessary roughness. Replays showed Payne had taken a swing at Hoffman’s head as the two untangled themselves from their blocking duties. What Hoffman might have done is mysteriously unclear. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott gave the 6-foot-4-inch offensive lineman the nickname “Big-Time Brock” last season, saying, “He’s kind of an enforcer in that group, a guy that has a lot of attitude, huge passion for this game, wears it everyday. You can see it.” But it’s tough to see what, if anything, Hoffman did to incite Payne’s vicious reaction on this play. Even more bizarrely, Payne’s punch- egregious enough to cost the Commanders 15 yards during the game- did not incur a monetary fine at all for the veteran defender. Only Hoffman was docked for whatever happened. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Hoffman can appeal the fine, but the moment that will likely cost him over five thousand bucks drew far more attention for what happened after the 15 yards were walked off. The penalty on Payne put the Cowboys’ ensuing kickoff at the 50. Due to the rules of the new dynamic kickoff, a kick landing out of bounds would be advantageous, pinning Washington at their own 25 after the penalty yardage. Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel instructed Aubrey to do exactly that, but Aubrey’s purposely-errant boot ended up striking Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad member Michelle Siemienowski in the back of the head as she performed on the sideline. Aubrey sent an handwritten apology to Siemienowski after the game; the rookie cheerleader laughed off the incident, explaining she was fine. Out of everyone involved, it seems Hoffman will end up getting the worst of the moment, with a sizable hit right to the wallet… even though it’s hard to say why. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys survey: Fans enter 2025 offseason with no belief in the team
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images How are you feeling about the Cowboys at the moment? With the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 regular season in the rearview mirror. the team has turned its attention to the 2025 offseason. The first major item up on the agenda is a head coach. All signs point to Jerry Jones deciding to run it back with Mike McCarthy as it has been reported they are negotiating a new contract. We checked in on the Cowboys fanbase a couple of times during the season and in general a majority of fans were hoping the Cowboys went in a new direction at head coach. As it stands, that does not look like it will be the case. When you combine that with a miserable 2024 season that ended with a 7-10 record, it’s enough to anger a fan base. We asked earlier this week if you were confident in the direction of the team. The results were a miserable 5% belief in the direction of the Cowboys. The idea of Mike McCarthy coming back has not created any groundswell of support as that number is about the same as it was over the last couple of weeks of the season. What could the Cowboys do this offseason that would change your mind about the direction of the franchise? Hit the comments and explain your answer.
Cowboys’ 2025 free agent profile: DE DeMarcus Lawrence
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The Cowboys have a decision to make about DeMarcus Lawrence in the next couple of months. The Dallas Cowboys have a long list of unrestricted free agents who will officially hit the open market in a little over two months. Of those, six or seven were significant contributors in 2024, meaning the Cowboys have some difficult decisions ahead of them in the next two months. Today, we take a look at a Dallas impending free agents coming off an injury-riddled season, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images 2024 Regular Season Stats: 4G, 9 Total Pressures, 7 Defensive Stops, 4 QB Hurries, 3 Sacks, 2 QB Hits, 1 FFM Year Review: DeMarcus Lawrence came into the 2024 season riding high. The 32-year-old veteran, tied with Zack Martin as the longest-tenured Cowboy on the roster, had a resurgence in his last two seasons. After injuries limited him to playing in just seven regular season games in 2021, Lawrence remained healthy the following two seasons, playing in all 17 regular season games each year. Lawrence was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023, totaling 107 total pressures, 82 QB hurries, and 11 sacks over those two years. In his later years, Lawrence’s best asset has been his ability to play the run as an edge defender. 2023 was arguably the best season of his career doing just that, as Pro Football Focus graded the 11-year pro as the second-best run defender in football with a 92.2 grade. Entering a contract year for the first time since 2019, Lawrence looked to be in a great position to have another solid season and capitalize on the open market either with the Cowboys or another team. Unfortunately, Lawrence’s 2024 season was cut very short. In Dallas’ Week 4 matchup against the New York Giants, the 32-year-old veteran suffered a foot injury that would immediately land him on injured reserve. At the time of the injury, there was a belief Lawrence could return in potentially six weeks. However, that was not the case, as Lawrence remained on injured reserve for the rest of the season, never seeing the field again. Free Agency Outlook: Lawrence’s significant foot injury really fogs up his potential market in free agency. If the veteran had hit the open market coming off his 2023 campaign, there’s a real chance he could have landed something like three -year deal worth a significant AAV. Now, coming off one of the most impactful injuries of his career at close to age 33, it will be interesting to see if teams are wary of giving Lawrence a long-term offer. Still, despite his age and injury history, teams will still be interested in Lawrence because of what he brings on the field and to the locker room. There’s no denying Lawrence was one of the most essential on and off-field leaders during his time as a Cowboy, and numerous players and coaches have raved about his leadership ability. When looking for a contract projection, two deals signed by veterans last offseason may serve as a good benchmark. Last spring, then 33-year-old Denico Autry and 30-year-old Arik Armstead signed multi-year deals worth at least $10M annually. Autry, the older of the two, signed a two-year, $20M contract with the Houston Texans, while Armstead inked a three-year, $43.5M deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. At this point in his career, Lawrence is certainly not the pass-rush threat Autry or Armstead were when they entered free agency. Still, he is a comparable all-around player and will likely be looking for a deal with a similar AAV to the duo. The 2025 free agent class has some talent at the edge position, including Josh Sweat, Chase Young, and Dante Fowler. What Lawrence has going for him is most of the top free-agent talent at the position are pure pass-rushers who struggle against the run. The 11-year veteran isn’t the pass-rusher we saw back in 2017 or 2018, but he did record three sacks in four games last year and can still get after the quarterback to go with outstanding defense against the run. Cowboys Verdict: Lawrence has meant so much to the Cowboys over his 11 years in Dallas. The veteran turned out to be one of the best second-round picks in the history of the franchise. It would be tough if playing in just four games is how his time as a Cowboy ends, but at this point and time, there is a real possibility that will be the case. The Cowboys have a number of critical free agents of their own they will need to retain if they want to be competitive next season. While Lawrence is close to the top of the list, defenders like Osa Odighizuwa and Jourdan Lewis are younger and playing better at this point in their careers, making them a bigger priority to retain. Lawrence coming back to Dallas will likely come down to one thing: money. If the 11-year veteran wants to secure a multi-year contract worth a significant AAV, there’s close to zero chance he’ll get that from the Cowboys. But, if Lawrence decides he wants to stay home and will work with Dallas to get a deal done, there’s a path to a potential contract with plenty of incentives that could work for both sides. Ultimately, this will probably be the last free agent contract Lawrence will sign in his NFL career, making it more likely he’ll look for a multi-year deal with a high AAV. As hard as it may be, Dallas may be staring down the barrel of losing their two most tenured players (Lawrence, Zack Martin) for different reasons this offseason. Prediction: DeMarcus Lawrence signs a two-year, $30M contract with the Detroit Lions
Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey will enter new realm of NFL’s all-time kickers in early 2025
Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey will enter new realm of NFL’s all-time kickers in early 2025 Todd Brock Brandon Aubrey has had quite a storybook run. The Cowboys kicker’s journey to the NFL was in and of itself an unlikely tale, the college soccer star who found himself washed out of the sport and working as a software engineer when his wife suggested he try kicking footballs instead. That led to back-to-back USFL championships, and that led to a spot in camp with the Cowboys in 2023. All Aubrey did with that opportunity was lead the NFL in scoring, nail 14 out of 14 field goals from 40 yards or longer, set a new league record for most consecutive field goals to start a career, and earn both a Pro Bowl trip and All-Pro honors as a rookie. In his second-year follow-up, Aubrey connected on more field goals in a single season than any kicker in Cowboys history. Of the 39 successful regular-season field goals ever kicked from 60 yards or beyond, the 29-year-old Aubrey has three of them (only Brett Maher has more, with four). He’ll make a Pro Bowl return in February, and earned his second straight All-Pro nod. He’s a bona fide weapon who seems destined to break the once-unimaginable 70-yard-field-goal barrier. And at some point, probably in late-September to mid-October of the 2025 season- unless something goes catastrophically wrong- Aubrey will trot out onto the field, effortlessly swing his howitzer of a right leg, and walk back to the sideline suddenly in the conversation for a new title: The most accurate kicker in NFL history. Right now, that honor belongs to the Ravens’ Justin Tucker, who’s converted 417 of 468 of his career field goal attempts over a 13-year career. That’s 89.103%. Aubrey’s percentage is already technically a hair higher than Tucker’s: 89.412%. But kickers aren’t included in the all-time rankings until they’ve logged 100 regular-season field goal attempts. Aubrey has 85; only when he tries his 100th three-pointer will he automatically join the big leaderboard. It should happen fairly early. Aubrey’s 15th field goal attempt of 2024 came in Week 5. The previous year, it came in Week 6. And when 100 does happen, the rest of the very best in the business will suddenly have company. But the reality is, there will already be a new leader of the pack by then. The Chargers’ Cameron Dicker has 97 regular-season field goal tries in his career, and he’s sitting on a make percentage of 93.814.% Even if Dicker misses his next three kick attempts, he’ll still have a 91.000% rate when he hits 100 kicks, more than enough to comfortably dethrone Tucker as the accuracy king. If Aubrey makes his next 15 in a row (which is certainly possible for him), he’ll also have 91.000% when he reaches 100 and joins the list. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Kicking field goals has become a young man’s domain. Of the NFL’s all-time field goal percentage leaders, the top five are all active players. Eight of the top 15. Sixteen of the top 30. Of course, young kickers have a smaller sample size. The excellent ones naturally go right to the top of the accuracy chart once eligible. That’s just how math works. It’s not until the most accurate kickers start to age- and miss more frequently- that they slide down the historical rankings. There’s no shame in it; circle of life and all that. Adam Vinatieri, unquestionably one of the greatest to ever do it, is a surprising 35th on the all-time accuracy list. Sebastian Janikowski, so dominant he was a first-round draft pick, is 65th. Morten Andersen- who is in the Hall of Fame– stands “just” 77th. Of the current all-time top 30, Mike Vanderjagt (at No. 8) is the only one who kicked in the league before Y2K. The point is, no one stays atop the accuracy list unless they walk away from the game well before their skills decline. And the numbers are all so close, it doesn’t take much to really shuffle the leaderboard. Consider Eddy Piñeiro. The Panthers specialist is currently the third-most accurate kicker ever, per the numbers. If he were to miss his next kick, however, he would drop to No. 6. Just two off-target boots from Atlanta’s Younghoe Koo would drop him from 13th overall to outside the top 20. Still impressive, sure, but this is a rankings list that can see a lot of week-to-week shakeup with a shank here or a doink there. Aubrey has been dangerously accurate But his real superpower, of course, has proven to be kicking from distance. (Just look at his Week 17 miss in Philadelphia, a 61-yard bomb that hit the goalpost halfway up the upright and, a couple inches to the left, would have been good from much, much longer.) The Cowboys (and most fans) would probably cut Aubrey a little leeway in the accuracy department and look past a random miss from 45 here or there because they know he’ll end up stealing an improbable win someday with a sniper shot from 70. Even at this stage in his young NFL career, Aubrey is among the sport’s elite whether you’re talking about distance or accuracy. It’s just a matter of time, though, before he comes for the crown in both categories.
Today is the 10-year anniversary of Dez Bryant catching it for the Dallas Cowboys
Andrew Weber-Imagn Images Dez Bryant caught it 10 years ago today. It has been a decade. It has officially been a decade. The cold, fateful day in question was officially 10 years ago today. It was then when the Dallas Cowboys, the 2014 Cowboys if not obvious, ventured to Lambeau Field for a playoff game for the first time since the Ice Bowl and appropriately frigid conditions welcomed them. Those Cowboys, the magical 2014 Cowboys, did not know it, but they were up against their eventual kryptonite in the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers. As fate would have it the franchise was also up against their future (still so potentially, an entirely different topic) head coach in Mike McCarthy. In fact, it was McCarthy who threw the red challenge flag that served as the catalyst for why were are here today. On 4th and 2, from the Green Bay 32-yard line, while trailing by five points with under that many minutes left in the game, Tony Romo trusted Dez Bryant. And Dez Bryant delivered. Then the challenge came. And we have been stuck in another dimension of the purgatory that the franchise was on the verge of escaping at that moment ever since. What do you think: Did Dez Bryant catch it? ⤵️ @TDISportsClipspic.twitter.com/rIFk8O0sns — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 19, 2021 We have gone over this many times in the decade (officially) since. It is understood that Dez caught it. The NFL admitted it when they changed (or further complicated) the rule of what constitutes a catch. Mike McCarthy coyly admitted it when he took over as the Cowboys head coach. We also know that the game was not necessarily won when Dez caught it. Even if the Cowboys had scored, Aaron Rodgers had many moments in him since that point in time that would burn the Cowboys. It stands very well to reason that he would have offered one that was lost to history. What’s more, we all also know that the game was lost more in other moments. There was the block on Dan Bailey’s field goal and the DeMarco Murray fumble. Those things carry more actual weight in retrospect, but the pain of Dallas being so close after Dez caught it to only have it taken away created a deeper wound that even a decade-old scar doesn’t fully cover. Consider that as the Cowboys walked off of the field at Lambeau that day that their playoff loss ensured the franchise’s drought would grow another year. At that point in time The Drought™ was only 19 years old. We haven’t quite doubled it in the time since, but if it were a human being it went from being somewhere likely in college to having an adult job, maybe even a family and child of their own. That much time has passed us by. Dez caught it. Then. Today. Forever. Happy anniversary, I guess.
Cowboys news: Dallas begins negotiations for new contract with Mike McCarthy
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The latest and greatest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here. Cowboys to open talks with Mike McCarthy on new contract to keep head coach in Dallas – Kevin Patra, NFL.com After meeting about other matters, the Cowboys and McCarthy talk about possible new deal. The Dallas Cowboys and Mike McCarthy are setting the chessboard. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and McCarthy remain open to moving forward together, and the sides are expected to open talks Friday on a new contract to keep him in Dallas, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per sources informed of the situation. The talks come after several days of discussions about the 2024 season and the future. McCarthy’s contract expires Tuesday, giving Dallas an exclusive negotiating window before the coach becomes a true free agent. Nearly all of the Cowboys assistant coaches are also due to have their contracts expire next week, providing some urgency for talks between Jones and McCarthy. today is another day to tap the sign pic.twitter.com/6Gt8qSRoa7 — Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) January 6, 2025 Cowboys KR KaVontae Turpin named 1st-team All-Pro, CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aubrey make 2nd-Team – RJ Ochoa, Blogging The Boys Dallas had a significant dip in All-Pro selections from last season. The regular season wrapped up a week ago for the National Football League which means that the playoffs are about to start and a handful of other things. Among the “other things” are accolades and awards. There is still some time between now and NFL Honors when things like MVP, Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year, etc. will all be handed out, but the Pro Bowl rosters came out recently (the Dallas Cowboys had 5 players selected) and on Friday the Associated Press All-Pro Teams were announced. The Cowboys had only a single First-Team All-Pro this season. It was on the special teams side of things and was not surprisingly KaVontae Turpin. There were two Second-Team All-Pro selections on the Cowboys roster in CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aubrey. All three of those players were named to the Pro Bowl which makes sense. Dallas’ other two Pro Bowlers were Micah Parsons and Tyler Smith. While they were not All-Pro selections it is worth noting that Parsons did receive some votes in the overall process, although Smith did not. The to-do list for the Dallas Cowboys heading into the offseason – Ben Grimaldi, WFAA The Cowboys have a laundry list of things to get figured out. Defensive linemen Carl Lawson, Chauncey Golston and Osa Odighizuwa are among that group who warrant a return. Odighizuwa will come with a higher price tag than expected, but the defense needs him back as he was often the only serviceable player in the trenches to help stop the run. Also included on the to-do signing list this offseason is the need to extend their All-Pro defensive standout. Parsons is eligible for a new deal, and he’ll be the main topic of conversations until it gets done. If the Joneses wait and hold the franchise hostage in negotiations like they did last year, it’s a recipe for disaster. Parsons has already said that he wants a deal done quickly, doesn’t need to be the highest paid player, and he doesn’t want to be a distraction; management should follow his lead. Those attributes are a dream come true for the Joneses. They have a golden opportunity to avoid dragging their feet on extending one of the best defensive players in the league, while also being allowed to re-sign other free agents. Another player eligible for an extension is DaRon Bland, who is coming off a season where he missed 10 games due to injury but had an All-Pro season in 2023. Will the Cowboys have the ability to keep cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and Bland, both who could come at a high cost while they’re tight against the salary cap? The short answer is yes, if they want to. But Dallas keeps these decisions close to the vest and often is unbending in their ability to get creative with their cap dollars. The team could wait another year on Bland, but that risks him having another good season and watching his price skyrocket. Waiting things out would also mean the Cowboys would have two big extensions the following season, when All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith becomes eligible for a big raise. When will Jerry Jones extend Micah Parsons’ Cowboys contract? – Todd Archer, ESPN The Cowboys should do it sooner rather than later. On Friday, Micah Parsons is scheduled to sit with Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones at AT&T Stadium to watch the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between Ohio State and Texas (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Parsons said he plans to ask, “‘How can we become contenders? How do we bounce back from this year? What are the plans?’ Those are the type of things that I want to ask. I hope he asks me things, too.” At some point, maybe Parsons’ future will come up. Parsons, the No. 12 pick of the 2021 draft, is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to make $24 million on the fifth-year option. The edge rusher is the top player priority for the Cowboys this offseason. Jones has said Parsons is a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ future, right with quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb. He has called the thought of trading Parsons nonsense, and he wants him around for the long term. In December, Parsons told ESPN he wants his Cowboys uniform No. 11 to be considered among the likes of Nos. 74, 12, 8 and 22, worn by Hall of Famers Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith and never worn again. He also said he does not need to be the highest-paid defensive player in the game, a point he repeated on a number of occasions. Last time Cowboys had No. 12 pick
Culture over chaos: How Mike McCarthy steadied Cowboys in 2024
Culture over chaos: How Mike McCarthy steadied Cowboys in 2024 Jazz Monet If the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season were a Disney production, Mike McCarthy’s journey would undoubtedly be the heartwarming, tear-jerking, against-all-odds story arc that gets the standing ovation. Think Remember the Titans meets The Mighty Ducks—with a Dallas twist. His handling of locker room dynamics and team culture might not have earned a playoff berth, but it’s the kind of character development that makes a team’s credits roll worth watching. The headlines alone could narrate his rollercoaster year. Remember January’s NFL Fans Call for Cowboys to Fire Mike McCarthy, Hire Belichick During Packers Loss? For the second year running, fans were practically packing McCarthy’s bags, swapping last year’s Sean Payton dream for a fantasy of Bill Belichick coaching America’s Team. In August, Jerry Jones stirred the pot, claiming the typically even-keeled McCarthy needed “angst” and “pressure” to thrive—a backhanded pep talk, if ever there was one. By mid-November, the storm peaked with headlines like, “Micah Parsons harsh words hint Mike McCarthy has lost the locker room.” But then, the winds had shifted, and by mid-December, headlines like “Dallas Cowboys rave about Mike McCarthy, locker room culture” were sprouting up like daisies after a downpour. So, how did McCarthy go from the brink of mutiny to the king of camaraderie? Let’s break it down. REPAIRING THE FOUNDATION (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) Early on, things got messy. Devastating losses turned into headline bait: disharmony, weak leadership, poor work ethic, and a front office that had wrongfully gambled on a “lame-duck” coach. Locker room tensions bubbled over as players like Jourdan Lewis and KeVontae Turpin publicly questioned their teammates’ focus and work ethic, while an article spotlighted The Star’s guided tours as practice-field distractions, turning the Cowboys into fodder for punchlines and hot takes. The noise was deafening, and McCarthy was painted as a relic incapable of reigning it all in, but he refused to fold. He tackled the run-game issues head-on, and there were signs of life from an offense most had declared dead after Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury. Through it all, McCarthy remained teflon-coated: no lashing out, no grandstanding. He even dismissed unproductive narratives with a calm resolve, doubling down on his belief that public perception paled in comparison to the work being done behind closed doors. And slowly but surely, the Cowboys followed his lead. The finger-pointing stopped, and viral soundbites faded into obscurity, replaced by a quieter focus on the core values McCarthy had championed from Day 1. Enter Week 12, and a desperately-needed win against the Commanders, a spark that reignited belief in a locker room battered by injuries and doubt. Despite their playoff chances dangling by a thread, McCarthy’s refusal to quit became contagious. Cowboys stars like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons all rallied behind their coach, publicly praising his resilience and ability to steady the ship in choppy waters. With that victory, the Cowboys won four of their next five games, with their only loss coming to the Bengals’ high-powered offense—a game arguably decided by a late, special teams gaffe. Is it any surprise that the Cowboys started stacking wins as McCarthy regained control? Mike McCarthy has always maintained that everything he does is about winning. This season was a reminder that consistent success requires a solid foundation. The Cowboys’ 2024 season won’t make it into any highlight reels. There were no shiny trophies, and the playoff math didn’t work out. But beyond the stats, McCarthy pulled off something far more remarkable: he rebuilt trust, galvanized his players, and proved that culture counts. Many fans would rather forget about this season altogether, but the story of Mike McCarthy in 2024 isn’t just about wins and losses—it’s about finding a way to hold a team together when everything seems to be falling apart. And if that’s not the stuff of sports-drama legend, what is? Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Proving them wrong: Rico Dowdle’s story of grit, greatness as Cowboys RB1
Proving them wrong: Rico Dowdle’s story of grit, greatness as Cowboys RB1 Jazz Monet A series on the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season wouldn’t be complete without Rico Dowdle, a name that’s become synonymous with grit, persistence, and proving doutbers wrong. His journey isn’t just inspiring; it’s relatable to anyone who’s ever had to claw their way up through the ranks while shaking off the weight of low expectations. Rewind to the 2024 NFL Draft. Cowboys fans and analysts alike were collectively side-eyeing the team for not drafting a running back. The headlines were ruthless. One late-April gem declared, “Cowboys in Crisis: Worst Running Back Problem Since Emmitt Smith Cut.” Ouch. For Dowdle, waking up to stories like that probably felt like watching someone critique your cooking without tasting a bite. Fast forward to Week 15, and the narrative had shifted in a major way. Dowdle’s impact on the Cowboys offense was so undeniable, it inspired headlines like How Rico Dowdle has transformed into an RB1 force for Cowboys. But to be clear, Dowdle didn’t stroll into the starting lineup on a red carpet. He had to prove himself several times and in multiple ways in order to become Dallas’ lead back. Back in training camp, analysts were already calling him the team’s best running back. The Cowboys, however, opted for a “running back by committee” approach to start the season. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t giving what it was supposed to give. The offense sputtered, and whatever they were calling a run scheme got dragged for being as confusing as it was ineffective. Meanwhile, Dowdle quietly made his case. With limited chances in Weeks 2 through 4, he averaged over four yards per carry, proving he was ready for more. When his big moment finally came, a 20+ carry game on the road against the Steelers, he didn’t just show up. He showed out. By Week 11, the Cowboys officially handed him the keys to the backfield. For an 2020 undrafted free agent, being named the lead back is already an impressive feat. But Rico Dowdle wasn’t about to stop there. By the end of the season, he had rushed for over 1,000 yards—the first UDFA in Cowboys history to do so—while maintaining a career-high 4.6 yards per carry. It wasn’t just a breakout season; it was a full-on statement. Late in the season, Mike McCarthy told the press that the next step for Dowdle is to become an every-down back. Should the cards fall in such a way that he’s expected to meet that challenge next season, one thing’s for sure, Rico Dowdle will be ready to make his mark. Again. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
College Football Playoffs live discussion: Ohio State vs Texas
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Enjoy some college football playoffs The College Football Playoffs continue with a semifinal game between Ohio State and Texas. This is an open thread for game chat.
