Extremely paid, extremely adopted speaking heads will speak. Most particularly concerning the Dallas Cowboys.
It’s the low-hanging fruit of morning speak present rankings. Say one thing wild or controversial concerning the Cowboys within the early a.m., then spin that morning opinion right into a debate on a midday present. After getting that, take that second opinion and program it for the afternoon to night cycle — and all of the sudden you’ve a helpful single-serving day echo chamber that pulls within the social media aggregators and extremely interactive programming throughout your entire platforms. Cable sports activities community … podcasted variations of that present … ancillary podcasts … web site posts … social media traction … clicks and impressions … and a few numbers to promote to your advertisers.
It’s the Dallas Cowboys media math.
And if we’re being sincere? Throw in columns on the web, too. Let’s not be disingenuous and preclude ourselves from that group of shops that tends to orbit across the groups, house owners, gamers and subjects that draw probably the most curiosity. There’s an ecosystem that calls for consideration, and who’re we to disclaim it?
But when we’re going to partake in it, allow us to no less than embrace it with frequent sense. Allow us to be sensible about assessments and conditions — info and information. Don’t say one thing simply to say one thing. Don’t ignore the essential fundamentals of a wage cap. Or flip your again on the decades-old realities of NFL locker rooms, roster development, and the very primary and basic boundaries of how expertise travels between franchises.
If we are able to do this, we would possibly have the ability to have an sincere dialog concerning the Dallas Cowboys. What ails them, repair them and past. Beginning with …
Cease speaking concerning the Cowboys making a change at quarterback
Of all of the mind-numbing ideas I’ve heard in current days, it’s the concept that the Dallas Cowboys can by some means transfer off of quarterback Dak Prescott subsequent offseason. Whenever you weigh the wage cap implications, it’s past silly. His most elementary cap hit in 2025 is sort of $90 million. His lifeless cap determine is sort of $152 million. To maneuver away from him subsequent offseason can be an asteroid strike to the franchise — an extinction degree occasion. The talent-shedding and affect on the remaining roster and contract extensions would level to a gutting that may be perceived as a down-to-the-studs rebuild. So for those who hear somebody say the Cowboys ought to transfer to a different quarterback, assume: Both this individual is silly, or they’re saying one thing for the sheer impact of the phrases and aggregation potential. Not naming names or something … however, yeah.
Prescott is a Cowboy. We will argue about his efficiency in 2024 previous to his season-ending damage, however his contract extension is all that basically issues. Address it and transfer ahead. He’s the quarterback for the foreseeable future.
A training change seems inevitable. Select some mixture of a tactician and a motivator
I can see workforce proprietor Jerry Jones firing head coach Mike McCarthy. Not essentially as a result of McCarthy deserves it greater than a handful of others on the workers (together with Jones as basic supervisor), however as a result of there has clearly been a mandate to recover from the playoff hump, and McCarthy hasn’t been capable of push the suitable buttons. I received’t waste time defending McCarthy, as a result of I used to be on the horrendous Jan. 14 playoff loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, and I assumed then — and assume now — that McCarthy ought to have been fired after that sport. To not point out the remainder of his workers, together with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who regardless of his success with the Washington Commanders this season, didn’t have his protection ready for that 48-32 loss (which wasn’t as shut because the rating seems).
Regardless of the case now, I’m high quality with McCarthy getting the axe. By the top of this season, he could have had a strong swing of 5 years, together with three extraordinarily gifted rosters from 2021 to 2023. All three of these seasons, I turned to the postseason pondering Dallas had a contending roster. All three of these seasons, I felt like they had been outmatched from a training perspective within the remaining sport of the season. Sooner or later, it’s important to show you’re merely higher than one of the best. McCarthy hasn’t. And he had a really strong alternative to take action. So it’s time to maneuver on.
The place does Dallas go from right here? To me, probably the most profitable formulation is to achieve for the very best tactician and the very best motivator. For years, I’ve watched these mixtures of coaches win Tremendous Bowls. The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs? For 3 of the final 5 years, Andy Reid has been the grasp tactician guiding the offense by a altering complexion with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, whereas defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been the (very underrated) motivator of a altering and evolving unit that has by no means actually gotten its due in three title wins. The Los Angeles Rams following the 2021 season? Head coach Sean McVay served as offensive tactician, however defensive coordinator Raheem Morris’ motivation served because the distinction in a unit that held the Cincinnati Bengals scoreless within the fourth quarter of a come-from-behind Tremendous Bowl win. That Tampa Bay Buccaneers workforce that received all of it with Tom Brady in 2020? Bruce Arians was the emotional heartbeat all season lengthy, however defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ defensive sport plan completely destroyed the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs for the title.
In current historical past, I’ll take an all-star motivator and a genius tactician. Give me Ben Johnson or Bobby Slowik to run the offense tactically. And Mike Vrabel or Robert Saleh to command the protection. It’s the mixture of expertise and confirmed strategies that wins out. Not flash. And never Invoice Belichick, who must remake all the pieces — no matter what he needs to confess at this stage of his life.
And do not give me Deion Sanders in both place. This isn’t the NCAA, the place the switch portal presents excessive proportion roster adjustments, and a group of younger males who’re way more liable to accepting wide-ranging criticism and alter than grown males who worth their profession viability and paycheck greater than Deion’s light exploits and folksy-but-direct charisma. Don’t get me flawed. I respect what Deion has completed at Colorado in a brief window. However I additionally know {that a} wage cap, the need of constructing groups over time and the attitudes of grown males with households and actual obligations are likely to render gravitas to a low degree within the NFL. The God Advanced that works in school hardly ever works within the NFL. Most particularly in 2024.
Get a No. 2 wideout who has some grit
Frankly, I’m high quality with wideout who problem their quarterbacks. If CeeDee Lamb ever had a bone to select with Prescott, by all means — decide it. Possibly not on the sidelines of a nationally televised sport, however behind closed doorways, completely. I’m not totally sure who this participant can be, however I’ll say that residing in Houston has supplied me with sufficient of a vantage of Stefon Diggs to know he pushes practices. He elevates expectations. Sure, he’s coming off a season-ending knee damage, however I nonetheless consider he’s received one thing left within the tank for 2025. And I believe taking part in on the identical workforce together with his brother Trevon Diggs would assist squeeze each final drop out of him. Below regular circumstances, I wouldn’t advise including a large receiver with a prickly exterior who instructions consideration from his quarterback. However with Prescott, I believe that’s a bit of of what he has been missing.
Tender checklist Micah Parsons on the commerce market subsequent offseason
I don’t assume the Cowboys ought to commerce Parsons. However provided that he expects to be the very best paid non-quarterback within the NFL subsequent offseason, I believe it’s price seeing if some workforce is keen to mortgage to the hilt so as to add him. Quietly open the telephone strains on him earlier than signing his inevitable huge contract extension. There was a time when then-Carolina Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns commanded a suggestion of two first spherical picks from the Los Angeles Rams. I believe there’s no less than a slight likelihood that Parsons might command three firsts from a workforce. And I believe in that state of affairs, the Cowboys can be loopy to not take it.
Not solely would such a commerce open a big quantity of future wage cap area, however it could yield picks that Dallas might use to line the offensive and defensive strains throughout a micro-rebuild the subsequent few seasons. Do I believe it’s going to occur? No. After I spoke to Cowboys govt vp Stephen Jones final summer time, he ranked edge rusher because the No. 2 most essential place behind quarterback when it got here to locking in expertise and signing extensions. That tells me Dallas will mortgage to the wage cap to get Parsons completed, and take care of the implications later. In the event that they’re good, they received’t do this till seeing what sort of commerce market Parsons has.
Commerce again on this draft, accumulate picks and add to a few areas
As we get nearer to the 2025 NFL Draft, you’re going to listen to concerning the lack of elite-level prospects. That doesn’t imply there isn’t expertise to be discovered, together with within the latter rounds. In truth, some executives consider that when the draft boards all shake out, picks within the 7-8-9 vary would possibly find yourself on the identical expertise shelf as picks on the very finish of the primary spherical. Whoever the Cowboys land within the draft order, the transfer ought to be buying and selling out until there may be a completely elite offensive or defensive lineman. Working again is deep sufficient to get a participant within the second or third rounder able to beginning pretty rapidly on the NFL degree. Regardless of the robust course of, it’s clear that is draft that will likely be conquered by having a variety of ammunition quite than excessive ammunition.
For now, with two months of the NFL season nonetheless left to be revealed, that’s one of the best shot I’ve received to fixing the Cowboys heading into the offseason. It’s primary and unfinished at this level — however miles forward of the lunacy of pivoting off Dak Prescott for a rookie quarterback and courting Deion Sanders as some sort of sensible repair.
In mid November, that’s a media repair for rankings. And anybody who tells you in any other case is both in on the ruse or fully out of their depth in the case of how the NFL works in 2024.
Now on to the Week 10 of the QB Room …
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There are already a variety of nice Jayden Daniels throws to select from this season, however you’ll not discover a better-timed and positioned move than this one to wideout Terry McLaurin. You would possibly discover one among equally worth, however not higher. With a free blitzer in his face, Daniels launched the ball when McLaurin was totally lined up on the 35-yard line … 15 yards earlier than McLaurin would come open. Not solely that, the move was completely positioned on the sideline, with the over-the-top security having no likelihood to get anyplace close to the play. That is perfection.
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One other sideline delight throw, with Matthew Stafford ensuring solely Cooper Kupp had a shot on the ball. Kupp spears it with one hand as he goes out of bounds. Sure, you will discover an meeting line of those throws between Stafford and Kupp. I believe I loved this one as a result of we’re very probably coming to the top of this connection within the offseason.
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That is 2022 Defensive Participant of the yYear Nick Bosa latched onto the arm of Baker Mayfield for roughly 15 yards. Mayfield getting this ball off is a testomony to how effectively he’s shifting round bodily this season. That he might even preserve his composure lengthy sufficient and have the heart to throw this ball for a completion is a testomony to how far his confidence has come during the last yr. This sort of factor is peak “I can do something” Mayfield.
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About that Daniels to McLaurin sideline move that we opened with … this ball from Russell Wilson to George Pickens was higher. Typically you pull a Straight Flush, solely to look at the man sitting throughout from you flip a Royal Flush.
I’m going to finish this phase on a second Wilson to Pickens throw, as a result of Wilson is unlocking that degree of “particular” in Pickens that we knew was doable … however doubted would ever floor persistently. The power of Pickens to contort himself for this catch after which management the ball to the bottom is unicorn stuff. If he and Wilson stick with it at this price, we’re going to be arguing about who one of the best quarterback-receiver tandem is within the NFL.
Inventory Up
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
I’m shopping for Stroud this week in opposition to a Dallas Cowboys protection that has gotten completely smoked in 4 straight losses. Sure, the Cowboys are fifth within the NFL in passing pressures. However Stroud’s dominant, All-Professional degree No. 1 wideout, Nico Collins, is anticipated to return for the Monday Night time Soccer matchup, simply in time for the Texans to make their flip into John Metchie III because the workforce’s third wideout. As Metchie continued his trek again from a profitable battle in opposition to leukemia, the franchise continued to consider he would ultimately get a gap and switch a nook on the sphere. After some sturdy flashes within the preseason, he lastly discovered his footing in opposition to the Detroit Lions, taking part in 65 % of the offensive snaps and catching 5 passes for 74 yards and his first profession landing. The Texans additionally made what the workforce believes will likely be a vital change on the offensive line this week to enhance move safety, shifting middle Juice Scruggs to left guard, and left guard Jarrett Patterson to middle. Stroud hasn’t had a 300-yard passing sport since Oct. 6. I believe that drought ends this week.
Inventory Down
Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts
As a lot as we love his cannon arm and resilient persona, I’m promoting Flacco laborious heading into this week’s street sport in opposition to the New York Jets. Flacco was sacked 4 instances within the loss to the Buffalo Payments final week and continues to have ft made from concrete. And whereas it’s laborious to lean on the Jets doing something proper at this level within the season, they’ve been — for probably the most half — a really efficient strain protection up entrance, with a capability to complete off strain with sacks. At 3-7 (and 1-6 of their final seven video games) the Jets don’t have anything left to lose in opposition to the Colts. Don’t be stunned if the Jets protection performs free and aggressive in a house sport that might see Indianapolis beginning a rookie at left sort out, following a knee damage final week to Bernhard Raimann. To recap, that’s a slow-footed QB, dealing with a protection adepts at each pressures and sacks, with a rookie left sort out probably stepping in for a begin. Needs to be an extended, lengthy day for Flacco.
◦ After speaking to 2 league sources Tuesday night time dialed into the mindset of New York Jets workforce proprietor Woody Johnson —together with one within the Jets constructing that had a really correct and really early rationalization of how the Robert Saleh firing went down — I’d counsel this: Aaron Rodgers higher be very clear and measured when wandering into diatribes on the Pat McAfee Present regarding his views of how possession ought to function NFL groups. Whereas no one goes out of their strategy to defend Johnson’s selections, even contained in the Jets constructing, they’re most positively conscious that Rodgers even seeming to supply a critique of Johnson (even when he isn’t) may help be certain everybody within the teaching workers and high tiers of the personnel ranks get fired on the finish of this season, adopted by Rodgers getting punted within the offseason.
The quote that raised eyebrows, the place Rodgers was wandering by his ideas on the Chicago Bears firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, was this one, beginning on the 2:34 mark:
The consensus for all followers is, ‘If we’re not successful now, then everyone must get the hell out.’ And hear, there are locations, I’m positive, which are damaged. Locker rooms that is probably not sticking collectively or staffs that want a shakeup every now and then. However I might proceed to evangelise endurance for gamers and coaches.
However you realize what it begins with? Possession. Possession has to come back out and make sturdy statements. ‘That is the plan — that is what we’re doing. We’re gonna belief the method or belief the blokes which are in place.’ Until there’s a significant downside, a problem, an arrest, or one thing that throws a wrench within the plans.
A number of issues to unpack right here. First, from what I’ve been advised, Johnson is extraordinarily annoyed with how the season has unfolded. Significantly after making current strikes within the teaching workers and on the roster to attempt to proper the ship, together with the addition of Davante Adams, which was particularly made for Rodgers. Second, he’s nonetheless measuring how he needs the workforce to maneuver ahead in 2025, and that features basically all the pieces and everybody.
There was a way of the unknown within the group for months about how a Donald Trump election win might affect the franchise, with a presumption that Johnson can be in line for some sort of position within the subsequent administration — both in Trump’s cupboard, amongst his advisors or one other ambassadorship within the UK or elsewhere. However a supply within the constructing famous, even when Johnson is headed to different duties sooner or later there may be going to be loads of time for him to show over the Jets group and set a brand new course earlier than he takes on any appointment.
The underside line? The New York Jets aren’t the Inexperienced Bay Packers. They’ve a singular proprietor who listens to lots of people and hears most all the pieces that might replicate on him. When Rodgers talks about what NFL possession ought to or shouldn’t be doing, he’s not on a workforce that has a board of administrators anymore. If there’s even a notion that Rodgers is making some sort of assertion about Johnson, even when it’s when he’s speaking about one other workforce or in nebulous generalities about NFL possession, it might change lives and futures very quick. And proper now, everybody in that Jets group is holding onto their job by a thread.
◦ We’re getting fairly far alongside within the school soccer season and you’ll positively sense some fading hopes amongst personnel evaluators {that a} quarterback within the 2025 NFL Draft is all of the sudden going to flip a swap and tear by the rest of the faculty season and probably the School Soccer Playoff and current himself as a bonafide star. I nonetheless assume there’s a variety of hope that Miami’s Cam Ward turns into that man.
However because it stands now, staffs haven’t actually completed a lot work on the 2026 class (except for potential 2025 junior draft declares) and successfully nothing on the 2027 class, and but there appears to be extra curiosity in a pair gamers in these lessons — Texas’ Arch Manning, who hasn’t performed a lot since for the reason that begin of October, and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola, who hasn’t performed effectively for the reason that begin of October — than many of the QBs which are anticipated to be out there within the 2025 class. South Carolina’s redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers additionally has some scouting division followers, too. Do not forget that identify.
Within the midst of all of this, one AFC personnel govt posed an fascinating suggestion concerning the upcoming quarterback class by the prism of Atlanta Falcons rookie Michael Penix Jr., who was chosen with the eighth total decide within the 2024 draft.
“I might get a workforce calling the Falcons [about Penix] in spite of everything of their work is in on this [class],” he mentioned. “He’s a greater gamble than all of [the 2025 quarterbacks]. We’ve a pair months left, however proper now I might take Penix over this whole class. There’s not a variety of guys price standing on the desk for.”
The rationale for the suggestion was this: The Sunday dud in opposition to the New Orleans Saints however, Cousins has performed at a excessive sufficient degree for the Falcons to simply justify him because the starter by the top of the 2025 season. And if Atlanta can win even one playoff sport this yr, the workforce can be justified to commerce Penix for a group of draft picks or a participant and picks that might assist the Falcons maximize a doable Tremendous Bowl push from 2025 to 2027. The potential alternative in play can be the Falcons getting Penix an end-of-season begin (if seeding is locked in) in opposition to the Carolina Panthers on Jan. 5, which might showcase him for an offseason commerce.
The hope? One (or a number of) groups in play to draft a quarterback in 2025 would see the weak point within the class and quite make a run at a participant with a better analysis and a few NFL expertise beneath his belt. In fact, one of many issues in all of that is the overall weak point of the 2025 draft, and the sensation that it’s going to have a minimal variety of first-round grades on draft boards. Draft capital in 2025 goes to be price significantly lower than 2024, and that may very well be an issue for any workforce hoping to pry Penix free from Atlanta.
◦ I’m not going to get into it earlier than I’ve to, however including onto that final notice: There’s already vital apprehension concerning the danger/reward equation of drafting Shedeur Sanders. A strong quantity of it surrounds his dad and Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders, the previous NFL star and Corridor of Famer who has been vocal about his son’s future and who will even make a outstanding look in Shedeur’s scouting studies. Proper now, it’s clear Deion and his appreciable megaphone within the media is getting weighed.
A longtime AFC govt who has held some highly effective positions during the last twenty years mentioned he seen Sanders as “Tyrod Taylor 2.0,” then remarked, “I don’t assume the expertise degree is price all the additional stuff that’s going to come back together with him.” The additional stuff comment was clearly about Deion’s megaphone, if we’re simply being one hundred pc about it. There’s a variety of speak about this ingredient proper now within the decrease spectrum of NFL personnel circles. If Colorado makes the faculty soccer playoff, that may ramp up. And by the point the NFL mix arrives in February, it is going to be a central matter of Sanders as a prospect. (Don’t kill me for saying it … I’m simply telling you what’s going on. It already appears to be a lightning-rod matter in mid November, which is saying one thing.)
Because it stands, Deion is already on report saying he’ll step in if he deems that the “flawed” group is in line to draft his son — just like Archie Manning stepping in when Eli Manning was drafted by the San Diego Chargers first total within the 2004 NFL Draft.
◦ I do not know if newly elevated Thomas Brown goes to be a greater play-caller than the fired Shane Waldron for the Chicago Bears, however one factor is evident: A part of this transfer is head coach Matt Eberflus recognizing that saving his job is a street that goes by Caleb Williams for the rest of the season. That is the final card within the deck in that respect, and if Brown struggles to get Williams pointed in the suitable route — as he struggled to get Bryce Younger up and working because the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator final season — then it’s going to be lights out on the employment of Eberflus and his teaching workers.
For now, I’ll say this about Brown: I are likely to draw back from placing an enormous quantity of inventory into what occurred throughout his tenure because the Panthers’ offensive coordinator and short-lived play-caller final season. He acquired the duties from head coach Frank Reich in mid-October of a season the place the within of the constructing — together with the teaching workplaces — had already became a Lord of The Flies state of affairs. A mere three weeks later, a flailing Reich took the play-calling obligations again. Your complete Panthers group felt poisoned by that time and it’s laborious to evaluate successes and failures tied to that interval.
For now, what’s clear is that Brown has to design and name a sport that will get Williams making quicker selections. As a lot as we are able to blame the offense line and total lack of steadiness — and people are reliable points — there’s no denying that Williams is reverting again to his 2023 season at USC, when he was extending performs to an boastful diploma. I wrote about this concern again in December of 2023, after I requested evaluators to check him to Drake Maye as a prospect. There’s little doubt that among the hero ball at USC simply can not exist on the NFL degree. Brown getting Williams to know that’s paramount.
And one last item: For those who’re going accountable the offensive line for all of his issues, check out the Washington Commanders. Jayden Daniels is working behind a line with as many issues because the Bears’ core group, and with much less expertise on the talent positions. Both Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is a miracle employee, or Daniels merely has a greater really feel for the place proper now. Possibly it’s each. No matter it’s, each Thomas Brown and Caleb Williams must attempt for that sort of synergy.
◦ To shut it out, I’m calling it now: Backup quarterback Drew Lock goes to begin some video games for the New York Giants. Partially because of the continued rollercoaster that’s Daniel Jones, and partially to ice the $23 million damage assure for the 2025 season. Jones has been the epitome of the below-average starter who actually by no means will get you anyplace, however often performs effectively sufficient to provide some oxygen to the sparkle hope that he might be one thing extra. Now we’re reaching the vital level of 2024 the place the Giants are realistically out of the playoff image at 2-8, and spending their bye week attempting to determine the chance/reward of continuous to play Jones in Week 11 and past.
Pay shut consideration right here. I believe Jones’ days are restricted because the beginning quarterback for the Giants. A contract-related benching is coming, after which a pivot into rebooting the spot in 2025.