According to reports, tensions have reportedly been escalating between Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and owner Jerry Jones as the team gears up for an ultra-important training camp.
McCarthy is entering the final year of a five-year contract he signed back in 2020. Additionally, as it stands now, quarterback Dak Prescott will be entering his final season as well.
Jones has several vital issues to deal with, but perhaps none are more pressing or important as what his decision will ultimately be with Prescott.
Of course, we know that Jones and the front office will also have to make enormous decisions on the futures of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons.
While most expect all three to ultimately remain in Dallas, Prescott is the one who’s future is most uncertain.
Speaking of uncertainty, there are some who feel that McCarthy is living on borrowed time.
After all, if we’re being honest, the majority opinion was that he was a dead-man following the Cowboys’ disastrous home playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers last season.
Very few people thought McCarthy had any chance to survive, especially with coaches such as Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel available on the open market.
Yet, not only did Jones decide to hold onto McCarthy, both Belichick and Vrabel are STILL unemployed. (Vrabel technically has a consultant role with the Cleveland Browns, but you know what I mean.)
Now, there are reports that McCarthy is “getting fed up” with Jones.
“[McCarthy’s] doing the best he can,” a former personnel man told Tyler Dunne of Go Long, adding that McCarthy feels undermined by the long-time Cowboys owner.
“Some of the people I’ve talked to have said that he’s getting fed up with it a little bit. It’s hard. I feel bad for Dak. I think Dak’s a really good quarterback who is capable of taking a team to the Super Bowl. He’s got to overcome a lot of things.”
“You hired him [McCarthy] a reason,” another source told Dunne. “You believed in what their philosophy was. Let him execute the philosophy. If it doesn’t work? Then, you move on from him.
“But when you’re meddling and you’re not only telling the personnel people who to draft and who to sign, but you’re also influencing what plays are called and things like that, it’s just going to hurt what’s going on.”
Earlier this year, after Dallas was embarrassingly blown out by the Packers in the Wild Card Round, Jones and the front office promised an “all-in” approach to the offseason.
However, significant free agency signings or trades have yet to materialize, while key players like Tony Pollard, Tyron Smith, Stephon Gilmore, Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong, and Dante Fowler have departed.
McCarthy’s frustration is understandable. However, the other side of the story is that many feel he’s lucky to still be the head coach.
Regardless, the fact of the matter is the Cowboys have done very little to improve themselves this offseason.
Sure, the inactivity has a lot to do with their financial situation, but you can make the argument that if anything they have taken a step back this offseason.
Dallas hasn’t reached the NFC Championship Game since 1995, the last time they won the Super Bowl. If that drought continues in 2024, expect major changes from Jones.
The first to go under that scenario would be McCarthy. Perhaps Jones will get a second crack at Belichick after all…
What are your thoughts on Dunne’s report?
Would you be frustrated if you were McCarthy?
Or do you feel that he should just be thankful that he’s still the head coach?
At the end of the day, how do you think the Cowboys will do this season?
At this time next year, will both McCarthy and Prescott still be in Dallas? … Or will one (or both) be gone???