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Dak Prescott wants Mike McCarthy to remain Cowboys head coach: 'Wholeheartedly believe in him'

3 December 2024 at 16:20

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott may be locked in for the future after signing a lucrative extension this past offseason, but with five games remaining on the schedule, head coach Mike McCarthy's future in "Jerry's World" remains to be seen. 

If it were up to Prescott, McCarthy would return in 2025. 

Prescott isn't able to run McCarthy's offense on gameday after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury, a main reason why Dallas isn't going to replicate another 12-5 season for the fourth straight season.

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But he believes in McCarthy's leadership, enough so that he basically endorsed owner Jerry Jones extending his contract following the 2024 regular season. 

"Your coach seems like he's playing on his last contract and [I'm] almost feeling helpless like I can't help him in this situation, especially a guy you believe in so much and you believe in being your head coach," Prescott told Yahoo Sports. "Control what I can control, help and support Mike to every extent that I can."

As the Cowboys' season was spiraling out of control before ripping off back-to-back wins, most recently against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day, McCarthy's tenure as head coach in Dallas appeared all but done. 

COWBOYS FOCUSING ON HEALTH, HOPE FOR IMPROBABLE RALLY TO PLAYOFF CONTENTION

However, Jones did say last week that it wouldn't be "crazy" to think McCarthy could return for his sixth season and even more after that. 

It's something Prescott loved to hear. 

"I believe in him wholeheartedly," Prescott explained. "I don't want to necessarily get into the nuts and the screws of it all obviously, but I think he definitely deserves a chance — another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to said it."

The main argument for McCarthy staying is three straight 12-5 seasons before this rollercoaster year, two of which resulted in NFC East division titles. He also has a Super Bowl under his belt from coaching the Green Bay Packers, led by then-quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

However, Cowboys fans know their rosters have been good enough for more than just a playoff berth — they want that elusive Super Bowl appearance, let alone the Vince Lombardi Trophy, that hasn't come since 1995. 

The Cowboys were upset by the Packers at AT&T Stadium to end their playoff run last season, leaving much up for question with Prescott and McCarthy heading into the 2024 season on their last year of their deals. 

But, much like those Packers, momentum to finish a season can be a difference maker, especially in a league where everyone is playing for that next contract no matter the team's record. 

It's improbable, but does McCarthy keeping the Cowboys in the playoff conversation until the final week of the season show that he can battle through adversity? Jones did say this week that he's "steady as a rock," and there are winnable games left on the schedule. 

It starts with the Cincinnati Bengals at home on "Monday Night Football" in Week 14 followed by the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles and ending in Week 18 with the Washington Commanders. 

McCarthy knows what's at stake, but his franchise quarterback is going to bat for him even if he can't be under center the rest of the way in 2024. 

Cowboys' $240M star Dak Prescott admits to crying over horrendous season as team faces constant mockery

22 November 2024 at 12:08

Here come the tears

Dallas Cowboys franchise quarterback Dak Prescott admitted just how bad his team's failed season has made him feel about himself. 

Prescott told The Dallas Morning News this week he couldn't hold back the emotion or the tears when he sat down and realized just how bad his team really is.

"The other day, after the game, I guess, it all just hit me," Prescott said of the experience shortly after his team was blown out by the Houston Texans Monday night. "Boom, right. A couple of tears came down.

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"This is going to hurt. It's going to suck at times. You just have to understand this is one of the moments that it does. I don't want anything right now other than to let it suck. It's understanding and being able to voice that, 'Yeah, I'm blessed to be where I'm at.'"

The 31-year-old, two-time NFL playoff game winner has been out for the season since injuring a hamstring in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. Prescott says nearly all the tendons connecting his hamstring to his pelvis tore off, and there is only one left. 

"It started to lift off the bone even more," Prescott said. "That one was doing all the work, and now it was compromised. Hell, I had a week of not even playing football, just walking and normal movement and that was tearing it."

ESPN STAR GETTING ‘VERY, VERY WORRIED’ ABOUT JERRY JONES, HAS JOE BIDEN IN MIND

Prescott underwent season-ending surgery, which was announced by owner Jerry Jones Nov. 12. In Prescott's absence, backup quarterback Cooper Rush has only made things worse for the spiraling Cowboys. The team is on pace for its worst season in 35 years. 

They have just three wins. And if they don't win at least two of their last seven games, it will be their worst winning percentage in a season since their one-win campaign in 1989. 

The team's 3-7 start is its worst since 2020, and Prescott, statistically, was off to one of his worst starts as a passer. With eight interceptions in eight games, Prescott recorded the worst passer rating and second-worst interception percentage of his career in a single season.

And it all started right after Prescott signed the most lucrative contract in NFL history. His representatives announced he agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract just hours before the season opener against the Cleveland Browns Sept. 8. 

Now, many around the NFL and sports media have used the Cowboys failure as a springboard for comedy. 

Former Broncos Super Bowl Champion and current ESPN host Shannon Sharpe blasted the Cowboys on his latest episode of the "Nightcap" podcast. 

"I would’ve left the stadium with a bag over my head. Ain’t no way you’ll see me leaving the stadium when I got beat like that. After I’ve gotten beat like that every game. … And you do this?" Sharpe said.

"It’s disrespectful. It’s disrespectful to the fans who pay their hard-earned money. But you know what, it couldn’t happen to a better franchise. Because all that owner do is run his mouth and talk about what they’re gonna do. … And all their players do, because they take it from the owner, is run their mouth — and they ain’t won dog crap. None of them."

Legendary NFL quarterback Peyton Manning was one of the most prominent figures to weigh in. During a bit hosting the Country Music Awards Wednesday night, Manning joked that Prescott isn't the only Cowboy to cry this year, pointing to owner Jerry Jones.

Manning and CMA co-hosts Lainey Wilson and Luke Bryan made a reference to "Cowboys Cry Too," Kelsea Ballerini's hit song with Noah Kahan.

"But enough about Jerry Jones," Manning said. 

ESPN star Stephen A. Smith said Tuesday he had President Biden on his mind when he watched the Dallas Cowboys owner talk to reporters after the team's loss to the Houston Texans.

Smith added that the Cowboys have been so bad this year, he can't celebrate it as effusively as he normally might. They're so bad it makes him "sad," he said. Smith said players like Micah Parsons look like they are about to "see a therapist" because they're "depressed." 

"I’m getting very, very worried about Jerry Jones because the only thing that’s worse than the team’s play is his press conferences, or whatever you want to call it, when he is in front of the reporters, where he says one thing after another after another," Smith said. "I find myself thinking about Joe Biden before he backed out of running for re-election."

Even Cowboys Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Aikman suggested head coach Mike McCarthy will be gone after this year. 

"Mike McCarthy’s a good football coach," Aikman said during ESPN's broadcast of the Cowboys' loss to the Houston Texans Monday night. "He’s proven that at Green Bay. He’s proven it here. You win 12 games three years in a row, you’re doing something right. But he didn’t get a contract extension after he had done that. It’s hard to imagine him getting one now."

But even with all the bad press and losing, Prescott still says this year has been "one of the best" of his life off the field because he hasn't let the team's failures bring down his spirits. 

"Off the field, it's been some of the most joyous times I ever could have imagined, dreamed of. Having a child, getting engaged, starting a family. But, then, on the football field, it's probably been as tough of a season as I've ever had. I'd probably say the toughest."

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Peyton Manning obliterates Jerry Jones and the Cowboys in tense Country Music Awards moment

21 November 2024 at 14:13

The Dallas Cowboys may finish with their worst season in 35 years. 

They have just three wins. And if they don't win at least two of their last seven games, it will be their worst winning percentage in a season since their one-win campaign in 1989. 

Their 3-7 start is their worst since 2020, star quarterback Dak Prescott is out for the year after signing the biggest contract in league history and reports are surfacing that head coach Mike McCarthy is bound to be fired. 

It's a time of mockery and spiteful celebration in many circles of football fans across the country. One pocket of those fans took the stage during the Country Music Awards (CMAs) on Wednesday night. 

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Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning teed up the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones for a quick, yet vicious, verbal blow on national television. 

Manning and CMA co-hosts Lainey Wilson and Luke Bryan made a reference to "Cowboys Cry Too," Kelsea Ballerini's hit song with Noah Kahan.

"But enough about Jerry Jones," Manning said. 

ESPN STAR GETTING ‘VERY, VERY WORRIED’ ABOUT JERRY JONES, HAS JOE BIDEN IN MIND

Manning finished his career with a 3-2 record against the Cowboys. In his final victory against "America's Team," Manning outdueled Dallas quarterback Tony Romo in a 51-48 thriller, throwing for over 400 yards and four touchdowns. 

Manning isn't the only legendary quarterback to shade the Cowboys this week. 

Dallas Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Aikman suggested McCarthy will be gone after this year. 

"Mike McCarthy’s a good football coach," Aikman said during ESPN's broadcast of the Cowboys' loss to the Houston Texans on Monday night. "He’s proven that at Green Bay. He’s proven it here. You win 12 games three years in a row, you’re doing something right. But he didn’t get a contract extension after he had done that. It’s hard to imagine him getting one now."

Another retired Cowboys fan favorite ripped his former team and the current coach after the Houston loss. 

"I’m the [Cowboys] to the heart. If I’m the Cowboys, I’d fire everyone after this season," Dallas great Dez Bryant posted on X during the 34-10 loss to Houston. "There’s young, hungry talent in the upcoming draft."

Jones was asked whether McCarthy was losing the team’s confidence, but he dismissed those concerns. 

"That ‘losing the team’ stuff, that’s so overblown," Jones said, via ESPN. "These guys are so— first of all, they’re natural competitors. Secondly, they’re so proud of the fact that they are professional and disappointed in maybe the way they executed the play, but that’s not anything that’s brother or first cousin to give up. 

"Everybody’s certainly disappointed, but that’s a big difference in not knowing that you got to put the foot in front of the other to go."

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