Cowboys Break: Around The League; Dak's Future

Live from the s WBC Mortgage Studios at the Star. Today, we got a gumbo show. We got a lot of stuff we're gonna throw at you. A lot of different topics will hit throughout the show. How's everybody doing this morning? I think I think I'm doing fine? Why did you well? I was gonna say I think we're doing fine, but I was gonna let Dave talk for himself. So I think we're doing I'm doing great. Thanks. I wasn't sure where you were going at. Yeah, it was a very weird.

I'm a weird guy, great, Hinda, just a little bit. I'm you know, I've got weird tendency sometimes you do. It's the holiday season, you know, it's Christmas time. It's that time of year. There's a cool in the air. Well, you guys come in and your chip more chipper than I am. I feel like right now you guys are like taking the level up and not so maybe I need to step it up. Happy Holidays, happy, you know what. I'm always in this, you know what. I'm kind of

sad about it. I'm sad that even though we can watch the original, you know, like you see a movie and you like it, and you kind of wish there was a sequel, even though it won't be as good. You just want to see more. You're talking about Cowboys versus Indie. No, No, that one was like Rocky five to me, bad I didn't happen. Um No. I think the video that Kent did with the with Jason Garrett talking to the kids last year, and I don't think we're gonna do it again. And I'm sad about that.

But I understand when it's really good, you don't want to, you know, but I wish there would be another one. You know. I will say this, though, I don't think there's anything wrong with kind of Resurfacing's fine. I was pretty I'll go back and watch a movie. I'm the I'm the exact opposite of you, Like I don't I hate sequels, Like I can only think of like two or three that are good because, like you, just you don't need to beat a good idea into the ground

till it's not good anymore. Just reflect on the old one that was great. Like you can go watch the Jason Garrett Christmas video whenever you want, or no, I know, but like or any or I'm trying to think of a you know, we don't need to see another lethal weapon. You can just go watch the great original one. I get a Rocky you did need to see Rocky three?

You did need to see Rocky flour. I mean that might be like, Okay, there's something something about guys from y'all's generation like Rocky, Like well, I don't know why y'all love Rocky so much? Great you know anyways, But I will say this, A couple of weeks ago, I thought about that video and I was sitting there in

Garrett's press conference. It's like a Friday. It wasn't one of his best and I started thinking about that video and like you can make almost any answer, and I'm in the back like laughing, and one of the PR guys is like laughing, like like looking at me. I'm just like because Garrett says something about, you know, he works really well in groups, you know, valuable part of our football team. That could be any anything, but it

was like, it just works really really well. You know, he's not he doesn't get a lot of the spotlight. And I'm thinking, like the question of like what do you think about you know, Blitzen, you know what type of reindeers heaters? Just like doesn't get a lot of pup, really doesn't. And I just start laughing. But he's about he's been on a team for a long time. He's been a valuable member of this team for a long time. Was talking about like Damien Wilson or something like we'll

let him join in our reindeer games. Exactly. All right, let's get to it. We got a lot of different things we want to hit today. I do have a big topic I want to hit a little bit late. I want to talk about this quarterback and really talk about quarterbacks around the NFC. I think that's something that we haven't really talked much about. Can I just say yay, all right? Good arguing about Dak my favorite thing to do. Before we get there, though, I would like to talk

a little bit about Jason. I'm sorry about Jerry Jones. He had a conversation here in the local radio station, the Fan that he does every Tuesday morning, and this morning had a couple of things that he hit that I want us to talk about. First talk called Charlton. He's been an inactive for the last two weeks, even though he's been healthy for the last two weeks. And I'll start the discussion for those who really aren't kind of don't know what's going on here. Can you give

people a sense as to why. I know it's not completely known why, but what are the things you've heard and what do you think is going on here as to why this guy's been inactive for two weeks when he's been healthy. Well, Number one, he's not producing. I mean that's what it comes in practice him, I mean mainly in the games. I mean he doesn't does he have one sack or something like that? I mean, is that appreciably different than what you've gotten from Randy Gregory.

Randy Gregory's got yes, five sacks, yes, And Randy Gregory is second on the team in quarterback pressures behind DeMarcus Lawrence and not by all, not a lot actually, And so he does get pressure and he and he's a little bit more active now he's a penalty machine. We know that. I mean, and in opportunity times, very very bad times. But um yeah, I think I think you're getting more from him. I mean, with with those numbers

be the same. I guess the way I should have asked that is, do you think that if Taco would have had the same opportunities because Taco's miss games, Yeah, you'd think if he'd had the same opportunities, maybe he has the same kind of conduction at Randy R I don't. Actually, the thing about it is is want to compare Taco to anybody would be Duran's armstrong and their numbers are

very comparable. And I think that's the problem is that you know, he's a rookie, fourth Rount pick, tackles the second year more expectations, and I just don't think that he's he's done much. And you know, we saw this last year or was it two years ago or seven, I don't remember, but you know, Benson Mayowell was a guy that they had some high hopes for and they're not afraid to put him in an inactive healthy scratch. We don't one hundred percent and know the details, and

that's by design. They try to keep that stuff in house as much as they can. But it's pretty obvious that Taco has drawn the ire of this coaching staff. Whether that's certainly, production is part of it, because if you're just getting, if you're racking up sacks, nobody cares. I mean, that's line one. But he's not. And so attitude, maybe entitlement, maybe you know, first round pick, maybe feel like he's a little bit too big for his britches.

Rod Marinelli had this to say. Somebody asked him about Charlton. This was before the Colts game. He said, well, we just keep moving along like well okay, he said, he said, it's it's kind of been out there. It's not something I want to talk about. I'll just leave it at that. I'd rather talk about our guys, our two tackles, Daniel Ross and um and Antoine Woods or excuse me, Mollie Collins. Yeah, no,

his his unwillingness to talk about it speaks enough. He's talking about two guys that are kind of you know, under the radar type guys that are playing really well, working hard, hustling, which is his big thing, right, which again you know, I don't want to put words in Taco Charlton's mouth. I want to be careful about that. But like I said, whether it's entitlement, you know, first round pick, thinking he's better or more deserving than he is.

Whether it's attitude, maybe you know, Randy Gregory's taking snaps away from him in the game plan and he thinks that's BS. I don't know, but I would guess it is something related to that, and it has clearly pissed the coaching staff off. Jason Garrett two weeks in a row, has said we want them to earn the opportunity, which to say that about a first round pick is just

not good. You would assume that that he's going to do that regardless, because he should be one of the most talented guys in that rotation just by virtue of being the twenty eighth overall pick. Which the interesting thing again this is just me completely speculating, but I feel like I have a pretty good idea of how things work in this organization. So this is the coaches, they take his jersey away from him two games in a row.

And you know, Jerry and Stephen Jones sit in on these meetings every Monday, and the coach and it's it's so funny, like you can hear these talking points. Case in point, yesterday Jason Garrett said to us, you know, in the side after his press conference, He's like, well, this game kind of reminded me a little bit of the Tennessee game, and here's why. And that literally like at the same time, Stephen Jones goes on the fan and he's like, well, this game kind of reminded me

of the Tennessee game and here's why. So you know they have the same reasons, yeah, exact of course. And they have these you know, they have these staff meetings. They go over the game, the coaches give their grades, they talk this is what went wrong, this is what went well, and you know, the front office offers their ideas and it all kind of comes together to a talking point or a game plan for the coming week.

And for Jerry Jones to come on here today and say, well, you know, you look back and maybe talk should have had a jersey, that's to me that suggests like, well, all right, I'm going along with what you're saying. Coaching staff, Like I hear you're like, you're not happy with Taco. Great, he's a first round pick. I am. I'd kind of like to see him if I'm paying this guy. And by the way, the results this last week suggested that

you could use help. Yeah, Like, I don't know if he's gonna be the help, but he's what you got. He's a first round pick. You could have used help this week. Maybe you need to get him out there. And I think that's that's Jerry Jones's gentle way of saying, like, ah, I don't know how I feel about sitting this out there. Yeah, yeah, one out there and he's been out now for two games,

and you know, and they've been winning. You know, it's one thing to pull pull him out, and that's not doing anything, and he's hurt and he's you know, and this team's having success. But it's like, okay, you know, it's a wake up call. I think I think he should get the message loud and clear. Let's see how he plays after that. And if I remember Nawa, I mean, I say this because here's a guy that they had

some high hopes for they draft. I mean they signed him as a free agent restricted free agent and gave him some money, and then they benched him, and then he came back and he might have led the team in sacks. He might have I mean six. I mean it's not a lot, but he had six. I think. So I think they're wanting to see what Taco does as they come back, and you know, all eyes will

be on him. I will say, I think we all know by by now, Rod Marinelli carries a pretty big stick around here, you know, I mean his philosophies and his desire. Yeah, and it drives their draft, their drafting, their decision making there. So I'll be curious to see. I mean if if Rod Marinelli is just absolutely not having it, He's like, I don't want to play this guy, and this guy's more deserving. Like what wins out there, it's it's a little mini storyline to watch in this game,

and I don't for the most part, Jerry wins. Yeah nobly of course, of course he can be convinced, but don't convince him ultimately, right, yeah, like t O like he he won, you know, well, he won in his lead, but eventually he had to go right, yeah, but I mean Parcels didn't want him, and what Parcels that was here when he was cut? But when he was cut though, Gary notoriously lights on the napkin. Yeah, I love you, but you gotta go, bro. No, I know, I'm just saying,

you know what, He's always said that too. If you've heard this a thousand times. If there's a tie, break break it right, yeah, which and yeah, obviously break it amongst yourselves. If not, I break it here we go. So and I don't know, it's an interesting subplot to this game, which I mean, even if he plays, I don't I don't really believe he's gonna like take over the game. That's my question. Do you think he can help? Right now? Do you think that do you think that

he having another pass rusher can help? And even if and I don't want you to get too far to this, because we're gonna talk about this next defensive tackle position, but do you think that he could help? And that gives you a little more flexibility to flexibility with Crawford to where he's spending a little bit more time and tackle than an end. He helps. I mean, it's like a taco, you know, get full on one taco. You have to get something to how big it is, right,

nobody orders a taco. No one does one time. That's pretty true. Right to get at least two you get to get because you want the variety, three kinds of time. It comes with something else. Right, most things that you order comes like with a taco, which is good. It's a complimentary thing. That's what you need, be complimentary. Are you just selling me taco will never be the man because you just can't have just one taco. Well, I feel I've been shown you that he's going to be

the main course of anything. No, I've been holding out, hope, I've I've been Hey, I'm I'm the chief taco defender. Like I'm even back to draft before the draft, like you know everybody you know he doesn't have the raw athleticism of a Randy Gregor skin sweater. This is I get notre damn usually when I wear this. Either way, I defended him all you say, like, Okay, he's not he's not this just raw athlete, but he's he can play the position. Like you're not gonna get fifteen sack

guy at the twenty eighth overall pick. He can do this, He can do that. I mean I have to fess up and say I haven't seen it, and he would help just in the sense that he's another pass rusher in uniform. But he hasn't made an impactful play it seems like since September. So I have a hard time buying it right now. Did Byron Jones have a player that was drafted around him that the Cowboys were like, man, they should have taken him. I mean, it always sucks

to have a guy like Taco does that same position. Well, actually, what right? Yoh yeah, yes, they could have had t J. Watt. So he has eleven sacks right now, and gosh, how much better would this defense be right now? You got also factor in he's doing that a three four defense where he's playing outside, and that was a different thing. The whole reason, the whole reason he's not here is because they didn't think he could do that, right which who knows. I kind of think he could have. Maybe

he could have. I'm just saying that needs to be noted, that that is a difference. To be fair. Um, the guy that got pegged with Byron a lot uh. We talked about Nelson Aghalore the Eagles took him instead, but then and I don't really he wasn't on the Cowboys radar, but Landon Collins was taken five picks later, so he should have saved somebody life safety issues. There's always there's if you look, If you look, you can find a guy that's balling out five spots after you. And it's

probably every pick for every scene. Like you go to third round, there's somebody that was selected after your gay although round where you like that guy, I really better. I do think the Watt Taco thing is a little unique. It's the same position, it was the same range, the different kind of players. Sure, but I mean that's that's on your scouting department to say. I mean, I don't know you've been preaching that one for a couple of

your apps. I mean we we don't know for sure that Watt would excel as a four three down end, but I bet you he'd have made more plays in the last thirty games and the other parts that too, may he made more play, he'd make more plays as a pass rusher, but on those rundowns he gets blasted off the line, so you can't really use him the way you want to use him in a four three defense or defense plays a lot of nickel, those kinds

of things. All I'm saying is because there are different players, it's hard to make that comparison, But it certainly is hard to look up there and see those loving sacks and be like, youth made a right decision. Do you think they have a three or four knows because about three or four weeks ago, I don't know if we did. But Antoine, yeah, Antwinka play it trying to why you why are you trying to do? He's been doing this

for the last couple of years. I know. I remember he was on that kick at the end of last year, like I didn't have a note, got everything they need, I didn't have one. I was like, I don't, I don't, I don't have that guy, Well, maybe I do. Let's take our first break. We'll come back. I do want to talk about the defensive tackle position. They got pushed around a little bit this last game, and we hadn't been used to seeing that. I want to talk to you guys about how concerned you are or fans should

be about the defensive tackle position going four. We'll talk about that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. If you're like me and you love I mean, if you have a thing, than cutting the chord is scary. But then I found out I could twitch it DirecTV now and still get the live sports I love. No satellite needed, no bulky hardware, no annual contract, just that the live sports. You try direct TV now for ten dollars a month for three months.

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the test. The Cowboys did when they named John Dear their official tractor experience one for yourself. Visit my John Dear dealer dot com. Slash Football. Back to the Break Welcome back. It's the second segment of The Break Life from the s WBC Mortgage studios. At the start, sometimes I wish you guys could just hear the kind of stuff we talk about in the Break. It varies. Sometimes it's about the politics. Yeah. Sometimes, well every once in a while, we've had a couple though it does vary.

But hey, we had one. Yeah, oh no, we had like we were a little worried that it got on air, right, you weren't here here. Me Ag and Nick like just had a very civil, intelligent, productive political conversation, which is what doesn't happen in America. I know that's what I'm saying. And I was like, oh, we're different opinions too. Yeah, well no, man, not really, because it's civil. When everybody agrees, Yeah yeah, people disagree, that comes very uncivil. So it's

always different. But I'm always glad that it's not going out over the air. Usually. Whatever we're talking about, hopefully Ken keeps us safe. Ken, he's our offense. All right, let's let's jump back in defensive tackles um last week. No, I don't think it's any any stretch to say that they struggled last week. You just look at how the Indianapolis Cults were able to run the ball, particularly up the middle. It was play after play where they were

just basically gashing the Cowboys defensive front. A lot of that was because defensive tackles were getting moved around, weren't able to get off blocks, and that was in some instances, I think even exposing the linebackers in a way to where offensive line we're getting to the second level really really quick and being able to wash those linebackers out.

And the one thing we know about those two linebackers is I think they are really good when they are able to be athletic and just fly to the ball. They weren't able to do that. So all being said, Um, Jerry talked this morning on the radio show. He said, Uh, David Irving is is a guy that he expects to play for the season is over. There's only two more games, so the expectation is that he should be back this week or next week would be my assumption based on

what Jerry said. You got there? What what do you what do you think you're working something up here? What? Well? First of all, I mean he could be talking about the playoffs. He didn't say regular season. Yeah, he just said this year, so season. He could be talking about the playoffs. And also that that has officially entered. Believe it when I see a territory and that I mean Jerry. Jerry has always kind of been more on the like pro David Irving side, like we're gonna get him out

there play well. Of course, Yeah, he loves his players, There's no doubt about that. Yeah. And this kind of goes back to what we were talking about with Taco is you know, are the are the coaches and him on the same page with that, because just because Jerry wants to see it doesn't mean it's gonna happen, which I clearly he's the owner. We talked about less. He definitely has that ability. But this just feels different. I mean, we've talked we haven't seen David Irving. He hasn't. Untrue,

he's around here. We haven't seen him off on them on the field. We haven't seen him on the field, like we haven't seen him as much as we've seen other guys like he just he is. The last couple of weeks, I've started to see him around the building more, a little bit more. It. Yeah, it's not. It's not following the script that other absences following, Like he's not out there with the trainers. He's not. You don't see him, you know, Tavon Austen him has been at practice every

flipping day since he got hurt. Gonna be out there dance, Yeah, sure, Hey, you gonna make all the tongue and sheet comment comments you want. But like, I'm good for him that he's out there. I get part of it, you know, I agree with this. So that hasn't been the good for him because we're getting we get railed here, here we go sometimes and brought us set at one time. Wasn't about Tavon. It was about a player who's not here anymore.

And the guy had been hurt like all the time, was at training camp and he was just like walking by our tent and Brons was sitting there and he looked at this guy and he's just like, you know, he was like, right in the middle of practice, he walks off because you know he's been in practice. He was like, yeah, I practicing, and Brian goes. You ever see those guys just feel like, you know, they're really

excited about being hurt. You know, they're just like this is good, this is this is the life, just rehab, here's the thing. And I feel like Tavon is really excited about being hurt. I don't get it. I don't I don't buy it. And that's this. I I take that type of stuff a little bit personally because the manner in which I carry myself often suggests that I don't give a damn either. You know, but that couldn't be further from the truth. You are you being sarcastic. Yeah,

that's so. I don't want to I don't want to judge. I don't want to judge that, like, he's a happy guy who likes to dance, and that doesn't mean that he's happy about it not. That's actually a great point, because it is a great is a great point. But Okay, you're right, you would be right on this situation if he doesn't gyrate for the last six weeks with a groin injury dancing. If you have a growing injury that are you sure that that gyration football requires us to

the groin? Yes, you're positive, Yes you think, positive, you think And I'm not gonna mimic the moves. No, I don't want to demonstrate. Do you think, Oh, everybody just flocked their screens to see this black do you think on the table dancing Twitter? There was a video from the bleacher. The only thing I saw was the movement of the leg, the movement of the arm dancing. I

don't know that the groin was necessarily involved. Dancing. Thing starts there still, dancing still in the stretch line is different from trying to capture the corner against a safety. That's not That's just not the same. Great point. This isn't even what we were talking about. I don't point point being it's a Gumbo show. We can do this, David just I'm in the driver's seat. I mean, you're in the driver's seat in the front. I just take

the wheel. Sometimes. I gotta see David Irving doing something football related before I believe that it's happening. And Jason Garrett kind of downplayed the thought of him practicing yesterday, so that doesn't give me confidence he'll be ready for the Bucks. Then there's only one more game, so but I mean that game's not gonna matter if this is

gonna happen. This is just a prediction on my part, But if this is gonna happen, it's gonna be they win a playoff game and they're in like the divisional round and all of a sudden he's here and everybody's just jacked and like, oh my god. And then he plays like eight snaps. Yeah, he plays like eight snaps against the Saints. Like that's my prediction for how this

goes back to the defensive tackle conversation. Then do you think that, and this takes us back again to the defensive end conversation, is that the reason why maybe you need to get more from tackle at least get him into the game and into the rotation so that you can get a little more experience and reinforcement at the defensive tackle position. Again, that's if you think that what we saw sun was more than an aberration, because it could be a situation where that was just a poor game.

We've already said that that defense. I don't think overall that's how that defense is going to perform going forward. But if you don't believe that, if you do believe that's a sign of maybe things to come, he probably need to show up your defensive tackle position and there may not be another option to be able to do that other than Tyron Crawford, right right, which means then trickles down right. Yeah. And that's the thing about Taco.

He when he was playing well, he was doing pretty good as a run stopper and not just as a as a rusher. So yeah, I mean, I think you would like to have him there, and I think Tyrone Crawford is better in the middle of the field. One of their best plays of the season was a goal line stand on Kamara, and you know, a lot of a lot of the players did a nice job there.

DeMarcus Lawrence might have gotten the tackle, he got the tackle because Tyron Crawford was Stonewall Jackson right in the middle there and just not it wasn't going anywhere historical reference. What happened. Those other linebackers did a nice job of feeling Tyron Crawford made the play. I think when he's playing tackle, I think that's their best line. Yeah, I

really do. I think with Woods Crawford and then Lawrence and Gregory when he's not making penalties, Lawrence and Charlton, I just I have no choice but to look at it as an aberration. And maybe it wasn't, but I'm looking at it right now. Okay, these are These are the rushing offenses the Cowboys have played this year. Number one Seattle, number three, Carolina, number five, Tennessee, number six, Houston, number eight, New Orleans, and then the next one's number seventeen, Washington.

Did you see a pattern there? They're all No, the Colts, They're all except for one, were losses. Okay, I will counter that though they played really well against most of those. I get that, and that's fine. I'm just saying a common thread there is. At the end of the day, all those teams except for one, ended up being lost. But I really think. I think the Colts ability to run the ball was a big part of the reason

why the Cowboys lost that game. That was the only game this year other than maybe Seattle, where the running game really killed them. Like it was a reason why I would I would argue Carolina cam killed them in the first half. They buckled down, but it was killed the big part of how they built a ten nothing lead at halftime. Though where I mean Seattle got I think they had like one hundred and thirty all purpose yards. It took them like forty five carries to get there. Like,

they did not kill them. There's something to be said for being committed to the run. Yeah, and that's what Seattle has been all season. They're committed to it. But I just you did up until Tennessee had some success. But really, up up until this Colts game, none of those teams were just murdering these guys the way the Colts did. And that's I just chalk it up to. And we knew the offensive line was good going in.

I don't think anybody thought they were that good. And then I think this this front seven just played their worst game of the season. But I don't it's not enough for me to just be in alarm bells, you know. I thought, Um, the first drive of the game, they got the ball like the forty after the blockfield goal and then went down scored. We've seen that before. We've seen Washington do that at Washington. First drive of the game.

That happens changes a little bit when you're on the forty and I and the Cowboys got the ball back and they were driving, and then they had that possession with Ola Wally dropping it. I thought, I said to you, I think they're in good shape. I think this. I thought, I see what Marinelli will do. He will fix that stuff. And they're all those traps and stuff in the middle of they'll they'll they'll shore that up. They'll be fine.

And that didn't happen. They drove down again and again, and they got better than the third quarter of that first drive. I mean, that was the one that was really alarming. You would think the Cowboys needing the stop coming in after the break and they got gashed again, and I thought, wow, this is this is not what I'm used to seeing. And this actually again Stephen Jones

and Jason Garrett both kind of touched on this. It was a little bit reminiscent of Tennessee, Like I see what they're talking about in the sense of you saw what you expected to see. At the beginning of that game, the offense was moving the ball, red zone problems. We know that the defense they it was uncharacteristic, but they

managed to keep it within ten. And then whether it was the drive at the end of the second or the drive at the start of the third, either way, I think the defense gave up a score the offense couldn't answer, and you're just your energy level just plummeted. I don't want to say they threw in the towel, but they just didn't have that momentum or that spark that they needed to keep playing that way, which is

the same thing that happened. Remember against Tennessee, they score early, had a chance to make it like twenty one to three, I think, did not do it, and the next thing you know, they're just lifeless and the Titans are converting third down after third down after third down. I think it was really similar in that regard. Yeah, and if you look at it, you talk about those teams that you mentioned earlier that the Cowboys have played that are

in the top ten in rushing. Look at the NFC playoffs right now, all six teams that are in the playoffs post significant challenges in the running game. You look at obviously the New Orleans and Los Angeles rams Um, then Chicago, and then you get to the Wildcards Seattle, who you've already played in Minnesota, who last week showed

how powerful their running games can be. I think they went over two hundred yards with their two backs last with Dalvin fired their coordinator because he wouldn't run the ball, and then they ran it. And all of a sudden, now it's looking like it made I say that out loud on the podcast. You know, it's exactly what happened. You know what one thing you're looking at the playoff picture. I understand the Cowboys have to get there, and if they if they don't get there, then we'll be talking

about a lot more than just playoffs. But so I do think that they're gonna be in the playoffs, you know, and there's looks like New Orleans is going to be the one. And so you win this game, if you can win that game in the playoffs, you can you know, you would think you'd play there. However, if Minnesota is the sixth, the fact that Chicago could lose that game.

I think Chicago's playing well and personally at home, but a division game, Minnesota going there, that would be the team that could upset Chicago in my opinion, which means they would go to the number one seed if that is the way it shakes out. Also, but it was a possible ability that Seattle gets jumped by Minnesota. Yes, there is possible. Yeah, Actually, right now, Seattle would have to lose both of these last two I started playing around with all the different scenarios right now, those last

two spots. There are four teams that have a legitimate chance, Like there are things you say, oh, that definitely could happen over these last two weeks that could put UM Seattle, Minnesota, Philly, or Washington into the playoffs. And by the way, in all different spots between five and six. So there's no getting right now that the Cowboys necessarily are facing Seattle in the first round. Let's say, for example, there's a

lot of things that can happen to change that. Beating the Rams gives the Eagles a scary, realistic chance at made in the playoffs. So no doubt about it, which is Seattle plays Kse this weekend too, so that's a game that they could lose that changes everything about that bottom part of the division. No, but what I was gonna say is if the Vikings make the playoffs as a six, that creates a wacky scenario where the Bears and Vikings play twice in a row because they're their

Week seventeen opponents. So that that's just a guarantee for something whacky to happen if they have to play. You know what, though, I will say this about that, and you weren't here for this in two thousand and nine, but but we thought the same thing of Philadelphia. The Cowboys beat him twenty four nothing last game of the season to cleanse the NFC East, and then they faced him again. No one was liking that scenario at all, and then they came whooped them bad. I mean, like

it's possible, Felix. That reminds me of the year Adrian Peterson won MVP. He dragged the Vikings to the finish line against the Packers in the Metrodome, just went off and got him into the playoffs, and then they had to go to they had played him again. The next week as the three six and the Packers just beat their ass. All right, let's take our final. Will come back. I do want to talk about this quarterback situation. We'll do that when coming back is a Das Cowboys dot

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Welcome Back. It is the final segment of the Great Clad from the SWBC Morga Studios at the Star Day. Tell us a little bit about Tommy John. Thing the first line don't read, I don't do, I don't like the reads. Okay. Thing about Tommy John is that it's just the most comfortable underwear I've ever owned. Feels like you're not wearing anything. I save it for big occasions, like it's my it's my big day. Underwear when busy day,

stressed the day, it's big day underwear. It's comfy. You never bunches up, you never have to Readjust I wouldn't steer you wrong, because if it was something that I didn't really feel passionately about, I would just do the read and be like, oh okay, whatever here, here's that. But I really like Tommy John. I can't recommend it highly enough. And that's why I think you should go to Tommy John dot com. Forward slash Cowboys. You can

get twenty percent off your order. You can get some for you, you can get some for whoever's on your Christmas lists. It's just good stuff. I was about to say something, then I realized that I do about ninety five percent of the read. So if I have a decent point, I will just wait till another time to do it. I'm not going to say it and waste it here. And Da've already did a great job with him. Okay, Mine art is funny? Is Nick's? Oh Okay, you have

to say the same thing over and over. I mean you don't have to, no, I mean you're trying to find different ways to say the same thing. It's different. But he brought something up, and you know, we're just we're really hoping that the Cowboys can give Taco Charlton a kick in his button. If you need a kick in your butt, you can to Tommy John dot com and upgrade your such a good pitch man utter box Rico like he's all over the place now, he's just

the pitch guy. I you know, speaking of Saul, I said that, all right, let's jump back in when we have about seven minutes left. I did want to talk about the quarterback position, and I question posed to me yesterday. I thought it was a good topic and I'm almost sad that we're having to only spend seven six minutes on it. But when you look around the NFC, and I know Dak has taken quite a bit of a pounding and a lot of it is it's kind of deserved.

He hasn't played well all season. There have been lots of moments in different games where he hasn't played well. But all that being said, when you look around the NFC and you look at how those quarterbacks are performing outside of Drew Brees, and you could probably say the same thing about Russell Wilson. What other quarterbacks do you think are necessarily playing better, especially right now than Dak Prescott. Well, and I'm talking about NFC guys are in the playoffs

that are projected to be in the playoffs. I mean, right now is not a great time to have this conversation. But Jared Goff has had a really nice season last a few weeks, no, no, no suggling, and that's yeah. Well, Dak, you really hadn't had a great season, and over the last couple of weeks he had played better. So yeah, I mean, and going into playoffs, what matters most is

how are you playing right now? I guess the point of what I'm saying and what I'm asking here is is there a quarterback like normally Aaron Rodgers is in the playoffs and you're like, that's the problem? Yea, that is your problem because he is so good that he

masks all the other problems that the team has. Is there that kind of quarterback in the playoffs this year that you're so afraid of And I don't even want to say it from the like, the team's not afraid of them, but just as a fan, you're you're you're so apprehensive about this quarterback that that clouds everything else. No,

I don't think so. But I don't like your argument though, I mean, I know where you're going there, and you're saying not argument, it's more of a question questions there anyone else if if you think Dak sucks, well, a lot of teams are dealing with quarterbacks that aren't that great. And I get it, But but on this on the flip side, just by you would say I'm not worried about Kirk Cousins, or I'm not worried about Jared Goff or Trabisky or whatever. No one's worried about Dak either.

So they're here for another reason. The Bears are here for another reason. The Vikings would be here for another reason. The Cowboys are certainly here for another reason. So I get what you're saying, and I don't think you're like, how important is it really if your quarterback's not one hundred percent? I get that, but I think that you know, we've seen that other teams aren't going to be worried

about what Dak does either. But I guess that's where I start to, and now I will make an argument there we go that I think that if you look at it from that perspective, and you're not really worried about any of these quarterbacks, then guess what what are you worried about? Well, the run game, you would think the Cowboys are up there. They got the best rusher in the NFL as far as the number of yards are concerned. The defense, Cowboys are right up there with

some of the best defenses in the league. So I guess what I'm kind of getting to is if all the quarterbacks are kind of right there not really playing great other than Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, Okay, right, and we've already said that's I started saying. Those are the two that you would put as out who have played against the Cowboys this year and didn't really go

off exactly. Neither one of them is Aaron Rodgers, right, I mean, as far as how they've played the Cowboys, the Cowboys played Drew Brees better than anybody maybe has ever. But although he didn't do much last night either. It is looking increasingly likely that the Saints will be in the Superdome for as long as they're alive in the playoffs, and if the hit, if that, if that guy in that building in the playoffs, doesn't scare you. I don't know what to tell you, yeah, other than that that no,

I hear what you're saying. And you know, it's the timing of this sucks because I mean, Dak didn't play well the other day. Nobody played well the other day. But including the defense that you like, right, I mean, I just am. The timing of it was terrible. But I still stand by everything I wrote in my column last week, which is you know, I think I said back in like week two or week three, like I

don't have to make a decision on Dak Prescott. This whole thing is an audition, like the length and breadth of this season, even the bad parts, like I'm I'm I'm fine with him as the guy I really am, and he's got a lot of growing to do as a passer. I don't know if he'll ever become the guy. And I mean basically winning a super Bowl. I don't know if he'll ever do that. And I don't know if he'll ever be on and Drew Brees or Aaron

Rodgers type of level. But the intangibles that he brings to the table, the face of the franchise stuff, on top of what he's been able to accomplish as a passer, which is not insignificant. Like he is not terrible by any stretch of the imagination, regardless of what some people want to tell you. It's enough for me to think that it's probably not realistic that they're going to find

a better option anytime soon. And so I'm down with buying in on this twenty five year old guy with a lot of it factor who has a lot of room to grow, but has shown all the signs in the world that he's willing to do the work and is smart enough to improve. Should the fact that he's been sacked fifty times, which is second in the league this year behind Deshaun Deshaun Watson shout that factor into this evaluation of Dak Prescott. Yeah, a little bit, I mean,

and it also should factor into Scott Linahan and the offense. Um. You know, if you go back and look at there's a reason why Andrew Luck doesn't get sacked a whole lot. I mean, who's a better athlete, Luck or Dak? I mean, I mean it's probably close. I mean, I mean Dak's I would think, is a better athlete. But you know, I mean luck's pretty good too. But I'm just saying there's a reason why they scheme plays open a lot quicker, and I think it goes to some of these receivers,

some of the route running. It's everything. The offensive line hasn't been good. His process and decision making isn't. It's it's a bunch of things that go into the place. It's not because he is. He's not very mobile and he can't get around people. You know, he's probably avoided twenty five sacks this year that most people can't. So I think there's it's not just Dak, It's a lot of things his offense. I don't think he gets the ball out quick. I don't think he processes things as

quicker as some of the other quarterbacks. No, which is natural for a third year guy that all goes yeah, he's I mean, I don't know have the numbers on hand, but at least like ten to fifteen of these sacks are on him, Like there's I mean, he will move himself into pressure or wait too long to see things come open. He's got a lot of room to grow.

I'm not trying to suggest that he doesn't, but I have confidence that he can grow into that, And yeah, no, it's part of the evaluation of him and where he is at as a pocket passer, valuation of the offensive line where they thought they would be, the receivers who may not be getting open all the time as they should to give him the right target to be able to get the ball too. I think it all factors in, right.

I think Dak Prescott is above average in year three, which is a pretty good spot to be in for a fourth round pick. And on top of that, the Cowboys do not have a realistic avenue to find a replacement until twenty twenty, by which point your window is starting to close on a whole lot of other players on this team too. And so yeah, I mean it's a gamble. It's scary given the money, giving money like that to anybody, But the things I like about Dak

give me confidence that it's a safe gamble. All Right, we appreciate you guys joining us back Tomorrow we're gonna jump into Cowboys versus Buccaneers. Dave is going to give us a report on that Buccaneers offense. Number one. I think they're the number one offense in the league as far as yards are concerned. You have some problems in the red zone. We'll talk about that tomorrow. So then for Nick, even Dave helm and I'm Derek Eagleton. This has been The Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio.

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