Cowboys Break: Big Questions Headed Into 2018

episode number ninety eight. Welcome to another edition of The Break, live from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star. We appreciate you guys taking some time with us today to talk some Cowboys football. We're into our offseason schedule. In case you haven't noticed, there's one show per day.

Each of the different podcasts that we have will be going once a week throughout the offseason, all the way until we get to about June after the final mini camp, and then we'll take about a month hiatus as we do every year, and then we'll be back at training. Are you doing It's gonna go quickly. Huh, what are you doing? I'm telling people what to expect. What do you mean? What am I doing? January third, Yes, Like, let me just let me just breathe for a second.

Fans want to know. These things got me doing the draft show tomorrow. You got me going to training camp today? Will all right? Cool? Yep? All right, So let's let's get into it. We got a lot to talk about. We have not been on the air since the Cowboys had their scintillating final game of the season. They win six to zero, but it was a game where I don't think it inspired a whole lot of confidence in most fans that watched the game. But a win is

a win. Cowboys in with a nine and seven record, so they have a winning record, don't make the playoffs. And real quick, before we do what we're gonna do plan to do today, I have some questions for you guys for a season review. I just real quickly want to get a quick some quick thoughts from you guys with regards to that game and just kind of a general thought of that game relative to the season in them ending nine and seven. Let's start with you, Nick,

what's your your final thought on this twenty seventeen season. Well, you know, I did so much yelling during the during that game because he's so exciting. I lost very loud. You almost got kicked out. Yeah, yeah, Um, I don't know. I mean I thought it was. It was an ugly game for sure, Um, you know, the Eagles not even playing their guys, the Cowboys kind of struggling through, but you know, they they won the game, and I thought

it was important. I thought it was important for Jason Garrett because it kept his job, because if you lose to the Eagles, I don't think he keeps his job. Really, no, not like that, not with that bad team they threw out there. Eagles were playing their second slash third quarterback. They you know, they weren't that interested and they, you know, kind of were puddling along there. If you lose to the Eagles, I think, and go finish eight and eight. Again,

I don't know. I don't know if he keeps it, but so I think it's important for Jason Garrett and call it meaningless if you want, I think it was meaningful for him. Amber. No, it was definitely surprising to see the Cowboys going up against that team, as Nick mentioned, but with the Cowboys having a lot of their starters and still that we're struggling. They didn't score anything up

until the last quarter. With Bryce Butler catching the touchdown. Um, then Dan Bailey we talked about him, and you know, I'm sure we'll discuss that later. But just in general, the fact that they ended up with this record, it's kind of upsetting because on one hand, you say, okay, well we had this record, but in reality, when you analyze the whole season, it sucked in a lot of acts. My vocabulary is very limited. Straight for the vocabulary is

perfect for what the fans think. Well, you know, it's just it's bad to see. Okay, yeah, now you have this record to use it and justify everything else, like, Okay, well we did this and that, but we're finishing up with a winning record. Well, no, every there were so many bad things to talk about throughout the season, and yeah, changes need to happen, but I don't know how we all really know. Not many changes will happen, Okay, Dave, Yeah,

I disagree. Like the one thing that I've realized during this past week since they won that game, the only thing it matters about is for people like us, like media types and I guess fans maybe to say, like, well, the last time they head back to back winning records was twenty sixteen and twenty seventeen. But then that's so hollow because ten years from now, when you say that stat, you're gonna stop and think like, well, yeah, okay, they

went nine and seven and twenty seventeen, Big whoop. It was a crappy season, Like that's what people are gonna say. And I hope, I hope that whether or not Jason Garrett has a job wasn't determined by that, like a meaningless, crappy game in Philadelphia where you knew all week that I wasn't going to decide anything. I get that it's big for him to avoid another eight and eight season, him personally, not the Cowboys, because I don't think that

really matters in the long run of things. And you know, if you're deciding whether or not he should be the coach of the Cowboys, I hope you're looking at the bigger picture and how you played during Zeke's suspension, and how you handled the injuries and the ups and the downs,

and how you handled the adversity. I hope everything that happened when you were still in the playoff hunt mattered more than whether or not you got a meaningless win to get to nine and seven, and you know that's why I firmly thought that they should be sitting guys themselves. I mean, it's a moral victory to get to nine and seven, that's all it is. And it's more of a moral victory for Jason Garrett than the team as

a whole. The players don't care. You know, I disagree a little bit with that because I think, well, I'll throw one other thing in there. It's not I agree with you. Maybe the players don't care. I think Jason cares, and I certainly think that the organization cares. And here's why. That's okay, here's why, because you start looking at it and you get five years from now, and there are these stats that people throw out that talk about the

overall health of the organization. Let's assume they go back to their winning ways like they last year next year. Then you're on a city a situation where the stat is four of the last five years the Cowboys have had a winning record. Right, Those are the kinds of things that I think the organization thinks about. Sure that that makes that game and that one extra win important

to them. Now, again, it's not a super Bowl, it's not like it's that level of importance, but it still is somewhat important to the organization, and it gets to have a winning season. And I guess my argument to that, you're right, and I guess that was my point when I started talking, was a decade from now, it'll be part of this statistic, like well, four of the last five years. But when you stop and think about it, like it's like, I'm borrow a line from my buddy

Clarence Hill. Stats lie like if you think back and you're like, yeah, great, they went nine and seven, they stopped like but but but the flip to that is, let's assume again, and this is a huge assumption, so don't take this as fact. Let's assume that the Cowboys actually make a deep run next year and or a deep run in the year after that. Now that stat

becomes even more important. Right. So those are the kind of things I think the organizations like, we want to give as many wins as we can because it all bills to the narrative of what our organization is. There's something to be said for you know, like Nick said last week, you only get sixteen of these, you might as well try to win all of the ones that you can. But I think it's more hollow than not hollow at the end of the day, until you win

a Super Bowl or at least get a downed champaign. Right, if this is year two of an eight year run of making the playoffs matter, the Seahawks just concluded, yeah, sure, then it it still doesn't matter that much because if they start doing that, nobody's gonna care about this season. They're gonna be like, well, great whatever, nine and seven. But then they went twelve and four and thirteen and three, eight and blah blah blah. So it is what it is. We will see. I mean, I think all in all,

I think we all agree. It was extremely disappointing. This was this was maybe maybe the weirdest season I've ever experienced here with the Cowboys. I've been Nick, you and I both have had. This was our eighteen this or your nineteenth eighteen nineteen. This is my eighteenth season, and yes, pretty funny and by far, this was the weirdest season I've ever experienced. It was so many things, Dave, you said it when we were on the plane coming back.

I think it was after the game you were saying, you know, there's there's when you think back to all the things that would happen if you try to go back to training camp. There have been so many things that this organization, that this league has experienced this year that were out of the norm, and it just made for just this really crazy season, and on top of that, disappointing because the results were not what you expected them

to be. I tried to write it all out, and then, you know, I liked to screenshot in my notes and put them on Twitter. I tried to write it all out in a note the other day and I failed. Like I looked at it and I was like, this isn't remotely close to being every I mean, I had a game cancel, had a game canceled by a hurricane telephone had your player I'd forgotten about that, and that was on the bottom end of the list. Oh yeah, that's happened that we're crazy, right, Well, it was a

big deal for what happened. I'm not gonna say it wouldn't have no I'm saying. I'm saying from the standpoint of when you think about all the things that affected on the field, that was a preseason game. So missing a preseason game was relatively the last one preseason game was canceled. Your incumbent punt returner was cut after a dog kidnapping scandal. Um, Your your star running back was

suspended and had a lengthy battle with the NFL. Playing this week, Playing this week, one of your linebackers allegedly pulled a gun on some people. All of your outside free agents that you hired, two of them got cut, one of them retired. Um, but there was the national anthem. I mean we spent a whole thirty minute segment talking about that. What else happened? That's and that's my point, Like I've only listed four or five things, and I'm just starting to draw a blank. And I know that

that's just like the tip of the iceberg. And by the way, only one of those, I think, and that's probably Zeke, actually was something that affected on the field significant And while I didn't get into the tire and injury to Sean. Yeah, if you want to talk about football, you got all that swiffing on three free agents. Oh yeah, no, that's fair, no doubt not mean that that did affect. Yeah, but part of that's on the on themselves. I mean the fact that they knew Demontre Moore was was going

to be suspended, Like, I don't know. That didn't sit well with me. I mean, it's not like he was that great in other other places. You've already got guys that are that are suspended. I mean, you already knew he was going to be have a two game suspension and they didn't even say anything. I don't know, I thought that was bad. Yeah about about a tight end that that that caught the Yeah this world by by nineteen week concussion. We forgot about the two touchdowns in

the preseason. This guy's about the star in the making and getcussion and he's gone, Uh, your second best pass rusher started the season suspended. He missed the first month of the season, lost the nipple ring in the middle of nipple ring. Uh. First missed the last month of the season with another very lengthy concussion that was and still ended the season. Second. I believe so off the top of my head, I believe so pretty amazing. Jeff Heath led the team and picks for a third consecutive year.

That's pretty wild is that three consecutive years now he's been tied for the lead at least at least tied, if not outright leading Jeff Jeff Heath being called the goat is like the biggest story. Never he's the goat? Um yes, oh just dezz in big nineteen inch letters, say it with me, Darren McFadden, Oh, I forgot all your number two running backslash number one running back all through camp who took one carry this entire season and retired.

Never understood that, and nobody will ever understand that as long as we're doing this. Rod Smith was better than Jalen Smith. No. Hey, well, if you were at about week six or seven, you probably had a pretty good How about the Jayalen Smith roller coaster from like they can't count on this guy to this guy's going to be an All Pro in the preseason too, this guy's not ready about week five to this guy's playing pretty well too. We feel really good about where he's that

heading into year three. I mean, you went up and down about six times, kind of like your voice just went like I can talk about that, but if I tried to do what you just did, that would be

really you could break that glass. Yeah, it's it's it's just been such a crazy season and I think that you know, on top of that, it being a disappointing season, I think is what's so hard for fans because there's been so much emotion that's been tied up in it, and then not winning games on top of that, and it being not what you expected because coming into this year you really expect it there to be a much better production on the on the field. What do you

other other than the Zeke saga? What do you think fans were the most upset about heading into Week one? And I'll I have the answer. I'll most upset, Yeah, heading into week other than the Zeke saga week one, I'll tell I have the answer. I'll tell you what it is. Kellen Moore was still on this team. They were most upset about it. Yes, absolutely, are the backup quarterback? Yes, and not like you forget he was even on the active roster at one point this year, but that happened. Yeah,

I wasn't playing, but was on the active roster. Cedric Thornton's in the playoffs right now with what team Buffalo? How are you? It's been a long year, That's what I'm trying to say. It's been a long year. It's gonna be interesting when you get into free agency, which starts early March mid March. I don't have the exact date,

March fourteenth. Maybe that's great, let's go with that. No, but when you get into it this year, they're gonna they're gonna start taking some lumps from the media, and they should because then they're gonna start looking at the last two years of free agents and they've been pretty bad. And that's the thing. No, No, they've been really awful,

actually any bad. I think they've gotten the benefit of the doubt a lot the last couple of years because, and let's be honest, like the scouting staff and the administrative staff, like they've made some before that they were making some pretty good decisions I thought with regards to personnel. Yeah, whether it's free agency or not, they were just making

good personnel decisions. And so I think people gave them the benefit of the doubt that hey, this new formula of not going and paying top dollar for free agents and let's see where it goes. Let's give them the benefit of doubt because they made other good, wise prudent decisions. Now, I don't think they get that benefit of the doubt because going and you get what you pay for, right, and what they've paid for the last couple of years has basically been what they got and which is not

a lot of production from the free agents. So this year, I think you're right, there's gonna be a ton of scrutiny on whatever decisions they make, and they're gonna have to deal with that if that matters to them. And and the guys that they lost, I mean, I mean, the guys they lost in free agency were pretty you know, did a pretty good job. Brandon Card had a nice year. I think Barry Church had a nice year. Church had a pretty damn oh though, for the money, and I

want to rewrite history for the money. I don't think the Cowboys keep him like that. That I don't put on the Cowboys. I looked at all, not keeping Barry Church. I looked at Mote Claiborne another day. I just just hadn't heard anything about him, and he played fifteen games. He had one interception, But I mean I was kind of surprised. I don't know, probably the top three, Yeah, fifteen games. That was impressed by that for him because he hadn't that's what he hasn't been able to do. Yeah,

just one interception. But he's never been a big interception guy. Anyways, disappointment where he was drafted. I think that's such a huge disappointment. I think he could go down as one of the biggest bus in the draft bus in Cowboys history. And I know, really people want to say Bobby Carpenter or whatever, but when you look at what you trade it up to get him, and he hasn't been a productive player. I mean, I hate saying it. You know, I know he's an LSU guy and you can't argue

with facts, man, I know. And not only that, but that's lie though you are. Stats can lie, but not just disappointing here, Like if he goes on and the rest of his career is the same, then it's it's it says that he wasn't even a great player. It wasn't it. He didn't play way great for the Cowboys. He wasn't a great player. And to take him that high. I think that's the part that so I told you what I thought they should have done year three. Moved

from defense receiver. Yeah, maybe you wouldn't be in a position you are right now a receiver. I've seen him return a few kicks. I mean, he is quick, he's fast, he's got, you know, some alusiveness. I mean, you got to do something with them. I did not expect to be breaking down Mo Clayborne today. All that. I never welcome to jets break. I never know where this show is going to go. All right, let's take our first break.

When we come back. I have a whole series of questions I want to ask you guys that will wrap up this season. Well when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. It can be hard to find the right resource for learning about important financial matters. You search how to build savings, you end up reading about the one weird ingredient from supermarkets that can make you taller. That's why Bank of America build Better Money Habits dot Com, a safe little corner of the Internet

for answering your financial questions. Full of simple videos and tips, Better Money Habits can show you how to make the most of your money without resorting to random searches that always seem to lead to unbelievable photos of childhood stars grown up. To learn more, visit Better Money Habits dot com. What does it mean to be a Dallas Cowboys fan. It means you've got the passion of the heart to

do your part supporting the Boys no matter what. That's why when the game's on the line, you're on your feet, whether you're at home or in the stands. Actually, you're more than a fan. You are a member of Cowboys Nation, and so is AT and T doing their part to keep you connected to America's team all season. Law AT and T is a proud member of Cowboys Nations. Ice Cold, Doctor Pepper and the Dallas Cowboys go way back. They belonged together like Texas and football, Silver and Blue shotgun

formations and Hail Mary's. Having a Cowboys football party without doctor Pepper is like having Thanksgiving without the Cowboys. Basically, we wouldn't recommend it. So next time you have a tailgate, homegate, or whatever else kind of gate, grab some ice called Doctor Pepper for you and your friends to enjoy. It's a Dallas Cowboys tradition. Doctor Pepper the one you crave. To work this big land. You need equipment with values

rooted as deep in Texas soil as you are. Like John Dear Compact tractors with a six year power train warrant to in big features that help you work less, so they have more time to do what you love. John Deer was first in the Texas fields and we're proud to be on the field as the official agg and turf equipment of the Dallas Cowboys. Find Texas sized deals at my John Deer dealer dot com. Slash Footpall terms, conditions, exclusions, and warranty limitations apply so he can be love for details.

Back to the Break Welcome back. It is a second segment of Break Live from the s WBC Mortgage studios at the Star. We're doing a season in review today. We're talking about the twenty seventeen season and what happened this season and how that could impact the twenty eighteen offseason. Let's start with the first question I have for you guys, Which was a bigger impact on this disappointing season. Zeke's suspension,

Tyren Smith's injuries or Lee Shaun Lee's injuries? Leeks suspension. Wow, because it started in the summer and it lasted all the way till weeks sixteen of the season when he came back and one way or another it was hanging over his head. It affected him, It affected his demeanor. Um, I don't I mean, I think I think he looked very tired in Week one against the Giants, he looked tired.

He did played well, but he looked tired. I just thought that that situation stayed in the news, stayed as a distraction for him, maybe not his teammates all the time, coaches, do we have him? Do we not? He played against the Chiefs on Sunday and needn't know until Friday morning he was gonna play. I thought that was a distraction all year, and then the six games without him was

a disaster. I mean it was well when it was either three and three, but yeah, and just for reference, just for four and two gets you in the playoffs if it's Atlanta. Yeah, just for reference sake, Cowboys went three and three without Zeke. They went oh and two without Tyran Smith, and they went one and four without Sean Lee. They went they went one and two. You're talking about during the suspension Tyrant. I mean they won the Eagles game that he didn't plan. Yes, I'm sorry,

but during the suspension, Yes, suspension. I think it's I mean, sorry if it's a cop out, but I think it's a combination of everything. I think the Zeke, the Zeke suspension undoubtedly weighed on this team's psyche. I don't care what anybody said, and maybe maybe not everybody, but the coaches, the ownership, the front office, Zeke himself, Dak Prescott. I mean, you know, maybe maybe I don't think Joe Looney was really too worried about what was going on with Zeke

and how it affected his day to day. But in the grand scheme of the football team, absolutely, And then honestly, I you know, you think about Atlanta, you think about maybe not Philly just because they were rolling at that time, but like the way that the way those guys played against the Giants and the Redskins when Tyrone came back, I gotta believe that they had a shot to beat the Falcons, or at least have it be competitive if

he's in there. And the same thing goes for Sean Lee, like in terms of I think, I really think they could have gone four and two if those two guys had been healthy during that entire stretch. One way or the other, whether Lee helps him play a better defense against the Chargers down the stretch, whether Tyron helps Dak play a better game against the Falcons, I think they could get one of those wins. If those guys have been healthy. So, like I said, I mean, I think

all that stuff really goes hand in hand together. The biggest surprise for me would be shan Lee just because and you can make an argument for each one of these, but the whole six situation, yeah, that affected the team. The team one hundred percent. But you knew that coming into training camp. You knew everything that was happening. You should have been well prepared for in case that did happen.

How are you going to handle this situation? You knew Tyren Smith has been dealing with injuries since last year. You should have a backup that should be capable to handle the job. Meanwhile, he's out. The one thing that I did not expect was shan Lee being out and affecting the way he did, Like his absence affected the whole defense, And that was one unexpected for me and surprising.

You know, I think when listening to all this, man, I think Dave is exactly right that it is all three and it's not a cop out because when you think about it, and in Garrett's press conference yesterday, really one game was mentioned over and over and in Atlanta that was the game that was the game that that that just because not only did you what are they

finish with ten and six? Who the Falcons? Yeah, so they're ten and six, you flip those roles, they're in the playoffs, and all three of what of those things you just said were a factor in that game. I mean the first game without Zeke tyring, they had no clue how to how to figure that out with time, and then Sean Lee gets hurt in the first quarter, I believe in the game. So that's the one game where all three was I mean, I guess I guess Philly.

They were all out for Philly as well. Yeah, but but but you know, there was the first time to kind of deal with it, and I Amber's right, I mean, was Zeke they knew that the Zeke's thing was coming, and then they should have known that Sean Lee was gonna get banged up at some point too. But Atlanta, I thought was was the game that cost him everything, and all three of those things we're a huge factor in that. So I don't think it's bad to say

it's a three way tie. And well and I got you know, that creates the narrative kind of going around right now, and maybe it's hindsight or maybe it really was a mistake, but just the way you handled the offensive line, I mean, you're you know, you're right. Maybe be better prepared, Maybe maybe don't try to turn Chaz Green into a guard and then expect them to play tackle right off the bat like that, or when I you know, you can go ten dozen different ways with

how they might have handled that better. But it's kind of pointless right now. All right, let's go to the next question. If the Cowboys had to keep one coordinator and get rid of one, which would you keep the offensive coordinator Scotland Hand or the defensive coordinator Rod Mironelli. Again, meat today, gotta keep one, gotta let one go. When you keep oh damn, I don't pass, no passing. I

probably Marinelli. Keep Marinelli? Why? Because this defense is trending upward they I mean, and I guess you could argue that they didn't play a lot of great teams down the stretch, but that secondary looked like it really came along the pass rush. Honestly, something I thought about yesterday. It kind of tapered toward the end. And you can blame the David Irving injury if you want or DeMarcus Lawrence not getting the holding calls he thought he deserved whatever.

But they finished with thirty two sacks. League lead was fifty six, So I mean they fell off the pace pretty good. But this for the most part, with the exception of that baffling three games stretch when Sean Lee was hurt, was pretty solid. I mean, they they held what you call it, They held the Chiefs to seventeen points. They were allowing nineteen points a game when Lee was

in the lineup. They were getting sacks. These young dbs are getting making plays on balls, and I would imagine, you know, with another draft and maybe another free agency period, I would imagine you can upgrade the talent on defense even further. And then you look at the offense and you look at the talent you've accumulated over there and how good they were last year. And it obviously didn't work out, but there were things in place to account

for Zeke. I mean, they felt good about their backup running backs going into training camp, at least they said they did. They brought back the same receiver corps that was very solid last year. I mean, everything was the same and the results were not great. But one thing to note though, and I went back, I was looking at just kind of the season overall. From Week three to the final game, that Kansas City game before Zeke goes out, Cowboys were scoring. They didn't score any less

than twenty eight points in a game. They were scoring a ton of points. Now, I do believe that Zeke going out changed everything, and I think the offense and you guys talked about it. Then you started getting not only Zeke was out, but you had some games where Retiring was out and Shawn's out, and you got that one game where they all three out. So I think there were more things at play, but I think they were.

They had hit a stride and after a kind of a first two games with their offense really wasn't clicking. So I don't know if I don't think that the offense necessarily had. They didn't have as good of a season as a year before, but they certainly were hitting their stride at the point when Zeke goes out. I borrow I'm gonna borrow some logic from Nick, and I'm gonna borrow a line from my guy Drake, like from that wait in the same sentence, it's so the first

time that's ever happened. Nothing was the same, not true after that game in Atlanta. Yeah, nothing was, That's true, Like I mean, at whatever you want to blame. I mean, the running game kind of found itself after a while, even without Zeke and Tyring came back. Like Da Dak wasn't the same player from that game on? Really, I mean, would you other than I know, I mean he played, he played fairly well in the Giants game. I think Jason Garrett said it was his arguably his guest best

game of the season. I don't agree with that, just because, again, I mean, all plays count at the end of the day, but you're talking about a nine yard slant turning into a fifty yard touchdown and a ten yard slant turning into an eighty one yard touchdown. Like stats kind of lie in the case that game, in my opinion, like I would say Kansas City or probably San Francisco or even Green Bay was his best game of the year. You got a look who you're playing against too, Yeah, absolutely,

absolutely so. Just I there are a variety of things you can pended on, but the offense just kind of went in the tank after that game. Either of you guys disagree with that. Would either one of you guys say I'd let Marinelli go and keep in hand, try to keep I try to get rid of both. Actually, but yeah, I think so, I guess it would have to be. If you have to keep one, I guess it would be Marinelli because I really don't like the offensive structure here. You know, I keep harping what they

I think that they need. And there's a reason why they don't go get that guy because they don't use them. They don't feel like they need them, because that's not their offense. So it's me. I don't like that offense. I feel like, when you're on the twenty yard line, you've got fifty three yards this way, you know, and got eighty this way, and they don't use it. They

play every possession like they're in the red zone. They they you know, they don't really think that to go thirty forty yards down the field, And I think that's a waste. That's a waste of because that that hurts your running game overall and hurt your mid receivers if you don't ever try to extend it deep. And that's not their offense. So because it's not their offense. I don't really, I'm not agreeing with the scheme with the guys that are available as a defensive coordinator. Change your

thoughts on this. And what I mean by that is you got Matt Eberflew sitting there and a lot of people respect him as a linebackers coach, but at some point he's gonna want an opportunity to be a defensive coordinator. And there's going to become a point when that decision will be up to him because his contract will be up. And are you at all afraid of or wondering about losing him? And let's also think about some of the guys that are out there. Steve Spagnola you would assume

might be available. He's a guy that has a totally different kind of defense. He's a much more aggressive kind of defense. Would you prefer? Does that make you maybe say, Hey, if I'm gonna have to get rid of one and keep one, maybe I'll let the defensive coordinator walk because I have other options that I like right now as far as defensive coordinators are out there, no, no, no, And here's why, girl quick. Yeah, they both need some

changes there. But if you had to keep one and I'm gonna go with Mary Nelly just because even if you're not succeeding, as long as I'm seeing progress and a little bit of improvement, I'm feeling good and I'm happy and content. And when you talk about the offense, I never saw any of that. And it's like you talk about seeing the same kind of mistakes over and

over but no changes. No let's try this, or let's switch it up here, or let's you know, figure something else out after you see week by week the same thing happening, at least with Mary Nelly in the defense. This year, I'm feeling a lot better. I remember before, like going into the draft, my biggest con was the pass rush, and now look at this pass rush and look at the rookies how well they've been doing in the secondary. So there's progress and hope for me in

that area. Okay, Now, offense, that's a different story. What's funny? I mean, and I agree with everything she just said, but I think you could make and I just have this feeling like continuity is more important to an offense, you know, like, what what does it mean for Dak Prescott if you change up his whole structure, like it could be good obviously. I mean Jared Goff turned his whole.

I mean, his second season was light years better than his first after a change of staff, So it's certainly possible. But the comfort of my quarterback is probably my number one concern when it comes to making changes like that, So like, if they were to make a change, I would hope he's heavily involved in it and it's a guy that's going to help him grow and get better.

Whereas you know, I just said Marinelli's the guy that I would keep on of the two of them, based I mean, based on the returns on this defense sacks takeaway, think they have twenty seven in the last three years or some very low number like that. There's there's nothing this defense does where I'm just like, we can't let that guy go, like he's too important to what we do. Like what where? Where have you seen that to where you think that's true? So, I mean, it's it's on it.

It's splitting hairs for me. I mean, whichever one where to go, I think they could rebound nicely from it. But it doesn't really look like either one's gonna go. So okay, let's move on the next question. Let's assume is only one of these things can be addressed in the offseason, which would you address finding a swing tackle, finding a safety, or finding a wide receiver, finding a m what kind of wide receiver somebody to replace the money that you're spending on days? Oh oh, we tackle

or number one receiver? Yeah, I mean, I mean, that's that's about That's about relative imp trying to kill your game. But I'm just I mean, I think it's a different question when you're I don't let me explain it. The reason why. I don't think that's a I see what you're saying. But when you think about it from the standpoint of right now, you have a starting left tackle who has had back issues the last two years, and what we saw this year is when he's out, the

entire offense changes as much as anybody else. I mean, you say it's Zeke, but there's an argument that it changed just as drastically when Tyron Smith wasn't in there. So that being said, do you still that swing tackle position still becomes very important. You're not getting rid of Tyren Smith, but you got to prepare for the possibility that he's going to miss some games because he has missed games the last two years. So that being said,

which one is more important? Having that suing tackle so that when he goes down, you've got somebody or having a wide receiver so you don't have to pay the amount of money that you're gonna pay to Dez Bryant and hopefully get either similar or better production. Clip this out and put it on the internet. Hamber, Like I refuse to shovel dirt on Tyron Smith. I'm just not going to do it. I'm not. I'm not saying shovel Nope, but I'm speaking my piece on the question you're asking me.

I'm not. I'm not doing it. I think he's a hell of a player. He's ridiculously tough. The fact that he did as much as he did in spite of everything that was bothering him is amazing. So it's a twing swing tackle not that important for you. It's it's obviously important, But I'm not I'm not convinced that I need to find his replacement right now. Let's be clear, I'm not saying the replacement. Can you just let me talk? Yes, I want to make sure you've been the conversation focused.

Just let me talk all right, go. All you've been doing is talking for the one that said you didn't know how you'd get through the show with your voice the way it is. Good teammate you are. He's a good teammate. I'm not looking for Smith's replacement, which I think you can find a guy who can do the job of swing tackle in free agency or with a later round draft pick. Do you think do you think that Byron Bell is a suitable replace, a suitable swing tackle?

I thought, I think if Tyron Smith is healthier than he was this year, yeah, probably, Yeah, No he is. Are you expecting him to be healthier than he I trust that he can do it. He's got to be healthier than he was this year. Well, but he he only missed two games, right, it's three games, three games, and I keep forgetting that and not on even count that he missed three games, he would not have missed the third game, and what he missed about fifty practice.

He missed five games. Really, I mean, yeah, he missed three games, but he was out after three plays against Seattle, so that is okay. So that's that's that's Atlanta. That's even farther on my point, though, he should have met or you could say there were five games that were that he was out for an extended period of time. Do you expect that he's going to somehow be miraculously able to play sixteen games next year? Yes, I just

I trust him. He's a freaking All pro. If he's he's got a shot to be a Hall of Fame caliber player from this generation. That's true. I do you are you sort of doubting it? And do you think others are doubting it. I'm sort of doubting it because because of the nature of his injury, injury for the last two years, that back injury has been persistent for two years. Backstone just miraculously get better. I don't think it plays all sixteen games next Year's because I go

that way, you're gonna go the other way. I'm with him, not because of you doing it. It's because you're not going to be alone this offseason and doing it. And I think Tyrn's gonna say watch this, and I think he's gonna play sixteen games now. I do think he needs to level great question, Yeah, but I think so. I don't think his level drops off that much. It drops off a but here's the thing. When he gets hurt, he gives up a sack, like, stop the presses, Like

he gives up a sack, what's wrong with him? Right? But when he's not hurt, you're like, are they even have anyone over there? Yeah? You know, like is anybody playing? I'm not. I just I'm not. I'm not betting against the player of his caliber. I remember, like people thought DeMarcus Ware was never gonna play again, they cut him. He went to Denver and put up like thirty sacks in three years and won a Super Bowl. But it

seems like we're going like extremes. I'm not saying that it's time to cut him, but not saying but not still a great place. The Hall of Fame point is, if you trust him to be what he is, then swing tackle is not as absurd of a need as as it might be if you don't. That's but I think there's a middle ground here, and I think there is. Yes, he is still a great player. Yes, he's probably arguably one of the top one to three players on this team.

But the fact of the matter is after an injury, like a back injury, shows up and it's persistent over a couple of years. I think you'd be foolish not to be thinking about having a plan in the event that that back which problem can do have a plan, and it's don't leave the backup hanging out to dry when he's gone. Don't do next man up, scrap it, throw it away. Next man up sucks because it's not next man up. Don't just say Chaz, you got it,

just like Tyron, we're counting on you doesn't work? And how many sacks did Clayborne need to figure out that's not working? True? Let me put it in a more simple terms. I guess like if Tyrn is a real problem that you can't count on, tackle becomes like a first round type of need, it's I think if it as a third to fifth round type of need, like you need to address it. You need to have a plan in place. It's not a five alarm fire. That's how I feel about it. All right, let's go ahead

and check our final break when we come back. The next question we're gonna have for you, guys, is, assuming one of these two will not be here, who are you more certain it will be either Orlando Scandrick or Dez Bryant. Well, do that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot com. Radio. Cowboys fans know that the second best of anything simply won't cut it,

and your skincare should be no different. A long time locker room favorite of the players and the official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas based Jack Black is the number one best selling men's skincare brand in the country because we make products that help guys look, smell, and feel better. Visit get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys to get ten dollars off your first order of

fifty dollars or more. Jack Black Look Good, Smell good, Feel good, official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys. Star Sports Tours is the only official fan travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, offering exclusive game weekend travel packages with sideline access and photo ops with current players, alumni and cheerleaders. That's not all, though, You'll get to talk x's and os with Senior Director of Player Personnel Will McClay and of course with yours truly, me, Brian broad Us.

You can trust the official fan travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, and with us, you'll travel like a pro visit Cowboys Travel dot com to book your travel package today. I hear all this talk about what it takes to be a cowboy. Everyone's got their ideas, but I just say to myself, it's what's up top that matters. Sure, you need men with the muscle and heart to get her done. But if your scouts and coaches are listening out there a word of advice. Pick them in with

the most well worn stetson. That's the one most cut out to be a cowboy. Stetson hats are handmade right here in Texas and have been on Cowboys heads for over one hundred and fifty years. The rest of you can visit stetson dot com slash cowboy to find a retailer nearest you. What does it mean to be a Dallas Cowboys fan. It means you've got the passion of the heart to do your part supporting the Boys no matter what. That's why when the game's on the line,

you're on your feet, whether you're at balm or the stands. Actually, you're more than a fan. You are a member of Cowboys Nation, and so is AT and T doing their parts to keep you connected to America's team. All season law at and T is a proud member of Cowboys Nation. Back to the Break, Welcome Back, final segment of The Break Live from the SWBC Mortgage Studios at the Star, Nick take it away. You know, Tommy John, when you're in the mornings. You know, most people are kind of

lazy in the mornings. They're just tired. I know, I am ye this morning exactly. Tommy John takes away laziness. What it does, pull out the drawer, you're like, other brand, other brand, sorry, Michael Jordan, other brand, you know, and then you're like, wait, they're in the dryer. Do you just take the other brand? Or do you go kind of half wet walk around all the way to the dryer. Yeah, the visual, think about it everything and you go hell of an insight into what next moning and you get it.

Hope the kids aren't up, maybe they are scary. Anyways, cuts down your lazyness because you definitely want to get Tommy John. You want to put Tommy John regardless, it doesn't matter if it's just a normal Wins day or not. So Tommy John. You'll go all the way to the driving John. Get Tommy John. It's freedom, it's it's the comfortable feel and it fights laziness. Allen once Tommy John dot com forwards last Cowboy twenty percent off the first order.

When I put on the competitor's product, like on a day, if I don't have any Tommy John available, it's like, I'm just like, I guess, I guess I'll put these on. I wish I had some Tommy John. Yeah. So anyway, okay, all right, thank you Nick. All Right, let's get back to our questions. This is this has been fun. You guys didn't answer the last question, but that's okay. Well,

safety safety all right, Amber Safety? Yeah, um, sorry, I'm assuming you're replacing Jones, right, yes, okay, Amber, Wow, it's sad of it replacing Byron. Well, I'm saying it's on. I'm just saying, like, which, if you're gonna get safety, then who's got which guy is gonna get replaced? If I was gonna if I was gonna add a badass safety to this team, I'd feel more comfortable pairing him with Jeff. Assuming this is a safety who's a badass and pass coverage, which is what I want. I kind

of agree with you. So anyway, I know people don't like it, but I still I don't know if Cheeto's not a better safety. But god, you're still on that, Yeah, I am. It's not like he was that great. He was good, but he just a lot of time and he and I think that the for what he was as a rookie with the time he missed during training camp, he was. He was right up there with where my expectations were for What do you I think he could

be a really good safe. What tells you that other than his body type, like he's a big, sturdy guy. Other than that, I mean, well being seen him do it? Well, this is what I've seen. I see that Byron Jones gets trucked all the time. He is lighting the ass when it comes to safety, he gets run over a lot. He's not body type is not built for that. I don't care what Marshawn Lint said and did he's the

one that went backwards. Yeah, yeah, Cheeto went down. Cheeto had a nice hit on him and Marshawn went backwards. That physical presence is something that I think this team needs at safety. And I think he's got playmaking skills and I know that people want this. You find a corner. You need to keep him. I get it, but I think that you're also looking for safety, and of course

I hate the guy that moves back and forth. I don't mean to talk out of both sides of my mouth, but I think this early on in the game, I would not be surprised if he would be a better safety. My thing is, if he moves to safety, you've just created a new hole at cornerback. Because I believe that those two rookies will be your starting cornerback going in the cart and starting cornerbacks going into next year. Well

that's gonna be our next question. But if you if you move him to safety, now you have a spot at corner you got to try to fill at Iron's right right now, Byron's not a corner Though Byron he had an opportunity to play corner, he was not impressive. So are you get that on five days notice in the middle of a lost season. Either way, here he is not in my opinion, he's not a cornerback. Okay, now, maybe he's not a safety either, but I don't think

he's a cornerback. So not a corner and he's not a safety, then he's not a Cowboy in a couple of years. Cool, he's a hell of a punt gunner special teams. All right, let's get the next question. Who if you had to choose between the two of these, are you more certain will not be with the Dallas Cowboys in twenty eighteen, Orlando Scandrick or Dez Bryant if this next year, Yeah, you gotta choose one, which would you be more certain is not going to be here?

I'm not I'm not one hundred percent confidence that they both won't be here, Okay, but if I had to choose one, and I think it's more likely Standard he has gone because because Dez has not set in front of his locker and said goodbye, see y'all and done his ode to the Cowboys. Yeah, I get thanks for

the good times. Contract Wise, from a contract standpoint, it makes more sense to keep sand yeah, right, and to keep I think it's I think maybe it's wishful thinking on scandricks part, like he just wants to be out there, yeah, and like not like he's not like he's not happy here or he doesn't like the organization, but like you see the writing on the wall, You're like, there's three young guys that they feel pretty good about four Really,

if you include Xavier Woods, they played really well. Oh tell my contract, Yeah, my contract is bigger than these guys. It makes sense to get rid of me. I can go get another contract with a fresh guarantee in a new situation where the team kind of wants me around a little bit more like I see his point. Yeah, gets from his perspective that maybe a fresh start would be in his best interest. So, you know, I have a hard time believe in that. You know, the Cowboys

are really intimating to him that he's gone. I think he's just kind of like, maybe maybe a fresh start would be a good thing for any any sort of truth be told. He tried this after the draft too. I mean, in my opinion, he drove that story about the trade. You know, he said that the Cowboys were you know, that he felt like he was being shopped,

when really that wasn't the case. And I think he didn't like what he saw on draft day or draft weekend, and he tried to sort of force the Cowboys hand and they weren't biting, and they're like, now we want you back. So I think if it's like two point five or three million or something. I mean, he's not He's not making a lot this year, and it doesn't make sense to cut him before the draft. I mean, if you go get another defensive back, great, but otherwise,

you know, Cheetos had injury problems. Yeah, he can play inside and outside. You need four or five cornerbacks to you know, feel the good NFL defense these days. So I'm not in this huge hurry to get rid of Orlando scandrid so. But all of that said, for some reason, I still think it's more likely than he's gone than death.

It's just hard to see a scenario where I mean, I know it, there's there's reasons why, and you can make an argument as to why, but it's still hard to think DEAs won't be on this team in twenty eighteen because he's been so important to what the Cowboys do for all these years. I just, you know, I just said, you know, past experiences color my opinions. I saw DeMarcus Ware a bounce back from injury and play well, like I you know, for the Wow, I'm contradicting myself

because they did cut to Marcus Ware. But like, yes, they did. Seventy five percent of the time. When we get into these you know, raging speculations about a guy's contract, usually nothing happens. Like that's usually what happens. Yeah, So you think des would be I know he said he's not taking a pay cut. Do you think he'd be willing to restructure his deal such that he could still make the same amount of money if he hit certain incentives.

So then it's more of an incentive based contract, and it allows the Cowboys to have a little bit more protection that if they're going to pay that amount, they're paying it for great production. If I'm Dez Bryant, I wouldn't do anything that's gonna allow my money to be affected. Like I want what, I would just say, either cut me or keep me where I am. Yeah, because if

you cut me, I'll go sign another deal with another team. Yeah, if you don't get cut to June first, a guy of Dez Bryan's caliber, and I know he had a really bad year, a guy of his caliber would get snatched up real quick. Think, Ye is he getting the kind of one year deal that that al Shan Jeffrey got last year? Like it? Maybe will he have to? It will be one of those prove it prove it kind of contract, he will get less money, but he

would still get money. Now I get that. But if he's gonna get less money, then is it is it better for him than to say, Hey, I'm gonna take a contract where I'm gonna still make the amount I probably would make in the free agent market as a guarantee, but the amount that I could make an incentives can get me right back up to where I would have been in the first place. You know, I think if

his agent thinks about it, Terrell Tarrell prior or Terrell Prior. Yeah, one year, eight million, so he could probably get me. He's gonna get ten then, right, So if the Cowboys would give him eight million, let's say, the contract that they could restructure would give him eight million, let's say, and then with incentives he could get up to sixteen million. Does that seem like a fair thing for the Cowboys? In for Dez and that it just seems like that

hurts your salary cap though, Desert. Yeah, because well you'd give it if you'd extend the contrac track. So now a lot of that can be extrapolated to this. Whatever the signing bonus would be for that can be extrapolated over the years of the contract. I do think and I'm not saying that you're saying this, but people kind of forget this about incentives to throw that in. When you put that into a contract, it has to hit the salary cap. Like it's called likely to be earned incentives.

And if it is likely to be earned, then you have to you have to have the room for it. That was like Greg Hardy steal. Yeah, it was very incentive based, but it still had to account for how much it could be worth. Right. Yeah, but even at its still at the end of the day, the Cowboys still will have on the books whatever he earns, right, that protects him at saying it. Let's say he's supposed to count thirteen million, you're saying, knock it down to eight.

But if he plays at this level, it can be back at thirteen and you pay for it because you got it Pro Bowl exactly. That's the point. And I think the Cowboys would be very if they got Dez Bryan from twenty thirteen and they got it at sixteen millions for this year. I think they'd be happy with that. You know, it's like asking an hourly. You know, somebody own salary to go down to hourly and say, well, even if they're gonna get the same amount, same amount,

you just gotta make sure you work. Knowing Dez Bryan's opportunity, we are I mean me and Dez are not close homies, but I don't know. But I mean I know him, I've I've got I've built a pretty decent relationship with him over the last five years. That doesn't sound like him to me. He hasn't blocked you. No, he has not blocked me. He's nice, it's nice like that. We still like other people. Mate. Uh, that doesn't sound like him to me. Like if you're like, hey, you, we don't.

We don't have faith in you to be what you are and we want to protect ourselves against you being bad again. I like that he's a fiercely proud and passionate guy, and I think he would be like, no, I'll just go somewhere where they want me and are willing to guarantee me things. And honestly, I mean it would arguably be a more pass happy or maybe a more veteran quarterback where he can do his thing a little bit better. So I don't think that will happen.

Out of principle. I actually think out of his own principle, I think he would probably take less money to go somewhere else than I think so too. Pay cut here, I think so too. And that's that seems more like what would how Dez would look at it, And just by his answers to that question, it seems like he was very met by the time he got to the end of the answer. He's very much against the idea that he was gonna take it. Can you remember you

remember how um what's the word I'm looking for? Dramatic and and prideful of those contract negotiate negotiations were when he signed this big thing. I mean, it came down to the eleventh hour and he you know, on my on my family, I won't play a down if I don't, you know, if I'm not signed or whatever, blah blah blah. Like it doesn't sound like him to to, you know,

to agree to that. And it's what I'm trying to say, Well, he needs to go if he if he goes anywhere, if he gets that that choice, he needs to go to a team with a really good quarterback. I mean one that's established that's the top a top five or six seven quarterback and that's what that's what he needs, which I've maybe even already said this on one of our shows. I feel like I repeated all the time, and you can disagree with me. I in the in the grand scheme of things, I still think this team

is better with him on it than without it. And they are in a situation like they can they can take that hit if they need to draft a wide receiver again, same thing is tiring, Like take steps to improve your situation, but you don't have to do something as dramatic as blow it all up this offseason. You

can deal with that next year. Or if if the nineteenth overall pick in the draft, it's this amazing wide receiver then and you want to play hardball with him and you're confident that Christian Kirk can be your number one going in the next season. You can cut him in the summer if you're just hell bent on doing it. But it's not a thing that I think needs to happen, you know, between now and in the draft. Not a

fan of the Aggies, never have been. They always beat my team the last few years is because of that guy, Christian Kirk. Tired of him doing really so you know what will be there around it? Yeah, I don't know that that's that's a it's hard to know. Yeah, he's probably a late first round guy, I would imagine, but it sounds realistic to me to think that he would be there the nineteen. That's a guy worth looking at for sure. Maybe. All right, final question, this is a

true or false question. Cowboys need to find a new option to compete with Dan Bailey for the kicker job next season? True or false? Trying to get us to fire like all of the teams, I'm just asking the questions fans are asking. I want to get your opinion, to get you on record, and but let's start with you. True or false false false. I one hundred percent believe in Dan's ability to kick the ball and all that.

I just think he'll have to take this whole off season and just kind of get back into his own groove and that whole thing was mentally. He just needs to get over that. Keep kicking the ball easy to say, Well, all it takes is you just being on the field and keep kicking it until you gain your confidence back. And there's a whole season to do so, I mean injury wise, he said he's good, so nothing to deal with the injury. So apparently on that aspect he's good.

It's all mentally and he just needs to go back to that point and he has several months to do so, Dave in my lifetime and I I mean, you know, short lifetime exactly, thank you. Wow. How many a short life? How many NFL kickers have just like gracefully aged, you know, Adam Vinati, Morton Anderson, Morton Anderson maybe maybe, said Baston Janikowski. Maybe. I don't know what his stats have looked, like he was on IR this year, But like kickers just kind of lose it. Man, I'm like, you know, I'm I'm

I grew up a Saints fan. Garrett Hartley when they won the Super Bowl a decade ago. Young guy, young guy, four of the biggest kicks in the history of the franchise, got him to the Super Bowl, kicked three forty five plus yarders to keep him in the Super Bowl and help him win it. Thought he would be their kicker for a decade, Like within two years he's out. Like when you lose it, you lose it. I don't know for sure that that's going to happen with Dan Bailey.

It seems crazy to me to think that it would because he's been so amazing for so many years, and I'm sure they're gonna give him every opportunity to get back on track. But I've seen this happen with enough other kickers that I'm just I can't give him the same blind vote of confidence that I'll give Tyrant Smith, you know, like I just it's the nature of the position. Hold on, you said, Adam Vinetary, Gary Anderson, Morton Anderson,

those those kickers. Now, Sebastian Janikowski's been with the same team. But you say they lose it, they lose it, right, they lose it with one team, they lose it. You can rEFInd it, right, But sometimes having to have that different environment, like Robbie Golds, he's kind of resurrected his career, but he was he was on a bad role there with Who's Your Boy? Your boy? That was with the Eagles forever Acres, Yeah, yeah, Acres. He found new life

with the forty nine ers for a while. I mean, but sometimes you have to kind of get that new seam or you can do that. To answer your question, I'll say yes, I do think there needs to be some competition, like there always is. There's a competition because they don't want him to waste all, you know, right, So so there's not really competition as much as there is just somebody that can kick in his place so that you don't have to use him up this year.

Do you think that person needs to be a legitimate competitor, somebody that that's played in the league and all that. Um, yeah, yeah, I think so. I think in these and I wrote that right after the game, I said that the same thing. I think this year there needs to be a little bit more of a competition for him. But um, I think you have to do that. That roster spot has been a foregone conclusion for about four years running, I mean since I got here, really, like you really haven't

thought about it. And he as bad as Dan as it looks. For Dan, it's worse in his own mind. That's what he said after the game. It's worse than you think it is. Well, yeah, but that's his makes he's he he doesn't he's not excited about the one that hits the upright and goes in. That's a miss to him. Yes, that's why if you look out here, and if if you go out to the Star and you see the on one end zone, he's got very probably half of the distance between the two uprights on

one of them. Like, that's what he that's why he aims for that, That's what he's playing off of. That's what freaks me out though, is like it's gonna bother him more than it's gonna bother Jason Garrett probably feels fine about Dan Bailey right now, but that's a problem too. Jason Garrett's always felt fine. You know, a fifty six yard field goal, run him out there, all he missed, he missed, Yeah, and it's first and ten San Francisco

in the forty six. Now, because of that, why don't you use your all pro punter, who should be an all pro get him down to the ten. How many years has Dan Bailey been here? Eleven since twenty eleven, since seven years, seven years, and he's been pretty perfect, right, Yeah, this first year you had any questions about Dan Bailey? Right? Right? So your leg is already trained to do all that, right and if you're going back, so that's in your system.

It's like you walking or however you train your muscle muscle memory. If his injury is good as it's supposed to be, he just needs to get over that mental and he will. I'm one hundred percent confident that he is gonna be fine. It's all mental. He just needs to spend this whole season just you know, kicking, getting past that. And like Garrett said, looking back as his career, all the great thing he's done, and he has so much support in this organization that mentally that's gonna be

comfort comforting into him. That's a really interesting point because I was about to come back at you and say, well, it's always mental issues that derail kickers. That's it's a cliche that they're head cases. But if there's an organization where a kicker is valued as like a member of the team and a member of the family, you know, like you hear all these stories about how kickers are kind of apart, Like, that's not the case here. Yeah, And everybody's seeing how much good he's done over the

course of seven He's got a lot of sport. If there is a place where he is going to be supported, it's here, So that definitely works in his favor. I completely agree with that. Yeah, the only thing that I would say about that Amber on the flip side is that, yeah, it all makes sense from standpoint a muscle memory. And you're saying that it's just a mental thing. But that's the issue when you're talking about kickers, the mental part of it. Probably more than almost any other position on

the field, the mental part of it. I've seen derail really good kickers. I'm talking about guys who were money kickers that all of a sudden just lost it. The guy that was in Minnesota, Blair Walsh, Yeah, yeah, they ended up. I mean, he was a really good kicker, one of the best in the league, and all of a sudden he could make field goals anymore. And he ends up in Seattle because he just couldn't make field goals anymore. And that's the part that worries me a

little bit. I'm not saying get rid of him, but I do think you have to at least have some kind of contingency in the event you get back to training camp next year and you're still having Glad it happened in the last month of the season, because had it been at the beginning of the season and he had gone game after game just screwing up. Then I would feel a lot worse because now he had a longer period of failer. Yeah, where he's like, Okay, I'm screwing up, and now it's a longer time period. This

happened towards the end of the season. Four games he was out, then he comes back and he has the whole offseason to work on that. So I'm just thinking of Okay, time wise, it wasn't enough to where I'm worried too, like, Okay, now he's absolutely mentally screwed up. Ye. All right, we appreciate you guys joining us. We're back next Wednesday. We're gonna talk a little about free agencies next week, talk about some of the players at the

Cowboys have. They have a ton of free agents this year, so we're gonna talk about some of those and who we think the Cowboys should make a priority to resign. We'll do that all the next next week till then for Nick Even, Dave Hellman, Amber Garcia. I'm Derek Eagels and this has been The Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.