Cowboys Break: Did Zeke Handle The Media Right?

but Davis here, Nike is here, and I'm here. We are ready to talk some cowboys. So how are you guys doing? Paper covers rock? Is that a reference to the measurement in Oakland? Or we moving on from that? I just decided who did that? Yeah, no, I know, and I don't know how that means. Oh yeah, yeah, got paper moves the rock, paper covers del Rio right, Yeah, Okay, Well, let's move on from that. We're going on. We're only talking about Seattle. We're focusing on Seattle now, So let's

start off with the injury report. Several guys in odd practice yesterday, A lot of guys. Yeah, Hey, DeMarcus Lawrence back, I saw that. Thank you appreciate that Marcus Lawrence made the Pro Bowl. He was not a practice yesterday and he shows up with a back injury concerns on this back. Um took me a second, Yeah, I was like, what

are you doing over there? I reserve the right to be wrong, but it strikes me more as like a precautionary slash, let's not overdo it type of thing, Like I don't know that it's the type of thing that's going to hold him out of this game. But it's only Thursday morning. Still, so dave of me to say, But it's like maybe he was getting a lot of pats on the back. Yeah, Pro Bowl. He was too busy patting himself on the back and couldn't make it

out to practice. I saw him walking around at practice, and you know, like the veteran reporter, I am just totally forgot to ask him why he's not out there, just set there and b asked with him about other crap. And it happens Dave's sitting there writing a story going at this time. We do not know why, demark, No, You're just having a conversation there, both of you, just watching practice, seeing the guys out there. Yeah, Wait, why

are you here? Yeah? Why are you? I did actually say that, like you don't need to be out there, and then it was just congratulations on the Pro Bowl and then never really got the answer. But we know now it's the back. Yeah. But the fact that he was, you know, not getting rehab and the fact that he talked to the media on Tuesday, then I should have actually put this together. He was walking out of Cowboys

fit really do though, probably getting some treatment. Yeah, I saw the l and Tyrone walking out of there as well. I mean, what's that called, which cryo? There's hydro, there's all they do, all kinds of stuff over there. Um, probably cryo. If I had to guess, so, were you sorry? Things? I just I mean, it remains to be seen for sure, But I don't get the impression it's something that's going to hold him out of this game. It's you know, it's late in the year, everybody's banged up. He's your

best defender. You probably want to make sure he's good to go. That type of deal. So same would apply for Tyrn Smith, Lyle Collins, Anthony Hitchins maybe, um Lyle, Yeah, I mean, at this point, I think you're just in a routine with him, like he's just got to manage his back the best he can until the season's over. I'm not particularly worried about him missing the game. I get a tyranough. I get the feeling Anthony Hitchins might

be okay. Tyrns, the one Tyrons, the one that Backney back, knee, hip, shoulder, whatever. Ryan already sent him out for the rest of the season. I'm it's yeah, he said in on our periscope yesterday. I think it's he just put him on IR the diagnosis. I mean, people are saying sprained LCL and that's a four to six week injury. So I mean, even even if they somehow make the playoffs, you're not, you don't

get that bye week. So I mean you're talking about him having to play a wildcard game in two weeks. I just I don't know how realistic that is. I don't think it's super realistic to think he'll be ready for the Seahawks, and then it's probably a long shot he's ready for Philly. I'm sure he is. I mean we talked about earlier this week. He's an iron man. If anybody can play through this type of stuff. It's him, and it's probably better to have him out there and

not be all the way there than not. But it's just I mean, at some point, enough's enough, you know. I mean, he's he's been dealing with a lot this year, so I'm sure they're gonna play that by year. Who So who is out? I mean, I'm looking at this injury report like who's gonna be out? Irving Irving's out? I think Irving Irving came out yesterday. David Irving. He suffered a concussion November thirtieth. People have kind of been wondering why he's not bouncing back quicker. He came out

yesterday and said himself that he's still experiencing headaches. He's not all the way back. He's gonna take it day by day and be cautious, which he should. It's a head injury. That doesn't sound like a guy who's gonna play again this year to me, um certainly not against Seattle. He's not practicing already, So you're probably not gonna have David Irving. It's at least somewhat likely you won't have Tyrn Smith. And then the other one is maybe Orlando's

cancer Andricks limited. It's the first time he's been limited, right, I don't believe he had any I think he was limited last week at least once. Okay, so he's done, he's done the individuals since Mayowcent Mayo. He's got a back injury. Doesn't look like he's gonna yeah play, you're probably you're I mean, the inactives were easy last week because four of them were done, you know, before Sunday even rolled around. I have a feeling that's going to

happen again this week. But John Ley limited, I think he I think he's okay. Yeah. I talked to him after the game and asking him about the back injury, and he said it didn't even come close to him actually being out of the game. But the back injury is something he has been dealing with for a while. Just because he just said, I'm just old basically so, but he didn't make it sound serious. Well that's I mean.

You know, these guys show up on the injury report for one thing or another, and it's easy to forget that every single guy in that locker room is dealing with something, whether it's on the report or not. Like you jammed your finger in a drill, or you've landed funny on your wrist, or you tweaked something like. It's that time of year where every guy in that locker room probably feels pretty terrible when he gets out of bed in the morning. Like that's yeah, that's just the

reality of it. So when you do what you can to fight through the guys that can, and then you know there's three or four that you're looking at that you know, it doesn't look that optimistic. But it's only Thursday. We'll see how they do with two more days of practice to get ready, and at least with Tyrant's position. We saw Byron Bell come in and replace him. He did a pretty nice job. Are you guys feeling now confident with what the Cowboys are doing in that specific

position in case they do not have Tyron again? I mean, I thought Bell did a nice job with Khalil Mack. I mean, but he's you know, he's not the same. I mean, but he actually seemed like he played better than what Tyrn was doing out there, you think so, I mean Tyron was struggling. I mean, he was hurt.

He I mean, obviously he was hurt. And I thought I thought Belle I hate saying this, but I just thought he could compete better for that night than when what Tyrn could and now now tyrants and that was before well, you don't know when the knee injury was. I mean, I guess you want to say he probably did early and tried to fight through it like he does everything else. But the thing about Byron Bell, he just competes. He competes better than Chaz Green did in Atlanta.

He's not perfect. He'll have a penalty for you. But again, Seattle, who they got Michael Bennett and those guys, Michael Bennett and Frank Clark. You're gonna talk about them. Yeah, I mean pretty good. I don't know if that answers your question. I mean, it's the best you can do. I mean I feel I feel better about it than I did coming out of Atlanta, Like I've you know, they've had to play without Tyr, and they had to play without

him for one or two more games. After just one more they made it in Philly, like, I mean, he was all right, and then he made it through the end of this Oakland game. I mean, it's certainly not ideal, but I at least feel like it won't be an eight sac disaster, hopefully not maybe maybe only three. And Bryce Butler is back to being limited, and I've been receiving a lot of questions through Twitter in regards to him and his participation in this game. What are you

guys expecting you practice yesterday? Yeah? I thought maybe at some point he would be a candidate for I R as well, But you know, they're He hasn't done a whole lot, even when he's been out there lately, so I don't know what their plan for him is, but you know, he's got a speed element that no one else really has. I wouldn't mind seeing him out there if he could, if he could be there, I mean, Noah Brown has been playing instead of him, but he

doesn't stretch the field or anything. This is one of those again, and anybody that can fight through it, I think they're going to try to fight through it. And if they win, then you're a week away from trying to get in the playoffs. And if they lose, then I bet you'll see three or four roster moves where it's like, all right, we can't make the playoffs. Tiring, there's no need for you to, you know, take a seat, right, I killed Bryce not to go to Oakland. Oh, I'm

sure it did, absolutely, And well, I'll be interested. I mean, you're right, he does have a speed element that nobody else has, but not his foot's not feeling good. So he did more yesterday than he has at any point in the last week or two. So I mean, that's at least an encouraging sign. And I imagine, you know, they'll take that up to Sunday if I had to guess. And yesterday we talked about Russell Wilson's ability and mobility

and the way he escapes everything. With the guys showing up on the injury report, Malie Collins, David Irving, DeMarcus Lawrence on the defensive line, Yeah, how will this affect

the Cowboys ability to pressure Russell? It worries the crap out of me, to be totally honest, because, like I think, I said that yesterday and I said it on a radio hit I did this morning, Like you need all hands on deck, you need all four guys that are on the field at any given time, and all eight of the guys that are playing to rally, like you need him all doing it. And DeMarcus his back is ailing him and David Irving's not going to play most likely,

and MALIEK. Collins has been dealing with the foot all week, so Benson Mayowa might not play in this game. Like, you're kind of you're kind of hurting on the defensive line right now. And that's not what I want to hear when you're talking about a guy that you have to find a way to get down, shaking your head for because I am agreeing with Dave, but it's not a good thing. Yeah, like, oh it's not a nice agree and Garrett shake like like not good, al not good, Dave. Okay, Well,

let's go ahead and take our first break. Um, I don't remember when break time is. Before we before we take a break, let's talk about and this will be kind of quick because there wasn't a lot to talk about. Oh yeah he did so see did speak yesterday to the actual media, not in it. Wow whoa to the public, to the public, but not in a private interview with

mister nick email. Okay, so tell me how that went down. Well, the thing was is I think our we kind of walked in a little bit late and then you missed it if you're late. Um one second, actually, actually listened to it this morning, and I don't know. I'd probably need to bite my tongue on this one on why it was unproductive. But he could have done a better job there for sure. And I don't know, like I don't know if he thought talking talking the day before

to me, I mean, I don't think so. I know there were some people in the media that were saying that, but I don't really care. I mean, it was actually a trade that was done, so it wasn't like he gave a special treatment and we made a trade. But the thing about it was is he's staying in front of his locker, he's this is the first time that everybody really gets to see what he's doing, what he's about. He could have done a better job, and the Cowboys PR staff could have done a better job as well.

I mean, everybody couldn't And so for those who do not know what happened, but yeah, what happened was he was out there and people were asking him questions about the suspension, why he was doing during his time off all that, and he was very specific that he did not want to speak about any of that, and people kept asking him different ways over and over, and he just kind of walked out. Yeah, I mean, he said, I don't really want to talk about that. That's in

the past. I want to talk about the few you want to play it? Just yeah, yeah, if you got it, play it. We have time. Yeah, let me pull it up. Give him about three and a half seconds. Okay, I mean, he just he was asked that. He was politely said, I don't want to talk about it anymore. But I don't think that the follow up questions were really you

know that they were trying to follow up that. I mean, I thought they were kind of different, so I just weren't specific to this is the court case or anything like that. Yeah, this first time, he's trying to kind of change things and change his image. I hope he was. He's trying to. He needed a little bit more patience there. All right, how much have you grown? And how much of people learned? Um? Well, I'm not really gonna talk

about it. It's behind me. Um. You know, I'm just trying to start a new page, a new chapter, and you know, I just want to I'm gonna think, you know, there's Cowboys organization for being behind me things for my family and my team and my friends. For just supporting me through the time, and you know, especially to the Cowboys fans who stuck by me through this tough time and uh having all faith in me. But you know,

I'm not talking about anymore. This's gonna be the last time you hear me speak about it, so please don't even ask me about it. It was great, you know, the energy was high. I missed all the guys, they missed me, and we're excited to continue the season here. You're not gonna talk about the project. I keep talking about what you get the last things week? No, what about the documentary? And what message do you want to? Just watch? You tell me the message you get. I

don't know when you're conditioning. I'm ready to talk about the Seattle Seahawks. I'm ready talk about the Dallas Cowboys. I'm not speaking of it anymore. You don't want to talk about that, thank you? That's yeah, that I mean, I can see why that last one aggravated him, but the ones before that, I don't. But even the question about the documentary, you're you've been working on this documentary,

which is about yourself. You need to promote it. You want to people to at least give them a little bit of information for them to want to watch it. I want to find out more. He's going to help you promote it. Well, that's well, whether he's right or wrong, he doesn't think he needs help with that, clearly, Mike. He'll put it out and him and his people will put it out when and how they see fit, and people will watch it. And he I mean, you know that,

and I get I think that's part of it. Is Uh, in this day and age, when you have you know, when Twitter exists and you can speak directly to your audience. He doesn't think he needs the media, which maybe he doesn't. And that's that's kind of where I fall on it. Is like you know, I I work in the media. I understand their role and their you know what, their their duties. I understand why they ask those types of questions.

They're well within their right to do it. I understand why he doesn't want to talk about it, and he's well within his rights to blow it off if he doesn't want it. Yeah, I mean I can see both sides of it. I thought I thought he could have handled it a little better, just in terms of maybe um image, you know, like your first real public appearance. Since you come back from this this issue, you want to put forward as good foot, as good a food

as possible. But at the same time, like I said, yeah, he doesn't think he needs to do that, and he might not be wrong. He can speak to his audience however he wants, and uh, there's there's millions of cowboys, fans and his friends and his family who've got his back regardless. So um, like I said, he's well within his rights to do whatever he wants. But I personally thought that could have gone a lot better. Yeah, especially with the first thing that's out of his mouth is

this is a new chapter for me. I'm going to turn the page. But it doesn't look like it. It doesn't look like it's a new chapter. I mean, it looks like the same type of you know. I mean, it was a standoffice about it. You know. I thought the setting could have been different. And I understand that this is where they do their interviews. You know, we've we've complained for fifteen years that a lot of these guys don't need to be in front of their locker.

It's it's tough for everyone to get those done. And I think that if you would have pushed it to the side and maybe, um, you know, maybe at the podium, you know, like like Garrett is. I think that would have probably brought a little bit more attention to it and awareness to Zeke. Think, hey, this is kind of different, this is a big deal. Let's let's let's or maybe do the kind of what Romo did. He went up there,

he didn't really I answer any questions. This is what I want to say, this is what I'm gonna say, and that's basically it. Yeah, I thought the same thing yesterday. I thought that, you know what, they could have done that. Um, you know, if he's not really gonna talk, you know, he wants to say what he only wants to say, then maybe that would have been a good approach as well. Yeah, like I said, I I can see both sides, like I know exactly Derek. Oh hey it's Derek Eagleton. Are

you talking about me saying whatever I want to say? Actually, just played the Zeke video or audio. We're not going to play it the whole thing again. We could. I mean, it's not like it takes up a huge chunk of the show. I assume you guys felt like he did something wrong yesterday. I don't. I mean, the whole thing was. I mean, like we said, the whole the whole thing.

They could have handled it differently. I mean I think they could have put it in a different spot because this is different, This is not that, it's not normal that this happens. And I think that, you know, he said he wanted to turn the durn the page and new chapter, but it didn't really look that way. I thought his patience was not where it needs to be for this first time. Before two weeks into this and

he's still haven't asked questions. I get it, but this first time, Yeah, I don't think they were that bad either, especially what if he wants to promote a documentary. I mean, they're asking about the documentary. So honestly, he just did himself with this service. I honestly don't feel like that's that's kind of where I like, I don't think he did anything wrong, And like I keep saying, like he

has a prerogative to do what he did. He's well within his right to do whatever the hell he wants when it comes to that, Like, he doesn't have to answer those questions if he doesn't want to, and he doesn't owe the media that. But when you're coming back from the situation that, he is like, why are you why are you trying to like we create enemies with the press, and just like put out that image of

you being this standoff ish, surly dude. Like I get it, you're probably mad about what happened, but you're not doing yourself any favors by getting off on that foot. You know. Reminds me of a quote that I heard one time. I heard somebody in this building, one of the people in the exact team, saying, you don't You'll never win a bear, You'll never win an argument with someone that buys ink by the barrel, Like it's you just won't.

And I think there's so many players, and the first one that comes to mind is to you never, you will never win. You were about to say that, No, I have said it earlier, like five minutes ago, about about they get the last laugh, as CEO is finding out right now, exactly right, And you can be that way with the media. But when the media gets the vote, if you're a first ballot hat famer, so you have you have a right. He has a total right and is well within his rights to say man I don't

want to talk about that, and that's okay. The problem is how you talk to people and how you manage people. Um, we we'll dictate number one, how they deal with you and how they talk of you. And I just think that he did himself a disservice more than anything else. And that's and that'll that'll be He'll have to deal with the consequences of that at some point. You miss that point when you weren't here, but I was. I get the impression he doesn't think he needs the media

the way that people did years ago. You know. I mean, you can put your movie out however you want. You can tweet your own message to your own fans however you so ill conceived. Oh no, that's right. He I know he doesn't understand. I know that, but I think that's what he thinks, right, Um, so we'll see. And the other thing is, for whatever gets I mean, for the Skip Baylisses and the stephen A. Smith's of the world, the Dallas media has not been hard on Ezekiel Elliott.

Oh they've really been on his side with the whole thing. Yeah, honest, exactly. And here's the here's the problem of what happened yesterday for him is last night as I'm perusing through different media outlets here in the Dallas area, as I was listening to talk radio as I was driving home, he

is getting absolutely slammed by the local media. And it's more because the narrative now is he's a petulant um little you know, little little man, little guy that that just doesn't doesn't understand how to handle himself as an adult. That was the narrative, right, and well that's right or wrong.

You say that over and over and over again, and all those people that are influenced by listening and reading that stuff, what they start to think over time is, uh, you add in the allegations, You add in the video of him pulling the top down, a little of the young lady, You add in that yesterday, and it creates

this narrative. Now he's helping to create the negative narrative about himself, that he is an immature, petulant kid rather than an adult who really understands kind of what his role is here and the image that he should be putting out there, which the counter to that is Zeke will tell you and millions of die hard Cowboys fans will tell you like, I don't give a damn. You don't know them anything. Keep doing you nice to say, it isn't which, well it is nice to say and like,

and you're not entirely wrong, you're not. But he had a chance to win over a lot of good will with a lot of people who aren't just in his camp, you know, like people that are on the fence about him or people who don't like him. He had a chance to earn some good will there and he decided not to take. And I'll give you the example that

I mentioned, Teo. Think about it like this. TiO never, to my knowledge, broke a single law, like in his whole time of his career, never actually did anything that was illegal that he was talked, that was talked about, or that was attached his name. But you ask any fan whether they are a big fan of t or not, that you ask him what they think of him as a person, and I guarantee you nine times out of ten the impression of him is negative exactly. So yeah, there are gonna be a lot of fans that right

now are like, man, you don't have to say nothing. Yeah, screw the media. But the fact is, you keep hearing the same narrative over in Oh. It's how people are manipulated sometimes by the media. There's a lot of studies on this stuff. But all I'm saying is he didn't do himself any favors yesterday by the way. He handled totally within his rights to do it the way he did.

He just didn't do him himself any favor. I do think there's a difference between you know, obviously TiO and now because to needed the media as much as the media needed him, and he knew that and he just played that game with them for But Zeke doesn't feel that way. And it's a different world. It's a different time now when you've got guys that you can you know that you can put it out your own social stuff, and then you have your teammates that retweet it. And

on the promotion side, you're absolutely right, I don't. I think it's getting less and less where professional athletes, especially those that are very popular, need the media in order

to promote what they want to promote. But the fly side of that is the media is still in a lot of instances controls the narrative on what people think of a particular break and that's where it can be problematic for a guy like him, especially guy like him that right now is facing a lot of things that people are saying about him that and some that he

feels aren't even true. And it sucks because when you're writing, and that happened for me yesterday, you know, it was completely disappointing because I expected a seat that was coming back a little different, a different attitude, and then we get that, which, again, like you guys said, it is totally fine, fine, but when you're writing a story, you're trying to take out your personal feelings of how you feel about this person and kind of write in a different,

you know, very different perspective of just overall keep it. I'm biased, and it's hard, it's hard to give to take those feelings out, and it took me a lot of work, but I did it. I did it. I wrote a pretty nice article. It's spanished, you know. And it happens like that too. Like I'm a big believer in people give people in the media give benefit of

doubt to people they like exactly. You know, there are guys who probably got the benefit of the doubt for a year or two, for a year or two playing when they were probably not as good as they were, but people, because they liked them, they were unwilling to say, man, that guy's not playing very well. They would say stuff like, well, you know, he's he's not what he used to be,

he's getting a little older. But right, they make excuses for the guy because they like the guy, where it's completely the opposite side if they don't like it, if they don't like you, maybe even when your production is still there, they're like, man, is the production worth the headache? Like those kind of things start being said, right, and and so I think, again, you don't have to play the game. None of these players have to play the

game with the media. You don't. But understand the consequences of not playing the game means that you're going to accept the consequences of not playing along. And and so that's what I think Zeke has to understand it. Maybe he does, and maybe he's decided I'm willing to deal with those consequences because at the end of the day, I feel like I'm good enough where it won't matter. And that's well within his right. It's worked out for plenty of other players too. For the I mean, has

it I would argue, Yeah, give me some examples. Randy Moss was Randy Moss a problem with the media. He was like just a problem in general. But no, that's a different there's a difference there. Why don't we think about that after this break one? Okay, take a break, and then we'll thank of some of those Thanks Rose

and the show. Nick. That's good. I'm actually Amber hosted it, but I was just thinking that into you have to almost thirty minute, you having like a mental clock in your head of when you need to go to go, so you just got here, so it's gonna be awful. Yeah, let's take a break. Let's take a hard to find the right resource for learning about important financial matters. You search how to build savings, get up reading about the one weird ingredient from supermarkets that can make you taller.

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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 you love for details. Back to the Breach, Welcome back. It's the second segment of The Break live from the SWBC Organ studios at the Star. Appreciate you guys joining us. Even though I was a little bit late. I apologize. We appreciate you join us. Derek. Yeah. I try to do what I can do when I can do it. Um, So, did

you guys have a chance? Why are you looking at my head? Man? Am I you would look like what are you looking at? No, I'm looking at the SWBC mortgage uh signage over here that they sponsored this. It's just jealous. He can't grow enough. Yeah, that's the problem. He wants to be like me. Definitely, definitely, y'all make me And I was like you when I was in seventh grade at five ten, and then I moved, Wow, Wow, Okay, we're gonna go there like that. Actually, I just what's

up with you? Wow? They even gave you an inch? Yeah whatever, Okay, we're gonna go like that. All right, We're gonna wrestle like you did back in the fraternity days. I'm just kidding. I'm seeing you pick up a co worker and slam him on a cousin, a co worker. Yes, he was in my department. Well, okay, all right, all right,

did y'all have a chance to think about that? Give me some examples, like when has this worked out for a player that just basically kind of blew off the media regularly and and that worked out well for them? Larry Allen different, I mean, Larry, Larry allowing off the media is blowing off the media. Yeah, But I think the difference is because if you're gonna do that, you could say the entire offensive line for ten fifteen years, and I don't think they had a bad relationship with

the media. Because here's the thing. The one thing that you will notice even when an offensive lineman won't talk on camera. You'll always see one or two guys that'll walk up to them and they'll have conversations. They just don't want to be on camera doing it, but they'll talk together. They lean talked back back in the day, I mean, especially Nate. Nate talked all the time, talked too much sometimes, but but no, I mean's why he

has a job in the media. Yeah, Larry Allen is one of the greatest players in the history of the NFL. And he didn't he didn't talk and it was okay, you know it was it was just it was okay, Now it wasn't it wasn't standoffish, which wait, okay. The difference, well, I was gonna you can apply that. Tyrant Smith's the same way right now, Like you gotta twist his arm to get him to give you like a minute of audio and don't even try to do like video interview.

And it's like like, but there's a different I know, he's like he's not a jerk. He would prefer not to do it. And he's not a great quote anyway. So nobody really like you know, cores like like I know there's gold in there, Tyrn, Like come on, talk to. It's just like gold and here or here, he's like he's just not a talkative dude, really nice though, like right, it don't have a bad word to say about him,

but he does not do the media. I mean, I honestly think it's one of the reasons, and it's one it's one of the things that I think endears as much as they give him flat. I think it's one of the things that endears the media to Jerry Jones, is despite the fact that they've ride him incessantly, like they're always finding things and he gives them a lot of stuff to talk about. Right. But the thing is,

it doesn't seem like Jerry ever takes it personally. It doesn't seem like he ever gets to a point like we see it every year training camp. There's a guy here locally in Dallas probably has as much bad as many bad things to say about Jerry as anybody, and every year training camp, Jerry is quick to mention him by name in that opening press conference that he's there, which by the way, would probably be the only press

conference he attends all year. And but but it's that kind of thing where Jerry's just like he doesn't take it personally, and he still understands the media is there to do their job. He's gonna not. He understands and respects the fact they have to do a job, and that just that's the end of it. And I think it's so much smarter to handle the media that way than the other way, because I really can't think of an instance where somebody was really just bad with the

media and that ended up working out. Yeah, good publicity, bad publicity. Jerry just hears the second word. He just hears the publicity like good. I mean, I businessman, you're talking about me. Good. Bad, But they're still talking about me. And that's you know, that's he's the goat. This isn't I'm seeing some comments on Twitter, and I just want to remind people that be locked and loaded here. Not

everything you see is necessarily the reality of things. Something that you see on a video isn't necessarily how it's in reality. So the media that is actually in the locker room, well, four times a week for whatever, forty five minutes or however long it is, five if you count the game, well yeah five, you're in there. They are in there, and they get to see the true personality of these guys. So just keep in mind that because I'm saying that this isn't a fair conversation that

Sik is cooperating blah blah. And I'm not just talking about Sik, just in general, keep in mind not everything that you see is how it is some next levels. True is true, It's very true, But I mean, I just I'm missing the point there of what kind of what you're well, I'm seen comments in an agreement would seek you know, he's cooperating, blah blah. This isn't a fair argument. And it's yeah, you can say that he does the interviews and stuff, but we have seen him

off camera. Okay, we have seen his attitude certain times. We know how these players are, you know, or like how maybe Dez gets before he steps in front of the camera. You know, the hassle that it is to get him in front of the camera. I got you. So just because you see a video of him talking to the media doesn't oh yeah he's great, which I've said multiple times on this, like he did cooperate, He held up his end of the bargain, like and he

doesn't owe anybody answers to any questions. He doesn't want to talk about. But it you know, it's the it's the court of public opinion and perceptions, and so you're not in control of that. Like you know, I'm sorry to catch up. We're talking to a fan base right now that I think ninety five percent of them just want him to run the football, no doubt. Yeah, I just run that ball. You know, you've served your time this season. This season is gonna be not what we

what we wanted it to be because of that. You know, it's gonna come down to the fact that this team will be in ten and six or nine and seven, doesn't matter, doesn't matter. That six game suspension absolutely killed them. Killed this team, and they everyone knows they don't make the playoffs. That in my opinion, will be the reason. Even if they make the playoffs at ten and six and they're the sixth seed and they go to the third seed and they lose to the New Orleans let's

say that they're the three. You know you're not you say you don't win up there. This it still killed them because that they could have done things. They could have maybe won this divison, maybe one that doubtful, and win in the division. But they realize that at times in the last decade, ten and six is good enough

to get you a bye week. Yeah, yeah, just for whatever that's This happens to be one of those years when the NFC is just ridiculously better than average and TFC is awful and they won a lot of those games. Cowboys will probably be in the playoffs right now, they're

in the AFC. To your point, Zeke has and he made he went out of his way to thank the fans in the longest answer he gave like he's got a lot of people that completely agree with him and have his back, and that's so I completely understand why he handled it the way he did. And there's a lot of people that either don't care or completely agree with him. And all the fine too. In all fairness on that, I mean, we were told the exact same thing, Nick.

I know you did the one on one with him, but we were told before that that by not only Zeke, but by his representatives. He does not want to talk about the past. He wants to move forward, he wants to look forward, and so this was not something that was any different than than what we were told as well. I think this is kind of his mentality when he was coming back was I really don't want to rehash

all that. I want to kind of move forward and let that stuff go because and that might be best for him, Like he can't go around being bitter and angry about it. And so part of maybe being not being bitter and angry means I got to move on. I can't really focus on what happened in the past. Well, but when I I mean I asked him about his auditioning, yeah, let you ask yeah, yeah, I answered those about what

he's learned. Yeah, you know the message has he cleared his name, So he answered a little bit more there. I mean, he probably gave us a little more difference because of the location because there was just one on one. But the fact is, again he was very adamant and his people were very adamant. They didn't want to talk about the past before we did the interview, and that's true. So I don't think that he gave the media anything different than what I think. He came back with an

intention I'm not going to talk about this stuff. I'm gonna move forward, and whatever is going to be talked about, we'll be talked about. Based upon the documentary, yeah, which I agree with you. Amer I heard you say a little bit earlier when I was heading down to Shaw. I was listening and you were like, he could have done a better job promoting against documentary. I mean, that's why you do junkets and that kind of thing is because you want to talk a little bit about it

to get people excited to want to watch it. And I know what you're saying, Dave, Yeah he could. He can definitely push it out there, but there's a whole other side of that of getting people excited about watching it, and that to me is the option. Again, he only missed opportunities yesterday. He didn't do anything wrong. He just missed opportunities to put himself in a better position. That's how I feel. And that's like, I think that's that's

on him. It's a sinct way to say it. Yeah, all right, let's actually, you know we need to do. Let's go ahead and get that second break. When we get that second break, we'll come back and Dave, are you going to give us a Scoutter report on the Seattle Seak defense? I sure can. All right, let's do that. We're gonna come right back. We'll get a Scoutter Report, and then we'll get some questions from you guys as well. We'll right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot com. Radio.

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That time to get If you haven't started your Christmas shopping yet, good luck to you. But you know what, you could go to Tommy John dot com Forward slash Cowboys. You can get off your first order Tommy John dot com Forward slash Cowboys. You get Tommy John underwear. Feels great, looks good, sounds good hopefully when you put it on Amazon Prime. Is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me as a Christmas shopper because I live out of

town from all of my family and loved ones. So but like you, I like, I bought something for my dad yesterday, It'll be there tomorrow. It's awesome. And I just say online shopping period because this year, I know, literally the other night, as we were between the time that we were getting on our flight and probably about an hour after I got to my hotel room, I did all of my Christmas shopping. Also on every single every single gift I had to buy a plus the

list that my wife gave me. I did all of it online and we got a ton of boxes at our house right now that we got to sift through now to get them all packed up. But it was so there going to be a mall. No, yes, no, yes. I actually saw a documentary on this the other day and it made a whole bunch of sense. It'll be a different kind of mall. It'll be a mall that's more about lifestyle. Be a mall that's more about you go. It's a place to hang out. They'll have shops there.

We're seeing it already. Think about think about places like up here near where, well, like Legacy, the Legacy area where you kind of have living and you have shops and you have restaurants. It's all kind of one. That's your new age mall. It won't be the typical walk in and just buy a bunch of stuff. It'll be walk in, hang out, have a drink, eat some food,

and buy a star. I'm talking about an ugly, drab, white cinder block in the middle of a parking that's probably that will probably be dead at some point, but but I don't think it's I don't think that that the mall will be dead. It'll just be that constant. Last night, No, it a lot, Oh god, I needed Moose Johnston out there. Don't go to a mall after Thanksgiving. It's just I don't know why people. That's I don't

want know why everybody doesn't shop online. Online shopping is great, but you know, depending on the company, you might buy it and it doesn't ship for three or four days. Like that's not going to help you out very much. Today's world. First, it depends on the company. But Amazon, two hours after you order it, boom, there's not there's all that stuff I ordered. There was a couple things from Amazon, but most of us from like different websites,

and we have received pretty much everything Warehouse. Yeah, yeah, Tommy john that they ship pretty fast. They do ship pretty fast. I don't know, but I'm just gonna say they do they do? John? Do they do? Yeah? They do. I know I've placed some waters and gotten it like pretty quickly. So yeah, we hope here on my Christmas Tommy Johnson on Cowboys Break, we hope you wanted what yours for shopping? I didn't know I was no, I thought you said. I got on my Tommy John and

I was like, what are you doing? What are you showing? Y'all never fail to make me feel uncomfortable. Like once per segment, promp about Bobby Wagner. You want to know about Bobby Wagner. Yes, uh, he's hurt. Cam Chancellor, he's hurt. Earl Thomas, he's playing, but he's not one hundred percent. Richard Sherman, he's hurt. Brian Bosworth, he's he's pimp. And this he was searching for any name from back in

the day as you could throw out Kenny easily. This. No, he's in the Hall of Fame now, okay, he's sorry, right, sorry, Yeah he was. Okay. I just wanted they did some hard work too, is part of this out. Uh, this Seattle defense is a lot like the fall of the Roman Empire, you know, like they've been on you guys, don't care whatever. No, I'm sorry, no, go ahead, go ahead. What I got caught up there? I should have done that. I felt really good about that line, like about the

Roman Empire, and y'all just talked right through it. No welcome world. Yeah, Uh, this defense has been one of the best in the league for the better part of a decade, and they're not right now. Uh well, mostly because of injuries. I mean, let's go back through it. Richard Sherman's on injured reserve, Cam Chancellor's on injured reserve. Bobby Wagner played last week, but he's I mean, his hamstring is bad and he did not look like Bobby Wagner. Cliff Avril is out. Um, I feel like I'm missing

one more. We know, Earl Thomas's Earl Thomas is gimpie. Yeah, thank you. All right. So I just listed basically five of their six best defenders, like the one and most of that's in their secondary, which is the strength I think of their defense. kJ right still there and Michael Bennett's still there. Other than that, Bennett can be a handful. Yeah oh yeah, oh, I mean this this despite all that, these guys still have a lot of talent. Michael Bennett

is your left end. Frank Clark, who Brian absolutely loved coming out of the draft, is your right end. They traded for Sheldon Richardson, they have Giron reed. Like, in spite of everything, this is still a first und second, still a really good defensive line. Um. Bobby Wagner, for my money is either he's one of the three best middle linebackers in the league. I mean him, Sean Lee and Luke Keakley are like the three in my opinion. Uh, he made the Pro Bowl. Wagner, yes, he's he's amazing,

but he does not look amazing right now. If you go watch the tape of them against the Rams, basically sorry, basically everything that happened, it's because Bobby Wagner isn't playing like himself. Todd Gurley murdered them single handedly four touchdowns. I don't have the rushing total off hand, but he was just chunking ten, fourteen, sixteen yards. It really was obvious. I actually saw the Rams broke this play down on their telestrator on Twitter last night. Third and twenty, just

an absolute give up play. They run a draw to Todd Gurley and Bobby Wagner didn't get there on time, and he went fifty seven yards for a touchdown twenty one, third and twenty. Like that's the type of thing that you see, you know, college college teams. That's so you know, it's just not your day. You're gonna Bobby Wagner. I mean he's he read the play and he just couldn't get there in time. And by the time he missed on the tackle, Todd Gurley's in the secondary and just

splitting the safety. It was bad. And like it's it's striking watching this team's last three games because they don't they don't look like themselves. Go back to Seattle two weeks ago. This kid, Kirie Cole or Kyrie Cole, comes out of a bunch formation. There's confusion about which linebackers supposed to carry him, and then the safeties forget about him because, as you know, Chancellor's not there and Thomas is not himself, and all of a sudden, he's twenty

yards behind the coverage. Like you just haven't seen Seattle given up plays like this and forever, which and their mediocre across the board. They're fifteenth and total defense, they're thirteenth and passing defense, they're seventeenth and run defense, and they're twelfth in points per game. They're giving up twenty twenty two, which fun for the Cowboys. The last two opponents have given you the blueprint for how to do it.

You had Leonard Fournette and Todd Gurley. Honestly, I mean, what a week for Ezekiel Elliott to be back, because if they look like this, I mean it should be there for him. Honestly, I think it should be the big thing for me is the pass rush. Bennett and Clark can they erect this thing if Tyron Smith's not in there, And I think that'll be a problem. I think Zeke's gonna need to stay in and do some pass pro and Jason Witten and the tight ends are

going to have to have a role. That's the like and we talked about that with Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvan last week, is like, those are the strength of your team and you can't let them reck stuff. Well, they kind of did, like I mean, they had a hard time with those two guys in spite of everything

last week. The one thing to say about that, though, is that we haven't really seen that happen when Zeke's been a part of things, And mainly it's because Drew Cowboys offensively don't put them in themselves in a position where they can't get wrecked because they're not passing a

ton like they're running the ball consistently. They're running it well and again, if it works out the way that it worked out last week for the Rams, where they're having a hard time stopping the run, the Cowboys are gonna keep giving it to them in the run, and that slows down your pass rush because you now have to be concerned about the guy just dashing past you and now getting into the second level if I I mean, I always talk way more simplified than they do, obviously,

but I would just run right at them. Yeah, their enforcer in the middle is hurt, and they're you know, bam bam cam. Probably the best strong safety in the league not there, yep. I would run right at the middle of the defense. Don't even try anything cute. I love those stretch plays where Zeke gets to the boundary and then finds though I don't even know why you would bother with that, because your left tackle might not play and their best two defensive linemen are on the edge.

I would run straight up the middle of this defense and see if they can handle it. I mean, they're giving up one hundred and thirteen yards per game. But the one thing I will say is if you're if your middle linebacker has a hamstring issue, I kind of want to get him running sore. Running those stretch plays, to me, is a good thing as much in as frequently as you like, just if nothing else, make him run, Make him run a lot, because it's not hamstring angle

get better during the game. If he's running a lot, well that's if you can get the running game going, play action and not. I mean, I'm not trying to take like these crazy shots like get guys running across the field. Terrence Williams, Jason Witney. I love boots and waggles and they work. So that's what I'm looking at. It's good stuff, you guys. This is this is a shell of what they what you're used to seeing from Seattle. There's there less two games Jacksonville and Jacksonville in the

Rim thirty and forty forty two. I mean, yeah, that's seventy two points. They've probably gone when they were at their their peak. You know, they've probably gone eight eight games with seventy two points. It's it's it's not it's something to see when you like when you put it on tape and you're like, oh my god, Like i mean, Jacksonville's offense is not a juggernaut. Like no, all the

defense is really good. Lake Portles is out of nowhere playing the best like month of his touchdowns no interception, it's three or four games. Um. But even at that though, my point is they heat. Their offense has not been what they've been doing great this year. They run the

ball really well and they play great defense. Right if you pull up you know on NFL game Pass, they have the little menu where it tells you what the play is, and it's like t Gurley second and ten six yards third and four fourteen yards first and ten sixteen yards just like just one after another. Wow, it was Yeah, So, how well did did did four Nette play that game? How will the hum run well enough? I don't I didn't pull up the final box score, but I mean he had two rushing touchdowns and was

I mean he didn't do girly? I mean gurly. I have to believe that's like the highest fantasy total of the year. Barely went crazy. Yeah, but Fournette played well against them. They didn't do a good job of stopping him. So it's obvious that there are a lot of areas to exploit. What do you guys think are some areas that you would you would say, hey, this is what the Cowboys really need to do to take advantage of

this defense. Um to take advantage of the defense. I mean, I like what Dave said about running the ball, you know, right at him. I think that what Zeke will do having him there, I think we'll we'll just stretch, stretch

things out more. I want to see more passes down down the field some I mean, I think I absolutely love the flea flicker that they did, and I know that they missed it, but you know what that taking the deep shots out there, It was there, The pass was was right where it need to be, and you know Terrence has dropped it. I mean, but I like stretching it out a little bit more, especially when you

have Zeke. So I just think, use fifty three yards wide, use the whole field, and with Zeke out there, I think you're going to see these receivers make a little more plays down the field. The Cowboys are in absolute advantage right now, especially with zig back and the Seahawks defense in the past as being a defense that I personally do not like just because of how aggressive they play, and it just like would worry me all the time. I'm like, oh my god, they're gonna really hurt somebody.

You don't. You don't like them in the sense that you don't like to play them, not that you don't think they're good. No, that's the point. They're just too good, too aggressive, and too like, don't damage our players, you know type of things. They've already done that once or twice. Yeah, exactly, But I don't feel that way right now with all the injuries they have and how their team is looking at this point. Pretty excited about this game, you know.

I'll say this about the Dallas and Seattle. I think the Cowboys have been built to beat them, even when they were really good. In twenty fourteen. Dallas was better that day out there and ran the ball right over him. Twenty fifteen, Seattle was still good. Cowboys were not, but they had chances to win. I mean, I think was it thirteen to twelve that they should have won. They should have won that game. They played really really well

that day. So I just think that for some reason, they match up well when it's just the styles match up well. So in this case, with Seattle struggling the way they do, the Cowboys still kind of play their game. I agree with her. I think, I think they're going to be in a good, good shape to run the ball and kind of they should have the advantage here.

My main memory of that game, which worries me for this game is like the Seahawks just I don't think they even bothered running a play where Russell Wilson was in the pocket, like he was just moving troubling around to get immediately and they could already have a great

kind of have to. Russell Wilson won, right, Russell Wilson won that game because Hardy like picked him off on a tipped pass or something and Russell Wilson like grabbed Hardy's ankle or else it would have been a pick six to take the lead in the fourth and the Cowboys shocking that Cowboys offense couldn't score a touchdown from

like the Seattle fifteen. Just that what an awful who was a quarter who's the quarterback Castle's second or third start that season was so dreadful that sounds so far away. It was like I think they were I think they were down thirteen to ten, and Hardy gave him the ball in like basically in the Seattle red zone, and they ran like three plays and kicked a field goal. It was so disheartening. Three plays two yards. Yeah right,

that's horrible. All right, let's get some questions. You guys can call us two one firs six seven four seven one I'm sorry two four eighty seven two twenty one two two one eight seven two twenty one h two. Or you can hit us on Twitter at Cowboys Break. Let's get a question from Twitter. Do you guys think that Dak is just taking too long to make it a se with the ball, whether it's throwing it or making it play with his feet. I don't. I don't think he's taking too long. I think he would love

to throw it if they were open. I think the receivers take too long to get open. I think or don't get open. Yeah. I mean you can get open eventually eventually. Yeah, but you know, I got so much time. I know, Like, do you think I could eventually get open on Patrick Peter? So eventually? No? No, you would get tired before you could get open. You would eventually spat man. I give up, man, I can't do it. Like there is a certain class of quarterback. Nope, I'm

thinking it open. I'm thinking of Mickey Spagnola. Right now. Like in a there's a certain class of quarterback where I can just hear Mickey go, come on, get rid of the ball, just like you know, just hate like, But I don't ever think that with Dak, Like I'm not ever sitting there. Maybe it's because he sounds like you're sitting next to Mickey on the I actually I actually don't. You can just hear him from you can hear him from anywhere in the press box, but um,

I don't ever think that would act. Maybe it's because he's mobile. Maybe it's because, like I know that he's got a chance to run or get away from a guy. But I never I'm never worried that he's holding onto the ball too long. Like that's never been something that I you know, it was back when Parcels was here and he used to do this with some of the

young quarterbacks. You remember, he used to have that little that little sounder that would kind of the blair kind of after a few seconds where it was like get rid of the ball. This is what yeah, And ever since then it got it gave me first, it gave me an indication of how fast this game is. Like this is like literally snap horn but that's how fast you need to get rid of the ball. And it's so it kind of has this thing in my head

once it gets beyond that. Now, after that kind of I kind of sense, oh wow, he's holding the ball a little bit long here. Get rid of the ball. Get rid of the ball. But in twenty fourteen, I remember Romo saying that that clock has has been changed from what it was when why Phil Costa was snapping and you know you had Bill Nagy starting for you, it's because it's a better offense. I mean the game

that Odell had that great catch against the Giants. Everyone remembers that play, but the Cowboys had to drive down the field and win the game and Dez caught the game winner in the end zone. And I swear Romo was running around for eight seconds on that play. I mean seriously, it was like he had a lot of time. I mean that offensive line. And he even said that that that mental clock that you've had in your head and for all these years, you can maybe add a

second or two. Yeah, and Dak definitely benefits from that, yeah, absolutely. But I mean either way, I think it still is like there still is that gotta get rid of the ball, right, you gotta move it, you gotta. But do you find yourself think thinking that when you're watching him? Not necessarily, I don't necessarily. As a matter of fact, I kind of think a lot of times he gets he does

get a little bit of extra time. I actually do the inverse when I'm watching the Cowboys defense, like, man, wow, he should get he should be being sacked right now. What's what's going on? Like there's it seems like opposing quarterbacks seemed to have a little bit le Collins is just sitting on a guy. There we go, that's what happened. Like, yeah, there were a couple of snaps. They started to struggle

as the game went on. But the first two possessions of that Oakland game, I was just like, oh my god, Collins and Tyrant are just mauling these guys. Which it helps when you have that, it does. All Right, we appreciate you, guys. Joannas are back tomorrow. We'll get you guys ready for the game. We'll tell you what's going to happen, give you our predictions. Still in for Nick even Dave Helmett, Ambergarcia. I'm Derek Hips and this has

been the Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot Com. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.