Cowboys Break: Favorites to Win Division?

happy to be back with these guys. I haven't seen him since last Monday. We did our show shuffle and uh and so I'm interested to hear from these guys, which we will do in just a second, what their experience was without having me hosting their show. Hopefully it was something that they missed and they're happy to be back with me. We'll also talk a little bit about Trey Von Dick, because we did not get a chance to talk about his injury last week and what that

means for him and for the team. We'll talk a little bit about the NFC East, some interesting developments with that division yesterday that might put the Cowboys closer to maybe winning the division. I know Dave's gonna have a look for me right about now, and then we'll finally have a segment at the end where Amber is gonna give us some questions. It's got a little game for us, I think, and some questions that we're going to roll through in the maybe a little bit of the second segment.

How's everybody doing today? We're good, great, Dred good, good good, Let's jump in. I actually did want to debrief a

little bit. It was kind of funny because and I'll save mine until the end, But as I was doing the show last week in our shuffle, and I had Isaiah with me, and I had Barry Church with me, and I had Kurt Daniels with me, there were moments during those shows where I was like, y'all really think that, And it makes you realize just how much we on our show have our very solid opinions about certain things.

And we kind of started I know, for myself, I started to think the whole world has those opinions until I started interacting with other people from other shows and realize that some of those just aren't what everybody thinks. So we're gonna go around the table here, and I want you guys, each one of you, to tell me one thing that you learned last week on your show, on whatever show you were on, that maybe you didn't really think was out there, that that some other people believe.

Let's start first with you. Nick Well obviously learned the way Nate Newton feels about moral victories and so and he learned he learned how I feel about mine. And it probably went on for a little bit too long. But uh, you know, I you know I had Kyle Yeoman,

so you know, he's very prepared. You know, he does a nice job, you know, a hosting of course, and you know Nate, you know, it brings a perspective that that was you know, it's we don't have obviously on this show, just from a from being a player and a really good player. So um, but you know I had worked with those guys before it It was it was good. I mean, uh, you know, we differed on on some things on the quarterbacks and who who to play, so that that wasn't unusual because we do that on

this show too. But uh, you know I didn't I don't know what I learned that was different. I just thought you know, it was it was different perspectives. But you know, I've never seen you Derek wear a referee or you never had to do that, so Kyle busted that out. But it was it was a good idea, and it was it was fun to do hamper your up. Well, it was fun too to get to tuning to those other shows and watch you guys and see how you guys behave around other people and other environments. So that

was fun. Um, But I wasn't on hanging with the boys. And you know that show's Shannon Grows hosting it. It's pretty chill, like there was no drama or anything. The one thing that I can think of that somehow we ended up talking about Jason Garrett, and Shannon had the audacity to say something that and we all we all respect Jason Garrett, and I think we all see certain values that he brings and certain things that he's really

really good at. But Shannon there to say that he appreciated the fact of Jason Garrett, how he was so consistent and how you knew what you were gonna get with Jason Garrett, which was mainly part of his problem and part of the reason why people were ready to get rid of him. So you know, Shannon, you never really know when to take him seriously. But that comment, I was just like, Okay, I was just shaking my head.

But that was the only thing that kind of stood out that was maybe different from what most of us think about Jason Garrett and his era here with the Cowboys. You know, I will say this too about you, ag. I even texted you. You seem to be real agreeable and really nice last week on Hanging with the Boys. That was not what I'm familiar with. Nick actually hit me up the same, the same thing, like you a whole different person on that show than you than what

you ring over here. You know, when you're when you're in somebody else's house, you gotta behave and you gotta nice. So that's nally why I was so well behaved, and and I was just, yeah, you're representing us well. I like it all right, Dave, what do you learn last week? I learned that structure can be a good thing because you know, me and Nick like to poke fun at you, and you send us an eight hundred word rundown every day, and sometimes I think this show is a little bit

too structured. But I got a really good taste of the opposite into that with Mickey and Bill Jones last week, because we just kind of rolled the ball out there and like, let's see what happens, and it went in some pretty weird places. I think we talked about wife swapping, we talked about World War two, we talked about um, you know, we talked a little bit about the Cowboys. But I would not say it was like the dominant

topic of conversation. So I had a good time, but I just remember being kind of blown away, like, man, this is this is where your podcast can go if you don't really come at it with a game plan. I guess so fun Well, I'll take that as a compliment, Dave. I'll really take that as a compliment that you like the fact that we have struggle. It is so and at this time you point out that we're too structured, I'll just say, do you want to go back to

Mike shots? You have every option shots? All right? I'm okay. You know the interesting thing I found out last week, and I know when they when they said it, I scoffed, and I immediately thought, if they were on the break right now with these with my other co hosts, like you guys would have skewered them. But Isaiah and Barry both believe, I mean wholeheartedly believe the Dallas Cowboys will

win the NFC East. And we took a little time talking about this and they agree it's it's kool a, but they're like, we're drinking it all in because they believe that the Cowboys will win this division. And I'm gonna actually tee that up for you guys a little bit later in this show, because there were some things that happened yesterday in the NFC East that I know both of them were sitting there looking like, hey, here we go, you know, So we'll talk about that a

little bit later in the show. I do want to talk about a bit of news that came out last week that we didn't get a chance to go through together. Treyvon Diggs reportedly out four to six weeks with a broken foot. I think it's known he has a broken foot. The reported part is the four to six weeks, which I'm not sure if that's if the organization has said that he's gonna be out four to six weeks, but he's gonna be out some time. Tito has was activated

last week from the reserved injured list. My first question for you guys is how much does this hurt Trey Von Diggs, assuming he's out four to six weeks, how much hurt his development? Let's start with you Amber. I mean, he hurts him. Obviously, you want him out there getting those traps and everything. But at the same time, one thing we've learned from watching him play is that he's a guy that's gonna keep fighting. He's a guy that's not gonna be affected by the adversity, and he's gonna

keep pushing. So that's on the positive side. But it always hurts a guy that's a rookie that we had just seen the last few weeks how he has been making plays. So it's very unfortunate for the Cowboys secondary. And yeah, it's gonna hurt his development, but I'm positive that he's gonna be able to bounce back and be just fine. Dave, Yeah, I just I mean, I'm gonna step out on a limb and say, and obviously I could be wrong. I feel like we've probably seen the

last of on for the season. I mean, if that, if that indication is right, you know you're talking about maybe not being ready to come back until Christmas, and then at that point, do you risk further injury for a promising rookie with you know, two weeks left in the season, that which maybe they'll make a playoff push and it'll be worth bringing him back, but I would assume not. Um, So it just sucks because that's that's seven weeks worth of reps that he could get that

would make him a better player for next year. I'm not super worried about the long term. I mean, I was really impressed by what he was able to show in a depleted secondary as a rookie, but it would it would just be nice if he could have seven weeks worth or reps to continue to improve. Nick. You know, he keeps saying four to six weeks, and that's what the report was, but we haven't talked about this in

a while. It's almost three to five weeks at this point, just because it has been a week or so, and so if it is on the on the art short end of this, then you know, I do think maybe he can come back and play um the last few games. I mean, it's a it's a broken foot, if it's healed, if it's healthy. You know, I think he could do that in the last couple of games, depending on how things are. But but I don't think it really hurts

his development. He's a guy we've seen he's got a terrible memory, which is exactly what you need as a cornerback. So he know he needs to just step right in play. You know, he's a gamer. Sometimes it works for the other team. You know, he gives up some big places, but he makes them. So I think if he can come back the way that I are rules are now, I think if he can come back for a game or two, even if that's the case, I would I

would do that. And I don't know, Dave. I don't know if the if the broken foot coming back, I don't know if it would re injure it. You know, if his healed is healed, so who knows. We'll see. But if he if he could play, I would play him. And I don't necessarily disagree. It just makes me. It makes me nervous. And I don't know that this is the injury that Dez Bryant had, but that's what I think of when I hear about broken bones and feet.

Obviously it's a very you know, you need feet to play football, especially footwork is everything for a defensive back, and I just worry, Yeah, if it's healed, it's healed, but is in a situation where you can reaggravate it or you know, if you're trying to make the playoffs, do you come back when it's healed but not one hundred percent right and you risk aggravating it. That's why I just I lean toward thinking it's smarter to shut

him down. But I also, I'm not a doctor. I don't know the severity, but that's just the type of stuff I think about when I hear this. So let's flip to the guy that presumably will be jumping right into the spot that he now vacates, Cheetobo Woozier. If you have to make a decision right now on Cheeto based upon what you know at this point, are you going to sign him? Are you looking to resign him in the offseason? Dave, that's really kind of unfair since we got to see two games of tape out of him.

I mean, he really hasn't had a season. The question always comes down to price. I mean, if I could resign Cheeto for a similar deal to what they got Anthony Brown for you know, five million a year or something fairly small by starter standards, I'd probably do it. He's he is the free agent defensive back that I would be most willing to resign. I'll say that. But if somebody wants to offer him a boatload on the

open market, I'm okay. Nick, that's a tough one because you'd like to just say nah, no, you can go on, because you know, you can just look at this season and see, you know, and I don't know the severity of the injury, but you know, I don't know how quickly was trying to get back. I mean, again, we don't know much what's going on, but I know he was out there for a long long time. I wonder

if the record played a part into that. However, I don't know if the Cowboys are in a situation where they can say, well, you know, just go on, we're good because you're not good. You're not good at cornerbacks, so you need as many guys. I think Dave's right. I think he goes to free agency. I think you know, he tests the market, he sees what's out there. It might be a situation where you know, he does stay, but I just have a feeling he'll probably sign with

another team Hamber. I think it depends on the money. If it makes sense. I would keep him because he's he's the guy that is competitive and right now, when you look at the Cowboys cornerback, like, who do you really have that you can think of him aside from Trevor Dicks, there's no other name that will just automatically pop into your head and say, oh, yeah, that guy. So you need to keep someone you know. You can't just bring a bunch of new cornerbacks into the cornerback's room.

And then you talk about Jordan Lewis. That's another guy who you just don't know either. And he has been able to play this year, and yes he got an injury and was out for a little while. But at the same time, I think that you have to choose between one of those two guys. I would keep either Jordan or Cheeto, But over those two, I think I would have to lean towards Cheeto more. I was really excited about with Jordan Lewis this year. He's a I love the guy. He's such a competitive guy and he

has shown so many great plays. But this year just hasn't worked out and you just cannot manage to just say bye to everyone in your cornerback room. Dave, Nick, if you have to choose between the two, Ambert told as she would go with Cheeto over Jordan. Would you guys do the same thing, And assuming that you're probably have to pay a little bit more for Cheeto, probably not a lot, but a little bit more. And also assuming the fact that right now Jordan's the guy that

goes into the slot. If you're gonna have Anthony Brown and if you're gonna have Treymon Diggs, are you creating a problem for yourself if you go with Cheeto. As far as who's going to move into the slot, let's start first with you, Nick, I'd go for the cheapest guy. I mean, I'm not spending a lot of money on

that on those guys at that position. I think in free agency, if you're going to do anything in free agency this year, I think you've got to see if there's a veteran cornerback that's out there that you can that you can do something with. So that being said, I probably would lean towards Jordan. I think he'd be cheaper, and like you, said Derek. It's a good point, I think, having a slot guy, but I've been disappointed with him too. I kind of thought he would make a little bit

more plays. He's got a lot of few penalties this year. He doesn't you know that that's really been the only significant things. I haven't seen him make any any plays. Hey, Um, I mean, I get what y'all are saying. And nickel back slot cornerback is a super important position. But like you can find those guys all over the place. Orlando Scandrick was pretty good at it for a long time. Fifth round pick. More often than not, teams find those guys on Day three of the draft. And on top

of that, Anthony Brown can play slot as well. I would resign Cheeto because I have proof he might not be amazing at it, but I have proof that Cheeto can line up on the outside and cover a guy, you know, out on the numbers. And not having Byron Jones has emphasized just how important that is to a defense. We talked to me and Nick talked about it earlier

this morning. I don't know that Byron. You know, Byron's not having this crazy, amazing season in Miami, But I don't think it's a coincidence that the Dolphins spent a lot of money on him and Xavian Howard and their defense is pretty nasty. I'm gonna guess that good coverage is a big part of that. So give me the guy that can cover somebody out on the boundary. Again, I'm not you know, Cheeto's not Byron Jones, but that's

who I'd rather have at this point. You got to remember though, it Derek, you got to remember this that it's a two way street. I mean, these guys may not want to sign here. I mean they may they want to go another place, and so, uh, you know, we say I would sign him, and I know that was the question. But I again, without talking to either one of them, I have a feeling that they'll both be out peace, I mean, when they get a chance. So I just don't get the sense that they're gonna

even want to resign. Yeah, it's interesting yesterday watching the NFL, you saw a lot of former Cowboys. But it's a pretty good plays yesterday, and it's you know, it's it's one of those things where you know, I don't think you can blame that really on anybody. Maybe they're using them a different way in other places. I think that's really a big thing with Jeff Heath. I think they're using him exactly as he's supposed to be used. He

doesn't have to be your starter, your main guy. But I do think if you're coming in and bringing him in on special situations and kind of having him in a rotation, I think he plays best there. And we know from the time he was here he can make some plays every once in a while, like we've seen him make plays here with the Cowboys, some big plays. I always remember back to that that game against the Raiders, that was huge play. You know, he's made some plays

for them. But all that being said, you're right, Nick, you know I'm sorry, David, you just don't know if if I'm sorry Nick, you said that, if those guys will even want to be here, if they end up wanting to go somewhere else because they just feel like, hey, I think another place maybe a better fit for me. There's another team that might use my skills in a better way than what the way I'm being used here

with Cowboys are. We're gonna take our first break when we come back, We're gonna jump into a little conversation about the NFC East, talk about where the teams stand there and what we think might happen here down the stretch with regards to who will win this really bad division at this point, we'll do that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. There's nothing as unique as our eyes, which is why SLOR

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See att dot com slash five g for you for details. Back to the Break. The Cowboys will be back at at and T Stadium on Thanksgiving Day to take on the Washington football team. Tickets starting at eighty nine dollars or on sale now. Get yours today at Dallas Cowboys dot com slash tickets. Welcome back. It's the second segment of the Break. Well lit from the SWBC Mortgage studios at the Star talking Cowboys, and we're gonna jump in

and talk a little bit about the NFC East. Right now, these teams are separated by a game and a half. I think it is you got Philly at three to five and one, You've got New York at three and seven, you got Washington at two and seven, and then you got the Cowboys at two and seven. There's a lot of people that have been talking about this whole idea of tanking and trying to get the best pick you

can get. I heard somebody bring up an interesting point though this morning that I wanted to toss to you guys. You look at a team like New York where they have a new coach and whole new regime, and for them it might be just as important to be able to establish a culture of winning as it is trying to get a high draft pick. My question for you guys is the same. You have a situation here where you got a brand new coaching staff. They're trying to

get guys to buy into what they're doing. How important is it at this point or what is more important trying to get that higher draft pick. And I'm not saying they're going to try to get that higher draft pick, but getting that higher draft pick or them establishing themselves, this new coaching staff, establishing themselves and establishing the culture of this team by winning. Let's start first with you, Dave. We're talking about we're talking about the Cows, talk about

the Cowboys. Correct, Yes, I don't worry about the whole culture thing like the Giants. The Giants, I think is a little different. Joe Judge is the first time head coach, and like the pieces on that team that you're relying on have never done it. You know, Daniel Jones is obviously a young player, he's never been in the playoffs. I know se Quon's hurt, but the same thing for him.

You know, they're young defensive players, Like, you're not building around a team that has ever succeeded, whereas and I know, you know, I can hear people saying the Cowboys haven't achieved anything really either, but it is different. I mean, Dak is in year five. Dak has been through the wars, He's been in the playoffs multiple times. Really, all of the important pieces on this team have been to the playoffs multiple times, like they know what it means to

be part of a successful team. Mike McCarthy has obviously won a Super Bowl, so this is not a team that is unfamiliar with that feeling. So I don't I don't really worry about that much as being able to improve the roster so that these good players can do that again in the future. Amber, That's a really tough question.

And for me, it depends one day of the week you're asking me this, because during the weekdays, I'm thinking about the draft, and I'm thinking, Okay, yes, you know what, let's just get that high draft pick and make some better draft choices this upcoming year. But then you ask me on game day, am I screw the draft? You know? I want them to play good football. I want them to win this freaking game, go out there and make

it exciting. So to me right now, even though I get everything that Da've just said and I kind of agree, but at the same time, this is a whole new team, a lot of young guys. I need to have the feeling that they do get that establishing the winning culture and the fact that they can actually win a game with this coaching put together. Because even if you talk about draft high picks next year, what's gonna make me have hope that this team can actually utilize that talent

that they just brought in. So right now, for me, it's like, yes, I want the good draft and whatever, but at the same time, I need to see some excitement this year the second half of the season. I need to feel like this team can actually put together a winning game and win some games out there, because, like I said, what's good. What's it gonna do bringing some great talent if the coaching staff can't put it together. So I guess I'm kind of in both sides, but

I would lean towards winning culture a little bit more. Nick. I mean, I just don't I think what when we talk about this, we're talking about from a fans perspective, media perspective. We're talking, we're talking about like what we would prefer to see, because you're really talking about the team, like they're gonna go play and win and try to win games. I mean, so it's like, I think we look at it and go, how do I want to watch them win? Or do I want to just have

a good draft pick. But and that sounds good because when you're watching it, you can make that choice. But as a team, you just play. You just play the game. You just say we're gonna go out and we're gonna play the guys that are healthy, and we're gonna go out there and play. Because think of it like this, like what if they go too and fourteen, and then next year they go eight and eight, what's and Mike McCarthy's on the hot seat, what's his record going to be?

I mean, they're just gonna be He's gonna say they have ten wins, right, ten wins and twenty two losses. Well, no one's gonna go back and go, well, hey, they really were just tanking. That really doesn't count. No, that two and fourteen is gonna stick on his record. He's not trying to tank games. He's gonna try to go win games. So I think you win games, you do the best you can do. And then if you like Jerry always says, if you get a high draft pick, you earned it and you take it, but you don't

go play for it. Yeah, and just just bealy. This is about fans and media. This is not about the team because the expectation is professionals are always going to be trying to win. So as what your opinion, Nick, as a person that's a bystander that covers this team, and let's assume you want this team to do well, which do you think is more important? Yeah? I think I like Amber said, I'd go try to win the game. I think that's that's important because I think this roster

is a good roster when everybody's healthy. If you get the fifth, if you get the eighteenth pick in the draft, that if that's what happens, if you sneak into the playoffs, I think you're automatically an eighteen. If you get that, you know you could get a Layton Vanderish type of player. For a roster. I still think that that helps. Is it better than a six, five or a third pick? No, of course not but once you've established along the way to get there, the confidence of that staff, the trust

they need some trust to. The players need to be able to trust the coaches. Coaches trust the players. That is not developed right now, and I think that is really important for them to do that. Looking at how this division is playing out right now, again only separated by a game and a half, who do you think wins this division? Let's start with you, Amber. I hate this question so bad. I hate it. I hate it.

Oh my god, this is so tough. You know. Regardless of all the pain that the Cowboys have put me through, in the back of my heart down there, I still feel that somehow they're gonna magically start winning games and piece some things together to get to the point of them winning the division. But based on everything that we've seen, it's hard to have that kind of hope. So if I had to choose someone that wins the division, I

am in no way choosing the Eagles. I think that the Giants have started putting some things together to where I've seen, even when they lose games, I've seen little sparks here and there of things that cost it catches my attention and leads me to think that, Okay, maybe they can be a little more successful than what we're actually seeing on these games. So maybe right now, I hate this question, Derek, don't maybe answer this. This is dumb. I don't want to answer it. I don't want to

answer it. But I just don't know. I just don't know. It's up for grabs for any one. The only one that I keep down at the bottom would be Washington. But I think that anyone in this division can seriously take up the lead and win the NFC East. Nick, don't make me answer this question, Derek, I don't like

this question now. I think the Giants actually are in pretty good shape, if there is such a thing at three and seven, just because they are three and two in the NFC East and their two losses are to the Eagles in the game that they should have won, and probably in a game against the Cowboys where I'm sure they feel like they should have won. Um, I

don't think so. I think, you know, the Dak getting hurt changed everything, But but you know, they could easily be five and five right now with a five and and o record in the division. So I think that they have as good a chance as anyone but I could see any of the team's really sneaking in here. I mean, the only the reason I don't say Philly is that they're The next five or six games are very tough m on the schedule, So the Cowboys I

think might have the best schedule of the group. Yep, Dave, I'll answer the question, Derek, I'm not afraid, and I'll I'll piss everybody off in the process to know, I know exactly what you're gonna say. What am I gonna say? You're gonna say the Eagles because they have the best quarterback. Absolutely not like you can't you can't defend. Listen, I've been I've been bending over backward to make way for Carson Wentz, to give him the benefit of the doubt,

and it's it just ain't happening at this point. The Eagles are our trash. And Nick makes a very good point. They've still gotta They've got to play Green Bay, They've got to play New Orleans. I think they still have Seattle on their schedule. They no the thing I was going to say, the Cowboys have the best chance to

win this division right now. Absolutely they do. And I'm saying that knowing that it is insane because you know, I've been sitting here for a month and a half saying, yeah, I know the East is bad, but these things have a way of taking care of themselves. The winner of this division's gonna wind up with eight or nine wins. That's not happening. That is that is not going to happen when you look at what these teams still have left, and everybody talks about the Giants. Oh, the Giants are

kind of putting it together. Do you realize why that is? It's because they've got They've gotten to play the NFC East in back to back weeks. They got they got to win against Washington and awful Philadelphia. They've played five of their six division games. They played the Cowboys to end the season, so they're they're done. They don't have any more lay up games against bad division teams. The Giants still have to play Cleveland, Baltimore, Arizona, and Seattle.

I believe have fun. Yeah, yeah, I think they get They get Cincinnati this week, so you know, maybe that's a chance for them to get one more win, but it's gonna be tough sledding for them the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Dallas has three division games. If you go, you know, if you win those three games all of a sudden, so that gets you to five and seven, I believe, and then maybe you just gotta you just gotta.

You got Cincinnati and you have the forty nine ers, who are even more banged up than the Cowboys are. All they gotta do is like play below five hundred football. You know, if they go three and four, if they go three and four, or definitely if they go four and three, that's probably good enough. So if you're if you're making me pick right now, I might have to go with the Cowboys. And I hate, I hate saying it, but it makes sense. That is exactly the quota of

what it debate you in two day right there. That's exactly what do you want me to say? No, no, no, it's it's but it's actually true. And that the reason why I brought up the question is because I laughed in the faces of Isaiah and Barry last week when they were talking about it. I'm like, there's no way.

And then I started looking at the schedule and I was like, oh wow, if things happened like they're supposed to happen, this weekend, which they did, this thing gets really really interesting for the Cowboys all the way out. And by the way, I think, I think I can speak for all of us, you guys correct me if I'm wrong, But over the last two weeks, we've seen a Cowboys team play markedly better than they've played before that.

And so maybe if this defense is starting to get a little bit better, and maybe if this offense can find just a shred of what it was earlier in

the season. Now, of course that was with Dak Prescott, but if they can get to that, and then then you look at the schedule and you say there are teams that are beatable on this schedule, this could get really interesting for the Cowboys down the stretch and certainly hurt the hope of the feelings of all those fans out there that are hoping this team stays up there in the top five as far as NFL draft picks go.

All right, we're gonna take our final break. When we come back, we're gonna have a little fun with Amber. Amber has some some questions for us, maybe a game or two, I don't know. We'll figure it all out when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. We're back in a tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and Cream Soda. Let's take a listen, Doctor and Cream Soda. Is he

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the thirty restaurants at the Star District. For more information on delivery, take out, curbside pickup, and dine in availability, visit the Star District dot com. Welcome back the final segment of the break Life from the SWBC Mortgage studios at the Star. This final segment will be Amber segment, she has something for us Amber take it away. I'm pulling one from Shannon's and Shannon's book and just making

it up as we go here anymore. In the first question, um, we know this has been a crazy season, So I want to ask you, guys, what what was a moment a specific moment that happened during the season. Could be a play, could be an injury, could be a decision that the coaching made, or anything like that that you were like, oh crap, this is bad. This is not looking good, and something aside from Dak's injury, because we

know how major that was. But at the same time, I think we we all thought that Andy Dalton could still take over and help the Cowboys win some games. So if you had to pick a moment that you saw happening and that made you think, men, this is really bad for the Cowboys, what would that be? I think I'll start. I think Cleveland. The Cleveland game. At that point, you know you're one in two and you think we're maybe you can get right and beat Cleveland at home. The way they just ran over the team.

You know, Dak was still there and healthy, and even Tyring was playing that game, and the Browns just just even lost. They're starting running back and just couldn't stop running the football. And I just thought that was a sign of this is this is not good because I don't think the Browns are that great of a team, and they showed it a few weeks later against Pittsburgh.

So losing the way they did against the Browns and you know, just kind of letting Odell run all over them like that, and and the team, I just thought that was when it's like, Okay, this maybe this is a bad football team. I think that's uh. I think that's the right answer, just in terms of like the

play that we've seen on the field. But other than that, I think, you know, with Mike McCarthy, tried so hard to keep everything close to the vest all through training camp, and I think up until like a week or so before the season, like I've still felt optimistic that Lyle Collins would be available at some point during the season, and so like week to the combination of him going on IR and then Tyron dealing with injuries literally one week end of the season, like right like when you

first started to realize like, oh, they're not gonna have either of their tackles for a solid chunk of this season. I think even when Dak was healthy and everything, You're just like, they're gonna be hard pressed to win as many games as I thought they would with those those types of injuries. Yeah, Dave, it's interesting because I was gonna say it's it's those two things started to make me feel a little weird. It wasn't until I heard that Tyrone was out for the season that I was like, Okay,

the wheels are falling off this thing. Because when you think about it from the standpoint of how this team was built, this offense was built around an offensive line. Whether you're throwing the ball or running the ball, it's built around the offensive line. And at that moment, three of your top four offensive linemen were now gone. You lost Travis Frederick because he retired, and Lyle Collins was

gone before the season began. And then once they made figure out that Tyrone was going to be lost for the entire season or for the rest of the season, then to me, it was like, I just don't see a scenario where with what you're gonna have to patch work together on the offensive line, they'll be able to

do the things that give them success. I thought Dak would keep them in games, but once Dak went down and obviously then it was just completely like I just don't have any any faith that what they like to do is going to be good enough. And quite frankly, teams like that that are having those kinds of struggles offensively, if you can rely on your defense, or if your defense can step up a notch and play some really

outstanding football, it gives you a chance. But they were also having issues on the defensive side of the ball, like major issues, and so once Tyrone was gone for the season, that's when I realized that it was really, really, they were really in a bad position. Now let's switch the question to something positive. What was something that a moment or a player coming back or anything that happened during the season that made you feel a little hope, a sign of hope for the Cowboys this year. I

don't know about hope. But like, as dumb as it sounds in retrospect, I mean, the Atlanta game will stick with me forever. Just I mean, I know Atlanta's bad and the season is bad, but that was just an absolutely ridiculous game. Um, you know, that's the classic case of the game where like we were all starting on our stories in the third quarter because it was so obvious that the game was over and then all of

a sudden it wasn't. And yeah, it didn't wind up meaning anything, I guess, but it was still really fun, Like that was just a really fun football game. Yeah, that was exactly my answer. I was just gonna say that that's a hope for the season, I mean for the team and maybe next year. I mean I I'd look at it like hope for this year. Maybe I don't know if that what the question actually it was,

but I'll take it from recently. I think Layton vander esh blitzing up the metal and hitting Carson Wentz like that showed, you know, the type of play that we've been kind of waiting for from him and hopefully he can come back. And and it was that kind of game, that kind of play against Philly. That's like I thought Philly would be the team you'd have to beat to win this division, and that still might be the case,

but I think that they can play with Philly. They were very handicapped on a quarterback there they get any kind of better play at quarterback, and I think they will. I think they could beat Philly or any team. So just that kind of play from Layton show individually and then also as the team and an aggressive defense actually getting a turnover, like a real turnover. I thought that was some kind of hope. They didn't win the game, but I think that they showed that they can they

can compete in this division if they want to win it. Yeah. I was gonna say I actually agree with Dave on the on the Atlanta game because at the time when it happened, I looked at that and say, like, those are the kind of moments at some times you see these really really great seasons that teams have. They get sparked by this moment that was very improbable, and then they kind of get on this run. So I was looking at it like, Okay, maybe now is when this

offense is going to really start to click. Maybe now is when this defense will start to play better and they'll get on a run. Obviously we know the next week they did not, but that that was the moment, hold on, hold on, Ellen. If that's the moment y'all have hope? Are y'all saying at this point now that you know are you're saying you have absolutely no hope

for this team. This team is hopeless. Yeah, because if that was the moment they gave you hope and then it didn't do all those things you were hoping to do, so that means, yeah, they're hopeless. Yeah. The only hope they got right now is that the rest of the division will be so bad that they will squeak into the playoffs and then they will get a prompt exit in the first round. I don't think they have the players.

I don't think they have the players to be able to completely compete with those playoff teams in the NFL. Right in the NFC. I think that maybe they can win the NFC. E's just because the things we talked about. I just don't think they have the players right now because a lot of their great players are not available to them. But I will throw out one other thing that I think, and these have been random moments throughout the season that you combine them all together should give

fans some hope. Is you look at this last draft and there have been four players from that draft that at different moments this year you thought, huh, this guy's playing pretty well as a rookie you look at Ceedee Lamb, you look at Treyvon Diggs, you look at Neville Gallimore. Even be honest, I just saw an article that said that he's ranked among one of the best rookies by Pro Football Focus. They do like a mid season all pro team, and he was on the all Rookie team

as a you know, one of their designated players. And so I look at that, and that gives me some hope for the future that at least you look at this draft class and you say, there are flashes coming from this draft class that if they keep developing these guys, they're not there yet. But if you keep developing these guys, you might have hit on at least four of the players that you had in the draft that might turn

out to be pretty good players for you down the road. Now, imagine if you get to add like four or more of those guys who were all taken at the top of their respective rounds, right you know, right then you then you're working with something, especially if they're on the defensive side of the ball, which I think Nick made a really good point earlier in the show, which is like, it's it's not my job or my responsibility to care where they go from here, Like, if they don't win

another game, I'll cover the whole thing. If they win the division, I'll cover the whole thing. Like that's I don't have to have a preference. But I understand the appeal of people who are looking towards the draft, Like I understand it absolutely. It'll be interesting to see which way it goes. Yeah, I understand it too. I definitely

understand it, and it sounds you know, way better. But I mean, I think you have to play it out and see because, as you know, part of trying to develop those young guys and develop a culture and all that is going out and try to win the game, you know, and win. I could see where the argument would be about Eric Gilbert and Andy Dalton though it's like, well, why don't you try to play Gilbert because he might be a better future guy for you for our backup

than Andy Dalton. But I think if this divisions for the take, and I think you owe it to everybody, your veterans, your young guys, you owe it's everyone to try to go out and win. Yeah, and I will say this to Nick. I mean, we had a whole different opinion of Jason Garrett when he came in as an interim and he got this team five wins down the stretch. They went five and three down the stretch. That tells you a lot about a coach in the situation.

And I would assume I wasn't in the locker room, but I would assume those players had a little different perspective of him as well. Whatever the perspective was before, they probably respected him in a little different way to get their team into a position to be able to take a team that was one and seven to be in five and three down the stretch. I think that has a way of building the right kind of culture and getting players to buy into the fact that this

guy knows what he's doing. If we can trust him, we might be able to do some good things. It was so ironic because that's what happened when they needed a new voice from Wade Phillips. It just wasn't working, and Garrett came in and gave them a spark, a new voice. And then the ironic part is ten years later, you know they're doing okay average, but this team just needed a new voice, and so they decided to go and make a change. But right now that voice isn't

isn't helping them. I mean, Mike McCarthy and the staff that they're they're not all the experience and all that. This team isn't help now that they're getting a ton of injuries and all that. It's hard to really say what McCarthy's doing. But but this new voice hasn't certainly hasn't turned the page, and the Cowboys are better because of it, not yet at least, So that's a rap. What we're gonna do is those other questions that you

had Amber saved those, We'll get into those times. A Yeah, I have a bunch of questions that fans send in and we'll save them for the week, maybe once every day because you always say, oh, we'll have time for paying questions and then we never do. But that's okay, I'll keep them in the can. Let me just tell you this, it's been over a week since our last game. We're gonna have plenty of time time for fan questions Tomorrow.

We will have plenty of time unless Mike McCarthy breaks some really really outstanding news this afternoon in his press conference. I think we're gonna have a lot of time for fan questions. Tomorrow. All right, we appreciate you guys, Joan Us. We'll be back tomorrow. Till then for Nick Even Eatman, Dave Hellman, Amber Garcia. I'm Derek Eagleton. 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.