Cowboys Break: Where They Stand

We're live from the s WBC Morty Studios at the Star. Got Nick and Dave with me. Ambers out today. She will be back tomorrow and that's when we'll start getting you guys ready for the upcoming Cowboys versus Philadelphia Eagles matchup. How's everybody doing today? Great? Derek? You good? Dave? Yeah? Nick, wonderful, awesome here see yeah, I mean all right, good you go. We we could hear you. I don't think you know, I got it. I'm all good to good. We got

a lot to talk about today. We're gonna we're gonna take a big picture look around the NFL today. And it's no better day to take a big picture look than today, because thank god we did that show Friday. You would have come in here and ben all right, first quarter against the Saints, Yes we would. We would have had to jump into the game, But we did that on Friday. That's old news. That's a team we already beat us tonight. Ain't It doesn't matter, it's just

the Saints five years ago. It does, It absolutely does. But I mean it's just really if you go back to Thursday and then you factor in everything that happened Sunday and then even last night, it seems like everything is just going to Cowboys away. All the teams that you would want to lose, for the most part, lost on Sunday and on Monday, and it's put the Cowboys in a really really unique position just from the standpoint of where they sit right now. Cowboys are leading the

division at seven and five. You've got Philadelphia, I'm sorry, you got Philadelphia second at six and six. Washington tied with them at six and six, in New York at

four and eight. Um. The interesting thing about all this is there's now a clear scenario as to how the Cowboys could win, could clinch the division essentially, if they can win the next two games, which will be at home, against Philly, then on the road against Indianapolis UM and then if Washington loses one of the next two games against either the Giants or at the Jacksonville Jaguars Cowboys will clinch the nfcast. Amazing that we are here. WTF,

wtf happened? How did? How did we get here? Which? They were three and five? They were three and five, And I mean, yeah, it's not mathematic, but I mean it's not a lock. But I mean, if you beat the Eagles, you take basically a two game lead with a tiebreaker with three games to play. So I'm like, win this game and it's almost impossible for you to not make the playoffs over because of what happened last night.

And I mean a lot of people were like tweeting in the middle of the game, like, wit, should I did that? Now? Yeah, I mean you kind of think about it because you're like, they're not gonna win anything with with with Sanche. Yeah, you couldn't have predicted that Colt McCoy was gonna also, right, I don't think they were gonna win with him. But I think halfway through the game I started and actually really before the game,

I was kind of on the fence. I was like, yeah, I know, Philly's probably the best way to root here, but I don't think Washington's going anywhere. So the one thing I do fear a little bit if, and I think Cowboys fans should, is that Philly gets on a roll and you start looking at what some of the things that have changed for Philadelphia last Yeah, I mean you can it can happen. Yeah, you can stop it,

but you look at some of the stuff that's happened. Uh. Golden Tate last night gets going for them in a big way. He has seven catches ready, five yards in touchdown. Um, they get back Darren Sproles who has a touchdown for them last night. An important piece They've now found this undrafted guy Josh Adams, who is now giving some giving them a regular presence as a runner. Last night he had what was a twenty carries for eighty five yards four point three average. Yeah, ERTs is still being arts,

Wins is still being wins. The big problem for them still is their secondary has just been stripped to to to you know, it's been tattered at this point. Ribbons um, And so do you think though that that that's a legitimate concern that Philly now can get on a role and you might be facing a very different team in Philadelphia than what you face the first time round. Of course it's a concern. But here's the thing that's the NFL. Like nobody's gonna do this job for you, you know

what I mean? Like you, We're gonna have to win games to make the playoffs. That's how this works. And the Eagles winning that game put you in a position to take care of business by beating them. I didn't want Washington to win that game because the Cowboys can't do anything about them from here on out. They don't play and all of their opponents the rest of the way are pretty easy as far as record goes. Obviously, I know it's the NFL. The Eagles tougher than I

thought it was. It is a little tougher, especially to what you saw last week. A seat like they're not winning those games. Giants, Jags, Giants, Jags, Titans, and Eagles. Right, yeah, that's no, that's no teams with winning records zero. So again, every game is tough in the NFL, I understand, But then go compare that to what the Eagles have to do. They go Eagles go to Dallas, I believe, to La to La Houston, and then they finish it off with Washington.

So that's three teams that are likely, two teams that are definitely going to the playoffs, one that looks like it is in Dallas, and then a division game to finish it out. That's rough, you know, like you always want, for the most part, what you always want when you're talking about division games is you want to want them to split. You want the home team to win. And

that's what happened last night. And I think if it comes down to it, if it matters at that last game, you'll probably want Washington to beat Philadelphia at that point. But I don't I don't know if it will matter.

You know, I have a feeling that the Cowboys will be playing Tampa Bay two days before Christmas with a chance to lock it up, right then, that's what that's kind of what So you think they're gonna lose one the next two if they're gonna need to Tampa Bay to lock it up, I mean, or somebody wins a game, Washington wins the next two, they got to win. If they lose one of the next two and the Cowboys

beat Philadelphia and Indy then Cowboys clinch. Yeah, anything can happen, but like it's reasonable to think the Cowboys split these next two games. Division game against Philly, who you just you could be a completely different team, and then a Colts team that's fighting for its playoff life on the road. So this has happened at least three times that I can think of. Now in December where the Eagles are not the favored and they come in Dallas has a

chance to really do something here. I think Thanksgiving fourteen was one. They were kind of hot and Sanchez came

in there and it did well. Um, I want to say in the two thousand and seven season they were ten, they won ten in a row and lost through the Eagles and Westbrook, and maybe even two thousand and six or so when they had a chance on Christmas Day and Jeff Garcia came in here and be I mean like, it just seems like there's been times where they have had a chance to knock out the Eagles and win

something big and they couldn't do it. So this you could, I mean, the whole division turns on this game because everything looks so cut and dry right now, But the Eagles win that game, they're in first player in first place. Although, like I said, though I like, I like this situation for the Cowboys because the Eagles have a murderers row

in front of them. But again going back to my point, this is all you can ask for, Like the game is in front of you, the opportunities there, Like you know, you're not going to build up this unassailable lead by not. You have to win games and play your part in it too, So this sets you up. It's all right there for you. And that's why I think it worked out so well if the Eagles won that game. And the best part about it, like you said, you're exactly right there. And the best part it is is down

the stretch here. Cowboys have the lead by themselves. That's what it was good about Philly when they had the lead by themselves. They've got the best team in the in the division right now now. I mean, they're playing better than the Eagles. They're the most they're the most complete team, and they have the most favorable schedule to win. What else do you want? You just said it's all lined up there for you to go with. Which and one more thing I can hear I can hear somebody

saying it at home. It's like, well, what if the Eagles get on a roll, the Cowboys are on a roll, so what whatever, let's go. Yeah, what else do you want but division rivals playing for the lead in December. That's why we do this, right, And if you want your mind to be blown even more, take that three and five team and consider the fact that they are in a great position to even be the third seed in the NFCA, not just the fourth seed. Right now,

the Chicago Bears are the third seed. They're at eight and four, But listen to what they've got left on the schedule. They're at home against the Rams this weekend, They're at home against Green Bay. The following weekend, they're at San Francisco, and finish the season at Minnesota. Three of those four teams, I'm sorry, two of those four teams are playoff bound teams or at least fighting for the playoffs. And obviously Green Bay is still green Bay

when it has Aaron Rodgers. So any given week keeps can I keep saying it can be Aaron Rodgers and the green Bay Packers that we know every Friday, I'm like Aaron Rodgers and the Packers and every Sunday they embarrassed. They just like in this last weekend, which first now that they fired their coach, watch them. You know they're gonna finish, get a road in one. Yeah, but that's

also good for the point. Yeah, that's good for the Cowboys at this point because you just want them to put losses on teams in the division, I mean, in the in the conference. That all just helps the Cowboys. Here's the Green Bay won't get back in the playoffs. I love having the It's so much fun to when you know, when you get to this point in the season when you can sort you know, sort of. I spend more time than anybody on that stupid ESPN like

playoff predictor, you know. But the funny thing for me is, like, you know, people in my mentions on Twitter are like, well, are you sure we want the three seed? I don't want to go to the Superdome? How do you eat? Like how do you even know how that's gonna shake out? Like literally, the Rams. Unless you think the Rams are going fifteen and one, that's not over either because if the Rams lose another game, then the answer back up

in first and Honestly, flip a coin. Either one of those teams is gonna be a tough out at their place. I know what everybody's saying about the Saints, but the Rams. Have you watched them lately, They're gonna be a tough out at their place, just like if you get tough out at there. If we can assume today that it's gonna be Rams one and Saints two, I would much rather go to LA. That's just because you haven't faced

the Rams this year. It's because I've been to the Superdome for a big game and I know what a tough place that is to play. That's really all it comes down. I'm not certainly wouldn't be the same thing in LA. They've turned that fan base into well. I mean, honestly, there'll be some silver and blue in the stands in LA, absolutely, but there'll be some silver and blue in New Orleans

as well, but as much. Yeah, but I just think that both those teams on the field, both those teams are gonna be a tough Games are tricky because you don't really have a huge advantage to go buy those tickets, you know, as a home team. I remember when the Cowboys played the Packers the game that you know, the days non catch or whatever. There was a lot of Cowboy fans tons at the end. Remember they were holding

the finished this fight signs. And I remember there has been times here when the Cowboys have won a playoff, made it to the playoffs at home, and then kind of scrambling to sell out the tickets that week. It's just kind of a chaotic thing that happens. I think they've gotten better at it by putting it into the ticket. It cracks me up, like, Yeah, people clowned on the Cowboys four or five years ago for putting playoff tickets in their season ticket package, Like that's just smartest smart.

It's like everything the year that they won. Actually, I think it is ironically because I mean in what like twenty fourteen was when Jerry was like it's going to be an uphill battle man and they went twelve and four. Which leads me back to the overarching point, which is like, I can't believe we're talking about it's every every game when you when you think about points in the seasons since you've been here like five or six years, I mean like twenty fourteen they lost to the forty nine ers,

and you know, it was a sea of red. You know, yep, Kent, but it reminds been one of the Kent's best lines. But that and then you're like, there's no way this team's gonna do anything. And they go twelve and four, you know, and then and then like in twenty fifteen, they're two and oh and they're looking looking really good, and then they go four and twelve, and then Romo gets hurt in sixteen You're like, okay, but that's exactly

the reason why. And we remember back, go back to the beginning of the season, and we're having the conversation about you know, they always just at the beginning of the year, all the networks are talking about like, okay, who's the O and two team that will who's the team that will go on in two because their percentages of making the playoffs or so I'm like, that's irrelevant.

The only reason why that statistic holds up is because typically if you go into you're a bad team, it doesn't mean that if you go into you're not gonna make the playoffs. They're two different things, and you're seeing it more and more in the NFL now. Team to sometimes get off to these tough starts, they somehow start turning it around and before you get to the end

of the season they're on a role. Houston was that team this year, Like they go three and three and then went on a run, lost to the New York Giant sacks, right, and then went on a run. So I just think, I just think it's not about it's not about the start necessarily. It's about if you're a bad team and you continue to be a bad team, you're not gonna make the playoffs. If you're a bad team that gets better, then you have you still have

everything in front of you. You remember when when you were doing the Houston preview and you were like laying out these things like, well they're second in sacks, and their offense is average, you know, ninth and in scoring, and Hopkins is this and that, and I was like, why do they suck? Yeah, You're like, well, I don't know, And they didn't, Right, they did not suck. They were just having a rough time. I mean, but that lot was coming back after being out the whole previous year.

I mean, there's a lot of stuff that But the Cowboys this year, I mean three and five, I mean, like against Tennessee like they sucked, Like that was bad, and that's I keep thinking about that too again going the time that I've been here, and I mean, we've never seen in my time, we've never seen a trade like this where you do something like go get to Mary Cooper. So I'm obviously you're talking about a different not in season. No am I crazy year that? Yeah,

what happened with Roy Willams with him here? I was years for me? Really? Are you serious? Ten years ago? You know my timing is sold ten years ago for Roy Williams. Ten years ago. Yes, I was in college. That was like that seems recent to me? No, um wow. My point was even the last Roy Williams. My point, sorry, was that we have never seen a Cowboys team in my time transformed like this like you, like I said this last week, like usually by mid October to Halloween,

you know what the Cowboys are like last year? They well, actually they transformed last year for the worst. I guess you could say by this point we've known what they are twenty fifteen. They you know, they're two and seven. Even when Romo came back, it was a fools hope that they're going to do anything twenty six unprecedented winning street twenty fourteen. By Thanksgiving they were eight or nine

and four. They were pretty good even you know, in twenty thirteen they had a winning record, but that defense, like nobody was under any impression they were winning anything with that defense. So to sit here on December fourth and literally six weeks ago, I mean I would have bet my life we'd be talking about draft picks right

now on October fifteenth. Think about what you just said, though, the two seasons that you pointed out that were anomalies last year and this year for two different reasons, one going the wrong way, one going the right way. In both those instances, there were two big things that happened to cause the change. Last year, they had gotten on a bit of a run, and then they lost Ezekiel Elliott and that changed everything, right, and they lost all those other guys by the way as well, But that

changed everything last year. This year, I think personally, as much as you talk about Amari Cooper, I think he added something to this team. But I also think the changes they made on the offensive line made just a huge difference. So I think those two things combined were the reason why we saw the ascension of this team to where they are now from where they were at the beginning of the season. And I think Sean Lee's

injury is as weird as it sounds. I think that was actually a blessing for the for the Cowboys because Sean, not for Sean, not for Sean. But I'm just saying, I'm just saying Layton vander esh is one of the best linebackers in football right now. He's playing at a high level. If he's gonna win Rookie of the Year, it's gonna be close, because Derwin James is playing out out of his mind. Oh my gosh. And the guy in Indianapolis, Darius Leonard, is playing really well. He's got

great stats. I don't think he's gonna he's gonna be able to win it. But I'm just saying, Layton Vanderes is playing at a Pro Bowl level, not just Rookie of the Year. And I don't know if that's gonna happen with Sean Lee still in there. And now if Sean can come back. And I know you wrote a story about saying a great segue and where you're going to as you started talking about I was like, thank you, Nick for the segue. We're gonna take our first break.

When we come back, We're gonna talk about with Jerry right about Sean Leean where he fits into this linebacking core. Whenever he comes back, we'll debt women come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. And you love. I mean, if you have a right thing, then cutting the court is scary. But then I found out I could switch to DirecTV Now and still get the live sports I love. No satellite needed, no bulky hardware, no annual contract, just that the live sports. You try DirecTV

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like a pro. Is a Cowboys Travel dot Com to book your travel package today, I want to use what the pros use. How about the official men skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Playmaker, a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, or just ten bucks with free shipping. The Playmaker includes four Jack Black skincare favorites, plus a full sized Intense Therapy lip bomb and a Cowboys can cooler.

Go to get Jack Black dot com, slash Cowboys and use the code word Cowboys the Jack Black Playmakers ten bucks free shipping. While a player can look good on paper, it's one he's out on the field that you really find out what he's made of. That's why the Cowboys rely on more than just stats and scouting reports when building their team. When picking a tractor, it's why you should rely on more than just specs and features. You've got to take it out and put it to the test.

The Cowboys did when they named John Dear their official tractor experience one for yourself. If this my John Dear Dealer dot com slash football. Back to the Break, Welcome back. It's the second segment of the Break, live from the SWBC Mortgage studios at the Star. We're talking big picture today Cowboys and where they sit in the NFC, in the NFC Easton, in the NFL. Right before the break.

I'm sorry, I'm gonna ruin your segue, but I do think it's worth pointing out just you know, we spend so much time talking about the division thing like, thanks to everything that happened over the weekend, wildcard is in play for the NFC that I know, No, no no, no, had I had that, and because Nick took it a different direction, I thought, well, I might not bring it back, but let's take it back. Let's let's jump in that real quick in before before we get over to what

Jerry had to say. Never in my life would have thought that would happen either. We all concluded at mid season that was not an option. Wildcard was not an option for the Cowboys or anybody from the NFC's for that matter. And right now, here's where they sit. You've got Seattle at seven and five as the top wildcard at this time. They are the only team that has a record the same him as the Cowboys, and they

obviously have a tie break over the Cowboys. Everybody else right now as it sits, is below the Cowboy for Cowboys for even a while. That second wildcard spot. You got Minnesota at six, five and one. You've got Carolina who is just mightily sliding like they are. Things are going bad for them. And by the way, yeah, and by the way, Greg Olsen might be done for the season. I know he said, he tore, he ruptured his plants, are fascists whatever it's Yeah, it sounds very painful. And

they've got the Saints twice. They're six and six, and then you got obviously Philly in Washington. Listen to what the schedule looks like for Minnesota, for Carolina, Minnesota for the rest of the season, they'll play Seattle, so one

of them has to take a loss at Seattle. They'll play Miami, then they'll play at Detroit, and then they finished the season against Chicago, So they got two games there that are gonna be really tough for them, and then Carolina plays at Cleveland, they play New Orleans at home, they play at Lanta at home, and then they finished the season at New Orleans. So two games against New Orleans. Now, maybe that last game at New Orleans may not matter, who knows, But all that being said, those two teams

are gonna battle each other a little bit. There's gonna be some jockeying for position there. And so it does line up to where even if the Cowboys lose to Philly, they still are sitting in a really really good spot to finish out. If they can finish out strong, to finish out and be able to be a wild card team. Yeah, I mean if Philly, If Philly is capable of getting on the type of role that you're describing, obviously, like

they're gonna have to beat some good teams to do it. Yeah, I won't be surprised if Dallas and Philly both make the playoffs. Yeah, you don't want which is amazing. You don't want that in that four or five game, if Dallas is the four, you know you have to go to Philly. No way, just play him again. Yeah, are fat? I tell you the one that I think is the most favorable. I mean, if you can get to three, I guess that that's that's fine. You might have to

face an NFC team. I have to face the Vikings, But um, I think being a four seed and play in Seattle like yesterday at the hospital visits, which by the way, is one of my favorite things we get to do now, it really is. It's a humbling thing. We did it yesterday and the guys were great. DeMarcus Lawrence. It's just amazing in so many ways. But and he you know, he said something before the Saints game, obviously,

and he was right about how how he was. He was right, I'm detailed on how we're gonna how they gonna win that game. He was asked about a fan that one of the kids as a Seattle fan, and he he asked them about, you know, the question was do you did you turn him? Did you turn him as a as a Seattle fan? And they still you know, or they cowboy fans down. He's like, it doesn't matter.

I don't think we turned him. But it's okay. He'll know because we have to play them coming up in a few weeks and it'll be I mean, he's just straight, like like he really thinks that was on the schedule, and I was like already putting him in the playoffs. He's like, that's what's gonna have to be. I think

he acts. He said that about the Saints too, Like I'm pretty sure after the game he was like, we don't need to talk because we'll see him again or something like he's kind of matched up four versus five. They win and then they go to FLA. I think his mentality is probably just like everybody who ain't us is in the way. I mean, I don't know which I love. Yeah, he is hands down my favorite player

on this team probably. I mean just the you know, between production on the field, personality off the field, genuine dude, good dude. Yeah. Just I think he took that that spot for me yesterday too. I actually walked around with him at the hospital and just the things that he that he does and the stuff he thinks about, it's unbelievable. He's got so much in front of him, so much

going on. He's the leader of this defense right now. Um, and you know he's worried about going back to room twenty four twelve because the little girl was crying and didn't want to make sure that she she remembered the cowboys, as you know, when she was crying, you know, they woke her up basically. So he came back in there and she was in a better mood. And that was

you know, his focus. Some little girl, you know, who's beautiful girl, bald head, just going through chemo, and she wanted a different toy, a specific toy, and he was like, you want that for okay, And he turned around to the pr lady that was working there and he said, write that down, please, her name and all that, because he's gonna make sure it happens. Yeah, I'm glad you. Yeah, we should have talked about at the top of the show, Joe. I mean, it's it's so cool when they do those visits.

I was with um, I was with Dak Jalen, Byron Travis and some other guys at the Children's hospital in Dallas, and it's I mean, the way those kids and you know obviously the kids, but in their families too. I mean, you know, I can't even imagine like living my life in a hospital with my kid, and I mean and the worst part of that being you can't take away what's harming your child. Yeah, like nothing you can do. I wouldn't just comfort them. That's as much it. I mean,

you know parents are Cowboys fans too. It lights there. I mean, you know, it's just it's cool to see the impact that those guys, the brand. You always talking about the brand and the star and all that. Just

the impact of it. And I mean, as great as DeMarcus Lawrence is, these little kids don't know DeMarcus Lawrence and they know two players on the team, probably Um and and that, you know, just just by face and they see him and they definitely don't know Damian Wilson or cheerleaders, but the uniform and start in the star and then they come in and just like you said, it just kind of it brightens their day. I mean, they woke up some parents, you know, they had long nights.

Parents are there, you know, and they're trying to get their phone and to take pictures and all that. It's just it's awesome. It's really one of the best things that the Cowboys do. I'm glad they do it. I'm

glad we get to kind of tag along for it. Yeah, yeah, those are those are the really cool moments to show you that what you do, because I know sometimes I'll have conversation with different people and they'll be like, you know they you know they're a doctor or their teacher, or you know, they have careers that that really matter. And what I mean is like they are touching people's lives.

And it takes moments like that for you to realize how much these jobs and I'm talking about working for the Cowboys can affect people's lives because it does have a way of bringing joy to people. It does have a way of helping people escape from their reality. Sometimes it's a pretty hard reality, and so really it does in a way have its own place in society of being able to be a help to people in times of need. Ye, this little kid, he I don't know what he was dealing with, but I'm sure it was

terrible based on the setup in his hospital room. But they woke him up to it, like this little kid. And this little guy woke up and dak Byron Jaalen or like at his bedside, like that's like the first thing he saw when he woke up from his nap. And I was like, that's probably pretty cool. Yeah, that's pretty cool. You wake up, dad, don't wake me up right now, Like I'm in this great dream. Don't wake me up. It was actually funny. I'll change something a

little bit. Last night at the Christmas party, I was standing with a couple of people and we looked up and you know Steven, and Steven kind of walks around and works the room a little bit. So he's standing there and he's talking to to take and I'm like, I wonder what that conversation is, Like he's like patting, I'm on the back, yeah, And I'm like, I wonder what that conversation is, Like, I wonder what exactly is

being said in them home. It's probably nothing, but you could probably go and put some pretty funny lines that you could add to that conversation. Hey me, he can't right now anyway. That's he's like, I can't. I gotta wait till February. Although February soon enough. Yep, it's it's soon enough, all right, So let's let's flip back over to that other conversation. Actually, we do need to take our other break. Let's go and take our final break.

When we come back, we will get to what Jerry had to say this morning, not only about Sean Lee, but he also talked a little bit about Tyren Smith and had some comments about a one particular guy that a lot of people are talking about as an offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. At some point, we'll talk about that when we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. While a player could look good on paper, it's when he's out on the field that

you really find out what he's made of. That's why the Cowboys rely on more than just stats and scouting reports when building their team. When picking a tractor, it's why you should rely on more than just specs and features. You've got to take it out and put it to the test. The Cowboys did when they named John Deer their official tractor. Experience one for yourself. If this is my John Deer Dealer dot com slash Football, it's time for tailgate with the Autobox Boys. Auterbox the makers are

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studios at the Star. Nick tell us a little bit about Tommy John. Tommy John, it's got they proudly pride themselves on. You don't have to adjust anything. Sometimes it's good to adjust. Like in mid season, the Cowboys have made some adjustments. But when it comes to your bridges down there, they don't want you have to mess with them. You haven't heard that one bridges briches, all right, the

best bridges in the business. Tommy John dot com Forward slash Cowboys, off your first order, Tommy John dot com Forward slash Cowboys, slash draws. That's that's my favorite. My my old football coach in like middle school said that all draws, you draws, ro your draws in the laundry or whatever. I don't know has had this draw great word. But until I got to college, I realized drawls. Would they oh like I'm in I'm from the country, Yeah, drawls?

You know, sorry, not really anyway, all right, let's go um, let's talk a little bit about Jared Jerry Jones had a couple of things to say this morning on his local on his show with the local radio station, The Fan, he did mention that Tyren Smith um looks like he should be able to come back this week against Philadelphia. That's a big thing for the Cowboys, I think, um, and we'll talk about that more as the week goes on.

And we started talking about the matchups. But in addition that he also talked about Sean Lee and his statement was that Sean Lee is going to resume his role as a starter. Um, but he was the caveat he said, but we're not going to rush him back. So I think there's a lot of things to take from that. What did you guys take from from that statement from Jerry? Yeah, I don't know. It seems like, I mean, you gotta have something to talk about, I guess. So, Yeah, that's

the big debate. I was tweeting about it this morning. It's like, I can't bring myself to get worked up about this. If it was quarterback, I would understand. But for the millionth time since they drafted Layton Vanderesh, like you need three guys to play two spots, it doesn't matter who's listed on the program as the starter. Like I you know, I think they'll find a way to

use them all. They'll rotate them. If that means that Sean Lee's on the field for the first series of the game, that's cool, because Layton Vanderesh has been too good to play a signal Like they're not just going to take him off the field, you know what I mean. I actually I was curious about this. I went and looked it up. From the time, you know, from the first time League got hurt, which is when vander Esh really took over and started playing well as a starter.

They've only all been healthy for one game. Wow. Yeah, because Sean came back for Washington and then he got hurt the next game like halfway through the Tennessee So they've only really been healthy. So the snap count in

that game, there were sixty defensive snaps. Sean played thirty eight of them, Jalen played fifty eight of them, and Vanderesh played twenty one, which obviously that's a little low on the Vanderesh side, but that was also that was really before he kind of hit his stride, because it was the Eagles game where he really kind of announced himself and he's been playing great ever since. So I'm flipping that. Yeah, no, I I guarantee you, and we don't for we don't know if Sean will be available

for this game. He said on Friday that he hopes to come back to practice this week. We'll see tomorrow. Um, but I you know, if they play sixty five snaps against the Eagles, I can't imagine Vanderesh playing less than forty of them. You know, I watched the Eagles and

we'll get into their offense, I guess tomorrow. But but um, you know, it just looks like because you know, when you when you watch fantasy, when you have when you're playing fantasy football, and you see like you want to know who's on the field, and they actually on Monday nights show you every play. Like the guys that are out there, it's a lot of three receiver sets a lot, and so I think they might have found something with the Jordan Lewis thing playing in some dime, I could

see that that happening a little bit more. And they don't have they don't have Kamara, but they've got a Sprowls and he's similar, you know, similar. I mean he's not the same as Kamara, but I mean he's he was he was at one point he was Kamara before. I mean, yeah, the Saints have had four or five of those guys. I mean he wasn't as Smara gets the ball in the middle of the field more than than than you know, than I remember, like a Sprowls getting you mean runs up the middle, runs up but

oh no, for sure. Yeah, and again they have a Heisman Trophy winner. Not sure why they don't give Ingram the ball and some of that, but I don't know. He gets it plenty who Ingram? Yeah, he gets a plenty. I just I they're gonna they'll they will find they will find jobs for all of them, and having all three of them healthy for the home stretch can only be a good thing. Like, yeah, there's nothing wrong with that.

I'll ask this question, Um, Sean Lee is a guy that before this year, I think he was probably regarded by most people as, if not the best in one of the two best players on this defense. Is there something that that vander esh and Jalen Smith can do that you don't think Sean Lee can do? Good question? Um, I would imagine at this at this point, and they're

they're a little bit more athletic than he is. I mean, they're just they're freaks of nature and they're better tacklers in terms of the contact was made at the twenty five and the ball is now going to be spotted at the twenty five or the twenty six. And I'm not saying that Sean Lee goes on you know, piggyback rides and all that, but I'm saying just from a strength standpoint, those guys and Rolando McClean was better than Shan Lee at that as well. I mean, bigger, stronger.

You know from the press box, that was a Rolando hit. That was a or Jalen hit. Sean doesn't provide those type of hits, but that's the one thing he does better, and then he's always overcome everyone else with his instincts. They have the instincts as well, so they're better linebackers than Shan Lee is. Right now, That's okay, I think so, But that's my question because I look at Sean Lee

and I think he is a playmaking linebacker. I mean, there were many years that Sean Lee was the only guy, the only guy, one of the few guys on this defense that you could that could make a play for

you and you needed it. And so I do think to some degree this is one of those situations where his injury status is clouding people's judgment about him as a player well and his injury status, and maybe he struggled a little bit because of that too, because honestly, I was gonna say, I agree with you like Sean Lee. His hits don't just jump off the tape at you

the way that like a Jalen Smith does. But before this season, he was such a sure tackler, like if he got his hands on you, you were not going to break the tackle. And I remember him making tackles behind a lot of scrimmage with a guy didn't get an extra yard, he dropped it. He it's an art form, like he's the tackle for Lost King, and it's mainly

instincts like that got it done for him. But this season, in the early going, when he was still healthy, like it kind of he seemed like you saw that slip, like miss tackles against Carolina, miss tackles in the Seattle game before he got hurt, which you know, chalk that up to more of an aberration because we've seen him been doing it for so long. But it was definite Seattle game. I thought he had about ten tackles in the first two drives. He probably did. I remember, I

remember it being it feels like ancient history. But in September I remember multiple times being like, yeah, it's not that's not what you're used to see him from Shawn Lee specific the Carolina game specifically, um and so yeah, I think you're right. I think I think it's easy to forget how good a guy is when he doesn't

have a chance to be out there making plays. To that point, the play you know, that that amazing play that Layton made in Philly on the screen, that's a shan Lee Like that's Sean Lee's play, and which was what made it so impressive. It's like, whoa, this guy's doing Sean Lee stuff at the age of twenty two. That's amazing. So um, it's just hard to say because we haven't seen much of him this year, which that's

a theme unfortunately. But that's also why I mean, when I look at it, I think this is much ado about nothing. If you've got three really good linebackers at all can make plays for you, the more the better. Like I don't have a problem with taking Layton or j Jalen off the field. It just means to me they're gonna be fresh, and all the three of them will be fresher than they would have been if it were just two that they were rotating in. I would like to it doesn't really, it doesn't concern me from

that standpoint. This is a question for brought us. We should talk to him about this, but like, Okay, that's great. You're gonna obviously rotating is good, I think, but you're not just gonna rotate arbitrarily like you're gonna have so who do you want in there? On third and long? Who do you want in there? It's you know, are

you sure you're not? Just because it did seem like when they all three were playing, it would be like a series, this guy's in and in a series, this guy's gonna be out, and it seemed like they were. It was kind of like what they were running backs back And remember the drive that the Redskins scored, They drove down. It was the first drive of the game. Yeah, screen passed two bibbs bibbs and Layton wasn't really on the field. Sean started the game and they went down

the field and scored. And that's really the only time that I believe that Washington drove the field and for at least for a touchdown. They might have drove down for some field goals, yeah, because their other touchdown was defensive. So I mean, and I just I remember tweeting about it, like, um, can we get Vanderesh out there where we weren't even doing that back then. That's that's how crazy this season is. Like this dude has a whole You see his girlfriend

on Instagram last night the picture. Yeah did you see that cowboy's Christmas party? Everybody gets dressed up to the nines. Uh, Layton and his girlfriend took a photo and he draped a freaking wolf over his shoulders in the you know, you know, coming to America. Yeah, yeah, it was. It was like the head, the wolf head, Yeah, it was.

It was I'm just like a badass. And last he was just kind of like, no, I couldn't quite wear it all the way here, Like I thought about, well, I mean, if you've spent time around Layton vander Esch, like great guy obviously, like he's so enthusiastic and passion on the field, Like he's not like that, you know, he's he's not that guy that's much more laid back, laid back, but like he's unassuming. He's from freaking Riggins, Idaho, Like he's not he could never call himself the wolf

Hunter with a straight face. I don't think like if we named DeMarcus Lawrence the wolf Hunter, he'd be walking around T shirt. He would have a T shirt and he would say, call me wolf and he would have a wolf head. He would just big wolf medallion. Yeah, yeah, I can't imagine Layton, although Layton. Did you see Layton's ring? Yeah, he does have a wolf ring, like it's a big

gold wolf hid on a ring. I'm actually pretty cool that dude hits the crap out of people and has literally killed wolves, Like, I don't want to mess with him. And as great as Derwin James is playing right now, they're they're almost playing the same position because I saw several times the other than he is. He's up there playing like a linebacker. Um, remember he was drafted two spots ahead. It wasn't like the Cowboys had the choice three.

Actually to think, I thought it was seventeen nineteen. Anyways, anyways, you're thinking right ahead, and the Cowboys would have had to move up for it. And that's actually important. Was it sixteen or seventeen? Because which draft pick do you have to let go? I think I think right now, even if you think James is better, there's no way James is better than him and Gallop. And you're saying, right, I think everybody. I mean, you know he's not gonna

win offensive Rookie of the Year. About everybody is pretty encouraged by what Michael Gallup is doing. And I think I said after the like, in an alternate universe, Michael Gallup has like three hundred more yards and four touchdowns, Like if Dak it just gets five plays go the other way like a Gallup a few Washington Saints game, I mean the Panthers game, that crossing route, Like, yeah, I feel bad for Michael Gallup. He's they're like easily

left like two hundred yards on the field. But you can also think about it like this, if you didn't have Layton vandersch this season and Sean Lee did what he did, which typically happens when those injuries, where would this team be right now? If Jalen's out there and

you've got Damien Wilson out there with him. Not nothing against Damian Wilson, but he's not Layton Vandrett and Jodha has been hurt too, So it's not like, yeah, so it's that would you would have been in a real pitch at linebacker had you not had Layton Vandersh Here staggering how well that plan came and he's really you know, when you think about the take Shawn Lee out because he's been hurt. The four best players on defense, this

might be kind of harder. Four best players of Tank we know, Vandersch, Byron Jones, there you go, Jalen, and to me, it's kind of a toss up between him and Crawford. I think Crawford. I think Jayleen's probably here for the mccrawford's at close fifth. I love Tyrone Crawford to death, but he Jalen Smith is a freak right and and but Crawford played much better for his role.

I think he's all right top five. And that's fine because where I'm going with this is that personality wise, and he fits right in the middle, you've got two guys that that like the camera, they liked to be out there, they liked him, I guess, yes, Tank and jal Yes, that's a great point. You've got two guys that they're they guy's personality, but they but they're they don't mind being quiet and laid back in both Layton and Byron Jones. And then Crawford's kind of in the

middle him, Yeah, thanks pulling him. Yeah, he might be all in over, but those guys are good to have it's good to have a Layton that kind of does

this thing. It's good to have. I mean, I'm telling you what, Daniel Ross and Antoine Woods, they owe a lot of what they've been able to do to Jalen I mean Tank, I mean, he just kind of makes them part of the team and the and they thrive off it and they've played pretty good for those are those are those glue kind of guys that you just need him to play the role and play the role well.

And that's what they are there are mind, I'm remind of a guy like Brandon Noble was never a great player, but he was one of those glue kind of guys. They end up getting a pretty good contract to be able to leave. But he's just a good, solid player. You need those kinds of the problems. He was the best player on the defense. He was He wasn't, but he was just he was just a good player that was in a position where he was asked to be the best player on the defense. That's the story of

the NFL. Jack Crawford and Terrell McLean were those guys couple of years ago, and they went and got better contracts elsewhere. And if these guys keep playing that way, I'll probably happen for them too, you know, and real quick, Yeah, we have the time a little bit, so, but just we could talk about this another time. But you know, the Cowboys, you gotta give credit to to Will McClay,

Jerry Stephen, Jason. You know that then they're drafting every one of those guys is a guy that's been drafted other than maybe David Irving who's not here, Jeff Heath and well, okay, you're right, but I mean, I they deserve credit for bringing those guys in. And yeah, they go and find a lot of those guys. Those are gems that they find that other people are kind of throwing away. So but mean, swell Field is a good example.

But the drafting of of you know, DeMarcus Lawrence and yeah Layton and jay Len, I mean, those are moves that you're like, sure, we want to do this. Yeah, and and and look and Cheeto and those guys and look what it's got them Woods. Yeah, that was the graphic I think in the Eagles game. Woods is the only guy that's playing a meaningful role for this team that wasn't found in offense or defense. Just defense, just defense. Yeah, but still it's huge. That's huge. All right, We appreciate you, guys,

Joan us. We'll be back tomorrow. We'll start breaking down Cowboys versus Eagles. It'll be a fun week till and for Nick Eatman, Dave Helm and 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.