Talkin' Cowboys: Running Back Shuffle

there's lots going on around here. And so before we do that, though, how are you guys? I missed you guys. This should too ray to be back. That was instant. No, No, I was just I'm sorry. I was just its been a while. Yeah. The text from Mickey every day were so sweet. Things, wasn't it? Checking out? See if you had a good bye week's like a blue heart emoji from Mickey Usually what you do? I went up to Maryland to see my good friend had surprised her for

a birthday. Well, what'd you do? I got a feeling she did? Sury taken hell us two did brought us went fishing out of town. No, I watched my Tigers this weekend. You guys got to win. Yeah, there you go. I barely moved from the couch. Yeah, he's got to win. I would fishing in my neighborhood. Football baseball got into the baseball yet resting saw at all. Yeah, well that's what bye weeks are for. And the Cowboys did not rest. It was a very very busy bye week here, most

doubtedly with different cuts. Nolan Carroll everything with Zeke and Navarro Bowman. Anyway, Navarro Bowman no longer consideration. He has decided to stay in the Bay Areas. Most everyone thought he might with the Raiders. No surprise there, really no, I didn't think so. Boy would be nice to have him.

It helped Mickey's run defense, all of our hopefully. Yeah, um, as long as he didn't have to get in coverage from what I read, No, the barrier has got to be a factor, right, it's seventeen hundred miles from Santa Clara beating on that one in Twitter, I did not exactly, man, It's more like forty like whatever, all right, it's not seventeen hundred miles. The other thing. You got your point though. The other thing is three million bucks for one year.

I don't know if the Cowboys would have been willing to pay that the games. Yeah, they could have, but money would have been a factor too, I think with a guy who's twenty nine coming off. I mean he had a killes injury last year, as y'all discussed yesterday, and a really bad knee injury two years before that. Yeah, not hurt again NY Cowboys in season? Right, Yeah, he got hurt against KOs last year. Yeah, was the Cowboys. The playoff game was twenty January twenty fourteen. Right, Um,

I don't know. Still would have been good to have guys, some guys. Some guy in San Jose paper said he can't get sideling to sideline and he's a sitting duck and coverage on running backs and tight ends. Sounds like the middle linebacker got right now. Yeah. Well, the thing about him is though he's a physical point of attack player. I mean, if if you're going to run between the time, I mean, if the ball was coming at him, he's a sure tackler. Yeah, that's something he can do. We

talked about it yesterday. I wouldn't put him in coverage if he's a two down players, he would be just fine. But you know, and I was looking at some of the tweets and different questions that were coming in post our discussion. An interesting one that we really haven't brought up is did the Cowboys cut Cedric Thornton too soon? You know, hindsight's twenty twenty and I don't know if

that's even hindsight twenty twenty. There if you agree or disagree, if that was a good decision now seeing the run defense in your depth there, that was his best trade was stopping the run and he couldn't. Yeah, that's the issue. No, I mean, you're right though, best trade, but Mickey's right too, Which is funny because it gives you some thought like, Okay, could Cedric Thornton have helped? You know, but Cedric Thornton wasn't doing the things well that he's supposed to do well.

He wasn't the same player. No, he wasn't. In Philly. He wasn't. And that's and that's the that's the problem you run into if you know, talk about cutting him early. It'd been nice for him to show up and say okay, hey and training, Yeah, let's play the run a little bit better. Let's you know the things that you're good at, let me see you do. And to Mickey's point, he didn't. Yeah, and I know I think it's I think it's bigger

than that. I really really do now in hindsight though, I mean, if you knew that Stephen piet was going to retire after five games, now you're kind of in a spot where what do you do? Well, you just tell David Irving to get out there and do what he did the first time out? Again, is he a full time nose tackle? And again and again he wasn't. That game played a lot of it. Yeah, I mean if he can play that he had more production in one game than than Thornton had in ten games. Yeah.

Thornton's best game was probably Cincinnati last year. But other than that, he he had struggles. Well, Rob brings up a good point sevenpia. He came in here and he was really kind of like the bandage of losing Troll McClain in free agency? Should the Cowboys have gone more after Troll mcclin in free agency? Now, what do you get paid by Washington Kentals? Perhaps our fabulous Roll mclin.

You're asking about twenty something million. I'll find out it was more than they felt like they needed to pay for one technique who last year was good. Yeah, but last year was probably his first real healthy season with the team, just about true. So you have to factor that kind of stuff in you're making the multi year

commitment to a guy. It's all hindsight, you know. And we brought up a good point in our last full show Tay that you know, these some of these free agent moves have not worked out for this team, but they're always hesitant to pay anybody in free agent Roe McClain four years, twenty one million guaranteed at signing was ten million, average five million a year. It's a lot of money. It's a lot, it's a lot money. So

you know, just something to think about. But Navarro boment kind of at least since a lot of guys have been cut in different moves have been made in this season, who was the first one that I thought of a real consideration for the Dallas Cowboys. A lot of times, you guys see these guys that get cut and I'm sure you guys are all getting tweets should the Cowboys pick this guy up? Right? And you guys are just laughing at it. But this one was one to kind of Okay, let's look at it. Let me I see this.

I don't want to throw dirt on a guy or you know, be disrespectful. But do you? But do you? I'm excited to hear what you here. Know, I'm thinking about Crawford playing that playing the three. You're talking about Jack Crawford or Tyron Crawford, and then Colin's moving over to the one. Yeah, and what are you gonna do with David Irving? Well, that's what I'm saying. I mean, I don't know if David Irving would be my every down. Yeah, I wonder about that. You want to put him at

right defensive end. I'm thinking of spots. I'm thinking of spots. I'm just not sure that putting. I'm trying to put as much inside to help my linebackers as I can. It seems like that the guards and the centers are kind of killing me at the linebacker spot right now. So I'm trying to put guys up that might be better hold up guys inside. David Irvin is a slinky kind of a player, and you know gets you know,

he could get tall, guy gets small gets squared. You know, he's he's really a pass rusher, that's what he really is. He's a He's a good pass rusher from the inside. So if I'm having trouble stopping the run at least on first and second down, do I might think about putting more inside. I think that you know, you talk about McClain and not signing him, and then people on the other side will say, well, why did you give

Crawford all that money? See, that's that's you know, it appears to me that there has been some imbalance on who you pay, who you don't pay, who's good enough to be paid? You know that that's I think that's where they're missing, missing the evaluation right now because because to me, if you're going to Crawford, you know, they paid him as a three technique and gave him a gave him a good chunk of money, and now what he's doing, he's playing right defensive end for you. So

that's it. There's a lot of evaluation it's going on that that doesn't look like it's it's all lining up like they thought it should line up. What about him playing one technique? I would play him at the three myself because fans you're talking about Tyrone Crawford playing it. Yeah, yeah, okay, you know, I don't I don't have a problem in that. I just to me if I could keep him on the edge, because I've known he has a history of shoulder problems and things like that. He tends to get

kind of beat up as you go along. So if you keep him on the shoulder of the guard, you know, maybe it's just playing that one gap right there, not having to take on a center and a guard playing an inside technique they need, they need Malie Collins to play better too. Well, you really only have one true nose tackle left. That's Brian Price, right. Yeah, yeah, And I don't know how many snaps you want to give him on a weekly basis. So I'm with you on Irving.

I think he's more of a move around guy. Maybe he's you know, he's a pass rusher tackle in the nickel and sub packages. But I don't know. If I don't know, if run defense, he's gonna the guy you want to hold up for base defense is basically a sub package today. That's true, that's true. I mean, how many snaps do you think they played that last game with three lass. Well, then if teams are going to get him in sub packages and run on them, then

they're going to be hurting. Well that's the problem right now. That then, that's what I'm saying, though, you could play Crawford as an inside technique at least maybe get something as a pass rusher plus a run defender. That's my only that's my only thought right there. Well, I like what you guys are saying, Hey, you're giving option, you better figure out how to stop the run that that's gonna be. And like if you move him inside and

who's playing right defensive end which they haven't found. Oh long, we've said they don't have a right defense I know, and so be better? I mean, are you better off? Are you better off getting gashed in the run or not having a right defensive end? Fan question, move up, Lewis Neil, could you throw throw taco in the middle? Now? See now, Rob, you've asked that question about him playing some nickel tackle right and the nickel Yeah, yeah, but he's you know, he's a two eighty, but he sure

doesn't look it. Yeah, let's say he's about two six. Yeah, And and there's been some times where he's actually looked pretty good when they've used him in some rush stuff. I know at training camp when they worked him with when they worked him with Lawrence, there were some things in some preseason games he wasn't bad. I don't know if you want to make a steady diet, living or

whatever you want to say. Him playing as a three technique, you know, you better figure out you you need somebody, You need something to at least keep these centers and guards off these linebackers. That's been a big, big problem, yeah problem, and two games out with Shaun Lee it was a very glaring when you do make mistakes and you don't hold guys up. He's the one guy that

can run and make it, can avoid. I will say this, Yeah, I want to see this defense with Shaun Lee and Anthony Hitchens in the game at the same time, because we have not seen that yet this year. And Brian makes a good point. I mean, everything starts up front, but those two guys flown to the ball. I think will help this run defense for sure, It should, it should. Well, just some thoughts there, and now we have to prepare

this team without Ezekiel Elliott. Obviously we've all been on different podcasts since the news came out Thursday afternoon, and yes, more news came out yesterday, not anything surprising or unexpected, but they did reach out to reappeal what court was at in the Fifth Court again Fifth Court. Yes, actually

they're doing it both both. They've already applied a motion for a temporary restraining order with the Southern District of New York along with the Fifth Circuit Court to hurry up and get a stay until they decide if they're gonna hear the new word that I learned un bunk hearing where instead of a three judge panel that in bank is it's spilled a C spelled umbunk? Is that he said, I just said it French. Oh unless our guy from them, yeah, will tell us on B A N C. Yeah, I think we said in bank in

the bank. Yeah, I don't know. We're from Texas, Yeah, we're not. It was being filed in New Orleans, so I put a little French Napoleonic code mayberench twist on. I like it. I like it have some fun. Anyway, that would mean the whole all the judges in that circuit would actually listen to what they have to say.

So they haven't given up yet and probably find out at some point, maybe today, since they applied for emergency motion to see if they get a stay, which means which would allow him to play until they hear one or the other case. Are you talking about the tro

in New York or the hearing, well both. It's a hearing for the TRO today right one Central time, and they've also asked the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans to hurry up and give him a stay until they decide if they're going to hear the entire court judges in the court case. I think it's more confusing by the week.

There's a lot of different manures and what's happening. Just to make it simple, what they're trying to do is get to a point where a court listens to their lawsuit against the NFL for a inherently unfair arbitration case which the judge in Sherman ruled in their favor. The NFL is just playing legal ease with this whole thing to block ever getting to that lawsuit. They don't want

to go to court and on that lawsuit. And if you got one judge that agreed with you, who knows if you get another judge degree with you, and they got one judge in New Orleans to agree with them. So that's why they keep fishing here to see if they can finally get this thing hurt in court. And I don't know if they'll ever get there. And you know, if they do, when does it happen, you know, to do they get to stay and then it happens in the offseason, you know, I think that's the shot they

want to take. I couldn't play football and do this right now. I don't know if I could. He's very mentally strong. You have to be as a football player. You have to let things go. I have a short term memory, but I'm sorry. I mean, I can barely understand it, and I have to speak on it every day, you know, on this podcast just in general talkings, and

I can barely understand. Granted, he has a lot of very helpful resources around him, a lot of people who are handling things that are completely out of his hands. But it's your life, you know, it's your life on the line. We've had this debate and there's no need to really get into a debate on it. But you're surprised that he didn't sue her for deformation. Can't I mean legally grounds to clear his name. I don't know from a a legal standpoint, defamation if the case never

went to court. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So he it's the Court of NFL is trying this case, right, the Court of NFL is calling him a domestic violence abuser. Well, and that's where this whole thing boils down to, really, is that this should sue. This whole thing is sitting to clear your name. It's collectively bargained, you know. It's it's in the CBA that they can hand down a suspension. And that's fine. But I'm not saying it's it's okay.

I'm just saying that's ultimately, you know, the Brady thing. That's why players have trouble winning these cases. What's going on with Jarvis Landry. Somebody was tweeting at us about how this is a very similar situation that he's going into and I need to look further into that. I don't know his case. I got too many cases. I'm

dealing with it right now. That's the thing, is like I need to look into because somebody was like, this is the exact same thing that's happening to Jarvis Landry and no one's focusing on It's like, we'll see what happens. Remember this didn't get focused on for almost a year. Yeah, it's a year and later you're right. Bottom line, he's on the reserve suspend list and he's not he's not allowed to be here. Is that correct? Yes, what I understand that's per the rules of the suspension. So sure

it's tough. I mean, what he's away from the facility. What if he gets an injunction, then he's, like you said, Tay, like the mindset you gotta it's this herky jerky thing, then he's playing football again. Potentially. It's it's strange, you know, and you guys know this. You guys have all played sports. Sports is very routine organized. I mean, this team is one of the best teams to be very structured and at least that I've been around, very structured things, say

the same you know what's happening. Coach wears the same clothes every day. I mean, you know, it's very structured, and so these guys are very trained to be like where do I need to be, what time do I need to be there? How long? What am I doing, what are we looking at? What am I watching? And then it's like, well wait until one thirty and then maybe and now you've got a thirty minute drive. I don't know where he lives, but you know what I'm saying,

like these don't get here fast? Yeah here you will. Let me ask you this. If he doesn't act us all week and gets his stay on Friday, do you think he plays? That's my question is is the routine things? Because Garrett says there's no hard fashed rules about injury. So I mean, do you go ahead and if you got veteran running backs? Yeah, Morrison McFadden, if you had to go Smith, you could throw him. And there's a

veteran guy. Well, I like what you're saying, and let's hold that until after our first break because I think there's more to get into that and talking about. Okay, so say this happens, Let's go into that scenario right after this break. We the entertainment loving people want a smartphone built for us. With AT and T and Direct TV, you can get the Samsung Galaxy Saight with an Infinity

edge to edge screen. It's perfect for entertainment. We want exactly what you just said, Buy a Samsung Galaxy SA and get one free after bill credits when you buy both on AT and T next and after direct TV. Visit your local AT and T store today by each seven hundred fifty dollars on installment agreeing with eligible service, newline is free to seven hundred fifty dollars in credits over thirty months. Credit start in two to three builds.

If service canceled. Visaians two taxes, fees and restrictions to fly living. The Time Office, The Draw Freitytawils Star Sports Tours is the only official and travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, offering exclusive game weekend travel packages with sideline access and photo ops with current players, alumni and cheerleaders. That's not all, though, You'll get to talk xs and os with Senior Director of Player Personnel Will McClay and

of course with yours truly me, Brian broad Us. You can trust the official fan travel partner of the Dallas Cowboys, and with us you'll travel like a pro. Visit Cowboys travel dot com to book your travel package today. Cowboys fans know that the second best of anything simply won't cut it, and your skincare should be no different. A long time locker room favorite of the players and the

official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas based Jack Black is the number one best selling men's skincare brand in the country because we make products that help guys look, smell, and feel better. Visit get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys to get ten dollars off your first order of fifty dollars or more. Jack Black Look Good, Smell good, feel good, official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys. I hear all this talk about what it

takes to be a cowboy. Everyone got their ideas, but I just say to myself, it's what's up top that matters. Sure, you need men with the muscle and heart to get her done. But if your scouts and coaches are listening out there a word of advice. Pick the man with the most well worn stetson. That's the one most cut out to be a cowboy. Stetson hats are handmade right here in Texas and have been on cowboys heads for

over one hundred fifty years. The rest of you can visit Stetson dot com slash Cowboy to find a retailer nearest you. This is talking Cowboys Tommy John the softest, most supportive underwear out there. They're feature packed and feel amazing, and if you disagree, they're backed by the best pair you'll ever wear. Or they're free guarantee plus shop exclusive Cowboys Underwear at Tommy John dot com Forward Slash Cowboys for twenty percent off your first orders. Anybody behind me, No,

Tommy John dot com Forward Slash Cowboys. True because usually the tours walk are right on by when you're talking about that. But buckworkday. We're back here in the SWBC Moreheads studio, and before we went to our first break here Brian brought us you asked a very great question. You mind asking that once again to the panel. If he doesn't practice all week long, is he ka eliot? Would you still play him on Sunday you're two and three? Absolutely?

If he practiced on Friday, No, he he misses that thing. He's likely going to have to fly to San Francisco. Say on Saturday. Say that happens. Ye? I like that. UM, I don't know, because the hard part would be hadn't been here for anything, true like meetings through to the ball, and now there's nothing to say. Somebody, one of his teammates, can't email him. Yeah, hey, dear friends, let it catch up, keep hey Dak, keep him in tune of what's going on. Sure,

I don't think there's any prohibition against that. I hated prohibition alive during that I hated prohibition. Then when I wasn't alive, a lot of people did too. That's why if I was alive, Mickey, I'd have hated prose. That's why the basements were very important. Elliott nest and I would not. Elliott, here's been in jail. That's right, l I've been prohibition me and the drops greatness. I would if he didn't find out till Saturday after the team left,

then now stay home about Friday. If he finds out on Friday and he can get out here and do something, I'd say, yes, absolutely. Oh, I like what you're saying. And Mickey, I think that's a good point because sound logical right there. Well, does the team think, Okay, you know, we don't find out he has to fly do all

this stuff. His mind's been everywhere this week. Do we give him this week to kind of rest and get him back next week, and then this week they have an opportunity against a team that hasn't been doing very hot. Not saying that this is a team they could just walk in there and steam roll. I'm just saying, you know, is this a team that they could test out and see? Like, what do we have without Zeke? Well, here's a good thing from what I can detect from these courts and

these judges. They bake it basically have bankers hours. They do nine to five Monday through Friday. I don't think what did officials? Anything's not coming down on Saturday. Right, they're done, They're they're already happier. They have Yeah, they're a prohibition so elliot, So I would think sometime by Friday, and they hope to find something out today. We'll see what happens. Let me ask you a ruling from the bench, get us stay you know, get a temporary injunction. Okay,

hello Ward in New York? Yeah? Hello? Would this stay last? Though? Is this a one week thing that we're gonna happen? Well, they would, I would imagine weeks to stay last until they can get to the case, right, but he could keep playing as long as they right. They would tell the NFL. Okay, you just get over this is my last study that the week one when we were talking about this same thing happened data hearing week one during the week tro I think it was a two week

deal or fourteen day type thing. Again, I left my law to Grea at home until they actually heard the case. Yeah. And then they heard the case and said, okay, yeah, we're over ruling. He can play until the lawsuits hurt. And that's why they went to the Fifth Circuit Court in New Orleans to say, whoa, wait a minute, he doesn't have jurisdiction to do that, and they jumped the gun to file the lawsuit. And then they said, yes, that's the case. So yeah, it's been a jurisdiction. Yeah.

I mean, no one, no one has ruled on the validity of the of what happened his suspension or what happened during the arbitration. No one's ruled on that right. They have never got to that. Yeah, that's the sad part of this whole deal. There are more roadblocks. I wonder if there's another court of appeals we don't know about. Probably there's more courts out here than summer league basketball. You would have been a great judge, Mickey, judge, Mickey

all rise, like, let's just cut to the chase. Let's get to it. Yeah, let's quit that. I like those judges. That's what they're fishing for to find one. Yeah. Yeah, I like those judges. Let's just point blank tell me what's going on, Mickey, just in what you know? And Rob and you guys have followed this a lot more. I thank Taylor. You're trying to jump in there when you can't. I I just haven't. I just whatever happens happen. You're watching tape. Yeah, whatever happens happens. But is it?

But there's an all likelihood he's gonna lose in New York right from what we not. It's not a favorable jurisdiction. Like we thought he was gonna win in New Orleans. He's gonna lose in New York, right, So we're wrong about New York too. Probably. Well, I mean they I don't know if this is a sign, but I mean they started off the weekend trying to keep this thing in Texas. So is that a sign that they don't

have a lot of confidence there? I don't know. Yes, yes they have, but they have filed in New York, so yes, we'll see. I mean they do have trying to avoid that, but they do have for precedence though in Texas they had a judge rule in his favor, you had one dissenting judge? Is that how you say it? In New Orleans? So I mean maybe New York looks at that. It's two to two right now. Yeah, you're right,

it is a pro it's in the NFL's backyard for sure. Well, Bran, you know that kind of plays into what we should probably talk about next. Well, let's say you know he's not so yeah, many things, we guys, We just told you everything that could possibly happen very well, still could play this weekend, but most likely not. So with that being said, you've got four backs on this team that could help you. Two fullbacks in Keith Smith and Rod Smith, and then you got Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden as

your guys. Obviously, Darren McFadden has been inactive thus far, but most believing now that was to keep him fresh, right, So what do you do you know, does Darren McFadden and he's your starter now over Morris? Or is there going to be more of a discussion of that throughout

this week of practice. That's where I want to hear from you guys and Special Brand since you said, you know, I think Mickey was onto something a while back about McFadden not being active to try and save him, to kind of get him, you know, to keep him fresh. And you know, now it's all hands on deck when this thing goes to you know, six games. So you know, I think all week we do a great job of keeping an eye on practice when we can watch it. You know, we talk to the right people kind of

figure out what they're going to do. But I do agree that you're gonna now I don't think it's gonna be Morris. It's gonna be the starter here and again, this might all change, but Mickey said something a while back, and he's absolutely right. This could be like, Okay, who's the guy that gives us the most the best chance to complete guy? And even though Alfred did some great things, and Alfred's done some great things, but I think that they have more confidence in McFadden. And I know it

sounds funny even though he's been inactive every week. It's just kind of the feeling that I'm getting at Okay, Hey, we'll be fine because we can do this with McFadden, we can do this with Morris, and we can do this with Rod Smith. Yeah, let's not forget Smith because they started using him a little bit more on third down. I sure did as the third down back, and he makes some heck of a play in the Green Bay game. Yeah,

they too. So three running backs a full back. That's basically what they've been doing so far, right, Yeah, running backs in a full back. The thing they'll be difficult in this game is that if you go back and watch the San Francisco game last year, and I know it's a different coaching staff and all that, but a lot of the same players. Zeke was a pig factor in this game. As far as they throw him a screen one time on a first to twenty he gets nineteen yards. There were some tough runs that he was

able to make in that game. On third down he gets I mean one time Bowman's got him trapped for no game, boom he gets, he gets a first down. I mean, there were a lot of physical runs that he had to make in that game. And that's what you're gonna miss. That's what you're gonna miss that physical finisher. And so maybe with Rod Smith, you know we've seen that in the preseason, maybe he could be the one thing the Cowboys are outstanding on at is on third

and one hand in the ball. Zek They're even better on fourth and one hand in the ball to Ezekiel. If we remember what happened the year before when it was McFadden, they had trouble on third and short. You don't want to get back. Now you got Dak with the read option stuff that can maybe help you there, but you don't want to get back into that mode of where third and one we're struggling to get a first down. Yeah, that's not guaranteed. Yeah, And that's what

people are overlooking. They're looking at Zeke's numbers and they're going, well, they're not that good. Let's just go on, Well you know what converting look at Look at the tough yards he's picked up. I said it last week in the Green Bay game. I looked up and was like, how is the average in two yards? Again? Because he had some tough, dirty yards and they need that. They need that muscle in there that can do that. The other two guys aren't there. If they don't have that. It

might come down to rod Smith being that guy. If he could prove that he can be that physical finisher. I think he showed some of that in preseason he did. I think all three of these guys have earned carries. If Zeke's out, I really do. I think you could use all three of them in a certain role. I will say when McFadden was the main guy for most of the twenty fifteen season, he did better when he

got was able to get into a rhythm. And I think you could say that for all running backs, but I think particularly for him, he got better the more carries got. So that's something to consider too. I like what you guys are saying, and I like the Rod Smith. A lot of people don't realize rod Smith went to Ohio State too. Yeah, hopefully he can physical guy he can play like If he plays like he did in the preseason, didn't that gives you some That gives you

some hope. But again it's you're gonna miss You're gonna miss Ezekiel on those tough runs. And I again, watching that San Francisco game last year, he made some incredible runs and some really nice plays when they needed him. To be big. He was big. One thing about Mickey's theory, and I think there's something to it too. I do. But if you want to play Devil's advocate, I mean keep him inactive. Right the first five games McFadden, Yeah, Morris had eight carries as the guy behind Zeke. I

don't It wasn't like they were really risking McFadden's health. Yeah, but if you're only give him eight carries, why take the chance of getting him hurt for eight carries? Right? Yeah, just only eight carries? Even risk it? What does he have? Eight carries for eighty one yards? Eighty seven? Eighty seven

and one is seventy seventy yard carry? Yeah, so you're ready to see number twenty then if you I mean, it's not him all the time, you know, it's those guys up front got to play better that They need a healthy Tyrann Smith. Yeah, you know. And if I think they can get that, then they can run enough to take some pressure off Dak. But they gotta take some pressure off of him he can't get. You want

your quarterback to keep going out of the pocket. You saw what happened Aaron Rodgers right out of the pocket. You know, you get pile, drive to the ground, boys, get outside the pocket. Yes he is, but that's the downside, right, Yeah, all this moaning and how many times as we seen quarterbacks go down, Now Aaron Rodgers gets hurt. I see people writing about what we got to change the rules, we got to protect the quarterbacks. Yeah, no one wrote that when Tony Romeo broke two collar bones and same

collar bone twice in one season. Right, you know they act like, oh, this is the only quarterbacks ever got hurt. It's time for what happens. This is what happens to quarterbacks, you know. And a part of it, you made a good point as far as saying, you know a lot of fans are just out there looking like, well, Zeke did terrible in the Broncos game. You know, McFadden can do better than that. Morris had the seventy yard run. They just think it's kind of a plug in place

type thing. Not at that position. Not at that position. Because let's look at a perfect example from this past weekend. Adrian Peterson gets traded to the Arizona Cardinals and makes an immediate impact. Granted they did good plays and good calls around him, right, they actually blocked up front. They actually blocked up front in an old line that has

been struggling. Absolutely, when the worst in the NFL running the football out, I thought it was high praise when Larry Fitzgerald says, Hey, if Adrian Peterson had been on this team all along, I would have had a ring by Now. Yeah, that's a lot, And that means that he that's how important running the football is to you. Look what it did for Aaron Rodgerson that game. Absolutely, I mean, yeah, laid it out for you. Yeah, it was.

I mean the reason that you won the game, or they won the game is because they were they were able to show balance. Look at the rams, yeah, I mean Todd girl really right, Yeah, very fair. And again, look what it did for the Cowboys last year. The drives they were able to finish in the end zone last year compared to twenty fifteens. Heke had fifteen touchdowns the leader for the Cowboys and twenty fifteen was a guy who was off the team by mid season. By

the end of the year, So or big factor. Yeah, yeah, it's just it's so funny to see these people. I've seen a lot of tweets that are like we'll just put Darren mcfaundin. Now. I've never seen a team that's been in this type of situation. And you guys disagree with me that it has two one thousand yard backs right there. Have you seen a team that it was kind of in this kind of situation. No, they've actually protected themselves, and Stephen Jones said it, Yeah, that's exactly

what you need to do. And that's the smart thing you see with Will McClay, I mean he's tried to you know, they kept they could have got rid of McFadden last year in a trade, they could have got rid of Alfred Morse, they kept, they kept them around, and so with you know, that's what you have to do those That's smart. If you know something potentially is going to happen, protect yourself and they've done that. It's smart.

And I also also think it speaks to the quality of those two guys as people as teammates because you know they've had to sit a lot, and I mean you just mentioned Peterson. You go somewhere else, you probably get more opportunities, but they've been willing to wait and be patient and their time might be coming very soon. Yeah, and you know Mickey brought up to the point about Aaron Rodgers than him going down and Romo going down twice in one season with the color Bone. Of course,

Tony Romo was the commentator on No, he wasn't. It was a fragment. But then there were some swirlings about Tony Romeo returning, going to the pack. You know what, any other team, any other team, I would maybe entertain that. But know when the people in Green Bay, that's not their mo that they're they're more of a Brett Hundley kind of guy. Well, no, they're more of a let's draft our guys, let's develop guys, let's let our guys play. That's kind of their thing. Now, if they lose two

or three games, maybe that narrative will change. But I just feel like though that with ted Thompson, what I know about Teddy, I just don't see them. I don't see them entertaining that thought. And that injury should only reinforce Romo's reason why not broadcast booth Already that offensive line is horrible and it's gotten worse. He lost two more guys starter and a backup in that game. Layne Taylor got hurt in that game. Last week. I want to see Rome will just run out of the booth

and go start playing. I have three reasons why I don't ever see that happen. Don't ever leave Jim nann one. Yeah, absolutely, that's one of them. Though. I think he's found a calling there as a guy that's going to be in that booth for a long time. They might name a video game after him one day. It might be Romo instead of Madden. The offensive line in Green Bay is poor,

that's not exactly ideal for him. And the back thing, like, it's not just a guy coming out of retirement quote unquote, it's a guy with a major back injury that I wonder how much he's been strengthening that and doing those exercises and being ready to play. Like it's not just he's had the injury. Thing with the back to me is just I think he's That's why I've always thought

he's done. Yeah, play again, but we'll see. Somebody was saying today, of course, the first game that Romo will be broadcasting will be at at and T Stadium against the Chiefs, and people were saying, I hope the defensive coordinator for the Chiefs is not you mean here it at and T Stadium. Yeah, what did I say, first game he'll be broadcasting. Yeah, first for the Cowboys. I met with the Cowboys. With the Cowboys, I thought he was doing the Chiefs Chiefs game, that's first November fifth.

Oh wow, okay, cool. Is it not correct? Yeah it is. But I thought for some reason he was doing the Thanksgiving Day game. I think the Chiefs before that. Oh, sure it is. Yeah. So I was saying, you know, it's a little bit tricky with these guys. Yeah, he has these psychic abilities, if you would, he just needs to keep doing what he's doing. Yep, that's exactly right, exactly, And we need to hear from the fans. Now we have a caller, Jimmy from Colorado is on the line.

Each party, guys, uh the show. I just had a quick question about Rob Smith. Do you think he'll have a bigger role in office? That's my question? Thank you, thank you. Yeah, I think we touched on that. Jimmy had just a little bit ago and it sounds like you were driving, so yeah, you didn't hear us. But yeah, I think that they'll they'll work him in there. I think that he'll he'll get some touches, maybe more than

he's gotten. I mean, everybody can't touch the ball. I don't know they're gonna do it three guys, but um yeah, I could see them using him. Whoever, the most physical back they have that can carry the football and do it consistently is who they need to play. He's a physical back. And if if it means you know, if if it's INDI indication of what we've seen from the training camp, I have no problem hinting the football to Rod Smith. And can he be a down after down

after down player? Can he? You know? Obviously Mickey said he's been in the third down packages, blitz pick up stuff. Obviously he could catch. We saw that in the Green Bay game. So but whoever they play, let that guy be really the identity of what they've trying to do here. Yeah, don't go soft. Now, pick the guy that has the physical nature and we'll go and finish runs. That's going to be important for this team. I just you stand next to him, and I enjoyed visiting with him last week.

He's six three, he looks like he played tight end for you. I mean, he is a big, physical running back and he made this team not just as a special teams guy. I think they really like his potential as a runner. Obviously the other two guys have more experience, but I think you can find a role for him. Yeah, and I remember when he first got on this team, Brian kept saying, well, you know his brother Jalen. He's

pretty good. Yeah, he's pretty good. You guys should probably watch him this season with Notre Dame and then look at how the story unfolded here. Yep, yeah it is. They just need they need to get back to where offensively, where they have that balance. Nicky said it early. You just can't put so much even though the quarterback is playing very well, you can't just keep piling it on him and say, and we did that with Tony Romo

for thirteen fourteen years. It just kept piling on and piling on and piling on him, and then you had you know, it just was too much. Yeah, and that's you know, that's where that's where you're at right now, and that's where the other tape Romo needs to pull out in case he has an inkling to go back out there. Just grab that twenty eleven season and see how he got beat up when you didn't have an offensive line. Yeah, it'll say, yeah, Jim, let's go out

for coffee. I ain't going anywhere. I appreciate you got dinner tonight. Yeah, he's too good in the booth too, know what, you know what, you know what he's a reminding me. And I haven't heard this, but this is what Switzer's doing. He's doing this coaches, h not corner coaches. They go to a casino in Oklahoma, imagine that, and it's like three of them and they watch the game as they're kind of commentating on it themselves, and people

are tuning in online to listen to them. Well, that's the feeling I get with Romo, Right, he's like doing the game, but he's not playing, you know, mister broadcaster. It's like he's sitting on the couch with me. We're just shooting the bull on the game. Yeah. I think he's really good at it, you know, and just get away from I think he says good stuff and he sees good stuff, but it's the casual delivery. Because too many guys that first start off in TV, they want

to play mister TV man. It's like, this is what you're supposed to do and how you're supposed to say it. I like how he uses the tellustrator right before the snap too really fast. Yeah, and again actually circles where he's supposed to circle. There's not just a circle in space too. But you drop a dumb and dumber reference in the middle of an NFL game that good you're in You're good in my book. So what did you say? It was just a very subtle line that you have

to be a huge fan of the movie. But that's why I asked what cracked me up? Because I was watching it. Well, it went, Rob, You're always good in my book because when we come back from our final break, we'll have your poll. I know you're always on top of that. Ready, stay tuned for Rob's pole and so much more after our final break or dumb and dumber. To work this big land, you need equipment with values rooted as deep in Texas soil as you are. Like

John Deer. Compact tractors with a six year power training warrant to him. Big features that help you work less so you have more time to do what you love. John Deer was first in the Texas fields, and we're proud to be on the field as the official agg and turf equipment of the Dallas Cowboys. Find Texas sized deals at my John Deer Dealer dot com. Slash Football terms, conditions, exclusions,

warranty limitations apply so you can move to details. We the entertainment loving people, want a smartphone built for us. With AT and T and Direct TV, you can get the Samsung Galaxy Saight with an Infinity edge to edge screen. It's perfect for entertainment. We want exactly what you just said. Buy a Samsung Galaxy sa and get one free after bill credits when you buy both on AT and T

next and a Direct TV. Visit your local AT and T store today by each seven hundred fifty dollars on installment agreeing with eligible service, newline is three up to seven hundredifty dollars in credits over thirty months, credits starting in two to three bills. If service cancel with vice funds two taxes, fees and restrictions apply. Living the time office. These draw free details. Ice Cold, Doctor Pepper and the

Dallas Cowboys go way back. They belong together like Texas and football, Silver and blue shotgun formations and Hail Mary's. Having a Cowboys football party without doctor Pepper is like having Thanksgiving without the Cowboys. Basically, we wouldn't recommend it. So next time you have a tailgate, homegate, or whatever else kind of gate, grab some ice cold doctor Pepper for you and your friends to enjoy. It's a Dallas

Cowboys tradition. Pepper the one ukraze. It can be hard to find the right resource for learning about important financial matters. You search how to build savings, you end up reading about the one weird ingredient from supermarkets that can make you taller. That's why Bank of America build Better Money Habits dot com, a safe little corner of the Internet

for answering your financial questions. Full of simple videos and tips, Better Money Habits can show you how to make the most of your money without resorting to random searches that always seem to lead to unbelievable photos of childhood stars grown up. To learn more, visit better Money habits dot com.

This is talking cowboys, and it's a tradition on talking Cowboys that we talk Papa John's pizza because of that taste, the ingredients like the veggies, never frozen pepperoni, pork and beef, and when you have ingredients like that you have better pizza. And then when they offer you buy one, get one free, that's got to be Papa John's making it up, by the way. No, I saw it on Sunday? Are you sure? Yes,

you watch the ads when you watch the games. Not remember that one time that that Brian kind of teased us Mick and said, hey, does everyone like cold pizza? And we were like yes, and we thought we kind of have it waiting for us. We didn't. Still hasn't showed up, has it? But maybe you could? You could, I'll get you free, right, Yeah, yeah, we can all I thought you were making that buy one get one from No, it's on it's on their deal. How many

games had I watched? I watched two at once, then the three o'clock game, and then the seven thirty game on Sunday. Yeah, after watch every after watching two games at once on Saturday. Because I get the honor of sitting next to Mickey in most press boxes, not usually on the road, he's far away from me, is designed, but you know, at home he's pretty much stuck with me right there. And it is a true treat to see him and we talk about it and he's very

patient with me. Usually has headphones on and I'll tap him and he takes the headphones off. But I've would have given anything. You know. He's talking about watching coach switcher Switcher to talk about this and to have that filmed, making you just sitting there on your coaches cabana. It's called it just hit me, you know, and to see what make you with money? Yeah, you have to zoo

stuff on you. Shale tries to get you to do some honey dudes, and you're like, you could have seen me sale the San Francisco Washington game when the regular game finished and they went, sure we got we got, uh, what do they call it? Bonus coverage? San Francisco got So what's the word for the S word on? Man? So messed on? Yeah, yeah, it's second and ten. They're down twenty six twenty four DoD you guys see it. Yeah, twenty six, twenty four, second and ten at the Washington forty.

So they are like nearly close enough to try a fifty eight yard field. Go. I don't think Robbie gould to get out there. But there was snow any mi. So they're gonna throw heat throws. Bethard throws a slant to Pierre Garson, and they're running. The running back behind the slant and coming this way, and the linebacker that's trying to cover the running back runs into Garson. Garson didn't try to block him. He's trying to get two

balls in the air. He's trying to get to the ball, and here comes the flag ten yards offensive interference that accused him of running a pick play when it wasn't a pick play, and you could watch it on I would have been beside myself. It was the It was the most horrendous call because if they got the ten yards, they're in field goal, or even if it was incomplete, at least they all they had to pick up was five more yards and it's a fifty three yard field goal.

And and that's how close they were to winning. Anybody close every dang game. And anybody that thinks, you know, this is a cakewalk for the Cowboys, beware because the last five losses by no more than three points, and that one was two, and they should have been able to attempt a winning field goal in the last seconds on the road by the one. It's an NFL record, by the way, Yes, I saw that five straight three

or less man. Yeah, so when you see things like that, Yeah, I was talking to the TV because it was I would have it wasn't right. I mean, it was just horrible, bad job. Mickey Dolly, Zach Brown was the linebacker. He ran into good band. Alright, alright a pole. Yes, we spent most of last segment talking about the Cowboys running back situation. Close pole today, yikes, simple Cowboys best running

back is blank, Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris or Rod Smith. Well, before you say that, we have some breaking news from Twitter. Oh yeah, breaking fifth Circuit denise nfl PA his motion to recall the mandate, but says Union can still seek in bok E N space b A nc rehearing. So they're they're saying, basically, we're not in a hurry to get to it, so we are not giving you an injunction to allow him to play. So now it comes

down to what happens in New York Ork. Yeah, yeah, well, okay, those in bank hearings are very rare, right, yes, yes, oh, actually what they they? Yeah? I think what did I see? There was two hundred request for him and only six ye got to be heard, and I don't know how many they overturned the decision. It sounds like it takes a lot of time and effort. Yeah, like, what's the timeline on something? You just said all the judges, Well, I don't know how many judges. Say, there's ten judges

in the court. I don't know how many of there are. You got to get all ten together? Yeah, at the same time. Well Rob not on vacation. Like the judge in in in New York is gone. Yeah, the lady judge Folia and so. Now, so she was appointed by Obama and the other guy, whatever his name is, who's gonna hear it now, was appointed by Bush. So you know you're such set about along party party lines. Yeah, so you know, is one gonna for the people or

for the business? Yeah, we'll see how how that turns out. Which, by the way, they're meeting in New York to the league today. Oh, we're gonna get into that. But let's get to Rob's pole. Oh yeah, because I wanted to say that because now it's looking more and more likely. You know, Oh, he's only got one more shot shot, right, But let's get to Rob's holden. We can definitely get to the NFL Owners Meetings close pole Essentially, who would

you pick to be the backup behind Zeke? Forty two percent said Alfred Morris, thirty seven percent said McFadden, twenty one percent said rod Smith. It is close, and I think that maybe Alfred Morris kind of edges out McFadden in that one simply because of his long run and what people have seen. It's very much what have you

done for me lately? Sure, but I think you know the fact that rod Smith gets twenty one percent, I think that speaks to what we talked about last segment, that I think you could find a way to use all three of these guys and be productive. Yeah, I think that that's what you're gonna You're definitely gonna see that. And I think you're gonna supplement also too with some

of your running game, maybe even with Ryan Switzer. I know it sounds crazy, but it might be two or three snaps, whether it's the jet sweep, whether it's putting him in the backfield, toss sweeps, crack tosses, whatever. So they're gonna they're gonna have to piece this thing together for six weeks. They've got, you know, competent backs to do it. They just don't have the Now we'll see,

they don't have the physical finisher. It might be it might be Smith, but they're gonna have to find a way to get back and recapture that identity that they once had running the football. About Keith Smith, Oh, Keith Smith used in the passing game and a matter of fact, in the San Francisco game last year, I watched some boot action, waggle action, throwing him the football in the flo got a first down out of it. I mean there's yeah, so that than shot yardage situations. Yeah, Keith

Keith Smith is tough enough to do it. Yeah, you know, if you want to line him up and go yeah, absolutely, But whoever it is, they cannot fall back into that where we saw two years ago, three years ago where third and one became a hold your breath down and last year it became like a no brainer. Even this year, go four on fourth and one. You're one of the you're one of the best teams in the league when it comes to running that ball in third and one,

third and short. There's no doubt about it, no doubt who ran it? Was it last night? Procent tried to run it. Yeah, and they didn't hand it off again, he tried to run a bootleg. How about this, I'll just give you an example, just for my for my fourth and one conversions, Cowboys are first in the league. They've done it one hundred percent of the time. They've converted one hundred percent of time. League average is right at seventy percent. What do they have like four? Uh

that I don't have the value? Yeah, they've got more than that. Yeah, big game. Yeah, and it's and you don't see Jason Garrett hesitating either a lot of now twenty one you're going to talk about last night the Titans today there's six of ten on fourth down, so probably all the one guard ones they got. Yeah, they're able to really work a balance between Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray over there. So we'll see, we'll see. But making you did hint at it. The NFL owners are

meeting in New York, very close to the court. Well, Zeke's final decision will be made, but they're not really focused on Zeke. They're focused on much bigger manners. This matters this week and a lot to do with certain policy changes and different things like that. Jerry Jones, a big presence up there. Well, they listed NFL put out a release that listed the players that were there and the owners, and there was eleven owners and Jerry's name

wasn't listed. I can't imagine he's not there. No, he's definitely there because some people saw him at the Yankees game last night. Yeah, maybe he just well, I'm just wasn't in the first meeting. I was like, heaking over your shoulder. They're making him look and it looks like they get a live or port from ESPN and they said that protesters were, uh were after him as he

came into the meeting. So we'll see. Well, I think I think when Mickey and maybe I'm wrong, but I saw a list too, but that looked like the one that was discussing owners and players meeting on the National Anthem Decision policy. Yeah that's what Arry wasn't involved, but there's other meetings going around. Yeah, but I would imagine he's in on. I thought I thought he would be too. I thought he would be too. So two day assembly,

that's what they're saying. Yeah, Yeah, can I just finish up real quick on this tay too and offense third and one conversions eighty five point seven percent. Where is that rank that's tenth in the league. League average in one, Yeah, third and one. League average is league percentages sixty eight point nine. So think about that. Eighty five percent of a time you hand the ball that guy on third and one, you were going to get the first down a conversion. So and if not on fourth and one,

you're gonna get it. Yeah, there you go. If you're if you, if you if tempt it, if you're going to attempt it. Right, I have to use that stat today, and mccollumn unless you're going to use it that you take it from. You got it, man, you got it. There's footnotes, you know, you can put a little asters. I'll mention Brian, now you don't have to, Yeah, will,

of course I will. It's a shame, but I mean, yeah, this whole thing with the the you know, it's hey, it's good that the owners and the players are getting together. That's good. I mean, if you're going to have a meeting, get everybody involved, talk about what's going on. You've been to a few of these owners meetings. I'm sure you guys have two, I you know, but most recently you were at the one in Phoenix, Yes, Phoans, and you

know they're long days for these guys. And even Jerry Jones has shared stories of these types of owners meetings before where there's been something of a hot topic that he needed to discuss, and no matter if he's in the meeting or not, he usually gets his opinions heard

and everyone knows where the Dallas Cowboys stand. Absolutely. These meetings are a little different because there's there's about a dozen players that were invited or volunteered to go along with uh Demorris Smith, the NFLPA president, and the two people that are I guess executive vice presidents. Uh. So yeah, it listed the too, Yeah, An Kwon Bolden Uh, names that you would need recognize, Russell Okung, Kenny Stills, Um, Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long, Eric Read, Josh Norman, Mark Hurlslick. Uh.

And then they listed eleven owners. So that in this meeting with all the players and the NFLPA and normally the things that you know we've covered the NFL owners meetings, Uh, there's no players invited to that, and I don't think the NFLPA has invited either. No, this is a little different, so maybe they can all get together and come up with uh some I don't know that. They just have to come up with a plan, a better plan than what's going on right now. And we're heading right into

the storm here this Sunday in San Francisco. Ye, So it always seems that way. It always seems that way. But you know, man, it's if this team was five and zero and different things. Yeah, it's a shame that that there's a lot of things that off the field that might be affecting the way they're playing on the field. I still think though, the bigger thing is the fact

that on the field performance hasn't been as good. It's obvious, but but you know, the players, if that's their sanctuary to get on the field and play, then then we've seen not so good there. You know, you can't let the off the field things the track from how you're supposed to perform on the field. For the most part, I'm not seeing that every single player on this team has played poorly, but a large number of them have

and that's and that's hurt the team. And that's why that you have the record that you have just simple executions. What you're saying, there's a lot I mean compared to last year, you can throw a blanket over it. I mean, had the coach has been perfect, no, had the players been perfect, No, but a lot of things, you know, and I keep saying this, I felt like they just

threw away the last two games. I really do, you know, they they just have not played well enough when they needed to at the end of those football games to win. And you know what. And interviewing Witton for the Jason Garrett Show this weekend, his point was just that because we're two two minute drives, one on offense, one on defense away from being four and one right, and didn't execute, didn't didn't pull it off. And and that's how close it is. That margin for air in this league's very small.

And that's why you're setting up the rest of our shows this week to actually be good when we can actually get into some real football talk. And you're talking about a team that's almost very similar to the I mean, they're gonna win one. That's that's why I was. I was, you know, Washington, we're gonna win one. Get your win out of the way. And this team's close to winning. And I got a feeling they're gonna have a little extra kicking him with this CJ. Bethard at quarterback. Just

the way he played his nature, I was finest. Check it out tomorrow. He's one of my guys. We'll talk about him. Yeah, under the radar guy tomorrow. He comes in the first time in the NFL and nineteen of thirty six for two hundred and forty five yards a forty five yard touchdown pass and the interception was at the end of the game in desperation time. Sounds next and he was down seventeen to nothing when he came in, and he scored seventeen straight points to get the game tied.

And they were that close to that play that I explained to you of being able to win one. So you know how it is. You get a new guy in there, and it's a week of practice too, and now he because eating't practice last week right now, they just threw him in there and they liked what they saw to the point like on Tuesday, there's Monday, they're saying, yeah, he's my quarterback. Yeah so my quarterback. Yeah absolutely, Well this is my podcast and we'll be back tomorrow. We're

done already. That was a quick hour. Time flies. That's why we find maggot, we shouldn't be away for all these days in a row. That's true. We'll be back tomorrow. Join us then. Thank you so much for tuning in today. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.