Benching star receiver latest misplay by Dallas’ besieged coaching staff
America’s best soap opera of
2019 airs weekly after Dallas Cowboys games at post-game press availabilities with owner/ general manager Jerry Jones and head coach Jason Garrett as well on local sports-talk radio, what with all the fan venom spewed in those parts.
What kept fan anger percolating Monday was the revelation, in day-after player snap counts, that Amari Cooper played on only 46 of 62 offensive snaps (74 per cent) for Dallas, third most among Cowboys wide receivers. Second-year Michael Gallup took 56 snaps (90 per cent) and Randall Cobb 48 (77 per cent).
Cooper was not even on the field for the Cowboys’ late makeor-break play on fourth-and-eight.
Following the Cowboys’ devastating 17-9 showdown loss in Philadelphia — which now requires the Cowboys to beat Washington and the Eagles to lose to the New York Giants for Dallas to make the playoffs — Cooper sounded not only despondent, but as though he was questioning Garrett and offensive co-ordinator Kellen Moore.
Cooper talked about having to run so many short routes.
“I feel like the (long) go-ball was a good route to run tonight and we really didn’t get to it,” he said.
Garrett was asked about Cooper’s usage Monday during his weekly guest spot on a Dallas radio station.
Whose decision was it to start rotating in No. 4 receiver Tavon Austin more often late in the game? And for not having Cooper on the field on the last-gasp play?
“That would be Kellen’s decision,” Garrett said. “That’s a play that we liked in that situation for the variety of coverages that (the Eagles) were going to play. We felt like we had good answers with that.”
Look, 10 years of this brand of overthinking has not only driven all Cowboys fans nuts, but some into apathy. In less than a week, it’s likely to drive Garrett into unemployment.
Running back Mark Ingram, a key cog in Baltimore’s juggernaut rushing attack, suffered a “mild to moderate” calf strain Sunday in Cleveland, according to Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
NFL Network said the Ravens have not ruled out Ingram from returning during the playoffs and said he has a “good chance” to be ready for Baltimore’s first playoff game on either Jan. 11 or 12.
Harbaugh also announced Monday that Mvp-worthy quarterback Lamar Jackson will sit out Sunday’s regular-season finale against visiting Pittsburgh and backup Robert Griffin III will start in his place.
Guard Marshal Yanda and safety Earl Thomas will also not play Sunday, Harbaugh said.
Ingram, who turned 30 Saturday, trails only Jackson as the Ravens’ leading rusher. He has 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns on 202 carries — one of the most prolific seasons of his nine-year career after having spent the first eight with the New Orleans Saints.
There was good news and bad news on the injury front for the new NFC East leaders.
Zach Ertz, the top tight end of the Philadelphia Eagles, fractured a rib early in Sunday’s 17-9 defeat of Dallas. He returned and played through the injury in the second half.
His status for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants won’t be determined until later in the week. A win would clinch the division crown and a home wild card playoff game next week for Philadelphia (8-7).
“I am waiting with our doctors for a couple more tests for some other things,” Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said Monday. “I will probably have an update for you (Tuesday) or by Thursday.
“It is (a good sign) that he got back out there. It just shows his toughness and willingness to get back out there, but as you guys know, we take every injury seriously and make sure that we protect our players. That is what Mondays are for: to do a full evaluation of all our guys who get nicked up in games.”
The better news for Philly is speedy receiver Desean Jackson — who went on injured reserve due to sports hernia surgery a couple months ago — is “in good shape” to return by the second round of the playoffs, when he’s first eligible to come off IR, according to NFL Network.