COWBOYS OWNER RUNNING OUT OF PATIENCE
Frustrating loss to Patriots leaves Jones fuming
Could it finally be happening?
Could it be that Dallas Cowboys owner/gm Jerry Jones — finally — has joined practically the entire North American fan base of America’s Team in concluding that Jason Garrett is no longer the answer at head coach?
None of us has any scientific data on which to base this conclusion, of course, but we all know by now that few pro sports head coaches of Garrett’s longevity (he’s in his 10th season) ever have been as despised as Garrett is by Dallas diehards.
I’ve met Garrett a few times over the past eight years and he’s about the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.
He’s just having a hard time getting the Cowboys to win anywhere near as many games as the team’s spoiled fans expect, and as Jones demands. Jones the owner believes Jones the GM has assembled a talented roster worthy of winning a Super Bowl.
Following yet another frustrating loss on Sunday at cold and rainy New England, Jones’ criticisms of Garrett and his coaching staff were as sharp, as direct, and as repeatedly underscored as anyone could remember.
More on that to come.
First, know that Garrett is coaching out the last year of his latest Cowboys contract, meaning Jones technically doesn’t even have to fire the red-headed former pro QB, who had a cup of coffee in the 1980s with the CFL’S old Ottawa Rough Riders.
Jones can just choose to not re-sign him.
In that event, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that if the New York Giants move on from struggling second-year head coach Pat Shurmur after the season, then that would be Garrett’s preferred next job destination.
And the interest is mutual, Rapoport reported.
Garrett as Giants head coach would be a double whammy dream come true for most Cowboys fans, of course. Maybe now for Jerry, too.
Jones had a lot to say Sunday night outside the visitor’s locker-room at Gillette Stadium.
“It’s a significant setback for our team,” he said of the 13-9 loss. “We needed this win against an opponent like this. We haven’t had one … And so we dig a hole (as) we look at the rest of the schedule.
“You’ve really dug your hole back when you were playing the (New York) Jets, and those guys. … That’s what you get.”
At 6-5, Dallas remains just a game up on the Philadelphia Eagles (5-6).
Jones eventually was asked about coaching. After tipping his hat to Bill Belichick and his Patriots staff, Jones delivered stinging words of criticism for Garrett and his staff.
“We went up against an opponent that gets it together,” Jones said.
“We have had a tough time co-ordinating how we put our offence and defence out there and have them play excellent, both at the same time. And we also know that special teams … on a sloppy day can rule the day. And they’ve got a coach that knows how to play this game. He did a good job today.
“When you come into New England on a day like today, against this team, in this era, and you need to win this to establish what you’re about on the season, you’ve dealt yourself a pretty narrow window to come out of here smiling.
“You’re going to get outcoached during this era when you come to New England. But my point is, don’t get yourself into such a spot as you have to beat him, and beat them on a day like today.”
As Jones sort of rambled, as he does, he suggested his frustration lay in the feeble all-around manner in which his Cowboys played, as compared to the Patriots.
“I’m just really frustrated. I thought we could come up here and play better in all three phases. …
“We got what I think we should have expected out of our defence, but in the other two phases, we can’t come up here and play like that.”
Asked specifically about his confidence in his coaching staff, Jones said: “I don’t think there’s a game that a coaching staff couldn’t do better in.”
For his part, Garrett was asked on Monday during his weekly radio spot on 105.3 FM The
Fan in Dallas what his response was to Jones’ comments, and he of course pulled out one of his trusty, fading, dog-eared, crinkled bromides: “All I can say is we obviously always want to win,” Garrett said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the job done yesterday.”
The Cowboys opened as a 7.5-point home field favourite against the 8-3 Bills, the middle game of Thursday’s annual U.S. Thanksgiving NFL triple-header.
What if the Cowboys beat Buffalo and finish December with a flourish?
Even if they eke their way into winning the bad NFC East, they’ll play host to a wild-card playoff game on Jan. 4-5 weekend, probably against one of Seattle, Green Bay, Minnesota or San Francisco.
Then what if the Cowboys win a playoff game or (at most) two? We all know what would happen. Jerry would fall in love with Jason again.
Which, as one Cowboys diehard told me on Monday, would be the worst-case scenario for the team’s fans.
BRONCOS TURNING TO LOCK AT PIVOT?
Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio is mulling another quarterback switch.
After moving on from 12th-year veteran Joe Flacco to Brandon Allen a month ago, Fangio said rookie Drew Lock might make his NFL debut to start Sunday’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers.
Lock has been on injured reserve all regular season after spraining the thumb on his right throwing hand in late August.
In April the Broncos drafted Lock 42nd overall in the second round.
They have until next Tuesday to activate him.
Could Lock start against the Chargers?
“Possibly, yeah,” Fangio said.
CHIEFS ‘OPTIMISTIC’ ABOUT RECEIVER HILL
Kansas City had a bye this past weekend. Good thing.
Star receiver Tyreek Hill might not have been able to play with the hamstring injury he suffered the previous Monday against the Los Angeles Chargers in Mexico City.
But on Monday, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said he’s “optimistic” Hill will be able to play in Sunday’s big game against the Oakland Raiders.
FIVE FAST FACTS
Green Bay was 1-for-15 on third downs at San Fran … New England has now won 10 games for an Nfl-record 17 straight seasons … In his last two games Pittsburgh QB Mason Rudolph has thrown one TD and five picks … Ryan Tannehill is 4-1 as Titans starting QB … San Francisco and Seattle are the last two teams undefeated on the road.