The McCarthy Hire Comes with a Good Pretext

Mike McCarthy is a good hire for this team. His experience, his success, and his straight-forward style of communication are a breath of fresh air for a team that has been mired in a stale “process” that was long overdue for an exit.

One thought I’ve had with this hire that I think is really good- the pretext for McCarthy’s hiring is very simple: WIN NOW. I can’t remember a head coach since maybe Barry Switzer where the expectation upon hiring was as direct as WIN NOW. Parcells came in with high expectations but the roster he inherited was a completely bare cupboard. He was hired to rebuild the talent. Coach Mac will certainly need more talent. But the roster is not empty.

The question for Mike McCarthy will probably center on how long he has to produce. Unlike Garrett, (thankfully) he won’t have a developmental grace period. My understanding is the length of his contract is 5 years. But if he hasn’t produced at least an NFC championship appearance in 2-3 years, I can’t see him having near the leash Garrett had. And that’s not bad at all.

Bobhaze said:

Mike McCarthy is a good hire for this team. His experience, his success, and his straight-forward style of communication are a breath of fresh air for a team that has been mired in a stale “process” that was long overdue for an exit.

One thought I’ve had with this hire that I think is really good- the pretext for McCarthy’s hiring is very simple: WIN NOW. I can’t remember a head coach since maybe Barry Switzer where the expectation upon hiring was as direct as WIN NOW. Parcells came in with high expectations but the roster he inherited was a completely bare cupboard. He was hired to rebuild the talent. Coach Mac will certainly need more talent. But the roster is not empty.

The question for Mike McCarthy will probably center on how long he has to produce. Unlike Garrett, (thankfully) he won’t have a developmental grace period. My understanding is the length of his contract is 5 years. But if he hasn’t produced at least an NFC championship appearance in 2-3 years, I can’t see him having near the leash Garrett had. And that’s not bad at all.

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He's got 5 years unless he really screws up. Jerry doesn't like paying off coaching contracts

Ranching said:

He's got 5 years unless he really screws up. Jerry doesn't like paying off coaching contracts

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Right but it’s a lot different than Jerry’s decade of dreams to home grow his personal Tom Landry. McCarthy is ready now.

Bobhaze said:

Mike McCarthy is a good hire for this team. His experience, his success, and his straight-forward style of communication are a breath of fresh air for a team that has been mired in a stale “process” that was long overdue for an exit.

One thought I’ve had with this hire that I think is really good- the pretext for McCarthy’s hiring is very simple: WIN NOW. I can’t remember a head coach since maybe Barry Switzer where the expectation upon hiring was as direct as WIN NOW. Parcells came in with high expectations but the roster he inherited was a completely bare cupboard. He was hired to rebuild the talent. Coach Mac will certainly need more talent. But the roster is not empty.

The question for Mike McCarthy will probably center on how long he has to produce. Unlike Garrett, (thankfully) he won’t have a developmental grace period. My understanding is the length of his contract is 5 years. But if he hasn’t produced at least an NFC championship appearance in 2-3 years, I can’t see him having near the leash Garrett had. And that’s not bad at all.

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I don't think it's so much about "Win Now" but rather the personnel on the team dictating that it would be a waste to bring in a transition/rebuilding coach who would take 2-3 years just to get the pieces and systems in place.

I think the more important angle is that McCarthy himself had to really love being offered the head coach job with a team that has a lot of solid pieces in place with only a few (but important) holes to deal with and a team owner who will do whatever he needs to have success. A lot of job openings have really bad teams, no proven or an old quarterback or at least a lot of holes to fill in a hurry.

I completely agree that he won't get 8+ years to prove himself and to be honest, I'm perfectly fine with that. No coach should be able to waste careers of multiple players without at least some post-season (not necessarily Super Bowl wins) success.

With the players the Cowboys have now and barring serious injuries to major players, we should all have a really good idea of how well McCarthy is doing with this team after he's coached 2-3 years.

Reality said:

I don't think it's so much about "Win Now" but rather the personnel on the team dictating that it would be a waste to bring in a transition/rebuilding coach who would take 2-3 years just to get the pieces and systems in place.

I think the more important angle is that McCarthy himself had to really love being offered the head coach job with a team that has a lot of solid pieces in place with only a few (but important) holes to deal with and a team owner who will do whatever he needs to have success. A lot of job openings have really bad teams, no proven or an old quarterback or at least a lot of holes to fill in a hurry.

I completely agree that he won't get 8+ years to prove himself and to be honest, I'm perfectly fine with that. No coach should be able to waste careers of multiple players without at least some post-season (not necessarily Super Bowl wins) success.

With the players the Cowboys have now and barring serious injuries to major players, we should all have a really good idea of how well McCarthy is doing with this team after he's coached 2-3 years.

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Well said. With a few roster upgrades, this team could win big next year.

Win now or win soon, Jerry's departure from Jason Garrett and the fact that he's not forcing any coaches down McCarthy's throat it's a very good sign we're seeking a more traditional path to success. I am excited and hopeful for the future of Cowboys football.

Bobhaze said:

Mike McCarthy is a good hire for this team. His experience, his success, and his straight-forward style of communication are a breath of fresh air for a team that has been mired in a stale “process” that was long overdue for an exit.

One thought I’ve had with this hire that I think is really good- the pretext for McCarthy’s hiring is very simple: WIN NOW. I can’t remember a head coach since maybe Barry Switzer where the expectation upon hiring was as direct as WIN NOW. Parcells came in with high expectations but the roster he inherited was a completely bare cupboard. He was hired to rebuild the talent. Coach Mac will certainly need more talent. But the roster is not empty.

The question for Mike McCarthy will probably center on how long he has to produce. Unlike Garrett, (thankfully) he won’t have a developmental grace period. My understanding is the length of his contract is 5 years. But if he hasn’t produced at least an NFC championship appearance in 2-3 years, I can’t see him having near the leash Garrett had. And that’s not bad at all.

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With Garrett gone, Stephen Jones will be able to fire McCarthy or any other coach without the Jerry saga that occurred with Jerry meeting with Garrett and never actually firing him.

It’s win now. Why they didn’t go with someone younger it seems. I think he has a chip on his shoulder that he won the super bowl cuz if Aaron. Winning here shows it wasn’t just rodgers

i didnt like the hire, but im liking the hire.

I like how hes going after his own staff and really brought a flame thrower to the old ways.


Lets see how he does and how the off season goes, hes brought excitement back to the team.

I'm looking for the Cowboys to get back to where they were in the 70s. Where we don't win a SB every season. Or even every other season. But we are always in the conversation. Competitive. Considered an elite team. Where if we don't make it to the NFCCG in a given year, people are shocked.

The Cowboys only won 2 SBs in the 70s. But were almost always in the NFCCG even though they didn't win it every time.

I don't know if that is an unrealistic expectation or not given the rise of FA, the salary cap, and the coaching carousel.

But there it is.

Bobhaze said:

Mike McCarthy is a good hire for this team. His experience, his success, and his straight-forward style of communication are a breath of fresh air for a team that has been mired in a stale “process” that was long overdue for an exit.

One thought I’ve had with this hire that I think is really good- the pretext for McCarthy’s hiring is very simple: WIN NOW. I can’t remember a head coach since maybe Barry Switzer where the expectation upon hiring was as direct as WIN NOW. Parcells came in with high expectations but the roster he inherited was a completely bare cupboard. He was hired to rebuild the talent. Coach Mac will certainly need more talent. But the roster is not empty.

The question for Mike McCarthy will probably center on how long he has to produce. Unlike Garrett, (thankfully) he won’t have a developmental grace period. My understanding is the length of his contract is 5 years. But if he hasn’t produced at least an NFC championship appearance in 2-3 years, I can’t see him having near the leash Garrett had. And that’s not bad at all.

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I agree Bullet , Garrett was Jerrys attempt to home grow a Tom Landry . He sat in that box year after year suffering the embarrassment of a poorly coached team and gave Garrett every chance to succeed time wise .

He also had to watch Mac out coach Garrett in important games as Garrett had 2 weeks to prepare for GB and could not even get our players substituted . Mac did his homework on us with an injury riddled team and penalties like the one on Butler killed us .
That said Jerry hamstrung Garrett with his lust to gamble our 2nd rd picks on defense and Marrinellis Rush men that didnt include a run stopper like Nagta or , Poe instead we gave up 2 picks for mostly injured Claiborne .

A defense that just couldnt hold in big moments has killed this team when it mattered and the wasted picks is the reason IMO Gregory ,Claiborne , Irving , Taco , and possibly Hill Drafting injured players with health history Lee , Smith that couldn't be on the field . With Jerry out of just this equation Mac will be able to assemble a defense that can put games away when we need it to .

IMO Macs past achievements give him the credibility to build a team his way and keep Jerry out of it the coaching staff purge is the first example that things are going to be different . Its the only thing Jerry dosent have enough money to buy TIME and he finally is seeing he needs to win now and let Mac do it his way so time dosent run out .

Bobhaze said:

Mike McCarthy is a good hire for this team. His experience, his success, and his straight-forward style of communication are a breath of fresh air for a team that has been mired in a stale “process” that was long overdue for an exit.

One thought I’ve had with this hire that I think is really good- the pretext for McCarthy’s hiring is very simple: WIN NOW. I can’t remember a head coach since maybe Barry Switzer where the expectation upon hiring was as direct as WIN NOW. Parcells came in with high expectations but the roster he inherited was a completely bare cupboard. He was hired to rebuild the talent. Coach Mac will certainly need more talent. But the roster is not empty.

The question for Mike McCarthy will probably center on how long he has to produce. Unlike Garrett, (thankfully) he won’t have a developmental grace period. My understanding is the length of his contract is 5 years. But if he hasn’t produced at least an NFC championship appearance in 2-3 years, I can’t see him having near the leash Garrett had. And that’s not bad at all.

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. Initially I was not happy about This. I mean if you can’t win with the great Aaron Rodgers. But I’m happy with all the assistance that follow him. So maybe I just give it a shot LOL go cowboys

I am curious about McCarthy's contract. Has anyone heard the terms? Did he get a market value contract? Or did he take a deal? Seeing some of the salaries of the new, inexperienced coaches...I just shake my head.

Bobhaze said:

Right but it’s a lot different than Jerry’s decade of dreams to home grow his personal Tom Landry. McCarthy is ready now.

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Absolutely it’s different, but I think as long as Jerry feels McCarthy is consistently producing teams Jerry feels have a chance he’ll give him the 5 years.

Garrett’s downfall wasn’t just not getting to the NFC championship, it was also that along with the playoff seasons he was mixing in 8-8 seasons and a 4-12 season. In all, as many or more poor seasons as good ones.

Bobhaze said:

Well said. With a few roster upgrades, this team could win big next year.

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If they keep Prescott and Cooper in place, they should absolutely win double digit games next year.

ShiningStar said:

i didnt like the hire, but im liking the hire.

I like how hes going after his own staff and really brought a flame thrower to the old ways.


Lets see how he does and how the off season goes, hes brought excitement back to the team.

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This is exactly where I'm at. I initially voted No in the poll about being happy with the hire or not. But since my initial reaction, and seeing the veteran staff that he's assembling, I've come around on it and am currently much more optimistic.

I think the offense has quality coaching in spades, and a young, creative mind in Kellen Moore to keep things fresh and current as well. I think that side of the ball is in good hands.

Defensively is where I have my concerns, and I'd like to see a few more qualified coaches added to that side to feel really good about it. And to me, defense is where the influx of new talent needs to come in.

Bobhaze said:

The question for Mike McCarthy will probably center on how long he has to produce. Unlike Garrett, (thankfully) he won’t have a developmental grace period. My understanding is the length of his contract is 5 years. But if he hasn’t produced at least an NFC championship appearance in 2-3 years, I can’t see him having near the leash Garrett had. And that’s not bad at all.

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We all know Jerry and his enormous ego. No, he won't have as long a leash as Garrett had, not even a quarter of it. My guess is 3 to 5 years max, maybe less if he has some early success. Should he make it to an NFC championship game within 2 or 3 years, Mike will get all the credit and that will infuriate Jerry to no end.

I want to see Mike succeed and bring glory back to the team, but it will come with a steep price. He's already in a no win situation - don't have success and get fired. Have great success and get fired because of Jerry's ego and need for attention and credit. I'm glad Garrett is finally gone, but I also feel bad for his replacement because of what he just walked in to.

In the press conference announcing the hire, Jerry was asked point blank if McCarthy was going to be allowed to hire his own assistants. He glared at the reporter asking the question and said his head coaches have always been allowed to hire their own staff. What a liar - lets ask Wade Phillips if Jason Garrett was his choice for OC when he was hired as HC back in 2007. Oh wait, Garrett was hired before Wade... that answers that question.

Bowdown27 said:

It’s win now. Why they didn’t go with someone younger it seems. I think he has a chip on his shoulder that he won the super bowl cuz if Aaron. Winning here shows it wasn’t just rodgers

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And he will have to go through Rodgers to get there... I love that storyline as well lol

A good precedent for former head coaches is Dick Vermeil. He was a successful head coach for the Eagles but never won a Super Bowl. When he took over the head coaching job for the Rams he finally achieved the ultimate prize.

Bobhaze said:

Mike McCarthy is a good hire for this team. His experience, his success, and his straight-forward style of communication are a breath of fresh air for a team that has been mired in a stale “process” that was long overdue for an exit.

One thought I’ve had with this hire that I think is really good- the pretext for McCarthy’s hiring is very simple: WIN NOW. I can’t remember a head coach since maybe Barry Switzer where the expectation upon hiring was as direct as WIN NOW. Parcells came in with high expectations but the roster he inherited was a completely bare cupboard. He was hired to rebuild the talent. Coach Mac will certainly need more talent. But the roster is not empty.

The question for Mike McCarthy will probably center on how long he has to produce. Unlike Garrett, (thankfully) he won’t have a developmental grace period. My understanding is the length of his contract is 5 years. But if he hasn’t produced at least an NFC championship appearance in 2-3 years, I can’t see him having near the leash Garrett had. And that’s not bad at all.

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Yep

This hire is all about winning now. I love it. And I’d agree 2 years is the max for taking this team deeper than Garrett did.
Super Bowl or Bust !!