What's happening, folks? This was a popular segment for several months, so I'm glad that the Jam Session boys resurrected it today. For those unaware, JJT and Matt McClearin are no longer on the ESPN radio station in Dallas, as they decided to go national. They have since revived their show via podcast, which is available everywhere (Spotify, Youtube, Apple, Google, etc.). They usually record at local breweries in the DFW area. Last week, they did a show at Celestial and this particular show was recorded at Odd Muse in Farmers Branch.
I prefer this format for a few reasons, one is that it's not managed by ESPN. The other is that they do a lot of cool things with craft beer on this show (I'm a former commercial brewer). No commercials, occasional profanity. It's way better. With all the news surrounding the Cowboys locker room this week, JJT felt he had to do some work and find out a few things, so at any rate - here is the revival of Whispers from the Star. For those wanting to listen, it starts around an hour and 33 minutes into the podcast. Link below for convenience.
1. We all saw Jane Slater's report about the issues in the locker room, questioning the coaching, questioning the coaches abilities, etc. So JJT reached out to a source and see what he thought about the situation. The first thing that the source mentioned was that he doesn't think that these comments came from a player that's currently in the building, but may have come from a player that was previously in the building but isn't any longer. Said just walking down the hallways in the building this week, everything looked more unified than it had in previous week's and, to the naked eye, the building doesn't look fractured at all.
Me personally, I think that's just company-man corporate speak and find it seriously hard to believe. Zeke saying in a presser this week "man we have to keep that stuff in house" is basically an admission that there are some issues in that locker room. The source thought that having Dak in the locker room would have helped the Cowboys avoid this meltdown because he's the unquestioned leader because he can relate to every one of his teammates. Black teammates. White teammates. Rich ones. Broke ones playing on the minimum. Offense. Defense. Everybody. The source claimed that, despite Dak being gone, there is still some great leadership in Dallas. I've yet to see it. The source said that McCarthy has done a great job this week of keeping the team focused and honing in on what he told the media this week - that he has an open door policy, let's discuss things like grown men and grow into the team that we know we can be. That being said, the FO is paying close attention to McCarthy this week and need a lot from him to overcome everything that is going on. You can go 5-11 and put in everything you have and not lose a football team. Conversely, you can also go 5-11 and completely lose your football team. And all of the ear marks indicate that McCarthy is teetering a dangerous line right now with possibly losing this football team. I'm curious to see this one play out.
2. Don't be surprised if one of two things happen. One - we are going to be seeing a lot of the younger guys. This staff and FO need to know what they have. Two - don't be shocked if we start moving some people, as our cap situation is only getting worse in 2021 with aging players and a QB due for a mega payday. JJT was particularly critical of our interior DL, like almost all of us have been for YEARS. Dontari Poe and Ty Crawford, specifically. Says they're really good dudes, but you don't get a starting spot in the NFL because you're a good dude. You have to play. Poe played 30 snaps against Arizona, in a game where they rushed 35 times for 200 plus yards, not a single tackle. Crawford. Similar results. The snaps he played, in a run dominated game, no tackles or assists or anything of substance. Just a taunting penalty after they were gashed to go down 14-0. The Cowboys spent heavily in FA on age, and these are the results you get. Some of these players are oft-injured and simply can't play the same way they used to. It's becoming more apparent every week. Poe getting moved two yards off the ball before the play even develops. Something's gotta give.
3. Mike Nolan is not going ANYWHERE. The Dallas Cowboys are a franchise fueled by nepotism. Most of us are aware that he and McCarthy have a relationship that dates back to the mid 2000's in San Francisco, where Nolan hired him to be his OC. What is not common knowledge is that Nolan and Will McClay go way back as well. 18 year old Will McClay had the opportunity to attend the University of Nebraska in their football hey day. However, he chose to play at Rice. Who recruited him and got him to sign? Mike Nolan. McClay's mom jokingly said at the time that she "had never met a white man that she liked until she met Mike Nolan." Guarantee you that the front office has his back too, just as McCarthy does.