McCarthy: Nobody wants to be on a one-year contract

[Bobhaze]

This is why I have said a successful season doesn't guarantee MM will return with a new contract. You can tell by the tone here, that he doesn't appreciate Jerry putting him and his family in this position. I can see him telling Jerry to shovel it if another offers a job ( Bucs, Bengals, Bills etc. ). Many fans are disappointed but his resume during his time here on the open market is pretty impressive.

This year reminds me of two other times in the last 15 years we had a HC in this kind of limbo on the last year of their contract. Both times the team did not make the playoffs.

In 2009, after an embarrassing 34-3 loss to the Vikings in the divisional round, (which made Wade Phillips’ playoff record here 1-2 in 3 seasons) JJ decided to keep Wade Phillips around one more year with one year remaining on his contract. In 2010 the bottom fell out, even before Tony Romo broke his collarbone in October. The team started the year (with Romo) 1-5, eventually getting embarrassed on national TV by the packers 45-7, and Jerry fired Wade and handed the keys to Jason Garrett.

Then a decade later, after the Clapper only made the playoffs 3 times, JJ also decided not to renew Garrett’s contract and the Cowboys went into the 2019 season with a HC again hanging over a cliff. We went 9-7 in 2019 and did not make the playoffs.

So as we head into the 2024 season, Big Mac now sits in the same position as his two predecessors: on the last year of his contract and the players know it. Maybe we get lucky and history does not repeat itself. But if the team has a rocky start, we may have a similar reaction as 2010 when the players knew their HC wasn’t coming back.

I‘m hoping Big Mac can avoid what happened to his two predecessors.

 

[Motorola]

This year reminds me of two other times in the last 15 years we had a HC in this kind of limbo on the last year of their contract. Both times the team did not make the playoffs.

In 2009, after an embarrassing 34-3 loss to the Vikings in the divisional round, (which made Wade Phillips’ playoff record here 1-2 in 3 seasons) JJ decided to keep Wade Phillips around one more year with one year remaining on his contract. In 2010 the bottom fell out, even before Tony Romo broke his collarbone in October. The team started the year (with Romo) 1-5, eventually getting embarrassed on national TV by the packers 45-7, and Jerry fired Wade and handed the keys to Jason Garrett.

Then a decade later, after the Clapper only made the playoffs 3 times, JJ also decided not to renew Garrett’s contract and the Cowboys went into the 2019 season with a HC again hanging over a cliff. We went 9-7 in 2019 and did not make the playoffs.

So as we head into the 2024 season, Big Mac now sits in the same position as his two prior predecessors: on the last year of his contract and the players know it. Maybe we get lucky and history does not repeat itself. But if the team has a rocky start, we may have a similar reaction as 2010 when the players knew their HC wasn’t coming back.

I‘m hoping Big Mac can avoid what happened to his two predecessors.

If the team repeats as NFC East Champion while getting 10+ wins,
yet again is one and done in the wildcard round - will Jones re-up McCarthy?
With all the changes that Dallas will play through this upcoming season...wouldn't the above result reflect a very good coaching job put in by the HC and his staff?

 

[Hawkeye0202]

But if the team has a rocky start, we may have a similar reaction as 2010 when the players knew their HC wasn’t coming back.

Bob, I honestly this will be the key........this is a very fragile team with razor-thin depth but I think if we stay a game or two around 500, up or down, we have a chance. On the flip side, if we drop 3-4 games below 500, especially early, things can get ugly really fast.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

With all the changes that Dallas will play through this upcoming season...wouldn't the above result reflect a very good coaching job put in by the HC and his staff?

Yes it would.....as a matter of fact, if we repeat last season's record MM should be in the coach of the year conversation IMO.

 

[Bobhaze]

If the team repeats as NFC East Champion while getting 10+ wins,
yet again is one and done in the wildcard round - will Jones re-up McCarthy?
With all the changes that Dallas will play through this upcoming season...wouldn't the above result reflect a very good coaching job put in by the HC and his staff?

Based on Jerry’s recent years as GM, if McCarthy even wins one wild card game, I say JJ keeps him. Because Jerry hates to hire a new HC. Jerry will once again declare that “we are around the rim” and so close to punching through.

Jerry Jones absolutely despises hiring a new HC for three big reasons:

1. It reminds everyone how many times Jerry has hired a new head coach who then proceeds to perform about the same as the previous guys- getting nowhere in the playoffs. And highlights that the only thing that hasn’t changed here is the GM.
2. It gets harder and harder to find head coaching candidates who are willing to put up with the three ring circus in Big D. And also difficult to find someone who will have no problem with the HC having less authority than anyone else in the league.
3. He knows it’s getting harder to sell the fan base that he understands how to put together a championship roster and coaching staff in the cap era. He’s never done either without the major help and influence from a strong, empowered HC which he does not want taking away from his almighty “credit”. And even that happened before the salary cap era.

So if BigMac wins even a wild card game next year, I will be surprised if he’s not signed to another contract because JJ and SJ will crow about how “close“ we are.

 

[Chasing6]

Based on Jerry’s recent years as GM, if McCarthy even wins one wild card game, I say JJ keeps him. Because Jerry hates to hire a new HC. Jerry will once again declare that “we are around the rim” and so close to punching through.

Jerry Jones absolutely despises hiring a new HC for three big reasons:

1. It reminds everyone how many times Jerry has hired a new head coach who then proceeds to perform about the same as the previous guys- getting nowhere in the playoffs. And highlights that the only thing that hasn’t changed here is the GM.
2. It gets harder and harder to find head coaching candidates who are willing to put up with the three ring circus in Big D. And also difficult to find someone who will have no problem with the HC having less authority than anyone else in the league.
3. He knows it’s getting harder to sell the fan base that he understands how to put together a championship roster and coaching staff in the cap era. He’s never done either without the major help and influence from a strong, empowered HC which he does not want taking away from his almighty “credit”. And even that happened before the salary cap era.

So if BigMac wins even a wild card game next year, I will be surprised if he’s not signed to another contract because JJ and SJ will crow about how “close“ we are.

Better question. If we mis the playoffs, don't resign Dak and then decided to roll the dice with Trance, how do you make a coaching change?

For young inexperienced QB, having to learn a 3rd offense in 5 years would be a huge mistake.

 

[VaqueroTD]

The problem in this entire situation is either Jerry should have just fired Coach Mac, or Mac should have said ’hell no’ I’m not going to be in a no win situation and quit.

Coaches have been fired the year after reaching the Super Bowl in the salary cap era. It’s a tiny window and if you didn’t make it, it makes no sense treating it like the old days when you could stack as much depth as you wanted at a position and not pay for it. But this is Jerry who held on to the clapper for three .500 seasons, and Barry Switzer one year too many. Big Mac had his chances, he couldn‘t do it, the team COMPLETELY collapsed in its third try…. let‘s move on!

And Mac realizes it’s a young man’s game and he’ll probably never get another shot if this doesn’t work out. Even Bill Belichick with all those rings couldn’t find a new team. So he won’t quit either.

The loser is the fans and the players who have to waste a year in a lame duck situation because no one is stepping up to make the right call. This is how HOF guys like Witten, Ware and Tyron Smith continually end their careers with no SB ring in Big D these days.

 

[fivetwos]

Based on Jerry’s recent years as GM, if McCarthy even wins one wild card game, I say JJ keeps him. Because Jerry hates to hire a new HC. Jerry will once again declare that “we are around the rim” and so close to punching through.

Jerry Jones absolutely despises hiring a new HC for three big reasons:

1. It reminds everyone how many times Jerry has hired a new head coach who then proceeds to perform about the same as the previous guys- getting nowhere in the playoffs. And highlights that the only thing that hasn’t changed here is the GM.
2. It gets harder and harder to find head coaching candidates who are willing to put up with the three ring circus in Big D. And also difficult to find someone who will have no problem with the HC having less authority than anyone else in the league.
3. He knows it’s getting harder to sell the fan base that he understands how to put together a championship roster and coaching staff in the cap era. He’s never done either without the major help and influence from a strong, empowered HC which he does not want taking away from his almighty “credit”. And even that happened before the salary cap era.

So if BigMac wins even a wild card game next year, I will be surprised if he’s not signed to another contract because JJ and SJ will crow about how “close“ we are.

He has also forced at least one coordinator on every single head coach he has hired since Jimmy left….even Parcells.

Jerry wants one of his hand picked guys, and/or will not eat coach contracts, and it’s been a problem….as evidenced by it never working.

Making Parcells stay with Zimmer for two years before going to the 34 made him run out of time before the working relationship blew up.

Garrett essentially worked against Wade because he knew he would get his job.

And with MM, who of course lied yet again saying he wanted to keep Kellen Moore anyway, three years later claims they had different philosophies.

This is Jerry’s fingerprints all over everything, and people can say what they want, but I promise there are many coaches that would NEVER work in Dallas because of that….It’s always a retread, or someone with zero experience that’s happy for the opportunity. THATS why we get regularly outschemed by better teams….Jerry’s coaching decisions.

Its why I truly don’t care if they keep MM or not….it’s not going to matter. Jerry will blow it yet again because someone he likes that will kiss his behind is priority over winning.

 

[Bobhaze]

Better question. If we mis the playoffs, don't resign Dak and then decided to roll the dice with Trance, how do you make a coaching change?

For young inexperienced QB, having to learn a 3rd offense in 5 years would be a huge mistake.

Agreed. Any QB having a third offense in 5 years is a struggle. Especially an unproven QB.

But If all the above happens as you describe, it would surprise me though. I wouldn’t object to moving on from Dak if there’s someone better and at this point we not only don’t know if Lance can be that guy, it appears the Jones cartel is preparing to resign Dak anyway. At which point we’ve just re-set the table.

 

[Bobhaze]

He has also forced at least one coordinator on every single head coach he has hired since Jimmy left….even Parcells.

Jerry wants one of his hand picked guys, and/or will not eat coach contracts, and it’s been a problem….as evidenced by it never working.

Making Parcells stay with Zimmer for two years before going to the 34 made him run out of time before the working relationship blew up.

Garrett essentially worked against Wade because he knew he would get his job.

And with MM, who of course lied yet again saying he wanted to keep Kellen Moore anyway, three years later claims they had different philosophies.

This is Jerry’s fingerprints all over everything, and people can say what they want, but I promise there are many coaches that would NEVER work in Dallas because of that….It’s always a retread, or someone with zero experience that’s happy for the opportunity. THATS why we get regularly outschemed by better teams….Jerry’s coaching decisions.

Its why I truly don’t care if they keep MM or not….it’s not going to matter. Jerry will blow it yet again because someone he likes that will kiss his behind is priority over winning.

Well said and I agree 100%.

I would add that all the talk of Bill Belechick coming to us next year is a pipe dream. First of all, I cannot see a guy like BB who has had maximum authority his entire HC career agreeing to come to the Barnum and Bailey Blue Star circus. Secondly, as much as I respect BB, I also believe the game has passed him by.

Much like the great Tom Landry whose time had come when he was unceremoniously fired by Jerry, (I agreed that TL needed to retire but even Jerry admits that was botched) Belechick at 73 next year would be the ultimate re-tread coaching hire. Which means JJ might try it, lol! But I think it would be a mistake.

 

[fivetwos]

Well said and I agree 100%.

I would add that all the talk of Bill Belechick coming to us next year is a pipe dream. First of all, I cannot see a guy like BB who has had maximum authority his entire HC career agreeing to come to the Barnum and Bailey Blue Star circus. Secondly, as much as I respect BB, I also believe the game has passed him by.

Much like the great Tom Landry whose time had come when he was unceremoniously fired by Jerry, (I agreed that TL needed to retire but even Jerry admits that was botched) Belechick at 73 next year would be the ultimate re-tread coaching hire. Which means JJ might try it, lol! But I think it would be a mistake.

Depending of course on how this season plays out, I think there’s a better shot of BB coming here than logic would dictate.

It’s another situation where a coach just wants an opportunity (to break the win record), and of course Jerry is going to need something to sell if retaining MM can’t happen.

I don’t want it for the reasons you mention, and even if that isnt the case…he is here for max two years, then what? BBs kid? Josh McDaniels?

As a fan I want the next McVay, McDermott, LaFleur, Ryans…etc, someone we can have here for a decade (if they prove to be worthy, not just keep them here for that long anyway and try to pass it off as success) but that’s not really gonna happen anytime soon, is it?