Why the Cowboys aren't benching Matt Cassel

[RS12]

IRVING, Texas -- Matt Cassel has not earned a seventh start for the Dallas Cowboys this season. Anyone who has watched his previous six starts understands that.

But Cassel will start his seventh game Saturday night against the New York Jets, even though he's 1-5 as a starter with five touchdowns and six interceptions.

Jason Garrett's decision to keep Cassel at the helm tells us a lot about the Cowboys' coach, who will finish under .500 for the first time in his six seasons as head coach.

Garrett is not the Howdy Doody character he portrays to the public, nor is he Jerry Jones' ventriloquist dummy as so many of you think. He has an affinity for dropping F-bombs and is ultracompetitive.

Understand, Garrett has spent his entire tenure as coach creating and maintaining the Cowboys' current culture.

Why do you think he had navy T-shirts made with "Fight" written across the chest? And why do you think he's always talking about the relentless spirit of his last-place team?

Garrett has stood in front of his team every day for the last six years preaching the importance of fighting and competing on every play of every game. Benching Cassel and naming Kellen Moore the starter would essentially tell his players the season is over. And that would undercut the entirety of Garrett's message.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14384585/why-cowboys-benching-matt-cassel

 

[DandyDon1722]

If Kellen Moore comes in and on the slim chance he is a little bit effective or God forbids wins a game and looks good, it's an indictment of the entire organization that not only did they not see it - but it cost us a season. I believe that's really why he's not paying at this point.

I know they see him every day and it's a long shot that he can really play but how do you ever know unless you get him in.

They'll throw him in at the end of the season but not enough to give him a true body of work.

 

[Fletch]

I understand that line of thinking, but this season is done. Give Moore a shot. If the players truly believe in Garrett's way, then they'll continue to fight.

 

[daveferr33]

Why do you think he had navy T-shirts made with "Fight" written across the chest? And why do you think he's always talking about the relentless spirit of his last-place team?

Because he's all hat and no cattle?

 

[Cowboy4ever]

I understand that line of thinking, but this season is done. Give Moore a shot. If the players truly believe in Garrett's way, then they'll continue to fight.

Well it is done for you and me and all other Cowboy fans, not for the players, not yet. While we can all agree that I have a better chance statistically of winning the powerball lottery than this team does of going to the playoffs, there is still a chance. So Garrett owes it to the team to play the player that they feel gives them the best chance to win. Once we are officially eliminated from the playoffs, then we can see what he does.

 

[Sasquatch]

Why? Jerry's osmosis theory of QB development.

 

[MagicMan]

No surprise at all...........predictability and lack of vision runs in the organization. If making decisions on who will be relevant next year undercut Garrett's message to this team, then they are as weak minded as I perceive them to be.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Keep playing Cassel, Jerry is lusting after that draft pick

 

[Stash]

A funny article. He seems to start it with 'don't look for Moore', and then essentially finishes by saying 'give it a week until the season is officially over and then you'll see him.'

And I personally wouldn't worry too much about damaging any message Garrett is trying to send. In all the time he's been here, neither that message, nor his 'process' has helped to establish this team as a winner.

At some point, it's just baseless noise.

 

[btcutter]

Well it is done for you and me and all other Cowboy fans, not for the players, not yet. While we can all agree that I have a better chance statistically of winning the powerball lottery than this team does of going to the playoffs, there is still a chance. So Garrett owes it to the team to play the player that they feel gives them the best chance to win. Once we are officially eliminated from the playoffs, then we can see what he does.

I think statistically the Cowboys still have a better chance of going to the playoffs than any of us winning powerball.

Just maybe, just maybe Moore is BETTER than Cassel and JJ has already told Red not to play Moore because he actually represents a better chance of winning next 3 games?

 

[JoeBoBBY]

Becuase were going 3-0, win the East, then were going to beat Seattle at AT$T, and Romo will come back after Cassell gets hurt in the Divisional againt Carolina, Romo will come in and lead a miracle comeback with a miracle last second win, then we will beat AZ in tempe, 31-3 to make the Super Bowl.......

you guys didnt know that? come' on man....

 

[darthseinfeld]

I want to see Garrett drop some F bombs

 

[MRV52]

I want to see Garrett drop some F bombs

The only thing that Garrett drops is his time piece.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

If the players don't know the season is over they are in really bad shape mentally wise.
Garretts message isn't being heard past himself at this point.

 

[Doomsay]

I think Garrett is 44-40, including that meaningless and fateful last game in the 2010 season which the Eagles threw. I'm sure he doesn't want to get into red career numbers even if giving some inexperienced players reps would ultimately help this team going forward. It's all about not making huge mistakes and jeopardizing the only head coaching job he will ever have.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

How does going with a 1-5 qb not show that you've given up? If they went with Moore right after Romo's injury, I would have taken it as if they wanted to win, and try whatever they could to do that

 

[VACowboy]

If Kellen Moore comes in and on the slim chance he is a little bit effective or God forbids wins a game and looks good, it's an indictment of the entire organization that not only did they not see it - but it cost us a season. I believe that's really why he's not paying at this point.

Couldn't disagree more.

Garrett's job depends on winning. EVERYBODY involved with the Cowboys looks better when the team wins. Guaranteed, the tone around here would be a lot different if we were 9-4 instead of 4-9, regardless of who was starting at QB or who was responsible for bringing him to Dallas.

If Garrett thought Moore gave the team a better chance to win, Moore would be playing.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

"Finish The Fight" seems like a long time off.

 

[erod]

They have to. It's only fair to the team. They can't give up, especially when the play Saturday before the other games.

If Dallas loses, it's Moore's from there.

 

[Sportsbabe]

I understand that line of thinking, but this season is done. Give Moore a shot. If the players truly believe in Garrett's way, then they'll continue to fight.

...and Cassell is the sole reason we can't win a game. Have they seem him in the pocket?