Stephen A. Smith Blasts Cowboys’ Jerry Jones for Mike McCarthy Comments
Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was up to his usual antics on Tuesday.
During his weekly 105.3 The Fan appearance, the eccentric billionaire was asked about the possibility of head coach Mike McCarthy returning in 2025. Despite the Cowboys poised to miss the playoffs with a 4-7 record in Week 13, Jones admitted there’s a chance that the 60-year-old coach could be back behind the bench next season.
“I don’t think that’s crazy at all,” Jones said about a potential McCarthy return. “Mike McCarthy is an outstanding coach. He’s a Super Bowl-winning coach. There’s been no place or any indication – with what I’ve said or body language or anything – about what we’re going to do at the end of this year.”
Unsurprisingly, Cowboys haters have had a field day with Jones’ latest remarks — including the franchise’s public No. 1, Stephen A. Smith.
Following Jones’ comments, the 57-year-old analyst shared his thoughts on ESPN’s First Take.
“I’m just looking at (Jones) and I’m like, ‘What the hell are you talking about?'” Smith said. “Have you seen how (the Cowboys) look this year?”
“(Jones) is basically admitting, “Well, it really ain’t Mike McCarthy’s fault. It was all mine,” knowing that you ain’t going to fire yourself.”
Smith is also frustrated by Jones’ praises for McCarthy. According to the “First Take” personality, the Cowboys would be in a better spot this season if their coach was the genius that Jones makes him out to be.
Instead, Dallas is currently sitting third in the NFC East and only has a three percent chance of making the playoffs, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
“There’s slippage. (Jones) hasn’t gotten it done and his ego is in the way,” Smith added. “There’s no reason on God’s green earth today, this season to be talking about your coach as if he should feel secure with his future considering how your team has looked.”
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
Even though Smith is somewhat biased due to his love of seeing Cowboys fans suffer, it’s hard to disagree with him. McCarthy, despite all he’s accomplished in the past, has done little to prove that he deserves a sixth season in the Lone Star State.
While a 46-32 regular-season record since 2020 is nothing to sneeze at, the Cowboys have struggled in the postseason under McCarthy’s watch. He’s guided them to a 1-3 record in the playoffs, which most recently includes January’s disastrous 48-32 wild-card loss to his former Green Bay Packers.
Instead of learning from their elimination, the Cowboys are an abysmal 4-7 through their first 11 games and that includes a 0-5 record at AT&T Stadium. While part of the blame can be placed on the players and Jones’ roster construction, the finger should also be pointed at McCarthy for failing to adjust to his team’s struggles.
If the Cowboys at least looked competitive and were challenging for a roster spot, one could justify a new contract for McCarthy. However, that’s been far from the case and it might be in Jones & Co.’s best interest to start fresh with a new coach in 2025.
For now, it seems like McCarthy will at least get to play out the remainder of the 2024 campaign behind Dallas’ bench. The Cowboys’ next game comes on Thursday when they host the rival New York Giants for a Thanksgiving afternoon affair.
