Is Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy fed up?
Not exactly.
In a report earlier this month by Go Long, a Substack by former Packers and NFL beat writer Tyler Dunne, an anonymous former Cowboys’ executive is quoted as saying McCarthy is “fed up” with team owner Jerry Jones. The report, which created a stir on social media and on sports talk shows, lists reasons ranging from a lack of progress on contract extensions for quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb, to the organization being cheap when it comes to signing free agents.
Cowboys executives weren’t available to comment for this story, but numerous conversations with people inside the organization this offseason describe a different viewpoint of what’s occurring with McCarthy.
A person with knowledge of the relationship between Cowboys executives and McCarthy characterized the Go Long story as overly dramatic.
With the Cowboys entering the dead period of the NFL offseason, McCarthy seeks a contract extension but isn’t worried about his job status as he enters the final year of his contract.
The main reason he’s not worried is his belief the Cowboys will improve in 2024 even though everything isn’t perfect around the organization. McCarthy has coached the Cowboys to three consecutive 12-win seasons. Among active NFL coaches, his 167 wins place him third.
McCarthy hired agent Don Yee this spring to represent him in future negotiations with the confidence he’ll get a contract extension.
Some of McCarthy’s issues have more to do with how the Cowboys do business, regardless of the coach, and are a byproduct of dealing with today’s players.
An example of this is Micah Parsons.
McCarthy was irked the Cowboys’ star pass rusher didn’t show up for the early stages of the voluntary offseason program while new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was implementing a new scheme.
“Anytime you have a chance to be together it’s an opportunity to improve whether it’s the mental realm, physical realm which is limited this time of year,” McCarthy said during the offseason. “The emotional connection and so forth. It’s a long year, training camp is really the heightened focus for all that. It’s definitely been an opportunity to be missed.”
Parsons missed voluntary offseason workouts in previous seasons but always returned in shape.
McCarthy increased conversations with Parsons this offseason to ensure both were on a path to success.
“I don’t think people understand how much more McCarthy has invested into me in becoming a leader and what he thinks I value to the team and where we’re headed,” Parsons said this offseason. “Me and McCarthy are really good. I actually value our conversations and our relationship growing more as he’s been here and I think that’s very powerful to me. He’s took on the challenge when Dan [Quinn] left to be that voice to me and I appreciate that.”
Before Zimmer was hired, McCarthy sought to replace Quinn, who left to become the head coach in Washington, with Joe Whitt Jr., the Cowboys’ secondary/defensive passing game coordinator. Whitt worked 11 years with McCarthy in Green Bay before coming to Dallas in 2020. It seemed logical for the Cowboys to promote Whitt. Jerry Jones wanted someone with more experience, particularly a former head coach, and talked up Zimmer, a former defensive coordinator with the Cowboys and former head coach in Minnesota.
It was difficult for McCarthy because of his loyalty to Whitt. It was a similar situation for McCarthy in 2023 when he let go of Rob Davis, whom he brought from the private sector to become an assistant head coach in 2020. Davis had a tight relationship with McCarthy from nearly 10 years of working together in Green Bay. But Davis’ role in player development was similar to a position held by Bryan Wansley, the Cowboys’ director of player development who’s been with the organization for over 25 years.
McCarthy signed off on hiring Zimmer for the defensive coordinator spot, and Whitt ended up leaving to take the same position with Washington.
“We had two buckets that we look at as far as individuals that were tied to the existing defense and looking at the former head coaches that had something,” McCarthy said during a news conference when Zimmer was announced as the new defensive coordinator. “If you point to my history it’s something of a preference that I feel is very important and having a chance to sit down with Mike [to figure that out].”
There was a minor issue with McCarthy in the signing of running back Ezekiel Elliott. McCarthy sought a quicker signing of the veteran during the NFL draft in April. The Cowboys waited until after the draft to sign Elliott. It was more about McCarthy being anxious about losing Elliott to another team than his faith in the organization, according to a person with knowledge of the signing.
The Go Long report indicated McCarthy felt the team was cheap in terms of signing players, which hampers the organization’s ability to fill needs with veteran players. That seems unfounded given the Cowboys traded for two veterans, Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore, last year and signed veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks this offseason.
The Cowboys have had less than $10 million in salary cap space some seasons, which limits what the team can offer free agents. A majority of their cap space is devoted to players the team has drafted as part of a draft-and-develop plan McCarthy embraces.
That also means some homegrown players seek contract extensions.
There’s been little progress on extensions for Prescott and Lamb this summer. For the second consecutive year, there’s a possibility a key starter will hold out of training camp. Lamb missed the entire offseason program and is expected to miss training camp if he doesn’t get a new deal.
“I have no problems, no lack of confidence of our best being ready,” McCarthy said of Lamb’s potential absence.
Last summer, guard Zack Martin held out during the early stages of training camp before getting a raise.
McCarthy can’t control how contract extensions are distributed but has said in the past he understands how NFL business works, particularly the Cowboys’ way of handling contracts.
Cowboys’ officials have said the organization doesn’t want to set the salary market when it comes to retaining players. But the Cowboys received criticism for waiting too long to re-sign their own, particularly Prescott who seeks a third contract.
McCarthy can’t control when the front office offers contracts. As team executive vice president Stephen Jones has said on numerous occasions, it takes two sides to make a deal.
How the 2024 season ends is uncertain, but McCarthy is ready for the challenge. From all the Cowboys folks we’ve talked to, it’s clear McCarthy is energized for the upcoming season.
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