Reiterating Mike McCarthy’s position, Jerry Jones claims the coach has the Cowboys “hanging around the rim.”
ALABASTER, AL — Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, spoke highly of the team’s current situation and direction under Mike McCarthy on Tuesday by using a basketball metaphor.
For the first time since making the announcement that McCarthy will return to coaching in 2024 in a statement on January 18, Jones spoke with media. A portion of his Tuesday speech, which he gave in between team drills at the Senior Bowl scouting gathering, restated his beliefs.
“Just overwhelmingly the right decision to have the continuity that Mike brings,” he said of the choice.
For the third consecutive year, McCarthy guided the Cowboys to a 12-win regular season in 2023. During that time, they had a 1-3 playoff record, which includes a home first-round loss to the Green Bay Packers on January 14 as the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
When a reporter asked Jones why any disgruntled Cowboys supporters should think that the upcoming season will finish differently than previous ones, Jones changed the subject to sports. Jones started off by stressing how critical it is to do better at both run defense and run offense.
Then he turned the talk back to McCarthy.
“His 12-win seasons are not the least of the real positives I can see when I look at the job he’s done over the last four years,” Jones stated. “We have undoubtedly improved in several aspects, in my opinion. I believe that we are at a critical juncture with Dak [Prescott]. Since Mike has been here, Dak has gotten better, and I believe that progress will continue.
“Dak’s progress with Mike still has more to be gained. That is supported by the evidence. It made sense to bring Dak back because we still have a lot of work to do and decisions to make that affect a lot of other things we’re doing right now.
Jones stated, “I felt we made a pretty good move when we hired Mike McCarthy four years ago.” “He’s performed really well during the season. He’s now failed three times to get us further in the playoffs. However, I appreciate that he is hanging around near the rim and the work the club has put into doing so. Thus, I believe my response would be that I am aware that we are loitering near the edge.
“We’re around the rim, but we’re not getting the ball in. I’m considering it holistically, so let’s not undervalue hanging out near the rim and where we are with the players we now have. The actual query is: What am I doing now that I was doing thirty years ago? Personally, I’m not doing the same things that I used to do twenty years ago. I approach many things in a different way.
McCarthy’s contract is about to expire as he begins his fifth and final season. Talks for extending the agreement are not anticipated to happen until January of next year.
In the last year of his contract, Jones made arrangements for Jason Garrett, McCarthy’s predecessor, to serve as coach twice.
“This is how I feel comfortable doing it, and Mike is
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