Why did Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy skip league meetings?
Being the Dallas Cowboys head coach certainly isn’t easy. You are always on the hot seat. You have to “keep up with the Joneses.” And, your every decision is scrutinized. On Sunday, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reported that head coach Mike McCarthy would not be attending the NFL’s annual meetings. These meetings are a well-attended event that brings together GMs and coaches from all 32 teams. It is a chance for them to talk about issues, rules (the league’s overtime rule, for example), and get some time with the media.
This year, the meetings are being held in person in Palm Beach, Florida, for the first time in two years, as the last two were held virtually due to COVID-19. When Gehlken reported that the 58-year-old head coach would not be attending, it’s no surprise that the rumors of course started to swirl. Is it because of the Sean Payton situation? Is it because the Joneses don’t trust him? What does it mean?! The answer given in multiple reports was that McCarthy wanted to take the time to focus on scouting and upcoming Pro Days.
To be honest, this makes a ton of sense. The Cowboys have a lot of positional needs to fill in the draft especially given the front office’s choice to remain mostly in-house and focus on depth signings. McCarthy isn’t going to find the next best offensive lineman or linebacker in a conference room in Florida. But, it’s worth noting that, according to Gehlken, it “is uncommon” for a head coach not to attend these meetings.
Of course, we will never know the full truth, but it is a tad bizarre. It’s possible McCarthy wanted to get away from the constant narrative of job security and Payton potentially taking his job, but again, this is just speculation.
The 2022 group photo for NFL head coaches at annual meeting. Four not in shot. Of them, Mike McCarthy the only one who elected not to attend meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. https://t.co/r0gSLbwWx4 pic.twitter.com/ywWGfosinP
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 28, 2022
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is not attending the NFL’s annual league meetings to focus on pre-draft scouting
In the awkward and forced photo above, you may notice some other faces are missing, too. Bill Belichick, Bruce Arians, Dan Campbell, and McCarthy are all absent. It’s a very random group of coaches, and once again, no exact reasonings were given as to why the other three chose not to attend either.
For right now, the fact that McCarthy is out there finding future Cowboys talent rather than schmoozing with league execs just to show face doesn’t really bother us. That’s what a coach is supposed to do. Under this assumption, the head coach feels the draft is the most important part of this offseason and wants to focus there. This actually corroborates previous reports that McCarthy said this offseason is the most he has ever been involved with the draft. We already know he’s been spotted at the Georgia, Penn State, and Ole Miss Pro Days.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy met with reporters virtually this morning while not attending Annual Meeting. Said he focused on situational red-zone work Tuesday; originally was scheduled to attend a pro day. He, Dan Quinn and Will McClay to attend Alabama’s pro day Wednesday.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 29, 2022
On Tuesday morning, McCarthy met with reporters virtually and informed them he was busy working with the offense and was planning on heading to Alabama’s Pro Day with Dan Quinn and Will McClay on Wednesday. We’ll never know whose decision this really was for sure, but at least McCarthy isn’t just sitting on the couch eating Bon Bons.