Cowboys News: Sean Payton’s trade value revealed, Tony Pollard injury, Dan Quinn

We’ve arrived at the final week of the 2022 regular season. Despite the Dallas Cowboys producing back-to-back 12-win seasons, there’s been talk throughout the year — sparked largely by non-Cowboys TV personalities — about the franchise moving on from Mike McCarthy after another potential playoff letdown.

After Dallas was bounced in the first round last year, seemingly everyone started the countdown of the end of 2022, when Jerry Jones and company would presumably lure Sean Payton out of retirement to replace McCarthy at the helm.

Given Payton’s history as an assistant for the Cowboys, decorated resume as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, as well as Jones’ penchant for making headline-grabbing moves, the dots were pretty easy to connect.

With McCarthy enjoying a superb second season in Dallas, it’s reasonable to assume he’s bought himself another season as head coach. Barring the Cowboys crashing out of the postseason in epic fashion, you have to think McCarthy will be back leading Dallas out of the tunnel next September.

That’s a big relief, because the Saints reported asking price for Payton has been unearthed, and it’s positively insane.

More Cowboys News:

• Don’t be shocked if the Saints start the bidding at a first-round pick. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, New Orleans understands what other organizations received for other top-tier head coaches and believes Payton is worth what those other great choices were valued at, “and then some.”
• For context, the Raiders netted two first-rounders, two-second-rounders and $8 million from Tampa Bay for Jon Gruden, while the Jets received a first-rounder, a fourth, a fifth, and two sevenths for Bill Belichick.
• The Colts and Broncos are two teams desperate to fill a head coach vacancy. The Panthers have their own vacancy to fill, while other teams, including the Cardinals, Buccaneers, Texans, and Commanders, could each have a role to play in the coaching carousel when all is said and done.
• In other Cowboys news, McCarthy expects Tony Pollard back at practice Wednesday. A first-time Pro Bowler in 2022, Pollard missed Week 17 with a thigh injury. Pollard was close to suiting up against Tennessee, and this update puts him on track to return this Sunday against Washington.
• Speaking of head coaching buzz, Dan Quinn was asked Tuesday about potential opportunities in the offseason. While DQ is sure to garner interest, if he hasn’t already, he’s fully focused on the job at hand in Dallas.

NFL News:

• Cowboys vs Commanders, Eagles vs Giants, and 49ers vs Cardinals will all be played at 4:25 p.m. EST Sunday afternoon, meaning all three teams in contention for the No. 1 seed will kickoff at the same time.
• Lions vs Packers — a win-and-in game for Green Bay — takes the Sunday Night Football slate, while the win-or-go-home AFC South bout between the Titans and Jaguars gets a standalone slot on Saturday night.
• Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, who apparently had zero clue Washington could get eliminated with a loss on Sunday, has no regrets about starting Carson Wentz in Week 17. Wentz finished 16-of-28 with three interceptions in the loss. His tenure in the nation’s capital is likely over.

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