Cowboys News: Jerry Jones on Mike McCarthy, PFF mock draft, Zack Martin
By Jerry Trotta
There’s no telling how the Dallas Cowboys will perform against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night. One thing we can say for certain, though, is that they’ll humiliate themselves if they perform like they did in the Week 18 finale.
That notion isn’t lost on Zack Martin. One of the longest-tenured players on the roster, Martin knows a thing or two about Dallas’ playoff shortcomings.
Martin can only control so much, but as a team leader and one of the game’s most decorated offensive linemen (let alone guards), he can hold his teammates accountable. When Martin speaks, you listen. Simple as that.
While Martin didn’t have a lot to say following the loss in Washington, he dropped a one-liner that should stick with the Cowboys all week as they prepare to face Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on the road on Wild Card Weekend.
This grim quote should send a clear message to the locker room.
Cowboys RG Zack Martin: “We do this again, we’ll be sitting at home next week.”
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 9, 2023
More Cowboys News:
- Unlike Martin, Jerry Jones loves to air his grievances to the media. Folks were eager to hear what Jerry had to say after the nightmare that was Week 18, and he surprisingly kept a glass-half-full mindset.
- “We get to suck on that all week,” Jones said. “If that doesn’t make you want to get ready to go in about six, seven days, nothing else will. That was as thorough a butt-kicking as we’ve had this year and we’re going to find out if that’ll get you ready or not. It should with what these guys are made of.”
- On Tuesday, Jones raved about Mike McCarthy and his confidence in the head coach, saying “I can’t tell you how much confidence I’ve got in Mike and our coaching staff being on top of where we are with this team right now. I have complete confidence in this coaching staff. It’s outstanding.”
- Later, Jones hinted that new Cowboys signing Xavier Rhodes could be active for Monday night’s playoff game in Tampa Bay.
- PFF’s post Week 18 and National Championship Game mock draft has Dallas drafting Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders after he compiled 11 sacks this season. Impressive output for an SEC linebacker.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on @1053thefan said it wouldn’t surprise him to see recently signed CB Xavier Rhodes active for Dallas’ wild card game at Tampa Bay
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) January 10, 2023
NFL News:
- Bills safety Damar Hamlin was released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on Monday. Hamlin flew from Cincy to Buffalo and has been transferred to a local hospital after he spent nearly a week in critical condition at the UCMC following his cardiac arrest against the Bengals last Monday.
- The Cardinals fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury on Black Monday, while general manager Steve Keim has stepped aside to focus on his health.
- The Titans, meanwhile, fired four assistants, including offensive coordinator Todd Downing. Both Tennessee’s front office and player personnel could look a lot different by the time the offseason program gets underway.
- Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa still isn’t cleared for football activity after entering concussion protocol following the Christmas Day loss to Green Bay, while backup Teddy Bridgewater is recovering from a dislocated pinkie finger on his throwing hand. Looks like it’ll be Bridgewater or rookie Skylar Thompson under center for Miami against the Bills on Sunday afternoon.
