The Dallas Cowboys are getting set to face the Washington Commanders in their season finale, but the game is hardly a topic of conversation. Not only are the Cowboys out of playoff contention, but Washington punched a ticket to the playoffs last week.
Bigger than that, though, is the uncertain future of Mike McCarthy.
If it were up to Troy Aikman, Dallas would extend McCarthy's contract. Aikman thinks the Joneses would struggle to bring in a better coach than McCarthy if they move on.
However, fellow Cowboys legend Michael Irvin does not see it that way. Irvin appeared on The Herd this week and made his feelings on McCarthy abundantly clear.
Michael Irvin does not want Mike McCarthy back as Cowboys head coach
"I just think it's time to go in another direction. I hear this 'late surge' and maybe staying with Mike McCarthy. I'm not on that. I'm not on that bandwagon. What I believe is this team needs more discipline. You can't come in soft and then try to get tough. You got to come in tough and then, and then lighten up, because then the guys will feel like they've earned some respect."Cowboys' Hall of Famer Michael Irvin
Irvin is absolutely right about the Cowboys needing more discipline. Under McCarthy, Dallas has been among the most penalized teams in the NFL.
Entering Week 18, only three teams have racked up more penalties this season than McCarthy's group. In 2023, they were tied for the second-most penalties. They were inside the top-10 in 2022 and ranked No. 1 in 2021 with a whopping 127 penalties.
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The Cowboys' flaws extend beyond penalties, but it is difficult to win at the highest level when you continually shoot yourself in the foot. When you combine a roster that has multiple pressure points with a lack of discipline, it's no surprise Dallas has one playoff win in McCarthy's tenure.
While Irvin thinks McCarthy is a good coach, it's clear the Hall of Fame receiver thinks Dallas has reached its ceiling under McCarthy.
The only hole in Irvin's argument, though, is he didn't state whom should replace McCarthy. We know Irvin would endorse Deion Sanders, but Sanders isn't leaving Colorado. Nor do we think Jones would entertain Sanders as the team's head coach.
It is easy to say the Cowboys need to move on from McCarthy. We can get behind that. The issue is not trusting the Joneses to hire someone better. They champion experience more than anything. The only known candidates whom fit that bill are Mike Vrabel, Ron Rivera, Jon Gruden, Pete Carroll, and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
While Irvin is spot on in saying Dallas needs more discipline, the Joneses should just keep McCarthy if those names are the only alternatives.