The Dallas Cowboys have had a disappointing season, and NFL fans have started to turn on owner Jerry Jones. The Cowboys entered the season coming off three straight 12-win seasons. As a result, they were expected to make the playoffs and contend for the Super Bowl. However, they failed to make the playoffs, and as a result, their last regular season game will be meaningless outside of the 2025 NFL Draft order.
Insider Ari Meirov reported on Thursday that Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy declined to name his Week 18 starter. This seemed strange as Cooper Rush has been the starter for the Cowboys since Dak Prescott underwent season-ending surgery halfway through the year.
NFL Fans Call Jerry Jones Cheap for Potentially Not Starting Cooper Rush
As part of the report that McCarthy did not name his starter for their final game of the regular season against the Washington Commanders, Meirov mentioned that Rush has an additional $250,0000 incentive tied for playing 55% of the team’s snaps. He also reported that Rush has played 52.3% of the snaps this season.
With this information, many fans have started to call out Jones for potentially changing quarterbacks because he wants to save a little bit of money.
“Jerry really has to protect those coffers huh,” one fan wrote.
Jerry really has to protect those coffers huh
— NewSportsThoughts (@NewSportThought) January 2, 2025
“Jerry ain’t got motion like that anymore… Get ready for Trey Lance,” one fan commented.
“Unethical from jerry if true,” one fan added.
unethical from jerry if true
— Etienne (@AcEz_ET) January 2, 2025
Fans continued to comment on X (formerly known as Twitter), saying Jones should start Rush if he is healthy and able to play.
“Aht aht … jerry out his own mouth once said a 4th round pick is like pure gold …. The jones ain’t fooling me … cooper can easily be given that 250k start lance!” one fan wrote.
#Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy declined to say who will be his starting QB on Sunday vs. the Washington Commanders.
For what it’s worth: Cooper Rush has an additional $250K incentive tied to playing 55% of the snaps, and he’s currently at 52.3%. His contract states it can't be… pic.twitter.com/FoaFzEq3rw
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 2, 2025
“Is Bob Nutting secretly running the Cowboys along with Jerry?” one fan commented, referencing the principal owner and chairman of the board of the MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates.
“Let him play. if he doesnt, jerry is a cheap b*****d,” one fan added.
Rush has been the primary quarterback for the Cowboys since Prescott went down with an injury. He has appeared in 12 games this season, including eight in which he started, a career-high mark in single-season starts. Rush has performed solidly enough, going 4-4 as a starter, but his season-long grade of 60.8 (D-; 39th out of 43 qualifying QBs), according to PFN’s QB+ metric, paints a less convincing picture.
While Rush has started 14 games throughout his career, third-stringer Lance, who will likely start if Rush does not, has started just four.