There may be no tougher head coaching gig in the NFL than the Dallas Cowboys. This is something current head coach Mike McCarthy surely knows all too well.
A franchise that is as polarizing as anything in the sports world as you either love or hate them, with there being no in-between. With that comes the burden of expectations, and sometimes lofty ones.
Despite the fact that the Cowboys under McCarthy have three straight 12-win seasons and are set to take their third crack at the playoffs, the conversation regarding McCarthy and the team is one of uncertainty and the possibility of him not being brought back if they were to come up short.
Will the Cowboys Fire Mike McCarthy?
It’s a question that doesn’t have the benefit of future outcomes to look to, but it’s a valid one to ask nonetheless.
Despite not reaching the NFC Championship Game in over 27 years and McCarthy bringing consistency to a franchise that has been missing it for decades, there are legitimate questions regarding his standing as the coach heading into the playoffs.
Many of these rumblings cranked up because former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has now become available and looking to coach elsewhere for the first time in 24 years.
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The feeling around the rumor mill is that if McCarthy and his team were to fall short again this year, owner Jerry Jones would be less inclined to sit on his hands and stand pat, especially with Belichick being out there for the taking.
There is still a lot to be sorted out before this question can be answered as the Cowboys host the Green Bay Packers later today in the Wild Card round. However, if Dallas were to lose this afternoon, the noise surrounding this conversation would become deafening.
Is Firing McCarthy an Overreaction?
When it comes to the Cowboys, you know the spotlight is always going to be bright.
Jones is unafraid to make aggressive moves, and sometimes that calls for a change at head coach. Despite knowing his willingness to do so, does it necessarily mean it’s the right thing to do?
MORE: Why Did the Packers Fire Mike McCarthy?
Since 2004, the Cowboys hadn’t made it to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, but they’ve now done so three times in a row. They’ve won 36 games over the last three seasons under McCarthy, and for a franchise that should have more consistent shots at the playoffs over the years, he’s provided that.
Ultimately, though, the goal is to win a Super Bowl, and if they fall short under his watch, they will be judged accordingly.
However, McCarthy has brought stability and creditability to a team that has been lacking it for two decades.
There are intriguing options out there like Belichick, and the conversations won’t stop from happening as that is the standard when it comes to the Cowboys. Yet, what McCarthy has done in his short time in Dallas has been all that the fans, and even the powers to be have asked for.
If he wins the whole thing, this becomes moot. But until then, the conversation will intensify — right or not.
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