WEBVTT - Cowboys Break: Worst Contract? 0:00:03.800 --> 0:00:06.320 The following Here's a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com 0:00:06.360 --> 0:00:18.079 and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. Let's go. Are you 0:00:18.120 --> 0:00:22.200 ready for a break? Yes? Are you ready for a break? Absolutely? 0:00:22.360 --> 0:00:26.560 Ready for a break? Yeah, and so much for that. 0:00:26.800 --> 0:00:30.920 It's time for The Break on Dallas Cowboys dot Com 0:00:32.720 --> 0:00:38.239 with Nick Eatman, David Hellman, and bar Garcia and Derek Eagleton. 0:00:40.200 --> 0:00:43.240 It is Friday, November twenty at twenty twenty, season sixteen, 0:00:43.280 --> 0:00:45.440 episode number sixty eight. Welcome to the latest edition of 0:00:45.479 --> 0:00:47.960 The Break, live from the s WBC Mortgage studios at 0:00:47.960 --> 0:00:50.000 the Star. I got Nick back in the studio with me. 0:00:50.080 --> 0:00:52.520 I traded out, Dave's now at home, Amber's at home, 0:00:52.840 --> 0:00:55.000 and I'm ready to getting to this thing. We got 0:00:55.000 --> 0:00:57.040 a lot to talk about today. We're definitely gonna talk 0:00:57.080 --> 0:01:00.360 about uh, some injury updates, will get in to some 0:01:00.440 --> 0:01:04.240 conversation about the Cowboys versus the Minnesota Vikings. We got 0:01:04.280 --> 0:01:07.520 a little topic we're going to hit around contracts and 0:01:07.640 --> 0:01:09.480 who do you think is the best player on this team. 0:01:09.520 --> 0:01:12.399 We got so many topics hit today, and by the 0:01:12.440 --> 0:01:13.640 end of the show, we're also going to do our 0:01:13.680 --> 0:01:17.640 picks for this upcoming game. Cowboys versus Vikings. Let's start 0:01:17.760 --> 0:01:21.560 first with an update, Dave, tell me what we what 0:01:21.640 --> 0:01:24.280 we know at this point about Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence, 0:01:24.319 --> 0:01:30.280 who were both out yesterday due to an illness. From 0:01:30.280 --> 0:01:32.400 the sounds of it, it's kind of what we thought, 0:01:32.400 --> 0:01:34.600 which is more of a you know, a bug maybe 0:01:34.600 --> 0:01:37.960 twenty four or forty eight hour situation. Randy's back at 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:42.759 the facility today, DeMarcus is not. But Mike McCarthy came 0:01:42.840 --> 0:01:45.920 right out and was like everything points toward him being available. 0:01:46.040 --> 0:01:48.640 So it sounds, you know, it sounds like a situation 0:01:48.680 --> 0:01:50.520 where you take a day or two to flush it out, 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:52.640 and it sounds like both of those guys will be 0:01:52.640 --> 0:01:54.960 available on Sunday, which is a good thing for the 0:01:54.960 --> 0:01:58.120 Cowboys because they will need all hands on dake on 0:01:58.320 --> 0:02:01.000 deck to be able to handle that Minnesota, particularly that 0:02:01.080 --> 0:02:04.200 Minnesota running game. Let's talk about it. Let's talk about 0:02:04.200 --> 0:02:07.840 that Cowboys versus Vikings matchup. First question I have for 0:02:07.920 --> 0:02:11.520 you guys is Minnesota. They are are notorious for running 0:02:11.560 --> 0:02:13.919 the ball. They'll keep running the ball no matter how 0:02:13.960 --> 0:02:16.639 successful or not they are. We saw that last week 0:02:16.680 --> 0:02:20.520 in their game Ken the Dallas defense hold up for 0:02:20.560 --> 0:02:22.679 sixty minutes. Nick, let's start with you. Oh, I don't 0:02:22.680 --> 0:02:24.440 know if they can hold up for sixty minutes. If 0:02:24.919 --> 0:02:27.000 the thing about it is is that their offense is 0:02:27.040 --> 0:02:28.400 going to have to help them here. I mean, the 0:02:28.440 --> 0:02:30.080 offense is going to have to score some points. They 0:02:30.120 --> 0:02:32.760 can't get down. They really need to strike first on 0:02:32.840 --> 0:02:35.360 this one, because you know, if you can maybe force 0:02:35.480 --> 0:02:37.519 Minnesota from getting out of the way they want to 0:02:37.560 --> 0:02:39.639 play now that they'll still run the ball even when 0:02:39.639 --> 0:02:42.079 they're down. I don't see the Cowboys jumping out to 0:02:42.120 --> 0:02:44.000 a big lead or anything like that. But but I 0:02:44.120 --> 0:02:47.320 do believe that it's gonna the offense is gonna have 0:02:47.400 --> 0:02:49.480 to be their best defense here. They're gonna have to 0:02:49.520 --> 0:02:53.000 score some points. And because if if Minnesota just continues 0:02:53.040 --> 0:02:56.720 to lean on them the entire way, I don't know 0:02:56.760 --> 0:03:00.120 if Dallas hasn't shown that they can hold up. So 0:03:00.840 --> 0:03:03.360 here they are with defensive ends that aren't practicing this week, 0:03:03.400 --> 0:03:05.600 and so it hasn't been a great week for that. 0:03:05.680 --> 0:03:07.840 But I mean they're gonna have to They're gonna have 0:03:07.880 --> 0:03:10.160 to prove that they can hold up. And I just 0:03:10.280 --> 0:03:15.320 I haven't seen it. Amber. I don't know about holding 0:03:15.440 --> 0:03:18.400 up but if they are looking to find some kind 0:03:18.400 --> 0:03:23.600 of success, they're gonna have to be able to do something, 0:03:23.760 --> 0:03:27.040 make something happen right at the beginning, because a lot 0:03:27.080 --> 0:03:30.480 of times we see that when the running game starts, 0:03:30.639 --> 0:03:34.240 you know, playing well, and they get all those yards 0:03:34.240 --> 0:03:37.280 and blah blah blah, the defense, the Cowboys defense can 0:03:37.320 --> 0:03:40.880 never really come back and fix it. So if they're 0:03:40.880 --> 0:03:43.800 gonna try to make it work somehow or try to 0:03:43.840 --> 0:03:47.560 balance it out, they have to hopefully find some kind 0:03:47.560 --> 0:03:50.720 of success right at the beginning, because if it gets 0:03:50.760 --> 0:03:53.480 away from them, I just don't see any possible way 0:03:53.560 --> 0:04:00.760 of them turning around that game. Dave, prove it, prove it. Uh, 0:04:00.760 --> 0:04:03.320 that's my answer because I mean, you know, we've talked 0:04:03.360 --> 0:04:05.120 about it a lot. They deserve a lot of credit 0:04:05.120 --> 0:04:07.720 for the way they played against Pittsburgh, But to your point, 0:04:07.760 --> 0:04:10.200 Pittsburgh quit trying to run the ball. That was a 0:04:10.240 --> 0:04:13.600 big part of why that why they were as successful 0:04:13.640 --> 0:04:15.800 as they were. I don't think Minnesota is going to 0:04:15.880 --> 0:04:19.080 do that. I was. I think Minnesota's just better at it. 0:04:19.200 --> 0:04:22.440 And I mean Nick's absolutely right. There's there's not a 0:04:22.440 --> 0:04:24.960 lot of evidence that suggests that they can hold up. 0:04:25.040 --> 0:04:27.360 So I'm not saying they can't, but I just need 0:04:27.400 --> 0:04:30.400 to see them do it. Dave, You're you're either coaching 0:04:30.440 --> 0:04:33.200 the Pro Bowl, you're at the Malley Classic, or you're 0:04:33.279 --> 0:04:38.520 you're doing an aspinter costume party, or you're just no, Actually, 0:04:38.640 --> 0:04:41.320 Dave hellars just David Helmet on a Friday. Dave Helmet. 0:04:42.760 --> 0:04:46.040 It's actually, uh, it's a New Orleans Jazz Fest shirt. 0:04:46.160 --> 0:04:49.760 And you know it's it's a little dreary, it's really 0:04:49.800 --> 0:04:52.279 gray outside. I was feeling a little homesick, and I 0:04:52.360 --> 0:04:54.680 was like, I'm gonna throw this thing on. So that's 0:04:54.720 --> 0:04:56.800 what I did. There you go. But yeah, I mean 0:04:56.839 --> 0:05:00.000 it's it's it's ridiculous, but so am I. So it's fine. 0:05:00.320 --> 0:05:02.440 You brought you brought the party today. It's a Friday. 0:05:02.440 --> 0:05:04.440 We needed the party. All right. Let's I try to 0:05:04.480 --> 0:05:07.200 bring the party every day. You do? You do? You well? 0:05:07.320 --> 0:05:13.679 You try, try not success, I'm better, all right. Next question, 0:05:13.680 --> 0:05:15.960 half of you guys, how well does do the Dallas 0:05:16.040 --> 0:05:20.000 Corners match up against Jefferson and feeling if they opt 0:05:20.040 --> 0:05:21.919 to load the box? Because I do think that the 0:05:21.920 --> 0:05:24.640 only success that you can possibly have against this running 0:05:24.640 --> 0:05:27.920 game is getting that extra guy down which means your 0:05:27.920 --> 0:05:30.320 corners are now susceptible. How well do they match up? 0:05:30.360 --> 0:05:36.200 Let's start first with you Amber. It's it's always gonna 0:05:36.200 --> 0:05:40.239 be tough because we haven't seen this cornerback room find 0:05:40.400 --> 0:05:44.520 much success against not just like oh, good wide receivers. 0:05:45.200 --> 0:05:47.479 This is just like it doesn't take a really good 0:05:47.480 --> 0:05:51.440 wide receiver for these corners to be exposed. So it's 0:05:51.680 --> 0:05:55.840 I think it's not gonna be as bad as we 0:05:55.920 --> 0:05:59.400 may think, but at the same time, it's not gonna 0:05:59.440 --> 0:06:02.240 be fifty fifty type of stuff. They're gonna have some 0:06:02.320 --> 0:06:05.880 trouble and if they don't find the way to kind 0:06:05.880 --> 0:06:09.400 of keep close and not allow so much separation, it's 0:06:09.400 --> 0:06:15.000 gonna be a nightmare all around. Dave, watching that game, 0:06:15.160 --> 0:06:17.520 you know, the Vikings played the Bears on Monday, what 0:06:17.720 --> 0:06:21.679 really stood out to me is how obsessed the Vikings 0:06:21.680 --> 0:06:24.000 are with getting the ball to Adam dealing in the 0:06:24.000 --> 0:06:26.000 red zone. You know, I mean, he didn't have he 0:06:26.000 --> 0:06:28.400 didn't have a big night statistically, but he had two 0:06:28.440 --> 0:06:32.479 touchdowns and they were both short yardage. Cousins loves to 0:06:32.520 --> 0:06:35.640 look for him on you know, back shoulder balls, timing routes, 0:06:35.680 --> 0:06:37.560 stuff where he can kind of use his size to 0:06:37.640 --> 0:06:41.680 box out the dB, and that definitely concerns me Against 0:06:41.760 --> 0:06:44.799 these cornerbacks. I mean, you know, Cheetoh's got decent size, 0:06:44.880 --> 0:06:47.760 but you know the rest of them, especially with Digs 0:06:47.760 --> 0:06:49.799 not playing, the rest of them give up some size 0:06:49.839 --> 0:06:53.560 to a guy like that, and then Jefferson's such an 0:06:53.560 --> 0:06:57.360 incredible route runner. Yeah, it should absolutely worry you. I'm 0:06:58.560 --> 0:07:01.920 you know, to go back to my point about how 0:07:01.920 --> 0:07:04.320 well they played against Pittsburgh. You know, I think they 0:07:04.320 --> 0:07:06.960 really only gave up like two or three explosive passes 0:07:06.960 --> 0:07:10.240 in that game. Um, but if Kirk Cousins has time 0:07:10.280 --> 0:07:14.040 to throw, I'm gonna guess it'll be more in this matchup. Yeah, yeah, 0:07:14.080 --> 0:07:18.560 I mean the cornerback position. You know, they faced better 0:07:18.600 --> 0:07:21.800 receivers I don't know, you know, probably maybe even better 0:07:21.880 --> 0:07:25.160 duos than this, but they haven't fared that well, you know. 0:07:25.200 --> 0:07:28.440 And it's just this from the start to finish. I mean, 0:07:28.760 --> 0:07:31.880 the what did Snoop say? I mean, you know, if 0:07:31.880 --> 0:07:34.000 it ain't one thing, it's it's another. I think he 0:07:34.320 --> 0:07:36.400 you know, here some words in there with the other words. 0:07:36.440 --> 0:07:38.480 But if it ain't one thing, it's another, and it 0:07:38.520 --> 0:07:40.840 has been I mean, I mean finally get Cheeto back, 0:07:41.040 --> 0:07:45.280 finally the hamstring from hell is back, and then Diggs 0:07:45.320 --> 0:07:47.800 gets hurt. It's like, oh my god, it's and it 0:07:47.920 --> 0:07:49.840 started all the way back at training camp as well. 0:07:49.920 --> 0:07:52.080 So it's been it's been a messing. I mean, this 0:07:52.200 --> 0:07:54.640 was going to be a tough position, even if they 0:07:54.720 --> 0:07:57.240 were all healthy and playing their best. Yeah, it was 0:07:57.240 --> 0:07:59.640 gonna be tough. And they haven't been playing their best 0:07:59.640 --> 0:08:02.080 and they haven't been healthy for sure, and so it's 0:08:02.120 --> 0:08:04.200 just been up and down, up and down, and it's 0:08:04.560 --> 0:08:06.800 it's been the one position I think that has hurt 0:08:07.920 --> 0:08:10.040 not the one position. It's been on one on defense 0:08:10.120 --> 0:08:12.200 has probably hurt hurt them the most. Do you guys 0:08:12.240 --> 0:08:15.520 think that, Um, if they're gonna bring that safety down, 0:08:15.960 --> 0:08:18.240 maybe in it some instances have two safety's down and 0:08:18.320 --> 0:08:20.880 leave their corners on an island to be able to cover. 0:08:21.360 --> 0:08:23.600 Do you think that you're more concerned in that scenario 0:08:23.960 --> 0:08:28.080 about the Minnesota running game or the Minnesota passing game. Nick, 0:08:28.120 --> 0:08:30.360 I'll take my chances on that. I'll take my chances. 0:08:30.520 --> 0:08:32.440 You know, I've said it before. I've never been a 0:08:32.520 --> 0:08:35.480 huge Kirk Cousins fan. I think he's just okay. Um, 0:08:36.280 --> 0:08:38.080 he can beat you. If he's healthy and he's got 0:08:38.080 --> 0:08:40.200 some time and he give him that scenario, you know 0:08:40.240 --> 0:08:42.400 he'll be better. But I have to just take my 0:08:42.480 --> 0:08:44.480 chances there because I think if he's just man on 0:08:44.520 --> 0:08:46.880 a man with a run, you're gonna get beat. So 0:08:46.920 --> 0:08:48.880 you're gonna have to load in there and hope your 0:08:48.880 --> 0:08:51.520 corners can make plays and hope that cover Cousins is 0:08:51.559 --> 0:08:54.120 off because he can be that. That's to me, the 0:08:54.160 --> 0:08:57.600 best recipe because if they run downhill with Cook, you're 0:08:57.320 --> 0:09:02.680 you're consistently, I think they're gonna lose. Dave Cousins has 0:09:02.679 --> 0:09:06.280 played some really nice games against Dallas going back to 0:09:06.280 --> 0:09:09.840 when he was in Washington, so he is capable of 0:09:09.920 --> 0:09:13.080 beating you. But I agree, I mean your best bet 0:09:13.120 --> 0:09:15.440 is still to try to make him do it. Because 0:09:15.520 --> 0:09:18.760 I'm with Nick, I don't. I don't think he's that good. 0:09:18.800 --> 0:09:20.240 I mean, I have to point out he's not that 0:09:20.440 --> 0:09:22.360 he's not consistent. At least he have to point out 0:09:22.360 --> 0:09:24.720 he's two and six against Dallas. Now, you're right, one 0:09:24.720 --> 0:09:26.959 of them was a twenty fifteen I think four hundred 0:09:27.040 --> 0:09:29.840 yards and I mean they he hid' Kellen Moore were 0:09:29.880 --> 0:09:35.199 going at it that day. But which also don't don't discount. 0:09:35.280 --> 0:09:39.120 I mean, I think twenty sixteen comes twelve, twenty sixteen 0:09:39.160 --> 0:09:41.680 comes to mind. He lost both of those games, but 0:09:42.120 --> 0:09:45.400 he bombed away. I mean he in the Thanksgiving game 0:09:45.640 --> 0:09:48.920 when Washington came here in twenty sixteen, he threw for 0:09:49.000 --> 0:09:52.040 like four to thirty and Dak was just Dak was 0:09:52.120 --> 0:09:54.640 up to the challenge. Yeah, I think Dallas won that 0:09:54.679 --> 0:09:57.800 game by seven. But I mean so, I mean, not 0:09:57.880 --> 0:10:00.400 always winning efforts, but he has played some really good 0:10:00.440 --> 0:10:03.680 games against the Cowboys. So but I still think I 0:10:03.720 --> 0:10:06.319 would rather force him to play a great game than 0:10:06.360 --> 0:10:12.480 just let Dalvin Cook do his thing. Amber No, I 0:10:12.559 --> 0:10:14.719 agree with everything that said. I mean, that's the kind 0:10:14.720 --> 0:10:17.120 of risk you're gonna have to take because the other 0:10:17.200 --> 0:10:20.320 option is way worse. And we've seen Dallas how much 0:10:20.400 --> 0:10:23.280 they've struggle trying to stop the run, and look at 0:10:23.320 --> 0:10:26.600 this team, how much success they're having with their running games. 0:10:26.600 --> 0:10:29.360 So you're gonna have to have all hands on deck 0:10:29.720 --> 0:10:34.720 because otherwise it's either pick pick which kind of death 0:10:34.840 --> 0:10:37.320 do you want? Do you want a slow death or 0:10:37.360 --> 0:10:40.760 do you want a fast death? So I think I 0:10:40.840 --> 0:10:45.680 would go for maybe the slow death. And although trying 0:10:45.720 --> 0:10:48.240 to give my pick already for the game. But it's 0:10:48.280 --> 0:10:51.840 just gonna slow death. Maybe gives you a chance to 0:10:51.840 --> 0:10:55.040 to patch up your wounds and come back to life. 0:10:55.080 --> 0:10:58.439 So yeah, all hands on deck on trying to stop 0:10:58.480 --> 0:11:02.160 the running game. Just pick your poison, you know, and 0:11:02.200 --> 0:11:03.880 then you just kind of figure it out from there. 0:11:03.920 --> 0:11:06.520 But I mean, really get into the death talk and 0:11:06.760 --> 0:11:08.680 patching your holes on all that line. That was a 0:11:08.720 --> 0:11:16.840 really morbid answer. We're really we're all right. So let's 0:11:16.840 --> 0:11:19.400 flip to the other side of the ball. Um, do 0:11:19.440 --> 0:11:21.600 you guys expect this offense to be better than they 0:11:21.600 --> 0:11:24.160 were with Gilbert versus Pittsburgh? Now that was a better 0:11:24.240 --> 0:11:27.240 defense by far, Like, this defense is not special. This 0:11:27.320 --> 0:11:29.760 Minnesota defense is not special. We heard Bucky say earlier 0:11:29.760 --> 0:11:31.800 this week. It's probably the worst that Mike Zimmer's hat 0:11:31.840 --> 0:11:34.280 since he's been there. But do you expect them to 0:11:34.320 --> 0:11:36.640 be better than they were against Pittsburgh? Because I thought 0:11:36.640 --> 0:11:39.200 the offense for the first time since Dak has been out, 0:11:39.559 --> 0:11:42.800 actually looked decent. Look okay, they looked like an offense 0:11:42.840 --> 0:11:45.120 that could possibly win a game or two. Let's start 0:11:45.120 --> 0:11:50.120 first with you, Amber. I hope, so, I hope, so 0:11:50.280 --> 0:11:53.200 I think that having Joe Looney and there Sack Martin 0:11:53.360 --> 0:11:57.960 clearly helped a lot with the O line. And hopefully, hopefully, 0:11:58.040 --> 0:12:01.040 even though I'm I'm part of the group of people 0:12:01.160 --> 0:12:04.440 that kept bowing for Garret Gilbert and wanting to see 0:12:04.520 --> 0:12:09.520 him play this upcoming game again, but hopefully Andy Dalton 0:12:09.760 --> 0:12:12.600 is back on his feet all well and he makes 0:12:12.640 --> 0:12:15.320 this offense click a little bit better than what we 0:12:15.360 --> 0:12:19.319 saw last week with Gary Gilbert. So I would imagine 0:12:19.679 --> 0:12:22.680 that they are able to play it better than what 0:12:22.720 --> 0:12:28.000 they did last week. Dave, this might be like this, 0:12:28.280 --> 0:12:31.040 This will be what I eat crow about the most 0:12:31.160 --> 0:12:33.959 in the coming weeks, because I just, for some reason, 0:12:34.920 --> 0:12:37.439 I just feel this confidence that Andy Dalton's gonna look 0:12:37.480 --> 0:12:39.720 a lot better in this go around. He's gonna have 0:12:39.840 --> 0:12:42.120 Zack Martin in front of him, He'll have Joe Louis there, 0:12:42.160 --> 0:12:44.920 so he's got two veterans hopefully keep in the pocket 0:12:44.920 --> 0:12:48.800 a little bit cleaner. Minnesota doesn't have the pass rushers 0:12:48.840 --> 0:12:53.120 that Washington had that flustered him so much, So you know, 0:12:53.280 --> 0:12:56.079 I'm sure Terrence Steele will have you know, it's always 0:12:56.080 --> 0:12:59.040 an adventure, but there's not a guy over there that 0:12:59.160 --> 0:13:01.360 should be able to abuse him like we've seen a 0:13:01.360 --> 0:13:04.199 couple of times this season. And I really I think 0:13:04.240 --> 0:13:07.200 I think this offense is gonna look pretty good. Like 0:13:07.360 --> 0:13:09.560 not you know, I'm not saying it's gonna look like 0:13:09.600 --> 0:13:12.400 when Dak was here, but I think Dalton should have time. 0:13:12.720 --> 0:13:14.240 I think he'll be able to you know, he'll be 0:13:14.280 --> 0:13:17.080 able to find all three of his receivers. He's not 0:13:17.120 --> 0:13:19.000 going to be zero and in on a guy. I 0:13:19.040 --> 0:13:21.640 think I think this is going to be the best 0:13:21.640 --> 0:13:24.240 that the offense has looked since Dak got hurt. That's 0:13:24.240 --> 0:13:27.920 what I think. And more than touch them, oh yeah, 0:13:28.480 --> 0:13:31.040 like they will look and I don't know if they'll win, 0:13:31.520 --> 0:13:33.320 but I just think that they will look like a 0:13:33.400 --> 0:13:37.800 competent NFL offense. And yeah, so I'm I'm eager to 0:13:37.840 --> 0:13:40.920 see how smart or stupid I look, because I I 0:13:40.960 --> 0:13:43.679 really think Dalton's gonna play well. I don't really know why. 0:13:43.720 --> 0:13:47.920 I just do. Nick, I don't see them playing well 0:13:48.240 --> 0:13:50.880 so much, but um, you don't see the offense playing 0:13:50.920 --> 0:13:53.920 well well. All the team's saying offense, I can kind 0:13:54.040 --> 0:13:55.920 I can kind of see what what what Dave's saying 0:13:55.960 --> 0:13:57.440 a little bit, but I mean it's just like like 0:13:57.559 --> 0:13:59.440 he just yelled at earlier about prove it. I mean, 0:13:59.440 --> 0:14:01.520 I'm just kind of at that point with the offense, like, 0:14:01.760 --> 0:14:03.960 you know, they're gonna have to prove it. But but 0:14:04.040 --> 0:14:06.080 it's it's good to think that way. I mean, I 0:14:06.120 --> 0:14:10.640 do think that he'll be better than Gilbert. I still 0:14:10.679 --> 0:14:13.640 believe that, um, But but the one thing that he's 0:14:13.640 --> 0:14:16.040 gonna have to show that he's better than Gilbrandon. And 0:14:16.080 --> 0:14:19.720 when Garret Gilbert really surprised me with his mobility, with 0:14:19.760 --> 0:14:22.440 his awareness and figuring out where the blitz was coming 0:14:22.440 --> 0:14:25.000 from and even about to go down and finding Zeke 0:14:25.040 --> 0:14:27.280 and thought that play was amazing. You know, Zeke could 0:14:27.280 --> 0:14:28.440 have spun out of that, that that would have been a 0:14:28.520 --> 0:14:30.360 huge play. But you know, I just think I think 0:14:30.560 --> 0:14:32.200 that's what Dalton's got to be good at. I think 0:14:32.200 --> 0:14:33.960 he's gonna see things. I think he's gonna be able 0:14:33.960 --> 0:14:36.360 to throw it probably better, but he's gonna have to 0:14:36.680 --> 0:14:39.080 show that mobility. I just I think they'll be a 0:14:39.120 --> 0:14:41.680 little bit better, but I'm not I'm not saying more 0:14:41.720 --> 0:14:44.240 than two touchdowns. And they might get two touchdowns, but 0:14:44.240 --> 0:14:46.160 I'm not saying more than two. So the bar is 0:14:46.160 --> 0:14:48.080 so low that yeah, you can, you can be better. 0:14:48.240 --> 0:14:50.760 I mean they're missing they're still obviously missing their two tackles, 0:14:50.760 --> 0:14:52.560 and that means a lot. But you look at the 0:14:52.560 --> 0:14:54.520 interior of the offensive line, it's back to the guys 0:14:54.560 --> 0:14:56.880 that they thought coming into the season would be their starters. 0:14:56.920 --> 0:14:58.720 So you would expect that you should be able to 0:14:58.720 --> 0:15:01.160 get better play from the interior part of your offensive line. 0:15:01.320 --> 0:15:03.520 You're not playing the game this week against a team 0:15:03.520 --> 0:15:07.800 that has what you would think our premier defensive end 0:15:07.960 --> 0:15:10.920 pass rusher types, so you would hope, you would hope 0:15:11.640 --> 0:15:14.360 that the Cowboys offensive line will look better this week 0:15:14.400 --> 0:15:16.320 and that will give Andy some opportunities to be able 0:15:16.320 --> 0:15:18.400 to show what he can do. As Jerry says, he 0:15:18.560 --> 0:15:21.560 is a starting caliber quarterback in the NFL. We'll see 0:15:21.560 --> 0:15:23.000 if they can get that kind of production out of 0:15:23.080 --> 0:15:24.720 him this week. Are we're gonna take our first break 0:15:24.720 --> 0:15:26.280 when we come back. We got lots of other questions. 0:15:26.280 --> 0:15:28.080 We're gonna get to a lot of these other questions. 0:15:28.120 --> 0:15:29.560 Are gonna be bigger picture. We'll do that when we 0:15:29.600 --> 0:15:31.800 come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. 0:15:33.840 --> 0:15:37.640 There's nothing as unique as our eyes, which is why 0:15:37.800 --> 0:15:40.720 SLOR Pioneers ways to make lenses as unique as you 0:15:42.040 --> 0:15:45.680 Very Lux for super sharp vision, Essential Blue for protection, 0:15:46.160 --> 0:15:50.120 and Crisolve for freedom from glare. Three cutting up solutions 0:15:50.520 --> 0:15:54.600 in a single unique lens. 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I'm 0:16:32.120 --> 0:16:35.520 Jay Novachek, former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. Back 0:16:35.560 --> 0:16:37.480 in the day, I was the guy who always got 0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:40.120 the tough yards and that's why I run with John 0:16:40.160 --> 0:16:42.800 Deer today. In fact, I have a John Deer three 0:16:42.880 --> 0:16:45.840 zero twenty five E tractor that can handle any yard 0:16:45.840 --> 0:16:48.360 work I need to do even the tough yards way 0:16:48.400 --> 0:16:51.360 out back. So if you have one acre or a thousand, 0:16:51.560 --> 0:16:54.000 John Deer has the equipment that's just right for you. 0:16:54.280 --> 0:16:56.920 Visit a John Deer dealer today and run with us. 0:16:57.240 --> 0:17:00.520 We are the official tractor provider of your Dallas Cowboys. 0:17:00.640 --> 0:17:03.080 Here it's nineteen oh eight. 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You can start your holiday at 0:17:39.960 --> 0:17:42.760 Dallas Cowboys Pro Shops to find a huge selection of 0:17:42.800 --> 0:17:46.240 Jersey's cold weather gear and the hottest holiday gifts. Visit 0:17:46.240 --> 0:17:48.960 your local Dallas Cowboys Pro shop to find deals online 0:17:49.280 --> 0:17:52.920 and shop at Dallas Cowboys dot com for the best 0:17:52.960 --> 0:17:55.879 caboy gear and gifts. Welcome back. It is the second 0:17:55.920 --> 0:17:58.320 segment of The Brake Clive from the s WBC Mortgage 0:17:58.320 --> 0:18:02.080 studios at the Star. Let's keep going, next question for 0:18:02.119 --> 0:18:04.399 you guys listening to the players talk this week and 0:18:04.480 --> 0:18:06.800 I heard Tank talk about I heard Cheeto talk about it, 0:18:07.000 --> 0:18:09.359 Andy Dalton talked about a little bit Zeke did, and 0:18:09.359 --> 0:18:11.720 even this morning Mike McCarthy talked a little about it. 0:18:12.200 --> 0:18:15.280 They seem convinced that there they have a good football team. 0:18:15.480 --> 0:18:18.640 Despite the record, despite the other things, they seem convinced 0:18:18.640 --> 0:18:21.320 that they have a good football team. What areas down 0:18:21.359 --> 0:18:24.440 the stretch? Could you see them being better than they've 0:18:24.440 --> 0:18:27.480 been so far to get better results. Let's start first 0:18:27.480 --> 0:18:29.400 with you, Nick, I think that you know, they don't 0:18:29.440 --> 0:18:31.840 turn the ball over, you know, I mean, that's the 0:18:31.880 --> 0:18:34.840 one thing about the defense that that's been so so 0:18:34.960 --> 0:18:38.000 challenging for them is that, I mean, they're they're not 0:18:38.080 --> 0:18:40.400 really that good anyways, but then when when you turn 0:18:40.480 --> 0:18:42.280 the ball over in your own end like that, it's 0:18:42.320 --> 0:18:46.400 only magnifying what's what's happening. Um So I just think 0:18:46.400 --> 0:18:48.920 that it's it's it's a situation that they need to play. 0:18:49.440 --> 0:18:51.600 They need to play better, don't turn the ball over. 0:18:51.960 --> 0:18:55.320 And then I think that if you give teams, you know, longer, 0:18:55.680 --> 0:18:58.080 longer fields to go score, I think that they can 0:18:58.080 --> 0:18:59.560 be in these games a little bit more. And you 0:18:59.560 --> 0:19:01.440 think that's an area they can be better, like you, 0:19:01.440 --> 0:19:03.359 you expect that they will be better down the stretch 0:19:03.440 --> 0:19:06.520 in that area, Yeah, yeah, right, yeah, I don't think 0:19:06.560 --> 0:19:09.159 the turnovers will be as bad as they've been, Okay, Amber, 0:19:12.240 --> 0:19:14.080 I think there are a lot of areas that need 0:19:14.119 --> 0:19:17.600 improvement clearly, but one that I think that they can 0:19:17.640 --> 0:19:21.600 possibly get better at its just being able to score period, 0:19:21.680 --> 0:19:24.919 other than just having to get to field goal range 0:19:24.920 --> 0:19:27.480 and having to kick it. I think that they can 0:19:27.560 --> 0:19:30.000 get to a point where they can finally start moving 0:19:30.000 --> 0:19:37.240 the ball and getting to the end zone. Dave for starters, 0:19:37.320 --> 0:19:39.680 I just want to say, like, I hope that they 0:19:39.720 --> 0:19:42.680 think they're good. Like if they don't even think they're good, 0:19:42.720 --> 0:19:44.439 what are the rest of us even doing here? I 0:19:44.440 --> 0:19:48.160 mean that's I would hope the guys in there, you know, 0:19:48.880 --> 0:19:51.480 are capable of digging down and finding that confidence even 0:19:51.480 --> 0:19:55.439 in these circumstances. I mean, I at least have some 0:19:55.480 --> 0:19:58.399 optimism that the defense can keep this trend going. You know, 0:19:58.680 --> 0:20:01.360 we said it so many times in September and October 0:20:01.480 --> 0:20:04.719 that like it is an anomaly for an NFL defense 0:20:04.800 --> 0:20:08.439 to look this awful, you know, just as hapless as 0:20:08.440 --> 0:20:13.040 they looked in in the Cleveland game and the Seattle game, 0:20:13.200 --> 0:20:17.560 obviously the Washington game. That's that's not normal. Like even 0:20:17.640 --> 0:20:22.080 bad NFL defenses look better than that. So I'm absolutely 0:20:22.080 --> 0:20:26.160 optimistic that they will look more like a professional football 0:20:26.240 --> 0:20:28.920 defense in the last seven games. Okay, So I'm gonna 0:20:28.960 --> 0:20:30.719 ask this question. I want to go back around the 0:20:30.720 --> 0:20:33.960 table and say, Okay, so based upon what you said 0:20:34.800 --> 0:20:36.639 was there you thought that could get better. What have 0:20:36.720 --> 0:20:40.760 you seen that gives you evidence, at least in your 0:20:40.800 --> 0:20:43.720 mind that convinces you there's a possibility they can be 0:20:43.720 --> 0:20:47.080 better in that area? Nick, Well, I don't think. I 0:20:47.119 --> 0:20:49.240 just don't think that history shows that you're going to 0:20:49.320 --> 0:20:51.159 turn the ball over as much as that. I mean, 0:20:51.160 --> 0:20:53.280 they come in bunches, right, which means they don't come 0:20:53.320 --> 0:20:55.600 in bunches as well on the flip side, So I 0:20:55.720 --> 0:20:57.560 just they mean they might be coming in bunches for 0:20:57.600 --> 0:20:59.600 them too, so actually get some turn off they did, 0:20:59.640 --> 0:21:04.480 didn't they get like four in a game? Its like, yeah, 0:21:04.600 --> 0:21:09.040 is that our bunch? Yeah? Okay, you know, I just 0:21:09.080 --> 0:21:12.760 think of something else. Um Um, I think that. I 0:21:12.800 --> 0:21:14.840 just I don't think they're gonna play I don't think 0:21:14.840 --> 0:21:16.479 they're gonna turning the ball over that bad. And I 0:21:16.480 --> 0:21:18.320 think that that I think the offensive because they all 0:21:18.359 --> 0:21:21.280 think the offensive line will get better and that's where 0:21:21.320 --> 0:21:24.320 a lot of the turnover problems came from. And so therefore, 0:21:24.359 --> 0:21:26.960 I just think if you continue to keep punting the 0:21:27.000 --> 0:21:29.119 ball and you have, you know, maybe a better punter 0:21:29.160 --> 0:21:31.520 than you've had, and you know you can keep doing 0:21:31.560 --> 0:21:34.520 that and given teams longer fields, I think the game 0:21:34.560 --> 0:21:37.800 can be way more competitive. And then when it's competitive, 0:21:37.840 --> 0:21:39.600 then it's close, and if it's close, it comes down 0:21:39.640 --> 0:21:41.000 to field goals. If it comes down to the field goals, 0:21:41.000 --> 0:21:42.600 I think their line can make them. So I think 0:21:42.600 --> 0:21:46.200 you win more games. It's just domino effecta turnovers. So, Amber, 0:21:46.240 --> 0:21:48.480 what have you seen or what do you see in 0:21:48.520 --> 0:21:50.280 this team that makes you think they'll be able to 0:21:50.280 --> 0:21:55.520 score more down the stretch red zone? Well, I mean, 0:21:55.560 --> 0:21:59.200 based on what I saw in the game against the Steelers. Yeah, 0:21:59.400 --> 0:22:03.840 they only were able to score once one touchdown, but 0:22:04.000 --> 0:22:06.360 at the same time, you were able to see some 0:22:06.600 --> 0:22:09.920 more movement, some more energy there on the offense, some 0:22:10.040 --> 0:22:12.400 more connection. And I know it was a different quarterback, 0:22:12.600 --> 0:22:15.600 but I still think that whether it's Andy or maybe 0:22:15.600 --> 0:22:18.880 Gary Gilbert, we'll see down the line what happens there 0:22:18.880 --> 0:22:21.920 at quarterback. But if you keep Joe Booney in there, 0:22:21.920 --> 0:22:24.520 it's like Martin. Just having them both back in there 0:22:25.119 --> 0:22:28.720 clearly helped. Seeing some of the things that Cedric Wilson 0:22:28.840 --> 0:22:32.680 was doing. I think it's it's heading towards the right 0:22:33.119 --> 0:22:35.520 direction as well as the running game, some of the 0:22:35.560 --> 0:22:37.439 things that Tony Poller was able to do. And I 0:22:37.440 --> 0:22:39.679 think that if the Cowboys keep trying to find the 0:22:39.760 --> 0:22:43.520 right combination between how many snaps to give each guy, 0:22:43.840 --> 0:22:46.840 Zeke and Tony, if they find a good combination there, 0:22:46.880 --> 0:22:49.640 I think that the offense can finally get the ball 0:22:49.720 --> 0:22:52.000 moving a lot more and get there to the end zone. 0:22:52.040 --> 0:22:56.120 So there are just little positive things that I think 0:22:56.160 --> 0:22:58.840 we all were able to see in that Steeler's games 0:22:58.840 --> 0:23:02.320 that gives me the hope that they are just able 0:23:02.400 --> 0:23:05.920 to play better overall in the next few months, here, 0:23:06.400 --> 0:23:11.280 next few games. What's your proof, Dave for starters is, 0:23:11.600 --> 0:23:15.320 you know, two back to back really nice defensive performances, 0:23:15.359 --> 0:23:18.359 you know, and they gave up seventeen points to Philly 0:23:18.359 --> 0:23:22.199 because one of those touchdowns was defensive. I know, Philly's terrible, 0:23:22.240 --> 0:23:24.920 but that's still better than what we were looking at. 0:23:24.960 --> 0:23:28.920 And then again, Pittsburgh's offense isn't a juggernaut, but that's 0:23:28.960 --> 0:23:33.920 a talented offense with a very good widely quarterback that 0:23:34.040 --> 0:23:36.320 they were able to keep in check for the most part. 0:23:36.520 --> 0:23:38.840 And on top of that, let's just be honest, they 0:23:38.840 --> 0:23:41.680 don't play very many good teams the rest of the way. 0:23:42.280 --> 0:23:45.680 You know, they got three games against the division. They 0:23:45.720 --> 0:23:48.000 got a banged up forty nine Ers team that might 0:23:48.040 --> 0:23:51.960 not have Jimmy Garoppolo and he I mean, Baltimore is 0:23:51.960 --> 0:23:54.160 a much better team than Dallas. But like their offense 0:23:54.200 --> 0:23:57.000 hasn't looked as amazing as it did last year. So 0:23:57.680 --> 0:24:00.280 these aren't These aren't juggernauts that you have to keep 0:24:00.280 --> 0:24:02.520 in check down the stretch. I really, I've said this 0:24:02.560 --> 0:24:05.440 a few times this week. I think this game will 0:24:05.440 --> 0:24:08.760 be a really good litmus test because this is one 0:24:08.800 --> 0:24:11.360 of the best offenses left on the schedule. Probably even 0:24:11.400 --> 0:24:13.959 with a losing record, the Vikings are one of the 0:24:13.960 --> 0:24:17.480 two best teams left on the schedule, so I don't 0:24:17.480 --> 0:24:20.040 even need him to win. But if they just play 0:24:20.080 --> 0:24:23.879 a competent, close game, that gives me a lot of 0:24:23.880 --> 0:24:26.800 faith that they can win some games and be competitive 0:24:27.040 --> 0:24:29.760 with what's left on the schedule. Ye. All right, let's 0:24:29.800 --> 0:24:31.639 move on to the next question I have for you guys. 0:24:31.680 --> 0:24:33.320 This question might take a little bit of time, so 0:24:33.359 --> 0:24:37.480 let's let's dive in which of the current players. And 0:24:37.680 --> 0:24:40.000 I tied this up yesterday when we were talking about 0:24:40.640 --> 0:24:42.560 the contracts of some of these guys. Which are the 0:24:42.600 --> 0:24:48.160 current players or contracts or a future contract is worse 0:24:48.240 --> 0:24:50.560 for Dallas? And I'll give you guys some of the 0:24:50.640 --> 0:24:52.879 list of what we have. Zeke Elliott He's on a 0:24:52.920 --> 0:24:56.720 six year, ninety million dollar deal, fifty million guaranteed. He 0:24:56.880 --> 0:24:59.680 is the number two highest paid running back in the NFL. 0:25:00.160 --> 0:25:03.280 Jalen Smith is a six year deal sixty eight million 0:25:03.320 --> 0:25:06.240 dollars thirty five million guaranteed. He is the number sixth 0:25:06.800 --> 0:25:11.040 highest paid inside linebacker in the NFL. DeMarcus Lawrence a 0:25:11.040 --> 0:25:13.200 five year, one hundred and five million dollars deal sixty 0:25:13.240 --> 0:25:17.199 five million guaranteed. He's the number five highest paid defensive end. However, 0:25:17.240 --> 0:25:20.600 there's one interesting note to that, he's number sixteenth in 0:25:20.880 --> 0:25:24.400 cap hit among defensive ends, which actually favors the Cowboys 0:25:24.440 --> 0:25:28.000 a little bit there. And then you've got Dak Prescott 0:25:28.040 --> 0:25:30.240 and we don't know the terms of its new deal, 0:25:30.359 --> 0:25:33.080 but the expectation is he's projected to be somewhere if 0:25:33.080 --> 0:25:35.479 the Cowboys get a deal done, projected to be somewhere 0:25:35.560 --> 0:25:40.800 at least above thirty five million, possibly forty plus million annually, 0:25:41.200 --> 0:25:43.359 which is the worst deal for the Cowboys based on 0:25:43.440 --> 0:25:45.119 what we know right now. Let's start with you, Dave. 0:25:47.720 --> 0:25:50.280 I would have to say, I think it's jal and 0:25:50.359 --> 0:25:53.480 I don't know that it's particularly close. To be honest 0:25:53.560 --> 0:25:55.640 with you, I know you know, and I think we're 0:25:55.680 --> 0:25:58.040 gonna get into Zeke. A lot of people are hating 0:25:58.119 --> 0:26:00.800 on Zeke. A lot of people are talking about how 0:26:00.840 --> 0:26:03.680 much the Cowboys regret that contract, and I don't. I 0:26:03.720 --> 0:26:07.200 don't necessarily disagree, like I don't think that contract is 0:26:07.240 --> 0:26:09.639 a great thing right now, but I was trying to 0:26:09.640 --> 0:26:12.600 think of an analogy for this. I look at I 0:26:12.720 --> 0:26:16.600 look at Zeke. Zeke's contract. You know, we love to 0:26:16.680 --> 0:26:20.280 use cars in these football analogies, Like if the Cowboys 0:26:20.280 --> 0:26:24.640 are a car, then Zeke's contract is like these big, gaudy, 0:26:25.160 --> 0:26:29.479 badass tires and they're like not inflated properly, you know, 0:26:29.560 --> 0:26:32.359 like you don't have the right PSI, you're not getting 0:26:32.400 --> 0:26:35.439 good gas mileage, the car's not driving as fast as 0:26:35.480 --> 0:26:38.359 smoothly as it's supposed to, but you can still get 0:26:38.400 --> 0:26:40.879 from point A to point B, Like you can still 0:26:40.920 --> 0:26:43.480 win football games and be a good football team with Zeke. 0:26:43.880 --> 0:26:46.959 Jalen Smith is more like you're driving a car with 0:26:46.960 --> 0:26:52.040 a faulty transmission. Like he's just he's he's he is 0:26:52.200 --> 0:26:55.240 for what you are paying him. He is a liability 0:26:55.600 --> 0:26:58.920 and he's supposed to be a foundational piece of your defense, 0:26:59.480 --> 0:27:04.200 and that's just not what's happening. Like if everything's great 0:27:04.200 --> 0:27:06.919 with the offense and everybody's out there, even if you 0:27:06.960 --> 0:27:10.000 feel like you're overpaying Zeke, like he can still contribute 0:27:10.000 --> 0:27:14.640 to a successful offense. Jalen Smith, he's not playing, He's 0:27:14.680 --> 0:27:17.080 not even playing at that level. And it makes you wonder, 0:27:17.160 --> 0:27:20.440 like can you feel the successful defense if this guy 0:27:20.560 --> 0:27:23.480 is the center of it, and if you can't, then 0:27:23.560 --> 0:27:25.080 how do you get out from under the size of 0:27:25.119 --> 0:27:28.120 that contract? Like that, more than anything else is that's 0:27:28.160 --> 0:27:30.159 the number one thing that I have circled for the 0:27:30.200 --> 0:27:31.960 Cowboys is like, what are we going to do about 0:27:32.000 --> 0:27:37.920 Jayleen Smith? Which is the worst contract. I was gonna 0:27:37.920 --> 0:27:42.000 say Jalen as well, And I mean just how they 0:27:42.080 --> 0:27:45.560 structured everything. It just it was a bad It was 0:27:45.600 --> 0:27:48.119 a bad deal. I wouldn't have done it to begin 0:27:48.160 --> 0:27:52.200 with because I was never convinced with Jayalen. But now 0:27:52.240 --> 0:27:54.840 it's to the point where I was talking about it 0:27:54.880 --> 0:27:57.280 with Nick, and you know, I always have issues with 0:27:57.320 --> 0:28:00.679 all these contracts and trying to understand them and money 0:28:00.760 --> 0:28:05.040 and cap and blah blah blah, and apparently you lose 0:28:05.080 --> 0:28:07.639 all that money anyway. So it's like either you just 0:28:07.720 --> 0:28:10.560 lose all the money or just decide to keep him. 0:28:10.600 --> 0:28:14.000 If you keep him, then at that point, like me, personally, 0:28:14.040 --> 0:28:16.439 I wouldn't keep him as a starter. I'm like, go 0:28:16.560 --> 0:28:19.040 sit down and be a backup. But when you look 0:28:19.040 --> 0:28:21.520 at the rest of the guys on this list, like Zeke, 0:28:21.920 --> 0:28:25.400 DeMarcus and Dad, all of those guys, I still have 0:28:25.440 --> 0:28:29.080 hope and I believe one hundred percent that they can 0:28:29.160 --> 0:28:32.719 play better and that it's just a matter of whatever 0:28:32.840 --> 0:28:37.000 is happening in this twenty twenty season. But I don't 0:28:37.000 --> 0:28:40.480 have any hope. I feel like this is Jalen and 0:28:40.520 --> 0:28:42.960 I feel like he's not gonna get any better than 0:28:43.040 --> 0:28:45.840 what we've seen. So to me, he has to be 0:28:46.240 --> 0:28:50.600 absolutely the worst one on the list because as far 0:28:50.640 --> 0:28:53.120 as money, yes, the other guys are taking up a 0:28:53.120 --> 0:28:56.600 lot of money as well, but I still feel kind 0:28:56.640 --> 0:29:00.280 of okay with their future and thinking that they will 0:29:00.320 --> 0:29:03.840 be better next year or even in this second half 0:29:03.960 --> 0:29:08.760 of the season. Nick Um, I think it's DeMarcus Lawrence 0:29:08.880 --> 0:29:12.600 is the asia as the worst contract of the group. 0:29:12.640 --> 0:29:15.440 But I mean just because it's like, yuys, we're talking 0:29:15.480 --> 0:29:17.320 about how how do you get out from under it? 0:29:17.400 --> 0:29:20.880 I mean it's not I mean he's not producing to 0:29:21.080 --> 0:29:24.240 that to that level if you really look at the deal, 0:29:24.320 --> 0:29:27.000 I mean the way they structured it's it's average. It's 0:29:27.000 --> 0:29:29.560 an average of twenty one million. But like the last 0:29:29.640 --> 0:29:32.960 year is he's only making three so that's a that's 0:29:32.960 --> 0:29:34.800 a year that doesn't really it's a wash. I mean 0:29:34.920 --> 0:29:38.240 these three years in the middle here, this bulk is 0:29:38.280 --> 0:29:41.640 it's really twenty seven million a year. Twenty seven million 0:29:41.680 --> 0:29:43.920 a year is what he's what his cap count is 0:29:43.960 --> 0:29:46.720 for these three years. And so by doing that, I 0:29:46.760 --> 0:29:50.640 mean you just look at defensive ends around the league 0:29:50.680 --> 0:29:54.760 that you could making twelve, thirteen, fourteen million or whatever. 0:29:54.800 --> 0:29:57.800 Even Clowney's at thirteen million. I mean, just think about 0:29:57.880 --> 0:30:01.160 what production you could get then get another safety or 0:30:01.200 --> 0:30:04.600 get a linebacker or something else. I mean, I like him, 0:30:04.680 --> 0:30:07.120 I think he's he's playing better, but I mean there's 0:30:07.120 --> 0:30:09.760 no way that he can he can play at that level. 0:30:10.480 --> 0:30:12.880 I just I don't even I don't care what Pro 0:30:12.920 --> 0:30:15.920 Football Focus says about all this win rate and stuff 0:30:15.960 --> 0:30:18.400 like that, Like, I don't think he's making that much 0:30:18.440 --> 0:30:21.040 of a difference for that price, and I think it's 0:30:21.080 --> 0:30:25.440 handicapped in the whole defense. I look at this list 0:30:25.600 --> 0:30:29.960 and I think I agree with the premise of what 0:30:30.480 --> 0:30:33.080 Amber and Dave are saying, because I think Jalen Smith 0:30:33.360 --> 0:30:36.080 is the worst of these players, and so for him 0:30:36.080 --> 0:30:38.760 to be making a significant amount of money against your cap, 0:30:39.440 --> 0:30:41.600 that's a bit of a problem. But if I'm looking 0:30:41.600 --> 0:30:43.160 at this, to be honest with you, I think the 0:30:43.200 --> 0:30:45.560 worst deal here is Zeke And the reason why I 0:30:45.600 --> 0:30:48.080 say I think he's that's the worst deal is not 0:30:48.120 --> 0:30:51.560 so much even Zeke's fault. It's more a situation of 0:30:52.160 --> 0:30:54.120 what are you getting for what you're paying for. It 0:30:54.240 --> 0:30:56.160 kind of goes to what you're you're premise Nick, and 0:30:56.200 --> 0:30:59.280 I think it's worse with Zeke. I think the replacement 0:30:59.400 --> 0:31:02.520 value of a guy like Zeke, a really good NFL 0:31:02.600 --> 0:31:06.200 running back, can be a significant amount less than this. 0:31:06.560 --> 0:31:08.200 What you would have to invest in order to get 0:31:08.200 --> 0:31:11.440 a comparable running back would be significantly less. Right now, 0:31:11.480 --> 0:31:13.680 I say that he's a number two paid, highest paid 0:31:13.720 --> 0:31:16.240 running back in the NFL. Right now, he is fifteenth 0:31:16.280 --> 0:31:20.320 in yards this season in the NFL. He's only averaging 0:31:21.080 --> 0:31:23.520 was at sixty three point six yards a game. So 0:31:23.560 --> 0:31:25.760 when you look at what you're getting for the money, 0:31:26.400 --> 0:31:29.520 and you look at replacement value for a comparable quarterback, 0:31:29.680 --> 0:31:31.520 and you start looking at some of these names, these 0:31:31.560 --> 0:31:33.680 guys are a lot of these guys are on first contracts, which, 0:31:33.680 --> 0:31:37.120 again that goes back to the idea of in today's NFL, 0:31:37.600 --> 0:31:40.880 you're better off just always drafting one and keeping one ready, 0:31:41.200 --> 0:31:43.200 a young guy that you just kind of keep rolling 0:31:43.200 --> 0:31:44.720 with because the amount of money you have to pay 0:31:44.720 --> 0:31:47.120 for him is significantly less, but you can get a 0:31:47.200 --> 0:31:49.080 huge amount of value. Like you can't do that with 0:31:49.120 --> 0:31:51.440 a lot of other positions, like quarterback, you can't. You 0:31:51.440 --> 0:31:53.360 don't expect the guy to come in and immediately be 0:31:53.440 --> 0:31:55.680 great running back. That's one of the positions in the 0:31:55.960 --> 0:31:58.640 NFL where guys are great right off the street. Immediately 0:31:58.640 --> 0:32:00.520 when they come in the door, they can be great. 0:32:00.720 --> 0:32:02.480 And so you might as well take advantage of the 0:32:02.560 --> 0:32:04.760 lesser money that you have to pay for those guys. 0:32:04.960 --> 0:32:07.520 And again that's not Zeke's vault. That's more just a 0:32:07.560 --> 0:32:10.000 situation of just how the NFL plays out and how 0:32:10.040 --> 0:32:12.600 players play out from the standpoint of value relative to 0:32:12.640 --> 0:32:15.040 what they can bring to the team. All Right, here's 0:32:15.040 --> 0:32:17.280 what we're gonna do. We're gonna take okay, but but 0:32:17.280 --> 0:32:22.560 oh yeah, I just I think these are very different conversations, 0:32:22.560 --> 0:32:25.320 and I think you need to you gotta you kind 0:32:25.320 --> 0:32:28.400 of have to differentiate because I agree with everything you 0:32:28.480 --> 0:32:32.840 just said. The problem is is it productive to say, oh, 0:32:32.880 --> 0:32:35.720 maybe they shouldn't assigned Zeke, maybe they shouldn't assigned DeMarcus, 0:32:35.880 --> 0:32:39.000 they shouldn't have done that. It's done, Like the money 0:32:39.040 --> 0:32:41.600 has been spent the cap has been affected. And that's 0:32:41.600 --> 0:32:43.760 what brings me back to Jaylen Smith is because I 0:32:43.800 --> 0:32:46.600 look at it and I say, Zeke is not giving 0:32:46.640 --> 0:32:48.440 me my bang for my buck. But I can win 0:32:48.480 --> 0:32:51.320 with Zeke DeMarcus Lawrence. I'd love him to get more sacks. 0:32:51.720 --> 0:32:56.120 I can win with DeMarcus Lawrence. Jaalen Smith, I say, 0:32:56.520 --> 0:32:58.840 I don't know how I feel a very very good 0:32:58.880 --> 0:33:01.920 defense if Jalen Smith is one of the foundational pieces 0:33:01.960 --> 0:33:05.120 of it. And that is why. So, like I said, 0:33:05.200 --> 0:33:07.840 like you go into the offseason, I'm not worried about 0:33:07.920 --> 0:33:09.800 Like I don't. I don't feel like they need to 0:33:09.840 --> 0:33:13.200 cut or restructure Zeke or DeMarcus. I really don't. It 0:33:13.240 --> 0:33:15.160 would be great if they could, but that's not the 0:33:15.160 --> 0:33:20.240 way it works well where Jalen Smith I'm like, yeah, exactly. 0:33:20.280 --> 0:33:24.200 And but Jalen Smith situation is the point where I'm like, 0:33:24.240 --> 0:33:27.160 if you want this team to be better, you got 0:33:27.160 --> 0:33:30.240 to figure out a way to fix that. Like whether 0:33:30.400 --> 0:33:33.040 whether it's a restructure or whether it's you cut him, 0:33:33.040 --> 0:33:36.720 whether YadA, YadA, YadA, I don't know. DeMarcus and Zeke 0:33:36.840 --> 0:33:39.440 can be very good, very productive members of a playoff 0:33:39.480 --> 0:33:43.000 team that the Jalen Smith. Situation is different in my opinion, 0:33:43.040 --> 0:33:45.840 and that's why I answered that way. No, I agree 0:33:45.840 --> 0:33:48.320 with what you're saying, and I guess I think you're right. 0:33:48.320 --> 0:33:51.320 It's probably two different conversations. Who's the better player and 0:33:51.440 --> 0:33:54.200 we're going to get into that, or who's the worst player, 0:33:54.240 --> 0:33:57.320 I guess in this instance. But there's also the contract, 0:33:57.320 --> 0:33:59.040 and I know you can't go back and change the 0:33:59.080 --> 0:34:01.360 contracts at this point. And the question is not so 0:34:01.440 --> 0:34:03.920 much from the standpoint of going forward, it's more a 0:34:03.960 --> 0:34:07.920 situation of in retrospect, where did you make the biggest mistake? 0:34:08.120 --> 0:34:11.440 And again, I personally believe that the biggest mistake was 0:34:11.520 --> 0:34:14.560 made in signing a second contract with a guy that's 0:34:14.600 --> 0:34:16.760 going to cost you ninety million dollars at the running 0:34:16.760 --> 0:34:19.040 back position. And that is not about Zeke again, that 0:34:19.160 --> 0:34:20.800 is about I don't know if there is a running 0:34:20.800 --> 0:34:22.759 back you got to go to the tr like the 0:34:22.960 --> 0:34:26.960 the the all time transcendent running backs for you to 0:34:26.960 --> 0:34:30.480 say it is worth going into a second deal with them. 0:34:30.520 --> 0:34:32.719 In today's NFL, because there are just so many guys 0:34:32.719 --> 0:34:34.799 that are coming into the league that are capable and 0:34:34.880 --> 0:34:36.839 ready to be able to produce at a high level 0:34:36.880 --> 0:34:40.319 coming in. Yeah, and that's why I think it's it's 0:34:40.400 --> 0:34:43.239 d law just because of the money. That the same thing. 0:34:43.280 --> 0:34:45.839 I just don't think he's going to he's not going 0:34:45.880 --> 0:34:48.440 to be that kind of player, and he hasn't. He 0:34:48.520 --> 0:34:51.439 hasn't been in the last two years. And so I mean, 0:34:52.000 --> 0:34:54.600 he's been a good defensive end, but he hasn't been 0:34:55.320 --> 0:34:58.000 to that level twenty one million or even twenty seven 0:34:58.000 --> 0:35:00.239 million if you count these these last three years. But 0:35:00.280 --> 0:35:02.120 that's just how they structured it. He's twenty one million 0:35:02.120 --> 0:35:03.480 a year. Yeah, And I will say this that that 0:35:03.560 --> 0:35:05.279 was one of the points I made earlier about his 0:35:05.320 --> 0:35:08.480 cap hit, the fact that he is the fifth highest 0:35:08.520 --> 0:35:11.520 paid defensive end, but his cap hit is ranked sixteenth. 0:35:11.719 --> 0:35:13.319 That tells you that they kind of worked it to 0:35:13.360 --> 0:35:15.799 where it's not really killing them from a cap standpoint, 0:35:16.040 --> 0:35:18.000 even though he's getting a ton of money. Or is 0:35:18.040 --> 0:35:21.719 he rank in sacks it's the sixteenth, I don't. I 0:35:21.719 --> 0:35:25.680 don't know. I have a question, yeah about his contract 0:35:25.719 --> 0:35:29.120 that when I was looking at some of these may 0:35:30.440 --> 0:35:33.359 yeah yeah, yeah, um, maybe I should know this, but 0:35:33.840 --> 0:35:37.239 I don't. Um. I understand the whole signing bonus thing, 0:35:37.280 --> 0:35:40.640 but I don't get why was he signing bonus so high? 0:35:40.800 --> 0:35:43.919 It looked it was twenty five million dollars And when 0:35:43.920 --> 0:35:46.359 you look at other guys, I mean, I didn't see 0:35:46.360 --> 0:35:49.560 any other like signing bonus that high. Why do you 0:35:49.640 --> 0:35:52.320 have to give that amount of money right off the bat? 0:35:53.040 --> 0:35:56.960 Well for those players, you know, at this point in 0:35:57.000 --> 0:35:59.040 the game, when when you're talking about guys that are 0:35:59.040 --> 0:36:02.759 wanting in the negoti the number one money or a 0:36:02.760 --> 0:36:05.400 figure that they're looking at is guaranteed money. Like that's 0:36:05.480 --> 0:36:08.839 that's what they want, is guaranteed. What is the guaranteed 0:36:09.080 --> 0:36:12.200 because the contracts aren't guaranteed, But what is the money 0:36:12.200 --> 0:36:16.000 that's guaranteed? And so obviously assigning bonus hits their pocket, right, 0:36:16.040 --> 0:36:19.840 then that's guaranteed. And then sometimes they have guaranteed seasons 0:36:20.239 --> 0:36:22.759 and guaranteed bonuses that that go you know, throughout the 0:36:22.840 --> 0:36:25.000 year or so. So for him when they were doing 0:36:25.000 --> 0:36:28.520 the negotiation, yeah, twenty one twenty one million was a 0:36:28.560 --> 0:36:30.920 big deal for him. But also what is the what 0:36:31.080 --> 0:36:34.799 is the overall guaranteed money? And so that's the way 0:36:34.800 --> 0:36:37.160 to do that is to you know, give them a 0:36:37.239 --> 0:36:39.640 guaranteed money and then and then divide it out and 0:36:39.680 --> 0:36:42.239 that's that's the sticking point I think. I think it's 0:36:42.239 --> 0:36:45.200 a sticking point with with that right now. Obviously with 0:36:45.280 --> 0:36:47.560 the four and five years, but it comes down to 0:36:47.920 --> 0:36:49.799 cowboys want five years because they want to give him 0:36:49.880 --> 0:36:52.480 enough bonus money and spread it out, which doesn't take 0:36:53.040 --> 0:36:54.840 more of a hit. Yeah, that goes to that. That 0:36:55.120 --> 0:36:58.080 him being sixteenth in cap, it is because they can 0:36:58.080 --> 0:36:59.680 take a lot of that money and what the cowboys 0:36:59.680 --> 0:37:01.759 are They a lot of that money that was guaranteed 0:37:01.840 --> 0:37:03.600 and they put it into a signing bonus and then 0:37:03.640 --> 0:37:05.560 they could spread it out, which means it has hit 0:37:05.640 --> 0:37:07.960 on the cap every single year is much less than 0:37:08.000 --> 0:37:09.879 it would be if you didn't do that. So it's 0:37:09.920 --> 0:37:12.000 just the way to kind of manage your cap, I 0:37:12.040 --> 0:37:14.319 think from the standpoint of ultimately, you know, getting the 0:37:14.320 --> 0:37:16.359 guy the money he wants, to guaranteed money he wants, 0:37:16.360 --> 0:37:17.960 but doing it in a way that gives you some 0:37:18.040 --> 0:37:19.919 relief on your cap. Are we gonna take our final 0:37:19.960 --> 0:37:21.600 break when we come back. I want to talk about 0:37:21.600 --> 0:37:23.719 a comment that Jerry made earlier this morning on the 0:37:23.800 --> 0:37:26.640 radio where he called Ezequiel Elly at the best player 0:37:26.680 --> 0:37:28.560 on this team. I'm gonna ask these guys if they 0:37:28.560 --> 0:37:30.319 agree with that, and if not, who they think the 0:37:30.320 --> 0:37:31.759 best player on this team is. We'll do that when 0:37:31.800 --> 0:37:33.879 we come right back. This is Dallas Cowboys dot Com Radio. 0:37:35.440 --> 0:37:38.040 We're back in the tasty treat that's sweeping airwaves and 0:37:38.200 --> 0:37:41.439 taste buds. It's new Doctor Pepper and creep Soda. Let's 0:37:41.440 --> 0:37:46.560 take a listen, Doctor Soda. Is he a new come bonus? 0:37:46.680 --> 0:38:00.120 Music to my ears? Okay, doctor music to my ears 0:38:00.160 --> 0:38:04.080 and mouths new Doctor Pepper and cream soda? 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I have 0:39:19.640 --> 0:39:22.440 a new candle. Please. Historically, switching to new technology is 0:39:22.440 --> 0:39:26.000 a no brainer. Today it's AT and T five G fast, reliable, secure, 0:39:26.040 --> 0:39:28.520 and nationwide. Switch to AT and T five G. It's 0:39:28.520 --> 0:39:31.040 not complicated. Five G requires compatible plan may not be 0:39:31.040 --> 0:39:32.759 in your area. See att dot com slash five G 0:39:32.880 --> 0:39:38.319 for you for details. Back to the break. You can 0:39:38.360 --> 0:39:42.320 snap a photo with your favorite player favorite Cowboys player anywhere, 0:39:42.440 --> 0:39:45.920 at any time at and T pose with the pros. 0:39:46.080 --> 0:39:49.000 You go to the Cowboys app under the stadium tab. 0:39:50.440 --> 0:39:52.280 Welcome back. At the final segment of the Brake Clive 0:39:52.320 --> 0:39:55.600 at the SWBC Mortgage Studios at the Star we're heading 0:39:55.680 --> 0:39:57.600 up toward the end of the show and we're going 0:39:57.640 --> 0:39:59.279 to get to our picks here in just a moment. 0:39:59.320 --> 0:40:01.719 But I did want to address a question stop it, Dave. 0:40:01.760 --> 0:40:05.120 I did want to address a question that Jerry, Jerry 0:40:05.160 --> 0:40:08.440 asked this one oh answered this morning on the radio 0:40:09.040 --> 0:40:11.520 on our sister station one oh five dot three the Fan. 0:40:12.560 --> 0:40:16.320 He was asked about, you know, Zeke, and he said, Jerry, 0:40:16.560 --> 0:40:20.160 he called Zeke the best player on the team. Now, 0:40:20.160 --> 0:40:22.680 assuming all players are healthy. Let's assume that you know 0:40:22.760 --> 0:40:26.480 everybody's healthy and can play. You guys agree with that statement, 0:40:26.520 --> 0:40:28.560 and if not, who do you think is the best 0:40:28.600 --> 0:40:34.960 player on this team. Let's start with you Amber. I 0:40:35.000 --> 0:40:37.120 would say he's the best player of the team. I 0:40:37.120 --> 0:40:39.600 don't he's not playing like the best player of the 0:40:39.600 --> 0:40:42.800 team this year, but in general, I would say I 0:40:42.840 --> 0:40:45.880 would say so if you're looking at this season, per se, 0:40:46.239 --> 0:40:49.000 I would have to give a shout out to LP 0:40:49.520 --> 0:40:51.879 this year because I think he's only made like one 0:40:51.960 --> 0:40:56.759 mistake this year in the game against Philly. Other than that, Um, 0:40:57.760 --> 0:41:00.279 that's basically it. I think this is the first time 0:41:00.280 --> 0:41:04.200 I ever even mentioned LP. So yeah, he would be 0:41:04.239 --> 0:41:07.360 maybe the best player for me this year, but overall, 0:41:07.719 --> 0:41:14.719 I would still stick to Zeke made about statement. No, no, 0:41:14.760 --> 0:41:17.399 you made the strongest statement you've made all season just 0:41:17.440 --> 0:41:20.120 then by saying Yelpi was the best player. Because it's 0:41:20.160 --> 0:41:21.880 not about the fact that Alpie's the best player. It's 0:41:21.880 --> 0:41:23.560 about the fact of all the other guys that are 0:41:23.600 --> 0:41:26.600 not better than LP. That is the statement, right that 0:41:26.680 --> 0:41:28.840 tells you just how bad of a season it's really been. Me. 0:41:28.960 --> 0:41:31.000 I want you to get her to pronounce his last name. 0:41:31.040 --> 0:41:35.319 It's what I want to do kid now, sir, Yeah, 0:41:35.320 --> 0:41:39.719 there you go. Good job. You know actually you know 0:41:39.880 --> 0:41:42.320 that's how we say it last sir, but actually in 0:41:42.360 --> 0:41:47.680 the pronunciation guy, but we don't. No one says that sold, 0:41:47.800 --> 0:41:51.400 all right, So yeah, just I kind of just popped 0:41:51.440 --> 0:41:53.560 up because I wasn't expecting that answer. I would have 0:41:53.560 --> 0:41:56.320 thought you would have said zero line because he's actually 0:41:56.320 --> 0:41:58.759 won the two games. But well, he has missed, has 0:41:58.840 --> 0:42:02.480 missed a couple. Yeah, you know, all of his misses 0:42:02.480 --> 0:42:04.840 are fifty yards or more, so he's had that's consistent 0:42:05.480 --> 0:42:08.600 as well. He didn't miss a extra point gout that 0:42:08.680 --> 0:42:13.160 but best best player overall, I mean it's kind of 0:42:13.160 --> 0:42:15.600 a cop out, but I mean he is the best player. 0:42:15.719 --> 0:42:18.799 Is Zach Martin is your best player? I think I 0:42:18.840 --> 0:42:21.560 think he's. I think he's the best at his position. 0:42:21.920 --> 0:42:24.760 I think you could see even from the guard position, 0:42:24.800 --> 0:42:27.720 you saw that things were, you know, that went terribly 0:42:27.760 --> 0:42:32.239 wrong without him, um in Washington, So um, I think 0:42:32.280 --> 0:42:34.960 he is their their best player. I think he's now 0:42:35.040 --> 0:42:37.440 become better and more consistent than Tyrant Smith when it 0:42:37.480 --> 0:42:40.719 comes to the line. And you know, but but that's 0:42:40.800 --> 0:42:42.440 kind of a problem. That's what she said. That's what 0:42:42.480 --> 0:42:45.080 I'm saying, you're not winning with with. That's what They're 0:42:45.120 --> 0:42:48.120 not drafting guards, number one, They're not drafting deep, they're 0:42:48.160 --> 0:42:50.880 not drafting snappers at all. So the problem is is 0:42:50.880 --> 0:42:54.160 your most consistent best players at their position aren't the 0:42:54.200 --> 0:42:57.879 ones that are considered the premier positions there. Ye, Dave, 0:42:59.800 --> 0:43:03.560 it's Zach for sure. I mean just it's you just 0:43:03.600 --> 0:43:06.440 look at it and say, who on this team is 0:43:06.440 --> 0:43:08.239 the best in the league at what he does? And 0:43:08.280 --> 0:43:11.320 it's Zack Martin. Who on this team has a real 0:43:11.360 --> 0:43:12.920 case to go to the Hall of Fame one day, 0:43:13.080 --> 0:43:18.040 Zach Martin. Nobody else does Zeke. I think more highly 0:43:18.120 --> 0:43:20.680 of Zeke than a lot of people do, but he's 0:43:20.719 --> 0:43:23.319 averaging fewer than four yards per carry. He leads the 0:43:23.400 --> 0:43:27.120 league in fumbles among running backs or among non quarterbacks. 0:43:27.160 --> 0:43:30.919 I should say he does like he doesn't have any 0:43:30.920 --> 0:43:33.319 explosive runs like go look at go look at the 0:43:33.440 --> 0:43:36.120 season long For all of the top rushers in the league, 0:43:36.440 --> 0:43:38.920 Zeke has one of the worst of anybody that's in 0:43:38.960 --> 0:43:41.160 the top twenty. And I, you know, I get it. 0:43:41.200 --> 0:43:43.120 He's not playing with his quarterback, he's not playing with 0:43:43.120 --> 0:43:46.320 his preferred offensive line. But to be a fifteen million 0:43:46.320 --> 0:43:47.960 dollar running back, you're supposed to be able to make 0:43:47.960 --> 0:43:50.680 it work in those circumstances. I don't. I don't know 0:43:50.680 --> 0:43:53.480 that i'd have Zeke in my top four or five. 0:43:54.040 --> 0:43:55.839 And I mean, yeah, if you extend it to guys 0:43:55.880 --> 0:43:59.400 that are on IR I think Tyrn, Dak, and DeMarcus, 0:43:59.440 --> 0:44:02.040 I would put all of them above Zeke right now. Yeah, 0:44:02.040 --> 0:44:04.040 I can't argue with that too much. I actually was 0:44:04.120 --> 0:44:07.319 thinking that I might go the route of saying Dak, 0:44:07.400 --> 0:44:09.520 But I think the point that Dave just made is 0:44:09.520 --> 0:44:12.319 really the point there's only one player on this team that, 0:44:12.520 --> 0:44:14.799 based on what we've seen so far. Now, maybe maybe 0:44:14.840 --> 0:44:18.040 Dak somehow can become that later. But based on what 0:44:18.040 --> 0:44:19.960 we've seen so far, there's only one player on this well, 0:44:19.960 --> 0:44:22.600 I should say two two players on this team that 0:44:22.680 --> 0:44:24.719 I think have a legitimate shot to be in the 0:44:24.719 --> 0:44:27.080 Hall of Fame one day, Zach Martin and Tyron Smith. 0:44:27.280 --> 0:44:28.840 I don't think it's even close. I think those are 0:44:28.880 --> 0:44:30.480 the only two right now that I think have a 0:44:30.560 --> 0:44:32.880 legitimate shot, based on what we've seen so far, that 0:44:33.000 --> 0:44:34.920 have a legitimate shot of maybe getting into it. And 0:44:35.280 --> 0:44:38.440 you gotta be qualified that too. Because of the Arizona Cardinals, 0:44:38.480 --> 0:44:40.040 the best guy they've got to go to the Hall 0:44:40.040 --> 0:44:41.960 of Fame as lare Fitzgerald, and he's not their best 0:44:42.000 --> 0:44:43.640 player on their team, so you got to be. And 0:44:43.680 --> 0:44:46.080 that's my point, Like I think Zach is still playing 0:44:46.080 --> 0:44:48.120 at that level. I don't know that Tyron is still 0:44:48.120 --> 0:44:50.960 playing at that level I think. But that's goes back 0:44:50.960 --> 0:44:52.560 to what Dave was saying about the Hall of Fame light. 0:44:52.840 --> 0:44:55.120 That's why if you're gonna say the best player on 0:44:55.160 --> 0:44:57.760 this team, Zach is still playing at the level where 0:44:57.960 --> 0:45:00.600 he is among the very best at the art position 0:45:00.760 --> 0:45:03.799 in the NFL this year. Yeah, that all being said, 0:45:03.960 --> 0:45:06.759 and based upon his career, he to me, is is 0:45:06.840 --> 0:45:10.320 clearly your best player. I do think though, I see 0:45:10.400 --> 0:45:12.839 Dak making that push to where he will be your 0:45:12.840 --> 0:45:15.479 best player in my opinion, within the next year or two. 0:45:15.920 --> 0:45:18.200 I truly believe that because of what I've seen from 0:45:18.280 --> 0:45:21.440 him so far. Dave Jess, I'm you one throwing I 0:45:21.560 --> 0:45:23.799 just if he I know, you know, he can roll 0:45:23.800 --> 0:45:26.640 your eyes. He hasn't been he hasn't been reliably healthy 0:45:26.640 --> 0:45:29.399 in a long time. But if Tyron Smith's healthy, He's 0:45:29.400 --> 0:45:31.640 still there. He's still one of the best three or 0:45:31.640 --> 0:45:35.640 four tackles in football right now. And I maybe it's 0:45:35.640 --> 0:45:37.960 just because I know the guy, I've been around him. 0:45:37.960 --> 0:45:40.160 I just think I think he'll be right back where 0:45:40.200 --> 0:45:42.920 he's supposed to be next year, if if his recovery 0:45:42.920 --> 0:45:45.080 and everything goes well, and that's the big key, if 0:45:45.080 --> 0:45:47.640 the recovery goes well and he's back to himself. Right 0:45:48.440 --> 0:45:51.120 look at the Cleveland game. Look at the Cleveland game. 0:45:51.200 --> 0:45:53.919 He missed the week before he comes back for that game. 0:45:54.880 --> 0:45:57.319 Actually he missed the two weeks before he comes back 0:45:57.360 --> 0:46:00.400 for that game, and he plays and he played pretty 0:46:00.400 --> 0:46:02.400 well in that game. There was no issues on that 0:46:02.440 --> 0:46:05.520 side of the line. And then he had season ending surgery. 0:46:05.719 --> 0:46:07.520 It's not like he felt better and he got hurt 0:46:07.520 --> 0:46:09.360 on the last players. By the way, that's been his career. 0:46:09.440 --> 0:46:12.200 Like he's the guy that battles through things. Right. So 0:46:12.719 --> 0:46:15.080 the point that I'm making that I think Dave's making, 0:46:15.120 --> 0:46:17.840 and you know, we all can see that if that's 0:46:17.880 --> 0:46:20.200 the standard when you you're on the verge of having 0:46:20.200 --> 0:46:23.160 season ending surgery on your neck and you can finally 0:46:23.200 --> 0:46:26.239 get healthy, then yeah, he's gonna be right back to it. 0:46:26.320 --> 0:46:28.040 And I still think he's got four or five good 0:46:28.120 --> 0:46:30.520 years if he can, if this surgery really helps. It's 0:46:30.520 --> 0:46:32.759 all about health, yea, it is absolutely all about health, 0:46:32.760 --> 0:46:34.480 all right, real quick, before me in the show, let's 0:46:34.480 --> 0:46:36.520 goad and get some picks for this weekend's game, Cowboys 0:46:36.640 --> 0:46:42.320 versus Vikings. Dave e'rerope first. What happens this weekend? I think, 0:46:42.680 --> 0:46:45.320 I mean, I think they're gonna look better. I really 0:46:45.320 --> 0:46:48.920 think they've turned a corner and you know, we've put 0:46:49.000 --> 0:46:52.840 that spell of just awfulness behind us. But I still 0:46:52.840 --> 0:46:55.640 think this is a flawed football team. Obviously, how could 0:46:55.640 --> 0:46:59.680 they not be with all of these injuries, I mean 0:47:00.840 --> 0:47:03.440 across the board. I just think the Vikings basically have 0:47:03.560 --> 0:47:06.000 every advantage. I don't think the world of Kirk Cousins, 0:47:06.040 --> 0:47:08.800 but at this juncture, I think he's better than Andy Dalton. 0:47:09.120 --> 0:47:13.440 I think Dalvin Cook speaks for himself. The Vikings are 0:47:13.480 --> 0:47:16.879 at home, so I think it'll be a much more 0:47:16.920 --> 0:47:20.839 competitive game. But I'll still take the Vikings to win. 0:47:21.120 --> 0:47:28.120 Like twenty seven to twenty one sounds fair, okay, Amber, 0:47:32.200 --> 0:47:34.839 I'll try to be quick. I think that a win 0:47:35.200 --> 0:47:37.799 is coming for the Cowboys at some point. I don't 0:47:37.800 --> 0:47:40.799 think it's gonna be this game, though, maybe Thanksgiving. I 0:47:40.880 --> 0:47:44.560 think that the offense does played better, but at the 0:47:44.600 --> 0:47:47.239 same time, I don't trust the Cowboys defense to be 0:47:47.280 --> 0:47:50.120 able to stop this kind of running game. So I 0:47:50.160 --> 0:47:53.040 think the Vikings win, and I would say something like 0:47:53.160 --> 0:48:02.279 twenty eight seventeen around there. I agree with everybody. You know, 0:48:02.560 --> 0:48:04.640 the Vikings don't really scare you, but you know the 0:48:04.680 --> 0:48:07.600 Cowboys are the Cowboys. Do you know they scare you 0:48:07.760 --> 0:48:09.279 just by the way that they can play. I think 0:48:09.320 --> 0:48:12.120 they're gonna play better, but I don't see him winning this. 0:48:12.920 --> 0:48:15.520 I agree that a victory is on you know, it's 0:48:15.520 --> 0:48:17.480 got to happen at some point, but I don't think 0:48:17.520 --> 0:48:19.800 it's this week. I think the Vikings are actually playing 0:48:20.120 --> 0:48:22.640 better too, so that that doesn't help the Cowboys much. 0:48:22.640 --> 0:48:25.040 I think twenty three twenty was the score that I'm 0:48:25.080 --> 0:48:27.000 going with, and that means it's gonna come down to 0:48:27.040 --> 0:48:29.319 probably field goals. We'll see if Dan Bailey makes fun 0:48:29.920 --> 0:48:32.319 for them. But I go twenty three twenty all right. 0:48:32.360 --> 0:48:33.800 I think it's gonna be a really close game. I 0:48:33.800 --> 0:48:36.040 actually think Dallas is going to continue on the trajectory 0:48:36.080 --> 0:48:38.440 they've been on these last two games, where they've played 0:48:38.440 --> 0:48:41.319 better offensively and defensively. I do think there'll be some 0:48:41.360 --> 0:48:44.080 big runs for Dalvin Cook because you don't get away 0:48:44.080 --> 0:48:46.839 from games mainly unless you got a great defense. You're 0:48:46.840 --> 0:48:48.440 not going to get into a game with the Minnesota 0:48:48.520 --> 0:48:50.520 Vikings and not have Dalvin Cook hit you for a 0:48:50.520 --> 0:48:53.600 couple of big plays. However, I think on the whole, 0:48:54.040 --> 0:48:55.520 I actually think it's gonna be a little upset. I 0:48:55.520 --> 0:48:57.080 think the Cowboys get to win this week. I think 0:48:57.120 --> 0:48:59.879 they win twenty four twenty three, a very very close game. 0:49:00.120 --> 0:49:02.160 I think they played better, and that's the key. I 0:49:02.160 --> 0:49:04.480 think they're gonna be playing better than they've been playing, 0:49:04.640 --> 0:49:06.080 and I think it's going to continue with what we've 0:49:06.080 --> 0:49:08.200 seen these last two weeks. I don't think that's an aberration. 0:49:08.520 --> 0:49:10.719 I think this team is actually getting better, and I 0:49:10.719 --> 0:49:13.480 think this will be the moment when we start to say, Okay, 0:49:13.719 --> 0:49:16.520 now maybe they're turning a corner. Now, let's see what 0:49:16.520 --> 0:49:18.239 happens down the stretching. If they can get on a 0:49:18.239 --> 0:49:20.320 bit of a run, regardless of what happens with the playoffs, 0:49:20.440 --> 0:49:21.799 Can they get on a bit of a run so 0:49:21.840 --> 0:49:23.319 that you can restore a little bit of faith in 0:49:23.320 --> 0:49:25.560 the fact that they hired this whole coaching staff and 0:49:25.560 --> 0:49:29.080 you were expecting better, expecting different. All Right, we appreciate you, guys, Jonas. 0:49:29.080 --> 0:49:30.480 We'll be back on Monday. We'll tell you what went 0:49:30.560 --> 0:49:32.279 right and what went wrong for the Cowboys. So then, 0:49:32.320 --> 0:49:35.040 for Nick Eatman, Dave helm and Amber Garcia, I'm Derek Eagleson. 0:49:35.080 --> 0:49:37.480 This has been The Break live on Dallas Cowboys dot 0:49:37.520 --> 0:49:43.640 Com Radio. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys 0:49:43.680 --> 0:49:46.319 dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.