The Dumb Zone FREE - DZ 1-21-25: Brandon Aubrey says goodbye to Bones, Cowboys behind the curve on hiring a coach, and Micah vs. Dez PREVIEW

Episode Date: January 21, 2025

Hear the entire episode by subscribing to The Dumb Zone at DumbZone.com or Patreon.com/TheDumbZoneBrandon Aubrey joins us to say goodbye to Bones who heads to Tennessee. We're finding out the Cowboys are behind the curve in hiring a coach because they had no plan B when McCarthy said adios. Micah vs. Dez on Twitter and we have a new way to speed Dan along ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hey now! What you are about to hear is a free preview of one of this week's premium episodes of The Dumb Zone. If you would like to hear this program in full, along with the full archive... Ah, shit. If you would like to hear this program in full, with the archive of all of our past episodes, you can subscribe at DumbZone.com. Because they just keep going for it. Yeah. I mean, they... keep going for it. Yeah. I mean, they, yeah, Saquon's out there.

Let's add Saquon. Well, why add Saquon? We already have a quarterback and a wide receiver that we're paying top of the market. Like, that is the Cowboys' excuse for not adding anything, is we went all in. By signing DAC and signing CD, no, that's not what that's called.

No, that's a... Going-in, you know, I Don't know. I was gonna say they probably regret saying that but he keeps bringing it back up like no no all-in means These contracts I paid these guys now go win No, I mean you knew who Dak was too and this is not a big slight against Dak I think most quarterbacks are like this. You need stuff around him. Like he's not a Lamar. Lamar doesn't really need a lot around him to at least have a certain level of success.

He's still great. The team is as good as Lamar Jackson is. But with Dak, the team is as good as what's around Dak for the most part. Yeah, that's Hertz, like you said, that's Hertz. Yeah, it's a lot of guys. Yeah, I don't think Hertz is necessarily way better. I think he's better than Dak.

It's just, it's just, I go back and forth, but you've spooked me now with the LeMoy. I don't know. I mean, I kind of view him as the same. Like, well, I would say Hertz now just because he's a little more athletic. Yeah, with his legs. But no, I mean, just look at the last decade of the Eagles and the Cowboys. And it's just the Eagles dunking all over Steven Jones' head.

And then as recently as last month, he's like, well, we're going to have Capel. And, uh. Which we heard about the LA Rams. The Rams for sure. And as I put it in this article, because it made sense to me, the phrasing of it is it's just getting killed at the playground.

And you're like, that's against the rules. I got a rule book here. And the Eagles are like, whatever, dork. We're signing this guy. We're trading for this guy. And we'll figure it out. Yeah, maybe there will be hell to pay, but the last time for the Eagles there was hell to pay.

They went 4-11 for one year, and then they were back in the playoffs. Yeah. Same with the Rams. Same with the Rams. Is it the Cowboys' unwillingness to go 4-11? Yes. Not, I mean, sometimes they do, but they don't really want to. They want to stay, what now, 9 and 8. That's all it is. 8 and 9. And the weird thing about

it is, like you think about the guy who bought the Redskins, Josh, is it Josh Harris. That sounds right. And he's a Sixers guy and he's possibly went to Epstein's Island. But it's clear that a guy like that, like it's a legacy franchise, same thing with the Eagles and Lurie, but to them, they think we've gotta be like a good, exciting team to make money. I mean, the guy's like, he's an an investment banker all he cares about is making money but to him he's like man if

the Redskins are good that's a huge cash opportunity. Whereas it just seems like the Cowboys it's cliche to say but just are kind of like what are the Cowboys? Probably don't have to be like really good if it's risky enough to be bad. So well, that's the thing. I mean, I remember the old rankings was always the Cowboys were the number one valued franchise. The Redskins were number two. But if you have just shit for years and years and years, that can erode. So that can erode from the Cowboys.

So that's their mindset of if we don't get into that 5-11 thing over and over, just kind of stay up there and be an exciting team. You don't want to be a grinded out, you know, boring football team either. That's why if Dez is there, I'm taking Dez. I don't care what the Scouts say. If CD's there, let's go. Let's get CD. You know, you got to give him that. Mm-hmm. For getting dynamic playmakers. I mean, he wanted to take Manziel. But, yeah, I mean that's how you keep that franchise value up and that's where you make that money back if you do

infuse a lot of cash into your franchise which I understand the Cowboys do not. They aren't a big cash spending team and that's pretty confusing to hear but apparently there are ways that even in the salary cap world you can get legs up on other teams. And what you can definitely do is pay your coaches whatever you want to work or not work here. There's one of the ways I guess. You can get a leg up on other teams. And what you can definitely do is pay your coaches whatever you want to work or not work here. There's one of the ways I guess. You can get a leg up on other teams. You know, last off season, they didn't move on from McCarthy.

And I think money did have a lot to do with that. Remember two off seasons ago, we were thinking they were gonna move on and maybe just slide Dan Quinn over between the pipes. So, because that's when Denver was hot on Dan Quinn. It's funny you say that because this morning I was reminded thinking about Dan Quinn of Yeah, it's two off seasons ago. He took he took Denver and one other team. He took an interview It was a tougher sell last offseason because Green Bay totally spanked him in the playoff,

like his defense looked terrible in the playoffs. That's tough to say. It is. Now I'm gonna slide the guy in charge of the defense. But the season prior was the bad San Francisco game, correct? Yeah. Yeah, all right.

But there could be a personal element here where Dan Quinn didn't wanna usurp McCarthy, the guy that brought him in. They there could be a personal element here where Dan Quinn didn't want to usurp McCarthy, the guy that brought him in. They seemed to be kind of close. Yeah, yeah, and also I would not discard Dan Quinn's coaching resume over one game. I mean, you kept McCarthy, and his offense wasn't doing a whole lot.

I mean, I think they ended up putting up 34 or something, but they were lost. They'd been lost in all three of the playoff games under McCarthy but so Jerry a couple years ago do you remember he tried to sell this idea that the reason he didn't publicly say that McCarthy was definitely going to be back and again this is after year three so he had two years left the reason he didn't say that was because he wanted to keep Dan Quinn and by not publicly supporting McCarthy, he had maybe planted the seed in Dan Quinn's mind that he could be the head coach here.

And he actually said, you know, Mike knows he's not going to be the coach forever in Dallas. You know, I could see Dan Quinn being the coach one day in Dallas, which is insane because it means Mike McCarthy got fired. Like, there was no scenario where McCarthy just, short of dying. Heart attack. Yeah, like he could just hang him up

and Quinn is still here, but otherwise, like walk me through how that ends up. That Dan Quinn knows, he's like, maybe he'll be the coach one day, and McCarthy's hearing this so Yeah, it was a really weird time and McCarthy got asked about it. Let's see where this picks up I think that's really just part of the landscape, you know, Jerry's the owner is the GM and I mean he's you know He's always taking a 360 degree view of everything and I think it's like anything in life.

You know we have a lot of one-on-one conversations. We discussed all these things. You know we you know I've never once felt that I was not gonna be the head coach moving forward and and frankly I've been at this long enough that's that's all I'm focused on and I think the players, the coaches, football operations is really is my main hold. I'm the leader of this football's all I'm focused on and I think the players the coaches Football operations is really is my main hold I'm the leader of this football team and I'm about winning and that's that's all I've ever focused on and that's all I ever Will focus on and are these narratives on you usual? Absolutely I've never dealt with anything like this

again What he's saying is no, I've never dealt with anything like being in the middle of my contract and my boss being like, you know, your replacement is right next to you in the office next door. I wish I didn't have to come on here and answer questions about it. Yeah, no doubt about it. I wish we were talking about something else, but it is part of, it's part of our landscape. And, um, I just think keeping things, keeping things real and keeping things focused because at the end of the day, it's about the people that you're in charge of. It's about the people you coach. And most importantly, it's about our locker room and our locker rooms about winning. I love our players.

Uh, I love, I love what they bring to the table. Um, I think too. You get the idea. He had to be asked about it and say, I wish I wasn't having to talk about this. It's weird. It's very weird. And then it was left to him and Dan Quinn to work it out between the two of them, which I think he says at some point, two of us just talk to each other. It does not make this weird.

If you want to interview for a job, interview if you want to be here, be here, but, you know, that guy was available. I mean, it's the way sports is. How much more was available last time? It is crazy, it is the way sports is, as far as players are concerned. You're in the room day to day with another guy

who's trying to take your job. And you know what they make and they know what you make. Yeah, so it's a weird dynamic where teams have to perform, where they have to play this game of they care more about the team than the individual, but each individual doesn't truly believe that. You know, each, when Rico Dowdell is behind Tony Pollard, he certainly doesn't wish injury upon Tony Pollard, but if I did get my shot, I'd love to get my shot at some point somehow. You know, I mean it's all these, not that I think Dan Quinn was hoping McCarthy would get fired. Right.

He would be elevated. I think for there to be leadership, and the leadership to work, you can't be saying stuff like that. Yeah, that's a different dynamic than with players, I suppose. Yeah, and again, Kellen Moore, they interview Kellen Moore now. Kellen Moore was available last offseason. Remember my idea two years ago? When Dan Quinn was being courted by Denver. I Said make him the head coach and make McCarthy the offensive coordinator. You're under contract

That's a good one that's classic and if you won't if you won't do it you've breached your contract I Mean, why not if you're putting it to this level where you're saying you're basically throwing your coaches under the bus publicly why not? To change offices. Wouldn't that be interesting? It'd be very I mean yes from the like can these people can these all just be numbers and robots that'd be great. One is in charge of the offense one's in charge of the defense anyway just the other guy has this title. Well now you got that title. There we go. I would have liked to see that happen. But I like chaos. I would have liked to have seen them at least be in the room with Bill Belichick for all the talking we did about it. Oh my

god. Has he signed his deal yet? But even if he has, it doesn't matter. The point is, they should be able to buy out anybody any time they want if they believe that's the person that can get the Cowboys the Super Bowl. Right. You know what? Being like the University of Texas. All right, made a mistake here.

Let's fire them because we got this giant pile of money. Let's use it on someone else. We'll pay two coaches to go away and then still paying a third here to come in and their assistants and all this kind of stuff. Might not work, but at least none of us are going to be looking around like, do you really feel like you're turning over every stone here? You're just kind of a autopilot. Like the Aggies.

The Aggies continually get in their own way somehow, but yes, they at least are trying. You see them they're attempting things no one else does. They're trying to find oh this is the best coach on the market he's got a good pedigree I'll pay him more than anyone to come here but now you're dealing with but we're the Cowboys. The Aggies know they're the Aggies. So I gotta overpay Jimbo Fisher to come here. You know? If you're the Cowboys, you also have this thought. It's kind of a, if you're the ticket and you're paying certain guys, you know?

Look, I wasn't going to say it, but... No, but that's the way it would be dealt with with more behind the scenes people, but sometimes on the scenes people as well. And that you, you know, working here is more prestigious, that's why we don't have to pay. Um, where the Yankees you don't hear things like that, cause you're just like, well no, we, it's gonna be great playing for the Yankees cause you're going to make more than anyone. Everybody makes more than everyone. And Dodgers now. Dodgers now, yeah.

All right, we need a middle reliever. We have so many starters. Go get the best one. So let's go get the best one there is, and let's pay him more than everyone else. Yeah, kind of need a closer, too. Can we get one? Do you find the best one out there?

We already have five starters, but what if one gets hurt? Can we get another one? Oh, yeah. Think of it this way. We already have five starters, but what if one gets hurt? Can we get another one? Oh, yeah think of Think of it this way when you mentioned the Yankees the Dodgers and whoever else in any other sport Like I don't know that Ben Johnson is gonna be a good head football coach. I know he seems awesome and He was in high demand and he Tom Brady's real impressed with him so Tom Brady wanted to interview him for the team he runs.

And the Cowboys aren't even going to have an interview. Well now for sure he's done. But they didn't. That's interesting because I was looking at head coach openings today. But my point is just they should have gotten word to him if they wanted that to be their head coach and said we're going to pay you million dollars a year don't interview with anybody oh they absolutely would have had an interview like we'll call it as soon as you're done or whoever they want that should be the way that it works but they missed

their window because they thought McCarthy was coming back I know that is a complicated part of it but not even being able to get word to him of like hey just hold off like when you're done, the interview happens on the plane. I feel like when you've got endless amounts of money, you can make sure people take it. You find a way around the rules. They don't even try. They don't have an endless amount of money. They have a budget for the Cowboys

that they try to stay under every year. But why is it doesn't work that way on any of these other teams? When I hear about these soccer teams. Because they don't have a limited budget for their NFL team. Jerry wants to make money for the Jones family. He does not want to make money for the Cowboys.

Right, but what I'm saying is when I hear about Real Madrid or whatever, or the Yankees or the Dodgers, I don't ever hear about, like, maybe even the Lakers, right? Like, if the Cowboys, that's who the Cowboys are supposed to be mentioned with, then why are they? the only ones who are like a dollar store version of The back of bumper sticker guys, you know

Because the Steinbrenner's didn't have money in the in the concessions in the real estate in the marketing They just cared about the team on the field and Jerry doesn't Jerry's the businessman. He's not an NFL owner. Well, I want to spend some money and get some pitching in here Then what other teams do you want to cheer for head coach openings? Yeah, so we had Chicago New England the Jets Jacksonville, New Orleans Vegas Dallas Chicago just got Ben Johnson New England already had Mike Vrabel. New England, four interviews.

One was Mike Vrabel. But, well let me just, I'll say the but at the end. Ben Johnson was hired, he was one of 15 interviews. Chicago's trying to talk to as many people as they can. JET 17. This isn't guaranteed success, but it's just illustrating a point, I think. Jacksonville, thus far at least 10 interviews. New Orleans 8, including Mike McCarthy. From what I can see, if he doesn't get the New Orleans job, Mike McCarthy might be going to the barn for a year to watch every play of any every NFL game

job although as I work my way through this list can we see him coming back to Dallas after they both kind of court... I mean I remember you had friends growing up. Could you imagine Mike McCarthy walking in. Parents got divorced and got back together and you're like, man I bet that was hot. Not next year, I'm saying now. This, two weeks from now. Baby I was wrong. It's been you all along.

I don't know, I guess I don't rule anything out. That would be hilarious. Because yeah, you've certainly broken up with someone and then been back together within a day. Yeah, no, I mean. Vegas, eight head coaching candidates or interviews thus far. Dallas has had three. Robert Sala, Leslie Frazier, and Kellen Moore.

Do you guys remember, I looked this up this morning. Do you remember who they interviewed when they hired McCarthy? Marvin Lewis we just talked about that one. Yeah They interviewed other people one other one just one, huh? That is seven and nine bullshit Jeff Fisher Yeah, just to get you a feel for what they're looking for here. It wasn't Lincoln Riley or whatever. It was Jeff Fisher. Like you said. That's what they're looking for. You guys brought this up earlier in the week or last week. Just to get a feel for what other organizations are saying about my organization or other brilliant minds in the sport, how do they look at our roster and evaluate it?

Are we evaluating it correctly or at least just to get someone else's perspective? Well, to your point, when they interviewed Jeff Fisher in 2020, he'd been out of the game for four and a half years. So I don't know that they there, you know what I mean? Like you're calling these other people to see like, hey, what would Marcus Freeman do with NFL team? The best the Cowboys could do is like Jeff Fisher's 60

and he hasn't been around in half a decade, call him. The Dungs, The Dungs, The Dungs, The Dungs, The Dungs.