The Cowboys will now begin their offseason sooner than they had planned after losing to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round.
Furthermore, based on what we know of Jerry Jones, we should anticipate some extreme actions in the near future. But how extreme?
In the coming days and weeks, there are a few names to keep an eye on; these are men who may end up losing their jobs in one way or another. Which names ought to be on our screens? Let’s talk about a select few.
Throughout his career, defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins has occasionally been regarded as a potent run defender, but with this past season—and more especially, the things the Packers did to him on Sunday—he is all but gone. Hankins’ contract is up, and he is about thirty-two years old.
Without a doubt, he will be given permission to walk. In that game, the Cowboys allowed 143 rushing yards, with Aaron Jones accounting for 118 of those yards. Fans should not be shocked, considering Hankins played a significant role in this. After all, according to Pro Football Focus, he finished the season with a run-defense grade of 49.9.
Where in free agency might Hankins end up? Given his age and the way he performed this season, it might take some time for him to sign, but perhaps a contending team just needs more depth.
Further Reading:
The Dallas Cowboys got humiliated by the Packers in the Wild Card round.
The Dallas Cowboys were thoroughly embarrassed by the resurgent Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round, and as a result, Dallas is left with more questions than answers. Those in the NFL environment spent much of the week discussing if the Cowboys will collapse in the postseason once more. And that’s exactly what they did. A seven seed defeated a two seed in the playoffs for the first time since the NFL switched to a seven seed format.
Furthermore, it was by no means close. On a national level, the Green Bay Packers completely and utterly destroyed the Cowboys, despite the boxscore making it appear closer than it was. Jordan Love, a first-year starter, completed 16 of 21 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns. Love’s completion rate was high on off-platform throws, and to be honest, he had some Aaron Rodgers-like traits.
Additionally, the Packers defense intercepted Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott twice, winning one of them back for a touchdown. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, Green Bay was ahead 41–16. Despite having three touchdowns and 403 yards passing, Prescott’s yardage was mostly made up of empty air. The Packers will now go to San Francisco to play the 49ers, who are the top-seeded team in the NFC.
Conversely, the Dallas Cowboys are about to go on yet another summer after a disastrous playoff run, and despite how absurd it may sound, I believe the fate of head coach Mike McCarthy is a legitimate discussion point. During his time with the Cowboys, McCarthy has won a ton of games in the regular season, but he hasn’t been able to advance in the postseason.
And it begs the question of whether Jerry Jones would reach heaven and try to replace McCarthy with Bill Belichick, who left the New England Patriots earlier this offseason. Dak Prescott finds himself in a fascinating situation as well. Will the Cowboys restructure his deal to put him among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league?
Alternatively, do they go for the moon once more and attempt to surpass Prescott? Trey Lance was acquired by the organization through a trade; thus, maybe they believe Lance has potential. The Cowboys entered the season with a roster and goals worthy of a Super Bowl appearance. Furthermore, it is absolutely unacceptable for it to conclude in the Wild Card round against Dallas, or the NFL’s newest franchise.
