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Cowboys’ Jerry Jones doesn’t think giving Mike McCarthy extension would be ‘crazy at all’
“Listen, Mike McCarthy is an outstanding coach. … This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there, done that, he’s got great ideas. Bottom line is, there’s no place in my body language or anything else that you’ve seen indications about what we’re going to be doing relative to this staff at the end of this year. And we shouldn’t. We’ve got a lot of football left.”
McCarthy won a Super Bowl in 2010 with the Green Bay Packers. In five seasons with the Cowboys, he’s gone 1-3 in the postseason. Dallas has generated three consecutive 12-5 seasons under McCarthy. With the Cowboys sitting at 4-7 before Thanksgiving, that streak will end in 2024.
“I really haven’t talked about it all year,” McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday when asked about Jones’ comments. “So definitely not going to start on a short week in an important division game. I’m not going to throw away positive vibes either, so keep ‘em coming. But that’s not something that I’m really focused on.”
Asked about McCarthy’s future repeatedly this season, Jones has resisted declarative statements, only rebuffing any calls for an in-season move. With the Cowboys facing four clubs currently sitting under .500 in the next four weeks, it could be a chance to plow back into the playoff periphery.
Jones’ comments about a potential extension for McCarthy are sure to agitate a hornet’s nest among Cowboys fans, who have focused much of their ire on the coach.
Pro Football Talk
Tommy DeVito injury could allow Giants to make deft pivot to Drew Lock
The benching of Daniel Jones was about the team’s money, not football. The other players care about football, not the team’s money.
It has sparked a mini-mutiny, with multiple players unwilling to bite their tongues about the decision to sit Jones — or about the perceived lack of effort on Sunday. But the lack of effort shouldn’t be surprising; if management doesn’t care about putting the team in the best position to win, why should the players?
Enter the potential pivot to Drew Lock. With DeVito not on the injury report for Monday’s non-practice in advance of Thursday’s game at Dallas before showing up as limited for Tuesday with a right forearm injury, the foundation is in place to play the quarterback who should have gotten the nod when Jones was benched. If the depth chart means anything.
It will be interesting to see what another embarrassing loss might mean for the Giants. Co-owner John Mara has said he doesn’t anticipate making any big changes during or after the season. After the 30-7 post-bye loss to the Buccaneers, becoming the first team to lose in Dallas this season could be the final straw.
Pro Football Focus
The case for Saquon Barkley to be the NFL MVP
Baseline Statistics
First and foremost, Barkley leads the NFL in scrimmage yards with a total of 1,649. Prior to Monday night’s action, Derrick Henry was the next-closest player with 1,281. Gaudy yardage totals are always impressive, but Barkley is among the league’s leaders in many important categories.
Volume
Not only has Barkley produced, but he has done so while the Eagles have increased his workload.
Before its bye in Week 5, Philadelphia ran the ball roughly 41% of the time, which hovers right around the league average. After a Week 4 loss to Tampa Bay in which Barkley only accrued 10 carries, the team opted to change its philosophy and make him the focal point of its offense.
Since Week 6, which spans the Eagles’ seven-game winning streak, they have run the ball on 56.4% of their plays. The Lions are the only other team above 50% in that span. During that time frame, Barkley leads the NFL with 150 carries, but he’s done so with incredible efficiency: he averages 6.4 yards per carry and over 136 yards per game.
Explosiveness
One of the strange statistical nuggets from the 2023 season is that Eagles running backs ranked 31st in the NFL in rushing grade despite the team placing third in run-blocking grade. They also ranked just 16th during the regular season in explosive runs of 10 or more yards with 34. Through 11 games, Barkley himself already has compiled 29, which leads all players.
Clutch
A great running back also doubles as a great closer. Whether a team is holding a lead or standing firm in a tight defensive game, the best backs get stronger as the game progresses.
This year, 42 running backs have garnered at least 20 carries in the fourth quarter of games this season. Barkley leads that group in rushing yards, first downs, touchdowns, yards per carry and rushing grade.
Blogging the Boys
Jayden Daniels now shares company with Sonny Jurgensen relative to the Dallas Cowboys
Once again, some of the numbers involved in this game were inflated by the end. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels had a massive touchdown that really changed what his box score looks like, but the play was real and happened so it obviously counts.
That being said, Daniels threw for 275 yards and had two touchdowns all while posting a completion percentage north of 65%. This was only the 24th time that a quarterback did this in a losing effort against the Cowboys and as you can see if you scroll all the way down, some of the best quarterbacks in Washington franchise history are on the list.
Maybe that is good news for young Jayden.
Big Blue View
Shedeur Sanders to New York Giants hype in overdrive after Joe Schoen was seen at a Colorado practice
A viral video of New York Giants GM Joe Schoen and other Giants’ decision-makers at a Colorado football practice on Tuesday has both proponents and opponents of Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders being the Giants’ next quarterback taking to social media to offer their opinions.
Here is the video:
New York Giants Gm Joe Schoen was at Colorado Practice today
: @DeionSandersJr pic.twitter.com/wwcpciQgaY
— We Coming (@SkoBuffsGoBuffs) November 26, 2024
From left, that is assistant GM Brandon Brown, Schoen, special assistant to the GM Jessie Armstead and director of player personnel Tim McDonnell talking to Colorado coach Deion Sanders. Sanders, of course, is Shedeur’s father.
Here is what some were saying after the video surfaced:
Full court press. Schoen, Brown, McDonnell & Armstead all there. Honestly, I’m warming to the idea of Shedeur. To get the Giants out of this mess, they need someone w/ some attitude who is going to shake things up to lead at QB (in addition to the skill set..obviously).
— BigBlueVCR (@BigBlueVCR) November 26, 2024
I don’t want Sanders in New York
I’m saying it
He is going to be a disaster here
Too much distractions
Not to mention the sidebar with his dad
Joe Schoen should not be making the next QB choice for the Giants
— Chicago Giants Fan (CGF_Sports) (@CGF_Sports) November 26, 2024
Todd McShay is one of the guys I trust most at evaluating QBs.
He was the one who NAILED the pre draft analysis of Daniel Jones.
He thinks Shedeur’s ceiling is Geno Smith/ Tua Tagovailoa.
I’m gonna get hate, but I prefer to wait for an ELITE prospect https://t.co/a9MDSBuNjC
— Rational Giants Takes (@RationalGMENFan) November 26, 2024
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Front Office Sports
Inside Amazon Prime Video’s Plan to Own Black Friday—With Football
“Yes, we’re going to talk about the game. But we’re really wrapping our arms around the idea that this is a new holiday for football,” an Amazon coordinating producer said.
Amazon Prime Video is pulling out all the stops to turn the day after Thanksgiving into the newest tradition on the sports calendar.
Prime executives tell me they’re employing a “go big” approach in their second year airing a Black Friday game.
“We’re trying to embrace this as truly a new holiday,” says Spoon Daftary, senior coordinating producer at Prime. “Yes, we’re going to talk about the game. But we’re really wrapping our arms around the idea that this is a new holiday for football. We want to celebrate that.”
It’s not just football; Prime has hoop dreams for Black Friday, too. As part of Amazon’s 11-year, $20 billion deal to show NBA games starting in the 2025–2026 season, it will also stream an NBA game on Black Friday in 2025—effectively creating an NFL/NBA doubleheader on the year’s biggest shopping day.
I think it’s a brilliant business idea for Prime to target brick-and-mortar rivals like Walmart where they live. The pitch to shoppers practically sells itself: Do you want to engage in mall brawls at your local shopping center? Or shop from your couch while watching live NFL and NBA games?
Clearly, the NFL is on board. Commissioner Roger Goodell couldn’t have given Jeff Bezos’s Amazon a nicer stocking stuffer than the Super Bowl champion Chiefs facing the Raiders on Nov. 29. Patrick Mahomes’s Chiefs have dethroned the Cowboys as America’s Team, TV-wise. The Chiefs have appeared in four of the five most-watched games this season, relative to only one for the Cowboys.
The company is constructing an expansive new outdoor set outside Arrowhead Stadium for pre- and post-game studio shows starring Charissa Thompson, retired Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Richard Sherman, Taylor Rooks, and Albert Breer. During the first hour of coverage, Prime will stage a live, hour-long tailgate with thousands of fans outside the iconic stadium.
During the game, football fans will be able to shop deals across product categories like toys, electronics, and apparel. Prime will also offer custom NFL apparel designed by Amazon creators like Brittany Mahomes, Olivia Culpo, Rachel Crosby, Tayshia Adams, and Darcy McQueeny.