Mac Engel: Mike McCarthy’s biggest challenge isn’t his next opponent. It’s Jerry Jones
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Dallas Cowboys kick off new season
The ‘Boys are back, and we have everything you need to be in the know this football season. Read on for more from Mac Engel, Clarence Hill and Stefan Stevenson about Jerry Jones, the roster for the Cowboys’ season opener and the team’s chances in the NFC East.
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Mike McCarthy has the full support of his big boss, who reserves the right to change his mind.
As Jerry Jones often remarks, “Just because I say it doesn’t make it so.”
Do you follow?
Because if you don’t, Sean Payton does.
Mike McCarthy is coming off an NFC East title and is entering his third season as the head coach of Dallas Cowboys under an owner who knows he can no longer take time for granted.
That is why the Dallas Cowboys is the hardest coaching job in America.
Time, and age, are the only reasons why McCarthy should feel any more pressure than the other 31 NFL head coaches do to win.
McCarthy’s age isn’t the problem.
Jerry Jones is 79 years old. He will turn 80 on Oct. 13.
Jerry is no different than anyone else; his clock will not run forever, and now he’s in a stage where the reminders are sometimes sadly frequent.
In the last few years he’s lost loved ones.
His good friend, former oil and gas man T. Boone Pickens, passed in 2019; Jerry’s long time personal assistant, Marilyn Love, died this year.
Long time members of the Cowboys organization, such as former PR man Rich Dalrymple and Jerry’s glorified body guard, Roosevelt Riley, have left.
The death of John Madden, in 2021, was another loss that hit a lot of people in the NFL community. Madden had been in pro football since the ‘60s, and was a friend to any and all.
There is nothing Jerry can do about any of that, but he can do something about trying to win one more Super Bowl.
That’s what he wants.
If he doesn’t think Mike McCarthy can win him one, and the ‘22 season is a bust, Jerry will likely try to find the guy who win him the trophy he last hoisted with Barry Switzer in 1996.
As a result, McCarthy’s shadow will be Payton.
Payton served as an offensive assistant with the Cowboys under Bill Parcells from 2003 to 2005.
Payton left the Saints after the 2021 season, and will join the studio crew for Fox this season.
When an NFL team’s season goes bust, at any point this fall, Payton will be the first candidate discussed.
The irony is that there isn’t that much difference between the Payton and McCarthy.
Both began their respective head coaching careers in 2006.
McCarthy had great success in Green Bay with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Payton built a winner in New Orleans with Drew Brees.
Payton won his Super Bowl with the Saints in 2010. The next year, McCarthy won his Super Bowl, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The striking difference is when Payton took over the Saints in 2006 that franchise had been one of the worst in the NFL for decades.
When McCarthy took over the Packers, the franchise was in decent shape under then GM Ted Thompson.
Payton’s career coaching record is 152-89 (.631), and 9-8 in the playoffs. He had nine 10-win seasons in New Orleans.
McCarthy’s career record 143-92-2 (.608), and 10-9 in the playoffs. He has had nine 10-win seasons between the Packers and Cowboys.
He was fired by the Packers during the 2018 season, and did not coach in ‘19 before he was hired by Jerry.
Of the two coaches, however, the perception of Payton is far more flattering than McCarthy.
Payton is viewed as a disciple of Parcells who knows NFL offenses, and team building, as well as anyone not named Belichick in the NFL today.
McCarthy is increasingly viewed as a coach whose resume was built by Aaron Rodgers.
Neither perception is entirely wrong. Neither perception is it entirely accurate.
What is accurate is both men have worked for Jerry Jones, who wants to win another Super Bowl before his time on this earth runs out.
What is accurate is Sean Payton is out there, and if he wants to coach an NFL team again he will.
What is accurate is Mike McCarthy has the full support of his boss, for all of the right reasons.
What is accurate is Jerry Jones reserves the right to change his mind, he’s about to turn 80, and he wants to win one more Super Bowl before he’s done.
This story was originally published September 8, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
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