Dez Bryant trolls Mike McCarthy at post-game press conference
Former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant was in attendance at the start of head coach Mike McCarthy’s press conference following a 41-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, and he took the opportunity to throw a jab at McCarthy’s past life.
“Hey Coach, I caught that in Green Bay!” Bryant yelled jovially toward the former Green Bay Packers coach.
McCarthy responded with a laugh.
“Make sure you fix that, Rich!” Bryant added as he left the press conference.
The reference stems from the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff game between the Cowboys and the Packers at Lambeau Field.
The Cowboys were down 26-21 at the Green Bay 32 yard line with 4:42 left in the game, and then-Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw a pass to Bryant. When Bryant extended his left arm in an effort to get the ball across the goal line, it wobbled as it hit the ground. It was originally ruled a catch before the Packers challenged the play, and the call was reversed.
Had the play been ruled complete, Dallas would have had a 1st-and-10 from Green Bay’s one yard line. 26-21 was the game’s final score, and the Cowboys were eliminated from the playoffs.
Three years later, the NFL competition committee ruled that plays like the one that took place on that now-notorious night in Green Bay should be ruled complete in the future.
Bryant finished his career in Dallas as one of the best receivers in the history of the decorated team. Over eight seasons with the Cowboys, he started 99 of the 113 games in which he played and recorded 531 receptions for 7,459 yards and 73 touchdowns. He missed 2018 with an Achilles injury, did not sign in 2019, and was in Baltimore with the Ravens in 2020. He is currently a free agent.
Cowboys outpacing last season’s big offensive numbers
So far this season, the Cowboys have one of the most dangerous offensive attacks in the NFL. With quarterback Dak Prescott back at the helm after a gruesome leg injury last season, Dallas is averaging 416.7 total yards, 277.3 passing yards and 30 points per game. All three statistics rank in the top 10 in the league.
Last season, they averaged 371.8 total yards, 260.1 passing yards and 24.7 points per game. Those were decent offensive numbers relative to the rest of the NFL, but this year looks to be on track for even better results.
Dallas welcomes the 3-0 Carolina Panthers to AT&T Stadium next weekend and will need the offense to continue impressing against a Panthers defense allowing just 10 points per game.