Report: Mike McCarthy schedules meetings with Cowboys coaches, players

Following Dallas’ latest frustrating playoff exit, the NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports that end-of-season business is being conducted as usual over at the Cowboys facilities.

The expectation is that head coach Mike McCarthy will likely be let go after Sunday’s abomination. However, if that’s the plan, fans will have to wait to hear official word until the team’s exit interviews are completed, per Slater.

“Locker room clean out and no Mike McCarthy today,” Slater tweeted Monday morning. “I was told presser will be after the completion of exit interviews…like the last three years and like Jason Garrett before him.”

Slater added that McCarthy is scheduled to meet with his staff and the team as the day progresses: “A source informed tells me Mike McCarthy will have a meeting with his coaches at 11. Players at 12. That’s standard.” And also, Central Standard Time.

She also commented that, “internally a lot of people I’ve spoke to are expressing frustration with another 12 win season and another postseason collapse.”

She also spoke with one source who is well-connected with the Cowboys who claimed that anything could be on the table when it comes to making a decision on the team’s leadership. Slater says that source told her:

“I have no idea, but I’d imagine all imaginable options will be discussed and wouldn’t rule out anything.”

Of course, it was the Green Bay Packers who ended Dallas’ season this year, and in embarrassing fashion, as they ran up a 48-16 lead at one point before Dak Prescott led a few late and meaningless touchdown drives. Mind you, this is a Green Bay squad who barely squeaked into the playoffs and had a quarterback starting his first ever playoff game — and they dominated Dallas on their own home turf. That stings.

So did the last two playoff exits under McCarthy, though those losses were more excusable. In 2021-22, Dallas also fell at home in the wildcard round against a strong San Francisco team. But the way they lost was particularly tough, as Dak Prescott ran out the what little time the Cowboys had on their final possession in that one by running the ball up the middle with just seconds to play when Dallas had no timeouts.

Then, last season, the Cowboys again faced the Niners, with that game coming down to the final play as well. Down by seven and needing a miracle, Dallas spread their players out and had Ezekiel Elliott snap the ball to Prescott in a play that was doomed from the start, since Elliott was rolled over by a 49er D-lineman, who immediately pressured Prescott into a short throw to his receiver, who was smoked by a defender as soon as he caught it, ending the game with a big ole thud.

That’s just one supremely frustrating end to the season after another in the early 2020s for a very proud Cowboys franchise. Will Jerry Jones stick by McCarthy and give him another chance? Who knows. Either way, Cowboys fans could be in for a very hectic MLK Day.