Bye Bye Week: Dallas Cowboys Wk7 Review

The Dallas Cowboys bye week is ending, but did anything happen to the team during the week? As all fans know, the Cowboys are not strangers to drama, and the bye week had that in spades.

As the team gears up for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football, the players and coaches have been tirelessly game-planning, demonstrating their dedication to rebounding from the Detroit Lions defeat. The bye week was a necessary pause after that game.

Every week of being a Dallas Cowboys football fan is an adventure, often with unexpected twists and turns. So, what’s the latest news about the Cowboys circulating online?

Jerry Jones’ Antics

Everyone with a pulse knows that Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, is enigmatic, arrogant, and senile. His outburst on a local radio show is not terribly out of character for the old man.

On the radio show 1053 The Fan, Jerry Jones created a monumental media storm after how he responded to being questioned about the Detroit Lions beatdown.

https://twitter.com/jonmachota/status/1846181901184159753

After a week, this outburst did not sit well with media members nationwide. Jerry Jones returned for his weekly guest spot on 1053 The Fan, but he handled the interview slightly better this time.

https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/1848735405190881451

He also discussed the reasoning behind passing on Derrick Henry in free agency.

https://twitter.com/PatDoneyNBC5/status/1848723382004482527

This man is quite possibly the only man on earth who thinks he is doing a great job as the general manager of the Dallas Cowboys. He is delusional.

The Dallas Cowboys Zoo

During the bye week, fans also learned about the Zoo hidden inside AT&T Stadium and The Star.

Former and current players, such as Dalton Schultz, Jayron Kearse, and most recently, CeeDee Lamb, talked about the distractions associated with being a Dallas Cowboy.

Kalyn Kahler of ESPN.com wrote an article on fan tours, where multiple players expressed their frustrations about the constant disturbances they cause.

Former Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz stated that the facility feels like a “zoo,” as random fans tap on the glass to get your attention while you work out.

Jayron Kearse came out and said this about the Dallas Cowboys,

“You’re walking by the tour guide, and they’re pulling [the fans] to the side, and you hear them say, ‘Oh that’s CeeDee Lamb, that’s CeeDee!'” Kearse said. “Like Dalton said, it’s kind of like you’re in a zoo and kids are going to see a lion.

“That’s not a reason why we didn’t get over that hump. But I just don’t think that really equates to winning. That has nothing to do with us winning the game.”

According to Calvin Watkins, CeeDee Lamb had this today about fan tours:

https://twitter.com/calvinwatkins/status/1849561078562459782

Dak Prescott went to reporters with a different outlook on fan tours.

“You can walk by and have a negative mindset about it and allow it to ruin your day, or you can be thankful that you’re in an organization that people want to see,” Prescott told reporters, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota.

“For me, it’s just easy to say ‘What’s up,’ wave and keep walking. I think I’ve heard you feel like a zoo animal. Well, it’s like, sometimes I bark back and I say ‘Hey,’ and you just keep rolling… There’s people on the other side of the building that you don’t necessarily know. Is it a distraction when you’re grabbing your plate, and they’re grabbing theirs?”

“It’s easy to focus on what you want to focus on, if that’s your mindset.”

https://twitter.com/jonmachota/status/1849547361141260731

The Dallas Cowboys set themselves apart by allowing fans direct access to player areas while team members are actively present in the facility.

Is this a distraction? Everyone interacts differently, and differing opinions will arise.

Troy Aikman Calls Out Receivers

Troy Aikman started another minor uproar within the Dallas Cowboys organization when he discussed the receivers’ poor route running and lack of effort.

“I think the routes are terrible,” Aikman said, as written by The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “I think they run terrible routes. And I’ve thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee has got to improve in his route running.”

The Super Bowl-winning quarterback knows a thing or two about wide receiver routes, and his words should be taken to heart by the receiving core. He continued by saying,

“I see guys lazy coming off the line of scrimmage,” Aikman said. “Sometimes they run, usually if they do, it’s because they’re anticipating they’re going to get the football on that play, but if they’re not, they don’t. And it all ties together. I’m not impressed with that part of it.”

Can this type of laziness affect the quarterback? Well, Troy Aikman thinks so.

“It’s hard to play the (QB) position if you’re not certain how guys are going to run routes or where they’re going to be,” Aikman said.

Jerry Jones seemed to agree with his former player.

“Troy knows football,” Jones said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “He lives it. … Troy’s credible. And should be. … He’s very professional. I think he’s very fair. … I’m pretty confident that we’ve got the ability to coach and we got some receivers that take the coaching and can improve. And that’s the big thing, improve.”

Is this Jerry Jones trying to distance himself from his Head Coach, Mike McCarthy, who seemed to dismiss the comments made by Troy Aikman?

Mike McCarthy said, “They don’t carry any weight with me, because I watch all the tape,” McCarthy said. “I get to go to the meetings. I’m at practice. I’m part of the games. So I have a clear understanding of what and where.

“Troy’s statement in particular, I don’t agree with the word selection. There is definitely a need for improvement in every position, not just one position that he commented on.”

All of these comments during the bye week from former players, current players, the owner, and the coach suggest either an exciting end to the season or a complete implosion.

Either should be fun for fans to watch, but maybe all the media coverage and comments will fire up this team.

We will see which road this team takes as the season progresses. Here’s to hoping it leads to a winning streak.

The bye week was not exciting, but it was eventful. So, bye bye week and bring on the 49ers.