Cowboys news: Dallas named only second-most disappointing team in 2024

Dallas Cowboys surprisingly aren't the NFL's most disappointing team - Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated Saying the Cowboys aren't the most disappointing team this season is surprising.

While the Cowboys have been a major disappointment, they are not the league's most disappointing team, according to CBS Sports .

"Dallas had the fifth-best odds in the NFC prior to the season. Heading into Week 11, the Cowboys are not only barely in contention for the NFC East, but also three games out of the final playoff berth," the report reads.

As a result of their underperforming, the Cowboys are ranked as the second-most disappointing team in the NFL through 10 weeks, surpassed only by the New York Jets .

Mailbag: Time to let Martin get healthy? - Tommy Yarrish, Mickey Spagnola, DallasCowboys.com The season's is all but decided, is it time to save us from ourselves?

I consider Zack Martin one of the greatest players in Cowboys history. He should be in the Hall of Fame someday. But he's clearly hurting and not himself. Is it time to sit him out a game or two and let him get healthy? Obviously, he doesn't want to sit, and the team will only be worse without him, but I hate seeing this great player struggle, especially when they're losing anyway. – Steven Morris/Louisville, KY

Mickey: That sounds like a very compassionate thought on your part, and Zack is battling through that shoulder injury, because it's not like him to miss the padded practice on Thursday that he did this past week. But you must factor in who would be taking his place, and at this time the guy would be T.J. Bass, a second-year guard who came into the NFL as a rookie free agent last year with just three starts under his belt as an injury replacement. Also, must consider increasing the lack of experience on the offensive line if Martin isn't out there, and with youngsters starting at left tackle and center, and now then at right guard might be creating a worse problem. Now if he's injured to the point he can't play, then that is another story.

Tommy: Obviously if Zack Martin is hurt enough to the point where it would be detrimental for him physically to be playing, then you absolutely sit him. If this is just your normal mid-season banged up though, then he's the best option you have at right guard even though time is starting to catch up to him. You're absolutely right that it's not fun seeing great players struggle, but all great players have and will struggle throughout their career. This is just, unfortunately, seeming like the time in Martin's career where you start to see those signs build up.

Cowboys' Jake Ferguson takes blame in stadium sunlight debacle, has faith in backups after losing Dak Prescott - Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports Prescott's security blanket has faith in his entire quarterback room.

Despite the slow start to the second half of the season, the Cowboys still have confidence. Tight end Jake Ferguson voiced his support for Rush and Lance when speaking with CBS Sports this week.

"I have all the faith in the world in those two," Ferguson said. "I tell everybody, my first NFL touchdown was from Cooper Rush. The way those two approach the game, the way they approach each day getting into the facilities ... the meetings, the practices, whatever it may be, the walk-throughs. Those guys are approaching it full steam ahead with supreme confidence. And my job as 1/11ths of the offense is not only to do my job at the best level that I can, but also to give them that confidence that, 'Hey, I can throw the ball to 87 if I need to ...'"

One of the big storylines to come out of the Cowboys' loss to the Eagles was the sun . Yes, the big ball of fire in the sky. With Dallas playing in the late afternoon, the sun was peeking through the windows of AT&T Stadium, which caused some problems for CeeDee Lamb in the end zone. After missing a touchdown catch due to the glare, Lamb told reporters he is "one thousand percent" in favor of blackout curtains being used for Cowboys home games.

Ferguson, who was somewhat a part of this now infamous "sun drop," actually took responsibility for the fiasco that it has evolved into.

"You know, I wasn't standing where CeeDee was. I wasn't seeing what he was seeing," Ferguson said. "In my eyes, I think I should have caught that ball. If you watch the video back, you can kind of see me in the area. If I reach my hands out and catch that ball, the whole country isn't having this conversation. So in my eyes, I should have caught that ball. In my eyes, I also should have finished the route. I stopped in the route and came back. I shouldn't have done that, I should keep stretching it. But like I said, in my eyes I should have caught that ball."

We all know how Black Monday will go this year, so let's look at possible replacements.

This begs the question of who might replace McCarthy when, not if, the job becomes available. Looking around the league, there are quite a few hot names in the coaching world that could be contenders in Dallas. While there will surely be some interest among fans in plucking a coach from the college ranks (Deion Sanders, anyone?), Jerry Jones has been pretty adamant that such a move can't work in the modern NFL.

Without further ado, and as the regular season keeps on rolling, here are 10 names to watch as potential candidates for the top job with America's Team.

Ben Johnson

Current role: Lions offensive coordinator

The skinny: Ben Johnson has been the hottest head coaching candidate for a while now. He's built one of the most explosive offenses in the league over the last three years, turned Jared Goff's career around, and frequently makes opposing defenses' heads spin with his game plans.

Why it'll happen: Johnson's name will be at the top of every hiring team's list. Jerry Jones believes the Cowboys deserve the very best - it's why he swooped Mike McCarthy out from the Panthers last time around - and he may throw everything he has at landing the biggest name

Why it won't: Johnson has been picky in previous hiring cycles. He was reportedly the frontrunner for the Commanders job last year, but took himself out of consideration over concerns with the new ownership group not being committed enough to football. The Cowboys' own fans don't believe Jerry Jones is committed enough; will Johnson?

Bill Belichick

Current role: TV analyst

Why it'll happen: This seems like a no-brainer for Jerry Jones. Both he and Belichick have talked in the past about nearly working together at various points, and Belichick reportedly has built a good relationship with Stephen Jones from their time together on the NFL Competition Committee.

Why it won't: For starters, he'll be 73 years old when the new season kicks off. How much longevity does Belichick have? Also, Belichick had total control of the roster in New England, and he wouldn't have that in Dallas no matter what promises Jones makes to him.