18 January 2024 , 18:23
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has been told to "cultivate an identity" within the team to save his job moving forward after another disappointing end to a promising season.
This comes after owner Jerry Jones confirmed that McCarthy will remain in his position, despite rumours linking Bill Belichick to the team after his departure from the New England Patriots.
The Cowboys had a strong regular season but faltered at the first playoff hurdle, losing 48-32 to the Green Bay Packers on home turf. Following this defeat, many fans took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with McCarthy and called for his dismissal.
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Despite these calls, Jones has confirmed that McCarthy will stay on for at least another year. In response to this decision, former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, also known as RG3, tweeted: "After 3 consecutive 12-win seasons, the Dallas Cowboys are running it back with Mike McCarthy at Head Coach. McCarthy is a good and respected coach, but it's the wrong decision unless he can cultivate an identity for the Cowboys.
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"All the great Cowboys teams had an identity. You knew what to expect when they laced 'em up. The issue with the Cowboys under McCarthy is they don't have an identity. Under Mike, and many before him, you expect one thing from the Cowboys. Failure in the playoffs. That has become their identity.
"A collection of great players with no calling card to lean on when things get tough is just a collection of great players. Finding the right identity is what turns that collection of great players into a team. If Mike can't find that identity for this Cowboys team, Jerry will have to find a coach who can."
Mike McCarthy is under pressure after an early playoff exit. (Perry Knotts/Getty Image)The Cowboys' owner, Jones, silenced speculation about McCarthy's future by confirming he will continue as the head coach. He explained his decision in a public statement, saying: "I believe this team is very close and capable of achieving our ultimate goals and the best step forward for us will be with Mike McCarthy as our head coach."
He added: "Specifically, there are many layers of success that have occurred this season as a result of Mike's approach to leading the team, both with individual players and with our team collectively. Mike has the highest regular season winning percentage of any head coach in Cowboys history and we will dedicate ourselves, in partnership with him, to translating that into reaching our postseason goals."
"Certainly, Mike's career has demonstrated postseason success at a high level, and we have great confidence that can continue. Further, our loss on Sunday is shared by everyone here, not just Coach McCarthy. Our players. Our coaches. Our front office. Myself."
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"There is accountability for our results. I am accountable for our results. The lens we use to view and evaluate Coach McCarthy is holistic. While we're all disappointed with the result on Sunday and with our playoff record, I am 100 percent supportive of him as our head coach and ability to reach our goals."
"We will start our process of review and decision-making regarding everything that impacts our team and roster and, while we're not going to address specific players and extensions or free agents at this point, it deserves our deepest review and consideration, and it will get it."
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