Hangin' with the Boys

They don't call it a War Room for nothing. People have their own agendas and the players they want to draft. Who a coach may want isn't always who a scout covets. Also, are the Cowboys for sure going offensive lineman in the first round? Should they trade down? Would they again take a chance in the second round on a player coming off injury? And, of course, our predictions. Let's kick off Draft Day!

Should CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons be at these Phase I workouts instead of getting ready on their own? Our man Jesse explains why that's not a problem. Also, fans are frustrated with the lack of movement on the big contracts, but is this just business as usual in the NFL? What's the hold up? There's also a new running back on board, and does the success of the other local teams have any effect on the Cowboys?

We're joined by the great Charles Haley! The five-time Super Bowl winner and Hall of Famer is on hand to talk about his upcoming TackleTomorrow.com poker tournament, but he also shares stories about his career, his first time meeting Jerry Jones and a run-in with Jimmy Johnson. Plus, he tells us how he made those around him better and gives us some of his thoughts on today's team. You don't want to miss it!

It's a light crew today… Jesse and Shannon discuss the new NFL kickoff rule, the Cowboys' salary cap complications, and provide some insight on college pro days.

For guys who give their lives to this game, the truth is football doesn't always love them back. Our guys Jesse and Nate have been through the transition (and continued physical pain), just as Leighton Vander Esch now must. Plus, it's the end of an era with Tyron leaving, but was it indeed time to move on? What happens now along the offensive line? And are they ever going to get this deal done with Dak? What if they don't?

The Hangin' crew discuss the Cowboys' free agency moves so far, if fans can expect an immediate impact from new LB Eric Kendricks, and how the offensive line may look going into training camp.

Plenty to discuss on this fine Thursday morning, beginning with the type of defensive players the Cowboys may be looking to draft. Will they be bigger? Is that better? And on the offensive side of the ball, what should Dallas do with Tyron Smith and Tony Pollard? Keep them or time to say goodbye? Plus, more talk of distractions, free agent priorities and some unexpected boxing news.

The NFLPA put out their annual report cards for each team, so let's break down how the Cowboys fared and discuss a few surprises.  But do free agents really pay much attention to them? And it's franchise-tag time. Will the Cowboys be using theirs this time around? Not likely. Will anyone use one on a running back? Not likely. Plus, are we watching the scouting combine?

A lot of folks have had a lot to say here lately, so we might as well too. Danny White stood up for Dak Prescott but suggested those around him need to get better. Is that true? How about Jimmy Johnson? He stated he's now consulting some with Jerry Jones about the team. Is that a good thing? And what about Micah Parsons? Is what he saying going to sit well in the locker room? Hmm …

It's time to talk Super Bowl, starting with the quarterbacks. But there is also one key trait both the Chiefs and 49ers had that the Cowboys don't – a guy in the middle of the defensive line who could make play after play. Speaking of defense, Dallas signed a new defensive coordinator. Will Mike Zimmer's tough-nosed style be a good fit with the Cowboys? Plus, comments from Lamb, Emmitt, Micah and more.

Rex Ryan has seemingly entered the mix in the Cowboys' search for a new defensive coordinator. Would a previous head coach be a good fit for Mike McCarthy? Or does that just bring added pressure in what is the final year of his coaching contract? Plus, are there players out there who like what football brings them, but don't like football itself? You bet there are. Oh, and there's a big game coming up.

The question may not be will the Cowboys go all in this year, but can they? There's still the little matter of Dak Prescott's contract with CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons on deck as well. Plus, has Dan Quinn been holding the Cowboys hostage? Have they been in limbo while he decides what to do? Plus, Kellen Moore to Philly, thoughts on the championship games and … baldness talk?

Are today's Cowboys haunted by the success of the 1990s Cowboys? Does being constantly reminded of past greatness make future greatness difficult? Or is there an automatic sense of entitlement once you've become a Cowboy? Are the best players ready to sacrifice the most? Plus, Mike McCarthy is back as head coach. What are the pros and cons? And is family chatter a sign of bigger issues? As Nate says, "Let's get honest."

When the playoffs come around, a team's weaknesses are magnified. That sure was proven in the Cowboys' loss to the Packers. So what happens now? Should they look at getting a new head coach? How about a new quarterback? Is that even possible? Doe a culture change need to happen (again)? Is there anything that can be done to end this extended run of postseason failures? Time to talk about questions that may not have any good answers.

It seems like the Cowboys have a clear advantage in this upcoming showdown against the Packers, which admittedly makes us a little nervous. So are there any flaws in Dallas' game? After all, playoffs are when the flaws get exposed. Also, is the fact Green Bay is so young help them or hurt them? As Nate says, nobody understands playoff football until you're in playoff football. Plus, keys to the game, predictions and a Happy Birthday to our man Chris!

Packers running back Aaron Jones has feasted on the Cowboys, but will it be different this time around? Especially without the same offensive line and quarterback? Of course, Jordan Love shouldn't be overlooked, but which is more worrisome, Green Bay's ground game or their aerial attack? Plus, fighting misdirection, putting in new plays, coaching changes around the NFL and, well, some confusing geography.

Here come the playoffs and questions again about whether can Dak Prescott win the big games. (The short answer is yes.) Given the season he's had, is this the Dak we've been waiting for? Is he finally meeting expectations? On the other hand, should we be more worried about the Packers defense? They're good enough to make plays but won't dominate. So how should the Cowboys offense attack them? Put on the pressure. Go get them!

Time to look back at our preseason predictions and look forward to what's ahead as well. Will the Cowboys get to the NFC Championship Game? Beyond that? Also, teams have come calling again for Dan Quinn. Does that create any kind of distraction or is this old hat for the players by now? And what about Will McClay? Could the Cowboys' VP of Player Personnel be headed elsewhere? Plus, a couple of celebrity call-ins.

The Cowboys are headed to the playoffs to face Green Bay. What needs to happen to make sure they don't look past the No. 7 seed.

Not much to discuss about the game as the Cowboys should take care of business. Instead, let's hear some tales from the locker room with Nate and Jesse. The pregame routines, the pecking order in the trainer's room, the players who were always nice, the few you just didn't want to mess with and … shower head ownership? Plus, the value of finding a coach who will support you. It's some memorable off-the-field talk on this Friday.

The Commanders are ready to pack it up and go home, so if the Cowboys don't beat them by 20 will they have played a bad brand of football? Do they need to make a statement to erase any doubts heading into the playoffs? Speaking of, there's a mess at the bottom of the NFC as far as team's fighting for position. Who is the biggest worry for the Cowboys among that group? And congrats to the Pro Bowlers, although one player for sure was snubbed.

Nate tells us stories about his night celebrating Jimmy Johnson and being surrounded by teammates, Ring of Honor members, broadcasters and more. But want to know the first thing Jimmy said to him? Plus, are we feeling good about beating Detroit? Or are there still question marks that have us worried? Hey, a win is a win. Also, a couple of familiar faces are getting tryouts. Can they really help this late in the season?

Nate Newton tells stories from his days with Jimmy Johnson and the crew takes a few fan calls and make their picks for Cowboys vs Lions.

The crew discuss the two-headed rushing attack and speedy receivers on the Detroit Lions, how the Cowboys defense can keep the ball in Jared Goff's hands, and what to expect from the Jimmy Johnson Ring of Honor induction ceremony.

The crew discuss the latest Dallas Cowboys news and notes, take a look at the bigger picture going into the playoffs, and welcome Nick Eatman to talk "StoryLine."

What happened to CeeDee Lamb in the second and third quarters? Why did he disappear from the game plan? Was it Mike McCarthy trying to spread the ball around? Did Dak Prescott not get the reads he wanted? And why aren't we seeing more of Tony Pollard? One of the team's top playmakers only got 13 touches. Plus, when it had to make a stop, the Cowboys defense wasn't good enough.

The crew discuss the latest Dallas Cowboys news and notes, the status of Tyron Smith and Zack Martin, take listener calls, and bring in Nick Eatman for the last segment!

The Dolphins are No. 1 in the NFL in using motion, which is where they beat you. They want you to go horizontally, so they can go vertically. So how do the Cowboys defend that? Jam the receivers? No. Try to stop the running game? Good luck. They got to do what they do best – pressure the quarterback. And, as Nate says, "If you're not going to play smart, you're just wasting everybody's time."

Like Dallas, the Dolphins defense is at its best when they've got the lead. But is it an even better version? Is this a physical defense or a fast one? Offensively, do the Cowboys need a bounce-back effort from Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott in their play-calling? Do they have to go after Miami on the ground? Plus, should they let Zack Martin play if he's not 100 percent? Join us as we celebrate Nate's birthday!

The Cowboys defense has a bunch of pass-rushers. Some of the best, in fact. So how do you get those guys to become strong run-stoppers? Is it up to the coaches? The players themselves? Or does this defense simply need the lead to truly be successful? Plus, Nate shares stories of how he benefited from the locker room leadership of those 1990s Cowboys teams. And hey, let's all enjoy a little Eagles self-hate with our man, Newy Scruggs.

The same concerns from the past came back to haunt them in the present with worries about what might happen down the road. Once again, the Cowboys couldn't match their opponent's physical play, especially on defense as the Bills ran wild. Should Dallas have made adjustments? Is it simply a mindset? Or is this only a good defense when it has the lead? And how much of the offensive effort was the fault of the quarterback? Shakin' off the Monday blues (and silvers).

The Cowboys have beat up the bad teams, won a tough one against the Seahawks, a .500 team, and then took down a good team at home in the rival Eagles. So what do the Cowboys need to do now to prove they're elite? Defeat a good team on the road, of course. But can they stop the Bills running game? Can they keep their quarterback in check? And what about that rainy weather? Will that be a disadvantage? Plus, Josh jumps on, fan calls and predictions. Here we come, Buffalo!

How do the Cowboys adjust their run defense without the big man in the middle, Johnathan Hankins? Quite simply, other players have to step up because the Bills can run the ball, especially on the left side, which might be right at Micah Parsons. The real key, though, is stopping Josh Allen. Will he play like an athlete who can throw, or a quarterback who is an athlete? (Better hope for the former.) And does he have revenge on his mind? Time to talk some defense.

Thanks to Aaron Donald, today's defensive tackles aren't the space eaters they used to be. They're trying to get to the quarterback. Can the Cowboys use their ground game to take advantage of the Bills' defensive linemen keeping their pad level high? Will it be more difficult to win if they don't commit to the run this week? Also, going to Buffalo means playing outside in the cold. Can that really be a factor in the game? Y-y-y-yes.

The Cowboys finally won a big game, defeating the rival Eagles handily in a showdown between division powers. So how we feeling? Is this team ready to battle for the NFC crown? Do the players believe now? Are they ready to take down San Francisco? And Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP level. Is this just a hot streak or is this the player we should expect going forward? Has his mental maturity in knowing the game finally matched his physical talent?

No ref talk here. Don't let it go to the judges. Got to knock the man out. So is this a statement game for the defense? Can Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and the gang make a play when they have to? Or is it really about which quarterback makes the fewest mistakes? Let's thrown in a little Load Left story time with Nate as well. Plus, Shannon chats up a Philly fan, a few phone calls and our predictions. Sunday is coming!

So the 49ers found success against Philadelphia by not necessarily going after sacks, but rather focusing on containment of quarterback Jalen Hurts. Can the Cowboys duplicate their success? To do so, can they sustain coverage longer in the secondary? Or should they turn Micah Parsons loose while the rest of the line contains? Also, just what are the mechanics of the Tush Push? We're talking rugby, folks!

Are these birds about to get cooked? Jesse has some bold predictions about the Cowboys feasting on the Eagles secondary, but there's also that little matter of Philadelphia's front four. How can the Dallas offensive line keep things in order? Get them moving side to side, says our resident expert Nate. And can the Cowboys take advantage of a weak linebacking corps? How often should they run the ball? Time to talk our offense vs. their defense.

We present to you … Philadelphia. That's all these Cowboys players should need. No rah-rah speeches from the coaches, no outside motivation. Just how do you prepare, how do you perform when their players are equal or better? Who has the advantage? The Eagles need to win to keep control, Dallas needs to win to gain control. As Coach Johnson used to tell Nate and his teammates, nothing else matters now in December.

The Eagles' loss last night means a win for us! So do the Cowboys benefit because Philadelphia had to play a physical game against the 49ers while Dallas they had three days off? Maybe not. So do the Cowboys have to be a physical team too? No, but they do have to do what they do to the max. Rock with what you got, you know. Plus, what happens when a dirty play happens. Oh, the stories they can tell (and will).

The defense may have struggled against the Seahawks, but no worries. Dak Prescott put the Cowboys on his back and carried them to a win. And about that defense, despite the interception, it was a rough game for DaRon Bland. What adjustments did Dan Quinn make to get things back on track? We saw some fiery play out there (looking at you, Jake Ferguson), so let's get some fiery talk going on this Victory Friday!

The Cowboys have an interesting matchup tomorrow in a Seahawks team that has one of the best receiving corps in the NFL and probably the best secondary. With the Eagles looming, is there any risk of looking past Seattle? Plus, the latest on the Shaq Leonard courtship, Aaron Rodgers jumping on the Dak Prescott bandwagon, a locker room bug going around and, oh yeah, a guaranteed prediction from Jesse.

Every free agent wants to be courted, which is exactly what Dallas is doing with Shaq Leonard right now. But do they really need him? You bet. Also, as the Cowboys enter the tough part of their schedule, let's take a look at where they sit in the playoff picture. Can they still take the division? Or is fifth place all but locked up? And can they get over this longstanding playoff hump?

Is Shaq Leonard the missing piece? Maybe not, but he can help. Plus, looking back at another blowout for the Cowboys, will they keep this aggressive offensive approach when they start facing better teams? Speaking of which, lot of talk about the tough schedule in December, but does it really start now against Seattle? And hey, it's time for Dak Prescott and DaRon Bland to get the recognition they deserve!

Let's kick things off with some holiday talk as the boys share some of their memories being with the Cowboys on Turkey Day. But there's plenty of football to discuss as well, including Jesse breaking down just what goes into those scripted plays that coaches start every game with. There's more to it than you may think. Plus, what plays are working best for this team (as Nate asks where's the lead draw)? Happy Thanksgiving!

The Eagles just keep finding a way to win, so are the Cowboys now playing for the first wild card spot? Regardless, it starts with taking care of business against the Commanders. What should we expect from quarterback Sam Howell? Reception or interception, he's going to keep slinging it. But is running back Brian Robinson the real threat? And, uh-oh, CeeDee Lamb has got a bum ankle. Time to worry?

Jimmy Johnson is going into the Cowboys Ring of Honor and our man Nate happily shares his memories of playing for the Hall of Fame coach, including what they both really cared about – winning. Plus, the game against the Panthers was close for most of the day, which is how it usually goes in the NFL. Hey, they took care of business, though. But, oh my, there was nothing routine about the DaRon Band pick-six.

The Cowboys are entering their stretch of three games in 12 days. Since the toughest of those is that third matchup, are the coaches making plans now to perhaps rest guys in this first one, which is the easiest? Do they game plan any differently in an effort to keep players rested and ready? Plus a grab-bag of Friday topics from callers (hair color in Germany?), our predictions and more. It's a Friday fun day, for sure.

Dallas is facing Carolina quarterback Bryce Young this weekend, this year's No. 1 pick. But are the Panthers using him the right way? Or are they setting him up for future failure? Also, the Cowboys are facing another bad team. Does this really help them prepare for when they have to face opponents like the Eagles? What should they work on now to be ready later? And, oh yeah, is Micah Parsons headed for a prove-it game?

It's a blocking clinic on today's show as Nate gives a detailed breakdown of zone blocking vs. man blocking. So which scheme is better for the current offensive line? How about for the team's running backs? Are they best when they put their foot in the ground and go? And would the Cowboys rather face a 3-4 defense or a 4-3? Plu, is there a play to beat every defensive alignment? You about to learn!

With Leighton Vander Esch now out for the season, are the linebackers going to be able to hold up against the better, more physical teams? Markquese Bell has been good, but does he have the size? With that, Micah Parsons has been playing more linebacker and he doesn't sound real thrilled about it. He can impact a game from anywhere, so is he bringing the right attitude to the situation?

The Cowboys completely dominated the Giants, but because New York is such a bad team, how much can we actually take away from it? Do they have to win the next three (or five) to really make it mean something? And Dak Prescott is as hot as they get. What changed? Is he finally comfortable with the system? Plus, CeeDee Lamb said he's the best receiver in the NFL now. Is he right? Regardless, got to love that swagger!

So if the Cowboys don't beat the struggling Giants by double-digits on Sunday, is it a bad day? And is the Eagles upcoming schedule that tough? Won't they be favored in at least two of them? Also, one caller asks if they should use Hunter Luepke in short-yardage and goal-line situations? He's bigger … but is he better? Plus, how would you grade Mike McCarthy's offense through the first half of the season? Oh, hey, it's the head coach's birthday. What are we getting him?

Really no way to sugarcoat it … the Giants are bad. So how do the Cowboys stay focused? Got to have some dogs on your team. But what if one of those dogs, Tyron Smith, no longer practices during the week? Will that mess with his timing come game day? Does it affect his teammates? Do the details get lost? After all, the only way they lose is if they beat themselves.

With the Cowboys heavily favored to roll over the banged-up Gaints, can they use this matchup to work on things? Maybe get the running game going, which might include giving Rico Dowdle more carries? Or should they try making some changes along the offensive line? If not, can they at least get some help for Terence Steele? The pharmacy is coming to town on Sunday. Time to get right.

When are the Cowboys going to win one of these good games? When will doubt stop creeping in? Can the switch be flipped? Because if you're not learning through winning, you won't learn through losing. Plus, Nate and Jesse look back at their own careers and share who their mentors were, the teammates who really helped them become NFL players (and their answers might surprise you).

The small things matter. Like challenging the placement of the ball, kicking it out of bounds, dropping passes, getting slapped with penalties and on and on. Dak Prescott played championship level football and the defense largely held the Eagles in check, but in the end, they couldn't get the job done. Why in the biggest games, do the Cowboys always seem to come up short?

The crew is joined by special guest Nick Eatman to discuss this Week 9 matchup and make their predictions for Cowboys vs. Eagles.

Speed is always good when it's going in the right direction, and the Cowboys have plenty of it. But what does that mean, and how do they use it to attack the Eagles' potent offense? Can they use the stunt to get Micah Parsons one-on-one battles in the pass rush? Plus, A.J. Brown will be the toughest receiver they've faced, but is it the run game that really needs to be shut down?