Well, now we know Jerry Jones' decision: The Dallas Cowboys are sticking with Mike McCarthy.

Despite the Dallas Morning News' report on the head coach meeting with Jones on Thursday or Friday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the news on Wednesday night. 

That sets up the table for a highly dramatic 2024, as McCarthy will be coaching on a contract year, something that's not new when compared to the way Jones has done things since he hired Jason Garrett as HC. Garrett was asked to coach during a contract year twice and now McCarthy gets the same treatment.

The Cowboys had a tough decision to make regarding their head coach for two obvious reasons: 

1. They've been one of the most successful teams in the regular season over the last three years, with their 36 wins being the second most in the NFL since 2021. They had 12 wins in each of those years.
2. But… that's translated into no postseason success beyond the Wild Card Round and that includes the latest humiliating defeat to the 9-8 Green Bay Packers.

Last weekend, they became the first team in NFL history with three consecutive 12-win seasons to have no Super Bowl appearances to show for it in a three year span. 

So what now for the Cowboys? 

Uncertainty beyond the 2024 NFL season is at an all-time high as the Cowboys now have a head coach on a one-year deal and a quarterback in Dak Prescott on a one-year deal. 

The front office faces a key decision now: Do they extend the signal-caller who just became Second-Team All-Pro yet disappointed in the playoffs for cap relief? Or do they roll the dice and make it a last rodeo for these two?

If they opt for the latter, which I'd argue as the unlikeliest scenario, the Cowboys would be dangerously playing with fire. 

As much as Prescott deserves the criticism coming his way for his lackluster postseason performance vs. Green Bay, not extending him could position the Cowboys on a fast-track to QB limbo in 2025 and beyond.

Remember, Prescott holds all the leverage in contract negotiations with a $60M cap hit and a no-trade, no-tag clause. Speaking of his cap hit, not extending him would give the Cowboys a nightmare situation to put together a serious contender for next season.

In other words, the front office now faces an obvious decision to make regarding Prescott and that's signing him to an extension. As much as fans are frustrated with not reaching the Super Bowl in almost 30 years now, hitting hard reset on everything next year would likely set the Cowboys back to losing-season territory. 

The table has been set for a Prescott extension. Buckle up, Cowboys Nation. It's going to be a long offseason as Dallas runs it back with almost the same recipe as in 2023. 

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Ouch.