While Dan Quinn and the Dallas Cowboys seemed to part on amicable terms last offseason, it's hard to believe that it doesn't feel personal to some degree. Quinn left to coach a division rival. He poached a bunch of Cowboys defenders. He vaulted the Washington Commanders ahead of the Cowboys in the NFC East standings.
If we're keeping score of who won the breakup, it's hard not to give that one to Quinn.
And if you had any doubts about that, Cowboys and Commanders players alike have given some pretty strong confirmation.
Comparing Dan Quinn, Mike McCarthy and Jerry Jones on the NFLPA Report Cards
Every year, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) conducts an anonymous survey of players on each team to provide organizations with a report card that ranks them in a wide variety of categories. Some of these are as specific (and to fans, sometimes inconsequential) as the quality of the team's nutritionist/dietician. But some are more high-impact, like grading head coaches and ownership.
Dan Quinn sits on top as the highest-graded head coach in the NFL, having received an A+ and best-in-class rankings in a couple of areas.
Now, players seem to generally like their head coaches. Only 12 in the NFL graded out below an A. In fact, Mike McCarthy did receive an A from Cowboys players, and his underlying grades still had him ranked a middling 14th among head coaches.
Cowboys ownership, on the other hand, received a B grade, ranking 18th among 32 teams. That included ranking 23rd in the players feeling that ownership "contributes to a positive team culture" and 25th that ownership is "committed to building a competitive team."
So Jerry Jones, with McCarthy on the hot seat, let the top-graded coach in the NFL leave for a division rival, instead of retaining McCarthy for 2024. McCarthy graded out above average. And Jones then decided to replace McCarthy.
Jones hasn't done much to earn the benefit of the doubt in recent years, and players (who have a lot more knowledge than fans watching from afar) don't have any faith in him either. This whole situation perfectly sums up the dysfunction in Dallas, and the organization should be embarrassed.