The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Cowboys Offense On Fire To Start Season, Should Cowboys Hire Belichick? Did Dallas Win Parsons Trade? Dak Has Been Underrated
Date: October 16, 2025
Guests: Matt Mosley (Host, The Doomsday Podcast)
Host: Colin Cowherd

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Colin Cowherd welcomes Matt Mosley to dissect the state of the Dallas Cowboys—delving into their offensive resurgence under Brian Schottenheimer, the ramifications of the Micah Parsons trade, the long-standing enigma of Jerry Jones's leadership, and how Dak Prescott’s perception has shifted. The conversation spans deep roster analysis, the Cowboys' prospects in a weak NFC East, quarterback legacies, Jerry’s fraught media relationship, the potential for Dallas to lure Bill Belichick, and the broader context of coaching moves in college football.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Cowboys Offense: The Schottenheimer Effect

• With CD Lamb sidelined and offensive line in transition, the Cowboys offense is thriving beyond expectations ("cooking") under Brian Schottenheimer:
  • Matt Mosley: "They're getting more people involved. The running game looks better, like what they're doing with their tight ends... Ferguson didn't have a touchdown all last season. He's got, like, four in the last four weeks" (04:49).
  • Pickens's emergence: Pickens has stepped up, playing into a big contract and performing as a No. 1 receiver in Lamb’s absence.
  • Innovation on offense: The offense is seen as more inventive and flexible compared to the McCarthy era (05:14).

Dak Prescott: Generational Underappreciation

• Both commentators agree Dak is having possibly his best season, displaying efficiency and leadership with limited resources:
  • Cowherd: "There's not a quarterback in the league playing more consistently and throwing the ball better than Dak right now" (08:16).
  • Mosley emphasizes the parallels between Dak and Tony Romo—both defined by playoff letdowns, but statistically excellent and undervalued due to the lack of postseason success (17:35).
  • The burden of playing "shortstop for the Yankees"—Cowboys QB equals intense scrutiny and higher standards (13:47).

The Micah Parsons Trade: Immediate Pain, Possible Long-Term Gain

• Cowherd compares it to the Kobe/Shaq split, suggesting Dallas could benefit by using two first-round picks to rebuild its defense, even if short-term optics are painful:
  • "Dallas long term is better without Micah. I just think you're going to lose this trade, because Green Bay is going to win playoff games and you're going to look bad" (07:11).
  • Mosley provides a behind-the-scenes perspective, noting the local blowback and lingering resentment over how the trade (and negotiations) soured Parsons: "Jerry tried to make Micah look like a guy who was confused and didn't understand the business... I think both sides kind of embarrassed each other and then they moved on" (33:44–35:51).

Jerry Jones: An Unchanging Franchise Figure

• Cowherd probes Jerry’s unique status in Dallas post-Mark Cuban and how he shapes media and team dynamics; the media now treats Jerry with amusement and acceptance rather than reverence or hostility:
  • Mosley: "I think the media is just at this point going through the motions. They know he's still the center of everything. It's kind of humorous... The head coach almost has to wait to take the podium 'til Jerry’s thing is finished" (11:46).
• The owner’s need for relevance keeps the franchise in perpetual motion, even if not always on the path to a championship.

Defensive Dysfunction: No Easy Fix

• The Cowboys' defense is described as "horrific" and nearly unfixable with current personnel; likely on their third defensive coordinator in three years:
  • Mosley: "They don't have a linebacker that can make a tackle... This makes Rob Ryan look like he knows what he's doing" (08:18–10:29).

Coaching Carousel: Should Dallas Pursue Belichick?

• Cowherd floats the "crazy" idea of hiring Bill Belichick, recognizing his poor fit with Jerry’s style and personnel demands:
  • Mosley dismisses the idea: "I think he's embarrassed himself, and I think he's hurt his credibility so bad. He hasn't damaged his legacy... Jerry cannot function in a world with a head coach like that" (52:19–53:49).
  • The real issue is the inability to hire/retain effective defensive coordinators.

Quarterback Legacies & The NFC East

• Cowboys compared to the Packers (30 years of great QB play with little hardware), with Dallas now entering its own 20-year stretch without a Super Bowl or even NFC title game.
• Despite talented quarterbacking, Dallas is defined by falling short -- and competitive landscape makes their solid offense not enough with a collapsing defense.
  • Mosley: "Cowboys are entering year 20 of tremendous quarterback play and have nothing to show for it... Cowboys have zero [titles]. And not even an NFC title game" (10:30-11:04).
• Critique of NFC East: it's so weak that even an average defense could have made Dallas a real contender this year.

Dak Prescott’s Hall of Fame Case

• Cowherd suggests Dak’s football intelligence and ability to "win 10 plus games" virtually every year is Hall of Fame caliber—even with shifting cast around him (13:47–15:59).
  • Mosley: "He's had the exact same career as Stafford, but he didn’t get the Super Bowl... So he's always held to a higher standard" (17:35–19:44).

National & College Football Detours (Texas & Texas A&M)

• Arch Manning’s scrutiny at Texas: Massive local coverage, but he’s winning over teammates even if not fans/media (26:27).
  • Memorable Mosley note: “The best thing I can hear about Arch is his teammates absolutely seem to love him... When a team's going poorly and a quarterback's going poorly, you start to hear whispers... And that's not happening in Austin” (27:22).
• Texas A&M (under Mike Elko) is emerging as a national contender thanks to dominant offensive and defensive line play (44:39–46:00).

Nostalgic and Coaching Talk: From Eli & the Mannings to Future Hires

• Insight into Eli Manning’s early Giants struggles, with Tiki Barber undermining him, contrasted with his genuine humility and unshakeable reputation (29:14-31:10).
• Discussion of Jason Garrett as a never-again NFL head coach but potentially a strong college coach, especially in high-academics or “non-traditional Ivy” programs (55:14–58:00).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dak’s evolution:

  "We're probably in chapter 11... Dak, if he is upright, will win 10 plus games...[he’s] lost hall of Fame talent, and it's rarely been replaced by hall of Fame talent."
  — Colin Cowherd (13:47)

• On Jerry Jones's control:

  "The head coach almost has to...wait to take the head coach to the podium until Jerry's thing is finished...There would be 45 to 70 people gathered around Jerry"
  — Matt Mosley (11:46)

• On the defense:

  "This makes Rob Ryan look like he knows what he's doing."
  — Matt Mosley (10:20)

• On the Parsons trade:

  "I think his feelings are hurt and I think Jerry tried to make him look bad. And Jerry embarrassed him and Jerry embarrassed the agent."
  — Matt Mosley (35:52)

• On Belichick to Dallas:

  "I think he's embarrassed himself...Jerry cannot function in a world with a head coach like [Belichick]."
  — Matt Mosley (52:19)

• On Manning family humility:

  "Eli may be the most...A Louisiana kid goes to New York and for like 20 years, completely—only Jeter maybe handled the press better."
  — Colin Cowherd (28:10)

• On NFC East mediocrity:

  "This could have been a year with a league average defense...Cowboys could have a great shot of winning this division. That's how bad the division looks right now."
  — Matt Mosley (05:06)

• On coaching fits:

  "Coaching personality matters a lot as a college coach. It matters not one bit as a pro coach..."
  — Colin Cowherd (55:50)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Cowboys offense revival / Schottenheimer effect: 03:26 – 05:51
• Micah Parsons trade analysis: 05:51 – 08:18; revisit at 32:17 – 39:57
• Dak Prescott’s 2025 performance & legacy: 07:33 – 19:44
• Jerry Jones and Dallas media: 10:29 – 13:47
• The Hall of Fame debate for Dak: 13:47 – 19:44
• Belichick to Dallas speculation: 50:32 – 53:49
• Cowboys defensive issues / DC merry-go-round: 08:18 – 10:29; 53:52 – 55:14
• Arch Manning & Texas football: 24:50 – 29:03
• Eli Manning’s early years: 29:13 – 31:10
• Texas A&M’s breakthrough season: 44:03 – 46:22
• Jason Garrett's fit as college coach: 55:14 – 58:00

Closing Thoughts

This episode stands out for its balance of critical analysis, insider perspectives, and frank discussion of NFL business. Cowherd and Mosley dissect the Cowboys’ paradox—an offense firing on all cylinders, a defense in disarray, and an owner whose influence is both enduring and confounding. The Micah Parsons trade looms large, presenting a classic “win now or build for later” dilemma set against Jerry Jones’s desire for another title on his terms. Dak Prescott’s narrative may be quietly shifting, but the focus remains on whether Dallas can ever overcome its self-inflicted chaos and return to the sport’s pinnacle.