The Musers The Podcast: Cowboys Weekly – Post Super Bowl Dissection

Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: George Dunham & Bob Sturm (with references to Gordon Keith)
Episode Focus: A postseason breakdown for Cowboys fans—reacting to the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win, what it means for Dallas, and exploring the emotional landscape of Cowboys’ successes, failures, and legends.

Overview of Episode Theme

The Musers reconvene for their signature combination of wit, nostalgia, and sharp football analysis in the first week after the NFL season closes. Against the backdrop of Seattle’s Super Bowl victory, George and Bob dissect the implications for the Dallas Cowboys, the organization's three-decade title drought, and the complexities surrounding star players, organizational culture, and fandom. The conversation pivots from hard football numbers to reflections on local high school legends, Cowboys history, and the enduring optimism (and frustration) of Cowboys fandom.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The NFL Offseason Begins

• [00:34]–[02:11]
  • The hosts discuss the abrupt void that follows the Super Bowl, noting there are “31 Sundays” until football returns.
  • George muses about NFL’s year-long news cycle, pointing out that only from June to mid-July is there real downtime, joking, “you’re going to have to kid yourself that other things can take the place of the NFL in your hearts.”
  • Both hosts set the stage for an offseason of speculation—“now it’s on to the other stuff.”

2. Seattle Seahawks: The New Champions & Implications for the Cowboys

• [02:11]–[07:42]
  • Seattle’s 29–13 Super Bowl win over the Patriots gives them a second title in four SB appearances since the Cowboys last made one.
  • George lists the 11 NFL teams since 1995 who have won two Super Bowls—none are Dallas.
    • “Eleven different teams have not only won a Super Bowl, but... they’ve won two.” [04:44]
  • Discussion on Seattle’s roster construction: young, cap space flexibility, not loaded with mega-stars.
  • Bob praises Seattle’s youth—only nine players over 30—and potential for a sustained run.

3. DFW Talent Pipeline & "What Ifs" of High School Football

• [07:42]–[12:38]
  • The hosts name-drop DFW legends now in the NFL: Jackson Smith-Njigba, Christian Gonzalez, and reminisce about seeing future stars as high school athletes.
  • Playful challenge for George to become “Mr. High School”—to scout the next Miles Garrett or Kyler Murray:
    • “Here’s my dream... You go to all the high school games... football and basketball and maybe baseball. I want you to be Mr. High School.” – George [08:17]
  • Nostalgia for the surreal talent in Texas with personal anecdotes about watching prospects and regret at missing some legendary prep performances.

4. Super Bowl Analysis: Seattle’s Defensive Masterclass

• [12:41]–[18:13]
  • Praises for Seattle DC Mike Macdonald, with Aidan Durde (ex-Cowboys assistant) as an up-and-comer.
  • Seattle didn’t have a single player over 7 sacks, but collectively overwhelmed the Patriots with creative pressures and blitzes:
    • “They don’t have a single guy with more than seven sacks... but it also makes it impossible to prepare for you.” – George [13:23]
  • The hosts explain that Seattle’s win was less about individual dominance and more about confusion and unpredictability in scheme.
  • Drake May “looked like a second-year quarterback in the Super Bowl with a bad shoulder.” – George [17:06]

5. DeMarcus Lawrence’s Exit and the Cowboys’ Culture Problem

• [18:13]–[27:44]
  • Audio is played from Lawrence’s departure: “I know for sure I’m not going to win a Super Bowl there.” [19:03]
  • The hosts dissect this moment, its resonance for Cowboys fans, and the indictment of the Jones family’s stewardship:
    • “I hope more than anything it’s rattling around in the Jones family’s head. I hope they’re affected by it.” – George [20:06]
    • “They always seem stubbornly married to the success they had in the early 90s as proof of concept that they have done nothing wrong at any point...” – George [21:28]
  • Exploration of how Dallas wastes careers—“all our heroes, Demarcus Ware to DeMarcus Lawrence, have had to go elsewhere to finally win big.”
  • Conversation on organizational inertia, culture, and the lost potential of homegrown stars.

6. Roster Construction: Paying Stars vs. Building Depth

• [30:00]–[45:56]
  • Cowboys’ off-season priorities: Defensive needs, WR George Pickens’ contract, cap management, running back decisions.
  • Tension between paying top-tier skill talent (Dak, CeeDee, Pickens) vs. a “Seahawks model” of 15 good players, not five superstars.
  • Salary numbers cited for current top WRs; debate if Pickens should get tagged, traded, or extended long-term amid risk of personality challenges.
  • “Are you crazy for making your three top paid players quarterback, wide receiver, wide receiver?” – George [40:00]
  • On Pickens: “This is not your prototypical NFL player. That’s where his personality, I think, comes into play.” – Bob [43:07]
  • On trading star WR for an edge rusher: “If I’m going to pay an edge guy 35.5, then it’s Micah Parsons.” – George [48:21]

7. Cowboys’ Defensive Prospects & Free Agency Targeting

• [50:02]–[52:50]
  • Draft and FA plans: Use two first-round picks on defense, pursue “value” players like Philadelphia LB Nakobe Dean or S Reed Blankenship due to new DC Christian Parker’s Philly ties.
  • Cautious optimism about plugging holes affordably rather than chasing whales.

8. The Enduring Legacy of Cowboys Legends: Staubach & The Arc of Fandom

• [53:58]–[67:53]
  • Emotional nostalgia as hosts discuss older Cowboys icons—Roger Staubach, the “Dirty Dozen” draft.
  • Contemplate the fading public memory of Staubach:
    • “Do you realize... people listening to us right now... it may be leaving—everybody gets forgotten in history at a certain point... a literal superhero in this city is probably well past anybody under 50 knowing what made him special.” – George [61:36]
  • Advocacy for preserving history—“If you’re a Cowboys fan... watch 'A Football Life: Roger Staubach.'”
  • Bob credits Staubach for his innate optimism—“Roger made me think anything was possible.” [68:46]
  • Proposal for a watch-along episode featuring the Staubach documentary and perhaps an interview with Roger himself.
  • Big-picture reflection on how football fandom gets shaped by legends and moments.

9. Tribute to Superfan Carolyn Price

• [70:56]–[73:22]
  • A heartfelt nod to the late Carolyn Price, described as “maybe the biggest Cowboy fan of all time,” revered for her unwavering support through thick and thin.
    • “Any guy who ever put on a Cowboys uniform knew who she was and they would recognize her and appreciate her... Boy, did she love her Cowboys.” – George [72:59]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 03:03 | “Six NFC teams have won two Super Bowls... Denver, Ravens, Steelers, Chiefs, Patriots for the AFC. Eleven different teams have not only won a Super Bowl, but... they’ve won two.” | George | | 08:17 | “Here’s my dream... You go to all the high school games... football and basketball and maybe baseball. I want you to be Mr. High School.” | George | | 19:03 | “I know for sure I’m not going to win a Super Bowl there.” | DeMarcus Lawrence (clip) | | 20:06 | “I hope more than anything it’s rattling around in the Jones family’s head. I hope they’re affected by it.” | George | | 21:28 | “They always seem stubbornly married to the success they had in the early 90s as proof of concept that they have done nothing wrong at any point...” | George | | 40:00 | “Are you crazy for making your three top paid players quarterback, wide receiver, wide receiver?” | George | | 68:46 | “Roger made me think anything was possible.” | Bob | | 72:59 | “Boy, did she love her Cowboys. Boy, was she faithful... these are my babies.” | George | | 61:36 | “Do you realize... a literal superhero in this city is... well past anybody under 50 knowing what made him special.” | George |

Segment Timestamps

• 00:34–02:11 — Entering the football void & NFL off-season rhythms
• 02:11–07:42 — Seahawks’ win contextualized; Cowboys’ isolation from elite
• 07:42–12:38 — DFW’s high school talent and nostalgia for scouting legends
• 12:41–18:13 — Seahawks’ defensive performance; coaching kudos
• 18:13–27:44 — DeMarcus Lawrence’s blunt exit and critique; Cowboys’ cultural reckoning
• 30:00–47:00 — Offseason priorities, roster construction, WR contract talk
• 50:02–52:50 — Defensive upgrades, cheap FA targets, and LB options
• 53:58–67:53 — Honoring Cowboys legends—how the legacy persists/fades
• 70:56–73:22 — Remembering superfan Carolyn Price

Closing Tone

The episode ends with mutual affirmation of the depth and heart of their conversations. As always, The Musers shade their measured criticism and wistful nostalgia with hope: ever the optimists, battered but unbowed, seeking not just wins, but meaning from Cowboys football—their “shot of absurdity, insight, and unforgettable banter” for fans old and new.

For New Listeners:

This episode balances hard football analysis with warmth, humor, and a reverence for both current events and the legends who shaped decades of Cowboys culture. Even if you missed the game—or the last 30 seasons—The Musers’ chemistry and storytelling will catch you up and pull you into “football friendship” and DFW sports tradition.