QB Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys was stumped. After Sunday’s 33-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, a straightforward inquiry about what the players did for coach Mike McCarthy elicited a blank expression from a guy owner Jerry Jones referred to as the best leader the franchise has ever had and who typically has the appropriate words and gestures for every scenario. McCarthy had just finished his best hour as the Cowboys coach, according to Jones. Four days after suffering such severe stomach discomfort that he had to have an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday, McCarthy led the team to its largest victory of the nearly four-year tenure. It took him till Thursday to leave the hospital, and it took him until Friday to return.
When McCarthy rallied the players for the locker room pep talk following the game, they did not acknowledge his agony or their ability to endure it. “We didn’t,” Prescott responded. You are aware of his ease and speed. Chop, chop, chop. We dissected it. You know, we still have time. We will include it. Prescott then attempted to turn it into a joke. “Game balls are being given out for appendicitis now? For healing?,” he smiled and inquired rhetorically. “Today was much like any other game day. I am aware, of course, that he recently underwent surgery. He is a strong individual. I am aware that I gave him a hard time earlier in the week and gave him a chance to prove it. He very certainly
The fact that it seemed like a typical game for McCarthy and the Cowboys was perhaps the greatest compliment to him. It was represented by the Cowboys’ lack of celebration of him as they were so focused on winning. McCarthy would not accept anything less. “No problems. Really, all I wanted to do was contribute,” McCarthy remarked. “As always, I just wanted to make sure that I was ready. I admit that today I was a little anxious about it. Everybody is a creature of habit. You know, there are times when you miss time during these typical seven-day workweeks, but I was able to make it up. The fact that I was able to get more sleep than usual is, I believe, the nicest aspect about it. However,
That came from an ordinary week. Even though he persevered, the surgery and standing on his feet for over three hours during the game caused him pain and soreness. McCarthy said that he felt more anxious than usual before the game. And he started doing that while driving to the stadium.
