NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Washington

Cowboys

Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy commented on OC Kellen Moore being a candidate for the Boise State head coaching job. Moore was a highly-successful quarterback at Boise State and it doesn’t take much reading between the lines to come to the conclusion Dallas will be looking for a new play-caller in 2021. 

“As far as Kellen’s potential opportunity, that’s really not for me to speak on,” McCarthy said via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “I think that’s something that we’ll ultimately speak on. I can only tell you that we think the world of Kellen. He’s done an incredible job here. We definitely respect and understand the uniqueness of this opportunity to Boise, himself and his family. I think at the right time, that’s really for Kellen and Boise State to speak on. I’ve probably said too much already, but we think the world of him.”

Eagles

The Eagles started off hot against the Cowboys on Sunday highlighted by a massive deep bomb from second-round QB Jalen Hurts to WR DeSean Jackson. It could have set up Philadelphia for a Cinderella run and a chance to secure a playoff berth in Week 17. But the clock struck midnight in the fourth quarter as Hurts turned the ball over three times, Dallas ran away with the game and the Eagles were eliminated. 

“That failure teaches you a lesson and that pain does nothing but motivate you,” Hurts said via Dave Spadaro of the team’s website. “That pain is going to continue to motivate me and I’m going to be better for it.”

• Eagles HC Doug Pederson said Hurts was playing through some “lower body tightness” that he thinks affected him in the second half. (Tim McManus)
• Pederson said in a radio interview he fully expects to be the coach next year. (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• He added his confidence doesn’t necessarily come from conversations with ownership but from confidence in himself and his track record: “My confidence lies in myself. I know exactly how to get things fixed. We’ve won a lot of games around here, been in the postseason three of the five years I’ve been here.” (Mike Garafolo)
• Pederson added an apology to the fans for the results of 2020: “I sit here today and apologize to the fans. This is not what we expected. It’s not what I expected. …But I know in my heart this is a great place to play, great place to coach.” (Zach Berman)
• Eagles OT Jordan Mailata is in the concussion protocol, while DT Fletcher Cox will be evaluated throughout the week. (Berman)

Giants

• Per SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano, Giants HC Joe Judge said this is the “first week in a while” that they’re going into without health concerns for QB Daniel Jones: “Physically he’s definitely moving in the right direction.”
• Judge has some optimism for TE Evan Engram but added he still has to meet with the doctors. (Vacchiano)
• Judge told reporters OL coach Dave DeGuglielmo has “some autonomy” on the rotation when asked why G Will Hernandez hasn’t been playing as much: “We base everything here on production.” (Zack Rosenblatt)

Washington

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Washington expects QB Alex Smith to return this week to play in Week 17. 
• Washington QB Dwayne Haskins was benched again in Sunday’s loss to the Panthers after coming under fire for violating the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols the previous week: “It was definitely the hardest week of my life. I’m just going to bounce back and move forward, pray and get my life together.” (Nicki Jhabvala)
• It got worse for Haskins, though, as Washington released him on Monday. In a statement to his personal Twitter account, Haskins said he takes “full responsibility for not meeting the standards of a NFL QB & will become a better man & player because of this experience.” (Kimberley Martin)
• Washington will incur $8.6 million in dead money with Haskins’ release, though that figure could drop to $4.3 million if he’s claimed by another team. (Grant Paulsen)
• Washington WR Terry McLaurin has a high ankle sprain, per HC Ron Rivera. He’s in a walking boot and doing as much as he can to return. (Jhabvala)