After the Dallas Cowboys fell to 2-3 on the season with a 19-16 overtime loss to instate rivals, the Houston Texans, the calls for coach Jason Garrett’s firing grew louder. One play in particular during overtime sparked criticism from fans, media, and more importantly, owner Jerry Jones.
Garrett, 52, is entering his ninth season at the helm for Dallas, but is in danger of not making it to his 10th. BetDSI updated their odds on the prop bet of the first NFL coach to be fired, and Garrett’s name moved to the top of the list. He is a 7/2 favorite to be the canned.
Former top choice, Dirk Koetter, is at 5/1, followed by Bill O’Brien of the Texans, and Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos at 10/1. Koetter has been all over the board. Before the season he began at 12/1, but quickly moved to 5/2. Three weeks ago, after the team had put together a couple of unlikely victories with starting quarterback Jameis Winston suspended, he dropped to 10/1.
BetDSI also has a prop bet that asks “Will Jason Garrett be the Cowboys head coach in 2019?” The bet is currently paying +135 for the yes and -180 for the no.
First NFL Head Coach to Be Fired
Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys +350
Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay +500
Bill O’Brien, Houston +750
Vance Joseph, Denver +750
Hue Jackson, Cleveland +1000
Dan Quinn, Atlanta +1500
Jay Gruden, Washington +3000
Pete Carroll, Seattle +3000
Jon Gruden, Oakland +10000
Andy Reid, Kansas City +20000
Bill Belichick, New England +20000
no coach fired (reg. season) +400
source: BetDSI
Controversial Call Moves Betting Board
Garrett has done a fair share of moving. Three weeks ago he was listed at 20/1. The Sunday night game, though, appears to have been the reason for his ascension to the top of the list.
One play could have been the catalyst. In overtime, the Cowboys faced a fourth and one from Houston’s 42-yard line. Instead of trying to make the three feet and extend the drive, Garrett chose to punt. The Texans drove down the field and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn drilled a 36-yard field goal to win the game.
The obvious questions by the press after the loss was Garrett’s choice not to run a play on fourth down. He defended the decision.
“Yeah, it was a long one,” Garrett said. “You know, we had a 3rd-and-2 and we didn’t make much on it and we just felt like at that point in the game, the way our defense was playing, the idea was to pin them down there.”
Twitter Torches and Pitchforks
The outcry on social media was instant and predictable. Many on Twitter called for Garrett’s firing.
One user was disgusted by the coach’s safe decision making saying, “I bet Jason Garrett waits 30 minutes to swim after eating.”
Another said: “With the most expensive offensive line & the RB he drafted No. 4 overall, Jason Garrett punted on 4th & 1 in OT from the opponent’s 42. Next time Garrett says ‘I don’t know what a conservative offense is,’ someone please give him a hand mirror.”
The one person that matters as far as criticism is Jones. The Cowboys’ owner was not pleased with Garrett’s decision, but also was not overly critical.
“We were being outplayed there, not out-efforted but we were outplayed,” Jones said Sunday. “But it’s time for risk at that particular time. That’s not second-guessing, but we were taking some risk too at certain points in the game.”
The two met on Monday, and Garrett reiterated his position to his boss.
“We talked about the thought process behind that and why we made the decision like that based on how we were playing on defense in particular and what the details of the circumstances were,” Garrett said.
Unless the team goes on a major losing streak, Garrett is probably safe for the rest of the year. Jones has owned the team since 1989, and has only fired one coach midseason, Wade Phillips in 2010 after a 1-7 start.
