FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have received plenty of criticism for hiring new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. All of it, however, has come from outside the building here at The Star.
Inside the organization, Schottenheimer is being praised for improving the culture and getting the team on the same page. That sentiment was again echoed Friday night as players past and present gathered for the 35th anniversary Children’s Cancer Fund event in Dallas.
Quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Tony Romo were in attendance, as was current star Dak Prescott. Along with addressing the erroneous rumors surrounding his weight loss and providing a positive update on his health, Dak revealed his early impressions of Schottenheimer as head coach.
"It's not any monumental conversations that are needed to happen, but definitely his direction, the way that he sees this offense going, and the way that he sees the team going," Prescott said. "I think it's clear throughout the team with guys and men that he's hired, the coaches, and the way that he's got the whole building on the same page."
Meanwhile, former Cowboys such as Dez Bryant, Emmitt Smith and Marcus Spears are lukewarm at best on the hiring of Schottenheimer. They believe their former team needed a jolt, not merely a promotion from within that will only provide subtle tweaks from the style of previous coach Mike McCarthy.
Said Dez recently, "It feels like everybody is in a comfort zone, and that’s not what we need. We got the biggest franchise in sports, and we’re acting like we’re this poverty franchise for whatever reason. I think they’re rebuilding, and it sucks. I don’t like the energy, I don’t like what’s going on in the Cowboys organization. We want to win. I’m speaking on behalf of the fans, what’s going on?”