Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

High-flying Cowboys owner Jerry Jones drops in to once again throw full support behind Mike McCarthy

On Thursday's "First Take" on ESPN, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones dropped into the show in Frisco, Texas via helicopter with Stephen A. Smith. Then he praised his head coach, Mike McCarthy, who many believe is on the hot seat.

“If there is another person on this planet that I thought I could put in [his] spot and do a better job of getting us to the Super Bowl this year, he would be here,” Jones said on ESPN.

McCarthy coached the Packers to a Super Bowl title in the 2010 season. However, McCarthy teams haven't recorded a playoff win since 2017, when his Packers beat the Cowboys. The Cowboys have not won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season.

According to ESPN’s football power index, the Cowboys are the NFL's sixth-best team. The only NFC teams ranked higher are the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

However, injuries on the Cowboys' offense raise concerns. Left tackle Tyron Smith will miss most of the season with a torn left hamstring. Wide receiver Michael Gallup is rehabbing a torn left ACL and won’t be ready for Week 1.

Despite the injuries, Jones remains optimistic. “We’ve got a defense that is probably as strong as we’ve had in years,” Jones said. 

The defense, ranked seventh last season, includes Pro Bowl outside linebacker Micah Parsons and cornerback Trevon Diggs. Perhaps it can take pressure off McCarthy and the offense. 

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