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Emmitt Smith’s Shocking Warning Sends Matt Eberflus’ Cowboys Future Into Chaos

When a Hall of Famer speaks up, you sit up and take notice.
Emmitt Smith sounded a serious warning for the Dallas Cowboys, and by extension, he made the future of head coach Matt Eberflus even murkier.

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Smith didn’t mince words as he addressed the state of Dallas’ defense — particularly the coordinator role. Smith told Brian Schottenheimer it may be time to reassess the current defensive leadership. Smith singled out the lack of optimization of the talent on that side of the ball and made a name for Mike Zimmer — who is currently available — as a “potential valuable asset.” He added he believes there are other coordinators more worthy of the job than the one currently in place.

Smith’s timing is hard to argue with. Under Eberflus, the defense waited until Week 9 to fully activate edge rushers Donovan Ezeiruaku and Jadeveon Clowney — despite clear evidence months earlier that they should have been playing key snaps. Meanwhile, the secondary’s zone coverage is yielding massive cushions and wide open lanes for quarterbacks to pick apart.

As of Week 11, Dallas ranked 31st in defensive EPA and 50.1 % in defensive success rate. Their numbers in dropback EPA, dropback success rate, rushing EPA and rushing success rate all sit near the bottom of the league. Whether passing or running, the Cowboys still don’t have consistent answers.

If there was ever a chance for Eberflus to prove his worth, these final eight games feel like the audition. With major additions such as Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson — and the return of pieces like DeMarvion Overshown and Shavon Revel — the defense finally has the chance to turn the corner. But if business-as-usual continues, it’ll be next to impossible to argue he deserves to stay in the chair.

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Behind Week 11 Win Over Giants, Packers Introduce New Rule After Jets Player Is Shot in the Early Hours of Sunday
Green Bay, WI: In the aftermath of a dramatic Week 11 victory over the New York Giants, the Green Bay Packers made headlines off the field as they became the second team in the NFL to implement a strict curfew rule following the shocking shooting of Jets cornerback Kris Boyd in Midtown Manhattan. Effective immediately, all Packers players are prohibited from being out past midnight. This decision came swiftly in response to growing concerns over player safety beyond the gridiron. 💥 The Shooting That Shook the NFL The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Sunday outside Sei Less, a high-end Asian fusion restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. According to police reports, Kris Boyd, a 29-year-old defensive back currently on injured reserve for the Jets, was shot twice in the abdomen after a verbal altercation escalated outside the venue. Boyd, who has previously played for the Vikings, Cardinals, and Texans, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition. Witnesses said a BMW X8 and a silver Mercedes Maybach fled the scene, while images showed a $300,000 armored Rhino GX SUV parked outside the restaurant. The Jets confirmed Boyd’s involvement but declined further comment, leaving fans and teammates in shock as one of their own fights for his life. 🛑 Packers Respond Swiftly With Midnight Curfew Within hours of the news spreading, the Packers front office held an emergency meeting led by head coach Matt LaFleur and team president Mark Murphy. The result: a new rule delivered via internal memo to all players and staff. “Effective immediately, no member of the active roster, practice squad, or accompanying team personnel may be out in public after 12:00 a.m., regardless of game week, bye week, or off day.” According to sources inside the organization, the decision was unanimous and framed as a necessary step to protect lives before reputations. One coach reportedly told staff, “We’re not taking chances. One night out is not worth a lifetime of regret.” 🧠 NFL at a Crossroads: Freedom vs. Safety Though the Packers’ move mirrors that of the New Orleans Saints who also enacted a similar rule earlier this week, it reignites the league-wide debate: how far is too far when protecting players? So far, the NFL has not issued an official mandate or statement. But with two high-profile teams setting internal restrictions, others may soon follow suit, even at the risk of pushback over personal freedom, autonomy, and locker room culture. 📌 The Bigger Picture Kris Boyd’s tragic situation has turned into a rallying point for teams who recognize the dangers that exist off the field, especially in major cities and nightlife environments. The Packers may have walked away with a hard-earned win against the Giants this week, but the bigger story was written in what they did afterward: taking a stand not for victory but for safety. One gunshot changed everything. One rule could prevent the next headline. The NFL is watching. Who’s next?