Cam Newton might not understand why ESPN talks about the “irrelevant” Dallas Cowboys, but Joe Buck perfectly understands why.
Taking issue with how First Take discusses America’s Team is one thing. But understanding why the Cowboys remain relevant in an otherwise lackluster season? That’s a different story.
To Buck, the Cowboys will always matter. As ESPN’s Monday Night Football voice and former NFL on Fox lead announcer, Buck’s perspective on the Cowboys’ perennial media magnetism matters.
During a recent appearance on the SI Media Podcast with Jimmy Traina, Buck explained why Dallas’ popularity transcends their record.”
This week’s slate includes a 1 p.m. ET matchup between the Cowboys and Falcons in Atlanta. Perhaps most telling of the Cowboys’ recent struggles, this game ends a 21-game streak of broadcasts featuring Dallas on a network’s top crew — Fox’s top team or any prime-time crew. This week, Adam Amin and Greg Olsen, Fox’s No. 2 team, will handle the game, signaling a small but significant drop from the Cowboys’ usual high-profile slots.
The Cowboys head into Atlanta on a two-game skid after losses to Detroit and San Francisco, which has only fueled debates about their relevance.
Still, Buck isn’t buying into the “irrelevant” label.
“They’re always relevant; you can’t say they’re not relevant,” Buck told Traina. “They’re always relevant.”
Buck stuck by the narrative that the Cowboys’ brand keeps them front and center, no matter their record.
Quality football? Maybe not.
Compelling TV? Absolutely
“Good TV, baby,” Buck added. “Good TV.”
They might not be good TV in the sense that you’re watching a competent NFL franchise, but the ratings tell a different story. And Buck asked Traina about last Sunday night’s rating, knowing full well the Cowboys-49ers drew an average of 23.9 million viewers and that the game was the most-watched Week 8 game on record for NBC.
“So, I’m in the business of trying to get the most people to watch,” Buck continued. And I just remember back in the ‘90s when I was doing the Game of the Week and Mark McGwire was on the Cardinals, and I would see him daily, and he’d be like, ‘Oh, who you doing this week on the Saturday Game of the Week? Let me guess. Yankees–Red Sox?’
“I’m like, ‘Yeah, we are. You know why? Because people watch and the rating is better than if we did fill-in-the-blank, even your team, Mark. Even your team.’ Is there an East Coast bias? Absolutely.”
