Mike McCarthy regrets his tablet-smashing meltdown on the Cowboys’ sideline on Sunday.
Fox cameras captured the Dallas head coach destroying the device after a failed fourth down in the second quarter of a frustrating 27-21 loss to the Falcons in Atlanta.
“I’m embarrassed by it,” McCarthy said of the incident on Wednesday. “It’s something that at my age, clearly there is no excuse for. That’s not what I represent. I’m embarrassed as the leader of this team. … That was definitely a moment that I wish I had back.”
McCarthy lost his temper after the Dallas offense blew a fourth-and-1 when wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was brought down for a three-yard loss on an end-around.
Dallas would then allow Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins to find wideout Darnell Mooney for a wide-open 36-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-3.
The loss dropped the Cowboys to 3-5 on the season, putting the team 3.5 games back of the Commanders in the NFC East.
“We have five losses and so we clearly understand where that puts us as far as what it will take,” McCarthy said after the game. “We’ve got to get to winning.”
The Cowboys suffered an even bigger blow with the loss of quarterback Dak Prescott, who left the game with a hamstring injury.
Prescott is expected to “miss multiple weeks,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and is being considered for an injury reserve stint, which would keep him out for at least four games.
McCarthy, who was rumored to be on the hot seat last offseason, is in the final season of a five-year deal signed before the 2020 season. Dallas owner Jerry Jones did give McCarthy a vote of confidence after the loss to Atlanta.
The Cowboys host the 6-2 Eagles on Nov. 10 during Week 10