The Cowboys’ Offseason Is Here Early | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

It’s Wednesday, December 17th, and Norm Hitzges is already treating the Cowboys like it’s January—because let’s be honest, they’ve been playing for “next year” for a while now. Norm lays out the real offseason problem: this team can score like a contender (historically so), yet they’re wandering toward mediocrity because the defense couldn’t stop a parade—much less an NFL offense. And now comes the big-money question: do you spend $30M a year to keep George Pickens… or do you use that money (and maybe even the Trayvon Diggs cap savings) to build a defense that doesn’t actively ruin your weekend? Then we pivot to college football, where head coaches are getting fired like it’s a Black Friday sale—because one man (Kurt Cignetti) showed the entire sport what a fast turnaround looks like. And now every “big program” is staring at Indiana like: Wait… y’all did WHAT? Sarcasm? Yes. Numbers? Also yes. Existential dread? Of course. Welcome back to Just Wondering. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 – Cowboys Offseason Decisions + Why College Coaches Are Getting Fired 00:00:29 – Fluent Financial Sponsor Read 00:01:29 – The Cowboys Offseason Has Already Begun (Yes, Really) 00:02:18 – Play the Kids: Who Needs Reps Over the Final Games 00:03:03 – Tyler Guyton, Flournoy, Mingo & The “What Do We Actually Have?” Tour 00:03:45 – Protect Javonte Williams: Reduce the Workload Before You Break Him 00:04:33 – The Cowboys Can Score… So Why Are They Still Mid? 00:04:56 – The Defense Can’t Stop Anything (Norm’s Example Is… Vivid) 00:05:17 – Pinball Football Returns: Ding Ding Ding, Everyone Scores 00:06:02 – 14 Opponent Scores in Two Games + Only Four Punts Forced 00:06:38 – Takeaways: The Cowboys Are Down There With the Truly Miserable Teams 00:06:56 – Defense Wins Titles… So This Is a Problem 00:07:45 – Is It Eberflus… Or Is It the Players? (The Harder Answer) 00:08:31 – The Diggs Decision: Cap Space vs Creating Another Hole 00:09:17 – Defensive Shopping List: Safeties, Corners, Linebackers, Ends… All of It 00:10:12 – The Pickens Question: Jerry Wants Him Back—But At $30M? 00:11:00 – Would Pickens Money Be Better Spent Fixing the Defense? 00:11:37 – The Bottom Line: Cowboys Don’t Need More Offense—They Need a Defense 00:12:27 – Bob’s Steak & Chop House Sponsor Read 00:13:13 – Full Moon Healing Balm Sponsor Read 00:13:49 – College Football Coach Firings: This Is Not Normal 00:14:56 – The Alleged Culprit: Kurt Cignetti and the Turnaround Blueprint 00:15:52 – Stop #1: Indiana (PA) — Instant Winner 00:16:52 – Stop #2: Elon — Another Flip 00:17:52 – Stop #3: James Madison — Monster Built 00:18:57 – Indiana’s “Before” Stats: Historically Bad, Truly Grim 00:19:48 – Indiana’s “After” Stats: Wins, Big Ten Title, Heisman, Playoff Bye 00:20:31 – Why Everyone’s Firing Coaches: They’re Hunting the Next Cignetti 00:21:14 – Sponsor Close: Fluent Financial + Bob’s 00:21:36 – Wrap-Up: Follow, Share, and Keep Wondering Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw  Instagram: sunsetloungedfw Tiktok: sunsetloungedfw X: SunsetLoungeDFW FB: Sunset Lounge DFW