The Cowboys’ defense is better this year. Brandon Carr, unfortunately, is the same.
For a $50 million free agent, you’d expect consistency to be a positive. But with the Cowboys’ No. 1 cornerback it’s an average, non-impactful negative.
He’s not horrendous. You don’t see the back of his No. 39 trailing receivers into end zones on a weekly basis. He just doesn’t make plays. Plays that stop a drive. Plays that turn momentum. Plays that … well, matter.
Without Sean Lee, this defense doesn’t have a star. But it should have a clear-cut best player. For reasons we can’t really explain - other than a dreadful overestimation of his talent - Carr just isn’t that guy. Orlando Scandrick is a better cornerback, and that’s a shame.
Carr has been the Cowboys’ highest-paid cornerback since 2012. Quick, rattle off his signature plays.
Right, there was the interception and return inside the 5 that won the overtime game against the Steelers in ’12. And there’ve been two interception returns for touchdowns, in a rout of the Eagles in ’12 and the clincher in a season-opening win over the Giants in ’13.
But since? Nada. Carr hasn’t picked off a pass this year and suddenly he’s gone 16 games without one. And, really, I can’t remember when he was close. Think about that. Cowboys’ opponents have thrown 989 passes since one was intercepted by Carr.
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He doesn’t surrender an inordinate amount of big plays, evidenced by allowing just four touchdowns. But his lack of big plays – amazingly, only three pass breakups – isn’t coming close to balancing the scales.
The Cowboys have been good this season. But them to make the playoffs, Carr has to play better.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
