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Cowboys Reveal Kellen Moore vs. Mike McCarthy 'Philosophical Differences' - Report

Were "power struggle'' issues between Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore the reason for a "mutual parting''?

FRISCO - Were there issues between Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy and his offensive coordinator Kellen Moore? Something ranging between "things weren't great'' and (duh-dum!) a "power struggle''?

The truth from inside The Star? The national media is giving itself an aneurysm trying to figure out a puzzle that is being complicated by their own figurin'.

Respected journalistic colleague Albert Breer of SI has offered this ... 

"Things weren't great between him and Mike McCarthy at the end."

Disrespected shock-jock slappy Skip Bayless has offered this ...

"It's clear Mike McCarthy won the power struggle with Kellen Moore.''

Please allow us to step in.

The move that allowed Moore to leave Dallas after four seasons (and to immediately land the coordinator's job with the Chargers) was obviously a result of "things not being great.'' Everybody who listened to or read about the CowboysSI.com press conference question to McCarthy about Moore's job security knows that.

Now along comes COO Stephen Jones reportedly noting "philosophical differences,'' which is newsworthy ... but ... of course, right? Of course they did, or McCarthy wouldn't have left Moore dangling in "He's Being Evaluated Like All the Other Assistants'' territory.

Moments later, McCarthy pretty much hosted a parade when we learned that Dan Quinn was staying.

And magically, no "Evaluation Like All the Other Assistants'' was needed for DQ.

Here's where Breer's facts - mundane though they might be - are accurate: "I don't know if it was they were both play-callers by trade or if it was the way that Dak Prescott played,'' he said. :But ... "What I do know is that arrangement that I think had worked OK but had its ups and downs over three years had sort of run its course." 

Yes. The Cowboys' offense had its "ups and downs.'' The arrangement "had run its course.'' No "power struggle'' and no hatred, for had there been those two issues intertwined in the drama ...

McCarthy wouldn't have sat on the planned Moore dismissal, allowing him the face-saving move to the Chargers.

Going back three years - and knowing McCarthy has said in the past about never wanting to relinquish control of an offense - a do-over might've had Kellen work as the coordinator but not as the play-caller. But that's not a "power struggle''; that's football life. And now McCarthy will call the shots offensively in Dallas ... and why?

Mostly because we should dump the "struggle.'' He's the head coach. He's got the "power.''


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