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'Old & Stubborn!' Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy Reveals Surgery Timeline

Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy discussed his recent back surgery, including motives and his projected recovery time.

In a twist of irony, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy delivered an injury report on Tuesday night - but about himself as opposed to his players.

The 59-year-old McCarthy underwent back surgery in early May and was unable to attend the Cowboys' rookie minicamp practice sessions as a result. (He did work with the team virtually.)

McCarthy, who helped guide Dallas to its first road playoff victory since 1992 this past season, admitted that he's long dealt with his back issues ... but consistently put it off.

"I’m old and stubborn," McCarthy said, via the Dallas Morning News. "I should have done it quite some time ago. I took it as far as I could take it."

So, why now? Why, with minicamp and OTAs on the schedule, did McCarthy opt to undergo surgery, as opposed to doing it in the spring? He delivered the answer while also sharing a timeline of his recovery ...

"I needed six weeks and was running out of time before (training) camp," McCarthy said. "That’s why I got it done."

With training camp set to begin towards the end of July, McCarthy expects to be a full-go as the Cowboys gear up for another playoff push - this time aiming to go beyond the divisional round for the first time under McCarthy's guidance.

You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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