It’s another Cowboys postseason press conference, which means plenty of smiles, sound bites, long explanations… and absolutely no real change.

In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges breaks down Jerry Jones’ latest round of optimism, focusing on the Micah Parsons trade, the financial gymnastics that come with it, and Jerry’s ongoing belief that he can “bust the budget” his way back to a Super Bowl. Norm questions whether trading elite defensive talent while handing out massive contracts elsewhere actually solves anything — or just pushes problems further down the road.

Norm also takes aim at the Cowboys’ strategic contradictions: a defense everyone admits was bad, a running game that actually worked, and an offensive approach that somehow ignored it. If your defense can’t stop anyone, shouldn’t your offense help protect it? Apparently not in Dallas.

Then it’s on to the numbers — the strange, fascinating, and occasionally absurd stats from this weekend’s football games. From Carolina winning a division while being outscored, to San Francisco thriving without a pass rush, to Jacksonville’s late-season dominance and the one number that decides whether Houston wins or loses, Norm connects trends, history, and logic in a way only he can.

Dreams, data, and disappointment — just another week in Cowboys country.

JWw-NH SL Ep 84

Chapters

00:00:00 – Another Cowboys postseason press conference begins

00:01:29 – Smiles, sound bites, and decades of disappointment

00:02:12 – The Micah Parsons trade and why the math doesn’t work

00:03:47 – Paying receivers instead of elite pass rushers

00:05:08 – Jerry picks the next defensive coordinator (again)

00:06:46 – “Busting the budget” and pushing money down the road

00:08:14 – Who pays if this plan fails?

00:09:02 – Protecting a bad defense with smarter offense

00:09:47 – The Cowboys ran well… so why didn’t they run more?

00:10:24 – Passing too much and wearing down the defense

00:11:08 – Jerry the dreamer vs. Jerry the general manager

00:11:53 – Four Super Bowls, ten years, and reality setting in

00:13:35 – What a real GM’s job actually looks like

00:14:26 – Sponsors, healing balm, and practical solutions

00:16:29 – Nick Saban’s massive coaching tree

00:17:21 – Carolina wins a division while being outscored

00:18:04 – Eric Dowdle’s bizarrely identical seasons

00:19:01 – San Francisco wins big without a pass rush

00:19:53 – Jacksonville’s dominant eight-game streak

00:20:49 – Old rivalries and playoff history

00:21:43 – The magic number for Houston: 20

00:22:52 – Final thoughts and wondering what’s next

Today on Just Wondering, Norm does what every sports fan secretly wants to do — he makes himself the general manager of the Dallas Cowboys. Fair warning: you’re probably not going to like some of the moves. Norm doesn’t like all of them either.

With the salary cap looming and bills coming due, Norm walks through what tough, realistic roster decisions actually look like — who stays, who goes, and why kicking the can down the road eventually turns into a financial brick wall. From Dak’s ballooning number to painful goodbyes on defense, this is a no-nonsense look at what roster discipline really costs.

Then, Norm shifts to the Dallas Mavericks and a familiar problem: Anthony Davis. When healthy, he’s elite. When not, he’s unavailable. With a massive extension looming and a rebuild quietly underway, the Mavs find themselves stuck between what they hope Davis can be and what he actually is right now.

It’s cap math, uncomfortable truths, and the reminder that being the GM is hard — even when it’s hypothetical.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Norm Makes Himself Cowboys GM (You Won’t Like This)

00:02:02 - The Salary Cap Reality Check

00:05:14 - Tough Cowboys Cuts and Contract Decisions

00:07:32 - Who Stays, Who Walks, and Why

00:09:45 - The George Pickens Decision Nobody Wants

00:14:07 - Full Moon Healing Balm and Aging Gracefully

00:15:23 - The Mavericks’ Anthony Davis Dilemma

00:19:40 - Big Picture Decisions and Dallas Sports Reality

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Norm is just wondering… what exactly were the Cowboys trying to accomplish in New York?

After another joyless, mistake-filled loss to the Giants, Norm breaks down a season that somehow managed to be worse than it already felt. From a defense that couldn’t stop anything, to penalties, turnovers, and the ever-popular “culture building” excuse, this one had it all—except competence.

There’s talk of meaningless records, wasted seasons, free-agent decisions, and the haunting image of Jerry Jones sitting alone in his suite, watching it all unravel. Norm finds a few bright spots (yes, there were some), wonders aloud about the future at quarterback, and questions whether this team has any real path back to relevance.

Along the way, Mary joins in, sponsors get their due, and Norm shares a very personal—and surprisingly useful—side story that only he could make work in the middle of a Cowboys rant.

Another season down. More questions than answers. And as always… Just Wondering.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Just Wondering What That Was in New York

00:00:24 - Sponsor Message: Fluent Financial

00:01:23 - Chasing 8-8-1 and Other Pointless Goals

00:02:16 - Culture Building and the Brontosaurus Egg

00:03:02 - A Defense That Let the Giants Look Competent

00:04:05 - Run Stuffers Who Didn’t Stuff Anything

00:05:30 - Historically Bad Numbers (Yes, Really)

00:06:57 - Penalties, Turnovers, and the Ugly Truth

00:07:35 - The Few Guys Who Didn’t Embarrass Themselves

00:08:28 - Jerry Jones, Alone in His Suite

00:09:29 - Another Wasted Year and What Comes Next

00:10:11 - Sponsor Message: Bob’s Steak & Chop House

00:11:16 - Senile Purpura, Aging Gracefully, and Full Moon Healing

00:12:27 - Sponsor Wrap and Final Thoughts

00:12:49 - Thanks for Listening… Still Just Wondering

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On this episode of Norm Hitzges’ Just Wondering, Norm rings in the new year by wondering whether a breakup everyone saw coming might actually work out—for both sides.

The Cowboys officially move on from Trayvon Diggs, and Norm walks through how a once-promising marriage unraveled: injuries, disagreements over scheme, rehab disputes, fines, frustration, and a quiet but inevitable divorce. When Green Bay claims Diggs off waivers, Norm asks the real question—does Diggs still have that star cornerback inside him, and is this exactly what the Packers need heading into the playoffs?

From there, Norm shifts gears to remind us that football doesn’t always come down to four quarters, a coaching philosophy, or a season-long narrative. Sometimes, it really does come down to one play—and Norm breaks down a postseason moment where preparation, film study, and perfect execution turned a game on its head.

It’s a thoughtful, clear-eyed look at player fit, timing, accountability, and why change—when it finally happens—can feel overdue and perfectly logical at the same time.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00:00 - A New Year and a New Cowboys Question

00:01:33 - Why the Diggs–Cowboys Split Was Inevitable

00:02:18 - Rehab, Fines, and Philosophical Differences

00:03:50 - When Frustration Becomes a Pattern

00:04:36 - Waivers, Green Bay, and a Second Chance

00:05:27 - Is the Old Trayvon Diggs Still in There?

00:06:12 - Why the Packers Are Desperate at Corner

00:07:38 - A Perfect Fit—or Just Convenient Timing?

00:10:06 - When Defense Carries a Team That Can’t Score

00:11:40 - The Rare One-Play Football Game

00:12:30 - Film Study, Preparation, and a Season-Changing Read

00:14:16 - Why One Moment Can Define Everything

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It’s New Year’s Eve, and Norm is just wondering whether the Cowboys are about to do the most Cowboys thing imaginable: win a meaningless game and make everything worse.

With Dallas already eliminated from playoff contention, Norm breaks down the logic (or lack thereof) behind trying to finish “strong” by beating a broken-down Giants team. Is two late-season wins really a “springboard,” or just a fast way to slide down the draft board? And why, exactly, are the Cowboys planning to play Dak Prescott and other key starters in a game that can only hurt them?

Norm walks through the math, the draft implications, the injury risk, and the feel-good narratives that don’t survive even a mild fact check. In the end, he’s left with one unavoidable question — the same one Cowboys fans keep asking themselves every year: why?

⏱️ Chapters

00:00:01 - Happy New Year… Now Let’s Talk About a Bad Idea

00:01:35 - The Cowboys Call This a “Fast Finish”

00:02:03 - Beating the League’s Leftovers Isn’t Momentum

00:03:38 - The Washington Win: Context Matters

00:04:05 - How One Win Can Quietly Ruin the Draft

00:04:42 - The Domino Effect Around the NFL

00:05:19 - From Pick 13 to Pick 18: The Real Cost of Winning

00:05:51 - Is 8-8-1 Actually Better Than 7-9-1?

00:07:06 - So the Cowboys Plan to Play the Starters

00:09:13 - Dak Prescott Is Starting… and That’s a Problem

00:10:02 - Eleven Hits Last Week and the Injury Risk Nobody Wants

00:10:43 - Could the Reserves Win This Game Anyway?

00:11:24 - One Final Question: Why?

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It’s Monday, December 29th, and Norm is just wondering when college athletics quietly turned into an arms race for billionaires.

With championship games approaching, the sport looks less like tradition and more like open-market chaos. Players are transferring for the third and fourth time, skipping bowl games without a second thought, coaches are being fired at record speed, and the NCAA appears to be standing off to the side whistling nervously.

But the real concern arrives in Lubbock.

Norm walks through how a massive, perfectly legal cash infusion turned Texas Tech into an overnight powerhouse—and why that should make every college sports fan uneasy. When one billionaire can spend $20+ million on transfers alone, what happens when ten of them decide to compete? And what happens to parity, recruiting, and the very idea of college athletics when championships can simply be purchased?

Then, some genuinely good news: the 25th annual Normathon delivers once again, raising more than half a million dollars for the Austin Street Center for the Homeless—proof that money can still be used the right way.

One part warning, one part gratitude, and entirely on brand.

Chapters

00:00:00 - A New Alarm Bell for College Sports

00:00:22 - A Word From Our Title Sponsor

00:01:26 - College Football Has Officially Gone Off the Rails

00:02:08 - The Transfer Portal: Musical Chairs With Scholarships

00:03:13 - Playoff Confusion and the Toothless NCAA

00:03:39 - Who’s Actually in Charge Here?

00:04:21 - Texas Tech’s Sudden Rise (And Why It Matters)

00:05:07 - $20 Million, 21 Transfers, and Instant Contender Status

00:06:35 - Cody Campbell’s Vision — and His Checkbook

00:07:22 - Congressional Influence and the Bigger Picture

00:08:27 - When Billionaires Start Buying Championships

00:09:08 - This Isn’t New… It’s Just Getting Bigger

00:09:33 - The New Recruiting War: Cash vs. Cash

00:10:20 - A Quick Break for the Sponsors

00:11:01 - Senile Purpura (Still Not a Great Name)

00:12:16 - The Good News: Normathon 25

00:12:49 - Auctions, Guests, and Community Support

00:13:30 - $545,192 Raised in One Day

00:14:00 - 25 Years, $10.65 Million, and Countless Lives Changed

00:14:36 - Thank You, Truly

00:14:58 - Closing Thoughts and See You Wednesday

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It’s the day after Christmas, and while the wrapping paper is still on the floor, Norm is already wondering about the one gift Cowboys fans didn’t ask for: finishing the season 8-8-1.

After questioning why the NFL insists on hijacking Christmas Day (nothing says “holiday spirit” like wall-to-wall broadcasts), Norm dives into a Cowboys win that somehow felt like every other Cowboys game. A fast start, long scoring droughts, penalty problems, defensive issues, and just enough competence to keep everyone arguing about whether this team is “close.”

Dallas beats a battered Washington team, but not convincingly enough to feel good about it. Dak shines. The running game shows promise. Penalties pile up. The defense remains allergic to takeaways. And the big question lingers: if the offense is elite and the defense is awful… isn’t .500 exactly where you’d expect to land?

Norm breaks it all down with stats, context, and his usual brand of dry realism—then wraps things up with the truth Cowboys fans may not want to hear, but probably already know.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Merry Christmas… Now About That 8-8-1 Record

00:01:24 - Can the NFL Leave Christmas Alone for One Day?

00:01:57 - A Familiar Cowboys Script (This Time With a Win)

00:02:32 - Fast Start, Then the Scoring Vanishes Again

00:03:47 - Dallas Finally Bows Its Neck Late

00:04:22 - Dominating the Stats, Confusing the Result

00:05:04 - Six Sacks, Eleven Penalties, and Self-Inflicted Wounds

00:06:27 - Takeaways? Still Missing in Action

00:07:08 - Dak Prescott Continues His Excellent Season

00:07:40 - Malik Davis Steps Up in the Run Game

00:08:11 - Young Defenders Show Flashes

00:08:36 - Free Agents, Futures, and Tough Decisions

00:09:15 - George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb, and Offensive Reality

00:09:45 - Are the Cowboys Underachievers… or Exactly What They Are?

00:10:26 - A Quick Word From Our Sponsors

00:12:02 - Final Thoughts on a Perfectly Average Season

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t’s Wednesday, December 24th, and Norm Hitzges is in a festive mood—by which he means grateful, reflective, mildly alarmed, and just a little concerned about the future of local sports.

Norm opens with an invitation to one of the most meaningful traditions in DFW radio history: the 25th annual Normathon, raising money for Austin Street Center for the Homeless. Twenty-five years, more than $10 million raised, and a full day of broadcasting fueled by generosity, great guests, and some truly ridiculous auction items (yes, including a racehorse stake and a Pat Green house concert).

After that, Norm pivots—because of course he does—to three quick sports hits:

• a gut-punch playoff loss for Texas A&M

• the end (hopefully) of Jake Paul’s cosplay boxing career

• and a Rangers bullpen decision that has Norm quietly clutching the armrests

It’s Christmas Eve. There’s goodwill. There’s charity. There’s also concern. Welcome to Just Wondering.

CHAPTERS

00:01:31 – The Normathon Returns: Year 25 at The Ticket

00:02:13 – Why Austin Street Matters (And Why We Keep Doing This)

00:02:59 – 25 Years, $10+ Million Raised, and Counting

00:03:51 – The Auction Lineup: Trips, Racehorses, and Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences

00:05:23 – Pat Green at Your House, Lone Star Park Suite, and Lunch With the Musers

00:06:46 – The Crown Jewel: Signed Cowboys Legends Lithograph Set

00:07:26 – How to Join In: On Air, In Person, or In Spirit

00:08:08 – Bob’s Steak & Chop House Sponsor Read

00:08:37 – Full Moon Healing Balm Sponsor Read

00:09:54 – Sports Hit #1: Texas A&M’s Playoff Heartbreak

00:11:24 – From No. 3 in the Nation to “Did That Really Happen?”

00:12:03 – Sports Hit #2: Jake Paul Finally Fights the Wrong Guy

00:13:08 – Anthony Joshua Ends the Gimmick (For $96 Million)

00:14:16 – Sports Hit #3: Why Norm Is Alarmed About the Rangers

00:15:00 – Sean Armstrong Leaves for Cleveland… For Cheap

00:15:38 – If You Can’t Pay $5.5M for Your Best Reliever, That’s a Problem

00:16:21 – Sponsor Close: Fluent Financial & Bob’s

00:16:43 – Wrap-Up: Follow, Share, and Merry Christmas

00:17:24 – Stolen Water Media Sign-Off

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Norm tips the cap to Cooper Flagg turning 19 and casually dropping 40 in the NBA—then immediately pivots to something far less impressive: the Dallas Cowboys doing the exact same thing again.

If this season feels familiar, that’s because it is. Early points, a brief lead, then the defense opens the floodgates while the offense stalls out like it hit an invisible wall. Norm walks through the Chargers loss, the Vikings loss, the Lions loss—pick a week, it’s the same movie with a different jersey color.

The numbers are brutal: 112 points allowed in three weeks, one sack, five punts forced, and a defense threatening to challenge 1960 for the worst in franchise history. Yet the reflex response still seems to be “fire the coordinator and move on,” rather than confronting the uncomfortable truth that a lot of these players simply aren’t good enough.

Norm asks the question no one in the front office seems eager to answer: does Jerry Jones actually understand how mediocre this team is—or are we about to spin the coordinator wheel one more time and hope for a miracle?

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 – Happy Birthday, Cooper Flagg (And Welcome Back to Cowboys Reality)

00:00:41 – Fluent Financial Sponsor Read

00:01:45 – Cowboys Groundhog Day: Same Game, Same Ending

00:02:36 – 6–8–1 and Stuck in the Middle of the Draft Again

00:03:18 – “It’s the Scheme” vs. “It Might Be the Players”

00:03:56 – McCarthy Gone, Zimmer Gone, Schottenheimer Here… Same Results

00:04:39 – Chargers Game Recap: Fast Start, Zero Finish

00:05:33 – Three-Week Stretch of Defensive Horror

00:06:29 – One Sack, Five Punts, and 20 Opponent Scores

00:07:11 – No Pressure on Goff, McCarthy, or Herbert

00:08:03 – Diggs Back, Revel Struggling, and No Answers

00:09:01 – Chargers’ Backup Offensive Line Still Runs Wild

00:09:57 – Defensive Box Score: Who Showed Up… and Who Didn’t

00:10:37 – How Many New Starters Does This Defense Need?

00:11:01 – Bob’s Steak & Chop House Sponsor Read

00:12:01 – Full Moon Healing Balm Sponsor Read

00:12:57 – Sponsor Close

00:13:19 – Follow, Share, and Keep Wondering

00:14:00 – Stolen Water Media Sign-Off

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It’s Friday, December 19th, and Norm is doing that thing where he calmly lays out the facts… while quietly setting the building on fire.

After dumping Mike McCarthy for a 7–10 season (even with Dak missing half the year), the Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer and sold everyone the “new coach, new culture, new results” dream. Fast-forward to now: 6–7–1, which is basically the same meal served on a newer plate.

Norm runs through the offseason shopping spree and the draft picks that actually look like real football players… then asks the obvious question: how are they still mediocre? Spoiler: it’s hard to look at a defense giving up 30 points per game and not start writing farewell cards.

Then we get to the main event: Matt Eberflus’ countdown clock. Jerry Jones loves the offense (who wouldn’t?) but hates the defense with the intensity of a man who knows the actuarial tables and is very aware the last NFC Championship appearance was… 30 years ago. After the Vikings game where J.J. McCarthy looked like Tom Brady (no sacks, career-best passer rating), Jerry goes public: he’s “fine with the players,” but the system isn’t working. Which is convenient, because if it’s not the system… well… then it’s the roster. And if it’s the roster… who built it?

Exactly.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – The Premise: Why Are the Cowboys Still the Cowboys?

00:23 – Sponsor: Fluent Financial

01:27 – McCarthy Got Fired at 7–10… So How Is 6–7–1 “Progress”?

02:16 – The Offseason Reinforcements: They Actually Tried This Time

03:10 – Injuries, Diggs, and the “It’s One Player’s Fault” Debate

03:51 – The New Toys: Pickens, Kenny Clark, Quinn Williams, and More

04:35 – Draft Class Check-In: Booker, Aziraku, Revel, and Overshown’s Return

05:11 – The Real Question: With All That… Why Are They Still 6–7–1?

05:58 – Jerry’s Frustration Sets In (Again)

06:49 – Sponsor: Bob’s Steak & Chop House

07:19 – Sponsor: Full Moon Healing Balm

08:33 – The “Almost Certain” Firing: Eberflus’ Days Are Numbered

09:16 – 30 Years Since the NFC Title Game: The Loudest Clock in Dallas

10:11 – Offense = Elite, Defense = Big 12 Level (Allegedly)

10:11 – Defensive Rankings: 31st in Scoring, 29th in Yards, Can’t Cover Anybody

11:49 – The Vikings Game: J.J. McCarthy’s 8th Start Turns Into a Highlight Reel

12:27 – Jerry Goes Public: It’s the System, Not the Players (Sure, Jan)

13:24 – The Real Subtext: If It’s Not the Coach… Then It’s the Guy Picking the Players

14:08 – Sponsor Wrap + Subscribe/Follow

15:11 – Stolen Water Media Sign-Off