Cowboys' Mike McCarthy explains unprecedented training camp decision ahead of 2024 season

The Dallas Cowboys and Oxnard, California are no strangers to each other. It's as much of a home for America's Team as Dallas, Arlington, and Frisco.

They've held training camp in there since 2001, with 2024 being the 18th season in which the Cowboys have packed their backs and headed west and away from the punishing heat of Texas this time of the year.

This time around, the Mike McCarthy-led Cowboys made an unprecedented decision, staying in Oxnard for the longest time the team has ever done so. The head coach provided some insight into the reasoning behind it.

"A lot of factors (go into it)," McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday . "Number one, the weather, the opportunity to train another week in this climate, that is very, very important. The week back is always an adjustment, the other factor is the bye week layout, just the way it's laid out, with the three days of practice and how you have to practice, it's regulated. I'd rather do that the week we return than a week earlier.

"You're on an adjustment schedule anyways, plus we have to be indoors the week we go back obviously because of the transition from the weather here to Dallas. All those factors are involved and I think the straw that broke the back was the opportunity to hang out with the media for another week," McCarthy said, the last bit in jest with reporters.

The Cowboys sure made the most out of their stay in Oxnard this year, having two joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams in addition to a preseason game against them. The second of such practices wasn't originally on the schedule but McCarthy and Sean McVay agreed to it following the preseason opener.

The Cowboys will return to Texas later this week for their preseason finale versus the Los Angeles Chargers and will stay there for good as the team prepares itself for a brutal slate of roster cuts leading up to cutdown day next Tuesday, August 27th.

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