Cowboys push season to the brink

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy rejected the notion last week that a road game against the 49ers was a potential tipping point for his team. The 30-24 loss Sunday night might suggest otherwise, particularly with Trevon Diggs coming out of the locker room just minutes after the game, still in full uniform, to confront a reporter about a critical post on social media. Dak Prescott, above, who had two TD passes but also two interceptions against the 49ers, says the frustration is “very high” but insists the Cowboys (3-4) have the resolve to dig out of this hole. The defending NFC East champs are two games back in the loss column in the division. There are plenty of opportunities to prove it — immediately. The Cowboys visit the NFC South- leading Falcons (5-3) on Sunday in the first of four consecutive games against teams currently with winning records. Three are division leaders. “We know what it takes in this league,” Prescott said. “You get hot and you can get rolling and that’s all you’re looking to do. So that’s my point about this. It’s frustrating, but nobody’s giving up.”

Jordan’s NASCAR team gets title shot

The hardest hit that Tyler Reddick took at Homestead-Miami Speedway wasn’t from a bounce into the wall or from another driver crashing into him. It was from his boss. Michael Jordan is 6-foot-6. Reddick might be 5-foot-6. When Jordan comes at him full speed and wraps his massive arms around Reddick, the driver is going to take a bit of a jolt. That’s exactly what happened Sunday, after Reddick won at Homestead and clinched one of the four spots in NASCAR’s winner-take-all title deciding race at Phoenix in two weeks. “To be able to reward him ... it’s a true honor,” Reddick said. “It was really cool to see how happy he was.” For good reason. Winning still drives Jordan more than anything, even at 61. The basketball great still always wants to win, whether he’s golfing against PGA pros at his course in South Florida or sitting on the wall of pit road watching his 23XI racing team. “Yeah, baby! Yes!” Jordan shouted when he got to Reddick in the moments after Sunday’s win. “Good job, kid! Man, good job.” From Jordan, there is no higher praise.

Ten Hag out as Man United manager

Manchester United finally ran out of patience and fired manager Erik ten Hag on Monday after a troubled start to the season which has left the 20-time English champions languishing in the Premier League amid a period of major upheaval at the club. The Dutch coach won two domestic cups in his 2 1/2 years in charge but has paid the price for leading United to its worst start to a season, with the team in 14th place and having lost four of its opening nine league games. Heavy home losses to rival Liverpool and Tottenham left Ten Hag under severe pressure and seemingly changed the mood among United fans who previously were prepared to give him more time. United has won just one of its last eight games in all competitions. Ruud van Nistelrooy, one of Ten Hag’s assistants and a former striker at the club, was named interim head coach. Among those linked with taking over at United on a permanent basis are former England coach Gareth Southgate, former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez and Brentford manager Thomas Frank. —AP