Dallas Cowboys

Joseph Randle saw just four carries after first half TD that was almost a fumble

Published Oct. 5, 2015 4:35 p.m. ET

foxsports

Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett was not pleased when running back Joseph Randle lunged toward the end zone with the ball out on a first down from the opponent's 1-yard line in their 28-20 Week 4 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Randle converted the play into a touchdown, but it was inches away from being a fumble. Garrett specifically talked to Randle about avoiding this play -- after he scored on a similar play in Week 3 -- but Randle neglected his direction. As a result, Randle saw just four carries after the controversial play.

"Obviously, it worked out," Garrett said of Randle's decision to lunge with the ball forward on first down to reporters after the game, per Jon Machota of the Dallas News. "We scored the touchdown there. He got in before the ball came out. But that is something that we discussed with him and our other running backs about how we want to handle that situation. It's a dangerous play when you extend the ball like that.

"It worked out for us tonight, but we don't want to do that in that situation."

Randle -- who has made headlines with questionable decisions off the field throughout his tenure with the Cowboys -- did not seem to understand Garrett's message. Here's what he had to say about the play:

It's too early to say that Randle is in Garrett's doghouse, but his decision showed poor judgement and could have cost the Cowboys points.