Mike McCarthy is Drinking the Aldon Smith Kool Aid and We Don't Know What to Think

The Dallas Cowboys stunned the NFL when they inked a contract with defensive end Aldon Smith, who had been out of the league since 2015 due to a slew of suspensions. It's a big time roll of the dice from the Cowboys, and fortunately for them, the former Pro Bowler was granted reinstatement last week.

Though Smith appears to have conquered his demons, it's really anyone's guess as to how he will perform in 2020 after not playing a snap in four years. Despite that, however, the 30-year-old pass rusher has the full support of Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy.

McCarthy expecting big things out of Smith this upcoming season is tough to digest because of the sheer extent of the unknowns regarding the player. This is without a doubt his last chance to deliver on the All-Pro potential he showcased from his first days in the NFL.

Is this just "power of positive thinking" stuff from McCarthy? Or does he actually see something profound here?

In 2020, his second year, the former No. 7 overall pick set the San Francisco 49ers record for sacks in single season with a whopping 19.5 tally. Between his first two seasons, Smith compiled 33.5 sacks, which broke the league record previously held by late Hall of Fame defensive lineman Reggie White.

There's nothing wrong with a head coach expressing confidence in a player that has a troubled past, but McCarthy's outlook is a bit surprising, to say the least. We hope he isn't misleading Cowboys fans with his admittedly high expectations for Smith.