Cowboys Star Slams Skip Bayless Over Shocking "Execute" Rant

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams publicly called out ESPN commentator Skip Bayless on Thursday after Bayless said on 'First Take' that he wanted to 'execute' several Cowboys players during their Week 8 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Williams, a four-time Pro Bowler and one of the few bright spots on a disappointing 3-5 Dallas defense, took to social media to address Bayless directly.

'@RealSkipBayless it's extremely crazy to say you wanted players on defense to be executed.

You got to do better my guy 🙏🏽,' Williams posted on X on Thursday afternoon.

The confrontation stemmed from a midweek press conference in which Williams repeatedly used the word 'execute' to describe what the Cowboys need to do to turn their season around.

'We've got to execute,' Williams told reporters, according to the team's official website.

'We haven't been executing this whole season.

We executed for three quarters, and didn't execute that last quarter, and the film says it all.

I think the biggest thing we've got to focus on is execute, and continue to stack days.

At the end of the day, we've got to execute.'

Bayless, a former Dallas Morning News columnist who has written several books about the Cowboys' 1980s collapse and 1990s dynasty, seized on Williams's word choice during a Thursday episode of 'First Take.'

'Quinnen Williams, in a five-minute interview, used the word 'execute' 32 times in five minutes,' Bayless said on air, according to video of the segment.

'And I must tell you that during Sunday's collapse against the Arizona freaking Cardinals, I wanted to execute several of my players during the game.

Execute them on the field.

I wanted them to be executed.'

The comment drew immediate backlash from fans and media observers.

'Want them executed? Tf?

Why tf is this clown still on TV?

Do better at who you put on TV,' one user posted on X.

'Stop putting Skip on TV.

Please,' wrote Marcus Mosher, a national NFL writer.

Bayless's remark was not original.

He recycled a line from an infamous anecdote about John McKay, the first head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

According to the oft-told story, McKay made a similar joke during the Bucs' early, struggling seasons.

Williams's response shows that Cowboys players are paying attention to what is said about them on national television.

Some observers argued that the players should be focusing on winning football games rather than engaging with media personalities.

But Williams made clear he felt Bayless crossed a line.

'You got to do better my guy,' Williams wrote.

Bayless returned to 'First Take' this NFL season under a special arrangement that brings him into the studio for episodes during the season.

He joined Stephen A. Smith in studio on Thursday for a two-hour, one-on-one format that Smith promoted on social media.

'This is what my man @RealSkipBayless wanted.

Well damnit, he's got it.

He and I — 1-on-1, right here in @FirstTake for the entire 2 hours old-school style,' Smith posted on X on November 5.

The Cowboys fell to the Cardinals 33-30 in overtime on Sunday in front of a home crowd at AT&T Stadium.

Arizona was led by a backup quarterback and a third-string running back.