Cowboys D-Coordinator Rod Marinelli Has Begun Referring To Taco Charlton As All Sorts Of Mexican Dishes

SportsDay- Cowboys first-round pick Taco Charlton is off to a slow start in training camp, but that's to be expected considering the strength of the club's offensive line.

The defensive end hasn't been in the backfield often and in most cases has been dominated in one-on-one drills against tackles La'el Collins and Tyron Smith.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli has offered advice and also started calling him "Taquito" at times. Marinelli is fond of giving his defensive linemen nicknames.

Charlton said he's heard "Taquito" from Marinelli "once or twice."

"I don't think you can beat Taco, so it's kind of been a hard challenge," Charlton said. "You really have to stay with Taco. That's a hard name to beat."

Marinelli said every now and then he might throw out "Taco Chip" or "Pita Chip" also.

"Whatever Mexican food I eat," Marinelli said, "is what he is."

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All I am saying is that we should all be happy that Taco Charlton isn't even part latino. I would like to think that would change things and that Rod Marinelli would have the wherewithal to refrain from going around calling people by the name of their nationality's cuisine to have most recently passed through his body. However, a 68 year old white guy that cracks himself up when he makes the loose culinary connection between the name 'Taco' and the nickname 'Pita Chip' is probably the same type of 68 year old white guy that thinks that joke plays no matter the audience. I'm not at all shocked that Rod Marinelli's "can't-miss" wisecracks are inspired by the menu at 'Moe's Southwest Grill', but I am a slightly surprised that his "name some stereotypical ethnic food" humor hasn't gotten him in trouble as of yet. That might be one of those habits that he should try to kick before it becomes more common - and much harder to control - once he hits his 70's. ​If there's one thing I know about poorly executed dad jokes it's that when they are motivated by cultural connectivity they can quickly become unfit for mixed company.