Another week and blowout loss for the Dallas Cowboys as they suffered
the worst loss in franchise history. Falling 47-9 to NFC favorite Detroit
Lions. How we got here will take a few pages to dissect and I will do my
very best to be brutally honest without saying a few “sentence
enhancers.” Buckle up, here comes the “khaos.”
Allow me to be very open about the state of my beloved Dallas
Cowboys; the team I grew up watching and screaming for since the age
of five years old. 1991 to be exact when Nintendo had this video game
titled “Tecmo Bowl” and the glory days of “Monday Night Football”
dominated television. The current Cowboys… Have made it unbearable
to watch on Sundays. But we all know the blame starts and ends with
one common denominator: Jerry Jones.
On a Sunday afternoon in AT&T Stadium, fans witnessed the fourth
straight home loss in which we’ve trailed by double digits before
halftime. Visiting teams have scored an average of 27 points on Dallas’
defense going back to the 2023 wild card playoff loss to 7 th seed Green
Bay. This issue is very alarming and how we got here will further be
explained.
Jerry Jones celebrated his 82 nd birthday in his typical suite overseeing
the team get bullied and dismantled by Detroit. One big play after
another, this team folded like lawn chairs at a family picnic. No
offensive flow as quarterback Dak Prescott threw yet another red zone
interception. Players were sunken, baffled, lackadaisical and heartless
as Detroit put on an offensive clinic with all gas, no breaks.
This began in the offseason as Jones gaslit fans by “all-in” for 2024.
Now, if you’ve been living under a rock, this was a ball face lie the
moment it was uttered. For Cowboys fans, we already knew the deal of
not signing free agents who can literally help this team get over the
hump. Drafting and developing homegrown talent is “all-in” due to
Jones’ tactics in controlling the narrative. But when a team is very
limited to coaching, quarterbacking and no real threat a smart general
manager would attempt to help his quarterback.
When the offseason started, contracts and drama make headlines for
Jones as he keeps the team in content creator mode and sports media
outlets entertained. Head coach Mike McCarthy is in the final year of
his deal; coaches who were hired have yet to make an impact six weeks
into the season. Dallas’ woes expanded when Prescott took jabs at
Jones during training camp about his pending extension, while wide
receiver CeeDee Lamb missed all of camp before signing his extension
before week one.
Prescott got his record breaking deal shortly before the road opener in
Cleveland, making him the highest paid player in league history. None
of that matters as fans have been emotionally awakened by the
realities of Jones’ bad decisions. Players have become quieter than
newborns sleeping several hours a day. Not one player has heart,
passion, emotion, and rage to open their mouth. It’s been the tall tale
of Cowboys misery for “eighty-four years.” Jones continues to be major
part of the internal issues by arriving to practice, landing his helicopter,
and causing a scene. Cowboys legend and three time Super Bowl
champion Troy Aikman was asked during an interview what former
head coach Jimmy Johnson would’ve thought and it was simple: “not
happy,” and he’s right.
Of course, nobody on the team will be honest in fear of being held to
the fire for speaking up. The roster construction falls on Jones’
shoulders and players are feeling insecure about what’s happening. If
you want more brutal honesty, nobody challenges each other. Coaches,
players, front office employees, the whole organization is a reality
television show. Winning went out the door upon Jimmy Johnson being
fired after back to back Super Bowls. Since then, one title and no
playoff success.
Jones reminds me of a fallen hip-hop mogul who I won’t name out of
context. All in the media, first person people run to before and after games, radio shows, lavish events inside “Jerry World,” any and everything he wants is his. Coaches can’t be themselves and prepare
without Jones standing nearby. Players can’t speak on social issues
without proper public relations and Jones being front and center. It’s a
stressful environment in which both parties can’t collaborate without
Jones’ input.
I’ve worked in corporate for many years and the vibes I’m getting is
coaches are “temporary employees.” Which means Jones hires them to
fill roles, but we haven’t visibly seen them. They show up, work their
hours, and go home. Yes, they receive compensation for time worked
but very limited access to being available. None of this surprises me in
part of my background and understanding how crucial it is for overall
success.
To be successful, following standardized work and being qualified in
performing your job without having someone to hold your hand. Long
as Jones is a constant bystander, nothing will change and give him the
range to release someone. If you look across the league, how many
owners have this much power in the media? When something occurs
and Jones is first to give his thoughts. This has become the Dallas
Cowboys and I’m glad fans are emotionally awakened by what’s wrong
with this organization.
When we must hear “one of the best rosters I’ve put together since the
Super Bowl teams,” in his mind its 1995 all over again. Truth is like
water; doesn’t matter who it falls on. Jones will do and say anything to
keep the media tuned in to his dialogue. When the team loses, players
don’t have the heart to call it like it should be.
Dallas is a front-runner against bad teams beneath them; but duck and
hide when it’s time to play playoff caliber teams who aren’t afraid of
playing and embarrassing them in their own stadium. A home
disadvantage each week; no matter how many fans attend. It’s turned
into “Scary World,” and opponents know how to make Dallas quit early.
The bulk of this falls on Jerry Jones’s shoulders and how bad he’s made
this team. Extending players at the last minute, refusing to plunge in
free agency and going for a title. Signing older players whose prime
years are nowhere to be found. Long as Dallas wins ratings, being the
most popular franchise in North American sports, and going all out for
Thanksgiving, which is technically “midseason Super Bowl” for him,
nothing else matters. Jones will continue to remind fans he’s the
ringleader and it runs through him on the final say.
There’s enough blame to go around from the front office to players and
coaches. Don’t expect the Dallas Cowboys to make any significant
changes during the bye week or trade deadline. Jones is hell-bent on
keeping course and taking as much credit possible to prove he’s right and satisfied in the grand scheme. The same script he’s stuck with since the 90s and not evolving into the modern NFL business model.
Branding, marketing, and lucrative deals with corporations are wins for Jones; not the Dallas Cowboys as a franchise in pursuing Super Bowls.
Stai tuned.
