Are the Cowboys about to enter a dark decade?

[GimmeTheBall!]

With Philly on top of the division and Washington sadly on the up and up, it feels like there’s definitely an avenue where our team becomes the basement dwellers of our division! Heck who knows even NY might hit on a top draft pick and be better than us too. We’ve been relevant over the last so many years but relevant isn’t good enough! I fear this team is about to enter a dark decade and finish with 3-6 wins soon. Maybe not next year but very very soon.L

With Philly on top of the division and Washington sadly on the up and up, it feels like there’s definitely an avenue where our team becomes the basement dwellers of our division! Heck who knows even NY might hit on a top draft pick and be better than us too. We’ve been relevant over the last so many years but relevant isn’t good enough! I fear this team is about to enter a dark decade and finish with 3-6 wins soon. Maybe not next year but very very s...

Let us see
1. Low-rent and presumably a second-rate coaching staff
2. A QB who doesn't inspire confidense to go to the playoffs
3. A second-rate running back corps
4. A defence that had 3 stars but little else
5. An overbearing GM who thinks Trey Lance, Mazi and Deuce will somehow contribute to our game
6. An O line in rebuilding mode
7. Stuck in the eastern divisionwith the Eagles and Commanders
8. A receiving corps with Lamb and little else

Yes a very dark era.

 

[beware_d-ware]

A dark decade, I don't know.

A dark 3 years, I think that's very likely. Dak has $60M guaranteed for each of those seasons and wasn't providing much more juice than his $2.5M backup. Couple that with Brian Schottenheimer's 3 year deal, and the whole thing feels like an extended tank.

 

[csirl]

No GM, No cap space, No QB and inexperienced coaches. You'd need a lot of luck to get anywhere with this scenario.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Keep Jerry out of the War Room.

When is the last time we won a war.

Keep in mind we lucked into getting both Parsons and CD dropping in our laps.

McClay - Mazi

 

[T-RO]

With Philly on top of the division and Washington sadly on the up and up, it feels like there’s definitely an avenue where our team becomes the basement dwellers of our division! Heck who knows even NY might hit on a top draft pick and be better than us too. We’ve been relevant over the last so many years but relevant isn’t good enough! I fear this team is about to enter a dark decade and finish with 3-6 wins soon. Maybe not next year but very very soon.

I agree.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Jerry Jones isn't going to last another decade, and Stephen seems more susceptible to popular opinion. I think he will hire a GM.

However, the next 3-5 years are going to be uncomfortable unless the Cowboys manage to pull off a miracle draft. Considering the final decision-maker, the probability is minimal.

Agree, Stephen doesnt have either: the aura or the sycophantic support of the media (and influential commercial concerns) of his father and there will be a backlash when Daddy passes away.

I see the problem differently to most. I think with the moves Jerry made since the GB game, plus not able to get Dak to sign a career ending contract and surrendering to a killer of a contract......we, as a Franchise, are close to being on 'life support' and that we should suck it up. What we dont want is meglomanic tyrant ruling to the very end, make more and more damaging decisions, for a hope that's gone.

This isnt getting better (especially championship level) until we start again. Dont let Jerry really damage the future in a vain hope to get to 10-7 One and Done.

 

[csirl]

As I"ve said before, we're the mid-80s Lions for the next 2-3 years

 

[plasticman]

Agree, Stephen doesnt have either: the aura or the sycophantic support of the media (and influential commercial concerns) of his father and there will be a backlash when Daddy passes away.

I see the problem differently to most. I think with the moves Jerry made since the GB game, plus not able to get Dak to sign a career ending contract and surrendering to a killer of a contract......we, as a Franchise, are close to being on 'life support' and that we should suck it up. What we dont want is meglomanic tyrant ruling to the very end, make more and more damaging decisions, for a hope that's gone.

This isnt getting better (especially championship level) until we start again. Dont let Jerry really damage the future in a vain hope to get to 10-7 One and Done.

That is a major concern.

I could see a scenario where Jerry realizes he is close to "retiring". Would he then mortgage several years of the team's future to construct a "super team" of free agents and trades using the future premium picks in one last effort to go out a winner?

I would like to think he wouldn't do that to his son or the team's fans, but who really knows?

 

[BoyzBlaster]

The next 3 or 4 years are going to be pointless as there is 0% chance we will contend for anything even remotely respectable. The good news is the Dak era will end so we just have to hope they draft a legit QB.

 

[dmq]

We haven’t won a SB in 30 years. Sounds pretty dark already.

 

[BoyzBlaster]

no.
i'm not buyin' it.
the super bowl drought probably grows...but this team won the division in '23.
our gm doesn't know how to build a lombardi roster....but has shown he can build a 10,11,12 win team that at leasts wins the east.
i expect that bare minimum to continue.
i'd rather have super bowls.
but i no longer get po'd about something i can't control...which is owned by somebody who doesn't know how to build a super bowl roster.
win the division.
at least do what you've shown you know how to.
at least do that.

The problem is those 12 win seasons came when our conference and division sucked. We're in a new era now with teams with good QBs, many young and improving, and we are stuck with a cap sucking, old, declining, injury prone, etc. QB, on top of the usual organizational problems that will only get worse as Jerry slides further into...whatever toxic mess he has going on in his psyche.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I think you mean

Are the Cowboys about to enter YET ANOTHER dark decade

The answer if course is YES

the 4th one.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

sorry do not share the pessimistic views.

same ol same ol eh?

Jerry gets me every time too.

 

[CowboyoWales]

That is a major concern.

I could see a scenario where Jerry realizes he is close to "retiring". Would he then mortgage several years of the team's future to construct a "super team" of free agents and trades using the future premium picks in one last effort to go out a winner?

I would like to think he wouldn't do that to his son or the team's fans, but who really knows?

Yep, and some of the fanbase may say 'great spending at last'....well this is the guy who traded for Mingo, Lance and capitulated in the Dak negotiation.
However, there is the hope that if there is any form of dementia (and some of his comments do suggest it), then (like my mother), you tend to become extremely frugal and holds on to their money. I suppose that begs the question whether/when the early onset began.

 

[Creeper]

The Eagles will be good another couple of years then they will have to replace some important pieces because of the way they have structured some of their contracts. By 2029, the Eagles roster will be very different than it it today. Sure they will retain some of their talented players, but they won't be able to afford the all-star roster they have now. They come down giving the Cowboys, and the rest of the league, a chance to catch them.

The Commanders had a lot of guys on 1 year contracts in 2024 so they will see a roster turnover as well. But they also have a ton of CAP space in 2025 and they have shown a willingness to go out and sign players. I could see them trade for Myles Garrett, while signing some good players to improve their defense. I would not be surprised if the Commanders catch the Eagles before the Cowboys do.

 

[CowboyoWales]

The Eagles will be good another couple of years then they will have to replace some important pieces because of the way they have structured some of their contracts. By 2029, the Eagles roster will be very different than it it today. Sure they will retain some of their talented players, but they won't be able to afford the all-star roster they have now. They come down giving the Cowboys, and the rest of the league, a chance to catch the Eagles

Yep and the difference with the Eagles is they have options on Hurts: cut him to start again, or extend him. They also have a GM that will take either step....which gives him leverage in contract negotiation.
With Dak and THAT we are stuck with it, unless Jerry grows a pair.
This is the albatross scenario, that Jerry messed it up and Dak wanted the money....if Jerry was a proper GM, he'd be seriously looking at a cut in 2027 (if not post -June 2026 if Dak repeats his 2024 form).

 

[noletime95]

Apathy has set in. And I hate it

 

[Creeper]

Yep and the difference with the Eagles is they have options on Hurts: cut him to start again, or extend him. They also have a GM that will take either step....which gives him leverage in contract negotiation.
With Dak and THAT we are stuck with it, unless Jerry grows a pair.
This is the albatross scenario, that Jerry messed it up and Dak wanted the money....if Jerry was a proper GM, he'd be seriously looking at a cut in 2027 (if not post -June 2026 if Dak repeats his 2024 form).

The Eagles owe Hurts an option bonus of about $41 million this year. That converts to about $7.5 million per year pro-rated over 5 years. They owe him another option bonus of about $50 million in 2026, and again in 2027 and 2028. Each of those will add $10 million in prorated bonus money for 5 years but it accumulates into voidable years after 2028. If they re-sign him the pro-rated bonuses would remain as is. If they do not sign him they would have $97 million hit the CAP all in 1 year. But, the problem is, they have a total of $178 million in pro-rated bonuses all hitting in 2029. They better hope TV revenues skyrocket to increase the CAP or they will have a serious problem to deal with.

I don't think it means total devastation for the Eagles. They will surely re-sign some of their players or extend them to minimize the 2029 CAP problem, but I do not see how they can maintain the kind of roster they have now past 2027 - unless they do a phenomenal job of drafting at the bottom of every round.

 

[Pokes12]

Decade is a long time and things change FAST in the NFL so no, not a decade. If we do have a 3 win season, a top QB, DL 2nd round can change things quickly.

That said, I reckon we are in for a bumpy time, the roster seems miles away right now so 3 years, maybe 4 sub .5 would not surprise me 1 bit.

30 years is 3 decades. So yeah, I don’t see any reason for any optimism.

 

[cowboyec]

The problem is those 12 win seasons came when our conference and division sucked. We're in a new era now with teams with good QBs, many young and improving, and we are stuck with a cap sucking, old, declining, injury prone, etc. QB, on top of the usual organizational problems that will only get worse as Jerry slides further into...whatever toxic mess he has going on in his psyche.

skins may have sucked.
but the eagles didn't.
my point is alot of this roster won the division in '23...only 2yrs ago.
its not some ridiculous idea that they can or will...again.