Improvement starts when you accept what you are

[Diehardblues]

That whole "talented team" thing escaped me. It is an evaluation of the weakest links in the chain.

Take Jaylon Smith, they're making something out of him being 3rd in tackles at LB and leading the team in tackles. Tackles and this team don't jive. The worst run D in the league isn't a tackling team. He also was the healthiest LB of the bunch and got the most plays.

How could anyone look at the middle of that DL, the MLB and secondary and consider this a talented team? Skill positions on the O? Yep, in the top 5 there.

And in the NFL this year, talent extended to the 2nd team and in some cases, third.

To really assess talent, and I am not qualified to do this, you would need to compare every starter at every position and rank the players. How many would the Cowboys have in the top 5, 10, 15?

Most fans are looking at our offense when they say talented. This is the Fantasy era.

Defensively we have some talent but most are usually injured or facing suspensions. And the only reason they fell to us in the draft. Gregory, Van Esch, Jaylon and Lee.

 

[CouchCoach]

It is appropriate to call the stadium Booger's Big Top because that's how he runs it. PT Barnum ran his based on draw and promotability of his stars. Yeah, he had a bunch of lions, tigers and elephants but who cared what their names were?

This is as much about his perceived marquis value of his players as to how he pays them.

Does anyone not think that part of Prescott's value to him is that you can't turn on the TV and not see him? Prescott is a brand to him just as the Cowboys are. And Prescott has eclipsed Romo in marketability, he is ubiquitous and becoming one of the most identifiable athletes/celebrities in all sports.

To other owners that might not matter but to Booger that is everything and he see that as a sustaining force even after he's gone. He's been schooling his son in the art of promotion and thinks he is as critical to the success of the brand as the history or the team. I think Booger thinks he is the one responsible for the shine on that Star and I am not talking about football. And neither is he. That stadium, the Star, chopper, Boogie Bus are all part of the mystique.

How else can we explain the popularity of the Dallas Cowboys having not accomplished anything of significance in the last 25 years? It defies all logic.

 

[Diehardblues]

It is appropriate to call the stadium Booger's Big Top because that's how he runs it. PT Barnum ran his based on draw and promotability of his stars. Yeah, he had a bunch of lions, tigers and elephants but who cared what their names were?

This is as much about his perceived marquis value of his players as to how he pays them.

Does anyone not think that part of Prescott's value to him is that you can't turn on the TV and not see him? Prescott is a brand to him just as the Cowboys are. And Prescott has eclipsed Romo in marketability, he is ubiquitous and becoming one of the most identifiable athletes/celebrities in all sports.

To other owners that might not matter but to Booger that is everything and he see that as a sustaining force even after he's gone. He's been schooling his son in the art of promotion and thinks he is as critical to the success of the brand as the history or the team. I think Booger thinks he is the one responsible for the shine on that Star and I am not talking about football. And neither is he. That stadium, the Star, chopper, Boogie Bus are all part of the mystique.

How else can we explain the popularity of the Dallas Cowboys having not accomplished anything of significance in the last 25 years? It defies all logic.

It actually follows a model we’ve seen through American ingenuity promoting Iconic labels and products that aren’t necessarily the best product.

He’s optimized the Iconic label he purchased the old fashion way with publicity, promotion and hype.

If we’ve learned anything in business models is that it’s not always necessary to produce the best product to become the most popular or wealthiest.

 

[rnr_honeybadger]

It is appropriate to call the stadium Booger's Big Top

Booger's butt plug seems appropriate.

 

[gjkoeppen]

No he didn't. Jones let a pile of good players walk to sign stars. He tried to keep Troy/Emmit/Irvin/Kevin Smith and then let these guys walk: Ken Norton, Gesek, Gogan, Cornish, Gant, Jeffcoat, Stepnoski, Washington were all let walk in order to pay the stars.

I know some things are hard for some to understand, but yes the Cowboys let some players walk so they could keep their core star players and hope they could draft good enough players to help replace those players they had to let walk. Norton, Gesek and Gogan left in 1994 the first year of the salary cap. Gant who was a special teamer walked in 1995 along with Stepnowski. Jeffcoat had spent 12 seasons with the Cowboys before 1995 when he was allowed to walk. All of those let to walk in 1994 the first year of the cap because the Cowboys were so far over the cap. Cornish was a backup. That 1st cap was equal to about 62% of what the Cowboys total payroll for players was so they renegotiated some contracts and had to let several players walk. The 2nd year of the cap the Cowboys still had to let players walk to stay under the cap because of the dead money that was added from releasing players the year before.. BTW Aikman's, Emmitt's and Irvin's contract were still in effect when the cap started and yes the Cowboys chose to keep the QB that led them to 3 Super Bowls wins and the RB that ended up as the NFL's all time leading rusher over a couple linemen and LB'ers.
.
.

 

[kskboys]

They are actually more qualified than most of us. They have access to so much more info and film. And insiders, coaching and scouts to inform and influence their decisions.

Ive always argued if all NFL teams followed our model with the owners serving as GM’s we’d have more success cause our owners are Football guys. Just not as good as some of the better organizations in the league.

What’s amazing are the franchises that actually follow better models have less success than us . But at least they have the opportunity to finally hire the right people and get it right.

Disagree that they are football guys.

 

[kskboys]

I know some things are hard for some to understand, but yes the Cowboys let some players walk so they could keep their core star players and hope they could draft good enough players to help replace those players they had to let walk. Norton, Gesek and Gogan left in 1994 the first year of the salary cap. Gant who was a special teamer walked in 1995 along with Stepnowski. Jeffcoat had spent 12 seasons with the Cowboys before 1995 when he was allowed to walk. All of those let to walk in 1994 the first year of the cap because the Cowboys were so far over the cap. Cornish was a backup. That 1st cap was equal to about 62% of what the Cowboys total payroll for players was so they renegotiated some contracts and had to let several players walk. The 2nd year of the cap the Cowboys still had to let players walk to stay under the cap because of the dead money that was added from releasing players the year before.. BTW Aikman's, Emmitt's and Irvin's contract were still in effect when the cap started and yes the Cowboys chose to keep the QB that led them to 3 Super Bowls wins and the RB that ended up as the NFL's all time leading rusher over a couple linemen and LB'ers.
.
.

Well apparently it's nigh impossible for others to understand that Jerry went in the completely wrong direction after the 2nd super bowl. And that spinning it doesn't make it so. Jerry has been a terrible GM for 25 years and counting, but don't let facts and history get in the way of your tiltawirl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bobhaze]

It is appropriate to call the stadium Booger's Big Top because that's how he runs it. PT Barnum ran his based on draw and promotability of his stars. Yeah, he had a bunch of lions, tigers and elephants but who cared what their names were?

This is as much about his perceived marquis value of his players as to how he pays them.

Does anyone not think that part of Prescott's value to him is that you can't turn on the TV and not see him? Prescott is a brand to him just as the Cowboys are. And Prescott has eclipsed Romo in marketability, he is ubiquitous and becoming one of the most identifiable athletes/celebrities in all sports.

To other owners that might not matter but to Booger that is everything and he see that as a sustaining force even after he's gone. He's been schooling his son in the art of promotion and thinks he is as critical to the success of the brand as the history or the team. I think Booger thinks he is the one responsible for the shine on that Star and I am not talking about football. And neither is he. That stadium, the Star, chopper, Boogie Bus are all part of the mystique.

How else can we explain the popularity of the Dallas Cowboys having not accomplished anything of significance in the last 25 years? It defies all logic.

Jerral Wayne definitely thinks he’s most responsible for the shine on the Star. But what he forever will fail to understand is the real shine on that Star p- the lasting popularity and brand loyalty- happened way before he bought the team. That shine was buffed by people named Landry, Murchison, Schramm, Brandt, Meredith, Lily, Stautner, Renfro, Hayes, Jordan, Staubach, Dorsett, Pearson, R. White, R. Wright, and many more.

All carved out legends with their sweat and blood that made the Dallas Cowboys THE NFL franchise before Jerry Jones could have even thought seriously about buying the Cowboys. Jerry added cash value with his business savvy. The only thing Jerry has ever done of magnitude benefits his family and his family only. And fan in their right mind doesn’t give a rats behind about the Forbes value he’s built. He has tarnished the luster of the Star built on the greatness of winning on the field.

The best football decision Jerry ever made was hiring Jimmy Johnson. The worst football decision he continues to make every day happens when he looks in the mirror and says, “I’m the face of the Dallas Cowboys” as long as I’m breathing.

 

[doomsday808]

Jerry accepts that the Cowboys are:
1) a revenue generating machine
2) a football team.

 

[Bobhaze]

A friend of mine told me a sad but true joke yesterday...
“What do you call a bunch of overpaid athletes sitting at home watching the Super Bowl?”
Answer: The Dallas Cowboys

 

[Diehardblues]

Disagree that they are football guys.

More so than most NFL owners was the point.

 

[Diehardblues]

Jerry accepts that the Cowboys are:
1) a revenue generating machine
2) a football team.

As fans we sometimes lose grip that the NFL is a business first.

We place all of our emphasis on winning but most players never experience the success most pursue.

Id imagine if fans went home at the end of the day with a paycheck they’d accept losing much more.

 

[Hadenough]

I believe after last season Dak was asked about the team underperforming and he said that after they started 3-0 they were smelling themselves or feeling themselves - basically, they kinda thought they were real hot stuff when they really weren't.
That and Jerry always trying to pump the team up as a super bowl contender year after year doesn't help.
Either causes too much pressure from expectations or builds up big egos that lead to sloppy players.

That's just crazy. Even when I was playing sports I knew , the minute you think your winning and good you end up losing. The winners mentality is to block out that way of thinking and focus on the job at hand and the winning will come. The mental part of the game is so important. I kinda feel the Cowboys don't much emphasis on that. They draft dumb players too.

 

[Doomsday101]

Clearly there are upgrades that this team needs I would love to add DT to work alongside Gallimore whom I though did a good job as a rookie. I also know you will never build a team of stud players across the board, no team does. You will have the so called Jags and you expect them to work within the system you put in place. You also have to deal with yearly loses of players that as lost in FA.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

@Bobhaze For some reason you seem infatuated with Jerry Jones and the front office. Some have DDS - Dak Derangement Syndrome and some have JJDS- Jerry Jones Derangement Syndrome. Yes, Jerry has made his share of mistakes over 30 plus years. He has also made many good decisions.

12/32 Teams make the playoffs every year. So the Cowboys .333 is close to the .375 statistical odds long term. Cue the Yadayadayada team has not won SB in X years crowd. The Cowboys play in the most competitive division and the salary cap is the great equalizer. Give me the Bengals and Browns who are tens of millions of dollars under the cap every year and my playoff percentage will easily increase.

Before the season started, most thought this was a team with playoff potential. Jerry put good coaches in place to succeed this year. The team had an awesome draft and hit with legitimate starters in rounds 1-4. I thought this was one of the best teams The Cowboys have had in many years.

No one can plan for the amount of injuries this year. It was insane. Yes, all teams fight through injuries but this year was staggering.

The team failed this year but it was not Jerry’s fault. Jerry shares some of the blame but I look to injuries, players, and coaches as 90% of the reason for not making the playoffs. Wrong scheme and player use by coaches. Knuckleheads freelancing. And injuries!

Where Jerry failed in my opinion is the contracts with Zeke, Jaylon Smith, and Dak. Jerry caved to Zeke but probably 70% of this board thought it was the right move at the time. Heck, half this board probably thinks it is still a good contract. Do a poll Half this board probably would sign Dak at $35-40M with a cap of $175 M which is crazy in my opinion. Do a poll and you will see.

Jerry holds on to players sometimes too long and overpays the stars. Many posters here and Cowboy fans in general are in agreement with overpaying and keeping the stars. For some reason Cowboy fans don’t just want to win but win with Dak and Zeke. Cowboy fans seem to focus on the star players more than the team. That is what is driving the ‘culture’ issue in my opinion.

If before the season started you thought this was a playoff team, then the blame is not with the front office. I, and I alone, judge the talent of this roster with my own eyes and ears. I watch the practices and games and research opinions both here and other places. I control that not anyone else. I thought this year’s team had potential to go deep into the playoffs.

 

[Bobhaze]

@Bobhaze For some reason you seem infatuated with Jerry Jones and the front office. Some have DDS - Dak Derangement Syndrome and some have JJDS- Jerry Jones Derangement Syndrome. Yes, Jerry has made his share of mistakes over 30 plus years. He has also made many good decisions.

12/32 Teams make the playoffs every year. So the Cowboys .333 is close to the .375 statistical odds long term. Cue the Yadayadayada team has not won SB in X years crowd. The Cowboys play in the most competitive division and the salary cap is the great equalizer. Give me the Bengals and Browns who are tens of millions of dollars under the cap every year and my playoff percentage will easily increase.

Before the season started, most thought this was a team with playoff potential. Jerry put good coaches in place to succeed this year. The team had an awesome draft and hit with legitimate starters in rounds 1-4. I thought this was one of the best teams The Cowboys have had in many years.

No one can plan for the amount of injuries this year. It was insane. Yes, all teams fight through injuries but this year was staggering.

The team failed this year but it was not Jerry’s fault. Jerry shares some of the blame but I look to injuries, players, and coaches as 90% of the reason for not making the playoffs. Wrong scheme and player use by coaches. Knuckleheads freelancing. And injuries!

Where Jerry failed in my opinion is the contracts with Zeke, Jaylon Smith, and Dak. Jerry caved to Zeke but probably 70% of this board thought it was the right move at the time. Heck, half this board probably thinks it is still a good contract. Do a poll Half this board probably would sign Dak at $35-40M with a cap of $175 M which is crazy in my opinion. Do a poll and you will see.

Jerry holds on to players sometimes too long and overpays the stars. Many posters here and Cowboy fans in general are in agreement with overpaying and keeping the stars. For some reason Cowboy fans don’t just want to win but win with Dak and Zeke. Cowboy fans seem to focus on the star players more than the team. That is what is driving the ‘culture’ issue in my opinion.

If before the season started you thought this was a playoff team, then the blame is not with the front office. I, and I alone, judge the talent of this roster with my own eyes and ears. I watch the practices and games and research opinions both here and other places. I control that not anyone else. I thought this year’s team had potential to go deep into the playoffs.

Good post. Well argued, although I don’t agree with some of your conclusions.

When it comes to ultimate responsibility for organizational failure, I do think that always starts at the top, whether it’s a football organization or any other organization. Especially one whose leader has clearly inserted himself as the de-facto “face of the franchise” and holds the ultimate authority card. That doesn’t mean players and coaches aren’t also responsible- they certainly are. But true accountability cannot happen unless it also happens at the top, and JJ and his family will continue to wield their football operations power regardless of on-field results.

I certainly acknowledge I have said a lot about JJ and the FO over the years. I usually do that in response to the idea of “What went wrong this season?” Or “Why is this happening?”. Sometimes when I see the idea that someone in the past like Jason Garrett was mostly blamed for our woes instead of the guy who hired and kept him here for a decade, I feel motivated to speak.

Anyway, I’m open to the criticism you make here. Perhaps I’m guilty of that. I have started plenty of threads about players, coaches, etc., but I will admit as of late it’s been more about “why we're in this mess”.

 

[Bobhaze]

Clearly there are upgrades that this team needs I would love to add DT to work alongside Gallimore whom I though did a good job as a rookie. I also know you will never build a team of stud players across the board, no team does. You will have the so called Jags and you expect them to work within the system you put in place. You also have to deal with yearly loses of players that as lost in FA.

Great point DD. You can’t have 22 “stars” in your starting lineup. You win with a team, not just stars. I like to refer to “non-stars” as role players. They play a key role without being big stat people or making the big bucks.

 

[rnr_honeybadger]

A friend of mine told me a sad but true joke yesterday...
“What do you call a bunch of overpaid athletes sitting at home watching the Super Bowl?”
Answer: The Dallas Cowboys

So now that you are a Moderator, do you feel different?

 

[TwoCentPlain]

@Bobhaze Before the season started, did you think this team had the talent to make the playoffs? If you did then the FO did it’s job, correct?

Every two weeks I meet with my boss and he asks each person two specific questions. 1) Do you have everything you need to succeed? and 2) What do you need from me? Anyone who is silent has no excuse and better not blame the boss if things go bad.

 

[Bobhaze]

So now that you are a Moderator, do you feel different?

I don’t feel any different really. I see being a mod as just being here to help the site and everyone who posts here. I really love the site and have great respect for the great people who post here. Not here to do anything more than just help this place stay cool. One of the things I love about the philosophy here is we want everyone to stay and have room to express their opinions. Just stay within the fences and be respectful. Etc.

I was a teacher, a school principal and a school superintendent in my career, and many times had to “be the bad guy”, but I never felt my job was anything more than helping people. It was never some stupid power trip at all. Same thing here. I plan on just being myself and post like I always have. And I still have a lot to learn about the whole mod thing.