Tanking would have been the right strategy

[America's Cowboy]

I'm not worried. I really don't give a crap. You wrote a book in the OP so I figured I'd get you all worked up.
I enjoy the game and none of your or my *****ing is gonna change anything. I'd rather enjoy my gamedays with a good meal and a win, than worrying about something I can't control.

Looks like you're the one who got all worked up, hence the, "Tanking is for fans that don't give a crap about pride and effort. It makes me sick," rant and the continued responses afterwards. lol. But you're right, Coach, it's better to enjoy gamedays with a good meal and a win. Too bad this team doesn't know how to win either on the field or in the draft.

 

[Carter]

I would have agreed if one team was running away with the NFCE. But we were in it until the last second. Playoffs and Homefield Advantage even more so is not guraranteed so you have to try if theres a chance. In the Playoffs you never know what happens. Weve seen it with Nick Foles. Yesterday Pat Mahomes went out and the Chiefs were extremely lucky not to go out.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Nah, those wanting to give up because it's easier to do. Not my ideology.

Nothing to do with giving up. Its just understanding what is best for the team. When it comes down to it, its intelligence vs uncontrolled emotion.

Bottom line is you were rooting for the worst thing for the Cowboys. And for what? Your own personal short term ego. You are a casual fan. No big deal.

 

[Hadenough]

Agreed. It's also a bit more entertaining watching a team at 8-8 over 1-15. However, I think the point was picking from 1-4 is better than picking from 15-18. Neither team made the playoffs. If you're constantly going 8-8 you are never going to get a franchise QB unless you get lucky.

Pedigree is whats still standing in the playoffs.

 

[Big_D]

x 100

We should never, ever, say Cowboys have the smartest fans in the NFL....

Or the smartest front office!

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Nothing to do with giving up. Its just understanding what is best for the team. When it comes down to it, its intelligence vs uncontrolled emotion.

Bottom line is you were rooting for the worst thing for the Cowboys. And for what? Your own personal short term ego. You are a casual fan. No big deal.

You see it that way, I see it as a deafetest ideology.

 

[75boyz]

Not only did tanking work for the jags...it also brought them their new coach. Meyer inherits a team that will probably have five or six new starters just from the draft alone, and then go FA shopping on Rodeo Drive to bring in two or three blue chippers. As opposed to the lower scale dumpsters the Jones clan shop in. I also imagine he will be doing some wheeling and dealing on draft day. I think of him as a JJohnson clone. He knows the collegiate talent very well at this point and will be bringing in some hidden gems even after the draft. The only negative i see with all this is that UM does not have a history of staying too long, as well as his health. But we shall see.

Outstanding post and example comparison used.

 

[Teague31]

Nah....

We could've hosted a home playoff game.

We did the right thing, but failed to execute...

“Failed to execute”. The Cowboy way since 1995

 

[raven55]

I hope personally Dak is okay alot of people make some interesting points for the team, unfortunately the GM makes the call, Like signing a running back to a contract that was far to much and put the team on the hook if he's traded or released. What this team comes down to is that he makes the right decision. Unfortunately been watching since Jimmy left you decide if the decisions were right or wrong. I've a fan since 67 when i was in school seen times when news people said they couldn't win the big one, saw bob lily throw his helmet the field and today this team and the GM have dug such a hole I myself done thinks its gonna happen in my lifetime unfortunately.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

TequilaCowboy said: ↑
Not only did tanking work for the jags...it also brought them their new coach. Meyer inherits a team that will probably have five or six new starters just from the draft alone, and then go FA shopping on Rodeo Drive to bring in two or three blue chippers. As opposed to the lower scale dumpsters the Jones clan shop in. I also imagine he will be doing some wheeling and dealing on draft day. I think of him as a JJohnson clone. He knows the collegiate talent very well at this point and will be bringing in some hidden gems even after the draft. The only negative i see with all this is that UM does not have a history of staying too long, as well as his health. But we shall see.

Outstanding post and example comparison used.

I don't think it was all that outstanding. Jags have been bad for years. Where'd "tanking" ever get them?

So one year you (and Mr. Cowboy) say it's the miracle tank? It remains to be seen. Meyer has proven himself to be a GREAT college coach. One of the best. But let's ask the other GREAT college coaches who gave the NFL a try. There's only really one that did it.

It's true...remarkably similar situations...except for the modern cap and huge trade.

You can't just source one team and show the effectiveness of losing/tanking/high draft picks...especially when that hasn't even happened yet! The proof is not in the pudding...but the eating of it....NEXT YEAR. THEN we can talk about what an outstanding post this was.

It should prove to be a fun story to watch.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

“You play to WIN THE GAME... Hello? You play to win the game”

Agreed, otherwise what do you do? Play to win this year, play to lose next year, and on and on? Yeah that'll build SB teams. Cowboys in 1976 needed a better running game, so they just tanked down to the second pick in the draft? No they went 11-3. And we all know what happened after that.

Trying to lose so you won't lose?

Now that's a strategy.

 

[75boyz]

TequilaCowboy said: ↑
Not only did tanking work for the jags...it also brought them their new coach. Meyer inherits a team that will probably have five or six new starters just from the draft alone, and then go FA shopping on Rodeo Drive to bring in two or three blue chippers. As opposed to the lower scale dumpsters the Jones clan shop in. I also imagine he will be doing some wheeling and dealing on draft day. I think of him as a JJohnson clone. He knows the collegiate talent very well at this point and will be bringing in some hidden gems even after the draft. The only negative i see with all this is that UM does not have a history of staying too long, as well as his health. But we shall see.


I don't think it was all that outstanding. Jags have been bad for years. Where'd "tanking" ever get them?

So one year you (and Mr. Cowboy) say it's the miracle tank? It remains to be seen. Meyer has proven himself to be a GREAT college coach. One of the best. But let's ask the other GREAT college coaches who gave the NFL a try. There's only really one that did it.

It's true...remarkably similar situations...except for the modern cap and huge trade.

You can't just source one team and show the effectiveness of losing/tanking/high draft picks...especially when that hasn't even happened yet! The proof is not in the pudding...but the eating of it....NEXT YEAR. THEN we can talk about what an outstanding post this was.

It should prove to be a fun story to watch.

Well pointed out and I agree the end game on field will be the ultimate determinant of success.

My opinion still stands in full support of TequilaCowboys team methodology he pointed out in how the Jags reached the point of where they're at.

Nice post.

 

[Big_D]

Agreed, otherwise what do you do? Play to win this year, play to lose next year, and on and on? Yeah that'll build SB teams. Cowboys in 1976 needed a better running game, so they just tanked down to the second pick in the draft? No they went 11-3. And we all know what happened after that.

Trying to lose so you won't lose?

Now that's a strategy.

It's an even better strategy pretending you're good enough every year. Been working real well. If the team is no longer in the playoff hunt then the following year should be priority #1 not not the usual crap wins we've grown accustomed to. That was a Garrett staple. You been watching for a quarter of a century? This team stinks.... regularly. But remember that win against the Commanders last year? Good times!! What an amazing performance!! Really accelerated this team to new heights lol The usual. People talk about building through the draft and then pretend draft position isn't more important than a win that amounts to absolutely nothing. You already stunk up the season to the point where the playoffs are a pipe dream but some Cowboy fans love a good moral victory!

 

[LACowboysFan1]

It's an even better strategy pretending you're good enough every year. Been working real well. If the team is no longer in the playoff hunt then the following year should be priority #1 not not the usual crap wins we've grown accustomed to. That was a Garrett staple. You been watching for a quarter of a century? This team stinks.... regularly. But remember that win against the Commanders last year? Good times!! What an amazing performance!! Really accelerated this team to new heights lol The usual. People talk about building through the draft and then pretend draft position isn't more important than a win that amounts to absolutely nothing. You already stunk up the season to the point where the playoffs are a pipe dream but some Cowboy fans love a good moral victory!

You would like to have the highest draft spot possible, regardless of any other factor. No question. If for no other reason than there's more players available to pick from, pick of the litter so to speak.

But how have the Cowboys done in recent years, drafting other than very high? Did they get a bunch of NFL failures? Well let's look at some mid to late first rounders (as in 1-10 would be early, 11-21 mid and 22-32 late):

2009 Dez Bryant - 24th. All time Dallas touchdown leader, multiple Pro Bowler.
2013 Travis Frederick - 31st. Multiple Pro Bowler.
2014 Zack Martin - 16th. Multiple Pro Bowler.
2015 Byron Jones - 27th. Not so great at Dallas, but one Pro Bowl, and Dolphins paid big bucks for him.
2020 Cee Dee Lamb - 17th. Too early to really tell, but has shown great promise.

Point is if you don't try for the higher pick, it's not the kiss of death for your team, there are, and you can get, great players even late in the draft, and Dallas has done so.

Not drafting early hasn't been the issue with Dallas, they have gotten plenty of good players later, it's poor free agent signings, the giving of big contracts to players after only a year of good play, drafting "project" players, poor coaching hires and other things that have contributed more to the poor records than not drafting high.

And this year, with so many needs and so few top-notch players in key spots like defensive tackle available, trading down imho is the way to go, assuming willing partners...

I

 

[75boyz]

It's an even better strategy pretending you're good enough every year. Been working real well. If the team is no longer in the playoff hunt then the following year should be priority #1 not not the usual crap wins we've grown accustomed to. That was a Garrett staple. You been watching for a quarter of a century? This team stinks.... regularly. But remember that win against the Commanders last year? Good times!! What an amazing performance!! Really accelerated this team to new heights lol The usual. People talk about building through the draft and then pretend draft position isn't more important than a win that amounts to absolutely nothing. You already stunk up the season to the point where the playoffs are a pipe dream but some Cowboy fans love a good moral victory!

You and I my brother see things the same. And I don't care if you want to call it intentionally "tanking" or flip the script and just say they lost by actually trying, the point is 2 to 3 "bad" seasons in a row need to occur with a huge infusion of fresh first contract talent.

I'll say it again. This team can not overcome poor GM'ing, HC'ing and QB'ing and expect to win.

So....
"At least" if the team rebuilt with a whole new influx of first contract talent they would stand a fighter's chance. I mean highly unlikely still but Cowboys fans still cling to that 95 team being so talented it still won in spite of Switzers coaching. It was Jimmy's team.

Maybe some crazy assemblage of talent could do it one more time.

I doubt it but I know this current status quo and it's leaders of said performance need a serious re boot of some sort.

My .02.

 

[jterrell]

Ha! How did that work out? Coaching sucked, hence why some got fired, and the starters sucked, hence their horrible performance all season long. Like I said, I would have started the backups and given them some starting experience.

They started back ups all year long.

They started all 1st and 2nd string LBs at least twice.
They emptied the clip along the DL and DB group.
They started every OT/OG/OC on the opening day roster.

You would have been fired and not hire-able anywhere else had you did that nonsense.
Which is why you wouldn't have as a head coach.

The Eagles tanked because the coach was told to do so by mgmt who was firing the coach anyway. He should have refused.

This isn't complicated. And it isn't Madden.
These are real people with real jobs who's only goal is to win games and get out alive.
You do not EVER lay down.
You can play younger players who are part of your future but you do not ever bench better players for worse ones that have no future with you.
You would ruin your relationship with that player forever.

So once again let me repeat, tanking is for losers.
CLE has built a heck of a roster but it's still 3 years since their tank and they are trying to build.
They tanked for Baker friggin Mayfield... who wasn't even a median starter until the second half of this season.
Pat Mahomes was drafted 10th, DeShaun Watson 12th.

If they had drafted wither guy they likely win a Super Bowl this year.
So yea yay tanking.

 

[America's Cowboy]

They started back ups all year long.

They started all 1st and 2nd string LBs at least twice.
They emptied the clip along the DL and DB group.
They started every OT/OG/OC on the opening day roster.

You would have been fired and not hire-able anywhere else had you did that nonsense.
Which is why you wouldn't have as a head coach.

The Eagles tanked because the coach was told to do so by mgmt who was firing the coach anyway. He should have refused.

This isn't complicated. And it isn't Madden.
These are real people with real jobs who's only goal is to win games and get out alive.
You do not EVER lay down.
You can play younger players who are part of your future but you do not ever bench better players for worse ones that have no future with you.
You would ruin your relationship with that player forever.

So once again let me repeat, tanking is for losers.
CLE has built a heck of a roster but it's still 3 years since their tank and they are trying to build.
They tanked for Baker friggin Mayfield... who wasn't even a median starter until the second half of this season.
Pat Mahomes was drafted 10th, DeShaun Watson 12th.

If they had drafted wither guy they likely win a Super Bowl this year.
So yea yay tanking.

I deleted what I truly wanted to say to you when it comes to how to best build a winner, but thanks for your input. Yawn.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Not at all. Those players (starters) were given 3/4ths of the season to try their hardest AND GOT OVERPAID FOR IT, but they failed badly. Benching them the last month to give your backups a chance to see what they have, after one realizes the season is lost, is a better way to find out who is worth keeping and paying.

You are just talking out your backside. You sit Dalton and DLaw for DiNucci and Anae then your story isn't going to sell and you are going to piss people off in house and across the league.

 

[America's Cowboy]

You are just talking out your backside. You sit Dalton and DLaw for DiNucci and Anae then your story isn't going to sell and you are going to piss people off in house and across the league.

What do you think Jimmy Johnson would have done? Keep playing those bum starters who already threw away the season, or would Jimmy have played backups to further evaluate them those last few games in order to determine who stay or goes? I believe Jimmy would have been in rebuilding mode come December.

 

[FVSTONE]

People talk about it never being helpful to lose on purpose, but we've been struggling to get to 8-8 every year for 15 years. If overcoming adversity to get to middling were actually such a character builder, we would have won many Super Bowls by now.

We're picking 10th. Which is OK. But we could have been picking 3rd or 4th or something in every round. So that's 40-50 spots of surrendered draft capital. And we didn't make the playoffs, so that flurry of wins at the end of the year did nothing but set us back long-term.

Also, signing a veteran backup quarterback - unless you're a serious contender, not a Jerry Jones magical-thinking contender - is a waste of resources. We got Andy Dalton. At the end of the year, our backup quarterback was better than the backup quarterbacks for other teams with injured starters. So we won a few games. It didn't help us. It hurt us. See paragraph 2.

Cowboys have been tanking for 24 yrs straight and where has it gotten them?????? The NFL brain trust needs to come up with a new bowl game that would be played the morning of the Super Bowl game. I think something like the "Bottom Feeder Bowl" would be great for this organization, the Cowboys would dominate this bowl game year after year, decade after decade. We could become the official lovable losers in the NFL...................