The future of the Dallas Cowboys

[Trajan]

If Jethro hadn’t had the early success with Jimmy , he would have been ran out of town with the results he’s had since.

Truth. Jerruh was not popular when he fired Tom Landry. If Jerruh had brought Switzer instead of Jimmy and fell on his face, he would be long gone selling oil leases outside of Odessa or Little Rock.

 

[Diehardblues]

The team was a mess when Jerry bought it. Now it is worth a fortune and Jerry is in the Hall of Fame.

The Cowboys were losing about a million a month which generating revenue back in those days wasn’t what it is today throughout the league. Many teams operated in a deficit and lost money.

The windfall in the NFL was always the increased value franchises gained.

Bum Bright purchased the Cowboys in 1985 for 85 million. And after the three worst losing seasons since the early expansion years and the team operating in a cash flow deficit it still sold for 140 million just 4 years later .

I wouldn’t describe that as a mess. The 140 million was the highest price ever paid for a franchise at the time. Bright made 65 million after 4 years . A very profitable mess.

 

[viman96]

The team spiraled down under Landry without a QB. He’d already taken Irvin in 88 and had Herschel. It’s very likely with Troy he would have turned it around.

No way the team is turned around with just Troy. I know that is not what you are saying. For me I think the a major key is the all the reshuffling of the OL to find the right combo. Jimmy and the coaches moved players up and down the line and another from the defense to find something that worked and eventually dominated opposing DLs.

I do not think Landry would have built the OL that Jimmy did with the exact same players.

 

[Diehardblues]

No way the team is turned around with just Troy. I know that is not what you are saying. For me I think the a major key is the all the reshuffling of the OL to find the right combo. Jimmy and the coaches moved players up and down the line and another from the defense to find something that worked and eventually dominated opposing DLs.

I do not think Landry would have built the OL that Jimmy did with the exact same players.

I’m not saying Landry produces what Jimmy did. You asked if I though Tom would turn it around. I simply said it was more likely with Troy at QB.

If you go back to the down spiral it’s directly related to losing Danny White for the season in 1986 when we were 6-2. We finished 7-9. And never recovered in 1987 or 1988 with the likes of Hogeboom and Pueller at QB.

We had some other pieces in place to build on. Landry had proven he could build a contender taking 4 different QB’s to championship appearances. I certainly don’t believe it’s much of a stretch to believe it was possible again.

Do I think he builds a back to back champion. Probably not. He wouldn’t have traded Herschel which helped a faster turn around. And Jimmy was the perfect HC for the time as he knew the college talent coming up. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t have turned the corner with Troy, Irvin and Herschel.

 

[JoeKing]

What are you talking about? The Dallas Cowboys were not an expansion team in 1989. They had a history and players already on the team. To suggest Tom Landry and Schramm had nothing to do with the 1992 team is not rooted in reality. There were players on the 1992 team who were draft before Jerruh bought the team. Did Jerruh tell Tom Landry to draft the players before he bought the team ?

These players on the 1992 team were selected by Tom Landry and played on the 1992 team.

Michael Irvin - 1988
Ken Norton Junior - 1988
Mark Tuinei - Undrafted
Nate Newton - Undrafted
Bill Bates - Undrafted
Kevin Gogan - 1987
Chad Hennings - 1988
Jim Jeffcoat - 1983
Kelvin Martin - 1987

Now, this takes zero away from Jimmy Johnson. Most of the team he built for the super bowl run where his guys. He was an outstanding coach. He inherited a poor team, and built it into a super bowl champion. If Jerry didn't drink too much and fire his back to back super bowl winning coach, the Cowboys should have won more. Jerry gets less and less credit for the Jimmy super bowls as the years go on. Without Jimmy running things, Jerry hasn't done anything, save one season when Bumbling Switzer took Jimmy's team to the big game. Even Aikman said if Jimmy stayed they would have more super bowls in a great interview on the Darren Woodson show.

It's great that Jerry built a money machine, would be nice to add more Lombardi Trophies next to the stripper poles at the stadium, but it isn't going to happen since Jimmy left.

Now, that explains a lot. I thought you were either a liar or just didn't know what you are talking about. I was wrong and owe you an apology. I'm sorry for being so wrong.

It turns out you are just so much a hater of Jerry Jones and the Jones family that you are in utter denial of all they have done for this team. Yes, 9 holdovers from that awful bottom-of-the-barrel team that Landry coached were still around in 1992. So what! They alone did not win that year. It took the additions that GM Jerry Jones oversaw to make that happen. The coach that Jerry was so wise enough to hire, fixed what Landry could not. By '92, they were no longer Landry's guys. They were Jimmy's guys... which you have already admitted. Half of them weren't even around by the time Head Coach, Barry Switzer took the team to a 5th SB victory... Jerry's 3rd World Title, eclipsing what Tex Schramm managed to bring to the team.

The fact you can't admit Jerry bested Tex as a GM is just sad for you. So sad!

 

[plasticman]

2 things lol
do you think landry would have got along with jerry ??
and the owner was the one who demanded new owner fire Landry. it was part of why jerry got the team.

There are the iconic coaches that you just don't fire. You don't fire the legends, they have earned the privilege of determining their own exit.....and then you build the statue or name the stadium after them. It's respect for what they contributed You don't fire the Shulas or the Lombardis or the Landry's. Besides, they have such a reverence for the game that they couldn't stand to fail rebuilding a team. Landry was only going to coach for 2 more seasons.

Somewhere in there was a diplomatic solution. If Jerry had just respected who and what Landry was to the game, he would have made an effort to preserve Landry's dignity. If he had at least made some kind of effort to respect the Coach then more fans and media would have looked upon him more favorably and popular opinion might have made him the good guy. Perhaps Jimmy Johnson could have even came aboard as a consultant for one season. That may have even been enough for Landry to walk. At least it would have been on his terms.

Instead he's sitting in a restaurant with Jimmy, telegraphing to the world that he's going to humiliate Landry. He even hired a consulting firm to determine how he was going to do it. It was such a failure that that company now looked upon that incident as a major shift in philosophy.

What Landry accomplished was remarkable. He took the Cowboys to conference championship games with four different quarterbacks. He was Bill Belicek before there was a Bill Belicek and the first to admit that is Bill Belicek.

 

[Trajan]

Now, that explains a lot. I thought you were either a liar or just didn't know what you are talking about. I was wrong and owe you an apology. I'm sorry for being so wrong.

It turns out you are just so much a hater of Jerry Jones and the Jones family that you are in utter denial of all they have done for this team. Yes, 9 holdovers from that awful bottom-of-the-barrel team that Landry coached were still around in 1992. So what! They alone did not win that year. It took the additions that GM Jerry Jones oversaw to make that happen. The coach that Jerry was so wise enough to hire, fixed what Landry could not. By '92, they were no longer Landry's guys. They were Jimmy's guys... which you have already admitted. Half of them weren't even around by the time Head Coach, Barry Switzer took the team to a 5th SB victory... Jerry's 3rd World Title, eclipsing what Tex Schramm managed to bring to the team.

The fact you can't admit Jerry bested Tex as a GM is just sad for you. So sad!

First, I was not the person you initially responded to, our names are on these post so you can tell, so it is rather hard to call me a liar when I had not posted anything, but I forgive you, as it appears you are working from a point of limited cognitive performance.

Second, I accept your apology and am glad you acknowledge how wrong you are, probably a very common occurrence for you to do so.

Also, you are welcome.

 

[JoeKing]

First, I was not the person you initially responded to, our names are on these post so you can tell, so it is rather hard to call me a liar when I had not posted anything, but I forgive you, as it appears you are working from a point of limited cognitive performance.

Second, I accept your apology and am glad you acknowledge how wrong you are, probably a very common occurrence for you to do so.

Also, you are welcome.

Despite the insults...

 

[coult44]

As a fan of the Cowboys for 50+ years. I treasure the memories of Tom Landry, Tex Schramm & Jimmy Johnson. They are the reason Jerry has been able to load his bank account the last 25 years without providing fans a winning product. The name Dallas Cowboys is the Amazon of football. No brag...Just facts. The product wins without winning.

So don't expect anything to change in the way the Cowboys FO do business. Why change when you don't have too.

I would love to see the demographics of who spends the money to keep the Boyz relevant and at the top of the “Forbes” game. (I’d actually like to see the demographics for the entire NFL.) Eventually the people who spend the money need to be shown a little gratitude and love. We could have an entire multi page thread about that subject though.

 

[rambo2]

There are the iconic coaches that you just don't fire. You don't fire the legends, they have earned the privilege of determining their own exit.....and then you build the statue or name the stadium after them. It's respect for what they contributed You don't fire the Shulas or the Lombardis or the Landry's. Besides, they have such a reverence for the game that they couldn't stand to fail rebuilding a team. Landry was only going to coach for 2 more seasons.

Somewhere in there was a diplomatic solution. If Jerry had just respected who and what Landry was to the game, he would have made an effort to preserve Landry's dignity. If he had at least made some kind of effort to respect the Coach then more fans and media would have looked upon him more favorably and popular opinion might have made him the good guy. Perhaps Jimmy Johnson could have even came aboard as a consultant for one season. That may have even been enough for Landry to walk. At least it would have been on his terms.

Instead he's sitting in a restaurant with Jimmy, telegraphing to the world that he's going to humiliate Landry. He even hired a consulting firm to determine how he was going to do it. It was such a failure that that company now looked upon that incident as a major shift in philosophy.

What Landry accomplished was remarkable. He took the Cowboys to conference championship games with four different quarterbacks. He was Bill Belicek before there was a Bill Belicek and the first to admit that is Bill Belicek.

Landry was a great coach. I remember when they said he couldn't win the big one after losing to Green Bay 2 years in a row and then getting beaten by Cleveland 2 straight years. It sure didn't look good in 1970 when they got slaughtered by St. Louis on Monday Night Football 38 to 0. A lot of people wanted Landry fired at that time.

 

[Bobhaze]

The offense is fine. The skill players on the defense are ok. But we need a do-it-all defensive line. To me, that means bigger DE's and bigger DT's.

As of right now, IMO, our linebackers have no heart and our defensive line is too small. We will get bullied in the run game again this year, if nothing changes.

All true...but the biggest thing holding this team back is its culture. As soft as a roll of Charmin and entitled as someone named Spalding. Make this culture- its players, coaches and entire organization tougher and more accountable, and we have a chance. You could bring in 10 HOFers at multiple positions, but until this culture toughens up- I hate to say it- I don’t expect much to change.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

All true...but the biggest thing holding this team back is its culture. As soft as a roll of Charmin and entitled as someone named Spalding. Make this culture- its players, coaches and entire organization tougher and more accountable, and we have a chance. You could bring in 10 HOFers at multiple positions, but until this culture toughens up- I hate to say it- I don’t expect much to change.

I agree. Not having a hard-nosed, no nonsense head coach is part of the problem also. Troy Aikman has repeatedly said he had to play the bad guy when Jimmy left.

Jerry doesn't seem to like those type of coaches. Too challenging to his ego, I guess.

 

[DandyDon52]

There are the iconic coaches that you just don't fire. You don't fire the legends, they have earned the privilege of determining their own exit.....and then you build the statue or name the stadium after them. It's respect for what they contributed You don't fire the Shulas or the Lombardis or the Landry's. Besides, they have such a reverence for the game that they couldn't stand to fail rebuilding a team. Landry was only going to coach for 2 more seasons.

Somewhere in there was a diplomatic solution. If Jerry had just respected who and what Landry was to the game, he would have made an effort to preserve Landry's dignity. If he had at least made some kind of effort to respect the Coach then more fans and media would have looked upon him more favorably and popular opinion might have made him the good guy. Perhaps Jimmy Johnson could have even came aboard as a consultant for one season. That may have even been enough for Landry to walk. At least it would have been on his terms.

Instead he's sitting in a restaurant with Jimmy, telegraphing to the world that he's going to humiliate Landry. He even hired a consulting firm to determine how he was going to do it. It was such a failure that that company now looked upon that incident as a major shift in philosophy.

What Landry accomplished was remarkable. He took the Cowboys to conference championship games with four different quarterbacks. He was Bill Belicek before there was a Bill Belicek and the first to admit that is Bill Belicek.

Tom was iconic, but here is a question no one asks,
why did the guy selling the team, make firing tom publicly, part of the deal?? He would have to dislike him a lot to demand that.

 

[DandyDon52]

I agree. Not having a hard-nosed, no nonsense head coach is part of the problem also. Troy Aikman has repeatedly said he had to play the bad guy when Jimmy left.

Jerry doesn't seem to like those type of coaches. Too challenging to his ego, I guess.

they cant be controlled and wont be his puppet, or a yes man.

 

[plasticman]

Landry was a great coach. I remember when they said he couldn't win the big one after losing to Green Bay 2 years in a row and then getting beaten by Cleveland 2 straight years. It sure didn't look good in 1970 when they got slaughtered by St. Louis on Monday Night Football 38 to 0. A lot of people wanted Landry fired at that time.

That was the 2nd game I ever watched. The first was the Minnesota beatdown three weeks prior. I had recently arrived in the U.S. and wanted to learn how to play football so a friend suggested I watch the Cowboys because they were "really good". I told my friend that he must have tricked me because they were really bad.

I felt sorry for them and so adopted them as my team. They didn't lose another game that season until the Super Bowl. The following year they won the Super Bowl.

I enjoyed 15 straight years of winning until the late 80's.

 

[rambo2]

Truth. Jerruh was not popular when he fired Tom Landry. If Jerruh had brought Switzer instead of Jimmy and fell on his face, he would be long gone selling oil leases outside of Odessa or Little Rock.

If's and buts, if Murray hadn't fumbled and Dez held on to the ball, Jerry might have won his 4th Super Bowl.

 

[plasticman]

Tom was iconic, but here is a question no one asks,
why did the guy selling the team, make firing tom publicly, part of the deal?? He would have to dislike him a lot to demand that.

The owner was "Bum" Bright and he bought the team to make a profit, a new concept at the time.

Owners didn't buy franchises to get rich, they were already rich. They bought the team because they could afford to finance them while creating something to give to the communities that patronized their businesses, it was a way to bring prestige to their companies. In fact, it wasn't unusual for owners to lose money that they made up for with increased sales to their businesses.

Anyway, Bright was involved in a major banking collapse and he was losing money in his oil business so he was forced to sell the team.

Bum Bright hated John Kennedy and bought a full page and attacking his policies. It was published on the same day Kennedy was assassinated. He is mentioned in a few Kennedy assassinations' conspiracies.

I think he was bitter because he bought the team just before it began to decline.

 

[DandyDon52]

The owner was "Bum" Bright and he bought the team to make a profit, a new concept at the time.

Owners didn't buy franchises to get rich, they were already rich. They bought the team because they could afford to finance them while creating something to give to the communities that patronized their businesses, it was a way to bring prestige to their companies. In fact, it wasn't unusual for owners to lose money that they made up for with increased sales to their businesses.

Anyway, Bright was involved in a major banking collapse and he was losing money in his oil business so he was forced to sell the team.

Bum Bright hated John Kennedy and bought a full page and attacking his policies. It was published on the same day Kennedy was assassinated. He is mentioned in a few Kennedy assassinations' conspiracies.

I think he was bitter because he bought the team just before it began to decline.

HMMM that was interesting, so he could have been in on the kennedy hit.
I didnt know anything about him.
but that doesnt explain why he hated tom.

 

[Blackrain]

All true...but the biggest thing holding this team back is its culture. As soft as a roll of Charmin and entitled as someone named Spalding. Make this culture- its players, coaches and entire organization tougher and more accountable, and we have a chance. You could bring in 10 HOFers at multiple positions, but until this culture toughens up- I hate to say it- I don’t expect much to change.

You called it Bullet , and unfortunately there are more entitled, Silver spoon-fed Snowflake, Joneses to continue running the FO than we have years left to live . Gone are the great leaders that fought for our country replaced by Jerry and his Pansy *** offspring .
Geez I see Jones DNA on this team past 2050 and honestly the culture as with the game getting even softer . Playoffs are our ceiling , I adjusted my expectations long ago . There really is no hope of a SB with the Jones gene pool running our team and it is truly sad but a reality that must be faced at this point by even the most optimistic Cowboy fans .
Here is where players go to get paid and underachieve staying safe to extend their careers because we tolerate it and there is zero accountability

 

[DandyDon52]

You called it Bullet , and unfortunately there are more entitled, Silver spoon-fed Snowflake, Joneses to continue running the FO than we have years left to live . Gone are the great leaders that fought for our country replaced by Jerry and his Pansy *** offspring .
Geez I see Jones DNA on this team past 2050 and honestly the culture as with the game getting even softer . Playoffs are our ceiling , I adjusted my expectations long ago . There really is no hope of a SB with the Jones gene pool running our team and it is truly sad but a reality that must be faced at this point by even the most optimistic Cowboy fans .
Here is where players go to get paid and underachieve staying safe to extend their careers because we tolerate it and there is zero accountability

u nailed it all lol.
Thats about how I see it too. Playoff appearance is a good season now.