The most important upgrade for this team

[TexasBacon]

With all due respect, it doesn't matter if every single person on this forum stops buying Cowboys gear and stops going to games. We collectively make up less than 1% of the Cowboys fanbase. The stadium will always be packed and jerseys will always sell no matter what. The Jones' will never sell the team unless one of y'all can become a billionaire and go after them. Yes, I do think that Jerry's ego gets in the way and hopefully Stephen will be smart enough to hire an actual GM when Jerry "retires". But we fans aren't changing that. And in no way, shape, or form do I believe Jerry cares more about money than winning. All he wants to do is win, the problem is he wants to win when he is the GM. That said, I think it's laughable to think that all of these players who have played for countless coaches and countless teams for decades somehow automatically become soft because of the Cowboys culture. I think there's a few select entitled players like Jaylon who were always like that who take advantage of the Cowboys culture and I believe the "America's Team" culture can be a distraction, but I don't believe Dak, Tank, Amari, the O-line, Gallup, Lamb, etc., are soft or have become softer since joining the Cowboys. No, we haven't even been to the title game in 25 years and there are a myriad of reasons for that, including many bad decisions by the Jones' or coaches or players. But we fans shouldn't let our frustrations make us think we have it all figured out or that we can really change a culture like that of the Dallas Cowboys. Personally I know who they are, I know who the Jones' are, and I choose to root for all parties involved to win a championship. Complaining isn't going to get me anywhere.

 

[Denim Chicken]

exactly. Winning can only MASK the culture issues, but they still remain.

Does it matter if you're winning, though?

 

[Redball Express]

We all know we need help at multiple positions. We can talk Safeties, DTs, LBs...whatever position of need we have on this team. But the most important upgrade our Cowboys need...the biggest obstacle holding this team back from being a contender is its CULTURE. Currently, it’s as soft as a roll of Charmin and entitled as someone named Spalding.

Yes, we must have talent upgrades at multiple positions. Talent is critical to success in any sport. We need lots more talent for sure. But what this team needs more than anything- its players, coaches and entire organization, is to get tougher and more accountable.

You could bring in 10 HOFers at multiple positions, but until this culture toughens up- I hate to say it- we should not expect much to change. The difference between a typical 8-8 season and a deep playoff run isn’t just talent. It’s a change in the culture. That’s the most important element Tom Brady brought to the Buccaneers this past year. Accountability and toughness. It matters a ton.

Leadership is lacking from own worship on down.

The difference in talent between teams winning SBs and those who only flirt with it, is usually the culture.

QB has to take control of the offense..coaches have to direct the defense..we need a sack leader on DL..an enforcer at LBer and feared secondary player.

Until that is found we just are pretenders.

 

[kskboys]

Does it matter if you're winning, though?

Yes. Consistent winning requires a good culture.

 

[Seven]

Many of us are trying, I havent and I know several of my cowboys brethren, who are my Cowboys Culture,, theres about 10 of us that have stayed tight and in communication
talking cowboys football during the middle of the night for the past 30-35 years... many conference calls at 2 am just drinking beer and enjoying everyones thoughts.
Everyone in my group is in agreement with the current culture @Bobhaze.
Not a single one of us even pay for the season ticket anymore, and that is painful when you cant get the game.
No Hats
No Jerseys
No Tickets
No Hot Dogs
No Beer
Jerry gets no donations any longer

Although I have never had something as expensive as tickets...... I have not purchased any thing Cowboys in more than 10 years. No visiting the official site, no podcasts nothing. This is the only Cowboy related entity I frequent.

I know that's a drop in the bucket but it's my part, feeble as it is.

 

[Seven]

With all due respect, it doesn't matter if every single person on this forum stops buying Cowboys gear and stops going to games. We collectively make up less than 1% of the Cowboys fanbase. The stadium will always be packed and jerseys will always sell no matter what. The Jones' will never sell the team unless one of y'all can become a billionaire and go after them. Yes, I do think that Jerry's ego gets in the way and hopefully Stephen will be smart enough to hire an actual GM when Jerry "retires". But we fans aren't changing that. And in no way, shape, or form do I believe Jerry cares more about money than winning. All he wants to do is win, the problem is he wants to win when he is the GM. That said, I think it's laughable to think that all of these players who have played for countless coaches and countless teams for decades somehow automatically become soft because of the Cowboys culture. I think there's a few select entitled players like Jaylon who were always like that who take advantage of the Cowboys culture and I believe the "America's Team" culture can be a distraction, but I don't believe Dak, Tank, Amari, the O-line, Gallup, Lamb, etc., are soft or have become softer since joining the Cowboys. No, we haven't even been to the title game in 25 years and there are a myriad of reasons for that, including many bad decisions by the Jones' or coaches or players. But we fans shouldn't let our frustrations make us think we have it all figured out or that we can really change a culture like that of the Dallas Cowboys. Personally I know who they are, I know who the Jones' are, and I choose to root for all parties involved to win a championship. Complaining isn't going to get me anywhere.

Jerseys are gear.......stop buying them.

 

[DallasEast]

Maybe us fans need to stop being comfortable enough with mediocrity and we stop buying a mediocre product.

The personal commitment and sought after goals for creating a realistic outcome are more stringent and all-encompassing than what is usually discussed. A sizable portion of the consumer base collectively not buying tickets and merchandise will never make that happen. It will take much more organized large-scale (understatement) effort to convert that prospect into a reality. Anything less is a total pipe dream.

 

[Bobhaze]

With all due respect, it doesn't matter if every single person on this forum stops buying Cowboys gear and stops going to games. We collectively make up less than 1% of the Cowboys fanbase. The stadium will always be packed and jerseys will always sell no matter what. The Jones' will never sell the team unless one of y'all can become a billionaire and go after them. Yes, I do think that Jerry's ego gets in the way and hopefully Stephen will be smart enough to hire an actual GM when Jerry "retires". But we fans aren't changing that. And in no way, shape, or form do I believe Jerry cares more about money than winning. All he wants to do is win, the problem is he wants to win when he is the GM. That said, I think it's laughable to think that all of these players who have played for countless coaches and countless teams for decades somehow automatically become soft because of the Cowboys culture. I think there's a few select entitled players like Jaylon who were always like that who take advantage of the Cowboys culture and I believe the "America's Team" culture can be a distraction, but I don't believe Dak, Tank, Amari, the O-line, Gallup, Lamb, etc., are soft or have become softer since joining the Cowboys. No, we haven't even been to the title game in 25 years and there are a myriad of reasons for that, including many bad decisions by the Jones' or coaches or players. But we fans shouldn't let our frustrations make us think we have it all figured out or that we can really change a culture like that of the Dallas Cowboys. Personally I know who they are, I know who the Jones' are, and I choose to root for all parties involved to win a championship. Complaining isn't going to get me anywhere.

Good post. I don’t believe all the players on this team are soft either. In fact there are many who aren’t. The problem here is, the players who are soft aren’t challenged enough or they are allowed to continue to play a key role with the team.

To me the ultimate “softness” baked into this culture cake is partially caused by:

• A lack of accountability for those at the top. The owner and his nepotistic children can stink it up for an unlimited number of years and nothing changes. The only people held “accountable” here are assistant coaches with very limited responsibilities. If there’s no accountability at the top, there can be none anywhere else.

• The FO is too enamored with the players they pick. You know their saying, “We like our guys”. That’s good some of the time but they stick with mediocre players like they were their sons rather than players on their team. It’s good to give a player time to develop but what if they don’t?

• They overvalue the wrong positions and undervalue other key positions. We have a WR and a RB being paid a ton of cap space when it’s been obvious for years, most teams making deep playoff runs don’t overpay both a RB and a WR. Maybe one but not both. S and DT meanwhile remain on the cheap and we have been getting what we paid for.

These are not the only causes for the soft culture. Coaches have to bear some responsibility too. The only guarantee that seems obvious is this: If we keep doing things the way we’ve been doing them for years, we’re going to keep getting similar results.

 

[nyc-cowboy]

Culture is a product of winning, not the other way around.

In some instances yes but in others no.
Parcells came in and started to change the culture immediately, same with Tom Coughlin in NY.

Thats why I've been saying for a long time, that we need that type of coach to try and off-set Jerrys' ways.

 

[Future]

In some instances yes but in others no.
Parcells came in and started to change the culture immediately, same with Tom Coughlin in NY.

Thats why I've been saying for a long time, that we need that type of coach to try and off-set Jerrys' ways.

Parcells never won anything here. Coughlin's culture didn't matter elsewhere because he didn't have the same talent he had in NY.

 

[Jake]

In some instances yes but in others no.
Parcells came in and started to change the culture immediately, same with Tom Coughlin in NY.

Thats why I've been saying for a long time, that we need that type of coach to try and off-set Jerrys' ways.

Jimmy and Parcells were the right-type of coaches and they both made Jerry uncomfortable. We only got Parcells because Jerry wanted that new stadium in Arlington.

It's no accident the rest of the coaches have been dish rags who won't get in Jerry's way and are/were just happy to be head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

 

[rambo2]

We all know we need help at multiple positions. We can talk Safeties, DTs, LBs...whatever position of need we have on this team. But the most important upgrade our Cowboys need...the biggest obstacle holding this team back from being a contender is its CULTURE. Currently, it’s as soft as a roll of Charmin and entitled as someone named Spalding.

Yes, we must have talent upgrades at multiple positions. Talent is critical to success in any sport. We need lots more talent for sure. But what this team needs more than anything- its players, coaches and entire organization, is to get tougher and more accountable.

You could bring in 10 HOFers at multiple positions, but until this culture toughens up- I hate to say it- we should not expect much to change. The difference between a typical 8-8 season and a deep playoff run isn’t just talent. It’s a change in the culture. That’s the most important element Tom Brady brought to the Buccaneers this past year. Accountability and toughness. It matters a ton.

The difference in talent between teams winning SBs and those who only flirt with it, is usually the culture.

It also helped the Bucs bigtime that the Chiefs lost their two starting offensive tackles.

 

[TexasBacon]

Good post. I don’t believe all the players on this team are soft either. In fact there are many who aren’t. The problem here is, the players who are soft aren’t challenged enough or they are allowed to continue to play a key role with the team.

To me the ultimate “softness” baked into this culture cake is partially caused by:

• A lack of accountability for those at the top. The owner and his nepotistic children can stink it up for an unlimited number of years and nothing changes. The only people held “accountable” here are assistant coaches with very limited responsibilities. If there’s no accountability at the top, there can be none anywhere else.

• The FO is too enamored with the players they pick. You know their saying, “We like our guys”. That’s good some of the time but they stick with mediocre players like they were their sons rather than players on their team. It’s good to give a player time to develop but what if they don’t?

• They overvalue the wrong positions and undervalue other key positions. We have a WR and a RB being paid a ton of cap space when it’s been obvious for years, most teams making deep playoff runs don’t overpay both a RB and a WR. Maybe one but not both. S and DT meanwhile remain on the cheap and we have been getting what we paid for.

These are not the only causes for the soft culture. Coaches have to bear some responsibility too. The only guarantee that seems obvious is this: If we keep doing things the way we’ve been doing them for years, we’re going to keep getting similar results.

Definitely fair points and I agree with them. Hopefully McCarthy is on a shorter leash than Garrett was.

 

[nyc-cowboy]

Parcells never won anything here. Coughlin's culture didn't matter elsewhere because he didn't have the same talent he had in NY.

If you dont see the difference in teams that Parcells had when he came to Dallas and the one when he left - then I dont know what to tell you, or for that matter everywhere he's been. Coughlin coached an expansion team to 2 AFC championship games - that more than Jethro has done in the last 25 years.

 

[Jake]

Definitely fair points and I agree with them. Hopefully McCarthy is on a shorter leash than Garrett was.

Jerry was waiting for his adopted son to make him look super smart for hiring him to be head coach. McCarthy's leash will be more like Wade's.

 

[Jake]

If you dont see the difference in teams that Parcells had when he came to Dallas and the one when he left - then I dont know what to tell you, or for that matter everywhere he's been. Coughlin coached an expansion team to 2 AFC championship games - that more than Jethro has done in the last 25 years.

He can't see anything. In his world no criticisms of the Cowboys are valid. They're doing everything right yet they can't win a dang thing. Go figure.

 

[Future]

If you dont see the difference in teams that Parcells had when he came to Dallas and the one when he left - then I dont know what to tell you, or for that matter everywhere he's been. Coughlin coached an expansion team to 2 AFC championship games - that more than Jethro has done in the last 25 years.

Sure there was a difference.

They both accomplished exactly the same things.

 

[nyc-cowboy]

Sure there was a difference.

They both accomplished exactly the same things.

Except Bill was only here 4 years - how long has Jethro had...

And bringing the discussion down to wether Bill won a SB here is lazy and doesn't address the problem of Jerry and culture he ferments.

 

[Future]

Except Bill was only here 4 years - how long has Jethro had...

And bringing the discussion down to wether Bill won a SB here is lazy and doesn't address the problem of Jerry and culture he ferments.

If the culture guy didn't win a Super Bowl then it strengthens the argument that culture doesn't matter lol.

"Only here 4 years" miss me with that trash. He was 10-6 year one and 9-7 year 4. His culture didn't work because he didn't have talent.

 

[aikemirv]

We all know we need help at multiple positions. We can talk Safeties, DTs, LBs...whatever position of need we have on this team. But the most important upgrade our Cowboys need...the biggest obstacle holding this team back from being a contender is its CULTURE. Currently, it’s as soft as a roll of Charmin and entitled as someone named Spalding.

Yes, we must have talent upgrades at multiple positions. Talent is critical to success in any sport. We need lots more talent for sure. But what this team needs more than anything- its players, coaches and entire organization, is to get tougher and more accountable.

You could bring in 10 HOFers at multiple positions, but until this culture toughens up- I hate to say it- we should not expect much to change. The difference between a typical 8-8 season and a deep playoff run isn’t just talent. It’s a change in the culture. That’s the most important element Tom Brady brought to the Buccaneers this past year. Accountability and toughness. It matters a ton.

The difference in talent between teams winning SBs and those who only flirt with it, is usually the culture.

Well, if Dak wants to win that is his new 40 mill a year job - change the culture and hold everyone accountable because we know Jerry is not doing it. Stephen is not and who knows how many players think they can go over McCarthy's head.

So it is up to Dak. That was the job that Aikman retired for because he did not want to do it!