Fear, laziness and risk aversion - How the Cowboys lost their way

[Acceptablename]

Hoffman was fine.

No reason to spend 12 on a guard.

Protect Dak all you want. He has no one to throw to if Lamb goes down.

Hoffman end the jock strap

 

[zrinkill]

lol...Jazz likes to start crap so he can clean it up.

Hate that guy

 

[Praxit]

..sounds like someone needs a donut, Jelly filled preferred. >

 

[OGSixshooter]

I have given myself time to calm down after the draft. After constant battles on here with people who had great opinions but didn't understand why I really was so down on the draft. That is probably my fault for not being able to communicate why I am so angry with this team.

This all goes back to the Green Bay loss for me. That is when my fandom changed. I used to sit here and defend Dak, this FO, and almost every player on the team. After watching what seemed like the biggest failure by a Dallas Cowboys team in recent memory, I took a step back and evaluated what is really going on. That's when it clicked for me. This team refuses to take the necessary risks to improve.

This started after the Brandon Carr signing. This team has not signed a FA to big money since then. At least not a notable name. Heck, Dante Fowler (who played on this team already) is the first FA to get more than 6 million from this team in how many years?

I digress.

Lets get back to the Green Bay debacle.

What most if not all teams would have done in that situation, is clean house. McCarthy had NO BUSINESS staying on another year after the team failed to show up, at home, against a 7 seed and got boat raced out of their own stadium. Instead of doing what was necessary, this team stuck with the HC. Fine. Yet they did absolutely nothing to improve the team for him. They sandbagged him just to prove a point? It is nonsensical how that transpired. Then they leave CeeDee sitting at home until the end of training camp, make the fan base think they are moving on from Dak, just to steal the headlines the day of the season starting. More of the same of "we like our guys" instead of letting Dak go find a new team and drafting a QB this year or next. (Risk aversion)

Then comes the disaster that was last season. They blame injuries, dont bring the coach back (after denying the request of the Bears to speak with him) and decide to start over. Ok good.

But wait, now the laziness creeps in. They bring in a few other guys to satisfy a certain rule, and then walk down the hallway and interview the OC who was in charge of one of the worst performing offenses in football last season.

They announce a guy with no HC experience, spin it to be a great idea, and bobs your uncle.

How does this make sense? You are the Dallas Cowboys. Was 10 years of Garrett learning on the job not enough?

So cue the new head coach coming in changing "the culture" with a smashmouth approach to running the football. Ok. Thats refreshing. Now FA starts and they sign Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams. Ok fine, I will wait until the draft and see what happens.

Now here comes the trifecta of a bad front office.

Lazy, risk averse, and fear all took place on day one of the draft. I don't care what anyone says, drafting another OL in the first round was foolish, lazy, and reeked of "we don't want to mess this up".

I am sick of hearing that players are reaches. If you drafted Hampton, or Golden, or Ebuka, or or or at 12 and it was your guy, who cares. He turns out to be a star you look like a genius, he doesnt, you look like you dont know what you are doing (no one believes you do anyways) so why not take the chance? Instead we get Booker who while he is a fantastic player, was not a need in any way shape or form. Hoffman played well and Dowdle once he was the starter and Zeke was benched was one of the top back in the game. It is pure laziness and fear.

Second round comes, again, great player and I wont even harp on this pick, but the reason he was picked is because the Cowboys thought one of the Ohio State RBs would fall to them. As soon as Henderson was picked, rumours started being floated about the Cowboys wanting to trade down. Panic at the Star apparently. More fear.

I am not mad about the draft, the picks, or the players. I am mad that this FO has shown no hunger, no will, and no risk taking to improve. They are content on staying status quo, being relevant, and blaming anyone but themselves on why this team fails year after year. Who is Dak throwing to? Who is carrying the load at RB? These questions still aren't answered and the OTAs start in 2 weeks.

I wont bother going on because its clear what I am trying to say.

Needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

Agreed...Green Bay - and the subsequent quadrupling down on that crew - broke my fandom completely. I'm back to the Quincy Carter/Dave Campo days...hoping for the Bill Parcells/Quincy Carter days lol. Ugh.

 

[DandyDon52]

Agree with every word. This organization has sucked the life out of football for me. I can't enjoy free-agency, I can't enjoy the draft, I sure as hell can't enjoy the regular season. You have to look really hard to find bright spots on this team and even those are shaded.

Of all the low down dirty deeds this organization has done though, none top the hiring of Schotty. That was the cheapest, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, hopeless, heartless, fat-arse, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed, sack of monkey poop hires you could have possibly come up. How sad and pathetic is it that I was disappointed when they didn't sign Kellen Freaking Moore???

Ok, I doubt Kellen wanted to be HC here, same for Pete Carroll.
Any smart coach knows what goes on here and how hard it would be to build a winning
team with the jones boys.

About Schotty, I think you will find out he is much better than you think, or anyone else they might
have hired.

Also I think he was hired to be the HC in waiting, and so they hired him because that was their intention all along. Also he wasnt the OC Mike was. Shotty was just here to watch and evaluate.

 

[DandyDon52]

I have given myself time to calm down after the draft. After constant battles on here with people who had great opinions but didn't understand why I really was so down on the draft. That is probably my fault for not being able to communicate why I am so angry with this team.

This all goes back to the Green Bay loss for me. That is when my fandom changed. I used to sit here and defend Dak, this FO, and almost every player on the team. After watching what seemed like the biggest failure by a Dallas Cowboys team in recent memory, I took a step back and evaluated what is really going on. That's when it clicked for me. This team refuses to take the necessary risks to improve.

This started after the Brandon Carr signing. This team has not signed a FA to big money since then. At least not a notable name. Heck, Dante Fowler (who played on this team already) is the first FA to get more than 6 million from this team in how many years?

I digress.

Lets get back to the Green Bay debacle.

What most if not all teams would have done in that situation, is clean house. McCarthy had NO BUSINESS staying on another year after the team failed to show up, at home, against a 7 seed and got boat raced out of their own stadium. Instead of doing what was necessary, this team stuck with the HC. Fine. Yet they did absolutely nothing to improve the team for him. They sandbagged him just to prove a point? It is nonsensical how that transpired. Then they leave CeeDee sitting at home until the end of training camp, make the fan base think they are moving on from Dak, just to steal the headlines the day of the season starting. More of the same of "we like our guys" instead of letting Dak go find a new team and drafting a QB this year or next. (Risk aversion)

Then comes the disaster that was last season. They blame injuries, dont bring the coach back (after denying the request of the Bears to speak with him) and decide to start over. Ok good.

But wait, now the laziness creeps in. They bring in a few other guys to satisfy a certain rule, and then walk down the hallway and interview the OC who was in charge of one of the worst performing offenses in football last season.

They announce a guy with no HC experience, spin it to be a great idea, and bobs your uncle.

How does this make sense? You are the Dallas Cowboys. Was 10 years of Garrett learning on the job not enough?

So cue the new head coach coming in changing "the culture" with a smashmouth approach to running the football. Ok. Thats refreshing. Now FA starts and they sign Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams. Ok fine, I will wait until the draft and see what happens.

Now here comes the trifecta of a bad front office.

Lazy, risk averse, and fear all took place on day one of the draft. I don't care what anyone says, drafting another OL in the first round was foolish, lazy, and reeked of "we don't want to mess this up".

I am sick of hearing that players are reaches. If you drafted Hampton, or Golden, or Ebuka, or or or at 12 and it was your guy, who cares. He turns out to be a star you look like a genius, he doesnt, you look like you dont know what you are doing (no one believes you do anyways) so why not take the chance? Instead we get Booker who while he is a fantastic player, was not a need in any way shape or form. Hoffman played well and Dowdle once he was the starter and Zeke was benched was one of the top back in the game. It is pure laziness and fear.

Second round comes, again, great player and I wont even harp on this pick, but the reason he was picked is because the Cowboys thought one of the Ohio State RBs would fall to them. As soon as Henderson was picked, rumours started being floated about the Cowboys wanting to trade down. Panic at the Star apparently. More fear.

I am not mad about the draft, the picks, or the players. I am mad that this FO has shown no hunger, no will, and no risk taking to improve. They are content on staying status quo, being relevant, and blaming anyone but themselves on why this team fails year after year. Who is Dak throwing to? Who is carrying the load at RB? These questions still aren't answered and the OTAs start in 2 weeks.

I wont bother going on because its clear what I am trying to say.

Needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

The Jones boys are risk averse when it comes to FA.
I think Shotty controlled this draft and the jones boys let him do that.
I think they let him pick the FA, but with a small credit card lol.

If he and the team looks good this season, then maybe they let him spend more in FA next time.
I think shotty thinks he can build a team under the jones boys ,which isnt going to be easy lol,
but I am going to give him at least 1 year to show me some good things.
He is better than most think........I think !

 

[acr731]

I would rather have you coach this team, at least you know the History that other coaches don't know or really care.

Me too. Rancho gives me a bunch of crap sometimes, but I really do respect his knowledge and experience. I think he would do a great job if given the chance. But honestly, he might end up having some major clashes with Jerry. It's easy to defend Jerry on this board, but it's an entirely different thing to have to work for him.

 

[nalam]

You forgot arrogance and nepotism. The worst thing that happened to Jerry and we fans are the three early chips. Because of Jimmy, like the old saying goes "Jerry woke up on 3rd base and thought he hit a triple".

29 years and counting, Jerry has had enough time to pull in a SB winning crew / roster, but hasnt been able to. How many times he would have been fired as a GM , if he wasnt owner?

 

[acr731]

You're like mighty mouse....always coming to the rescue.

 

[Ranching]

 

[LonnieElam]

I left that game at half time, and that's when I decided I'm selling my seat license and tickets.

 

[TwentyOne]

Since Jerry Jones runs this thing on his own (that means after Jimmy) Dallas never had its own way.

 

[Rockport]

I have given myself time to calm down after the draft. After constant battles on here with people who had great opinions but didn't understand why I really was so down on the draft. That is probably my fault for not being able to communicate why I am so angry with this team.

This all goes back to the Green Bay loss for me. That is when my fandom changed. I used to sit here and defend Dak, this FO, and almost every player on the team. After watching what seemed like the biggest failure by a Dallas Cowboys team in recent memory, I took a step back and evaluated what is really going on. That's when it clicked for me. This team refuses to take the necessary risks to improve.

This started after the Brandon Carr signing. This team has not signed a FA to big money since then. At least not a notable name. Heck, Dante Fowler (who played on this team already) is the first FA to get more than 6 million from this team in how many years?

I digress.

Lets get back to the Green Bay debacle.

What most if not all teams would have done in that situation, is clean house. McCarthy had NO BUSINESS staying on another year after the team failed to show up, at home, against a 7 seed and got boat raced out of their own stadium. Instead of doing what was necessary, this team stuck with the HC. Fine. Yet they did absolutely nothing to improve the team for him. They sandbagged him just to prove a point? It is nonsensical how that transpired. Then they leave CeeDee sitting at home until the end of training camp, make the fan base think they are moving on from Dak, just to steal the headlines the day of the season starting. More of the same of "we like our guys" instead of letting Dak go find a new team and drafting a QB this year or next. (Risk aversion)

Then comes the disaster that was last season. They blame injuries, dont bring the coach back (after denying the request of the Bears to speak with him) and decide to start over. Ok good.

But wait, now the laziness creeps in. They bring in a few other guys to satisfy a certain rule, and then walk down the hallway and interview the OC who was in charge of one of the worst performing offenses in football last season.

They announce a guy with no HC experience, spin it to be a great idea, and bobs your uncle.

How does this make sense? You are the Dallas Cowboys. Was 10 years of Garrett learning on the job not enough?

So cue the new head coach coming in changing "the culture" with a smashmouth approach to running the football. Ok. Thats refreshing. Now FA starts and they sign Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams. Ok fine, I will wait until the draft and see what happens.

Now here comes the trifecta of a bad front office.

Lazy, risk averse, and fear all took place on day one of the draft. I don't care what anyone says, drafting another OL in the first round was foolish, lazy, and reeked of "we don't want to mess this up".

I am sick of hearing that players are reaches. If you drafted Hampton, or Golden, or Ebuka, or or or at 12 and it was your guy, who cares. He turns out to be a star you look like a genius, he doesnt, you look like you dont know what you are doing (no one believes you do anyways) so why not take the chance? Instead we get Booker who while he is a fantastic player, was not a need in any way shape or form. Hoffman played well and Dowdle once he was the starter and Zeke was benched was one of the top back in the game. It is pure laziness and fear.

Second round comes, again, great player and I wont even harp on this pick, but the reason he was picked is because the Cowboys thought one of the Ohio State RBs would fall to them. As soon as Henderson was picked, rumours started being floated about the Cowboys wanting to trade down. Panic at the Star apparently. More fear.

I am not mad about the draft, the picks, or the players. I am mad that this FO has shown no hunger, no will, and no risk taking to improve. They are content on staying status quo, being relevant, and blaming anyone but themselves on why this team fails year after year. Who is Dak throwing to? Who is carrying the load at RB? These questions still aren't answered and the OTAs start in 2 weeks.

I wont bother going on because its clear what I am trying to say.

Needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

Oh great. Just what this place needed. More negativity. I guess negativity breeds negativity. Lighten up and try to look at the positives. Or move along and spare us. There’s plenty of folks here who’ve given up like you but still come here and constantly whine. No need to be one of those. You’re better than that.

 

[plymkr]

I will never, ever understand what the plan was for the 2024 season after the Green Bay playoff loss. I just tell myself there was no plan.

That’s exactly right. There was no plan. Just a wasted year. It was frustrating. I don’t want to say I’m hopeful but I would say I feel better this offseason because there is a different vibe. There seems to be a plan. I’m going to be patient tho because I feel this was more of a foundation draft/offseason. I’m expecting this season to be .500 or below and the ‘26 will be a better season as the pieces we put in place start to gel. It would also go a long way for me if the FO would engage FA in a meaningful way moving forward. That’s still a little discouraging. But overall this offseason does feel more positive.

I would say I don’t mind losing if we’re building for something. So this year if we go 6-11 or 7-10 I won’t be as angry or frustrated because there seems to be a plan in place. Last season was one of the absolute worst seasons I’ve experienced as a fan because we were losing and not building for the future. Anyway just my 2 cents.

 

[phildadon86]

Oh great. Just what this place needed. More negativity. I guess negativity breeds negativity. Lighten up and try to look at the positives. Or move along and spare us. There’s plenty of folks here who’ve given up like you but still come here and constantly whine. No need to be one of those. You’re better than that.

Move on?

Like you did for months? What did you do in your time away? Tell everyone how good the cowboys were?

I also haven’t given up. I’m ranting about this team not showing any inclination to win.

Go back into hiding.

You are the definition of a hypocrite. You call everyone quitters yet you quit and don’t even have the spine to stay here and take the lumps you deserve. You run and hide.

Go back to that and let me have my opinion. It’s allowed.

 

[Flamma]

I have given myself time to calm down after the draft. After constant battles on here with people who had great opinions but didn't understand why I really was so down on the draft. That is probably my fault for not being able to communicate why I am so angry with this team.

This all goes back to the Green Bay loss for me. That is when my fandom changed. I used to sit here and defend Dak, this FO, and almost every player on the team. After watching what seemed like the biggest failure by a Dallas Cowboys team in recent memory, I took a step back and evaluated what is really going on. That's when it clicked for me. This team refuses to take the necessary risks to improve.

This started after the Brandon Carr signing. This team has not signed a FA to big money since then. At least not a notable name. Heck, Dante Fowler (who played on this team already) is the first FA to get more than 6 million from this team in how many years?

I digress.

Lets get back to the Green Bay debacle.

What most if not all teams would have done in that situation, is clean house. McCarthy had NO BUSINESS staying on another year after the team failed to show up, at home, against a 7 seed and got boat raced out of their own stadium. Instead of doing what was necessary, this team stuck with the HC. Fine. Yet they did absolutely nothing to improve the team for him. They sandbagged him just to prove a point? It is nonsensical how that transpired. Then they leave CeeDee sitting at home until the end of training camp, make the fan base think they are moving on from Dak, just to steal the headlines the day of the season starting. More of the same of "we like our guys" instead of letting Dak go find a new team and drafting a QB this year or next. (Risk aversion)

Then comes the disaster that was last season. They blame injuries, dont bring the coach back (after denying the request of the Bears to speak with him) and decide to start over. Ok good.

But wait, now the laziness creeps in. They bring in a few other guys to satisfy a certain rule, and then walk down the hallway and interview the OC who was in charge of one of the worst performing offenses in football last season.

They announce a guy with no HC experience, spin it to be a great idea, and bobs your uncle.

How does this make sense? You are the Dallas Cowboys. Was 10 years of Garrett learning on the job not enough?

So cue the new head coach coming in changing "the culture" with a smashmouth approach to running the football. Ok. Thats refreshing. Now FA starts and they sign Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams. Ok fine, I will wait until the draft and see what happens.

Now here comes the trifecta of a bad front office.

Lazy, risk averse, and fear all took place on day one of the draft. I don't care what anyone says, drafting another OL in the first round was foolish, lazy, and reeked of "we don't want to mess this up".

I am sick of hearing that players are reaches. If you drafted Hampton, or Golden, or Ebuka, or or or at 12 and it was your guy, who cares. He turns out to be a star you look like a genius, he doesnt, you look like you dont know what you are doing (no one believes you do anyways) so why not take the chance? Instead we get Booker who while he is a fantastic player, was not a need in any way shape or form. Hoffman played well and Dowdle once he was the starter and Zeke was benched was one of the top back in the game. It is pure laziness and fear.

Second round comes, again, great player and I wont even harp on this pick, but the reason he was picked is because the Cowboys thought one of the Ohio State RBs would fall to them. As soon as Henderson was picked, rumours started being floated about the Cowboys wanting to trade down. Panic at the Star apparently. More fear.

I am not mad about the draft, the picks, or the players. I am mad that this FO has shown no hunger, no will, and no risk taking to improve. They are content on staying status quo, being relevant, and blaming anyone but themselves on why this team fails year after year. Who is Dak throwing to? Who is carrying the load at RB? These questions still aren't answered and the OTAs start in 2 weeks.

I wont bother going on because its clear what I am trying to say.

Needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

Yes, this team building philosophy started the year after the Brandon Carr signing. I've been a long time fan, but always a casual observer when it came to the offseason. It wasn't until 2015 that I started paying close attention. I'm getting older and I'm bored.

I went on a rant after the 2016 offseason on the old Cowboys message board they use to have on their site. I fully expected the Cowboys to load up entering the 2017 season. The Cowboys did nothing. I expected a juicy steak dinner, and I got two cold pop tarts. At the time I didn't realize this had been the Cowboys standard operating procedure for several years already.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

As others have mentioned, great post. Agree with what you said, but I looked at this team differently sine the Garrett years . This FO holding their collective noses as they hung around the.500 mark continuously told me they weren’t interested in taking chances, calculated risks or out of the box ideas.

It all goes back to what I keep saying all these years, decisions are made based on the fact Jerry and Stephen cannot be fired. No urgency in player acquisition or player development. If it works great, if not there is always next year. And so thirty years later, they keep repeating this failed MO.

Puppet coaches and depth players come and go. The two idiots remain collecting their windfall while the team is mired in mud, wheels spinning. No end in sight.

 

[phildadon86]

The Jones boys are risk averse when it comes to FA.
I think Shotty controlled this draft and the jones boys let him do that.
I think they let him pick the FA, but with a small credit card lol.

If he and the team looks good this season, then maybe they let him spend more in FA next time.
I think shotty thinks he can build a team under the jones boys ,which isnt going to be easy lol,
but I am going to give him at least 1 year to show me some good things.
He is better than most think........I think !

Schottenheimer who wants smash mouth football controlled the draft? Could have fooled me.

He has bounced around how many teams? There’s a reason no one has given him a chance.

Him being hired is exactly what this post is about.

Laziness.

 

[Flamma]

The Jones boys are risk averse when it comes to FA.
I think Shotty controlled this draft and the jones boys let him do that.
I think they let him pick the FA, but with a small credit card lol.

If he and the team looks good this season, then maybe they let him spend more in FA next time.
I think shotty thinks he can build a team under the jones boys ,which isnt going to be easy lol,
but I am going to give him at least 1 year to show me some good things.
He is better than most think........I think !

He's basically playing moneyball with free agency. Any coach coming here knows he's not getting help outside of the draft.

 

[Rockport]

Move on?

Like you did for months? What did you do in your time away? Tell everyone how good the cowboys were?

I also haven’t given up. I’m ranting about this team not showing any inclination to win.

Go back into hiding.

You are the definition of a hypocrite. You call everyone quitters yet you quit and don’t even have the spine to stay here and take the lumps you deserve. You run and hide.

Go back to that and let me have my opinion. It’s allowed.

And I’m allowed to comment on your quitter attitude. Do the crime do the time.