This entire organization is NOT a meritocracy. It is completely centered on a Buddy-Buddy relationship, lol.
Examples - The first and most critical qualification to be a Cowboys front office executive is DNA not actual football qualifications. No accountability- no merit based decision making. Buddy-Buddy.
So…when it comes to players, the number one merit a player must have is a high paying contract. Because that means JJ and SJ have determined they are “stars” and to bench them would indicate a mistake made by guys whose egos can’t accept that. So those type of players are the Jones’ “buddies”.
Even the HC is safe here, not based on merit, but based on how many years are left on their contract. See Dave Campo, Jason Garrett, and even Mike McCarthy, who although is a way better HC than the other guys, should have been fired after that Packer loss. But he had one year left and Jerry is cheap.
Merit based organization? Clearly not in Dallas.