This won't be pretty

StylisticS

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It was referred to as the "Pickle Juice game". The temperatures were sweltering, and the Eagles looked prepared and fresh while the Cowboys weren't. Yet another example of why Coaching Matters in my book. One team had it in Andy Reid while the other didn't.
I remember that game. It was the first of many blowouts the next few years the eagles would hand the Cowboys. That's why that 2005 blowout over them was so satisfying. Back to 2000, I think that game started off with them recovering an onside kick. It was an embarrassing loss.
 

Stash

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I remember that game. It was the first of many blowouts the next few years the eagles would hand the Cowboys. That's why that 2005 blowout over them was so satisfying. Back to 2000, I think that game started off with them recovering an onside kick. It was an embarrassing loss.

Yes it was. A real nightmare, and unfortunately a sign of things to come and a microcosm of the entire Campo era.
 

Bobhaze

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Some advance warning that what you are about to read will not be pleasant. Stop now if you don't want to see what just might be the absolute worst year in Dallas Cowboys history. This isn't some Cowboys bashfest or an attempt to bring everyone down. It's simply a history lesson. A trip down memory lane and some valuable lessons in what not to do.

So again, if you're going to be offended by the topic, do me, yourself, and everyone else a favor and don't read any further because it's not pretty and you won't like what you see.

This is a story about the 2000 Vowboys and how they may be the worst team in franchise history. Not in terms of record, we've seen worse there. But in terms of sheer incompetence, poor decision-making, and outright mistakes.

In my opinion, nothing can top the year 2000 for being the absolute pits in terms of poor choices, and watching this team being screwed up for decades. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, and every choice and decision was proven to be the wrong one. Not just a little wrong either, but Hall of Fame worthy wrong.

First, Jerry Jones made the decision to fire Chan Gailey. This after the man had an above .500 record and made the playoffs both years he was here.

To replace him? Jones made the worst choice he possibly could make - Dave frickin' Campo. The "last man standing" from the glory days. While names like Bill Belicheck were signing on to coach the Patriots - and how did that turn out? - Jerry Jones made the decision to go with Dave Campo.

To follow that up, the decision was made to trade away not one, but two 1st round draft picks for Joey Galloway. This move was made in an attempt to replace Michael Irvin who's career was abruptly ended. One bad thing happening after another. And on top of that, Galloway needed a new big, fat contract. Bad enough, right? No, it gets worse. Much, much worse.

During a week one blowout loss, in-over-his-head-coach Dave Campo has Galloway stay in the game. After starting QB Troy Aikman's had suffered a severe concussion and the day was lost. Only for Galloway himself to tear his ACL and be lost for the season. Thanks coach!

Then we come to the NFL Draft that year. In trying to replace cornerback Deion Sanders who had bolted to the rival Commanders (thanks Deion! You ******* mercenary!), the Cowboys decided to just throw whatever remaining draft picks they had left at cornerbacks. Of the 5 total picks they had left, they used 3 of them on cornerbacks.

2 pick 49 Dwayne Goodrich DB Tennessee

4 pick 109 Kareem Larrimore DB West Texas A&M

5 pick 144 Michael Wiley RB Ohio State

6 pick 180 Mario Edwards DB Florida State

7 pick 219 Orantes Grant LB Does anyone really care?

The claim to fame of this group would be Dwayne Goodrich, and the fact that he never did anything on the field, but got drunk and killed people while reckless driving off the field. That's it. It was a complete washout.

By the way, the 2000 draft was where QB Tom Brady came from. And it also happened to coincide with the final season of Troy Aikman's career. You couldn't have written up this tragedy any better if you tried.

I'm sure everyone knows the rest, Campo showed he never deserved the job in the first place, the team suffered through not one, not two, but three 5-11 seasons in finding that out, and the organization spiraled into a funk that showed no end in sight until Bill Parcells rode in to the rescue and helped to reestablish a lost level of respectability.

There have been mistakes made before and since, and some down seasons, but I can't help but to look back at the year 2000 as the very worst, and most destructive in the history of the franchise.

And if you've actually kept reading to this point, good for you o glutton for punishment! I'm wondering if you can think of a worse time of decision-making and ineptitude?
Good post Stas. 2000 was a horrible year. But it was an exhibit of many exhibits of the brazen incompetence of Jerry of his FO for many years. I would place the 2009 draft as one of the worst in Cowboys history and a bookend companion to the 2000 draft.

Anyone who ever says that Jerry Jones knew what he was doing as a GM need only look at that era. I’ve known fantasy football people that knew what they were doing more than Jerry. The ONLY thing that ever qualified Jerry Jones to be an NFL GM was the check he wrote to buy the team. He literally bought the position.
 

ESisback

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Some advance warning that what you are about to read will not be pleasant. Stop now if you don't want to see what just might be the absolute worst year in Dallas Cowboys history. This isn't some Cowboys bashfest or an attempt to bring everyone down. It's simply a history lesson. A trip down memory lane and some valuable lessons in what not to do.

So again, if you're going to be offended by the topic, do me, yourself, and everyone else a favor and don't read any further because it's not pretty and you won't like what you see.

This is a story about the 2000 Vowboys and how they may be the worst team in franchise history. Not in terms of record, we've seen worse there. But in terms of sheer incompetence, poor decision-making, and outright mistakes.

In my opinion, nothing can top the year 2000 for being the absolute pits in terms of poor choices, and watching this team being screwed up for decades. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, and every choice and decision was proven to be the wrong one. Not just a little wrong either, but Hall of Fame worthy wrong.

First, Jerry Jones made the decision to fire Chan Gailey. This after the man had an above .500 record and made the playoffs both years he was here.

To replace him? Jones made the worst choice he possibly could make - Dave frickin' Campo. The "last man standing" from the glory days. While names like Bill Belicheck were signing on to coach the Patriots - and how did that turn out? - Jerry Jones made the decision to go with Dave Campo.

To follow that up, the decision was made to trade away not one, but two 1st round draft picks for Joey Galloway. This move was made in an attempt to replace Michael Irvin who's career was abruptly ended. One bad thing happening after another. And on top of that, Galloway needed a new big, fat contract. Bad enough, right? No, it gets worse. Much, much worse.

During a week one blowout loss, in-over-his-head-coach Dave Campo has Galloway stay in the game. After starting QB Troy Aikman's had suffered a severe concussion and the day was lost. Only for Galloway himself to tear his ACL and be lost for the season. Thanks coach!

Then we come to the NFL Draft that year. In trying to replace cornerback Deion Sanders who had bolted to the rival Commanders (thanks Deion! You ******* mercenary!), the Cowboys decided to just throw whatever remaining draft picks they had left at cornerbacks. Of the 5 total picks they had left, they used 3 of them on cornerbacks.

2 pick 49 Dwayne Goodrich DB Tennessee

4 pick 109 Kareem Larrimore DB West Texas A&M

5 pick 144 Michael Wiley RB Ohio State

6 pick 180 Mario Edwards DB Florida State

7 pick 219 Orantes Grant LB Does anyone really care?

The claim to fame of this group would be Dwayne Goodrich, and the fact that he never did anything on the field, but got drunk and killed people while reckless driving off the field. That's it. It was a complete washout.

By the way, the 2000 draft was where QB Tom Brady came from. And it also happened to coincide with the final season of Troy Aikman's career. You couldn't have written up this tragedy any better if you tried.

I'm sure everyone knows the rest, Campo showed he never deserved the job in the first place, the team suffered through not one, not two, but three 5-11 seasons in finding that out, and the organization spiraled into a funk that showed no end in sight until Bill Parcells rode in to the rescue and helped to reestablish a lost level of respectability.

There have been mistakes made before and since, and some down seasons, but I can't help but to look back at the year 2000 as the very worst, and most destructive in the history of the franchise.

And if you've actually kept reading to this point, good for you o glutton for punishment! I'm wondering if you can think of a worse time of decision-making and ineptitude?
So what’s your point? Why revisit bad history?
 

FuzzyLumpkins

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Why on Earth after the last several years of drafts would you think that they would reach and bungle like they did a few coaches ago?

Why not bring up the Switzer regime when they drafted backups and wave your hands at that?
 

Stash

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Good post Stas. 2000 was a horrible year. But it was an exhibit of many exhibits of the brazen incompetence of Jerry of his FO for many years. I would place the 2009 draft as one of the worst in Cowboys history and a bookend companion to the 2000 draft.

Anyone who ever says that Jerry Jones knew what he was doing as a GM need only look at that era. I’ve known fantasy football people that knew what they were doing more than Jerry. The ONLY thing that ever qualified Jerry Jones to be an NFL GM was the check he wrote to buy the team. He literally bought the position.

Exactly right. And then he handed out organizational positions to similarly unqualified friends and relatives. But in his defense, I will say he's learned a lot along the way and has gotten better in some respects.
 

Stash

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So what’s your point? Why revisit bad history?

'Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.'
- George Santayana

Because I can. Because I can handle it when things aren't good and don't have to shut my eyes to it or pretend it never happened.

You can decide who you are.
 

Stash

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I’m watching a good movie NOW, because it’s a better use of my time, as opposed to stressing over a bad movie I watched last week...

And yet here you are...

Repeatedly...

:rolleyes:
 

Stash

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Why on Earth after the last several years of drafts would you think that they would reach and bungle like they did a few coaches ago?

Why not bring up the Switzer regime when they drafted backups and wave your hands at that?

Where did the original post ever say such a thing?
 

Stash

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What won't be pretty then?

Looking at how awful the decisions of 2000 were. If anything, it illustrates just how far the organization has come since those dark days. It says nothing about what is happening now. In fact, I've mentioned many times within this thread about how much things have improved overall. I've especially given what I feel is well-deserved credit to Jerry Jones for learning his lessons. He's still a work in progress but I think he's come a long way as a football man.
 

Stash

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Jerry Jones shouldn't have fired Chan Gailey, he was a good coach.

Far better than the guy he replaced him with, that's for sure. I credit Jones for admitting that he regretted firing Gailey far too soon. If only Chan received half the patience that Garrett has. But neither of them was in a favorable position. They were stewarding a championship team on the decline, with bloated contracts and aging and declining players, while management tried to hold on to the glory days of the past.
 

SportsGuru80

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Far better than the guy he replaced him with, that's for sure. I credit Jones for admitting that he regretted firing Gailey far too soon. If only Chan received half the patience that Garrett has. But neither of them was in a favorable position. They were stewarding a championship team on the decline, with bloated contracts and aging and declining players, while management tried to hold on to the glory days of the past.

Yeah...
 
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