This won't be pretty

[Fredbeard]

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.

I was at that game. The 2005 blowout I mean

 

[ESisback]

Why? Do you know any?

Quite a few!

 

[ESisback]

Sure, that's the way you see it. All evidence to the contrary. You got your warning in the very first sentence and felt compelled to both read on and comment.

If you think what you're doing is "positive", you've got another thing coming.

Sure, that’s the way you see it! See? Works both ways! Time to look forward! So tell me, are you intrigued by Kellen Moore? Are you anxious to see what he can do? Should we be excited for 2019, or are we doomed?

 

[Flamma]

00-02 were absolutely dreadful to watch

Not only that it was painful watching us play the eagles and they would curb stomp us I mean those games weren’t even close

I think those games were like 37-3, 41-10 something like that

But the absolute worst was being up against the giants 24-0 right before half only to lose

Absolutely agonizing years. Worse than 1989 by far. At least in '89 the problem was a lack of team talent in a rebuild stage. But those bums gave effort and almost pulled off a few more wins. I was even excited when they beat the Commanders. But from 00-02 was brutal in many ways. You mention that Giants game. Dallas had multiple games of getting off to quick starts and double digit leads only to lose every one of them. It was football hell as a fan. They played the first half and collapsed in the 2nd.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Nonsense, I have not yet begun to defile myself

Bat Masterson flings that phlegm real good.

 

[plymkr]

He'll be back.

I hope so

 

[Redball Express]

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?

I am sorry.

What is your point with this point?

It just seems like a random rant without a redeeming coherent quality.

Are you saying we are returning to 2000 now?

Why did you post this?

Explain?

 

[Stash]

I still remember that game. It was the weekend before I started my freshman year of high school. I think deuce Staley rushed for like 200 yards in that game.hard to believe it's been almost twenty years ago

That's the one. Staley had a career day. Over 200 yards rushing and two TD's and about 60 receiving yards and another TD.

 

[Stash]

I am sorry.

What is your point with this point?

It just seems like a random rant without a redeeming coherent quality.

Are you saying we are returning to 2000 now?

Why did you post this?

Explain?

Because I was looking back on the Patriots creating their dynasty and I wanted to see what the Cowboys were doing at that time.

And I found my answer.

Setting the franchise back for decades.

 

[Stash]

Sure, that’s the way you see it! See? Works both ways! Time to look forward! So tell me, are you intrigued by Kellen Moore? Are you anxious to see what he can do? Should we be excited for 2019, or are we doomed?

You go and create a thread about that topic and I'll meet you there.

 

[Jeffkills]

Damnit, Jerry!!!

We could have had Belicheck and draft Brady in the same year??!?!?!!!

Good read, @stasheroo !

 

[Hadenough]

What an awful time! I will never forget it because I thought the Galloway trade was going to take this team back to the glory years. I actually thought Galloway tore his ACL early in the game like the first or second catch of the game. The Eagles just monkey stomped Dallas. I never understood why Jerry would always hire these garbage head coaches either. Gaily sucked right along with Campo. Loved the Parcells hiring and really wanted to see Jerry hold on to Payton so he could take over when Parcells finished his 4 year stint like he has so many times before.

 

[Stash]

What an awful time! I will never forget it because I thought the Galloway trade was going to take this team back to the glory years. I actually thought Galloway tore his ACL early in the game like the first or second catch of the game. The Eagles just monkey stomped Dallas. I never understood why Jerry would always hire these garbage head coaches either. Gaily sucked right along with Campo. Loved the Parcells hiring and really wanted to see Jerry hold on to Payton so he could take over when Parcells finished his 4 year stint like he has so many times before.

Like Witten, the timing of Parcells retirement screwed us. If he had done it a year earlier, or told Payton and the team of his plans, things could have worked out much better. If I had to guess, I'd say Big Bill himself didn't know then.

But yeah, off by one year.

 

[rnr_honeybadger]

Damnit, Jerry!!!

We could have had Belicheck and draft Brady in the same year??!?!?!!!

Good read, @stasheroo !

Actually for that to happen someone needs to get into Doc Browns Delorean go back in time and stop Jerry from buying the Cowboys and instead convince Robert Kraft to buy the Cowboys. Jerry Jones will never hire a coach like Belicheck and Jerry Jones will never be satisfied with just sitting in the owners box.

 

[ESisback]

You go and create a thread about that topic and I'll meet you there.

OK!

 

[Valkyr]

Wow looking at some of the box scores back then were painful, but that Titans game featured:

-A 31-0 final score (which wasn't even that close) despite 2 INTs of McNair
-Anthony Wright goes 5-20 0/2 for 35 yards (9 net!), sacked 4 times
-2 defensive TDs given up
-Zero sacks
-Longest drive was 26 yards (ending in an INT)
-16 Drives were: 10 Punts, 3 fumbles, 2 INTs, turnover on downs

That was probably as helpless a feeling watching the team play I've ever had. Like, if they played 8 quarters they weren't going to score.

 

[Redball Express]

Because I was looking back on the Patriots creating their dynasty and I wanted to see what the Cowboys were doing at that time.

And I found my answer.

Setting the franchise back for decades.

Ok.

Yeah we were not handling things well.

Campo was a sacrificial lamb for the team.

Same with Gailey.

Campo had the task of clearing off the remaining cap problems we had.

Gailey just was in over his head.

Jerrah was unable to get any help on the situation..on or off the field.

It was a tough situation.

I was surprised Jerrah stayed after that.

But he learned.

He put Garrett through the same grinder learning to coach..

on the fly.

At least in the last half of Garrett's tenure..

we had 3 Eastern Division titles in 2014, 2016 and now 2018 to show for it.

You have to in all fairness at least mention how things turned out from that dark time.

Parcells arrived.

Phillips arrived then Garrett.

The stadium was built and we now have a talented team.

If Garrett steps aside at some point..

he will have rebuilt the team enough to go forward.

Fair is fair.

 

[CB61]

Well that was back when Jerry still thought that anybody could coach this team I'm not sure his thinking has changed much may be gone a little forward but he pretty much was brain-dead back then? Let's hope he learns and moves on of course we haven't been to the Superbowl or one more than one playoff game in those 19-years and the plus five years from 95 to 2000

 

[Diehardblues]

Oh, I think he has. Not quite as well or as quickly as I had hoped, but I think he has.

He did still make the WR Roy Williams mistake year later, but that's long since passed to.

And while he did have several years of "the old Wildcatter: happening in the second round of the draft, that has stopped for the past several years as well.

Given their draft history over the past several years, outside of a Taco Charlton move, their decisions have been excellent and have paid off handsomely in terms of player talent.

I see lessons learned. Not as soon as I wish they would, but learned nonetheless.

Not all have paid off handsomely. The risk are paying off now but those picks used more wisely at the time could have propelled those defenses at the time in 2014 and 2016 for example.

The Claiborne move up in draft was a bust. 2nd rd pick Escobar a Bust when we didn’t even need a TE. Jenkins and Felix both 1st round bust in same draft.

Yes, we are seeing some better decisions but still enough poor ones to prevent or stifle more success.

 

[Diehardblues]

being desparate to win has caused jerry to make ridiculous moves. the need for instant gratification became his downfall.

Yep. Jerry has always lived in the moment.

When you’re not held directly accountable are afforded to do so. Worry about the future next year. And it’s cost us way too many times.