The kind of players the Cowboys need but probably won’t get

Bobhaze

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For decades, the Cowboys have intentionally fashioned their players as “stars” with more “sizzle” than steak. Jerry has even stated publicly that he likes that. And let’s be honest- jersey sales are as important to the Jones boys as actual wins on the scoreboard.

Too many Cowboys players over this same segment of time have been given huge contracts based mostly on their perceived value rather than playoff accomplishments. Many are talented and worthy of a second deal, but for every good contract, there’s a Jaylon Smith or Jay Ratliff or Miles Austin. Guys that had some talent but weren’t really great for the team’s development.

With that in mind, here’s the kind of players the Cowboys would really be better served in pursuing in free agency (I realize that unfortunately we probably won’t have much cap room this year to pursue many FAs)
  • Blue collar type guys more interested in being part of a team than being in a TV commercial. As hard working as they are talented.
  • Young, emerging players who are just now developing into a better player (not a big name but a guy who is emerging quietly into an excellent player)
  • Veterans who may be near the end of their careers but have tons of playoff experience and locker room leadership skills.
  • Playoff experience should be a major premium. Especially guys who have a SB ring.
Too many of our players somehow feel entitled when they don the star. I hope we get the new blood that can instill some “you guys haven’t done much of anything” into the room instead of “Who’s got the best shoe deal?”

This organization need a cultural flush. I think getting more guys in here that are hungrier for a ring than they are for a VIP room hook-up at a club because they are a Cowboys player is more of what we need.
 

Jake

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Bringing players from outside doesn't seem to change the culture. They just become the next guys to be infected by it. The Cowboys are treated like rock stars, train in the swankiest facility surrounded by its own shopping complex and hotel.

If they play certain positions they get paid. The "new Triplets", the new "war daddy" - fill those roles in Jerry's mind and tens of millions of dollars are coming your way before you've ever won a thing. If you win, great, but you're a star either way.

And always remember, it doesn't matter what the head coach thinks of you as long as Uncle Jerry has your back. So let him holler all he wants and just do your thing. :rolleyes:
 

MajesticRey

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@Bobhaze I was hoping you’d list specific players that we could (realistically) pursue either this offseason or the next.

Although I don’t think many vets would get signed to Dallas and “change the culture”. They’d probably just sign here for the payday since they know our team’s history of choking.
 

mahoneybill

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OBJ is a perfect example of guy this team doesn’t need. This culture is already full of guys who are more sizzle than steak.

OBJ made his “ bones” off a push off and one handed catch during a giants/cowboys game.

He’s great on open crossing routes where he can use his speed.
 
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mahoneybill

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Bringing players from outside doesn't seem to change the culture. They just become the next guys to be infected by it. The Cowboys are treated like rock stars, train in the swankiest facility surrounded by its own shopping complex and hotel.

If they play certain positions they get paid. The "new Triplets", the new "war daddy" - fill those roles in Jerry's mind and tens of millions of dollars are coming your way before you've ever won a thing. If you win, great, but you're a star either way.

And always remember, it doesn't matter what the head coach thinks of you as long as Uncle Jerry has your back. So let him holler all he wants and just do your thing. :rolleyes:

JJ is all about marketing.... Hence the “ hot boyz” who were nowhere near a fan originated “ doomsday” defense
 

JonesBoys

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For decades, the Cowboys have intentionally fashioned their players as “stars” with more “sizzle” than steak. Jerry has even stated publicly that he likes that. And let’s be honest- jersey sales are as important to the Jones boys as actual wins on the scoreboard.

Too many Cowboys players over this same segment of time have been given huge contracts based mostly on their perceived value rather than playoff accomplishments. Many are talented and worthy of a second deal, but for every good contract, there’s a Jaylon Smith or Jay Ratliff or Miles Austin. Guys that had some talent but weren’t really great for the team’s development.

With that in mind, here’s the kind of players the Cowboys would really be better served in pursuing in free agency (I realize that unfortunately we probably won’t have much cap room this year to pursue many FAs)
  • Blue collar type guys more interested in being part of a team than being in a TV commercial. As hard working as they are talented.
  • Young, emerging players who are just now developing into a better player (not a big name but a guy who is emerging quietly into an excellent player)
  • Veterans who may be near the end of their careers but have tons of playoff experience and locker room leadership skills.
  • Playoff experience should be a major premium. Especially guys who have a SB ring.
Too many of our players somehow feel entitled when they don the star. I hope we get the new blood that can instill some “you guys haven’t done much of anything” into the room instead of “Who’s got the best shoe deal?”

This organization need a cultural flush. I think getting more guys in here that are hungrier for a ring than they are for a VIP room hook-up at a club because they are a Cowboys player is more of what we need.



That’s because of the whole glitz and glamour culture Jerrah has created. Blind color guys you mentioned don’t care about the Star and all the celebrity of being a Cowboy. They care more about a winning culture they can’t be sold on all the glitz Dallas has.
 

ChuckA1

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I was hoping they'd go after a player like DJ Reader. Nope
 

Point-of-the-Star

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For decades, the Cowboys have intentionally fashioned their players as “stars” with more “sizzle” than steak. Jerry has even stated publicly that he likes that. And let’s be honest- jersey sales are as important to the Jones boys as actual wins on the scoreboard.

Too many Cowboys players over this same segment of time have been given huge contracts based mostly on their perceived value rather than playoff accomplishments. Many are talented and worthy of a second deal, but for every good contract, there’s a Jaylon Smith or Jay Ratliff or Miles Austin. Guys that had some talent but weren’t really great for the team’s development.

With that in mind, here’s the kind of players the Cowboys would really be better served in pursuing in free agency (I realize that unfortunately we probably won’t have much cap room this year to pursue many FAs)
  • Blue collar type guys more interested in being part of a team than being in a TV commercial. As hard working as they are talented.
  • Young, emerging players who are just now developing into a better player (not a big name but a guy who is emerging quietly into an excellent player)
  • Veterans who may be near the end of their careers but have tons of playoff experience and locker room leadership skills.
  • Playoff experience should be a major premium. Especially guys who have a SB ring.
Too many of our players somehow feel entitled when they don the star. I hope we get the new blood that can instill some “you guys haven’t done much of anything” into the room instead of “Who’s got the best shoe deal?”

This organization need a cultural flush. I think getting more guys in here that are hungrier for a ring than they are for a VIP room hook-up at a club because they are a Cowboys player is more of what we need.

Another good post but what you are saying when you say our Cowboys need a cultural flush is really we need is a corporate flush. And with this I mean corporate management skills. It ain't coming because of one basic truth and its related sub-truth. The truth is this is Boogers toy and the subtruth is he is an egotist that can't or won't see past his own management flaws.

Those flaws destroy the championship culture. This was encapsulated in your post.

I'm sad about these precepts and have only come to this conclusion in the last 3-4-5 years (after 2016). Management chokes out the champions' heart in many way.
 

Ranched

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Dak admittedly, he can play at a higher level than we saw down the stretch. Why? Because we’ve seen it. In October he looked like the MVP. It’s no coincidence the other parts of the offense were humming back then, too. More than anything, the Cowboys have to figure out what went wrong offensively after the bye. If they get that fixed, they’ll have a chance to contend again despite the inevitable roster turnover.
 

cityochamps

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Bringing players from outside doesn't seem to change the culture. They just become the next guys to be infected by it. The Cowboys are treated like rock stars, train in the swankiest facility surrounded by its own shopping complex and hotel.

If they play certain positions they get paid. The "new Triplets", the new "war daddy" - fill those roles in Jerry's mind and tens of millions of dollars are coming your way before you've ever won a thing. If you win, great, but you're a star either way.

And always remember, it doesn't matter what the head coach thinks of you as long as Uncle Jerry has your back. So let him holler all he wants and just do your thing. :rolleyes:
This is it!

We have had the players but not the culture for focusing on winning, players need to take it to the next level. This starts at or near the top. And is carried out by guys like number 11.
 

Diehardblues

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OBJ is a perfect example of guy this team doesn’t need. This culture is already full of guys who are more sizzle than steak.
He probably wouldn’t work here cause the lack of discipline this franchise has with our dysfunctional culture.

But Tampa and now LA have proven that with the right leadership and culture in place you can bring in some outcast and or talent that might have not been attractive otherwise unless you thought that would be enough to get over the hump.

I’d think with our type of risk taking ownership with practically nothing to lose ( at least not their jobs) this might be attractive to pursue.
 

Diehardblues

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I thought that’s the entire reason Jethro has argued to remain GM cause no one else would be in a position to take the risk he could.

I’m not seeing many risk being taken here in recent years. Unless we consider over paying Star talent a risk:)
 

diamonddelts

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Bringing in any new player will not change the culture. Dallas culture is toxic and it will infect any good player with mediocrity. All this comes from the top down.
 

Blackrain

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For decades, the Cowboys have intentionally fashioned their players as “stars” with more “sizzle” than steak. Jerry has even stated publicly that he likes that. And let’s be honest- jersey sales are as important to the Jones boys as actual wins on the scoreboard.

Too many Cowboys players over this same segment of time have been given huge contracts based mostly on their perceived value rather than playoff accomplishments. Many are talented and worthy of a second deal, but for every good contract, there’s a Jaylon Smith or Jay Ratliff or Miles Austin. Guys that had some talent but weren’t really great for the team’s development.

With that in mind, here’s the kind of players the Cowboys would really be better served in pursuing in free agency (I realize that unfortunately we probably won’t have much cap room this year to pursue many FAs)
  • Blue collar type guys more interested in being part of a team than being in a TV commercial. As hard working as they are talented.
  • Young, emerging players who are just now developing into a better player (not a big name but a guy who is emerging quietly into an excellent player)
  • Veterans who may be near the end of their careers but have tons of playoff experience and locker room leadership skills.
  • Playoff experience should be a major premium. Especially guys who have a SB ring.
Too many of our players somehow feel entitled when they don the star. I hope we get the new blood that can instill some “you guys haven’t done much of anything” into the room instead of “Who’s got the best shoe deal?”

This organization need a cultural flush. I think getting more guys in here that are hungrier for a ring than they are for a VIP room hook-up at a club because they are a Cowboys player is more of what we need.

I fully echo your sentiments bullet but unfortunately the cultural flush needs to start with Jerry.

His philosophy seems to become ingrained into every player on this team after they are here for a while and there is no turning back.

When you see a player like Aaron Donald make an absolute life commitment to doing everything possible to winning a super bowl.

The stark contrast between him and the players we have here it's just a gap too far for us to bridge with Jerry in charge.

Debo Samuel Trent Williams it's so obvious the kind of guys who really want a win and a super bowl is important to them.

Everything here pushes players in the direction of being selfish and committed to their own brand.
 
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