What the last 23 years has done to our fan base

IrishAnto

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What folks don't realize is JJ has the last word but SJ is running the show and has his ear. Since SJ has pretty much taken over the GM duties we don't make the same mistakes. This is obvious. The JJ narrative is a media driven agenda to get click and views.

Again I'll ask who has SJ learned his trade from?

And just because he has more influence doesn't mean he's any better, different sure but good enough?
 

Bobhaze

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Yes he was talked out of giving up the farm to get Lynch
He was supposedly talked out of drafting Manziel in 2014 and Paxton Lynch in 2016. He is still more of a fantasy football owner than a GM.Saying Jerry has “ seen the light” is certainly a relative term. Compared to 2000? Maybe. Compared to GMs and owners winning SBs these days,not so much.
 

ItzKelz

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And the key words are "he was talked out of" which doesn't chime with having "seen the light" does it?
lol....so he listen to reason and that is not seeing the light.....he was talked out of drafting Manziel as well. Are you just joking around?
 

ItzKelz

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He was supposedly talked out of drafting Manziel in 2014 and Paxton Lynch in 2016. He is still more of a fantasy football owner than a GM.Saying Jerry has “ seen the light” is certainly a relative term. Compared to 2000? Maybe. Compared to GMs and owners winning SBs these days,not so much.
SJ is making the calls and it hasnt happen in quite some time....that is seeing the light. I believe the media has you. Lost cause.
 

IrishAnto

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lol....so he listen to reason and that is not seeing the light.....he was talked out of drafting Manziel as well. Are you just joking around?
But then you tell me SJ is running the show now, so "talked out of" might just be a euphemism for "No Jerry".

Either way Jerry hasn't learned his lesson has he repeatedly keeps having to be "talked out" of stupid moves.

I think the "light" you refer too is more akin to that of the onrushing train!
 

Blackrain

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Good stuff, Bullet, and the real thorn in our side as fans is all the while this is going on and mediocrity is embraced and excused, Booger has been making money hand over fist, top of the ratings and revenue while really underdelivering to the fans. He gets to win while we do not.

I've been trying to tell y'all the best way to approach this is to separate him from the team. He has made himself the face of the franchise, they even call the stadium after him. He has been rewarded beyond imagination for basically being an incompetent manager of the football team. The less exposure you have to him, the easier it is to just stay centered on the game, the real game, not the one he plays.

However, for us to continue to hold onto those years of 20 winning seasons in a row, 8 trips and 5 rings and apply that to now is only fooling ourselves. As a football team, we are the Browns, Lions and Skins but we can't accept that, we want what was and what's worse, we believe we deserve what was. Why is that? Because whether we want to admit it or not, we feel entitled to that, we are owed that because we are Cowboys fans.

I am older than most here and got to enjoy those glory years and got spoiled myself and felt entitled; however, isn't it time to let those 23 years that we so proudly wave around this forum go? Or have we become addicted to that? Do we need to bolster ourselves with the previous history by drilling the 23 past years into the ground?

I don't give a fat happy rat's *** about the last 23 years because this last year was a good one and posters can be pissed all they want about losing to the 13 win Rams in their own stadium in OT but we were dead in the water at 3-5 and looking sunk and we ended up winning the East, and that means a hell of a lot to me, and we got two games added to our season. There are few posters here that would have predicted that at 3-5.

We did what 24 other NFL teams failed to do, make the Great 8, but too many act like this was that 2017 season. The Dallas Cowboys had a damned good 2018 season after a shaky start and that's all I am taking from history forward as that is the nature of the NFL now. And 2019 will have little to do with the previous 23 years. Give a hungry man a sandwich and he's not going to think about how hungry he was, just going to enjoy that sandwich while it lasts.

Great Post Coach
 

IrishAnto

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SJ is making the calls and it hasnt happen in quite some time....that is seeing the light. I believe the media has you. Lost cause.
And the last offseason is an example of how inept they still are.

We don't need a number one receiver, oh wait! yes we do.

Fortunately the "genius" that is Jon Gruden seems to think he doesn't need good players to win, so our expert front office could trade for Cooper after having overpaid for Williams and Hurns first.
 

Bobhaze

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SJ is making the calls and it hasnt happen in quite some time....that is seeing the light. I believe the media has you. Lost cause.
Maybe you’re right about SJ. What evidence do we have that he’s the one making decisions because I still see JJ acting and speaking as The Godfather.
 

Diehardblues

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Maybe you’re right about SJ. What evidence do we have that he’s the one making decisions because I still see JJ acting and speaking as The Godfather.
We don’t . It’s mere speculative hopeful thoughts because we’ve seen some overall better personnel decisions which actually are more reflective of greater influence from Jason and Will than Stephen who appears nothing more than a cheapskate.

The trade for Cooper, the 2nd round risk and Hardy all have Jerry’s stamp on them. I think he’s as involved as he ever was. He simply is receiving greater influence in building the team like we did with Bill and Jimmy. Stephens been here thru all of it with Jerry and has never appeared to be a decisive difference.

Jerry deserves credit for making some better decisions which he’s made before with greater influence and why I’ve been supportive of Garrett despite his coaching flaws.
 

ItzKelz

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Maybe you’re right about SJ. What evidence do we have that he’s the one making decisions because I still see JJ acting and speaking as The Godfather.
JJ has said it on more than one occasion.
 

Blackrain

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First of all...not everything about the last 23 years is bad. In fact, the last several years this organization has greatly improved in drafting and talent acquisition, and this FO has clearly learned from its numerous previous mistakes in cap and roster management. Three of the last five seasons have yielded division titles and two wild card wins. That’s....well not great. But it could have been worse.

However...the last 23 years has been tough for most Cowboys fans. Three wild card wins. No conference championship games, no SBs. Especially tough for the long time fans who remember what it meant to have the realistic confidence your team would have a shot at winning it all.

Some perspective for either young fans or those who have forgotten:
  • The Cowboys played in 5 of the first 13 SBs, and played in 8 of the first 30 SBs.
  • The Cowboys have played in zero of the last 23 SBs.
  • In the 29 years of the Tex Schramm/Tom Landry era, the Cowboys won 20 playoff games. In the 30 seasons of the Jerry Jones era, the Cowboys have won 15 playoff games, 12 of them in the first 7 seasons.
  • In the 26 seasons from 1970-1995, the Cowboys played in 13 NFC Championship games. In the 23 seasons since, ZERO.
So what does a 23 year drought do to a fan base who has been disappointed year after year? What happens to the expectations and dreams those fans? Here are a few things I see:
  • We lower expectations. Most long time fans just lowered the bar we used to have. If we make the playoffs, great, but if not, it’s not a shock. It a way to soften the disappointment.
  • We long for real leadership at the top- especially at HC since we all know Jerry has a lifetime commitment to playing fantasy football. It’s why we believe in every rumor that Sean Payton is coming here or some other top HC talent. Because we desperately want some quality at the top.
  • We get used to accepting excuses- Jerry even makes excuses. Remember when he called a loss a “moral victory”? He has to be the only GM in the league that can do that. This isn’t little league or middle school sports where learning things like the fundamentals, teamwork and sportsmanship are more important than winning. I’m still amazed at the excuses our fan base throws out for losses, especially in the playoffs.
  • We blame the refs or the NFL for our losses- Most fans don’t want to hear this, but one symptom of continual disappointment is to blame others outside the team. It’s understandable in Dallas because our leader hold neither himself nor his nepotistic family members accountable for failure. Nothing changes at the top so fans start blaming people outside the team.
  • We rip each other- I’m amazed at how much some Cowboys fans rip other Cowboys fans for not drinking the Kool aid or not being cheerleaders for the team in all circumstances. I’ve noticed the fan bases of teams that have had some recent success are more accepting of dissent than those who get used to losing or mediocrity. My bro in law lives in Denver and is a broncos fan. They won a SB a few years ago and their fan base is not as critical
There are surely more “symptoms” that are associated with 23 straight years of poor bottom line performance.

What can we do?
  • Stick together- allow anyone who’s a Cowboys fan to be a fan any way they want.
  • Blame Jerry, not each other- none of us is to blame for the last 23 years. The guy who purchased his position as GM is to blame.
  • Keep hope/ditch the kool aid- I hate what’s happened to us but I still have hope. Despite the 76 yo clown in charge we do have some talent. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. And we should all be united to boo the image of Jerral Wayne Jones every time his surgically altered face is in public. Don’t buy what he is selling.

We as fans have never had any actual influence in how things would turn out but at one time we had an owner who was concerned with winning first . He hired a battle proven Coach in Tom Landry who built the team in a logical way and could pull the rabbit out of the hat on game day .

What most fans cant wrap there head around and don't want to admit is Jerry has different PRIORITES . Jerry wants a coach he is comfortable with that's his priority . He could hire the best and pay him 3 times what any coach in the league makes . But Jerry is not happy with a guy who would run the team like George Patton and force him into a corner where he couldn't be seen, heard or have any influence .

Jerry needs to be the architect of this team and get full credit for what ever success we have or it is no fun for him . Sadly for us fans Jerry is not nor will he ever be talented enough to get us to the SB . He has improved a bit in spite of himself but its not enough . If Jerry would put his pride away and hire the best people and pay them to do the job he has proven incapable to do we would have been to a SB long ago .

Like many insanely rich guys the worse they are at something the more determined they are to get it right and prove themselves . This is where we are as Cowboy fans with Jerry. Stuck with an aging man on his last rodeo bound and bent to prove to the world HE CAN HAND PICK AND BUILD A SB WINNER.

Considering The constraints Jerry puts on this team we have done very well as of late and could have another good year before we have to pay everybody . So I sit back and enjoy watching the young players develop and hope to get to the playoffs again with no expectation of getting much farther than that .

As a Cowboys fan I control what I can control THE BUTTON ON THE REMOTE!!!
 

George

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First of all...not everything about the last 23 years is bad. In fact, the last several years this organization has greatly improved in drafting and talent acquisition, and this FO has clearly learned from its numerous previous mistakes in cap and roster management. Three of the last five seasons have yielded division titles and two wild card wins. That’s....well not great. But it could have been worse.

However...the last 23 years has been tough for most Cowboys fans. Three wild card wins. No conference championship games, no SBs. Especially tough for the long time fans who remember what it meant to have the realistic confidence your team would have a shot at winning it all.

Some perspective for either young fans or those who have forgotten:
  • The Cowboys played in 5 of the first 13 SBs, and played in 8 of the first 30 SBs.
  • The Cowboys have played in zero of the last 23 SBs.
  • In the 29 years of the Tex Schramm/Tom Landry era, the Cowboys won 20 playoff games. In the 30 seasons of the Jerry Jones era, the Cowboys have won 15 playoff games, 12 of them in the first 7 seasons.
  • In the 26 seasons from 1970-1995, the Cowboys played in 13 NFC Championship games. In the 23 seasons since, ZERO.
So what does a 23 year drought do to a fan base who has been disappointed year after year? What happens to the expectations and dreams those fans? Here are a few things I see:
  • We lower expectations. Most long time fans just lowered the bar we used to have. If we make the playoffs, great, but if not, it’s not a shock. It a way to soften the disappointment.
  • We long for real leadership at the top- especially at HC since we all know Jerry has a lifetime commitment to playing fantasy football. It’s why we believe in every rumor that Sean Payton is coming here or some other top HC talent. Because we desperately want some quality at the top.
  • We get used to accepting excuses- Jerry even makes excuses. Remember when he called a loss a “moral victory”? He has to be the only GM in the league that can do that. This isn’t little league or middle school sports where learning things like the fundamentals, teamwork and sportsmanship are more important than winning. I’m still amazed at the excuses our fan base throws out for losses, especially in the playoffs.
  • We blame the refs or the NFL for our losses- Most fans don’t want to hear this, but one symptom of continual disappointment is to blame others outside the team. It’s understandable in Dallas because our leader hold neither himself nor his nepotistic family members accountable for failure. Nothing changes at the top so fans start blaming people outside the team.
  • We rip each other- I’m amazed at how much some Cowboys fans rip other Cowboys fans for not drinking the Kool aid or not being cheerleaders for the team in all circumstances. I’ve noticed the fan bases of teams that have had some recent success are more accepting of dissent than those who get used to losing or mediocrity. My bro in law lives in Denver and is a broncos fan. They won a SB a few years ago and their fan base is not as critical
There are surely more “symptoms” that are associated with 23 straight years of poor bottom line performance.

What can we do?
  • Stick together- allow anyone who’s a Cowboys fan to be a fan any way they want.
  • Blame Jerry, not each other- none of us is to blame for the last 23 years. The guy who purchased his position as GM is to blame.
  • Keep hope/ditch the kool aid- I hate what’s happened to us but I still have hope. Despite the 76 yo clown in charge we do have some talent. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. And we should all be united to boo the image of Jerral Wayne Jones every time his surgically altered face is in public. Don’t buy what he is selling.
You can also add that the reputation of the Cowboys prior to Jerry helped to enable Jerry’s early success.
 

Bobhaze

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We as fans have never had any actual influence in how things would turn out but at one time we had an owner who was concerned with winning first . He hired a battle proven Coach in Tom Landry who built the team in a logical way and could pull the rabbit out of the hat on game day .

What most fans cant wrap there head around and don't want to admit is Jerry has different PRIORITES . Jerry wants a coach he is comfortable with that's his priority . He could hire the best and pay him 3 times what any coach in the league makes . But Jerry is not happy with a guy who would run the team like George Patton and force him into a corner where he couldn't be seen, heard or have any influence .

Jerry needs to be the architect of this team and get full credit for what ever success we have or it is no fun for him . Sadly for us fans Jerry is not nor will he ever be talented enough to get us to the SB . He has improved a bit in spite of himself but its not enough . If Jerry would put his pride away and hire the best people and pay them to do the job he has proven incapable to do we would have been to a SB long ago .

Like many insanely rich guys the worse they are at something the more determined they are to get it right and prove themselves . This is where we are as Cowboy fans with Jerry. Stuck with an aging man on his last rodeo bound and bent to prove to the world HE CAN HAND PICK AND BUILD A SB WINNER.

Considering The constraints Jerry puts on this team we have done very well as of late and could have another good year before we have to pay everybody . So I sit back and enjoy watching the young players develop and hope to get to the playoffs again with no expectation of getting much farther than that .

As a Cowboys fan I control what I can control THE BUTTON ON THE REMOTE!!!
Boom! Truth!
And as far as Jerry learning things on the job, can you imagine having a job where you had 23 chances to show you can do something? And there is no failure that can dislodge him from power.
 

75boyz

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Great post ... I as a cowboy fan of over 4 decades almost 5, can relate to most of it :. I haven’t lowered my standard as much as I have put professional sports more in perspective .. as we .. (well speaking for myself I) get older other things have taken higher priority .. in that same time period I got married ,raised two kids , spending time with grandkids ..(well more than 29 years not just the 23) and just enjoyed different aspects of life .. pro sports just fell lower on the list .. I envy those who were born in the 80’s and became cowboy fans enjoying the early 90’s. Many didn’t experience the doldrums of the 80’s . The agonizing of the aging veterans , the introductions of the qb of the month club , the retirements and the many almosts , oh well we will get them next year .. after the 70’s of holy cows and dropped end zones passes / doomsday defenses / movies of excess .. etc all ended with a freaking catch in the new decade that I summarized above ..

The 90’s brought two brash individuals who couldn’t put aside their differences for the greater good to probably have delivered us what no team still hasn’t done, 4 in a row .. you might argue we could’ve won 4 in a row maybe 5 .. heck maybe 6 out of 7 .. but nope .. instead we get 23 years of almosts and not even close ..

Now we have today’s NFL and fanbase .. fans still have passion but now instead of striking out that passion on other fan bases we sit back almost scared of other fan bases and attack each other .. we call each other out like how dare we hate or cheer this team ..that’s where persepective takes over ..I just sit back .. try to stay out of it but sometimes I can’t .. I usually laugh when many internet coaches and GM’s lament how that decision was horrible .. they brag how they could’ve and would’ve done better.. yet they don’t because well no disrespect they’re fans , not coaches.. don’t get me wrong I will dissect a game like no other and claim how this play this or that :. But I won’t attack as some do .. it’s ok though .. I still root for my Dallas Cowboys .. I will still watch them :.. but I will also not walk around for a week after a loss hating life ... perspective .. life’s too short .. live like you are dying and enjoy the time we have .. none of us are getting out of here alive .. I will still cheer as loud after every win .. and still hate every loss .. just the sting isn’t as painful or long :. As well as victory doesn’t carry on for days .. is that because of the last 23 years ?? Yes but not the last Dallas Cowboys 23 years .. yet my LIFE and experiences of the last 23+ years just add a little perspective ..
rock on
Go Cowboys

All time post nominee. Beautiful description on life perspective. Great post.
 

75boyz

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We as fans have never had any actual influence in how things would turn out but at one time we had an owner who was concerned with winning first . He hired a battle proven Coach in Tom Landry who built the team in a logical way and could pull the rabbit out of the hat on game day .

What most fans cant wrap there head around and don't want to admit is Jerry has different PRIORITES . Jerry wants a coach he is comfortable with that's his priority . He could hire the best and pay him 3 times what any coach in the league makes . But Jerry is not happy with a guy who would run the team like George Patton and force him into a corner where he couldn't be seen, heard or have any influence .

Jerry needs to be the architect of this team and get full credit for what ever success we have or it is no fun for him . Sadly for us fans Jerry is not nor will he ever be talented enough to get us to the SB . He has improved a bit in spite of himself but its not enough . If Jerry would put his pride away and hire the best people and pay them to do the job he has proven incapable to do we would have been to a SB long ago .

Like many insanely rich guys the worse they are at something the more determined they are to get it right and prove themselves . This is where we are as Cowboy fans with Jerry. Stuck with an aging man on his last rodeo bound and bent to prove to the world HE CAN HAND PICK AND BUILD A SB WINNER.

Considering The constraints Jerry puts on this team we have done very well as of late and could have another good year before we have to pay everybody . So I sit back and enjoy watching the young players develop and hope to get to the playoffs again with no expectation of getting much farther than that .

As a Cowboys fan I control what I can control THE BUTTON ON THE REMOTE!!!

Another Hall of Fame worthy post.
I see and have seen Cowboy related issues as you have described them here.
Very well done my good man.
 

Diehardblues

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Boom! Truth!
And as far as Jerry learning things on the job, can you imagine having a job where you had 23 chances to show you can do something? And there is no failure that can dislodge him from power.
There is one failure that would dislodge him but we’ve obviously already lost that battle when the new stadium was built, sponsors inked, tickets sold and PSL’s committed. But we can publicly keep the pressure on not making it any easier for him.

Jerry has actually proved he can do something and amazingly he’s maintained relevance and revenue despite his struggle to produce another championship. And we’ve rewarded him handsomely not forcing him to change his ways.

I’m not sure why we’d expect him to give up his passion and pursuit. Jerry has made it very clear he’s only interested in winning his way and we’ve continued to support that however indirectly it is.
 
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