Are we just assuming the culture is good now?

[zrinkill]

Im not sure who believes our culture is fine?

I mean there are several in this thread ....... along with whats left of Rockports crew.

 

[Diehardblues]

I mean there are several in this thread ....... along with whats left of Rockports crew.

I’m not sure I give much credence to a handful of homers. Lol

 

[InPhiltraitor]

And there have been others who don't see it as an issue. I think it is one of those words that is thrown out when a team loses and fans/players are looking for a reason. Instead of acknowledging the real culprit (the Joneses' poor use of free agency), we apply culture or lack of leadership or something else that is less tangible to it.

Here's Dak after that Green Bay playoff loss:
“Yeah, the culture is high honestly, and the culture is great from my standpoint. . . . My point is that’s something I’ve bragged on and took pride in,” Prescott said. “So if there’s questions of that or concerns on that, I feel attacked. I’m sure some guys in the locker room do, but at the end of the day, it’s a business, and the way that this business plays out, people don’t get exactly what they want. There’s always sourness I guess you could say somewhere. I don’t want to make anything bigger than that.”

Here's Tyler Smith:

“I mean that’s who we are,’’ left guard Tyler Smith said after a 30-14 win over Carolina. “We’re never going to quit. We’re never going to lay down for anybody. That speaks to who we are, not only as individuals, but as men and as players.

“That’s our culture. Whether other people believe it or not, we’re going to come in there and fight all day, every day, anywhere, any place, any time.’’

With respect, you’re citing perspectives from the ultimate company man, Dak Prescott, and a young player who has no frame of reference in regard to NFL locker rooms. For that matter, Dak’s only reference has been from within the Cowboy locker room as well.

What about the verbiage from two recent departures - Schultz & Hendershot. Similarities in their comments are telling.

Shultz - “The focus (in Houston) is just football, you know what I mean?”. In Dallas “…It’s literally a zoo, dude”.

Hendershot - “I just feel like when I came to Kansas City... my first experience in the NFL was the Cowboys so that's all I knew... I just feel like here it is strictly football and winning. Nothing else but just football and winning. And I feel like with the Cowboys it's a little bit more like the public image.” He went on to use to use the term “extracurriculars” in regard to activities at camp Cowboy.

Question is how much does the Cowboy environment, culture heavily influenced by Mr. Jones, affect each player and to what degree?

I contend that you have to be in the proper head space to thrive in this environment, and there are those that do, but it takes a unique character. Guys like Schultz and Hendershot may have inhibited themselves to a degree due to their inability to handle what’s going on around them. Seriously, Schultz commented about people tapping on the glass as they worked out. This clearly bothered him. Ask yourself, why do variables such as fans tapping on the glass in the workplace even exist? They shouldn’t.

So how did the early 90’s Cowboys handle it? To one of your previous points, gimmesix, they had talent. Damn talented and led by a coach that knew how to excel in the Cowboys environment. That combination was too rare to expect it to EVER be established again in Dallas.

I’d suggest that talent acquisition and culture change has to meet somewhere in the middle. Do the Cowboys need to procure better players - yes. Do they need a paradigm shift in how to cultivate a winning culture - yes.

So, to the question of, “can you assume the culture is good now?” Why would you? Until these guys shut their mouths and close the doors to let this coaching staff do what they need to do, this is still just ‘The Jerry Show’ starring Booger & Bozo.