Fear, laziness and risk aversion - How the Cowboys lost their way

[JonesBoys]

I have given myself time to calm down after the draft. After constant battles on here with people who had great opinions but didn't understand why I really was so down on the draft. That is probably my fault for not being able to communicate why I am so angry with this team.

This all goes back to the Green Bay loss for me. That is when my fandom changed. I used to sit here and defend Dak, this FO, and almost every player on the team. After watching what seemed like the biggest failure by a Dallas Cowboys team in recent memory, I took a step back and evaluated what is really going on. That's when it clicked for me. This team refuses to take the necessary risks to improve.

This started after the Brandon Carr signing. This team has not signed a FA to big money since then. At least not a notable name. Heck, Dante Fowler (who played on this team already) is the first FA to get more than 6 million from this team in how many years?

I digress.

Lets get back to the Green Bay debacle.

What most if not all teams would have done in that situation, is clean house. McCarthy had NO BUSINESS staying on another year after the team failed to show up, at home, against a 7 seed and got boat raced out of their own stadium. Instead of doing what was necessary, this team stuck with the HC. Fine. Yet they did absolutely nothing to improve the team for him. They sandbagged him just to prove a point? It is nonsensical how that transpired. Then they leave CeeDee sitting at home until the end of training camp, make the fan base think they are moving on from Dak, just to steal the headlines the day of the season starting. More of the same of "we like our guys" instead of letting Dak go find a new team and drafting a QB this year or next. (Risk aversion)

Then comes the disaster that was last season. They blame injuries, dont bring the coach back (after denying the request of the Bears to speak with him) and decide to start over. Ok good.

But wait, now the laziness creeps in. They bring in a few other guys to satisfy a certain rule, and then walk down the hallway and interview the OC who was in charge of one of the worst performing offenses in football last season.

They announce a guy with no HC experience, spin it to be a great idea, and bobs your uncle.

How does this make sense? You are the Dallas Cowboys. Was 10 years of Garrett learning on the job not enough?

So cue the new head coach coming in changing "the culture" with a smashmouth approach to running the football. Ok. Thats refreshing. Now FA starts and they sign Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams. Ok fine, I will wait until the draft and see what happens.

Now here comes the trifecta of a bad front office.

Lazy, risk averse, and fear all took place on day one of the draft. I don't care what anyone says, drafting another OL in the first round was foolish, lazy, and reeked of "we don't want to mess this up".

I am sick of hearing that players are reaches. If you drafted Hampton, or Golden, or Ebuka, or or or at 12 and it was your guy, who cares. He turns out to be a star you look like a genius, he doesnt, you look like you dont know what you are doing (no one believes you do anyways) so why not take the chance? Instead we get Booker who while he is a fantastic player, was not a need in any way shape or form. Hoffman played well and Dowdle once he was the starter and Zeke was benched was one of the top back in the game. It is pure laziness and fear.

Second round comes, again, great player and I wont even harp on this pick, but the reason he was picked is because the Cowboys thought one of the Ohio State RBs would fall to them. As soon as Henderson was picked, rumours started being floated about the Cowboys wanting to trade down. Panic at the Star apparently. More fear.

I am not mad about the draft, the picks, or the players. I am mad that this FO has shown no hunger, no will, and no risk taking to improve. They are content on staying status quo, being relevant, and blaming anyone but themselves on why this team fails year after year. Who is Dak throwing to? Who is carrying the load at RB? These questions still aren't answered and the OTAs start in 2 weeks.

I wont bother going on because its clear what I am trying to say.

Needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

Great post. What this front office did after the GB debacle, which was absolutely nothing, spoke volumes to me about this front office and their desire to win. The fact they even asked McCarthy back but wanted a shorter deal was also a sign of laziness.
Then like you said walked down the hall to another person they were comfortable with.

My passion for the Dallas Cowboys is slipping fast. This ownership is bottom five right now in the NFL. Nothing is going to change until they do or they are gone.

 

[Ranching]

I dont ..... you b's always quote me first .....

I was giving you credit, you haven't done that for a while and you call us b's....it that means what I think k it does, you're a big P, if it doesn't, then you're a good d.

 

[JonesBoys]

CowboysZone is where Cowboys fans vent. It's as simple as that.

Not been a place to celebrate big victories so it’s all we have.

 

[zrinkill]

I was giving you credit, you haven't done that for a while and you call us b's....it that means what I think k it does, you're a big P, if it doesn't, then you're a good d.

And I took it ...... but i repeat, you boy's always fire first and then play the victim ........ luckily i could care less what any of you think ...... have a nice day.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

I will never, ever understand what the plan was for the 2024 season after the Green Bay playoff loss. I just tell myself there was no plan.

Did absolutely nothing to upgrade the roster and expected different results. The theory they wanted to set McCarthy up to fail doesn't wash. They could have just fired him. Instead, Jerry's first thought after the 7-10 disaster was to run it back with him again.

The only thing keeping my sanity is that it does appear Schottenheimer at least seems to have a plan. The majority of the coaching staff is new which means there is a different direction. And I did like the draft; a lot.

But the bottom line with the Jones boys has always been...the bottom line. People still talk about the Cowboys and the Cowboys still make money, whether or not they are an elite team or losing seven games in a row.

The on-field product is secondary. Jerry and Cap Boy have mastered how to sell mediocrity now for three decades. Don't expect anything to change anytime soon; no matter how many games they win or lose in 2025.

 

[shabazz]

I have given myself time to calm down after the draft. After constant battles on here with people who had great opinions but didn't understand why I really was so down on the draft. That is probably my fault for not being able to communicate why I am so angry with this team.

This all goes back to the Green Bay loss for me. That is when my fandom changed. I used to sit here and defend Dak, this FO, and almost every player on the team. After watching what seemed like the biggest failure by a Dallas Cowboys team in recent memory, I took a step back and evaluated what is really going on. That's when it clicked for me. This team refuses to take the necessary risks to improve.

This started after the Brandon Carr signing. This team has not signed a FA to big money since then. At least not a notable name. Heck, Dante Fowler (who played on this team already) is the first FA to get more than 6 million from this team in how many years?

I digress.

Lets get back to the Green Bay debacle.

What most if not all teams would have done in that situation, is clean house. McCarthy had NO BUSINESS staying on another year after the team failed to show up, at home, against a 7 seed and got boat raced out of their own stadium. Instead of doing what was necessary, this team stuck with the HC. Fine. Yet they did absolutely nothing to improve the team for him. They sandbagged him just to prove a point? It is nonsensical how that transpired. Then they leave CeeDee sitting at home until the end of training camp, make the fan base think they are moving on from Dak, just to steal the headlines the day of the season starting. More of the same of "we like our guys" instead of letting Dak go find a new team and drafting a QB this year or next. (Risk aversion)

Then comes the disaster that was last season. They blame injuries, dont bring the coach back (after denying the request of the Bears to speak with him) and decide to start over. Ok good.

But wait, now the laziness creeps in. They bring in a few other guys to satisfy a certain rule, and then walk down the hallway and interview the OC who was in charge of one of the worst performing offenses in football last season.

They announce a guy with no HC experience, spin it to be a great idea, and bobs your uncle.

How does this make sense? You are the Dallas Cowboys. Was 10 years of Garrett learning on the job not enough?

So cue the new head coach coming in changing "the culture" with a smashmouth approach to running the football. Ok. Thats refreshing. Now FA starts and they sign Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams. Ok fine, I will wait until the draft and see what happens.

Now here comes the trifecta of a bad front office.

Lazy, risk averse, and fear all took place on day one of the draft. I don't care what anyone says, drafting another OL in the first round was foolish, lazy, and reeked of "we don't want to mess this up".

I am sick of hearing that players are reaches. If you drafted Hampton, or Golden, or Ebuka, or or or at 12 and it was your guy, who cares. He turns out to be a star you look like a genius, he doesnt, you look like you dont know what you are doing (no one believes you do anyways) so why not take the chance? Instead we get Booker who while he is a fantastic player, was not a need in any way shape or form. Hoffman played well and Dowdle once he was the starter and Zeke was benched was one of the top back in the game. It is pure laziness and fear.

Second round comes, again, great player and I wont even harp on this pick, but the reason he was picked is because the Cowboys thought one of the Ohio State RBs would fall to them. As soon as Henderson was picked, rumours started being floated about the Cowboys wanting to trade down. Panic at the Star apparently. More fear.

I am not mad about the draft, the picks, or the players. I am mad that this FO has shown no hunger, no will, and no risk taking to improve. They are content on staying status quo, being relevant, and blaming anyone but themselves on why this team fails year after year. Who is Dak throwing to? Who is carrying the load at RB? These questions still aren't answered and the OTAs start in 2 weeks.

I wont bother going on because its clear what I am trying to say.

Needed to vent. Thanks for listening.

95% of Cowboys fans eventually get to this same realization.

I tried to defend this team all until the final Romo years but then I woke up and smelled the coffee.

The biggest problem we face is the owner is tbe GM because his actions are inconsequential to his bottom line.

One the reasons we take so many injured or past bust players is because if they don't work out quickly or at all there is no consequences for this man's job......he's literally selecting some players in the hopes that they will become bargains and that shines the spotlight on him....thats all that matters

 

[Ranching]

And I took it ...... but i repeat, you boy's always fire first and then play the victim ........ luckily i could care less what any of you think ...... have a nice day.

If you can care less, then stop bringing it up....that's called couldn't care less, not could. I am having a really nice day, thank you.

 

[phildadon86]

I will never, ever understand what the plan was for the 2024 season after the Green Bay playoff loss. I just tell myself there was no plan.

Did absolutely nothing to upgrade the roster and expected different results. The theory they wanted to set McCarthy up to fail doesn't wash. They could have just fired him. Instead, Jerry's first thought after the 7-10 disaster was to run it back with him again.

The only thing keeping my sanity is that it does appear Schottenheimer at least seems to have a plan. The majority of the coaching staff is new which means there is a different direction. And I did like the draft; a lot.

But the bottom line with the Jones boys has always been...the bottom line. People still talk about the Cowboys and the Cowboys still make money, whether or not they are an elite team or losing seven games in a row.

The on-field product is secondary. Jerry and Cap Boy have mastered how to sell mediocrity now for three decades. Don't expect anything to change anytime soon; no matter how many games they win or lose in 2025.

Yes he does.

Unfortunately this FO did nothing to help him realize that plan.

No bell cow.

And currently other than Lamb. This team has no WR.

They are dead set on proving that the waste 4th rounder on Mingo was a great idea.

 

[StarLord]

Agree with every word. This organization has sucked the life out of football for me. I can't enjoy free-agency, I can't enjoy the draft, I sure as hell can't enjoy the regular season. You have to look really hard to find bright spots on this team and even those are shaded.

Of all the low down dirty deeds this organization has done though, none top the hiring of Schotty. That was the cheapest, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, hopeless, heartless, fat-arse, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed, sack of monkey poop hires you could have possibly come up. How sad and pathetic is it that I was disappointed when they didn't sign Kellen Freaking Moore???

Love that movie.

 

[5Stars]

I think all the posters that like this thread should go find a new team!!

(did I do that right?)

 

[acr731]

Good for you to vent in a mature manner. Too, bad some of the weirdo hater won't be able to contain themselves and turn your well, thought out thread into a way to go on the attack. Screw them, again, good thread.

The only people who will attack his thread are the hardcore homers..... Post #4 said that CZ is supposed to be place where fans can vent but we all know a few of the homers refuse to allow that to happen. Members should be allowed to have (and share) their own varied opinions without being attacked, but it happens ever day.

 

[acr731]

I think all the posters that like this thread should go find a new team!!

(did I do that right?)

You did it right. How dare anyone have an opinion that goes against one of the homers.

 

[5Stars]

You did it right. How dare anyone have an opinion that goes against one of the homers.

Never in my imagination following the Cowboys for as long as I have, and it's been a looooong time, did I ever think they would turn out like this.

America's Team? I really have to think hard about that now.

 

[acr731]

Never in my imagination following the Cowboys for as long as I have, and it's been a looooong time, did I ever think they would turn out like this.

America's Team? I really have to think hard about that now.

I would have never imagined I would see a professional sports franchise not care about winning like Jerry and his nepo bunch of employees.

 

[phildadon86]

BTW I do agree completely, yes I read it all. But this is common sense for those of us who aren't weirdo homers.
I mean every negotiation they do is painful and to the detriment to the team, like this current one with Micah.

I forgot to mention in my rant.

This team was most successful when it was taking risks.

Not this timid, non spending, we like our guys mantra they have become.

 

[Joey9775]

I will never, ever understand what the plan was for the 2024 season after the Green Bay playoff loss. I just tell myself there was no plan.

Did absolutely nothing to upgrade the roster and expected different results. The theory they wanted to set McCarthy up to fail doesn't wash. They could have just fired him. Instead, Jerry's first thought after the 7-10 disaster was to run it back with him again.

The only thing keeping my sanity is that it does appear Schottenheimer at least seems to have a plan. The majority of the coaching staff is new which means there is a different direction. And I did like the draft; a lot.

But the bottom line with the Jones boys has always been...the bottom line. People still talk about the Cowboys and the Cowboys still make money, whether or not they are an elite team or losing seven games in a row.

The on-field product is secondary. Jerry and Cap Boy have mastered how to sell mediocrity now for three decades. Don't expect anything to change anytime soon; no matter how many games they win or lose in 2025.

To me it's one of two giant mysteries. One was that weird two week period where Garrett was fired but still hung out at the Star and did exit interviews? Wut? And then the Green Bay game. Jane Slater said there was this really weird vibe coming from the locker room all day. It's like Jerry came down and said "No you aren't winning this game or really any playoff game anytime soon, and you'll like it!" So bizarre.

 

[zrinkill]

If you can care less, then stop bringing it up....that's called couldn't care less, not could. I am having a really nice day, thank you.

I said and meant what I said ...... now hurry ..... i think someone is starting a thread about how bad the team is ......

 

[plymkr]

I admit its a rant, and I am really talking to myself.

Is this forum not the circle of trust? LOL

Haha, Meet The Parents, Ben Stiller. Great movie. Jerry is outside my circle of trust

 

[JonesBoys]

I will never, ever understand what the plan was for the 2024 season after the Green Bay playoff loss. I just tell myself there was no plan.

Did absolutely nothing to upgrade the roster and expected different results. The theory they wanted to set McCarthy up to fail doesn't wash. They could have just fired him. Instead, Jerry's first thought after the 7-10 disaster was to run it back with him again.

The only thing keeping my sanity is that it does appear Schottenheimer at least seems to have a plan. The majority of the coaching staff is new which means there is a different direction. And I did like the draft; a lot.

But the bottom line with the Jones boys has always been...the bottom line. People still talk about the Cowboys and the Cowboys still make money, whether or not they are an elite team or losing seven games in a row.

The on-field product is secondary. Jerry and Cap Boy have mastered how to sell mediocrity now for three decades. Don't expect anything to change anytime soon; no matter how many games they win or lose in 2025.

I wonder when this starts to run out though?

 

[5Stars]

I wonder when this starts to run out though?

This team will always be what they have always been since Jimma left, and until someone else owns this team there is probably no hope it will ever change.