I have both hope and doubts. It's ok to have both

[Reid1boys]

doubts? who has doubts? We are winning the SB this year. 15=--2 regular season. Dak wins MVP, Micah defensive player pf the year. CeeDEe 1800 yards and 32 tds .

Who has doubts?

 

[rambo2]

Shocked then happy.

How would you feel if they went 10 and 7 and were a wild card?

 

[rambo2]

I don’t blame you John. I am skeptical about this defense for sure. Until they prove otherwise, this team and its coaches are unproven. A good off-season isn’t the same as proving it during the real games that matter.

As I said I’m hopeful but with realistic doubts.

Poor John, it must be awful to feel that way. There are so many good things going on with the team right now.

 

[JoeKing]

Three months into a pretty good 2025 Cowboys off-season, I have realized I have a combination of both hope and doubts. Like the beginning of every Cowboys season I sincerely hope they have a great year. There are some reasons for hope.

And like most Cowboys fans who have watched the last three decades in mind numbing frustration, it’s also hard to not also have some doubts too. Especially when realizing the architect and centerpiece of this organization remains fully in charge. And fully unaccountable along with his DNA fortunate offspring.

So I have BOTH - hope and doubts.

Now I believe like most fans here on this forum that the Cowboys have had a pretty good off-season so far. Last off-season ended up being a kamikaze mission by Jerry, so anything would be better than that. But there are several good things about this off-season so far.

So until the real bullets fly in real games that matter beginning in September, I will remain both hopeful and skeptical.

For those fellow fans here who have nothing but good feelings about the coming year, as well as those who also have serious doubts about the coming season because of the past, I understand how you both feel. We should all allow each other some latitude around here to believe either.

This is my least favorite time of the football calendar. Honestly, I’m tired of the off-season and the endless speculation about what it all means and the silly arguments that take place . Only the regular season and (hopefully) playoffs will determine how good this off-season really was.

I’m so ready to see this regular season begin! Go Cowboys!

I've witnessed this offseason too. It's been good, but I'm not sold on BS as HC. I'm not looking forward to trying the RB by committee, again. I don't think our D is fixed either.

So, with all that in mind, the doubts outweigh the hope by a lot.

 

[Blackrain]

Three months into a pretty good 2025 Cowboys off-season, I have realized I have a combination of both hope and doubts. Like the beginning of every Cowboys season I sincerely hope they have a great year. There are some reasons for hope.

And like most Cowboys fans who have watched the last three decades in mind numbing frustration, it’s also hard to not also have some doubts too. Especially when realizing the architect and centerpiece of this organization remains fully in charge. And fully unaccountable along with his DNA fortunate offspring.

So I have BOTH - hope and doubts.

Now I believe like most fans here on this forum that the Cowboys have had a pretty good off-season so far. Last off-season ended up being a kamikaze mission by Jerry, so anything would be better than that. But there are several good things about this off-season so far.

So until the real bullets fly in real games that matter beginning in September, I will remain both hopeful and skeptical.

For those fellow fans here who have nothing but good feelings about the coming year, as well as those who also have serious doubts about the coming season because of the past, I understand how you both feel. We should all allow each other some latitude around here to believe either.

This is my least favorite time of the football calendar. Honestly, I’m tired of the off-season and the endless speculation about what it all means and the silly arguments that take place . Only the regular season and (hopefully) playoffs will determine how good this off-season really was.

I’m so ready to see this regular season begin! Go Cowboys!

Excellent post bullet and I totally agree.
The endless speculation negativity and arguments at this stage of the season has really grown very tiresome.

I have lowered my expectations to the point of just having some good football to watch from my team.
Their commitment to the offensive line and running the ball at least gives me hope that that can happen.
There are so many question marks at this point with players coming back for injury a brand new coaching staff we really just don't know what we have yet.

That said unlike last year effort has been made to go in a positive direction. But if it will be enough to overcome having a very rough schedule and two teams in your division that played for the NFC championship remains to be seen.
We could easily win 10 games and miss the playoffs.

I'm hoping before the rubber hits the road we can pick up a run stopper like DJ reader and that would give us a puncher's chance to compete.
What I do know for sure is it's going to be a long 3 month wait till we get to see the fruits of this off season

 

[Bobhaze]

How would you feel if they went 10 and 7 and were a wild card?

Like I have most years lately….Meh. Another “hanging around the rim” year without accomplishing much.

 

[Chasing6]

Three months into a pretty good 2025 Cowboys off-season, I have realized I have a combination of both hope and doubts. Like the beginning of every Cowboys season I sincerely hope they have a great year. There are some reasons for hope.

And like most Cowboys fans who have watched the last three decades in mind numbing frustration, it’s also hard to not also have some doubts too. Especially when realizing the architect and centerpiece of this organization remains fully in charge. And fully unaccountable along with his DNA fortunate offspring.

So I have BOTH - hope and doubts.

Now I believe like most fans here on this forum that the Cowboys have had a pretty good off-season so far. Last off-season ended up being a kamikaze mission by Jerry, so anything would be better than that. But there are several good things about this off-season so far.

So until the real bullets fly in real games that matter beginning in September, I will remain both hopeful and skeptical.

For those fellow fans here who have nothing but good feelings about the coming year, as well as those who also have serious doubts about the coming season because of the past, I understand how you both feel. We should all allow each other some latitude around here to believe either.

This is my least favorite time of the football calendar. Honestly, I’m tired of the off-season and the endless speculation about what it all means and the silly arguments that take place . Only the regular season and (hopefully) playoffs will determine how good this off-season really was.

I’m so ready to see this regular season begin! Go Cowboys!

Neither one of them are very positive.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Three months into a pretty good 2025 Cowboys off-season, I have realized I have a combination of both hope and doubts. Like the beginning of every Cowboys season I sincerely hope they have a great year. There are some reasons for hope.

And like most Cowboys fans who have watched the last three decades in mind numbing frustration, it’s also hard to not also have some doubts too. Especially when realizing the architect and centerpiece of this organization remains fully in charge. And fully unaccountable along with his DNA fortunate offspring.

So I have BOTH - hope and doubts.

Now I believe like most fans here on this forum that the Cowboys have had a pretty good off-season so far. Last off-season ended up being a kamikaze mission by Jerry, so anything would be better than that. But there are several good things about this off-season so far.

So until the real bullets fly in real games that matter beginning in September, I will remain both hopeful and skeptical.

For those fellow fans here who have nothing but good feelings about the coming year, as well as those who also have serious doubts about the coming season because of the past, I understand how you both feel. We should all allow each other some latitude around here to believe either.

This is my least favorite time of the football calendar. Honestly, I’m tired of the off-season and the endless speculation about what it all means and the silly arguments that take place . Only the regular season and (hopefully) playoffs will determine how good this off-season really was.

I’m so ready to see this regular season begin! Go Cowboys!

Good post. I have a mix of doubt and hope too— 75% doubt to 25% hope.

What are realistic expectations for success for this team considering the year they had in 24 and all the changes they have implemented and the improvements other teams in the NFC have made?

IMO— making the playoffs would be a realistic goal and would mean a successful season all things considered . Winning a playoff game would be punching above their weight— and getting to a championship game would be an incredible accomplishment and while certainly not impossible— it would be highly unlikely.

So my expectations are reasonably low. I want to see signs of positive development from the players and an overall improvement in team identity: toughness, speed, competitiveness, aggression, power running game, and an efficient passing offense complemented by a disciplined, scrappy, and opportunistic D.

Give me a top 10 offense and a top 10 D, a playoff W, and a puncher’s chance to upset some clearly better teams in the NFC with a slim chance to go on a deep playoff run, and I would say the season would be a positive bounce back year from the turd fest of last season.

Expecting a SB this year is simply not realistic for where this roster and franchise are in their current state.

 

[Runwildboys]

BULLETT!!!

I retired after more than 25 years as a crisis response subject matter expert for the largest city in California. In that time, I learned one fundamental truth: past behavior is one of the best predictors of future behavior.

That’s exactly why I remain skeptical of Jerry Jones and the direction of the Dallas Cowboys.

Ever since he fired Jimmy Johnson, Jerry has been on a relentless mission to prove that his football IQ is equal to—or greater than—Jimmy’s. And for decades, we’ve watched him try to validate that theory. Just look at the track record: the hiring of Dave Campo, then a decade of Jason Garrett. These weren’t just coaching decisions—they were ego decisions.

When I look at Jerry’s behavior, I see the textbook signs of narcissism. And if you’ve ever had to navigate life around a narcissist, you know that their happiness and validation always come first. The needs and desires of others—including millions of loyal fans—are simply not a priority.

This isn’t about the Cowboys being unlucky or "cursed." This is about a man who refuses self-reflection. A man who cannot—and will not—relinquish control long enough to hire a strong, competent head coach who might actually lead the team to another Super Bowl. Because if someone else wins it, that victory wouldn’t belong to Jerry.

So yes, I’m skeptical. Not because I enjoy being critical—but because I’ve seen this pattern before, and I know exactly how it ends.

This season though, he does seem to be giving Shotty more freedom than he he's given others in the past. I find that to be a positive.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Three months into a pretty good 2025 Cowboys off-season, I have realized I have a combination of both hope and doubts. Like the beginning of every Cowboys season I sincerely hope they have a great year. There are some reasons for hope.

And like most Cowboys fans who have watched the last three decades in mind numbing frustration, it’s also hard to not also have some doubts too. Especially when realizing the architect and centerpiece of this organization remains fully in charge. And fully unaccountable along with his DNA fortunate offspring.

So I have BOTH - hope and doubts.

Now I believe like most fans here on this forum that the Cowboys have had a pretty good off-season so far. Last off-season ended up being a kamikaze mission by Jerry, so anything would be better than that. But there are several good things about this off-season so far.

So until the real bullets fly in real games that matter beginning in September, I will remain both hopeful and skeptical.

For those fellow fans here who have nothing but good feelings about the coming year, as well as those who also have serious doubts about the coming season because of the past, I understand how you both feel. We should all allow each other some latitude around here to believe either.

This is my least favorite time of the football calendar. Honestly, I’m tired of the off-season and the endless speculation about what it all means and the silly arguments that take place . Only the regular season and (hopefully) playoffs will determine how good this off-season really was.

I’m so ready to see this regular season begin! Go Cowboys!

Indeed, this is a decent opportunity. However, I think we need to temper expectation for 2025 (as my DOUBT, would be results). The HOPE is it's a springboard year to 2026.
The crux is whether the Offense can compete (and justify the need and worth to re-sign a player of Pickens quality). The Defense MAYBE the question, but let's give Schotty/Eberflus a year to work on in (remembering we've just drafted two interesting prospects and have Overshown coming back).
There's a lot to be hopeful about/////Go Cowboys.

 

[Bobhaze]

Exciting to watch and see who will be successful. The bottom line is getting younger and showing improvement.

Disagree. The bottom line is winning playoff games. Getting younger and showing improvement sounds like a sales pitch not accomplishments.