Jerra the Wildcatter

[fuzzanoon]

I don’t post often, or ever really, I’m more of a lurker here but I visit this forum many times every day so I can bask in Cowboys’ news and opinion. I’ve decided to break my silence and bring up something that came to me recently concerning our beloved [See SARCASM sign] owner, Jerry Jones. Here it goes…Jerry made his way as a wildcatter and he will never get over being a wildcatter and I believe that is, at least in large part, what is holding this team back.


Think about these:

Discount Players:

1. Relying on long shot players to pay dividends; and

2. Gambling on injured draftees who have all the talent in the world but can’t shake the injury bug.


Draft:

1. Draft day trades that don’t always make sense.


Refusal to Hire the necessary Front Office and Coaching Personnel:

1. No GM

2. No Head Coach with real control (over players and assistant coaches)


What is the typical trait of a wildcatter? Merriam defines a wildcatter as one that drills wells in the hope of finding oil in territory not known to be an oil field. In other words, they are gamblers, stubborn and will ignore all the naysayers. Typically, they press on because they may strike it big one day and be able to tell everyone they informed them thusly (that is Big Bang Theory for “I told you so”). When they do strike oil they work it until it’s dry and use those earnings to continuing wildcatting. Unfortunately, the Cowboys, are at this time, a well that has limitless supplies of cash serve only to fuel more wildcatting. As far as I can tell as long as he is making money he will continue wildcatting the Cowboys.

 

[JBS]

Yup. That sure is Jerry

 

[TTexasTT]

lol I dont really agree but those are some valid points.
He does take risks and often they dont pay off. If these risky things hes done thus far dont pay some dividends next season Im going to cross over to the pessimistic crew.

 

[JBS]

lol I dont really agree but those are some valid points.
He does take risks and often they dont pay off. If these risky things hes done thus far dont pay some dividends next season Im going to cross over to the pessimistic crew.

I think that's fair. Just about 20 years seems like enough time to give somebody to figure something out

 

[TTexasTT]

I think that's fair. Just about 20 years seems like enough time to give somebody to figure something out

huh? 20 years?

There are 2 SB wins and 10 Playoff appearances in there along with a winning record. Do you mean 18 years without winning a SB? Maybe you mean 4 years without going to the playoffs. LOL youve had 29 years and still havent figured out how to do your research. Youre in luck, here on this innerwebz you can find this kind of info!

 

[Fansince64]

huh? 20 years?

There are 2 SB wins and 10 Playoff appearances in there along with a winning record. Do you mean 18 years without winning a SB? Maybe you mean 4 years without going to the playoffs. LOL youve had 29 years and still havent figured out how to do your research. Youre in luck, here on this innerwebz you can find this kind of info!

And nothing prior to about 1997 belongs to Jerry - unless you are also going to attribute those same things to the resumes of the janitor, equipment manager and the waterboy. They were all predicated on the drafting, coaching and instilling of discipline by Jimmy and the staff he assembled. The janitor, equipment manager and waterboy had at least as much input into building those SB winners as did Jerry because Jimmy had it written into his contract that he, not Jerry, had COMPLETE control over the football operation including rosters, coaching staff, scouting and drafting. Jerry was responsible (until Jimmy left) for the things he was ideally suited for: salesmanship, financial and marketing strategies and operations designed to increase the worth of the Cowboys and thus Jerry. In case this is new information for you, this has been reported by Jimmy, team writers like Blackie Sherrod, national writers like Peter King and confirmed by people who had reason to know like Jimmy's coaches and lower level front office people who were there when Jimmy was. And the most telling verification that it was true, Jerry has never denied that Jimmy had that power.

After Jimmy left, it took Jerry about 3 seasons (1994-1996) of natural attrition (not his fault), bad coaching (his responsibility), bad drafting (his fault) and bad decision making (all him) to destroy the winner that Jimmy built and left to Jerry.


Monte Sliger

 

[IrishAnto]

huh? 20 years?

There are 2 SB wins and 10 Playoff appearances in there along with a winning record. Do you mean 18 years without winning a SB? Maybe you mean 4 years without going to the playoffs. LOL youve had 29 years and still havent figured out how to do your research. Youre in luck, here on this innerwebz you can find this kind of info!

I think you'll find it's been 19 years since we last won the SB (1995) and if you want to be pedantic the next opportunity we'll have of winning one will be 2015 which will be 20 years (although I wouldn't go betting my mortgage on that happening).

 

[Eddie]

Jerry Jones is the best owner in sports history.

He will do anything to win.

At least we're not the Bengals.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Appreciate the thoughts, fuzzanoon. You should post more often.

While I will agree that there is some truth in what you say, I think Jerry has more at stake here that most would consider. This team is about the Jones family and I don't think he would gamble it all away to feed his wildcat mentality; he has a legacy to build for the little Joneses. More importantly, I don't think they would let him forget it if he tried. He is stubborn and reckless but I don't believe he is foolish.

 

[Venger]

At least we're not the Bengals.

No we're not - the Bengals made the post season with a winning record.

 

[CowboyFan4Eva]

I think you'll find it's been 19 years since we last won the SB (1995) and if you want to be pedantic the next opportunity we'll have of winning one will be 2015 which will be 20 years (although I wouldn't go betting my mortgage on that happening).

Yeah but he is going to give it "one more year" then go over tot the pessimistic side......

Nothing much is going to change and we have a more difficult schedule......so, you know, that makes all the sense in the world.......

Poor guy.

 

[justbob]

Good post Fuzz........Should lead to some great discussion without personal jabs being included. I look forward to it .

 

[birdwells1]

I don’t post often, or ever really, I’m more of a lurker here but I visit this forum many times every day so I can bask in Cowboys’ news and opinion. I’ve decided to break my silence and bring up something that came to me recently concerning our beloved [See SARCASM sign] owner, Jerry Jones. Here it goes…Jerry made his way as a wildcatter and he will never get over being a wildcatter and I believe that is, at least in large part, what is holding this team back.


Think about these:

Discount Players:

1. Relying on long shot players to pay dividends; and

2. Gambling on injured draftees who have all the talent in the world but can’t shake the injury bug.


Draft:

1. Draft day trades that don’t always make sense.


Refusal to Hire the necessary Front Office and Coaching Personnel:

1. No GM

2. No Head Coach with real control (over players and assistant coaches)


What is the typical trait of a wildcatter? Merriam defines a wildcatter as one that drills wells in the hope of finding oil in territory not known to be an oil field. In other words, they are gamblers, stubborn and will ignore all the naysayers. Typically, they press on because they may strike it big one day and be able to tell everyone they informed them thusly (that is Big Bang Theory for “I told you so”). When they do strike oil they work it until it’s dry and use those earnings to continuing wildcatting. Unfortunately, the Cowboys, are at this time, a well that has limitless supplies of cash serve only to fuel more wildcatting. As far as I can tell as long as he is making money he will continue wildcatting the Cowboys.

I still remember after the last SB Barry saying "we did it our way babyyy", that's akin to proving all the naysayer wrong. That SB victory assured Jerry (at least in his own mind) that he knew what he was doing and has haunted this franchise ever since. He doesn't realize or doesn't want to admit that that team was on cruise control from the Jimmy years and they were able to squeeze another championship out of it in spite of Barry and Jerry. The years since have proved this out.

 

[DavidS]

No we're not - the Bengals made the post season with a winning record.

Yup and won Superbowls within the past 20 years

 

[BoysFan4ever]

No we're not - the Bengals made the post season with a winning record.

True! They don't have cage dancers though so our show is better than their show.

 

[IrishAnto]

I still remember after the last SB Barry saying "we did it our way babyyy", that's akin to proving all the naysayer wrong. That SB victory assured Jerry (at least in his own mind) that he knew what he was doing and has haunted this franchise ever since. He doesn't realize or doesn't want to admit that that team was on cruise control from the Jimmy years and they were able to squeeze another championship out of it in spite of Barry and Jerry. The years since have proved this out.

I remember Barry saying that only too well.

I said in another post that in hindsight winning the SB in 95 may well have been more of a curse than a blessing for the long term success of the Boys.

In Jerry's mind he was proved right, however a new era was coming in the NFL (the cap) which changed the landscape and Jerry hasn't caught up yet.

 

[trueblue1687]

And nothing prior to about 1997 belongs to Jerry - unless you are also going to attribute those same things to the resumes of the janitor, equipment manager and the waterboy. They were all predicated on the drafting, coaching and instilling of discipline by Jimmy and the staff he assembled. The janitor, equipment manager and waterboy had at least as much input into building those SB winners as did Jerry because Jimmy had it written into his contract that he, not Jerry, had COMPLETE control over the football operation including rosters, coaching staff, scouting and drafting. Jerry was responsible (until Jimmy left) for the things he was ideally suited for: salesmanship, financial and marketing strategies and operations designed to increase the worth of the Cowboys and thus Jerry. In case this is new information for you, this has been reported by Jimmy, team writers like Blackie Sherrod, national writers like Peter King and confirmed by people who had reason to know like Jimmy's coaches and lower level front office people who were there when Jimmy was. And the most telling verification that it was true, Jerry has never denied that Jimmy had that power.

After Jimmy left, it took Jerry about 3 seasons (1994-1996) of natural attrition (not his fault), bad coaching (his responsibility), bad drafting (his fault) and bad decision making (all him) to destroy the winner that Jimmy built and left to Jerry.


Monte Sliger

Wasn't it Jerry that bought the Cowboys and actually hired Jimmy Johnson? Now tell me again who built what. Those two had a synergy. To say that Jerry Jones had absolutely nothing to do with those winning seasons is nonsense. You're ignoring reality. Jones has PLENTY of faults, but this tired mantra of him being everything negative and nothing positive is beyond boring...not to mention lacking validity. Which of the other 20 or so teams not in the playoffs would you prefer as owner? Maybe one of the well ridden GMs out there to replace Jerry after he "fires himself" can get the team back on track. I can't for the life of me fuigure out why Jerry don't just stay home and watch the games on Sunday Ticket...it would be so much better for the team, no?

 

[fuzzanoon]

Thanks for the positive feedback. I have to clarify one thing--I don't dislike Jerry, I just have come this year to disagree with his ways. I think with his recent comments concerning hiring a GM solidified his wildcatter status for me. The more people say he should step down the more he will dig in. One thing you can always count on from me is I will always be Cowboys fan through thick and thin. So, I hope he succeeds for the sake of the Boys because I don't see things changing soon.

 

[Seven]

Wasn't it Jerry that bought the Cowboys and actually hired Jimmy Johnson? Now tell me again who built what.

You seriously gonna hang your hat on that?

Best wishes.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I know Jerry made money in oil and gas exploration. But, didn't he also make money in real estate also? Thought I read that somewhere.

How about some of the other owners? The Eagles' Lurie was into selling used cars I think. Washington's Snyder was into telemarketing if I remember correctly. Not sure what Mara was into. Acccording to wiki, he bought the team for $500 in 1925 or something. Half the Giants are owned by Steve Tisch who inherited it from his dad and Steve Tisch was into films (which is a lot like wildcatting and maybe even more a gamble). Speaking of gambling, Art Rooney won the Stealers in a poker game or something other gambling.

So, you want a wildcatter, a used car salesman, a telemarketer, a movie maker, or a gambler? How about a software guru who has so much money he can't even spend it if he tried. It would be interesting to see how all these owners made their fortunes. I wonder if there would be much correlation to how they made their fortunes and how they now run their team.