Jerry: ”I didn’t know it was going to be this tough”. Why it is this tough

[Plankton]

Would Cowboy fans like to know how we forced change in the late 80’s?

What? By causing the S&L and real estate crashes of the late 1980's? Because without them, Jerry Jones may never have had the opportunity to buy the Dallas Cowboys.

 

[ArtClink]

Here's the truly bizarre thing about people like blueblood.

They love to push this notion that the Cowboys are an upper crust franchise. One of the truly elite in football history. If one truly believes that, then how the world can one then turn around then argue that the last 23 years have been fine, just some bad luck.

People want to hold up this franchise as one of the truly great ones like the Steelers, Packers, Patriots, 49ers........... those are the truly elite, historically dominant teams.

In the last 23 years:

- Patriots have 32 playoff wins
- Steelers have 17 playoff wins
- Packers have 17 playoff wins
- 49ers have 9 playoff wins

We have four. Four.

And look at the division over those 23 years:

- Giants have 10 playoff wins
- Eagles have 14 playoff wins

It flummoxes me to no end that people can see this data and sit there and ignore the one constant throughout that 23 year run - Jerry - and act like none of this is really his doing. It's just been bad luck, weird flukes, etc.

There a many subjective things to discuss on this forum but tge facts you listed are facts and no subject to opinion. Thinhs have been getting better, but its so frustrating to an idiot coaching staff since the coaching lost us that playoff game.

 

[dallasdave]

Being overly loyal to personnel should definitely be included.

Also No Jimmy no Super Bowl

 

[Direwolf63]

In a recent interview with Jon Machota, the Cowboys beat writer from the newspaper we cannot mention here, Jerry Jones said one of the more revealingly stupid comments (even for him!) he’s ever said about why his team hasn’t been in a Super Bowl in 23 years:

“I got involved (with the Cowboys) to win. I must tell you, I didn’t know it was going to be this tough..... It is just absolutely a stunning thing to me to think of why we’re not there (playing in Super Bowls) with what we commit and what we do to win Super Bowls.”
​

What is stunning to me is not that the Cowboys haven’t been in a Super Bowl in 23 years. What’s stunning is what is obvious to anyone who pays attention to how pro sports organizations who win consistently run their organization, is somehow not apparent to this 76 year old billionaire.

It’s actually easy to explain why this team hasn’t been to a SB in so long. It’s amazingly simple- in today’s NFL, having a kind hearted owner who also serves as its primary decision maker is inherently detrimental to winning. If you don’t have a steely eyed decision maker who does not allow sentimentality to influence decisions to run the team, you’re behind the 8 ball.

Below are the things most responsible for the last 23 years:

1. Excuses made and accepted at the top of the organization- Remember JJs famous quote calling a loss to Denver in 2013 “a moral victory”. Or excusing his HCs failures after 2015 and 2017 being tied to injuries and suspensions? An organization whose top executive makes and accepts excuses is killing itself. Our HC has 2 wild card wins in 8 seasons and our owner GM dreams of that guy being his “Tom Landry”. It’s delusional.

2. Nepotism and favoritism blinds the organization- when your organization has no one at the top who can question the leader, it’s deadly to success. And when the leader hires his children and favorite friends for sentimental reasons, it makes objectivity very difficult. There is a reason NEPOTISM is illegal in many workplace situations- it doesn’t work well. Who tells Jerry he’s wrong and is hurting this team?

3. A complete lack of real accountability at the top- Name another pro sports General Manager with 23 years of mediocrity who still has a job. Which NFL Head Coach could still have a job after winning two wild card games in 8 seasons? In fact, the only accountability in the organization is with assist coaches and mid- bottom level players.
​

So in order to get back to the glory days of the past, this organization just needs do the opposite of the above 3 disasters:

1. Never make nor allow excuses...ever.
2. Stop being sentimental and allowing yourself, family and select friends to have “special privileges” without proving they are capable or without the ability to help us win.
3. Hold people at the top accountable for failure. A lack of results must be dealt with or failure will continue. People in key jobs, like HC, cannot be given special treatment.
​

I know Jerry probably won’t take proper action to right his failures as a leader but he shouldn’t act surprised when the ship sinks every year either. He needs to look in the mirror. The emperor is naked.

Jerry just might be the least self aware human being on this planet.

 

[dallasdave]

Amen& yeppers @Bobhaze , as I wholeheartedly agree to the fact that our FOOTBALL DAD has proven to be an impedance to this franchise's success as of ,,,er,,,lately,due to his overbearing imperial dictates/tightly guarded loyalties/death grip on the reins of control,,,now,,, appointing a hungry no nonsense FOOTBALLISH tactician to have a free hand as the General Manager (5 year projection/plan) should've been implemented 10 years ago,,,


* I still love,admire& respect that MAN regardless of these apparent shortsighted failings concerning longterm competitiveness, though, I reckon some could consider that an inherent character defect,Too!

Jerry needs to adapt Puttyism to find a real Coach like Jimmy to lead the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl and then win it. @waldoputty

 

[Sydla]

Jerry just might be the least self aware human being on this planet.

It could be lack of self-awareness or it could be simply ego. He knows he's the problem but he can't step aside and admit defeat. I think it's a big reason why Garrett still has a job. Jerry has sold Garrett as the next Landry. He hand picked him and "developed" him. Firing him would mean Jerry has to admit failure and admit that he wasted 9 years of this franchise on Garrett and maybe the remaining years of guys like Romo and Ware and Witten.

But now, a new dynamic has set in. Jerry realizes he's not going to live forever. So there is an internal battle raging inside him between his ego and reality.

 

[cowboy_ron]

He didn't know it would be this tough because he had a very small part when Jimmy was building the 90's team.......you thought it was a piece of cake while watching Jimmy build it that you wanted all the credit for 3 decades ago........now git er dun you old egotistical fart.

 

[Montanalo]

Jerry Jones is the single biggest reason this franchise has wandered aimlessly for two decades now. /QUOTE]

Bingo. You have to be an expert in causal analysis to understand that Jerry is the root-cause of the Cowboy's performance - good and bad.

His persona has dominated the Cowboy landscape much like big Al Davis did with the raiders.

As an owner, he has accomplished many good things. As GM, not so much

 

[CouchCoach]

Right . He’s the greatest promoter of this era. And the fans are the fools if they expect him to change.

I see that all the time, marketing genius, greatest promoter, etc. Where does that come from? The team was set on a path with Johnson and it's never gotten off that path. It was America's Team long before he showed up and Schramm's marketing and promotional prowess is well beyond Booger's. He's just been the beneficiary of what was set in motion before he showed up and that was resurrected by Johnson.

So, how does he promote this team better than anyone else promoters theirs? Buying a 1M RV? Chopper? Building the stadium? The Star? Buying a boat and making sure the public knows what he paid? All he does is self promote, the Cowboys are his conduit to celebrity status, showing off and satisfying his oversized ego.

The greatest mystery in all of sports is the continuing fascination with the Dallas Cowboys, a team that has accomplished very little yet leads in ratings, revenue and value. What is there about this team that draws so much attention? They're not exciting or fun to watch, this past season it was the slowest show on turf. I really do not get it.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Has not much to do with Jerry himself..anyone keep pointing that out explain why all the other franchises arent getting there and winning either

All the other franchises?

Since the Cowboys won last in 1996, the Patriots, Packers, Colts, Steelers, Broncos, Rams, Buccaneers, Giants, Seahaws, Saints and Eagles have all won. That's 11 of the other 31 teams besides the Cowboys.
And the Panthers, Cardinals, Bears, 49ers, Raiders, Falcons and Titans all at least got there. That's 7 more.

So 18 of the other 31 have gotten to the SB.

That's over half the league. What's been the ONLY constant during those years for the Cowboys?

Jerry Jones.

Not much to do with Jerry?

If that's what you think, that's fine, you're entitled to your opinion, but I don't think you have much evidence to support your theory...

 

[CouchCoach]

He didn't know it would be this tough because he had a very small part when Jimmy was building the 90's team.......you thought it was a piece of cake while watching Jimmy build it that you wanted all the credit for 3 decades ago........now git er dun you old egotistical fart.

And ron, the real problem with that is he watched two great HC's and learned nothing about how to build a team, he has no blueprint in his head. What the hell was he watching?

 

[atlantacowboy]

I was drinking a lot back then. Lol. Seemed easier with no salary cap.

No salary cap or free agency.

 

[aria]

NO stop the BS

the easy and very obvious answer it is tough, teams like Philly just one their FIRST in 60 plus years of existence, outside of NE its very tough..period end of story..Bret Farve played 19 season and won one, Pmanning had one until he was brought it to not mess up and was handed one after also 19 years..these are quick off the top of my head answers but its not easy to win SBS or even get to them if you are not NE..

Has not much to do with Jerry himself..anyone keep pointing that out explain why all the other franchises arent getting there and winning either , some never have some have 1 in their entire existence.. what the Cowboys havemt been back in 25plus years and still 3rd all time for SB appearances and wins? all these teams have had chance over 24-30 years to show the Cowboys how jerry holding them back but cant..theres no formula..sometimes it is hitting it right and having luck and circumstances fall into place, not always the best team with best coaches and players get there..you catch lightening in bottle , for the Boys they seem to have used up the luck and have had the opposite but the teams have been talented enough at least 5 years to make the SB..we have Talent we have been good enough, just have not had the extra luck to out us over the top..

Not saying JJ hasnt made mistakes from 1999-2003 should have fired himself as GM, over 2003-2007 it got better but not perfect but really the last 10 years the entire drafting, FA, Cap, and winning a lot more has basically given us a shot and thats better then tons of teams out there..

Jerry, is that you? Put your ego aside, stop playing on the Internet and focus on doing something to get this team to the SB you senile dotard.

 

[cowboy_ron]

And ron, the real problem with that is he watched two great HC's and learned nothing about how to build a team, he has no blueprint in his head. What the hell was he watching?

Yep, and now he's in possession of a HC that hasn't learned how to coach in a decade.......I think there's a DNA connection there somewhere.

 

[cowboy_ron]

No salary cap or free agency.

Plan "b" was free agency lite.

 

[TwoDeep3]

In a radio interview, Jerry agreed to talk with the fans. So they took phone calls.

One fan asked Jerry when he was going to hire a real GM.

Jerry's come back. "Did you like the Super Bowls."

As I remember the radio station cut the caller off without allowing a fracas to ensue. Because the caller was surely going to come over the top and say that was Jimmy's team, because Jimmy was in charge of hiring the talent.

Now an argument might be made that Jerry went out and made the move for Haley. And that did put the Cowboys over the top. But during that period one might also make the claim that the death of Jerome Brown was nearly as instrumental. Because that defensive line of the Eagles took turns crushing Aikman.

But this all comes back to the fact Jerry is still involved. And his involvement is just enough to keep them out of the top of the draft for a few years running, like we see the Giants of late.

So all this shock and awe Jerry is experiencing is perhaps the most telling thing of all. And maybe a time that he truly was telling the unabashed truth.

And if that doesn't tell you about the window that is now, and will be shut because of the GM breathes air and isn't taking a dirt nap, then just carry on. You might be as delusional as Jerry.

 

[Diehardblues]

I see that all the time, marketing genius, greatest promoter, etc. Where does that come from? The team was set on a path with Johnson and it's never gotten off that path. It was America's Team long before he showed up and Schramm's marketing and promotional prowess is well beyond Booger's. He's just been the beneficiary of what was set in motion before he showed up and that was resurrected by Johnson.

So, how does he promote this team better than anyone else promoters theirs? Buying a 1M RV? Chopper? Building the stadium? The Star? Buying a boat and making sure the public knows what he paid? All he does is self promote, the Cowboys are his conduit to celebrity status, showing off and satisfying his oversized ego.

The greatest mystery in all of sports is the continuing fascination with the Dallas Cowboys, a team that has accomplished very little yet leads in ratings, revenue and value. What is there about this team that draws so much attention? They're not exciting or fun to watch, this past season it was the slowest show on turf. I really do not get it.

When I say great promoter I’m referring to his revolutionary revenue streams he’s helped spearhead and implement which was a big part of his contributions he was inducted for including Fox, NFL Network, Salary Cap and his biggest contribution in which he sued the league for..stadium sponsorship.

All of these contributions set in motion an era in the NFL which no longer required success on the field to turn a profit while placing a limit on its greatest cost( labor) and its newest revenue ( stadium revenue)which isn’t part of labor cost.

And Jerry continues to be out in front of issues which could deter revenue and interest in the game whether its Fantasy Football or taking the lead in kneeling with his players. Jerry always places the image of the league and his team above what’s best for football. That’s what I call a master promoter.

 

[Melonfeud]

It could be lack of self-awareness or it could be simply ego. He knows he's the problem but he can't step aside and admit defeat. I think it's a big reason why Garrett still has a job. Jerry has sold Garrett as the next Landry. He hand picked him and "developed" him. Firing him would mean Jerry has to admit failure and admit that he wasted 9 years of this franchise on Garrett and maybe the remaining years of guys like Romo and Ware and Witten.

But now, a new dynamic has set in. Jerry realizes he's not going to live forever. So there is an internal battle raging inside him between his ego and reality.

I gotta' disagree with roughly 90% ( all but that ego part),,, as our FOOTBALL DAD could easily spin the recently vacated head coaching position,,,(either thru termination and/or advancement elsewhere within the CLUBS organization of the former head coach GARRETT),,, in 101 different intellectually face saving ways of profound brilliance,,,

 

[Pantone282C]

Inexperienced, stubborn and egotistical is not the best formula for success

You forgot grandiose, but it's part of the deal with egotistical.

 

[Diehardblues]

And ron, the real problem with that is he watched two great HC's and learned nothing about how to build a team, he has no blueprint in his head. What the hell was he watching?

The bigger issue is wearing the owners and GM hat is a conflict of interest. On one he’s promoting his product and the other is attempting to make the difficult decisions. Those two hats can’t always align.

It’s why we have separate Director Sales and Director of Operations. One is promoting the business while the other provides the checks and balances.

If promoting sales over shadows the product it presents a greater potential the product is diversely effected. It all goes back to the accountability which Jerry has diverted wearing all hats.

The only ones who can hold him directly accountable are the Patrons. And we’ve failed miserably.