I wouldn't be so disappointed if this franchise had the ability to honestly assess it's football related leadership's commitment to the relentless pursuit for doing everything necessary to win championships. That commitment begins at the top and it is shattered every season, day#1, hour #1, second #1
They began to fail the moment Jimmy Johnson walked out the door.
However, this is not about Jimmy at all. I only mention him because he was the last person not named Jerry Jones to have complete control over football operations. This is not about title, it is about reality.
In fact, there has only been three individuals in Cowboys history to have total control over football operations. Before Jimmy it was Tex Schram for 29 years. What these two men had in common was a history of impressive success at every level of the game of football. They both had the great gift of recognizing talent in football operations, coaches, and players. They had everything that is generally required for that responsibility. They had the credentials, experience and a record of excellent results
Tex worked for the Los Angelos Rams for ten years during which time he hired Pete Rozelle who later went on to become the Hall of Fame NFL Commissioner. It was Hall of Fame Chicago Bears coach and owner George Hallas who introduced Tex to Cowboys owner Clint Murchison who then hired Tex as Cowboys GM with complete control over football operations. Tex would go on to hire Tom Landry as HC and Gil Brandt as what is now called Director of Football Operations
Jimmy Johnson had a very successful record as a college HC which included a unique level of talent in evaluating and recruiting players. Not only did his Miami Hurricanes play in two championship games, winning one, but the players he coached and recruited formed the nucleus of 4-5 NFL draft classes.
Clinty Murchison respected the game of football and it's fans by realizing that an unrelenting commitment to winning required finding the best leaders possible to run the team and then placing them in the best circumstances in which to succeed. This, in turn, required the common sense conclusion that he was not that person.
The two men, Tex and Jimmy were responsible for every championship season the Cowboys ever had even after they left.
The 90's teams had many players that were Cowboys for years before Jimmy Johnson, including Michael Irvin, Nate Newton, Mark Tuinei, Jim Jeffcoat, Bill Bates, Ken Norton and others. In addition, it was Tex who had decided to draft Hershell Walker in the 5th round despite the fact that he signed a huge contract with a different league who later folded. Where would the 90's team be without the Herschell Walker trade?
Likewise, the Super Bowl team in 1995 after Jimmy left was still his team. They won despite the poor coaching. One could even argue that the team underperformed and should have won more championships.
Now compare Jerry Jones's experience level and record of football related achievements prior to becoming a GM. You can't. That's because they simply don't exist.
Jerry Jones does not share the same level of commitment as those responsible for Cowboys championships and their legacy. For him, the position of Cowboys GM is a part time job. His statements to the media highlights the conflict of interest as both owner and GM.
If Jerry Jones was not the owner, he would have been fired at least three times as a GM. In fact, he would never have been hired by any NFL organization for anything above the position of intern.
It is very difficult to be a Cowboys fan while enduring the incredible handicap of football operations being run by a rank amateur. It is heartbreaking to realize, as a Cowboys fan, that we are all powerless to watch every season end in failure knowing that the one change that must be made by any NFL team will never happen.
