Some advance warning that what you are about to read will not be pleasant. Stop now if you don't want to see what just might be the absolute worst year in Dallas Cowboys history. This isn't some Cowboys bashfest or an attempt to bring everyone down. It's simply a history lesson. A trip down memory lane and some valuable lessons in what not to do.
So again, if you're going to be offended by the topic, do me, yourself, and everyone else a favor and don't read any further because it's not pretty and you won't like what you see.
This is a story about the 2000 Vowboys and how they may be the worst team in franchise history. Not in terms of record, we've seen worse there. But in terms of sheer incompetence, poor decision-making, and outright mistakes.
In my opinion, nothing can top the year 2000 for being the absolute pits in terms of poor choices, and watching this team being screwed up for decades. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, and every choice and decision was proven to be the wrong one. Not just a little wrong either, but Hall of Fame worthy wrong.
First, Jerry Jones made the decision to fire Chan Gailey. This after the man had an above .500 record and made the playoffs both years he was here.
To replace him? Jones made the worst choice he possibly could make - Dave frickin' Campo. The "last man standing" from the glory days. While names like Bill Belicheck were signing on to coach the Patriots - and how did that turn out? - Jerry Jones made the decision to go with Dave Campo.
To follow that up, the decision was made to trade away not one, but two 1st round draft picks for Joey Galloway. This move was made in an attempt to replace Michael Irvin who's career was abruptly ended. One bad thing happening after another. And on top of that, Galloway needed a new big, fat contract. Bad enough, right? No, it gets worse. Much, much worse.
During a week one blowout loss, in-over-his-head-coach Dave Campo has Galloway stay in the game. After starting QB Troy Aikman's had suffered a severe concussion and the day was lost. Only for Galloway himself to tear his ACL and be lost for the season. Thanks coach!
Then we come to the NFL Draft that year. In trying to replace cornerback Deion Sanders who had bolted to the rival Commanders (thanks Deion! You ******* mercenary!), the Cowboys decided to just throw whatever remaining draft picks they had left at cornerbacks. Of the 5 total picks they had left, they used 3 of them on cornerbacks.
2 pick 49
Dwayne Goodrich DB
Tennessee
4 pick 109
Kareem Larrimore DB
West Texas A&M
5 pick 144
Michael Wiley RB
Ohio State
6 pick 180
Mario Edwards DB
Florida State
7 pick 219
Orantes Grant LB Does anyone really care?
The claim to fame of this group would be Dwayne Goodrich, and the fact that he never did anything on the field, but got drunk and killed people while reckless driving off the field. That's it. It was a complete washout.
By the way, the 2000 draft was where QB Tom Brady came from. And it also happened to coincide with the final season of Troy Aikman's career. You couldn't have written up this tragedy any better if you tried.
I'm sure everyone knows the rest, Campo showed he never deserved the job in the first place, the team suffered through not one, not two, but three 5-11 seasons in finding that out, and the organization spiraled into a funk that showed no end in sight until Bill Parcells rode in to the rescue and helped to reestablish a lost level of respectability.
There have been mistakes made before and since, and some down seasons, but I can't help but to look back at the year 2000 as the very worst, and most destructive in the history of the franchise.
And if you've actually kept reading to this point, good for you o glutton for punishment! I'm wondering if you can think of a worse time of decision-making and ineptitude?
