Why the “We like our Guys” mantra is killing this team

[bigE79]

How many times have we heard the lazy voice of Stephen Jones answer a softball question on his “radio show” regarding roster changes with the tired phrase, “We like our guys”…?

Why is this such a bad statement from an NFL team’s front office? Because teams winning SBs are usually kings of the “roster churn”- the constant evaluation of its talent to cut free from those that don’t absolutely make your team better and avoid fond connections with players because you like them.

In short, good NFL front office people don’t over-value their own players or they lose their jobs! They have a few years to win playoff games or find a new address. Nothing motivates talent evaluation like job security.

Well, here’s some clear evidence that this Jones front office over-values its own players:

• The NFL average retention of their own drafted players is 23.
• The last 53 man roster of the 2021 Cowboys contained 30 players that had been originally drafted by the Cowboys, including several on their second contracts. That’s a lot more than most teams. And it could have been higher if we hadn’t released Jaylon Smith and his bloated contract this last fall.
• For some comparisons, last year’s SB champs the Buccaneers only had 19 of its 53 man roster retained from its drafts.
• It’s good to have successful draft picks. But you should NOT re-sign marginal players to second contracts that are just ok.

That means that the avg NFL team does not retain as many of its drafted players as the Cowboys do. The Cowboys sign more of their drafted players to second contracts than almost all other NFL teams.

“We like our guys” is a sadly honest statement from the Jones Boys. If your name is Jones and you work in the Cowboys front office, there are no consequences for “liking the wrong guys”.

In Big D- “We like our guys”- Therefore the roster churn is very, very slow. As are the playoff wins.

It's a process..lol

 

[rags747]

The great Tom Landry used to say that he had to avoid getting close to his players because he didn’t want his emotions to get in the way if he had to cut a player in the best interest of the team. Of course that was back in the good old days when a head coach could make those decisions.

Ahh the good old days. Kind of like remember when story’s, the saddest form of communication for all the sad sacs. At the end of the day it was great to see Jerry remove Landry from his position. His time had come and he had absolutely nothing to add at that point.

 

[JonesBoys]

How many times have we heard the lazy voice of Stephen Jones answer a softball question on his “radio show” regarding roster changes with the tired phrase, “We like our guys”…?

Why is this such a bad statement from an NFL team’s front office? Because teams winning SBs are usually kings of the “roster churn”- the constant evaluation of its talent to cut free from those that don’t absolutely make your team better and avoid fond connections with players because you like them.

In short, good NFL front office people don’t over-value their own players or they lose their jobs! They have a few years to win playoff games or find a new address. Nothing motivates talent evaluation like job security.

Well, here’s some clear evidence that this Jones front office over-values its own players:

• The NFL average retention of their own drafted players is 23.
• The last 53 man roster of the 2021 Cowboys contained 30 players that had been originally drafted by the Cowboys, including several on their second contracts. That’s a lot more than most teams. And it could have been higher if we hadn’t released Jaylon Smith and his bloated contract this last fall.
• For some comparisons, last year’s SB champs the Buccaneers only had 19 of its 53 man roster retained from its drafts.
• It’s good to have successful draft picks. But you should NOT re-sign marginal players to second contracts that are just ok.

That means that the avg NFL team does not retain as many of its drafted players as the Cowboys do. The Cowboys sign more of their drafted players to second contracts than almost all other NFL teams.

“We like our guys” is a sadly honest statement from the Jones Boys. If your name is Jones and you work in the Cowboys front office, there are no consequences for “liking the wrong guys”.

In Big D- “We like our guys”- Therefore the roster churn is very, very slow. As are the playoff wins.

The fact that they will never be held accountable means they will continue to like their guys. This franchise is screwed for a long time with Stephen Jones.

 

[stiletto]

Probably a language filter statement..but... It is R*****D....

 

[texbumthelife]

How many times have we heard the lazy voice of Stephen Jones answer a softball question on his “radio show” regarding roster changes with the tired phrase, “We like our guys”…?

Why is this such a bad statement from an NFL team’s front office? Because teams winning SBs are usually kings of the “roster churn”- the constant evaluation of its talent to cut free from those that don’t absolutely make your team better and avoid fond connections with players because you like them.

In short, good NFL front office people don’t over-value their own players or they lose their jobs! They have a few years to win playoff games or find a new address. Nothing motivates talent evaluation like job security.

Well, here’s some clear evidence that this Jones front office over-values its own players:

• The NFL average retention of their own drafted players is 23.
• The last 53 man roster of the 2021 Cowboys contained 30 players that had been originally drafted by the Cowboys, including several on their second contracts. That’s a lot more than most teams. And it could have been higher if we hadn’t released Jaylon Smith and his bloated contract this last fall.
• For some comparisons, last year’s SB champs the Buccaneers only had 19 of its 53 man roster retained from its drafts.
• It’s good to have successful draft picks. But you should NOT re-sign marginal players to second contracts that are just ok.

That means that the avg NFL team does not retain as many of its drafted players as the Cowboys do. The Cowboys sign more of their drafted players to second contracts than almost all other NFL teams.

“We like our guys” is a sadly honest statement from the Jones Boys. If your name is Jones and you work in the Cowboys front office, there are no consequences for “liking the wrong guys”.

In Big D- “We like our guys”- Therefore the roster churn is very, very slow. As are the playoff wins.

The last two years have convinced me with absolute certainty that the Joneses absolutely do not consider the Cowboys football operations as a full time job and will never put in the time necessary to effectively churn a roster. That’s why I don’t believe this team ever wins another ring unless they just luck into it.

 

[Bobhaze]

The last two years have convinced me with absolute certainty that the Joneses absolutely do not consider the Cowboys football operations as a full time job and will never put in the time necessary to effectively churn a roster. That’s why I don’t believe this team ever wins another ring unless they just luck into it.

Sadly the evidence shows that's probably our best hope. Pray that Lady Luck will have sweet mercy on the long suffering fans.

 

[CCBoy]

There is an element of pride that is omitted in a strict age and money decision with a negatively based sole criteria...the sport is lost and a Vegas promotable bet becomes god.

Team chemistry and actual team dynamics is at issue...but judged by smart men who see a player's football life, not cash flow indicators...sorry guys, I am first a fan, even if not blind as well.

 

[Diehardblues]

100% true. Loyalty is a great quality in friendship- but not in professional sports.

We continue evaluating Jethro like other GM’s . And it simply doesn’t apply. Loyalty to him sells, not winning. Selling is winning.

He sees his Star players as golden gooses. They not only generate revenue selling jerseys and merchandise but it sells hope and loyalty from fans.

And it’s too difficult trying to draft players to replace them . It only comes when public perception outweighs their value in selling.

 

[Diehardblues]

Sadly the evidence shows that's probably our best hope. Pray that Lady Luck will have sweet mercy on the long suffering fans.

Our best hope is having Elite talent in key positions. We need a Mahomes , etc type to lead us. Some thought Dak might could be that but he obviously isn’t.

Dak could be enough on some franchises but not this one. We need Super Man. And even he could fall victim to our kryptonite culture.

 

[GMO415]

Excellent point. TO, Pac-Man Jones, Greg Hardy, “Purple Drank” Rolando McClain…several examples of guys Jerry wanted that the coaches either didn’t want- or shouldn’t have wanted.

You can also count on my man Bullet!

 

[CCBoy]

Sadly the evidence shows that's probably our best hope. Pray that Lady Luck will have sweet mercy on the long suffering fans.

Are wars fought by youth or old men? Same in sport. One either battle hardens your players, or specialty skills dominate views and don't become forged in fire. Youth still is the dynamics that drives the play, with strong and also effective on field leadership. A Head Coach can look 'smart' all day long, but he has to motivate and bring together his team in conflict.

The present coaching had best stand the heat in the kitchen right now, or Jerry moves on...he really isn't a fool.

 

[Whirlwin]

I like our chaps.
it is Dak and Swervelein/special teams that keep us back,

Special teams have improved immensely. Just look at the difference in field positions alone. We’re no longer starting every drive inside are own 20

 

[Established1971]

How many times have we heard the lazy voice of Stephen Jones answer a softball question on his “radio show” regarding roster changes with the tired phrase, “We like our guys”…?

• .

Probably not nearly as many times as we all think, since it gets repeated to no end here. I bet irl he said it twice

Plus really is it such a bad thing to say? He just doenst want to throw current players under the bus in case they have some in mind who they want to replace, yet there's a chance they wont be able to replace them. Its just diplomacy

 

[Typhus]

Probably not nearly as many times as we all think, since it gets repeated to no end here. I bet irl he said it twice

Plus really is it such a bad thing to say? He just doenst want to throw current players under the bus in case they have some in mind who they want to replace, yet there's a chance they wont be able to replace them. Its just diplomacy

The player loyalty will always be a thing until it can no longer exist as such.
Jerry has this obvious affliction of trying to prove everyone else wrong, and he invests heavily on rebuild projects like Gregory and Smith just recently.
I understand the value on hitting, but Jerry has been hitting dry holes lately with no oil gushers and NFL Cap, inappropriate family anointed GMs like son Stephen, and its a failed business model for success.
Will McClay is the non descript savior and captain of Jerrys sinking ship.
He is the Captain that is last off Jerrys sinking ship.

 

[Jake]

Jerry should be saying "we don't like our guys" or at least, be more honest about faults and problems.

That would be admitting that he and/or Stephen made mistakes. His ego doesn't allow for it.

Days after the Niners loss he reiterated that he still believes he has a Super Bowl team. In other words, that they fell short (again) wasn't his fault.

 

[jterrell]

A mantra isn't killing the team but Stephen's cheapness very well may be.

Fans who hate Jerry are going to hate it worse when Stephen is in charge imo.

 

[Jake]

A mantra isn't killing the team but Stephen's cheapness very well may be.

Fans who hate Jerry are going to hate it worse when Stephen is in charge imo.

The Cowboys aren't cheap. They had the highest payroll in the NFL in 2021.

The problem is they make bad investment choices when it comes to players.

 

[Creeper]

I like our guys too, for the most part. That does not mean I wouldn't like some other players around the league on my team more. A good GM should be constantly evaluating the players available and comparing them to what he already has. When he finds a better fit, then he should move to get the better player.

 

[Creeper]

They like their guys for two reasons.

1) They don't have much choice thanks to their cap management. Paint yourself into a corner and then pretend that corner is where you wanted to be all along.

2) They have a very high opinion of themselves. So naturally they love the job they're doing with personnel.

I guess there's a 3rd reason too. They don't have a clue who can and can't play. If they did they'd know their DL is hot garbage and got them eliminated in the last two playoff games.

Don't you think their CAP management is the result of too much, "We like our guys"? Overpaying players creates CAP problems, but they overpay them because they think way too highly of them. I don't think they like their guys because they have CAP problems, I think they have CAP problems because they like their guys.

But I think point 2 is way underrated. Jerry hypes his picks to the hilt and then believes his own BS.

 

[atlantacowboy]

How many times have we heard the lazy voice of Stephen Jones answer a softball question on his “radio show” regarding roster changes with the tired phrase, “We like our guys”…?

Why is this such a bad statement from an NFL team’s front office? Because teams winning SBs are usually kings of the “roster churn”- the constant evaluation of its talent to cut free from those that don’t absolutely make your team better and avoid fond connections with players because you like them.

In short, good NFL front office people don’t over-value their own players or they lose their jobs! They have a few years to win playoff games or find a new address. Nothing motivates talent evaluation like job security.

Well, here’s some clear evidence that this Jones front office over-values its own players:

• The NFL average retention of their own drafted players is 23.
• The last 53 man roster of the 2021 Cowboys contained 30 players that had been originally drafted by the Cowboys, including several on their second contracts. That’s a lot more than most teams. And it could have been higher if we hadn’t released Jaylon Smith and his bloated contract this last fall.
• For some comparisons, last year’s SB champs the Buccaneers only had 19 of its 53 man roster retained from its drafts.
• It’s good to have successful draft picks. But you should NOT re-sign marginal players to second contracts that are just ok.

That means that the avg NFL team does not retain as many of its drafted players as the Cowboys do. The Cowboys sign more of their drafted players to second contracts than almost all other NFL teams.

“We like our guys” is a sadly honest statement from the Jones Boys. If your name is Jones and you work in the Cowboys front office, there are no consequences for “liking the wrong guys”.

In Big D- “We like our guys”- Therefore the roster churn is very, very slow. As are the playoff wins.

We "like our guys" b/c we don't know the other guys. The Jones don't make big changes b/c they don't really follow football beyond that of a casual fantasy football fan who knows the big names but gets lost after round 4.