Appearing on 105.3 The Fan this morning, Jerry Jones dropped this little nugget regarding the upcoming trade deadline:
“The initiation of an opportunity to make a trade at this time that would help us principally has to start over on the other end… I like where we are with our personnel today.”
So, unless Jones is blowing smoke to keep the price down ahead of a trade in progress, it looks like the Cowboys aren't buyers.
In other words Cowboys' fanbase “There's always next year.” Because this roster is not Super Bowl ready.
It likely isn't making the NFC Championship game either unless changes are made.
The Cowboys Clearly Have Needs
Dallas has issues that need to be addressed. The tight end room is weak.
Jake Ferguson isn't setting the world on fire. Luke Schoonmaker is a work in progress that is bordering on bust.
A proven veteran like Zach Ertz would fill that hole nicely.
Their short yardage run game is non-existent. Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle are not power backs.
Hunter Luepke is. But Luepke is more often than not standing on the sidelines on short-yardage downs.
Derrick Henry would fill that hole nicely too.
They still need help plugging up their run defense and defending against running quarterbacks.
In short, Dallas could make some moves to improve the roster without blowing up the future. But it doesn't sound like they will.
Other Teams Making Moves
It isn't like Jones hasn't seen other teams doing this and finding success. Last year, the 49ers swung for the fences and landed Christian McCaffrey.
If not for Brock Purdy's arm being shredded, the 49ers likely make the Super Bowl.
At least they made it to the NFC Championship game. When was the last Dallas could say the same again?
The Eagles have a solid roster that went to the Super Bowl last year.
They made moves during the draft to improve their team. They just made a trade to shore up their defensive backfield.
Right now they have the best record in the NFC and are the favorites to get back to the Super Bowl this year.
Standing pat rarely gets you to where you say you want to go.
What's It Like To Have A General Manager?
Of course, the other 31 teams have something the Cowboys do not. A actual General Manager.
As long as Jones insists on being Owner/GM we're going to see the same pattern repeating itself year after year.
As long as Dallas has a winning record, the seats at AT&T Stadium are filled, and the merch flies off the racks, Jones will be content.
His proclamations of “wanting to win a Super Bowl” are empty words. They will remain that way until the Cowboys have a real general manager.
Unless Jones is bluffing – which seems unlikely – the Cowboys are going nowhere fast.
Cowboys No Longer Kings Of The DFW Metroplex
There was a time not long ago when the Cowboys ruled the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. Those days are no more.
The Texas Rangers will be playing in their third World Series in the last 14 seasons.
They are 3-0 all-time in the American League Championship series this century.
The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA championship in 2011. The also played in the NBA Finals in 2006.
Since 2000 the Mavericks have played in four conference finals.
The Dallas Stars have only been around for three decades. They won the NHL's Stanley Cup in 2000.
The Stars are 1-2 in the Cup Finals, losing in their last trip in 2020. They are 3-3 in the Conference finals since 1998.
Since the 1996 season, while the other Dallas teams have won championships, the Cowboys' cupboard has been bare.
They haven't even played in a conference championship game since the 1995 season.
The Cowboys can't even claim to be the kings of football in the metroplex. The Arlington Renegades won the XFL title this past spring.
But sure, the Cowboys are just fine as is.
If the general manager is happy to settle for mediocrity over championships that is.
