Have you ever been a diehard fan of a sports team that you're so confident they're going to reach the championship every year? You see them make moves every year that look great on paper, catch glimpses of stellar play that makes you believe they're pushing towards a deep run, and come playoff time they just self-implode.
Well, if that all sounds familiar then you're most likely a Dallas Cowboys fan, and I'm here to tell you it's going to be okay. Someday. Well, hopefully, it will.
Now let's stray away from the sad reality as a current Cowboys fan and jump to the idea that I felt could lighten the mood for some fans and create a fun debate.
To start off, the idea begins with you as the new general manager, so adios Jerry Jones!
Next, you're given this year's current roster and obviously, your job is to put together a team that can win you a Lombardi Trophy, but a new twist has been created.
The NFL just announced all teams can add one former franchise player to their roster, and you're getting them at their peak. Trust me, I would have chosen Tom Brady, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, too, if the NFL announced it could be any player if I'm getting them in their prime.
Also, the player you're choosing is someone you feel will hypothetically propel the Cowboys to the Super Bowl and it can be on any side of the ball. So, yes go ahead and choose a kicker if you please.
In this scenario, the player I chose was former Cowboys Quarterback Troy Aikman, who I felt is a more-proven winner and can do just enough to get the Boys over the hump. Now before fans come for my neck, I know current Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott's career is long from over, but Aikman's resume speaks for itself.
To clarify, my choice doesn't mean that I'm labeling Prescott as a failure, but it has yet to be seen if he's the answer. In three playoff games, he sits at 1-2 and an argument could be made that other factors such as position groups, coaching, and incompetent ownership led to those losses.
However, I chose Aikman to replace Prescott because if the world was on the line and the only way to save the planet was for the Boys to win it all, I'm trusting Aikman at the helm. Aikman brings a leadership and swagger that I believe the team lacks.
In comparison, I understand people may bring up the difference in personnel or supporting casts, but at the end of the day you have to ask yourself is Prescott good enough to solely lead the Cowboys to their sixth title, or will he only thrive in a perfect set-up situation?
Based off Super Bowl history, there have been outliers that have had “game-managers” – which Prescott has been labeled – lead their teams to championships, but they were positioned to succeed because of their supporting cast. I believe talent-wise Aikman holds the edge and because of his gamer mentality, he could win a game by himself even if the team has weaknesses.
Furthermore, I'm not trying to say that Prescott needs to be replaced by any other current quarterback because the likelihood of obtaining a higher-level quarterback is slim. The odds of Prescott leading the franchise back to glory are in his favor if he has the right pieces in place and the elephant in the room is that he and this team definitely need help.
To continue the dialogue, some of the Inside The Star writers gave their opinions below and let us know if you agree, and who you would choose.
From John Williams, Former ITS Staff Writer, Managing Editor Sooners Wire:
Larry Allen at LG. The Dallas Cowboys' biggest issue in 2021 was the inconsistency upfront. After Dak Prescott hurt his calf, he didn't trust his protection and the offense struggled to find any consistency in the passing game. The run game couldn't get anything going down the stretch and Larry Allen makes both better immediately.
From Angel Torres, ITS Contributor:
I was typing Larry Allen but was beaten to the punch. Deion Sanders would be another for obvious reasons. Sanders across from (Trevon) Diggs would allow the team to add to their disruption upfront with confidence the guys on the outside will hold.
Jess Haynie, Senior ITS Senior Writer:
I don't think any one player puts this team over the top. Not with all the free agents that have to be re-signed or replaced. However, I would love to see a healthy, peak-level Sean Lee in this defense. His coverage skills and playmaking would be so deadly in tandem with what Micah Parsons does.
So, what do you think: What former Cowboys great would transform this team into a Super Bowl winner in 2022?
