Cowboys Nation, I may owe you an apology

I’m sorry, I truly am, and I know that even this apology isn’t sufficient.

I thought it would be different this time. When the Cowboys restructured so many deals, I thought they were doing so for a reason.

Just last week I posted that maybe, finally, Jerry Jones had seen the light.

But it appears I was wrong. And for that, I may owe you all an apology if I gave you any sense of hope for the future.

Different Year, Same Jerry

Free agency in the NFL got under way yesterday. The trades and free agent signings have been a sight to behold.

Everywhere in the NFL, that is, except in Dallas.

Again.

For as long as most of us can remember.

Davante Adams is now in Los Angeles with the Rams. That team is loaded on offense and is probably the early favorite to win the NFC West.

I’ll go ahead and pencil them in to return to the NFC Championship game for now.

The Washington Commanders just traded for offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Texans.

Several other teams are making moves via signings and trades to improve their teams. They have ownership that wants to win.

The Dallas Cowboys have Oilman and Cap Boy Blunder.

So far, the Cowboys have re-signed long-snapper Trent Sieg and defensive back Markquese Bell.

Two good players? Yes. Two free agents they needed to retain? Also, yes.

But two players that were not on any other team’s radar either.

So it’s not like they had to do a lot of work to keep either of them on the roster.

How about them Cowboys!

The Jacksonville Cowboys

Two players the Cowboys wanted to retain, allegedly, were cornerback Jourdan Lewis and offensive lineman Chuma Edoga. Lewis was, allegedly, a priority re-sign by Dallas.

Both signed deals on Monday to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars this fall and beyond.

The Jaguars have a new front office. It appears they know they have work to do to improve their franchise and are getting to it.

Just like the Commanders have been doing since they ran Dan Snyder out of D.C.

Just like the Eagles have been doing under Howie Roseman for the last 15 years. You might have noticed the Eagles have won two Super Bowls during his tenure.

Can you see why this is the case and why Dallas is looking at going 30 years without a title, or even a Super Bowl appearance?

Every team in the NFL is making moves, be it trades and/or significant free agent signings.

Except the Dallas Cowboys. Just like they’ve been doing for a very long time.

Back To The Bargain Bins

Despite freeing up a ton of money, the Cowboys are taking the same approach they have for years.

They will let the best players get signed elsewhere, wait for the draft to wrap up, then sign a bunch of undrafted free agents and pray they hit on two or three.

Then, between the end of the draft and the start of training camp out in California, they’ll pick through the free agency leftovers. Then they’ll sign a few aging vets to a one-year deal.

Like they did late Monday by reportedly agreeing to a one-year deal with running back Javonte Williams for one year at $3 million.

They’ll tell us they are happy with their guys. That they are all in.

They’ll tell us they feel confident they can win the NFC East and make it to the Super Bowl.

Just like they have every year for the past 30 years, since the last time Dallas played in a Super Bowl, or even an NFC Championship game.

Sadly, enough of the fanbase will believe this nonsense one more year. They’ll buy the tickets and the merch.

The bank accounts will be full at The Star.

And that’s all that matters to Jones Inc.

Last week I wanted to believe that what I was seeing was a real change.

That finally, after three decades, the Jones clan had finally seen the light. That they finally were admitting that their approach could never end with a sixth Lombardi trophy.

I was wrong.

And I’m sorry if I gave any sense of hope that things were going to be different this year.

They clearly aren’t.

A Fool’s Hope

The Eagles will be a strong team. The Commanders are getting better.

The Giants will be the only reason why the Cowboys will not finish fourth in the NFC East anytime soon.

The only hope for the playoffs will be as a seventh seed with a probable exit in the Wild Card round – and that’s only if the Cowboys get a lot of breaks.

But if you were hoping, as I was last week, that the future was looking better, then I am very sorry.

It was a fool’s hope. And I, for one, am tired of being taken for a fool by this franchise.