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Though I have not been a fan of the Jerry Jones ownership regime of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, I am actually starting to feel a little more compassion for my friends who are passionate fans of the Blue Stars of Big D.
Consider the current situation of the Dallas Cowboys at the halfway point of this football season:
- With a record of 3-5, the Cowboys are two games behind the hated Washington Redskins (5-3) and are lagging one game behind the really hated 4-4 Philadelphia Eagles. They are not out of the running for a playoff spot, but time is quickly running out on this season’s team.
- Their in-state rival Houston Texans have gone from an early-season Lone Star laughing stock to victors of their last six games. The Texans are now 6-3 and lead the mediocre AFC South division by one game.
- Their former primary receiver, Dez Bryant, was released by Dallas in April. After failing to find another team willing to take on his sizable ego and desire for a hefty paycheck, Bryant is rumored to be coming onboard soon with one of the league’s most prolific offenses in New Orleans.
- The Cowboys’ current head coach, Jason Garrett, is front and center in the “Most likely to be fired” lists as captain of this sinking ship.
- Former Dallas Hall-of-Fame Quarterback and current Fox Sports Analyst, Troy Aikman, noted a considerable amount of “dysfunction” within the Cowboys organization.
- Jerry Jones remains the owner of the Dallas Cowboys.
For true Dallas Cowboys enthusiasts, Item #6 is the biggest problem and no amount of coaching and organizational changes will cure that problem.
Jerry Jones’ investment in the Dallas Cowboys has been one made of dreams. Purchasing the team for $140 million back in 1989, Forbes has recently valued the Dallas Cowboys at a stellar $4.8 Billion.
Think of it another way. If your IRA/401K accounts were valued at $140,000 back in 1989, you would be worth $4.8 million today. SWEET!
It’s also about JJ’s football ego, too.
Jerry Jones played college football at the University of Arkansas with a teammate named Jimmy Johnson.
Years later, Jerry-the-oil-and-gas-businessman bought the team at a value price. Jones then hired an equally brash and successful college football coach (his former teammate, Jimmy Johnson). After crashing the team to 1-15 in 1989, Team JJ’s players jelled as the Dallas Cowboys grabbed Super Bowl rings in 1992, 1993, and 1995.
Since then? The Cowboys have made the playoffs an admirable nine times in the past 22 seasons, but there have been no Super Bowl appearances.
Those of us who enjoy giving our Cowboys’ friends a good-natured jab remind them that Dallas hasn’t participated in a Super Bowl since the passing of the team’s long-time beloved previous coach, Tom Landry, in 2000. Landry coached the Cowboys for 28 seasons until he was unceremoniously fired by Jerry Jones soon after he bought the team.
Though most would scoff at the idea of the “Curse of Tom Landry”, each passing year of mediocrity for the Dallas Cowboys franchise gives the jinx theory a little more credence.
With Jerry Jones and family remaining firmly in charge of their beloved investment vehicle called the Dallas Cowboys, you could even insert a proven winner like Nick Saban to take charge of the team, and it would still likely struggle due to the meddling ownership.
With successful sports franchises, the team usually includes a strong head coach, bright management, and a supportive owner who is seen-but-rarely meddling in team issues (think the New England Patriots or San Antonio Spurs, for example).
Not so in Big D. Jerry Jones has proven that he just can’t help from interjecting himself into the team’s day-to-day issues.
That is why Jason Garrett remains the coach. Garrett is the most recent well-paid puppet-on-a-string head coach being controlled by ol’ JJ and family in Dallas.
Top coaching talent (whether coming out of the college ranks or from the NFL) probably know better than to bet their future and career on a future association with meddling Jerry Jones. He has proven unreliable in allowing strong coaches like Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells to mold the organization without interference.
So, as long as the Jerry Jones regime rules in Dallas, the only thing which truly seems to matter is the investment value of his football franchise.
Until the team’s net worth takes a significant hit and, perhaps, the Jones family sells, the “Curse of Tom Landry” may continue to haunt the Dallas Cowboys and their fans for the foreseeable future.