Who do you blame for the Cowboys’ abysmal loss to the Vikings and for their 1-4 start to the 2010 season? Tony Romo? He actually played pretty well tonight (except that one game-killing interception). Wade Phillips? You could make a case, but he’s not really the guy at the top of the totem pole. Personally, I like Bob Sturms’ answer to the question:
“Some suggest changing the head coach will change everything but others like myself wonder if changing the head coach only bandages the real issue of Jerry Jones being the true leader of this team and most of his head coaches just end up deferring to him. I realize he is the owner but it is not a formula where we have seen great success to have the owner so vocal in the day-to-day operations of this team. If the problem is the coach, we can fix that quite easily. But those of us who have closely watched the last decade have a suspicion that they won’t truly change until they truly change.”
For a guy who is still sore about how Tom Landry was treated, I am really sympathetic to this theory. I’m a fan of the Cowboys, but I have never been a fan of Jerry Jones. Not only did he treat Tom Landry poorly, he has been a meddlesome owner—one that repels head coaches who are great leaders. If you think I’m wrong, do recall the famous feud with two-time Superbowl champion coach Jimmy Johnson. Too bad we can’t fire Jones. I think he may be the goat in this story.
8 Comments
Everett
What many local dj’s and media Cowboy gurus say is that when Jerry first bought the team, he didn’t really know all the in’s and out’s of running an NFL squad. This is why Jimmy J. was able to do what he did with the team. But once Jimmy left, Jerry was able to begin developing his own way of doing things. And so one could say that the hope for Dallas will emerge when the owner fires the manager.
Scott Maze
Switch to the Steelers. We have a tremendous chance of winning the Super Bowl, there is no Jerry Jones as owner, and we reprimand players for bad behavior!
Rick
Look at the difference between the teams with owners that interfere (Cowboys, Raiders, etc…), and those that have powerful owners that know how to restrain themselves (Steelers, Colts, Patriots).
Nate
Scott,
Please! The Steelers got rid of players who were problems (Holmes), but coddle Roethlisberger and simply let the NFL suspend him. They (Steelers) didn’t reprimand him. Now, if they had released or traded Roethlisberger you would have a point.
The Steelers are a very good team, but Big Ben will have to do something again before they ever consider releasing him and even then NFL teams have never shown a propensity to cast off premium QBs.
Marty
Nate is right on. The Steelers as as example how to deal with problem players? Please. Big Ben is a disgrace to that storied franchise, but he was coddled and welcomed back yesterday as a conquering hero.
judd Rumley
To quote Brain Regan, “Somethin’s changed.”
I thought we were going to win not just attend the Super Bowl.
Jerry is the problem. His longs for control. Da Boys will never be early 90’s good until he releases the reigns to a great HEAD coach.
Still waving the silver star here in Colorado.
Tom Bryant
As a Redskins fan, I am delighted that the ‘boys are that bad, but you can’t blame Jones for the stupid celebration penalties that just keep happening. Jones puts together the players, I imagine the players coaches are responsible for the game. What is it 3 games with 10 or more penalties? Sounds like coaching to me.
Cameron
My agreement with this line of thinking is probably rooted in my deep-seated, and long-standing resentment over his treatment of Landry, so should be taken with a grain of salt. That said, I do think he is the a major hindrance to Dallas’ success.
Should he depart (and I realize the unlikelihood of that), I might consider cheering for them again after 21 years.