Long-time owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones is having a wave of criticism rarely seen before. While Jerry Jones has always been a polarizing figure in the world of the NFL, his hands-on management of his team, personnel decision-making, and steering of the franchise have both hurled critical opinions at him and held him aloft as well. However, the criticism does seem to be gaining momentum because fans, analysts, and even former players are coming out loud and clear against the moves Jones has taken that could be preventing the Cowboys from reaching their full potential.
Cowboys’ history of success has gone hand in hand with controversy.
Since the buying of the Cowboys in 1989, Jerry Jones has been arguably the most visible and vocal owner, who has enjoyed the dual roles of an owner and a general manager. Under his management, the Cowboys became one of the richest and most identifiable sporting franchises in the world, with an estimated value over $8 billion. Another significant event of his reign is when the Cowboys won three Super Bowls in the 1990s, which laid more solid grounds for the Cowboys to be regarded as “America’s Team.”
Nothing is even close after the last super bowl win in 1995 for nearly three decades. The Cowboys have only very few successful postseason experiences since their last victory in the Super Bowl in 1995. They have had several instances of premature exits from the playoffs, and they have been unable to compose a truly dominant roster that could help them climb to those heights again. All through these years, Jones has been at the middle of the criticisms as many feel that part of the problem lies in his refusal not to give up control or bring in outside experts to handle the team.
Fans and analysts have been growing increasingly discontent with the general direction and management practices of the Dallas Cowboys.
Growing Discontent Among Fans and Analysts
Dissatisfaction among Cowboys fans has increased in the last few years. While a huge core of talent on the field translates into no consistent powerhouse of an NFL franchise that the Cowboys fans crave. A few feel his compulsion to control everything leads to suboptimal coaching hires, questionable roster decisions and a general lack of accountability in the executive ranks of the organization.
This criticism has now reached fever pitch after the Cowboys are considered to have failed in the last seasons that several people considered them as very apt contenders. The fans have been frustrated with what they call underachievement and most of them point fingers at Jones for not stepping back as well as give prominence to football experts in running the everyday affairs of the team.
Former Players Sound Off
Alarmed? Well, it is not the fans only. In recent years, many former Cowboys players and some NFL analysts released their thoughts regarding the future of the team with Jones as the owner. Most of them said that though Jones is passionate enough about the Cowboys, with enough put into their victory, his autocratic influence in the football operations renders it unstable.
For example, past Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant recently made public that he did not believe the leadership at the helm of the team, and he attributes part of why the Cowboys haven’t met expectations under Jones’s leadership to the way he sets up the team’s leadership. A third example is Troy Aikman-a well-seasoned NFL analyst and a former teammate to Cowboys players, who was privileged enough to have been part of one of the greatest periods of Cowboys baseball under Jones, during the early 1990s-certainly hasn’t minced words about the direction Jones has been steering the team in over recent years.
Calls for Change
There are greater voices of interest from fans and NFL experts urging Jerry Jones to delegate more responsibilities, especially on key decisions pertaining to the future direction of the team. Many believe that what the Cowboys need is a proven general manager that can focus exclusively on building winning rosters while Jerry Jones could work on the business side of the franchise.
Some of the NFL’s most dominant franchises-the New England Patriots with Bill Belichick and the Kansas City Chiefs with Andy Reid, for example-have had defined roles between ownership, coaching, and management, which many critics point to is missing in Dallas during the Jones regime.
Jones’ Response to the Criticism
Despite rising public invective, Jerry Jones has remained firmly entrenched in his resolve to run the team he wants to run. Interview after interview, he has reiterated that the depth of his attachment to the Cowboys and hands-on approach are reasons for his continued involvement. Jones has often repeated that the success of the Cowboys is personal to him and that no one but he is better suited to make the big decisions for the franchise.
However, the manager has admitted that no postseason victory gives him a headache and that he also feels the burden of expectations as far as Cowboys are concerned every year. Still, the 81-year-old owner has given no indication of stepping down or delegating his post as general manager anytime soon.
What’s in Store for the Cowboys?
They remain unclear about the future of the Dallas Cowboys, given Jerry Jones. The Cowboys possess one of the most talented rosters of the league, with Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons, and CeeDee Lamb possessing the potential to compete with the best teams in the league. But would they be able to break through with Jones at the helm, or will the old man keep them from reaching their real potential?
As the criticism piles up and the years go by without a Super Bowl appearance mount, the pressure on Jones to effect some major changes within the organization is likely to intensify. While he has been the focal point of the NFL, and presided over Cowboys greatness during the past decade, the increasing pushback suggests that lots of people feel that maybe it is a good time for him to change his approach – or worry that he would be losing all that talent the Cowboys have assembled.
For now, though, it will be interesting to see if Jerry Jones will ever listen to his critics or continue to do things his own way. One thing for sure, though: as long as Jerry Jones is running the show, the eyes of Cowboys fans and NFL observers will be fixed squarely on Dallas.
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FAQ
Why does Jerry Jones receive more negative criticism about his leadership of the Cowboys?
As an owner and general manager, Jerry Jones faces much more criticism from disapproving fans, analysts, and former players on grounds that the Cowboys never reached success in the postseason since the 1990s. His approach to managing the team has prevented them from attaining top success because the fans, analysts, and former players attribute that to him.
How long has Jerry Jones owned the Cowboys?
Jerry Jones purchased the Dallas Cowboys in 1989. Since then, he has served both as owner and general manager, making all the football-related decisions and business-related decisions for the team.
What are some of Jones’s successes with the Cowboys?
Under Jerry Jones, the Cowboys won three Super Bowl championships in the 1990s (1992, 1993, and 1995). He also transformed the team into one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world, which is valued at over $8 billion today.
Why are fans so angry with Jerry Jones?
Fans grow weary of the Cowboys’ repeated playoff failures and inability to make deep postseason runs in what promises to be another talented roster this season. Many point to never allowing for the delegation of decision-making responsibilities to a dedicated general manager as the reason for underperformance.
Is Jerry Jones himself culpable? Do former Cowboys players criticize him?
Yes, for instance, the previous Dallas Cowboys players too, among whom are Dez Bryant and Troy Aikman, have complained about the kind of leadership in the Dallas Cowboys with Jerry Jones. They argue that Jerry has been taking too much the reins of the running of the team as this causes unrest in the organization.