After all these years I know I shouldn’t have been, but I was stunned reading JJ’s comments on Martin. It was sad reading all the numbers related to the ineptitude of the Cowboys Bob provided and every Cowboys fan knows the man most responsible for that and unfortunately him, and his right-hand man, aren’t going anywhere. This is the best Cowboys team in many many years. Leave it to JJ to begin sabotaging it first chance he gets.
I feel like some kid in the thick of the plot of a horror movie, rocking back and forth under my blanket, holding a crucifix chanting over and over, "He's gonna pay Zack. He's gonna pay Zack. He's gonna pay Zack."
I agree with all your conclusions, Bob. The problem was, is, & seemingly will always be JJ, the "big dolt". It's great to read your clear thinking & analytic initiative. This seems a great answer to the problem of short sighted editors. Do it yourself! This is a great day. An article/day would suit me fine.
Glad to see you on this platform, Bob. I enjoy your work immensely. I’m looking forward to the new season.
10,000 days is a long time. I was born in Texas the same year as the Cowboys and have a vague black-and-white TV memory of the 1966 championship game loss against Green Bay (Tom Brown interception in the end zone), so I am invested. I'm also resigned to the fact that the Joneses are not going anywhere; therefore Cowboys fans are certain that they will find a way to screw up. They are the only constant during those 10,000 days.
"Dallas has good depth and good talent almost everywhere. When I look for the biggest issues on the team right now, it is hard to call any of them a critical red alert."
The area that concerns me is OL. You don't have to squint hard to see it becoming a hot mess in quick order. Consider you have:
1. A starting LT almost certain to miss large parts of the season
2. A starting RT coming off a severe knee injury who was ranked as avg or below avg by most analytics
3. A meh starting center
It wouldn't take a lot for that group to be "Zack Martin and a bunch of guys" and that of course assumes Zack is on the team and playing.
Otherwise I do like the depth, especially on defense.
Depth on the O line is really the biggest if not only question for this team. People question Dak but if the O line is solid- the entire offensive operation will be very good.
Bob, I would be interested to see in the post Cowboys Superbowl era, a comparison of QB play to team success as it relates to the Cowboys versus the league. Basically, I would say, Aikman was good enough to take a decent team to the playoffs in 1999. But between 2000 and 2006, QB play in Dallas was kid of a mess. 2006 to now, Cowboys have had above average QB's.
I believe in those 10,000 days, the Cowboys have had better QB's than most of the league and no playoff success to show for it.
Kind of astounding that in a league where QB play is paramount, the Cowboys have had really good play in many years (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011-2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022) and won a combined 4 playoff games in those years. It takes a remarkable set of circumstances to waste so many combined quality QB seasons.
Obviously, there's been one constant - the owner - but another constant is the team not playing near its best ball at the right time. TBF there's also been a LOT of bad luck. Really does feel like the org is cursed. Maybe someday they'll put a good roster together with a smart staff and they'll play up to and above their abilities some day.
Jerry has spoiled the entire organization over the years so they are just not disciplined or tough enough to make it through the playoffs. Dak could be the guy to take control of the locker room but if he doesn't prove it up this year or next it won't happen. Or maybe Parsons.
I’ve been told by a couple former players that this is a main issue down there. Things are overall pretty easy when you’re a Dallas Cowboy. Jerrah loves his players but isn’t interested in holding them accountable. That was one of Jimmy’s greatest strengths and a huge part of why it worked well back then.
Can MM push the right buttons? Can Dak and Micah lead this group? Someone has to say enough is enough. 10,000+!!!
Luck is taking advantage of opportunities. Losing games to the worst Manning brother in the playoffs who then goes on to win the Superbowl is not taking advantage of opportunities. Losing a playoff game in 2022 to SF's third string QB is not taking advantage of opportunities.
It is always a question of coaching and roster construction. We have had a GM that for years was fixated on stars and making headlines in the draft and free agency and for 9 1/2 years, we had the most stubborn, unimaginative coach of the era.
If they somehow win the super bowl this year, and you magically write a book about it, the title has to be something like 10K to the Super Bowl (along those lines). :)
We have just seen how the Colts have alienated Jonathan Taylor. Jerry Jones could stupidly be doing the same with Zach Martin. That is the last thing we need with a team on the cusp of being able to compete for a Super Bowl, but that is what we get with Jerry Jones.
As a Cowboy fan since 1970, who grew up on Staubach-Lilly-Wright-Hill-Pearson - in New Jersey no less!! (and successfully passed Cowboy fandom onto one of my 3 sons) - to watch Jerry continue to do and say galactically stupid things is, as you say Bob, one big reason why I feel the team will NEVER AGAIN sniff the Super Bowl while he is owner and GM. He plays favorites and puts ego and hubris and "winning his way and getting all the credit for it" way way ahead of just winning. Zach Martin deserves to get paid. For crying out loud he paid Zeke and so many others, that never produced over those massive contracts and extensions. Jerry drawing a line in the sand with Martin, when Jerry (or at least Little Stephen) knows that the the running game and inside protection for Dak goes into the trash, and so does any hope of getting to the NFC championship game, much less the SB.
Thanks, and keep 'em coming Bob! Love your writing and your takes.
Glad you’re back Bob
After all these years I know I shouldn’t have been, but I was stunned reading JJ’s comments on Martin. It was sad reading all the numbers related to the ineptitude of the Cowboys Bob provided and every Cowboys fan knows the man most responsible for that and unfortunately him, and his right-hand man, aren’t going anywhere. This is the best Cowboys team in many many years. Leave it to JJ to begin sabotaging it first chance he gets.
I feel like some kid in the thick of the plot of a horror movie, rocking back and forth under my blanket, holding a crucifix chanting over and over, "He's gonna pay Zack. He's gonna pay Zack. He's gonna pay Zack."
For crying out loud, Jerry.
It would be such a Jerry move to cave to Zeke and then try to strong arm Martin and kneecap the season before it starts.
I agree with all your conclusions, Bob. The problem was, is, & seemingly will always be JJ, the "big dolt". It's great to read your clear thinking & analytic initiative. This seems a great answer to the problem of short sighted editors. Do it yourself! This is a great day. An article/day would suit me fine.
Glad to see you on this platform, Bob. I enjoy your work immensely. I’m looking forward to the new season.
10,000 days is a long time. I was born in Texas the same year as the Cowboys and have a vague black-and-white TV memory of the 1966 championship game loss against Green Bay (Tom Brown interception in the end zone), so I am invested. I'm also resigned to the fact that the Joneses are not going anywhere; therefore Cowboys fans are certain that they will find a way to screw up. They are the only constant during those 10,000 days.
Hey Bob, I want to be a paid subscriber, but it doesn’t look like that’s an option. I started subscribing to the Athletic because of you.
"Dallas has good depth and good talent almost everywhere. When I look for the biggest issues on the team right now, it is hard to call any of them a critical red alert."
The area that concerns me is OL. You don't have to squint hard to see it becoming a hot mess in quick order. Consider you have:
1. A starting LT almost certain to miss large parts of the season
2. A starting RT coming off a severe knee injury who was ranked as avg or below avg by most analytics
3. A meh starting center
It wouldn't take a lot for that group to be "Zack Martin and a bunch of guys" and that of course assumes Zack is on the team and playing.
Otherwise I do like the depth, especially on defense.
Depth on the O line is really the biggest if not only question for this team. People question Dak but if the O line is solid- the entire offensive operation will be very good.
Bob, I would be interested to see in the post Cowboys Superbowl era, a comparison of QB play to team success as it relates to the Cowboys versus the league. Basically, I would say, Aikman was good enough to take a decent team to the playoffs in 1999. But between 2000 and 2006, QB play in Dallas was kid of a mess. 2006 to now, Cowboys have had above average QB's.
I believe in those 10,000 days, the Cowboys have had better QB's than most of the league and no playoff success to show for it.
Agree.
Kind of astounding that in a league where QB play is paramount, the Cowboys have had really good play in many years (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011-2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022) and won a combined 4 playoff games in those years. It takes a remarkable set of circumstances to waste so many combined quality QB seasons.
Obviously, there's been one constant - the owner - but another constant is the team not playing near its best ball at the right time. TBF there's also been a LOT of bad luck. Really does feel like the org is cursed. Maybe someday they'll put a good roster together with a smart staff and they'll play up to and above their abilities some day.
Jerry has spoiled the entire organization over the years so they are just not disciplined or tough enough to make it through the playoffs. Dak could be the guy to take control of the locker room but if he doesn't prove it up this year or next it won't happen. Or maybe Parsons.
I’ve been told by a couple former players that this is a main issue down there. Things are overall pretty easy when you’re a Dallas Cowboy. Jerrah loves his players but isn’t interested in holding them accountable. That was one of Jimmy’s greatest strengths and a huge part of why it worked well back then.
Can MM push the right buttons? Can Dak and Micah lead this group? Someone has to say enough is enough. 10,000+!!!
Luck is taking advantage of opportunities. Losing games to the worst Manning brother in the playoffs who then goes on to win the Superbowl is not taking advantage of opportunities. Losing a playoff game in 2022 to SF's third string QB is not taking advantage of opportunities.
It is always a question of coaching and roster construction. We have had a GM that for years was fixated on stars and making headlines in the draft and free agency and for 9 1/2 years, we had the most stubborn, unimaginative coach of the era.
If they somehow win the super bowl this year, and you magically write a book about it, the title has to be something like 10K to the Super Bowl (along those lines). :)
We have just seen how the Colts have alienated Jonathan Taylor. Jerry Jones could stupidly be doing the same with Zach Martin. That is the last thing we need with a team on the cusp of being able to compete for a Super Bowl, but that is what we get with Jerry Jones.
My sports therapist!
As a Cowboy fan since 1970, who grew up on Staubach-Lilly-Wright-Hill-Pearson - in New Jersey no less!! (and successfully passed Cowboy fandom onto one of my 3 sons) - to watch Jerry continue to do and say galactically stupid things is, as you say Bob, one big reason why I feel the team will NEVER AGAIN sniff the Super Bowl while he is owner and GM. He plays favorites and puts ego and hubris and "winning his way and getting all the credit for it" way way ahead of just winning. Zach Martin deserves to get paid. For crying out loud he paid Zeke and so many others, that never produced over those massive contracts and extensions. Jerry drawing a line in the sand with Martin, when Jerry (or at least Little Stephen) knows that the the running game and inside protection for Dak goes into the trash, and so does any hope of getting to the NFC championship game, much less the SB.
Thanks, and keep 'em coming Bob! Love your writing and your takes.
I’m so thankful you are back.
Looking forward to reading your thoughts on Dan.