The Dallas Cowboys’ Million Dollar Question

Sep 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) walks off the field after at the end of a 30-21 loss to the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Last week loss against the Chargers finally blew up all my optimism about this Dallas Cowboys team. After consecutive 8-8 seasons, and the 1-win, 1-loss, 1-win, 1-loss roller coaster so far this year, I had to confront reality and accept that the Cowboys are a team mired in mediocrity.

Sunday night was so frustrating and emotions were running so wild that I even forgot to let my editor know about my out-of-schedule article, prompting him to give me a wake up call (although I have to say that he appreciated my honesty and extra work. Thanks boss!).

Then, Christian Narag, a lifelong Cowboys fan from New Jersey (of all places!), wrote me an email praising my ‘mediocrity’ article and saying that he believed I was ‘right on the money’. His only question was: “any ideas how to change this already down there? That’s the million dollar question.”

I tried to explain Christian that if I knew how to change the culture of mediocrity in a NFL franchise, I probably wouldn’t be writing about it, but running it. Nonetheless, I gave it a thought and came up with my million dollar answer (for what it’s worth…).

The most obvious way to go here is getting somebody (anybody!) to convince Jerry Jones to hire a proven and successful General Manager and leave the football people to run the football team. Some guy named Ozzie Newsome, Thomas Dimitroff or Bill Polian.

But we all know that’s not going to happen, and you know what? I understand the guy! We all get so passionate about our Fantasy Football teams, how not to understand a guy who has spent billions on his Real Football team?

Sep 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett leads his team down the tunnel prior to the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The next best option would be to fire Jason Garrett and bring a proven and successful Head Coach. I always wanted Garrett to enjoy success with the Cowboys; I even wrote last Saturday that I could see him coaching this team for the next decade or so. But my optimism, like that of Christian, was finally exterminated by a very average team from San Diego last week.

We are talking about a Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher or Bill Belichick kind of guy. Somebody not afraid of telling Jerry to stay away of the football field.

All this got me thinking about Bill Parcells and what could have been the story of Tony Romo if Parcells (and not Wade ‘cupcake’ Phillips), would had been there to mentor the promising undrafted quarterback from Eastern Illinois.

What takes me to my next point.

The Cowboys should look for their quarterback of the future in next year‘s draft and go get him. Our own gunslinger needs his own Aaron Rodgers. Our poor man’s Peyton Manning needs his Andrew Luck.

I know, I know, Romo has just signed that insane $100 million dollar contract, but rookie QBs today come on the cheap; so they should be looking for the next Russell Wilson or Colin Kaepernick.

Or even the next Tony Romo…

Romo took four years to have his first start in the NFL. Rodgers, too. By the time our new hope-to-end-mediocrity is ready to start, most of that contract will already have been paid and Jerry won’t have to spend another decade looking for his next quarterback.

I’m well aware that none of this is going to happen. But for a million dollar question, you need to come up with some interesting ideas.

So, who’s paying my million dollars?

Follow Luis on twitter @dominguez_luisf.