Will the Dallas Cowboys handle their offseason differently this time?

This is why no one trusts the Dallas Cowboys front office. They are literally planning to let go of their best players and give the money to lesser players. Does this sound familiar?

Of course it does. The same group allowed Byron Jones to be played out of position for half of his rookie contract. Then, despite Byron playing well at a highly valuable CB position, Jerry and Stephen let Jones walk and elected to give a hefty raise to the off-ball LB, Jaylon Smith (aka ‘Mr. Feel Good Story’). Which is a GREAT STORY! But not mismanage your franchise kind of good.

Now here we are, staring down the barrel of the same gun, being held by the same men.

This is why “let’s see what they do with the money” doesn’t feel comforting at all. We know what they’re doing with a chunk of it (Schultz and Gallup). What else? Maybe you can expect them to re-sign Jayron Kearse? That would be a good move, sure, and that’s about it.

Nothing else feels certain. Randy Gregory? Dorance Armstrong? We have no way of knowing either will be back despite the presumed departure of DeMarcus Lawrence.

What we can assume is Stephen will pick up his purse and head out thrifting! I mean, who doesn’t love a good thrift deal, right? Stephen Jones sure does.

Granted, Jayron Kearse was a terrific thrift for the Cowboys. Perhaps the best thrift deal they’ve found since stumbling upon a franchise QB in the 4th round of the NFL Draft in 2016.

Outside of Kearse, the Cowboys found cheap contributors in Keanu Neal, Brent Urban, Carlos Watkins, Tarell Basham, Malik Hooker and Damontae Kazee. What’s being suggested here is Dan Quinn was the thrift finder. Not the Joneses.

Their track record looks more like HaHa Clinton-Dix, Donteri Poe, Everson Griffen, Kerry Hyder, Datone Jones, Allen Hurns, Tavon Austin, Deonte Thompson and a slew of other names we’ve all forgotten because despite their grand amount of wealth the Joneses have earned over the decades they seem to have forgotten a key premise.

You get what you pay for.

Ever seen photos of Jerry’s Yacht? Do you think he went cheap on that? No. Obviously not. But if he and Stephen needed that Yacht to catch passes or harass quarterbacks you can bet corners would’ve been cut.

The Cowboys can have a quality draft. They hit on a pick or two each year, but that’s the only place you can expect a significant off-season addition to come from. The Cowboys haven’t made a legitimate Free Agent signing since Brandon Carr a decade ago unless you want to laughably count Greg Hardy.

Meanwhile the Rams added talent year ’round, and while the Tampa Bay Bucs bring in future Hall of Famers in order to win it all, the Dallas Cowboys are constantly hoping to find a Gucci belt at Goodwill. Then they’ll tell us they work “365 to make this roster better.”

Ok, every Super Bowl winning team doesn’t count on inexperienced 22-24 year olds on their first contract to carry as much of the burden. They pay quality talent to upgrade. The Dallas Cowboys though?

They don’t. We know they don’t. And to kick off this offseason the Joneses are blissfully presenting yet another example of their complacency with mediocrity.

But when you grade your own report card year in and year out, it’s easy to convince yourself of what a terrific job you’re doing and the Joneses believe they continue to be straight A valedictorian and salutatorian in a graduating class of two. Congratulations to them.