For Dallas Cowboys fans looking for someone to blame for Thursday's Micah Parsons trade debacle, there is no easier target than owner/general manager Jerry Jones.
It is hard to pick just one issue with how the franchise owner has so badly fumbled away an easy situation. When you have a generational player, an easy rule of thumb is to pay him market value when first eligible. If you choose not ot take this path, one would think an experienced owner wouldn't have to be told not to take shots at your star's agent.
Furthering this point, you don't question loyalty or durability if you plan on negotiations going your way. For someone who brags about getting so many deals done, it seems Jones went out of his way to blow this one. Even when forced to trade the star two first-rounders and a solid starter is all you can get in return? The first-rounders were from a Green Bay Packers roster expecting to be in contention each of the next two seasons, likely putting those picks in the No. 25-32 range.
It is easy to argue that if the Cowboys had handled this correctly, a better package could've been added with picks or players that gave the roster more upside. Regardless, there is no denying that things shouldn't have reached this level in the first place.
Cowboys Fans are Quickly Growing Tired of Jerry Jones' Antics
Jones' main character syndrome can't help but force the Cowboys to stumble at nearly every turn. Instead of delegating and putting strong decision makers in place, Jones has continued to micromanage, and the NFC Championship and Super Bowl drought have resulted. This is exactly what happened with Parsons.
The owner attempted to work around Parsons' agent and acted in poor faith when what he believed to be a handshake deal wasn't honored. Rather than be the adult in the room and work through the star pass rusher's agent to get a deal in place and start the season on a positive note, the owner played with the media and talked about fans being louder, chanting for CeeDee Lamb than Parsons when pushing for an extension.
At every possible turn, Jones made this harder than it had to be and attempted to take shots at the best player on the roster. One could argue that this is perhaps by design; it wouldn't be the first time a more popular figure was pushed out by the Cowboys and Jones' endless need for attention.
Barring a shocking Super Bowl run, there is no way out of this one for Jones. The eccentric billionaire fumbled away a cornerstone player and did so while pounding his chest and pretending it was the only possible decision. It hasn't aged well and is going to continue to haunt the franchise as they head into a season that no longer feels as exciting as it once did.
Jones saw to this personally, and now should be the one the Cowboys media and fans question if the season goes awry.