When it comes to the Dallas Cowboys’ season so far, the mantra could be “Well, it could be worse.” The Cowboys looked like a team destined to drag its way through the season when they lost two of their first three games, but they have fought their way back into the NFC playoff picture, going 2-1-1 over their past four games.
Sitting at .500, Dallas should at least be in the playoff race entering the second half of the season. But as Cowboys fans know, the bar is much higher for owner/general manager Jerry Jones, who just teased that America's Team could be active on the trade scene in the next weeks or so.
"I do think this team has a chance to be in competition under that criteria," Jones said, via ESPN's Todd Archer. "And that’s all the reason in the world to have the alert side up. In that case, I do have eyes open."
While that might sound exciting coming from another owner, Cowboys fans know better.
Jones has developed a knack for writing verbal checks that he has failed to cash despite being one of the league’s richest owners. Armed with one of the league’s best offenses, the 83-year-old billionaire must ensure that he doesn’t bounce another opportunity to make good on his words, and that chance could come with an active approach ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
Jerry Jones Keeps Talking Big but Cowboys Fans Are Done Listening
Jones has established himself as one of the league’s most vocal owners. While that led to plenty of success in the 1990s, his words have lost value thanks to a series of promises he has failed to keep.
One of the most notable occurred in 2007 when the Cowboys were the top seed in the NFC with a 13-3 record. Hosting a divisional round game with their rival, the New York Giants, Jones gifted every player and member of the coaching staff a pair of playoff tickets. The only problem? They were for the NFC Championship Game the following week to motivate the team.
Word of the gift reached Giants captain Justin Tuck, according to a piece written for The Players Tribune, and the message was relayed to the team. The Giants used it as motivation to hand the Cowboys a 21-17 loss on the way to defeating the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
Almost 17 years later, Jones had another shallow promise to deliver to fans. Coming off a 2023 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, Jones pledged to go “all in” when building the roster for the following season. But the moves didn’t back up Jones’s words, with linebacker Eric Kendricks and running back Royce Freeman as the biggest signings. By midseason, Dallas had its eyes set on the 2025 campaign and finished with a record of 7-10.
Then there was Micah Parsons’s contract drama which pushed into training camp. During an appearance on former Cowboys legend Michael Irvin’s YouTube show, Jones claimed that he had reached a verbal agreement on a deal that would make Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
“The world would know that I want Micah if they knew what I had offered him, and he knows what I offered him,” Jones said. “The world would know that I want Micah to play on the team and that I respect for him for what he can bring to the team.”
Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, later denied Jones’ allegation, and his client was traded to the Packers six days later.
Some of Jones’ latest comments came earlier this week, citing a “realistic” approach ahead of the deadline (h/t @1053thefan). While he pledged that “If there were a trade, it will be because it fits us,” Jones may want to take it a step further with the recent backfires fresh in the minds of Cowboys fans.
Dallas is in the middle of the NFC playoff race, but they also have a championship-caliber offense that ranks second in points per game (31.7) and yards per play (6.1) entering Week 8. The biggest problem is their defense which ranks 30th in points allowed per game (29.4) and 31st in yards per play allowed (6.1). Not going for it would be a crushing blow to the morale of the fan base and would be another reminder that Jones has been full of hot air.
More frustrating is that the Cowboys don’t need a blockbuster deal to help this team. While Maxx Crosby’s name was mentioned in a recent rumor, a smaller deal could be what gets this team over the top and take some pressure off their offense.
Perhaps that’s all Jones wants to keep his team relevant and in the news. But approaching 30 years since their last Super Bowl title, making a trade to end that drought would be a good start in rebuilding some of the credibility that Jones has lost over the years.