Welcome to Part 2 of our offseason Dallas Cowboys mailbag. In case you missed Part 1 earlier this week, you can read it here. We’ll get to more questions in this mailbag, including the Cowboys’ view of international games, the training camp roster, contract negotiations and more. For some questions we didn’t get to, I’ve made note of them and they could be addressed in a separate piece at a later date.
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Without further ado, let’s get into more of your questions.
Note: Some questions have been edited for length and clarity.
With Jerry’s lack of enthusiasm for the NFL international games, do you think the Cowboys are starting to be seen as “America’s Team” in terms of not wanting to embrace the foreign markets? — Sam T.
Jerry Jones’ view of international games is through the business and marketing lens. The Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world and already have a visible brand globally. Jones doesn’t see much upside for his business to get heavily involved in international competition, especially on the other side of the Atlantic.
The Cowboys played a game in London in 2014 but they didn’t have to forfeit a game at AT&T Stadium because the Jacksonville Jaguars were the “home” team in that contest. Given the financial — and logistical — inconveniences that come with making such a trip, Jones would rather avoid it altogether, and especially so if the Cowboys would have to give up a game at AT&T Stadium. By the way, the logistical element (long travel, time zone difference, travel arrangements, etc.) is something that deters many players from wanting to play overseas, too.
One thing Jones has mentioned is the openness to playing in Mexico City. Again, given the proximity to Dallas and the marketing ability to reach a wider Hispanic audience, where the Cowboys already have a strong presence, it makes it more financially worthwhile for Jones. Bottom line: Any decision regarding international play for the Cowboys is a financial one, and not much more.
In looking at the Cowboys’ training camp roster, please assign a letter grade on how well Dallas constructed this roster. And why? — Ed H.
If we’re only looking at the roster construction for the upcoming season, I would give the training camp roster a B-minus. Any time you have your quarterback depth chart set up with a quality starter (Dak Prescott) and a quality backup (Cooper Rush), you’re usually beginning with at least a C-minus.
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Although I don’t believe this roster is as strong as last year’s, there is still plenty of high-end talent at most positions. Assuming CeeDee Lamb’s situation is resolved, you have a top-tier receiver and a solid No. 2 in Brandin Cooks. You have an ascending TE1 and a couple of All-Pros on the offensive line, mixed with some high-level investments. Running back has some questions but it’s also the least valuable position on the offense, so it’s something you can work through.
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On defense, there are two All-Pro cornerbacks in their prime and an All-Pro pass rusher in his prime, coupled with some solid players around them at all three levels. The special teams unit boasts one of the best kickers and one of the best punters in the league.
The main point of hesitation with the training camp roster is the lack of depth. The wide receivers go from “all set” to a “concern” without Lamb, whether it’s a contract dispute currently or an in-season injury. Same thing applies to the offensive line, cornerback and a few other positions. To some degree, this is true for most teams, but with the way the Cowboys have managed their finances this offseason, it feels like there was some meat left on the bone.
Why does Jerry Jones think he is a good GM? I don’t mean that sarcastically, honestly. I mean it as a serious question: When he looks at the results of the last two decades, why does he think that what he does works? Is it the regular-season record, the ability to find talented QBs outside the first round? — Kevin R.
I do think the regular-season success has a lot to do with it. It’s the same belief that pulled so many Cowboys’ fans in with hope, before ultimately letting them down with postseason failure. In recent years, many fans have finally transitioned to deem the regular-season success irrelevant without playoff success. But even last year, there were many (including myself) who felt things could be different … until they weren’t.
Since 1996 — after the Cowboys’ last Super Bowl win and conference championship appearance — they are 10th in the NFL in regular-season wins with 244. All nine teams above them have won the Super Bowl during that span, with six winning multiple titles. Since 2000, the Cowboys are also 10th in regular-season wins, despite a slow start to the new century. Again, all nine teams ahead of them have won the Super Bowl. The Cowboys haven’t even sniffed one.
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More than that, I think there are two things. Everybody else views Jones’ work through the lens of the past 28 years but he always includes those first eight years, in which the Cowboys became a dynasty and won three rings. While many view that as Jimmy Johnson’s work, Jones also gives himself full credit for that. The other thing is something we’ve talked about ad nauseam, which is that when the same person wears the hat of owner and general manager — two distinctly different jobs — the success of one can dilute the view of the other, especially when the success of one is so grand. Jones has objectively been a wildly successful owner his entire time owning the Cowboys. That influences how he views the job of the GM during that time.
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Why does management think Dak is elite? — Samir B.
I don’t believe Cowboys management thinks that Prescott is elite, as much as they’ve indicated with their words. If they did already think he was an elite quarterback, Prescott wouldn’t be entering the final year of his contract. Actions always speak louder than words. I think management believes that Prescott is an elite leader, and even an elite person. But if they thought he was an elite quarterback, he’d have a new contract extension completed a long time ago.
Will someone ask Jerry or Stephen (Jones) about their obvious philosophy to wait to sign our stars, versus trying to get them completed earlier? I don’t understand their philosophy. I’d like to understand why this is their policy. — Russell B.
They’ve been asked about it plenty, which is where you get the explanations of wanting to see more leaves fall or that conversations with the agents are always ongoing, among other answers. Dragging major contract extensions has been a longstanding pattern so I’m not absolving the Cowboys of this but let’s consider some other factors.
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How CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys' star receiver, is impacted by Justin Jefferson's deal
The Cowboys got worked in their last negotiation with Prescott. It dragged on and Prescott ended up getting top dollar, a no-trade clause and a no-franchise tag clause. It’s possible that this time, the Cowboys are willingly waiting for Prescott to show he can be the guy who can win in the postseason before they hand out another monster deal. If the Cowboys made the Super Bowl last season, I believe Prescott would already have a long-term deal. Sure, the price will go up if the Cowboys wait until next year but it’s a hefty price now, too.
With Lamb, it’s entirely feasible the agent was the one resisting a deal getting done before the Justin Jefferson and/or Ja’Marr Chase domino fell. With Micah Parsons, there could be a lot of considerations, including where the team is overall and its view of Parsons and in which manner he could provide the most value to the Cowboys. The clock on a Parsons extension doesn’t really start ticking until next offseason. While it would be good to get a deal done sooner, Parsons will aim to reset the market whenever he signs a deal and the Cowboys’ franchise could be in a much different state next spring.
(Top photo of Dak Prescott and Terence Steele: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)
