Jerry Jones Can’t Buy a Winner: NFC Rivals Leave Cowboys in the Dust

Jul 26, 2022; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy (left) and owner Jerry Jones at training camp press conference at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jerry Jones bought himself a job as general manager, a role he continues to guard and defend as if the owner and chief decision-maker in Dallas warrants some level of acclaim.

Defending himself in incredulous tones since the start of training camp over the Cowboys’ alleged all-in approach to the season, Jones continues to ride high on taking credit and run and hide when the accountability train comes calling.

Jones can’t buy a winner.

He gets to watch the NFC playoffs featuring two East division rivals in the conference semifinals, both thriving thanks to premier decision-makers running personnel and caring enough about the end result to punt pride and collaborate with high-energy head coaches to build a winner.

Philadelphia has the look of a team ready to return to the mountaintop only after a hard reset one year ago. The Eagles lost in the playoff opener at Tampa Bay and the energy around the group had all the makings of a crash landing for Nick Sirianni. A step-into-my-office talk with ownership ended with Sirianni offering a public mea culpa, turning over play-calling on offense, and making a change at both coordinator spots. Both decisions appear to be grading out as an A-plus, in no small part because of the additions general manager Howie Roseman made to the roster.

That includes a 2,000-yard rusher who delivered another dominant game in the first-round win over Green Bay. Saquon Barkley was also available to the Dallas Cowboys. But that must not have fit the description of all-in.

The Commanders upset the Bucs on Sunday night, 23-20, and are headed to Detroit behind rookie QB Jayden Daniels. Kliff Kingsbury has been a perfect match at offensive coordinator, and former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s second chance as a head coach in Washington couldn’t be looking much better. He’s doing it with a bunch of former Dallas players that Jones couldn’t afford.

It’s not just those East rivals flexing this week. The Ravens plowed through Pittsburgh with another running back the Cowboys felt was ready to be tripped up by Father Time. Derrick Henry was deemed too expensive by Jones, a man who understands you get what you pay for. The running back the Cowboys added to beef up their RB rotation, Ezekiel Elliott, was released before the season ended.

And the clock continues to tick on Jones in Dallas.

As the Eagles and Commanders move on in the playoffs, the Cowboys are still kicking around contract concepts with Mike McCarthy.

But that decision isn’t the one that matters most for the Cowboys. Their direction depends on Jones coming to the realization he isn’t the best man for the GM job.

If and until that happens for the Cowboys, all-in means nothing more than one man and a mirror.