Stephen Jones must apologize to Dallas Cowboys fans for unacceptable comments and the way to do it is obvious
Dallas Cowboys fans have every right in the world to be mad at Stephen Jones' unacceptable and unjustifiable comments made in the introductory press conference of new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.While talking about overcoming the fact the Cowboys haven't been to an NFC Championship Game in 29 years, let alone a Super Bowl, Jones had […]
Dallas Cowboys fans have every right in the world to be mad at Stephen Jones' unacceptable and unjustifiable comments made in the introductory press conference of new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
While talking about overcoming the fact the Cowboys haven't been to an NFC Championship Game in 29 years, let alone a Super Bowl, Jones had a questionable choice of words and hand gestures.
"You always have to evaluate where it didn’t go right last year," Jones said. "And obviously, we’re also evaluating where it didn’t go right in terms of this (air quotes) drought that people say we’re in, in terms of a Championship Game or a Super Bowl."
Excuse me? What is Stephen using air quotes for? "People say we're in"? Is Jones not aware the Cowboys not making the NFC Conference Championship Game isn't opinion but fact?
Air quotes are used to express sarcasm, irony, or when you're questioning something being said. But let's be painfully honest: There's nothing to question about the Cowboys' drought. It is one. It's not something "people say" the team is in. It is.
Pretending it's not is outrageous and unacceptable.
The Cowboys front office has been often criticized for not changing its overall approach to team building. It's a team stuck in its ways even though its way rarely seems to give them a competitive advantage. And the fact that someone so involved in decision-making isn't—full stop, no B.S.—acknowledging there is a drought inspires little confidence that change will follow.
I'm sure Jones' comments will be clipped and they'll go viral and the NFL world will shrug its shoulders, shake its head and think "Man, Cowboys fans have it rough." But the seriousness of his mindset shouldn't be overlooked. It's a serious issue.
Frankly, it's a problem worthy of an apology statement. But I think fans aren't looking for words, that won't do it. They're looking for actions. That's one thing Stephen got right in Monday's press conference.
"We're not naive," Jones said. "I know our fans, you know, they're not going to believe, and there's going to be pressure until we get the job done."
For my money, the way to go about an apology is obvious: Do things differently. I'm not sure hiring Schottenheimer as head coach after only interviewing three other candidates (at least one of which appeared to be with the intention of checking a box and not because of serious interest) but what the Cowboys could do is approach free agency differently.
"We’re going to take a long hard look at how we’ve looked at free agency," said Stephen Jones via The Athletic's Jon Machota. "And if we need to change some things there, we will.”
I don't blame Cowboys fans for not buying into such a promise. The front office hasn't earned that trust. But with a long list of needs ahead of this year's free agency, the team will need to change its ways if it wants to be competitive in 2025.
If Stephen wants to right Monday's wrong of acting as if the drought is something fans made up and not the reality of the franchise he leads, March would be a good place to start.
