ORLANDO — Jerry Jones won’t argue that the Cowboys have gotten better this offseason.
Every good salesman knows what not to pitch.
But the Cowboys owner isn’t about to concede that they’ve gotten worse. It’s a bold stance considering this team has lost six starters since free agency began earlier this month.
Related:Cowboys free agency tracker: Johnathan Hankins joining Aden Durde in Seattle
How? How does Jones express this belief with a straight face?
It’s about doing more with less. It’s about leaning on and asking more of the players who command the greatest percentage of the salary cap.
It’s about quarterback Dak Prescott.
“I think there are a handful or more of quarterbacks playing who haven’t won a Super Bowl that will win a Super Bowl,’’ Jones said. “I think Dak is one of them. I’m firm there.”
“He’s one of the ones who can.’’
Jones wasn’t scheduled to speak Sunday. But as he relaxed in the hallway outside of a conference room at the site of the NFL meetings, a chat about the organization’s offseason turned into an impromptu press conference.
Defensive about the team’s erosion of talent? Not at all.
Jones knew this day was coming. In his own, colorful words, he predicted where the cap would be in 2024 down to a “gnat’s ass.’’
The Cowboys assembled a deep, talented team that has gone 12-5 in three consecutive seasons. Only Kansas City has won more regular season games in that span.
This was the season where difficult decisions would be required. The luxury of quality depth the Cowboys had last season is no longer a possibility. Veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks is the only outside addition at this stage to offset the losses.
Related:5 things to know about new Dallas Cowboys LB Eric Kendricks
But if you were expecting a concession speech, well, brace yourself.
“I think we’re going to be as close going in as we’ve been with the last three teams, with Dak,’’ Jones said. “With Dak.
“How can you say that, you ask? Well, do you still have (CeeDee) Lamb out there? Do you still have that tight end threat? Do you still have some really good players on defense?
“Now, can you manage to stop the run better than you did the last couple of years? It’s down to those kind of things.’’
Prescott. Lamb. Micah Parsons. Trevon Diggs. Zack Martin. The Cowboys still have some of the best players in the league at their positions. Don’t tell Jones this team can’t compete at a comparable level.
“That is really the gist of what we’re about this year,’’ Jones said. “We’ve got Dak. We want to get it done. I think we have been in a situation where we can get it done with less.
“More doesn’t necessarily beat Green Bay. I’m talking about players, but there are other things. Maybe having it better strategically in different spots, but more doesn’t necessarily beat them, either.
“We’re going to have to do some things different because we’ve got some different faces.’’
A few other points:
- While Jones spoke of Prescott’s importance and expressed his belief in the quarterback, he avoided any discussion of an extension other than making the point that a decision there would impact the team’s payroll five years out.
- The departure of Tyron Smith in free agency gave Jones the same, emotional gut punch he endured when DeMarcus Ware left for Denver 10 years ago. But with where Dallas is on the cap, Jones made it clear that if Smith hits the incentive clauses included in his contract with the New York Jets it would have been prohibitive for the Cowboys going forward.
- Jones said “don’t dismiss’’ the idea that guard Tyler Smith will be kicked back outside to replace Tyron Smith at left tackle.
Jones spoke for nearly an hour, doodling on a pad (he swears he knows what his scribbles mean even when others don’t) as he made each point. When asked if the team’s stars needed to play like stars in key moments to break through in the postseason, he acknowledged the responsibility they have while saying the coaching staff must put them in positions to succeed.
“My point is that clarity,’’ Jones said. “I think, as we move through, the clarity of the relationship to the salary cap to where and how you want to coordinate your roster, to me, has gotten clearer and clearer and clearer over time.
“If you want the running back to be 70 percent of your offense, maybe you’d better pay him a lot more. But if you’re not going to use him like that, you’re right, you might can do it with less.
“If you look back, with the Pro Bowlers we’ve had, did we get the absolute best execution and the best chance to win and advance in the playoffs by using those Pro Bowlers who just happened to represent 60 percent of your salaries?’’ Jones asked. “Did we get the most out of them to win the games?
“That’s a different way of saying they’ve got to do more if they’re going to get that money. But they’ve got to be put in position to do more, too.
“I think that’s evolving, in terms of this old man.’’
Catch David Moore periodically on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) during the off-season.
Twitter/X: @ DavidMooreDMN
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2024-03-25 01:35:40
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