Jerry Jones Faces The Music
Given the tense atmosphere after the Ravens game, reporters caught up with Jerry Jones to get his reaction. The public, particularly the fans, eagerly awaited the owner's response.
Defeat Spurs Cowboys Fans' Frustration
It's safe to say that fans were more than a little disappointed with the Cowboys' performance against the Baltimore Ravens. Getting past the performance in the first half was torturous. Going into the fourth quarter, the Ravens were leading by 22 points, rendering the situation hopeless. The Cowboys did manage to make a surprising comeback in the second half.
Jerry Jones Gets The Heat
A few fans blamed Jones for the recent loss and for years of poor execution on the field. Is that unreasonable considering the human need to hold somebody responsible? If a building crashes and burns, who is better to blame than the architect? In this case, that is Jerry Jones.
Jones Takes A Humble Approach
Was Jones angry? No, he was accepting of the feedback. According to Joe Machota, this is what Jones said:
“That’s very fair. How could you think otherwise? I accept that completely."
It is faulty to mention the losses contributed without consideration of the wins. It is important to note that the Cowboys have won three Super Bowls under Jones' leadership. He has also led the team to 12 NFC division championships and 3 other NFC championships, demonstrating the Cowboys' ability to succeed under his ownership.
According to Pro Football, Jones took over as the Cowboys' owner, president, and general manager in 1989 and successfully revitalized the team's winning tradition in Dallas. Within his first seven years of ownership, he achieved a remarkable feat, which is worth considering.
The Chicken Or The Egg Debate
Noting that Jones' impressive record should not be overlooked, the prevailing question is: If he is not to blame, who should be held accountable? A quick review of the Ravens game reveals a clear issue with the team. The players were not performing to their potential. An owner can make decisions, communicate, and motivate, but the team's success is ultimately dependent on the players' execution.
Balancing Accountability And Shared Responsibility
Does this imply that Jones is exempt from accountability? One could reason that perhaps his decision-making skills have dulled in the latter years and that has contributed. Even then, there are other factors to be considered. As Jones later contended,
“While I have significant influence in decision-making, I rely on inputs from a dedicated team within the Dallas Cowboys organization.”
Given this knowledge, it can be concluded that Jones is not completely culpable. What we cannot deny is that The Cowboys delivered an underwhelming performance, which unfortunately comes a week after Prescott spoke about learning from their previous mistakes. What did they learn?
Jones Expresses More
His acceptance was not all that Jones had to put forth. Jones remained positive, but firm, acknowledging the need to address certain areas. He also expressed satisfaction with the progress being made to address certain areas.
"We will ultimately correct what we didn't fix against the Ravens."
Round Robin Anyone: Dak Prescott Responds
As team spokesperson, Dak had something to contribute to the conversation. Dak emphasized the need for a more "professional" approach to the offense's game preparation by emphasizing the importance of knowing each player's role. Knowing your reads, knowing where you're supposed to line up, knowing your routes—adjustments versus certain coverages." Prescott went on to say,
"Every part of what being a professional is doing your job and being prepared for every part of the job.”
Few will deny that this is a fair assessment, but how can the team implement the knowledge gained? This is the question that fans need an answer to.
Actions Over Words: Cowboys Fans Await Results
Words alone cannot resolve a problem. There is still a problem. One can assume that in this case, either the players haven’t targeted the issue, applied what they learned, don’t want to, or don’t know how. Dak's statements emphasize the team's awareness of the problems and outline necessary improvements, eliminating the first possibility. Once again, what's the issue?
The Results Are In
These questions lingered like a dark cloud as the Cowboys prepared to take on the Giants. This face-off would become an important determinant of the team's sincerity. How invested were they in turning things around? As the clock counted down to its last seconds, fans felt a sense of relief. The Dallas Cowboys had pulled through, sealing the deal, with a 20-15 win.
Easy Peasy
While fans can breathe a sigh of relief, given the win, is it enough? The short answer is no. According to Sporting News, the Giants have not been competitive for years. "
"In the NFC East rivals' first meeting of the 2024 season, Dak Prescott secured his 13th consecutive win against New York and the team's seventh straight."
The Cowboy's history of consecutive wins against the Giants is evidence of the diminished level of competition between the two. In the grand scheme of things, this win is not a great indicator of the fan's hopes. It is business as usual, with much more proving left to do.
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