–Troy Aikman, who led Dallas to three Super Bowl victories in the 1990s, spoke out against the way the Cowboys have been running their franchise in the two-plus decades since they last reached the NFC Championship Game.
In an interview on radio station 1310 The Ticket in Dallas/Fort Worth, Aikman pointed out that coaching changes haven’t impacted the success rate since Dallas last won a Super Bowl following the 1995 season.
Barry Switzer led the Cowboys (a team that Jimmy Johnson built) to a Super Bowl victory over the Steelers in January of 1996. Then Switzer resigned after the 1997 season and was followed by Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips and now Jason Garrett.
Aikman said he thinks an organizational overhaul would be better than another coaching change if Dallas (3-5) can’t turn its season around.
“I talk to people who have been inside the building and have a pretty good understanding how things are run, and in a lot of ways there’s a lot of dysfunction, and that has to change if this team is going to be able to compete on a consistent basis like the teams that you look to around the league that seemingly are in the hunt each and every year,” Aikman said.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones has been the team’s general manager since 1989. His son, Stephen Jones, serves as executive vice president and they, along with vice president of player personnel Will McClay and Garrett combine to build the team’s roster.
Aikman said that whatever Jerry Jones says about changing his style as general manager, the results have been the same.
“I’ve heard Jerry say, ‘OK, look, we’re going to do it differently. I’m going to do it differently,'” Aikman said. “But it’s the same. Nothing changes. And that to me is the bigger issue.”
–Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said after Dallas’s loss to the Titans on Monday Night Football that there’s still a lot of time left in this season.
That’s a lot of time for quarterback Dak Prescott to get in sync in the passing game and lead the Cowboys’ offense. Prescott passed for 243 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Tennessee. But he also gave up an interception going into the end zone and a fumble on the Dallas end of the field, both of which proved costly in the 28-14 loss.
However, Jones doubled down on his support of Prescott on Tuesday during a radio interview on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. The owner went so far as to say Prescott will eventually get a new contract.
“Listen, Dak is the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys,” Jones said. “He’s young and he’s going to get extended.”
Jones was more vague in his support of Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett. He said the Tennessee coaching staff simply did a better job with its game plan on Monday night.
“I don’t get into the plays or the games impacting my confidence on a coach or a player from my standpoint,” Jones said.
–Multiple sources reported Wednesday that former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant worked out for and then agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Saints.
The Cowboys host New Orleans on Thursday Night Football on Nov. 29. The news came down prior to Dallas head coach Jason Garrett’s Wednesday press conference and the coach said he’s happy for Bryant.
However, Garrett would not speculate about Bryant’s feelings about playing the Cowboys this season. Dallas released Bryant in April.
“You’ll have to ask him. I wish Dez nothing but the best,” Garrett said when asked how he thinks Bryant feels about facing the Cowboys. “I have no idea, I really don’t. I love Dez, wish him nothing but the best going forward. It’s a great spot for him.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 78.6 – The Titans’ success rate on third down in their 28-14 victory over Dallas on Monday Night Football. Tennessee totaled 340 yards of offense, 60 yards better than their average entering the game.
