FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones knows he's not exactly making a bold statement when he admits his 2025 team "underachieved.''
"The fact we're not in the playoffs says that for you,'' Jones said.
And for those of you counting at home? In addition to Dallas' 30-year Championship Game/Super Bowl drought, Jones just oversaw a second consecutive non-winning season as his club is missing the playoffs for the fourth time in the last seven years.
In a recent media visit, Jones reflected on his 7-8-1 team by sort of see-sawing back and forth with positives and negatives regarding the status of the Cowboys.
A typical offering?
"We underachieved ... we all underachieved,'' he said. "But I thought we’ve done some things out there that, frankly, we can carry forward with us. It’s always the case that there’s some positive things. ...
“We’ve got a team that has a top future as far as next year’s concerned, when you look at starting with the offense, starting with Dak (Prescott) as we stand here today. And I think we got the bones of a heck of a defense out there as well.”
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Is that "Football Jerry'' speaking? Or "Optimist Jerry''? Or "Salesman Jerry''?
Jones then issued three key points related to "change.''
1 - CHANGE THE COACHING
"It's certainly something that we have to do,” Jones said of considering the firing of failed defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, adding that the top assistant has a "target'' on his back.
And as to hiring a replacement?
READ MORE: Cowboys Urged To Hire ‘Home Run’ Matt Eberflus Replacement
Jones said the Cowboys are a lure with “accessibility to the greatest choices that you could have regarding coaches. ... “That doesn’t mean you can get them all, because they may be committed in other ways. But one of the great things about where we are and what we got is we can get good coaches. That’s not crossed my mind, as far as the inability to effectively do something different if that’s what we decide.''
2 - CHANGE THE SPENDING
While the Cowboys won those three Super Bowls in the '90's, Jones developed a reputation as a wild-cattin' spender.
That reputation has largely shriveled up and died.
Dallas made some shrewd and even pricey pickups this year, as trade acquisitions Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark are both $20 million APY guys. But by reputation, especially under the guidance of COO Stephen Jones, the Cowboys are almost never Tier 1 buyers in free agency.
This spring, they can access $110 million of cap room. Could a change in philosophy come along with that?
"I don't know," Jones said as he launched into another see-saw offering. "We'll see where we are with our own players. We'll be active, but the question is the degree of activity. I can't imagine not doing things in free agency."
3 CHANGE THE GM?!
No, Jerry isn't going anywhere. As Stephen once told me, "Jerry will be in charge 'til they put a tag on his toe.''
So, short of a trip the coroner ... what can be the "change'' in this front office under 83-year-old Jerry?
First, Cowboys Nation simply must deal with Jerry's combination of stubbornness and snark.
When he recently said, “I’ll admit that the Cowboys management has played a big role (in that 30-year drought),” Jones said it sarcastically.
So file that away.
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Jerry insists that he's in a constant state of evolution and change.
“I really am better when I’m getting my ass kicked than I am when I’m having success,” Jones said. “And I will eat the cheese. When it’s not there and when you’ve got some hard things to do, then I do know how to change. And that’s frankly how I got here. For better or for worse, that’s how I got here.
Added Jones: "I have been a part of things that have worked. ... I’m looking forward next year to getting back in that championship game and maybe beyond. And then I’ll be right at the top of the list of how long it’s been since you’ve been to one. And that’s how you do it. Right at the top.
"And this will all go away.”
Maybe the drought will go away. But Jerry will not.
So, as he himself said, “The question is: Can we make some changes where we need to?''