While Jerry Jones thrives on star power, the flashy buzz surrounding Colorado’s quarterback faces steep hurdles involving depth chart stability, locker room noise, and Cleveland’s actual roster plans.
FRISCO - Many years ago, just as I was discovering what a dishonourable rat a certain DFW colleague was (and is), I confronted him and posed a pointed question.
"Why, with so many real stories unfolding with the Dallas Cowboys,'' I asked, "do you feel the need to make 'em up?''
That person was the despicable Skip Bayless.
That habit has only grown more common.
In Dallas, the media doesn't need a real trade offer to happen in order to grab its chunk of the NFL news cycle. Sometimes all it takes is one juicy quarterback rumor, one famous name, and one franchise that turns offseason whispers into national theater.
That's exactly why the Shedeur Sanders-to-Dallas chatter has grabbed attention.
Consider ...
Pro Football Network writes, "Jerry Jones could acquire Sanders for relatively cheap and give him the opportunity to develop behind Dak Prescott as the team's long-term backup."
Sporting News writes, "Trade speculation connecting Sanders to Dallas has gradually intensified.''
And it's all nonsense - and I say it should stay that way.
Here's my four reasons ... my four major problems ... with the entire concept, launched from a factual foundation: No, there's been no Cowboys pursuit here.
1 - Sources tell CowboysRoundtable.com that the Browns are not shopping Sanders, in part because he's in competition with Deshaun Watson for their starting job.
Why would Cleveland trade away a young potential starting QB? At almost any realistic price?
2 - Dallas already has its developmental QB ... as shaky as his situation might be.
Right now, Dallas has Joe Milton III and Sam Howell battling for the QB2 job behind Prescott. Howell can be a bus driver. But it's Milton who brings the big arm and the developmental upside.
I'm told, however, that there are people inside The Star who are miles away from trusting Milton as a No. 2 QB.
So ... "shaky.'' But still not "searching.''
3 - While Jerry Jones certainly enjoys his relationship with Shedeur's dad, Deion Sanders, any Cowboys connection there would create a massive distraction on an almost-regular basis.
Yes, just having a "name'' QB like Shedeur on the roster would serve as "quarterback controversy'' to some. But it's deeper than that.
Deion, the legendary Cowboys cornerback and Hall-of-Famer, is as much a headline machine as Jerry himself. Combine that spotlight craving with his affection for his son and you're throwing a stick of dynamite in Dak Prescott's way ... a stick of dynamite into the way this locker room works.
Deion, in short is a problem. The problem.
Why do you think his son sat wilting on the NFL Draft vine a year ago, lasting until the fifth round?
That was the result of Deion giving terrible (arrogant) pre-Draft advice to the kid ... and then the lingering suspicion that Dad would habitually and dangerously stick his nose into the business of Shedeur's team on a regular basis.
And that's exactly what's happened in Cleveland.
The Cowboys have a circus ringleader in Jerry Jones; Deion need not apply.
The Cowboys are a headline machine just as they are; they don't need more noise.
The Cowboys have a QB in Dak Prescott; they need every organizational move made to be the result of a design that supports his success.
The Cowboys have done a fine job this offseason focusing on the real priority of building a football team, as opposed to building a marketing campaign.
So let the irresponsible rumors fly, Bayless-style, because in some quarters, that's the way journalism is done now.
But also let the truth be known: There are some ideas that sound "cool'' when they're actually potentially damaging to a team's assets, to its roster and to its locker room.
