Are Jerry Jones' Cowboys Too 'Cowardly' To Fire Brian Schottenheimer?

Considering how frequently the leaders of this Dallas Cowboys team have had to answer questions about dismal failure, one would think - again, given all of their experience - that they’d be better at it.

But alas, in one of the worst, most inexplicable collapses in franchise history, this woebegone mixture of millionaires on Sunday lost 33-30 in overtime to an awful Arizona team in a horrendous meltdown that should cost at least one of those leaders his job.

Immediately.

The bulk of the problem? The toothless, balls-less way the Cowboys closed, as they were at home at AT&T Stadium against a 2-5 team playing a bunch of backups and trade-baiters.

The Cowboys led this one 14-0 early, and were ip 24-10 to start the fourth quarter, and were up 30-24 with 1:09 remaining, and still somehow lost on Chad Ryland’s 42-yard field goal in OT.

In franchise history, Dallas had been ahead by 14 points or more entering the fourth quarter 69 times. “America’s Team’s’’ record in those games? That would be 69-0.

The record now? That would be 69-1.

But more problems were delivered to Cowboys fans’ doorsteps after the game.

Schottenheimer is in denial - or maybe in LaLa Land. Said the overwhelmed head coach with a two-season record of 10-14-1: “There’s a lot of football to play … I’m a problem-solver.’’

Owner Jerry Jones is insisting he needn’t fire his downtrodden coach, saying, "This is an indictment of the whole team. This is a criticism of everyone.''

And team leader Dak Prescott? He’s as clueless as any of them, as he lashed out at anyone who would dare single out Schottenheimer by outrageously suggesting any such critic is “cowardly.’’

Sure, Dak. It’s the critics’ fault you can’t ever register a win against the NFL’s poorest franchise.

Jerry’s wrong. Schotty’s wrong. Dak’s wrong.

If an owner doesn’t fire a coach in this team’s situation, when should it ever happen?

It’s time. Right now. Today. Admit it - hiring a “pal coach’’ who was handy and cheap with promises of “changing the culture’’ - didn’t work.

Fire Schotty.

Yes, I know. Jerry Jones has fired only one head coach – Wade Phillips in 2010 – in midseason during his reign; I was there, and it was rough.

But these are now the “Rock-Bottom ‘Boys.'' I can call for Jerry to fire himself - hey, I did my part with the Troy Aikman interview, remember? - but that’s not reality. Nor can I realistically call for Jerry to fire 53 guys. (I can call for him to end the pursuit of a playoff-winning trade before the Nov. 10 deadine.)

But fire the head coach? You know what? Given the fact that the only guy Schotty - despite his self-proclaimed “elite’’ status - can likely out-coach is over-his-head rookie defensive coordinator Christian Parker?

Fire Parker, too.

Not all of the lopsided numbers here are Schotty-centric. The Cowboys have still never beaten Arizona at AT&T Stadium. Make it 0-5, and eight of the last nine overall.

(Want me to make your head spin? The last time Dallas beat the Cardinals at home Bill Parcells was the coach and Drew Bledsoe threw a touchdown to Keyshawn Johnson was Oct. 30, 2005.)

But …

An example of the strategic ineptitude: Why open the game by going for fourth-and-1 on your first possession at your own 32? They failed, of course. But even if they make it? The reward is only a first down at your 33-yard line in game in which you’re favored by a TD and planning to score 30 points.

It’s senseless. It’s brainless. Combine that decision with an assortment of similar oddities presented on a weekly basis and … it’s fireable.

Players are also at fault here, of course. In the late going, Prescott - who is paid $60 million per year to at least get Brandon Aubrey in field-goal range - instead has a pass batted down and then absorbs a third-down sack.

Three plays. Minus-5 yards. Punt.

There is an argument to be made that this is a beneficial loss in that it ends the fool’s-gold chase of a playoff win.

This way?

Schottenheimer doesn’t get to gloat about how “we found a way” win, and all the warts don’t get camouflaged by a lucky escape. ... leading to a better record and a possible “blockbuster trade’‘ that would be wasted on this crummy bunch.

Hey, I know the math. But it’s not about 3-5; it’s about the reality of the only wins coming over Washington (1-4-1), Houston (2-5) and Philly (2-5). It’s about the product that’s been on the field most weeks … even during long stretches in those victories.

“It starts with me, and I have to do better,’‘ Schottenheimer said after the game, reiterating his almost weekly - and weak - postgame mea culpa.

But it’s true. It does start - and should end - with him, regardless of history and friendships and empty support and whether he’s a “good guy.’’

Right now. Today. Fire Schotty.

To do anything else would almost be … “cowardly.’’