The Cowboys have the chance to prove all of the skeptics wrong in how they approach free agency this offseason.
It seems that nearly every offseason, we hear a quote from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that gives fans hope that things might be different in the upcoming year.
There was the "all-in" comment, which got fans salivating at the mouth, thinking the franchise would be aggressive in free agency.
Well, they signed one player, Eric Kendricks, a bargain buy.
Now this season, we have heard Jerry use the term "Bust the budget," which, for most, is pretty self-explanatory, right?
That leans toward the idea that the Cowboys will be buyers in free agency, not just when all the good players have been snapped up. But Dallas will be at the front of the line for good, quality starting players.
But again, we've heard this sort of talk before, and it's been met with little to no action when it comes time for Dallas to put its money where its mouth is.
But will this year be different? ESPN's Todd Archer is unsure.
"The proof has got to be in the pudding, right?" Archer said on 105.3 The Fan. "I think you'll see them do things they've not done in free agency in quite a long time. Even with the George Pickens tag, they can do whatever they want to do in free agency, and sign good players and help that defense immediately. We'll see if they do it.
"I'm hesitant to say they will because we've heard these slogans before, and nothing has matched up. But something tells me that this might be a little different, because Christian Parker's unlike any coordinator hiring that they've had. So maybe that's the start of doing things different and that continues into free agency."
Archer isn't wrong.
The approach to Parker's hiring was a big deviation from what Dallas has normally done, and Brian Schottenheimer, as our own Mike Fisher reported, had "both hands on the wheel" of that coordinator search.
And it was noticeable.
So Schotty is doing his part to bring fresh faces and ideas into the building and turn this ship around.
But he needs help from his general manager.
It is time to step up and actually play the role you've assigned to yourself, Jerry.
This team could be close to playoff contention, and maybe even something more, if free agency is done the right way.
There's money available if they want it.
Now go and help this team become what you've preached for years, you want them to be.