Dallas Cowboys: Is the Championship Window Starting to Close for the 'Boys?

Jason Garrett, Tony Romo, and even Jerry Jones are sick about discussing windows. “I want to officially close the window to closing the window,” Jones told a group of reporters prior to Sunday’s training-camp press conference.

But fans of this team, after seasons of disappointment and few postseason appearances, are still left wondering if there’s truth to the fact that this season may be do-or-die: a true Super Bowl or bust mentality.

The Cowboys last won a Super Bowl in 1995. Morris Claiborne, the rookie cornerback from LSU they traded up in the draft to acquire with much fanfare, was five.

Last season the Cowboys went a disappointing 8-8. After bringing in Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan, the defense didn't perform as expected and allowed 347 points from opponents. And though the defense was ranked 14^th overall, the Cowboys lost five games after leading in the fourth quarter. 

After taking over for Drew Bledsoe in the 2006-2007 season, Tony Romo may be a fixture for gossip websites, but on the field he’s only eked out one playoff win. Last year Romo achieved a 66.3 pass completion percentage (behind Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees), but unlike the other quarterbacks in that club he doesn’t have a Super Bowl ring.

DeMarcus Ware made it clear he thinks this crop of Cowboys is better than last season. Like his teammate Jason Witten, Ware just turned 30. Both are veterans of the team, and know the gap is closing for a Super Bowl run. 

The Cowboys do have some exciting rookies like Clairborne, who will be bolstered by new addition Brandon Carr (acquired from Kansas City). And one of the few bright spots in the Cowboys defense last year was then-rookie Sean Lee, looking to have a breakout second year as an inside linebacker.

As their season-opener against the Giants looms, fans will wonder if all the preseason hype can lead to postseason success like it hasn’t before. The team may be done talking about windows, but the rest of the public won’t let that topic go so easily.