A Fine Line Between Genius and Complete Idiot...

That is what many people have said about Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and what he does this off season will determine which side of that line he is on. With such high expectations following the Cowboys as they entered last season I thinks it's safe to say that they fell short...about 38 points short.

Yeah 38 points, that was the difference in that awful excuse for a game that took place on Dec. 28, 2008 in Philly. When the Cowboys only managed six points as opposed to Philadelphia's 44.

If the Cowboys would have won that game they would have made the playoffs. Now I'm not saying that if they had got in the playoffs they would have made a incredible run like the Cardinals or like the Giants did last year.

But it would have been a lot better than getting blown out by 38 points in a "do or die" game. So with the Cowboys going from a 13-3 and No. 1 seed in the NFC team in 2007 from a 9-7 team and missing the playoffs in 2008. I would say that 2009 should be very interesting year for Cowboys fans.

Once again there is high expectations for the Cowboys, not only to make the playoffs but to make a run for the Super Bowl. It's now March and the NFL season begins in September, which give Dallas about six months to get things right. Which starts with free agency and the NFL draft.

Now the Cowboys have already signed veteran linebacker Keith Brooking which should be an upgrade over "stone age" Zach Thomas. Brooking came from a similar 3-4 type defense in Atlanta, and he use to play for Wade, so he should do pretty well under his play calling, nothing pro-bowl worthy, but pretty well.

Also the Cowboys have made an interesting trade to obtain veteran QB Jon Kitna for aging CB Anthony Henry. I think it was a great move to get a veteran not ancient (Brad Johnson) back up QB to Tony Romo, but because we let Anthony Henry go CB has become a very slim position for the Cowboys.

Terence Newman has become a solid starter, but injuries kept him sidelined most of last year, and last years first round pick Mike Jenkins looks like he has potential. But after him the Cowboys don't really have anyone else to fill the void.

So CB has been added to the list of the Cowboys off season needs. The list also includes positions like DE, DT, SS, OG, OT, and WR. Now the best way to address these areas is the NFL draft of course.

It's a way to get young talent to fill in the holes on your team, but the downside is that these players don't always pan out. So you can also dip into free agency as well. There are still some sappy veterans out there that can hep this team.

If I was Jerry Jones I would considering taking a look at players like Bertrand Berry(DE), Victor Adeyanju(DE), Khalif Barnes(OT), Tyson Clabo(OG), Shawn Springs(CB), Leigh Bodden(CB), Chris McAlister(CB), Sean Jones(SS), Mark Clayton(WR), and D.J Hackett(WR).

But then again, if I was Jerry Jones, I would have fired Wade Philips and Jason Garrett and cut T.O., just for starters.

But if Jerry Jones doesn't bring in these players he will most likely address this teams needs through the draft. Now some players I would take a look at in this years draft include players like Robert Ayers (DE), Lawrence Sidbury(DE), Nic Harris(SS), Fili Moala (DT), Terrance Taylor (DT), Kraig Urbik (OG), Mark Parson (CB), Mike Mickens (CB), Jason Watkins (OT), Derrick Williams (WR), and Mike Wallace (WR).

All these players could fill a huge void and be stable players for years to come, and some have the potential to be great players for years.

The bottom line here is that the Cowboys have to do something this off season if they even want to think about a possible Superbowl, and as far as Jerry Jones is concerned this season is the season that will place him on either side of that line I was talking about earlier.

If he can plug in the right pieces and this teams succeeds he will be a genius. But if he fails again to put together a successful team that already has countless pro-bowlers then people will start to question his football IQ and maybe just maybe he will be considered a complete idiot.