Dallas Cowboys: Swagger Is Not a Talent, It's a Result

Over the past two to three years, media, fans and coaches alike have discussed the need for "swagger."

So much so, it begs the question as to whether or not they really know what "swagger" is.

Or how to get it, because it's not something you can teach and you don't get it in an instant. It has to be earned.

The Cowboys of the early 90s under Jimmy Johnson had swagger. They had been to the hill and conquered it. They had risen from the ashes of a 1-15 season and had climbed to the top of the NFL, taking no prisoners along the way.

They had manned up against the then-powerful Redskins and beaten them. Then they went into San Francisco and spit in the eye of the 49'ers. They had faced all comers and had out-hit and out-manned the bullies of the NFL, and they had become world champions.

Sure, they lost occasionally, but those were few and far between. By and large, these Cowboys came to play, and when they were through, there was another "W" in the win column.

There were individual stars, but this group measured their success by their victories rather than personal statistics. Troy Aikman was never going to be a 5,000-yard passer, but he was the best in the NFL at commanding his offense. Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith wanted the ball, but they wanted to win much, much more.

Their defense was physical and they viciously attacked opposing offenses with a determination that no one was getting through.

After blowing out the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl in 1992, they came back the next season and did it again.

When they came to your hometown, it was like having royalty come in and stay. They didn't apologize for their greatness and didn't succumb to silliness.

They came to town with one thing on their mind, and that was getting down to business on the field.

They walked with the confidence of a group that had been there and done that and were ready to do it again.

They had "swagger."

I wrote this article because of the many articles out there that talk about how one man will bring "swagger" to a team.

And it needs to be said: The only way you get real "swagger" is by going, seeing and conquering.

So if the Dallas Cowboys want "swagger," they have to earn it. You don't get it from 6-10 seasons full of excuses.

Try winning a Super Bowl once in a while and it will come on it's own.

That's the bottom line.