Jerry Jones And His Dallas Cowboys: All Hat, No Cattle?

Seven weeks into what was supposed to be a return to championship form for the Dallas Cowboys, it's starting to look like a season of regret. Losses in two of the last three weeks, including yesterday's to the previously 1-4 St. Louis Rams have raised serious and legitimate questions about this year's version of the Cowboys.

This were supposed to be the year of unstoppable offense and a tough as nails defense, a coronation, not a contest. The Cowboys had added Zach Thomas, and Adam and Felix Jones to a roster that already had 13 pro bowlers. How could the rest of the league even compete?

We were supposed to be saying break up the Cowboys, not what's wrong with the Cowboys. No one thought that we would be talking about the Cowboys being 4-3 at this point in the season.

So indeed, what is wrong with the Dallas Cowboys? It doesn't seem like the players, so hows about we start with the owner, pardner?

Behind every great team is great chemistry and character, I would posit is the cornerstone of chemistry. So let's take a look at these Cowboy's chemistry. 

Can't find any? Neither can I.

Despite being a very shrewd evaluator of talent, Jerry Jones is either a terrible judge of character, or more likely doesn't place any importance upon it. Far from exhibiting any chemistry, Jones has put this team together without the slightest thought of it, and more likely disdain for it.

He often falls in love with the measurable qualities of players but overlooks their attitudes. He goes to extremes to obtain the best talent, but disregards whether or not they have the skills to be the best teammates.

Like all wildcat oilmen, he loves to gamble. He consistently bets that the lure of the Dallas star and the accompanying media attention will make even the most unreliable, unrepentant player straighten up and fly right. He draws prima donnas to Dallas like a light-bulb draws moths. Players with otherworldly talent, but who could never get along anywhere else are welcome in Big D, baggage and all.

How else do you explain Terrell Owens? I mean this was the guy who besides trashing every quarterback he ever played with, desecrated the Cowboys star as an Eagle for christsakes! What guy would you have thought would be less welcome in Dallas than T.O.?

And yet Jerry loves him so much he went out and got another guy just like him, one T.O. apparently not being enough.

Jones has that same disease that many millionaires have, the affliction that makes them believe that success in one field gives them credibility in another.

His lack of attention to character continues all the way to head coach. He only keeps underlings who can be controlled and manipulated, and coaches he can hector and second guess publicly.

His game ending sideline appearances are a sideshow solely designed to feed his ego. He wants the cameras right on him, so that he can take credit for every victory, or show his disappointment in the coach after a loss.

With the exception of Parcells and Johnson both of whom walked away instead of continuing to kowtow to him, all his coaches have been sycophantic yes—men who are unwilling to challenge him. And General Managers? Fugeddaboutit! Jerry will take care of that role, thank you very much.

Wade Phillips is a nice guy and by all estimation a good coach, but you and I know it's just a matter of time. It's the way it always works under Jones.

Now Cowboy fans, listen hear y'all before you get your panties in a bunch. This is still a very, very talented team, and one that I think will make the playoffs. But given what they have shown thus far, I am not at all sure of their ability to pull together and get what they came for, a championship.

You see, now is the time when you need team chemistry. This is when you need great locker room and the high character players. Guys that won't start back-biting and sniping at each other, asking for the ball and acting out like over paid children.

The Cowboys have always had their characters, as well as players with high character. For every Michael Irving and Leon Lett there were guys like Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman. For every Duane Thomas there was a Roger Staubach. As far as who might to be the stand up guys for this Cowboy team? Who Knows, but they better find one fast.

Looks like Jerry Jones might have been sleeping through chemistry class when putting the current Cowboys together. For the teams sake, I hope he paid someone to take notes.