Jerry Jones bought himself the job of general manager, a role he continues to guard and protect as if being the owner and chief decision-maker in Dallas warrants a certain level of admiration.
Defending himself in incredulous tones since the start of training camp over allegations that the Cowboys are close to the season, Jones continues to ride high on taking credit and running and hiding when the accountability train comes calling.
Jones can’t buy a winner.
You can watch the NFC playoffs pit two East division rivals in the conference semifinals, both succeeding because of great decision makers who manage personnel and care enough about the outcome to recruit and work with high-powered head coaches to build a winner.
Philadelphia has the look of a team ready to return to the top of the mountain only after a hard reset one year ago. The Eagles lost their playoff opener to Tampa Bay and the pressure on the team had all the power to get Nick Sirianni in danger. The speech of my replacement and ownership ended with Sirianni giving a public mea culpa, which changed the abuse, and made a change in both areas of the consultant. Both decisions look to be coming out as A-plus, in no small part due to adding general manager Howie Roseman to the roster.
That includes a 2,000-yard rusher with another outstanding performance in a first-round win over Green Bay. Saquon Barkley was also available to the Dallas Cowboys. But that doesn’t have to fit the description of everything inside.
The Commanders upset the Bucs on Sunday night, 23-20, and head to Detroit behind QB Jayden Daniels. Kliff Kingsbury has been a great play at offensive coordinator, and Cowboys coordinator Dan Quinn’s second chance as head coach in Washington couldn’t have looked much better. Dealing with a bunch of former Dallas players that Jones couldn’t afford.
Those Eastern rivals aren’t the only ones changing this week. The Ravens plowed into Pittsburgh with another running back the Cowboys felt ready to be tripped up by Father Time. Derrick Henry was deemed too expensive by Jones, a man who understands that you get what you pay for. The Cowboys running back added their RB, Ezekiel Elliott, was released before the end of the season.
And the clock is ticking on Jones in Dallas.
As the Eagles and Commanders advance to the playoffs, the Cowboys are still kicking around contract ideas with Mike McCarthy.
But that decision is not the most important one for the Cowboys. Their direction depends on Jones coming to the realization that he is not the best person for the GM job.
If and until that happens for the Cowboys, every entry means nothing but one man and a mirror.