Moore: Over past 22 years, numbers tell the story of how Cowboys have become NFL's version of the Kardashians

Cotton

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Over past 22 years, numbers tell the story of how Cowboys have become NFL's version of the Kardashians

By David Moore , Staff Writer Contact David Moore on Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN

Philadelphia fans have spent recent days scattering the ashes of loved ones along the Eagles parade route, using the celebration as a drunken backdrop to get down on one knee and propose and expressing their unbridled joy by eating the manure a police horse left behind.

This qualifies as restraint when you consider there were reports of fans punching police horses after wins in the divisional and championship rounds.

What took place in Dallas while this revelry was unfolding on the streets of Philadelphia?

Abject depression with a side of shattered dreams.

OK, that may be a bit strong. Cowboys fans have had 22 long years to adjust to life without a Lombardi Trophy. The sting of what it feels like to fall short is a distant memory.

Another Super Bowl without the Cowboys elicits no more than a shrug of the shoulders for most fans. We have a name for it around here.

February.

Still, when a bitter division rival captures its first Super Bowl title, it leads to a level of reflection fans would normally ignore. So, as the Eagles enjoy their first full weekend as champion, let's contemplate the Cowboys place in the NFL universe and how much ground has been lost since Jan. 28, 1996 when the team beat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX.

Twelve franchises have won a title since the Cowboys last got their hands on a Lombardi Trophy to put in the foyer of their offices.

The Steelers have won two more titles to pass the Cowboys and lead the charge with six. New England has picked up five to tie the Cowboys and San Francisco for second place.

The Cowboys motto: Hey, what about the 49ers? They've gone 23 years without a Super Bowl title. How bad is that?

Pittsburgh passing you by is one thing. Witnessing New England's rise hurts. But it can be argued the worst indignity the Cowboys have endured during their blue period is having two NFC East foes -- New York and Philadelphia -- capture three world titles between them.

Another Cowboys motto: Hey, at least we're not Washington.

Only six franchises have fewer postseason victories than the Cowboys over the last 22 years. The Patriots have won 10 playoff games to every one for the Cowboys in this period.

Dallas went 13 years without a postseason win. The club is currently lost in a three-year drought.

Barry Switzer was the coach for the Cowboys last Super Bowl victory. Troy Aikman was the quarterback.

Five coaches have presided over the franchise since that day. Now, guess how many quarterbacks have started a regular season game for the Cowboys since Aikman was in control? Think hard. The number may surprise you.

It's 18.

Tired of tracing everything back to Super Bowl XXX? Understand. Let's stay in this century.

Since 2000, the Eagles have won twice as many division titles as the Cowboys. The count:

8: Philadelphia

4: Cowboys

4: NY Giants

2: Washington

Feel better?

The Cowboys haven't been a dreadful regular season team. Dallas has had a winning record 11 times since its last Super Bowl. The team has won 10 or more games in seven seasons.

The Cowboys have simply been unable to strike when the iron is hot. They have not been relevant in the postseason.

They have become NFL's version of the Kardashians.

In Philadelphia's parade on Thursday, Jason Kelce gave a stirring and amusing speech that outlined the criticisms hurled at many of his teammates before this title. The Eagles starting center then launched into the team's motivation.

"This entire organization was a bunch of driven men to accomplish something,'' Kelce bellowed. "We were a bunch of underdogs. And you know what an underdog is?

"It's a hungry dog.''

The Cowboys should be starving by now.
 

Simpleton

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It's not necessarily the structure of the organization that's the problem anymore, I believe in McClay and the front office as far as the draft goes, free agency is a different story though.

The real problem is the culture propagated by Jerry where these guys get put on pedestals without having accomplished much, combined with the disgusting incompetence from the head coach.
 

Cowboysrock55

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It's not necessarily the structure of the organization that's the problem anymore, I believe in McClay and the front office as far as the draft goes, free agency is a different story though.

The real problem is the culture propagated by Jerry where these guys get put on pedestals without having accomplished much, combined with the disgusting incompetence from the head coach.
Yep we have finally figured out how to add talent. The problem is coaching and a lack of ability to get rid of guys once the talent erodes.
 

midswat

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There are some teams and some owners who really aren't serious about winning. The NFL is just an income to them. I think it's teams like the Bills, Browns, Bengals, etc fall into this category. So realistically, they'll never be "in it."

What bothers me most is the number of good owners, those who care about winning, who have been able to both consistently win (Pittsburgh, NE, Denver) or win, completely rebuild, then win again (GB, Seattle, even the Eagles to a lesser degree).

With the stadium, brand, fan base, location (no state tax to lure free agents) etc.... and with the Cowboys raking in income even in terrible years - there's no reason why the cowboys shouldn't be one of those teams that wins consistently.

Instead we're saddled with ownership who cares more about his ego, showmanship, being comfortable, making money, and himself and his family receiving credit. More interested in the celebrity status of the brand than winning.
 

Simpleton

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There are some teams and some owners who really aren't serious about winning. The NFL is just an income to them. I think it's teams like the Bills, Browns, Bengals, etc fall into this category. So realistically, they'll never be "in it."

What bothers me most is the number of good owners, those who care about winning, who have been able to both consistently win (Pittsburgh, NE, Denver) or win, completely rebuild, then win again (GB, Seattle, even the Eagles to a lesser degree).

With the stadium, brand, fan base, location (no state tax to lure free agents) etc.... and with the Cowboys raking in income even in terrible years - there's no reason why the cowboys shouldn't be one of those teams that wins consistently.

Instead we're saddled with ownership who cares more about his ego, showmanship, being comfortable, making money, and himself and his family receiving credit. More interested in the celebrity status of the brand than winning.
Yea, just gotta hope Stephen is better.

I definitely think he will be, just not sure to what extent.
 

bbgun

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The Cowboys haven't been a dreadful regular season team. Dallas has had a winning record 11 times since its last Super Bowl. The team has won 10 or more games in seven seasons.
And that's what emboldens Jerry to maintain the status quo. "See! It's working!" Three straight 5-11 seasons is an impetus to do something drastic, but not losing twice to GB in the divisional round. They find just enough talent to remain respectable but not dominant. Frustrating.
 

ravidubey

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It's not necessarily the structure of the organization that's the problem anymore, I believe in McClay and the front office as far as the draft goes, free agency is a different story though.

The real problem is the culture propagated by Jerry where these guys get put on pedestals without having accomplished much, combined with the disgusting incompetence from the head coach.
The talent acquisition, though misdirected regarding position, has been well above average.
 

BipolarFuk

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Can you imagine how much Will McClay would be marginalized by the Jones' if we actually won a Super Bowl?
 

p1_

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Can you imagine how much Will McClay would be marginalized by the Jones' if we actually won a Super Bowl?
Makes you wonder why Mc Clay didnt interview for that Texans GM post.
 

1bigfan13

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It's not necessarily the structure of the organization that's the problem anymore, I believe in McClay and the front office as far as the draft goes, free agency is a different story though.

The real problem is the culture propagated by Jerry where these guys get put on pedestals without having accomplished much, combined with the disgusting incompetence from the head coach.
Free agency and the Pro Scouting Department are definitely the biggest problem right now.

One of our biggest downfalls is that instead rolling the dice on a good veteran who still has a good year or two left in him, they'd rather pinch pennies and hope one of their young players emerge.

Anquan Boldin to the Lions in 2016, James Harrison to the Patriots this season....those are moves the Cowboys wouldn't entertain making.
 

p1_

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Free agency and the Pro Scouting Department are definitely the biggest problem right now.

One of our biggest downfalls is that instead rolling the dice on a good veteran who still has a good year or two left in him, they'd rather pinch pennies and hope one of their young players emerge.

Anquan Boldin to the Lions in 2016, James Harrison to the Patriots this season....those are moves the Cowboys wouldn't entertain making.
Harrison doesnt look to hsve anything left in the tank.
 

deadrise

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By Jerry yes but I don't get the same ego feeling from Stephen.
Maybe not the ego, but the same proclivity for brainless salesmanship.

Per Stephen Jones:

"I'm certainly pleased with our football team. We were able now to really get in there and grind our personnel and really look at what we have as a team and where we are and at the same time, know that we have to be better if we are going to compete with a team like the Eagles. We certainly feel like we can."

Though confident about his team's chances, Jones also isn't oblivious to the task ahead of him.

"We've got to continue to improve," Jones said. "We've got a big couple of months coming up, the next three months, between unrestricted free agency and the draft. Will McClay and the coaching staff and Jerry [Jones] and I really got to roll up our sleeves and improve our football team. If we do that, we think we've got a great opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl championship."

?????????????
 

deadrise

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Harrison doesnt look to hsve anything left in the tank.

He made a couple key plays late in the Jacksonville game. That's all Belichek wants out of somebody like that before he dumps him. Low-cost, low-risk, disposable.
 
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