November 24, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers center Travis Frederick (72) gets ready to snap the ball during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys were active again in the first round trading draft picks. This time they made a deal with the San Francisco 49ers to move back in the draft to the #31 pick. They used that to pick the versatile interior offensive lineman Travis Frederick. He played both guard and center for the University of Wisconsin.

“I had hoped we could come out of this thing with a legitimate starter, a legitimate starter, and he will start,” owner/general manager Jerry Jones said, via ESPN Dallas. “He will start. First-rounder and not starting? I know coach wants there to be competition and should be, and we all know that’s the way it is.”

Where he’ll play in Dallas still is to be determined. They brought in Ryan Cook last season after injuries where he played center in place for Phil Costa. Supposedly the Cowboys and Romo liked Cook at center last season. They could move Cook to guard, but if they leave him at center that means Frederick will be moving to guard.

Last offseason the Cowboys signed guards Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau, both were disappointing in their first season in Dallas. Likely it is one of these two that are going to lose their job.

But the coaches are still trying to figure out where they want him to play along the offensive line.

“We’re going to put a base in there where you don’t have a knock-back issue,” Jones said. “Bill Callahan is a big center guy. After your left tackle, he likes the center position as far as the best players on the offensive line. Well, we’ve got Costa. We’re pretty proud of Costa, frankly. Well, can this guy play guard? You bet he can.”

“Because he has position flex and has played a full season at either spot, we feel good about maybe plugging him in at either spot and having him compete with the guys on our roster,” head coach Jason Garrett said. “We haven’t made that determination right now. We like competition, as you guys know, and he’ll certainly be very much in the mix.”

Dec 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan reacts during the second half against the Washington Redskins at FedEX Field. The Redskins won 28 – 18. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA Today Sports

Jerry Jones made Rob Ryan the scapegoat for the Dallas Cowboys 2012 season. He famously promised to be out of work for all of “like 5 minutes.” It took a little longer than that but he finally landed with the New Orleans Saints.

Many defenders of Rob Ryan though say the defense was devastated by injuries and thats why the Dallas Cowboys struggled last season. At one point they were signing linebackers of the street to come in and fill in for injuries.

“Where we fundamentally came down with Rob is that his philosophy is about multiple scheme,” Jones said, via the Star-Telegram. “I think you have to skinny it down. Philosophically, I don’t think Rob believes in that.”

Jerry Jones pointed to early regular season losses against the Seattle Seahawks and the Chicago Bears (a game in which Tony Romo threw 5 interceptions) as indicators of the defenses poor performance when at or near full strength.

Jerry Jones apparently asked Rob Ryan to scale it down and he didn’t scale it back far enough.

“I think Rob will tell you we had long visits about this in the off-season last year that there was too much scheme. He tried to cut it back and he did skinny it back, but it’s still a lot,” Jones said. “We just didn’t feel like at the end of the day Rob could skinny it back enough to our satisfaction that we could make plays.”

December 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones claps while standing on the field prior to the Cowboys game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Since Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys they have won 3 Super Bowls, those from the early 90s. Jerry Jones is known for citing those or even touting them as his resume to be an NFL general manager, however Jimmy Johnson would tell you he essentially acted as GM during his tenure with the Cowboys.

But when the Cowboys win their next Super Bowl, Jerry Jones wants the credit.

“I pretty much go with what I did the night I bought the team,” Jones said, via the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram. “I said I was going to be the GM. . . . It would be a facade if someone else was sitting in my shoes and someone thought they were spending the money. It would be deception. . . . I would grant you the decisions that have been made over the years have not produced a Super Bowl, two Super Bowls or three Super Bowls that I would like to have been a part of. And the only thing I am going to do there is keep trying and then make sure I get the credit when we do get that one. Y’all are going to give it to me, aren’t you?”

But a team that has failed to win their division in the past few years, even with chances in the last game of the season surely aren’t anyones favorite to win the Super Bowl. Heck, they’ve only won a single playoff game since their last Super Bowl victory.

“I think we have changed,” Jones said. “I’m positive and I feel good we have changed. I feel good where this thing sits right now. I’m not in a good mood. I’m not in a bad mood, but I’m sure not up here celebrating.

“This thing has been a big disappointment the last couple of years. I’m not satisfied. We’ve got to start knocking on the door. So there is a lot of resolve and not a lot of patience, and Jason knows that.”

And in order to change things, GM Jerry Jones stripped head coach and alleged offensive guru Jason Garrett from calling plays.

“What I have done during this off-season is that it’s no longer a prerequisite or no longer a preference of mine for [Garrett] to call the plays,” Jones said. “… As I sit here right today, there has not been a finality to just exactly how we will have a play called on the field. I would be happy either way he wants to go. When I say happy, I don’t want to go 8-8.”

We’ll see if the Cowboys get it done.

Do you think the Cowboys can turn it around and make a run at a Super Bowl? Let us know in the comments.

Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) is introduced prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys fans will tell you that is anything but football paradise in Dallas. Once viewed as the model for all NFL teams to follow, even being dubbed America’s Team, the Cowboys have been anything but since. And no, the Cowboys did not give themselves that nickname, it was bestowed upon them.

At one point in time it was the Cincinnati Bengals who were the legal burden of the NFL, but the Cowboys have seemingly added that to their list of names along side “America’s Team.”

But the one thing the Cowboys have managed to do is to get into trouble with the law. If their players aren’t getting in trouble they bring in trouble. Pac Man Jones got into an altercation at a Las Vegas strip club that led this his supsension from the NFL and subsequent release by the Tennessee Titans. The Cowboys brought him in and hired a security team to essentially babysit him, and what happened? Jones got into an altercation with his security team.

The Cowboys this summer watched drama unfold with their star wide receiver Dez Bryant. The young wide receiver was arrested on domestic violence charges involving a dispute with his mother. This came after a string of incidents with rap entourages, specifically Lil’ Wayne’s and amassing debts with various jewelers. At one point, Bryant was even temporarily banned from a local mall for “sagging” and language.

Nothing has developed in the case involving Dez but he had a break out season this year.

Then in this past December the Cowboys saw defensive tackle Josh Brent wreck his car after a night out of partying and drinking. He flipped his Mercedes-Benz on a Dallas highway and his passenger, as well as teammate, Jerry Brown died. Josh Brent’s blood alcohol content that night was 0.189, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 in Texas.

And barely a month since the Cowboys laid their fallen teammate to rest another Cowboys player wrecks his car in an alcohol related offense. Pro Bowler Jay Ratliff wrecked his car in suburban Dallas and like his teammate had a BAC of 0.16, again twice the legal limit. He was allegedly seen drinking at a bar the very next night.

So the question is whether or not their is a cultural problem in Dallas?

Many criticized Wade Phillips when he was the Cowboys head coach for being to soft on the players and babying them. They even went so far to name his summer training camps “Camp Cupcake.” And many believed that this is what led to the lack of post season success by the Cowboys, their players were soft and not battle tested. The Cowboys have won 1 post season game since their last Super Bowl victory and are constantly viewed as underperforming.

But in reality, it might be this approach that has shaped the culture at Valley Ranch.

Current head coach Jason Garrett was Phillips’ offensive coordinator and assistant head coach during the days of “camp cupcake.” Many have said that Garrett isn’t a quality head coach because he lacks emotion and sometimes comes across as robotic in his handling of situations. His press conferences are boring and monotoned. Some say he is too focused on the offense instead of the team as a whole. When other coaches would be throwing tantrums on the sidelines, like either of the Harbaugh brothers, about what is going on in the game, Garrett isn’t because he’s coaching the offense.

The majority of Garrett’s brief tenure as an NFL assistant coach came under Phillips, so in some regards it’s not his fault he is this way, it’s a learned behavior.

Think there isn’t value in a coach learning from their mentor or the coaching tree as it is called?

Think again.

Six out of the past eleven Super Bowls, were won under Hall of Famer Bill Parcells coaching tree (Bill Belichick-3, Tom Coughlin-2, and Sean Payton-1).

If you need more evidence that there is a problem with leadership and culture in Dallas look no further than the current handling of the outbreak of drunk driving incidents amongst Cowboys players.

Owner Jerry Jones didn’t address the media. Neither did general manager Jerry Jones or VP Stephen Jones. And neither did head coach Jason Garrett.

Instead the Cowboys trotted out Calvin Hill, a consultant for the team’s player development program, who released the following statement.

“Having recently experienced the most tragic of circumstances regarding this issue, we, as an organization, understand the ultimate consequences of driving while impaired,” the statement read.

“We know that one incident is too many.

“The critical goal is to effect the decision making process in the hours before the wrong decision is made.

“Our player assistance programs in the areas of preventing incidents such as these are at the highest level in professional sports, but we are always looking to do better and for ways to improve. We will continue to draw upon the best expertise and resources available, both internally and from outside the organization, to work toward being the best in the areas of education, prevention, and effecting the right decisions.

“We have been in communication with Jay Ratliff regarding this incident, and we will monitor the legal process and work within the NFL guidelines for player behavior moving forward.”

Not even a team official… a consultant.

That speaks volumes about the culture in Valley Ranch and within the Dallas Cowboys organization. That they sent a consultant out to do their dirty work.

December 9, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walks on the field before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Many people were shocked at Rob Ryan being fired from his position of defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. His supporters say that he was in charge of a defense that fought through a horrendous rash of injuries that saw 7 starters get hurt and had the Cowboys signing players mid season and starting them that following Sunday. Those supporters also point to Tony Romo’s interception, head coach Jason Garrett’s clock mismanagement and conservative play calling as the real issues.

“I inherited a team that was 31st in the league in defense and made them better,” Ryan told ESPNDallas.com’s Tim MacMahon. “I (expletive) made them a hell of a lot better. I’ll be out of work for like five minutes.”

“When we weren’t short-handed, we were kicking ass,” Ryan said.

Jerry Jones however isn’t buying those excuses and believes that injuries are not the reason for defensive struggles. Jones went on KTVT in Dallas and pointed to losses against Seattle in Week 2 and at home against Chicago in Week 4, when the defense was healthy, as the reason he made the decision.

“I thought we could play better before the injuries, and so I factored that in,” Jones said, via ESPNDallas.com. “It wasn’t like we had a lot of injuries out here when we played Chicago. It wasn’t like we had a lot of injuries when we played Seattle. I didn’t like the way we played there. It’s not hard for me to go to those games and say what can we do to improve when we played Seattle and when we played Chicago.”

Some Cowboys fans and Ryan supporters would point out that Tony Romo threw 5 interceptions against Chicago. Against Seattle Tony Romo had a pedestrian 57.5% completions. He went 23 out of 40 that game. And in those two games combined only threw 2 touchdown passes. Against Seattle he had a quarterback rating of 74.1 and against Chicago it dropped to a 60.1 rating.

“It’s not hard for me to go to those games and say what can we do to improve when we played Seattle and when we played Chicago, and I liked the way we played in subsequent games and I know we didn’t have the talent level on the field that we had when we played Seattle and Chicago,” Jones added.

“I think I did a good job and I think our staff did a good job on defense trying to compete with what we had at the end of the year,” Ryan told MacMahon. “But the best job we did was when we were able to coach our starters.”

But Jerry continually points to those games to defend his decision.

“It’s not hard for me to go back there and say, ‘OK, we had all of our players out there we had our talent level there,’ ” Jones said. “That’s what we’ve been saying we didn’t have. Now let’s evaluate that. When we had all of our talent level, we’ve got to be able to beat Chicago at home and we’ve got to be able to go to Seattle and win that game there.

“We know they’re formidable. We know Seattle had a good football team and I don’t think we underestimated Seattle at all when we played them. But you’re going to have to get to where we want to go and you have to go into Seattle and win games in Seattle.”

And the comparisons to Al Davis have begun in Dallas with people saying that Jones simply needed a scapegoat and after brashly promising change and discomfort at Valley Ranch he needed to let someone go. Ryan simply drew the short end of the stick. Jones disagrees with that notion continuing to defend his decision.

“We certainly do need to not change for change sake,” he said. “But basically we need to look at what we’re doing. I’ve heard it even criticized that maybe we shouldn’t look at the matchups. We play six games in a 16-game schedule against our division, and we need to be successful in that division. We let Washington beat us twice this year, Philadelphia beat us twice last year — so all of those things are under our consideration.”

Well many believe this will lead to a switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defensive scheme. Jones also said if anyone currently on the defensive staff wanted the vacant coordinator position, they would have to apply like everyone else.

Who’d want to with that kind of loyalty?

Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent (92) on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys caused a stir when defensive tackle Josh Brent was seen on the team’s sideline during the national broadcast of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brent is currently facing jail time after being charged for intoxication manslaughter after he was behind the wheel during a drunk driving accident that took the life of his teammate and best friend Jerry Brown Jr.

Dallas was immediately criticized for the decision. During halftime of the broadcast, CBS analyst Boomer Esiason called Brent’s presence on the sideline “disgraceful.”

“Football players are an example and Josh Brent is the worst of those examples,” Esiason said.

Now, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is defending his decision.

Jones points out that Jerry Brown’s own mother has supported Brent through this tough situation and that the team had the blessing of Brown’s family. The organization did not want to turn their backs on Brent when he needs a support group the most.

“Our team and our players wanted him today on the sideline,” Jones said, per the Star-Telegram. “Jerry’s mother asked us directly as a group. She said, ‘Support him. Help him. He needs your help. Jerry wants that. I want that.’ His teammates asked him to come and be down there with them.”

It’s a tough situation, but I think it’s one the Cowboys are handling the right way.

Brent made a horrible decision to get behind the wheel of the car drunk and it resulted in a fatal accident that ended the life of his best friend and created a burden that he must carry with him for the rest of his life. Brent is going through so much right now and it is hard to imagine his mindset.

The last thing Brent needs is to feel alone.

If the family of Brown is standing behind Brent and supporting him, his second family with the Cowboys organization should do the same.

Oct 21, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones point to the fans prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Jerry Jones, arguably the face and ambassador of the Dallas Cowboys organization for 20 years is supposed to be sworn enemy of all things Philadelphia, New York and Washington. But last night as two NFC East foes faced off, the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins, he found himself rooting for the Washington Redskins.

The New York Giants entered the game at 7-4 and Washington, who beat the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, were 5-6 and the Cowboys sat at 6-6 after defeating Philadelphia on Sunday night. A Giants loss would keep the Cowboys within one game of the divisional lead and a coveted playoff spot.

“We couldn’t believe Redskins was coming out of (our) mouths,” Jones said during a KRLD interview.

But the Redskins delivered keeping Cowboys’ playoff hopes alive. Unfortunately, that win by Washington also brought the Redskins level with the Cowboys in the standings as both teams have 6-6 records. And the Redskins own the tie breaker after beating the Cowboys in their annual Thanksgiving game.

“That was a big win for them and us,” Jones said, according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Clarence Hill.

The Cowboys and the Giants have a much more difficult schedule left to close out the season. The Giants play New Orleans (5-7) at the Meadowlands, and then travel to Baltimore (9-3) and Atlanta (11-1) before finishing at home against the lowly Eagles (3-9). The Cowboys travel to Cincinnati (7-5) before returning home to host a Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) squad down to their 3rd string quarterback and a surging New Orleans Saints (5-7).

If tied with the Redskins entering the final game of the season, the Cowboys will face another essential NFC East Championship game. Dallas will travel to Washington in the season finale for what could be a game to determine the divisional crown if the Cowboys can stay level with the Redskins and the Giants falter in their difficult end of season stretch.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys they almost have to win out. The Redskins have a much easier remaining schedule. They host the Ravens (9-3) next week before facing the Cleveland Browns (4-8) and Eagles (3-9) on the road. Then the Dallas Cowboys come to town in the season finale.

The NFC East could be a tight race these last 4 games.

Oct 28, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones prior to the game against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Dallas Cowboys fans have had it with Jerry Jones and his control issues. Many fans have long called for him to relinquish his duties as general manager but Jerry Jones has never even considered it. Jerry Jones famously cites the Cowboys’ 3 Superbowl victories in the early 90′s as his managerial resume. But one fan, from Benning, Georgia, known as “Steve M.” has started a petition to get Jerry Jones removed as GM and owner of the Dallas Cowboys.

Here is the petition:

“We, the Citizens of the Great State of Texas, and Dallas Cowboys fans worldwide, have been oppressed by an over controlling, delusional, oppressive dictator for way too long. Request the Executive Branch’s immediate assistance in removal of owner and GM, Jerry Jones. His incompetence and ego have not only been an extreme disappointment for way too long, but moreover, it has caused extreme mental and emotional duress.”

At the time of this post the petition had received 2,068 signatures. The White House will address all petitions that reach 25,000 signatures by December 23rd at 9:30 am CT so it is well short of the goal. But it also is unlikely that any President would step in between an owner and his football team or any privately owned business for that matter.

“We are not structured that way,” Jones told Dallas’ KRLD-FM. “We didn’t structure it that way with my ownership. There’s no way that I would be involved here and not be the final decision-maker on something as important as players, and that is a key area. That’s never been anybody’s misunderstanding. It’s been a debated thing, but it’s just not going to happen.”

This contradicts former coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer who claim that they acted as general managers in their tenure as head coaches. Jerry Jones also famously told NBC’s Bob Costa that Jerry Jones would have fired Jerry Jones the GM.

“Well, I think so, because he was there to dismiss,” Jones said. “I have always worked for myself and you can’t do that. You basically have to straighten that guy out in the mirror when you work for yourself. But certainly, if I’d had the discretion, I’ve done it with coaches and certainly I would have changed a general manager.”

But he hasn’t yet.

Sept 16, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett waits in the tunnel before leading his team on to the field against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Dallas, 27-7. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

The Dallas Cowboys are always the source of drama in the NFL, so there is no surprise that the Cowboys have been linked to hot head coaching candidates Mike Holmgren and Sean Payton. Of course, there is one problem. The Cowboys currently have a head coach in Jason Garrett and team owner Jerry Jones remains committed to Garrett.

Jones was speaking on the radio Tuesday and addressed the Holmgren situation and his commitment to Garrett.

“I won’t and can’t get into that kind of conversation because of how fired up I am about the future of Jason.  The future is now, but also I am fired up about him and what he can be coaching the Dallas Cowboys.  Mike Holmgren . . . I can’t tell you on a individual basis how much I respect him,” Jones said.

” He’s everything you would want as far as a coach is concerned and I appreciate, it was a compliment, when he was talking about how he was impressed with our talent and the fact that we could work together.  And that’s just the case.  But make no mistake about it.  And Mike doesn’t need me to say what a great guy he is.  Our fans probably need to hear he’s a great guy.

“Bottom line, it’s all about Jason with me.”

Of course, Jones has expressed his commitment to certain individuals in the past only to change his mind and send them out the door.

It is not out of the question that Jones could be using his great relationships with Holmgren and Payton to line up the next head coach of the Cowboys organization.

Sep 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on the field prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones entered the 2012-13 NFL season with high hopes for his team and the hopes have not diminished, despite a 2-3 start to the year. Jones was speaking during a radio interview and stated his belief that the Cowboys are ready to compete for a title this year, per ESPN Dallas.

“We’ve got to have some wins to make sure we’re in the hunt, but I keep pointing out we’re fresh off a world champion [Giants] that won nine of 16 ballgames last year,” Jones said. “We know you want your team as healthy and as in sync as it can be as we get on into the end of the season. We know we’ve played one division game and won it. We got those guys [the Giants] coming back in here. We know that’s going to be a big game for us.

“All of those things give us a chance to take a team that is, if you look at the pluses [Sunday], evolving into a team that can compete for the championship. Not next year. This year.”

Wait a second, Jerry, do you really mean this year?

“Correct,” Jones said. “Let me emphasize that. I’m not into everybody getting better or learning for years to come. It’s this year.”

The Cowboys dropped a tight game to the Baltimore Ravens this week but Jones did not take the game as a moral victory despite the team putting on a very solid, all-around performance.

“I’m not either and I would agree, and I don’t want you to have to feel good about a moral victory,” Jones said. “We went up there, and everyone, before that ballgame on our team, thought we would win and we could win that ballgame, and we recognize that Baltimore has a good team and we recognize we were playing them away. But everybody thought we could win that ballgame.

“It’s terribly disappointing, but we played physically, we did things we can win with in the future. I think we are preparing ourselves, now let me say this, we’re 2-3, and so that’s five games into a 16-game season. We don’t have time to have a bad time here.”

If Jones’ is correct and the Cowboys can compete for a championship this season, they better get the ball rolling and quickly turn things around beginning with Carolina this week.