The definition of Jonesing is an individual that has an insatiable craving for someone or something. It’s a slang word from Baltimore, referring to someone hooked on drugs. Eventually, the word got watered into a more palatable mainstream version meaning someone was craving anything from food to watching a new movie. The irony of the word in the context I’m about to bring up is a painful and frustrating reality for Cowboys fans.
Jerry Jones’s unrelenting need and craving to have unrivaled power in the structure of this team has been the Dallas Cowboys’ downfall for almost three decades. When Jones took over the Cowboys way back in 1989, he hired Jimmy Johnson, who, in my opinion, is one of the greatest coaches in football history. Johnson was someone who understood what he wanted and needed, and it was a big reason the Cowboys were so successful in the 90s. He pulled off the infamous Herschel Walker trade and made a ton of savvy moves that enabled the Cowboys to go from a team that went 1-15 in 1989 to a bonafide contender in 2 years.
Johnson was so good at building successful teams that Jerry was ready to give Jimmy all the on-field decision-making at one point. As Johnson’s role grew more and more, it coincided with the Cowboys becoming the winningest team of the decade. Now, as most of you know, Jimmy quit after the Cowboys’ second super bowl of the decade, and although the Cowboys won another super bowl two years later under Barry Switzer, the team was built around the vision of Jimmy Johnson.
Now it’s common knowledge Jerry and Jimmy had a contentious relationship that led to the breakup. But it’s not underheard of for coaches and owners to have frosty relationships and still work together, especially when they are winning super bowls. So what drove Jimmy away? What drove Jimmy away was after Jerry initially allocated all the on-field responsibility to him, Jerry went back on those claims and decided he now wanted to make personnel decisions and be the team’s GM. Yep, this is a prime example of Jerry Jones Jonesing. He is addicted to power and the recognition that he’s the one that brought America’s team back to prominence.
Every coach post-Jimmy Johnson outside of Bill Parcells has been friendly with Jerry Jones and was not the type of people to challenge their good friend Jerry Jones and his poor roster decisions. The last decade couldn’t be a better example. Jason Garrett was the head coach for a mind-boggling nine years. For the last 5, I can’t think of many fans that weren’t clamoring for him to be fired.
Jerry Jones’s infatuation with being in complete control of a sinking ship is the main problem for the Dallas Cowboys. He’s stubborn and has a hero complex. Hiring his son Stephen Jones who, even though undoubtedly makes worse decisions, he still, at the end of the day, is a vessel for the poor choices Jerry keeps making. The Jones family aren’t qualified for this. They are businessmen cosplaying as people who know how to build a winning football team.
The Cowboys will never win another super bowl with Jerry Jones as the owner, and this offseason exemplified that. Sunday night’s loss to Tampa was just another low point. Fans can blame Zeke or Dak, but they are far from the biggest issue with the Dallas Cowboys. The problem is the Jones family, and until they relinquish the football decision-making power, they will continue to limit the team’s potential.