In a recent trade deal, Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones traded star player Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks. In a recent article by ESPN, it was reported that Jones has faced significant criticism from Cowboys fans who believe he is more focused on generating media attention than on making strategic decisions for the team’s long-term success.
Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, and the team quickly grew under the leadership of former head coach Jimmy Johnson. Within the span of four years, 1992-1995, the team won three Super Bowls. However, after the 1995 season, the Cowboys’ winning streak ceased due to a combination of player scandals, an aging roster and unsuccessful coaching.
Despite having some success throughout their career, moments of failure such as quarterback Dak Prescott’s run out of bounds to end the 2023 playoff run, became the defining stories for the Cowboys. Even with poor on-field results, the Cowboys still managed to be in the spotlight, receiving media coverage about locker room chaos, player controversies and the new AT&T Stadium.
The construction of AT&T Stadium in the early 2000s, also known as “Jerry World,” brought media attention to Jones and reinforced the idea that he prioritized receiving attention over improving the team. Despite this attention and the team’s talent, the Cowboys still underperformed. They still have not reached the NFC Championship game since their win in the 1995 Super Bowl, making it the longest conference-title-game drought in franchise history.
The Cowboys’ recent trade of Parsons created controversy and brought attention back to the team again. Reports suggest the Philadelphia Eagles had shown a strong interest in signing Parsons this summer. However, the Cowboys originally declined to trade Parsons to any team within their division, especially not to their long-standing rivals. Instead, Jones eventually traded Parsons to the Packers, who signed him with a four-year $188 million contract, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback player in NFL history.
Jones defended this trade by arguing that the Cowboys needed more defensive support, which they could acquire in exchange for Parsons.
“We have two kinds of capital or currency in the NFL, one of them is draft picks and the other is the financial, because every team is limited to the same amount of resources to spend,” Jones said in an ESPN interview. “Having said that, Micah enabled us to have four, possibly as many as six players, for the future. That’s a good trade when you need numbers — I’ll take the numbers every time.”
Still, as with all major transactions in sports, many Cowboys fans remain upset with Jones over his decision. They continue to believe he craves attention over the well-being and success of the team. This perception was then justified at the premiere for the Cowboys’ Netflix documentary, where Jones emphasized the Cowboys’ role as a soap opera.
“When it gets slow, I’ll stir it up,” he said. “Oh, it’s wonderful to have the great athletes, have the great players, but there’s something more there: there’s sizzle, there’s emotion, and, if you will, there’s controversy. That controversy is good stuff in terms of keeping and having people’s attention.”
