Cowboys' Jones Addresses 'All In' Confusion in Roster-Building
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys need to get their catchphrases straight.
This offseason, Jerry and Stephen Jones obviously shifted into a different gear from where this franchise was a year ago.
No, the Cowboys' 82-year-old owner didn't go "wildcattin''' as was the case decades ago.
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But entering the 2024 season, Dallas let 11 starters/rotational players leave via free agency ... and barely lifted a finger to replace them.
And they did so, by the way, on the heels of Jerry announcing theatrically that the franchise was "all in'' on chasing a title.
It was - much to the chagrin of Cowboys Nation - empty gibberish.
The Dallas front office wasn't "all in'' in any traditional sense.
"Mail it in'' is more like it.
Fast-forward to this offseason.
Dallas has acquired a dozen veterans, most with starter credentials. The Cowboys made 4 trades, capped by a successful plan to land a No. 2 receiver to complement star CeeDee Lamb resulting in George Pickens rolling into town.
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Sidebar: There is obvious risk in the Cowboys' trade. The talented receiver had more than his share of emotional outbursts on the field and, reportedly, in the locker room. He's got one year left on his contract so he might not be a long-term answer.
The Cowboys admit this is a gamble of sorts. ... and most Dallas fans love it because it fulfills a year-old promise to be "all in.''
Except for one problem. Stephen is slapping back at the use of the phrase.
'I don't buy into all that. Name one person that isn't all in,' Jones said via SI 'I'd hate the fans to hear their owner say that people aren't all in, when you're competing in the NFL.
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"I mean, it's kind of a joke. Every year we line up, we're moving our chips in.'
Yeah, but ... umm ... errrr ... Stephen, last year, you did not "move your chips in.'' And the "all in'' phrase came from your own boss, your own dad.
Maybe it's a harmless, innocuous thing. But it would be comforting for the Cowboys to have a real philosophy match up with their unreal phraseology. ... that's all.
Related: Cowboys Micah Parsons Speaks Out Strongly on 'Handshake' Deal Report
Related: Cowboys In Pickle With Familiar Opener Against Eagles
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