For the eighth straight year, the Dallas Cowboys have landed in the top spot on the Forbes list of NFL team valuations.
In 2007, Dallas became the most valuable team (and they've stayed there ever since), but 1995 was the last time they fielded a most valuable player. That was Larry Brown, named Super Bowl MVP title after leading the Cowboys to a win in SB XXX against Pittsburgh. No, it wasn't a regular-season MVP award, but since Emmitt Smith's 1993 campaign led to the only regular-season MVP in franchise history, Cowboys fans can't afford to be too picky.
Today, Dallas can't seem to even make it to the playoffs. 2009 was the last playoff appearance for the Cowboys - they won the wild card matchup, and then preceded to lose their very next game. While the lack of MVP-level talent clearly hasn't kept Dallas from raking in the cash, it has other consequences.
On the current roster, Dez Bryant could be a Super Bowl MVP if the Cowboys made it that far...but a regular season MVP award (for him or anyone else on the roster) would be a major shock. Future Hall-of-Famer Jason Witten can still have huge games once in a while, but he's definitely past his prime.
The last few drafts for Dallas haven't led to much growth on the field. MVP-caliber players aren't easy to find, but the Cowboys haven't drafted anyone lately who could even enter the conversation.
Having an MVP-caliber player doesn't guarantee financial or on-field success, though. Teams ranked at the bottom of the Forbes list can still have an MVP on their roster.
For example, The Detroit Lions. Calvin Johnson is one of the greatest wide receivers of all time, but the team's valuation puts them at number 30 on the Forbes list.
It takes a team to get to the Super Bowl - not just an MVP worthy player. While these players make a big difference on the field, it seems they aren't as important to financial success.
So how does a team maintain their 'most valuable team' status without any most valuable players?
This year, the Cowboys have a team value of $3.2 billion. The stadium and the massive fanbase Dallas claims have put their value above the rest. This year, the Cowboys added watchmaker Hublot and Carnival Cruise to their list of sponsors, which will bring in $8.6 million in revenue over the next five years.
The New England Patriots came in at second with a value of $2.6 billion, leaving a significant gap between themselves and the Cowboys.
With limited success since becoming the most valuable team here is a glance at the numbers that make Dallas #1 in Forbes:
- Championships: 5
- Price Paid: $150 M
- Year Purchased: 1989
- Revenue2 : $560 M
- Operating Income3 : $245.7 M
- Debt/Value4 : 6%
- Player Expenses5 : $164 M
- Gate Receipts6 : $90 M
- Wins-to-player cost ratio7 : 83
- Revenue per Fan8 : $57
- Metro Area Population: 6.8 M
"America's Team" seems to be holding up just fine on the balance sheet without any MVPs, but their on-field success has suffered.
The real question for Jerry Jones: how long will fans keep paying top dollar for a team without MVP talent that can't get it together on the field?
Click here for the complete glance at Forbes numbers on the Dallas Cowboys.
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