Growing up a passionate football fan in Arlington, Texas, the Dallas Cowboys were an integral part of my childhood. But my high hopes and nostalgic Sundays were not matched with wins. In fact, the Cowboys have been mediocre at best for the majority of those Sundays.
Years of quarterbacks like Chad Hutchinson, Drew Henson, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Bledsoe and worse. Years with no identity or foundation. Years of front office ineptitude and fan mistrust. Emotional decision-making, questionable judgment, and big contracts for average performers.
But in 2011, all that changed.
The vilified owner and general manager Jerry Jones stepped aside and allowed his significantly more pragmatic son, team vice president Stephen Jones and ace in the hole Will McClay, the Cowboys vice president of pro personnel, to have a lot more control over the roster and the image of the franchise going forward.