Schottenheimer Jones Dallas CowboysRon Jenkins/Getty Images

Three things stood out from the Cowboys’ press conference introducing Brian Schottenheimer as Dallas head coach on Monday.

  • Jerry Jones hiring out of his comfort zone: “I get my proverbial ass kicked over needing people in my comfort zone,” Jones said Monday, with Schottenheimer sitting next to him. “Without this thing being about me in any way, if you don’t think I can operate out of my comfort zone, you’re so wrong, it’s unbelievable. This is as big a risk as you could take. As big a risk as you could take. No head-coaching experience.”
  • Jones playing on Schottenheimer’s name, saying he’s taking a bold risk (with Schottenheimer sitting next to him): “To some, and it might be couched as a less-than-glamorous hire, what I would say to you is, I got here taking shots. And not ‘Schotty shots.’ I got here taking shots.”
  • Stephen Jones using air quotes, as though in denial, to answer a question about the NFC’s longest conference championship game drought, 29 years: “We always have to evaluate, where it didn’t go right last year. And obviously, we’re also evaluating where it didn’t go right, in terms of this drought (air quotes) that people say we’re in, in terms of a championship game or a Super Bowl.”

Dallas is the planet’s only professional sports franchise in which the ownership gets more attention at an introductory press conference than the individual, Schottenheimer, the ownership is introducing. But the simplest question facing the Cowboys, which becomes the most complicated because they’re the Cowboys, is whether they will spend in free agency.

Per ESPN and the Roster Management System, the Cowboys are projected to be $3.6M over the salary cap entering the new league year. Quarterback Dak Prescott, given by Jones the most lucrative contract in NFL history, is expected to consume $89.9 million of that cap, the NFL’s largest hit by one player. And, linebacker Micah Parsons is entering his fifth-year option year without an extension.

Ironically, the Cowboys drafted Parsons 12th overall in 2021. And barring a trade, when Roger Goodell announces their first selection at Lambeau Field in three months, they’ll also draft a player 12th overall. But regardless of unrestricted free agency is the key to any success Schottenheimer will enjoy.

Also ironically, they’ll make that selection in Green Bay, where for much of the 21st Century the Packers were the league’s best example of a team committed to building through the draft. From Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson to David Bakhtiari and Davante Adams, the Packers drafted well and eschewed the temptation to spend big money on free agents. Mike McCarthy was head coach in both Green Bay (2006-18) and Dallas (2020-24).

The game has changed, however. The Packers embraced that change years ago. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have signed Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney, two of the most impactful free-agent additions in the league a year ago. Will Dallas follow suit? The team has plenty of holes, many more than the six selections they currently own in the upcoming draft.

Schottenheimer isn’t the most important factor in whether the Cowboys succeed. Whether they commit to spending smart money in free agency – much like their division rivals in the nation’s capital did a year ago – and combine those moves with wise selections in the draft is what will break the drought.

Could it still work out for the Cowboys? Of course. Just look at the team that – until this year – had the longest NFC Championship Game drought (no air quotes): Washington. And check out what people said about the Commanders hire 12 months ago.

“We got the coach from the 28-3 Super Bowl … No, not that one,” said a Reddit poster named danhoang1, immediately reacting to the Commanders hiring Dan Quinn last year.

Among the eight head coaches hired before last season, Quinn arguably endured the most backlash. He answered by posting the best record in that class, finishing one win shy of the Super Bowl.

For more information on the Cowboys or the NFL hiring cycle, visit the Dallas team page and the Coach/GM Carousel page at ProFootballPost.com.


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By Zak Gilbert

Since his freshman year at the University of Colorado, Zak Gilbert has worked 30 years in sports, including 18 NFL seasons. He's spent time with four NFL teams, serving as head of communications for both the Raiders and Browns. A veteran of nine Super Bowls, he most recently worked six seasons in the NFL's New York league office.

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