Are the Dallas Cowboys once again changing their culture?

The Dallas Cowboys are rarely without any off-the-field drama. This offseason, the focus has been mostly football related. Are things changing in Dallas?

As “America’s Team”, the Dallas Cowboys are constantly in the media and headlines. Anthem protests, drug suspensions, and off-the-field issues have marred the team not only last year, but for the past 25 years.

As rookie minicamp is winding down and as the work for next season starts to get underway, the Cowboys have no distractions. No players suspended, no failed drug tests, and no felonious off-the-field misconduct.

Other than defensive lineman David Irving’s recanted domestic violence situation, the team has managed to stay out of the headlines for non-football related topics. In fact, it’s hoping to have defensive end Randy Gregory rejoin the team after he has reportedly changed his life.

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If we go back to just last year, running back Ezekiel Elliott’s domestic violence suspension, linebacker Damien Wilson’s road rage incident, Irving’s PED suspension, and the league-wide anthem protest all hung over the teams head. These off the field issues weighed on the team during the season and it played a significant role in the 9-7 “everything went wrong” 2017 season.

Head coach Jason Garrett, much to the dismay of Cowboys faithful, has never been consistent from year to year. 2017 was the first time in his tenure the team had back to back winning seasons. And according to the pattern, 2018 looks like the bounce back year. Under Garrett, the team is always better when expectations are tempered and the hype is not high. This has been true ever since Garrett’s first game as head coach.

Though the offseason is young and the odds have never been in the teams favor to stay out of the non-football related spotlight, it seems as though this is another change the front office has begun to make.

I’ve touched on the personnel and power changes the front office has begun to make the past few years with director of player personnel Stephen Jones and assistant director of player personnel Will McClay. These shifts have completely transformed the front office from a dysfunctional and money driven mess to a smart and pragmatic group with a vision and drafting acumen.

Is this absence from the TMZ headlines a sign of another change?

Has owner Jerry Jones been so encased by Stephen Jones and Will McClay that he can no longer draft or sign high-risk players? It seems as though a purge has ensued ever since the Gregory drafting towards players with serious off the field issues. It feels like the team has been replenishing the roster with young, talented, and hard-working players with no character concerns.

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If, and this is a big if, the Dallas Cowboys are consciously filling their roster with ‘the right kind of guy’ they’ve always talked about; the team will have turned a page. Top notch talent acquisition plus a good locker room culture are two of the biggest indicators of future success. Let’s just hope the team’s new habits and vision are what the Cowboys needed to return to postseason glory.

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