Once archaeologists put tweezers to the ruins of Jerry Jones' empire, they'll no doubt be astonished to learn that over the first three decades of his tumultuous reign, he only once fired a head coach mid-season. And only then because he already had a pre-ordained successor on the premises.
What this means is that, for better or worse, Jason Garrett isn't going anywhere.
Not just yet, anyway. Sorry for ruining your day.
Take all the encouragement you want from Jerry's comments after Sunday's 19-16 loss to the Texans, when he said the Cowboys were being outplayed and the head coach needed to take a risk instead of punting in overtime. Jerry was right on both counts, not that it makes you feel any better, probably.
Jerry's comments sent a message to his fans and his head coach, something he does fairly often. But action won't surpass sentiments for several reasons, and justifiably so.
First and foremost is the pitiful condition of the NFC East. Have you checked the standings lately? Washington is in first place by default. The defending Super Bowl champs have the same record as the Cowboys.
And the Giants have already imploded.
The Cowboys still have two games each with Washington and Philadelphia and finish up against New York. The division is wide open. Jerry will tell himself that the Eagles won it last year with a back-up quarterback.
Firing Garrett isn't going to make Dak Prescott any more accurate, either. It's not going to make his receivers better. Won't bring back Travis Frederick.
For that matter, the biggest difference between the Cowboys and Texans wasn't coaching decisions. Bill O'Brien made several doozies. Had he not passed up a field goal on fourth-and-inches earlier in the game, Garrett wouldn't have been exposed for yet another poor in-game decision.
The biggest difference between the two teams from Texas was that Houston had a great receiver, and Dak can't find so much as an average one.
Watching DeAndre Hopkins catch a football will not remind you of anyone employed by the Cowboys. Not only are his hands always in the right position, he actually uses them to catch the ball instead of cradling it in his elbows or chest. He's also large, meaning defensive backs can't muscle or turn him as Houston's defensive backs did while manhandling the Cowboys' crew.
Now, I know what you're thinking: Dez Bryant was just that kind of receiver, except maybe for the hands part the last couple of years. The Cowboys miss Dez, all right. They miss the Dez from 2014. They miss the guy who caught 16 touchdown passes that year. Not the one who looked lost last season.
Also, remember Dez's comments about his coaches and teammates on the way out the door? Odell Beckham Jr. didn't say half as much about the Giants, and he's taking heat now for their collapse.
Dez isn't the answer and, frankly, I don't know who is. The Brice Butler of 2017 would look good at this point, and he can't get on the field.
Here's how bad it is: If the Jaguars' Jalen Ramsey could pick out a Cowboys receiver to jaw with this week, like he did with the Chiefs' Tyreek Hill, who would it be?
Anyone?
Don't even get me started at tight end, either.
Which brings us to the prospect of making a change at head coach. Some of you have been advocates for years. The record indicates you're on to something. The Cowboys aren't getting better anywhere but on defense, which is not Garrett's specialty.
But if you think Jerry should fire Garrett now, check his history. He replaced Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start in 2010. The Cowboys' season was over. He also had a ready replacement in Garrett, the guy he wanted all along.
If Garrett goes now, who replaces him? The Cowboys have two former head coaches on staff in Scott Linehan and Rod Marinelli. Linehan was 11-25 in a little more than two seasons as a head coach, and that's the good news. Marinelli was 10-38.
Besides, do you really want the guy in charge of this offense making calls for the rest of the team?
Marinelli and Kris Richard must concentrate on a defense that's carried this team but has slipped a bit since Sean Lee went down. True, it was terrific Sunday in the red zone, where Jaylon Smith made the play of the year running down Deshaun Watson. But the Cowboys also gave up 6.1 yards per play against the Texans, almost a yard worse than their season average.
If this team is going anywhere this season, it'll be on the back of its defense. Even that seems a little far-fetched. Chances are this is another 8-8 bunch, which, if it turns out as such, should be Garrett's last.
If it helps any, Jerry probably thinks so, too. Give him a little time. Any way you go, the story probably ends the same.
