Is Jerry Jones the NFL’s biggest armchair quarterback? Former NFL player and current analyst Mark Schlereth thinks so. In a recent episode of “The Stinkin Truth” podcast, Schlereth didn’t pull any punches when discussing the Dallas Cowboys‘ ongoing struggles, serving up a hot take that’s spicier than Texas chili.

“Jerry Jones, maybe you should walk by the mirror and look into it,” Schlereth said in the podcast, suggesting the Cowboys’ owner is the root of the team’s problems. It’s a bold claim, but Schlereth wasn’t done dropping truth bombs. He’s calling an audible on the common narrative that places blame solely on players and coaches.

The three-time Super Bowl champ pointed out how Jones’ meddling has created a toxic environment in Dallas. “Maybe it’s your fault that you’ve underachieved,” Schlereth said. “Maybe it’s the things that you’ve done that have put a wedge between players and coaches,” he added. It’s like Jones is running a trick play, but the only one getting fooled is himself.

Everybody knows Jones’ hands-on approach in the NFL. Even as an owner, Jones appears more frequently than head coaches with his weekly radio shows and visits to the locker room But according to Schlereth, this constant presence does more bad than good. One might imagine that Jones wants to be both the coach and the water boy and others just don’t know whether they are supposed to do their job or not.

The former offensive lineman didn’t stop there. He criticized Jones for not empowering the people he hires, a move that’s left the Cowboys spinning their wheels despite a talented roster. It’s like having a Pro Bowl team but insisting on calling all the plays from the owner’s box – a recipe for disaster that even the best Tex-Mex joint wouldn’t dare serve.

Is Dak Prescott a diamond in the rough or fool’s gold?

While Schlereth took Jerry Jones to task, he had a different tune when it came to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. “I think Dak Prescott’s a damn good quarterback,” Schlereth said, throwing a Hail Mary of support for the often-criticized signal-caller.

Prescott’s 2-5 postseason record has as much beauty as a botched snap, but Schlereth is still hopeful. Prescott’s notable regular season figures, for example, a runner-up in MVP votes last year were pointed out by Schlereth. It feels like Prescott is the NFL’s “The Little Engine That Could” always move along but never quite making it past that playoff mountain.

The podcast host also highlighted the precarious position Prescott finds himself in. With the entire coaching staff on one-year deals and his own contract situation up in the air, it’s like trying to run a two-minute drill with no timeouts left. As Schlereth noted, “Every quarterback that they have on their roster is on a one-year deal: Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, and Trey Lance.”

However, Mike Evans, Schlereth’s co-host, played devil’s advocate. He defended Jerry Jones, saying, “After several years of falling short and underachieving, can you blame him for sending a message out to his team that’s basically ‘hey, prove it’?” It’s a fair point – Jones might be playing hardball, but in the NFL, you’re only as good as your last game.

Schlereth summed up the Cowboys’ situation perfectly: “They’re in this Crossroads, they’re in this situation where they’re not sure about their quarterback, they’re not sure about their coach.” It’s a football soap opera that would make even the most dramatic reality TV show blush, complete with contract disputes, player departures, and a head coach reportedly “fed up” with the owner’s interference.

As the Cowboys gear up for what could be a make-or-break season, one thing’s for sure – all eyes will be on Jerry Jones’ next move. Will he take Schlereth’s advice and look in the mirror, or will he continue to run the Cowboys like it’s his personal Madden franchise? Only time will tell, but for now, it looks like America’s Team is stuck in a Texas-sized predicament.