Remember when the Ravens RB Derrick Henry bulldozed the Cowboys’ defense, leaving Jerry Jones with nothing but an excuse that they couldn’t get him because of salary cap restraints? Hmm… Classic JJ. Now, add another name to the list of “almost” Cowboy: Jahmyr Gibbs.

Yep, the Detroit Lions’ speedster recently revealed that Dallas had him firmly on their draft radar. For Cowboys fans, it’s another heartbreaker—a “what could’ve been” moment gone poof. On The Richard Sherman Podcast, Gibbs admitted he didn’t expect to go as high as the No. 12 pick. In his mind, he was headed to either the Bengals or the Cowboys. “I knew for a fact Dallas was going to get me at [pick] 26 if I was still there,” Gibbs said.

Imagine the possibilities—Gibbs in Dallas’ backfield instead. And that’s all you can do now. Imagine. Just like the Cowboys Nation, only imagine Henry in their backfield as he mowed them down. Gibbs did the same, and that too on Jones’ birthday as the Lions beat the Cowboys 47-9.

It’s not their fault that the Lions are roaring with an 8-1 start. What is their fault is not getting hands-on Gibbs as much of Detroit’s winning record is down to their dynamic backfield with him and David Montgomery—they have been electric. Meanwhile, Dallas? Let’s just say their ground game has been *ahem* less thrilling. But Gibbs’ contract makes it look even worse for Jones and Co. Why? He signed a $17 million contract with the Lions in 2023. That’s chump change for the most expensive franchise in the world, isn’t it?

But it wasn’t to be and now, Mike McCarthy has been juggling running backs like a coach trying to run out the clock with no timeouts. Ezekiel Elliott returned briefly, Rico Dowdle gets sporadic snaps, and Dalvin Cook? Let’s not even talk about those numbers.

And if numbers are the name of the game then, Gibbs is dominating. He’s already racked up 1,672 rushing yards since 2023, averaging a stellar 5.5 yards per carry—second only to Derrick Henry. Meanwhile, Dallas’ rushing attack ranks second-worst in the league at a measly 83.7 yards per game.

And fed up, by those numbers (it’s high time he did), now, McCarthy has finally named Rico as the lead back—a move Cowboys fans have been clamoring for all season. “Rico needs to touch the ball,” McCarthy said, perhaps signaling a shift. But with the playoffs looming, can Dallas fix their run game in time to make a real push?

This is another typical Cowboys moment and typical Jerry Jones fail that proves football does not really work on ifs, buts, and maybes. If it did, imagine Dallas getting all the players it did not land. Yeah, surely, they would not have been sitting with a 3 and 6 start.

Jerry Jones’ gambling is costing the Cowboys big time!

It’s not just about Derrick Henry or Jahmyr Gibbs. Sure, they’re part of the story, but the bigger picture? The Cowboys are paying the price for Jerry Jones’ wild gambles. It’s like Jones is calling plays on fourth-and-long, hoping for a miracle every time. Except, this isn’t Madden—you don’t have chances to undo.

Take Jonathan Mingo, for example. Jones traded for him, claiming it was a “low-cost, long-term investment.” Sounds great on paper, right? But Mingo has barely made a dent this season. NOT EVEN! Over 100 receiving yards and zero touchdowns don’t scream value for money at all… Meanwhile, Tyler Boyd—a cheaper and proven option—was left on the table. So, why Mingo? Even Jones doesn’t have an answer to that question, folks. But yes, for sure, he’d tell you the same thing: “low-cost, long-term investment.” So, yeah, if you want to hear that.

According to Pro Football Tal*, Jones saw Mingo as a “project” for the next two seasons. But here’s the thing—you don’t go “all-in” by planning for the future. That’s like punting on a third down. If you’re serious about winning now, you get someone who can deliver today, not two years from now.

And let’s not forget the other missed opportunities. Jamal Adams (now, we can say, it was good they did not end up with him), Von Miller, and Earl Thomas—Jones had chances to snag these guys. But either fumbled the deal or didn’t even try. Sure, he’s focused on saving up for Micah Parsons. Even the timer on that one is ticking… However, neglecting talent for the sake of the salary cap? That’s how you end up with a team stuck in neutral.

Maybe Mingo will surprise us and turn into a reliable No. 2 behind CeeDee Lamb. We are not really shutting the metal door on that. But for now, this move feels like another addition to Jerry’s long list of “what were you thinking” deals. At some point, Cowboys fans deserve more than excuses and missed chances. What do you think?