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Ed “Too Tall” Jones won a Super Bowl during his 15 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He has a theory for why his former team has struggled to make it back.
The former All-Pro defensive lineman and member of the 1977 championship squad spoke to CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo about the team’s postseason shortcomings. He cited the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens as other franchises that haven’t gotten over the hump due to a lack of championship experience.
“The regular season is the regular season. It is what it is. To be a champion, you’ve got to be able to get to another level,” Jones said. “What separates good players and good teams is teams who have players who can go to another level in big games. Every general manager in the league should be out trying to pick up a guy that gets cut or something that’s been to a Super Bowl and put him in that locker room. It makes a big difference.”
Jones, who appeared in 20 playoff games for the Cowboys, called the postseason a “different animal.” The three-time Pro Bowler didn’t want to put all the blame on head coach Mike McCarthy.
“Coaches can’t do it all to put you over the top. You must have internal leadership,” Jones said. “I’m not just talking about captains. I’m talking about a guy in that locker room that’s been there, done that, knows what he’s talking about, and players will follow.
Who will they follow? Dallas don’t have it.”
The extra spotlight behind “America’s Team” also comes at a cost. Jones believes the moniker gave the rest of the league extra motivation and “bulletin board material” ahead of facing the Cowboys.
“We were a target every time we stepped on the field. … We got a team’s best,” he said. “Picture having to deal with that every Sunday. That’s not easy.”
The Cowboys have won 12 games in each of the last three regular seasons, but that stretch includes two first-round eliminations and an NFC Divisional Round loss. They haven’t made the NFC Championship Game since winning their last Super Bowl 28 years ago.
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