OPINION:
Welcome to the “Aura of Self Destruction” Bowl.
The Dallas Cowboys come to FedEx Field Sunday, and it is a contest defined by dysfunction more than distinction, two organizations that have come to represent self destruction.
No one has been a bigger opponent — yes, opponent — of the Dallas Cowboys than Jerry Jones, and no one has been a bigger opponent of the Washington Redskins than Daniel Snyder.
This isn’t about the rivalry. It is about what both NFL franchises have come to represent in the 21st century — embarrassment.
Yet they are among the richest and most financially successfully sports franchises in the world.
Forbes just came out with its annual evaluation list, and for the 10th straight season, the Cowboys are the most valuable franchise in the league, estimated at $4.2 billion. The Redskins are fifth at $2.95 billion.
AUDIO: Redskins defensive lineman Dave Butz with Thom Loverro
If that doesn’t tell you the state of our culture, I don’t know what would.
Oh, yes, they both have had their moments when it appears they might have left the days of self destruction behind. The Redskins appeared to be having one of those moments last year. They hired a real general manager in Scot McCloughan. They went 9-7, won the NFC East and said goodbye to the hash-tag prince who once ruled the organization, Robert Griffin III.
They may still be digging their way out of the self destruction pit. But they signed Josh Norman, a cornerback that his previous team, the Carolina Panthers, weren’t willing to invest in long term for whatever reason, to a five-year deal worth $75 million. He has since declared himself the best cornerback on earth, got a Fox TV gig, and then didn’t cover the best receiver the Redskins faced Monday night, Antonio Brown, in their 38-16 loss to Pittsburgh.
All that raises the self destruction questions yet again — and brings at least to a simmer the question of whose decision was it to sign Norman in the first place. Who is calling the shots? That question will remain with nearly every Redskins personnel decision — including not making a reasonable offer to sign Kirk Cousins to a long-term contract this winter — until they establish a new track record of normal.
The shame is that a game like Sunday’s used to represent the opposite of self destruction. The Redskins and the Cowboys used to be the excellence bowl — the best the NFL had to offer. The valuation of both of these teams was their record and their rosters.
This game used to feature Hall of Fame coaches like George Allen and Joe Gibbs facing off against another Hall of Fame coach, Tom Landry.
The 1972 NFC title game between Washington and Dallas had eight Hall of Famers on both rosters — players like Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, Chris Hanburger and Charley Taylor.
The 1982 NFC title game between Dallas and Washington had five Hall of Famers on both rosters — players like Russ Grimm and Tony Dorsett.
Self destruction? The Cowboys and the Redskins were both franchise models that other teams aspired to be, from the top down.
The good news for Redskins fans is that there is hope. Right now they are holding their breath that McCloughan may be difference-maker - — the wall that keeps the self destruction that has marked the past two decades out.
Cowboys fans have no such hope. Jerry Jones makes no bones about it — he is the general manager, he makes the personnel decisions, and he isn’t going anywhere. The hope for Dallas fans is that the son, Stephen, who is reportedly involved in the decision making now as well, isn’t as big a fool as the father.
It’s just the second game of this NFL season, but, coming off the lost Monday night to Pittsburgh — not just the loss, but how bad the team looked in so many ways -— it is an important game for this Redskins franchise for many reasons.
Gruden knows it. “We really want to take care of our home games,” he told reporters earlier this week. “That was a big benefit last year. We were 6-2 at home. It’s important because winning on the road isn’t easy. Obviously, winning at home isn’t easy either, but it’s an important game for a lot of reasons. It’s a division game, it’s the Cowboys and it’s a home game — that’s a trifecta right there for you. So, it’s very, very important.”
You also don’t want to be the loser in the “Aura of Self Destruction” Bowl. So it’s a superfecta play for Washington.
• Thom Loverro can be reached at tloverro@washingtontimes.com.
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