By Mac Engel
tengel@star-telegram.com
The 2013 season began shortly after 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh turned off his brain and elected not to run the best running quarterback in the game against a team that could not stop the run.
No one wins an off-season like Dallas Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones.
This is the time of year he shines, when he peddles optimism like a street dealer.
Give it some time and once again we will be buying in, maybe with our guard up, but hoping nonetheless that this time the man will fall into the type of season these here parts have not seen in decades.
You all know by now that 20 years have passed since Jerry GM'd his team to its first Super Bowl title of the '90s. It will be only a couple of more years when it will be 20 years since he GM'd his team to its last Super Bowl.
Since Jerry's last Super Bowl, the NFC has had 12 teams reach the Big Game at the End.
That leaves only the Vikings, Lions, Redskins and Cowboys as the only teams not to reach the Super Bowl since 1996 (cough-cough ... only one of those teams has not made the playoffs in the past two seasons).
Now, however, is not the time to let the facts get in the way of a good sales pitch.
Will this team's salary-cap situation possibly prevent it from pursuing top-line free agents?
On paper, yes. But Stephen Jones has historically done a nice job of creating space to sign guys. Whether they are the right guys is a different issue.
If the Cowboys genuinely want to sell that they have a chance here in 2013, here is what they have to nail this off-season:
1. Focus on the lines.Both lines have been a constant source of irritation and disappointment since that 1996 Super Bowl team faded and fell apart.
There has been some decent talent on those lines -- Flozell Adams, Andre Gurode, Jay Ratliff -- but the units overall have been average at best.
Fixing these areas will go a long way toward improving the health of this franchise.
2. Draft a quarterback.The last time the Cowboys selected a quarterback was 2009, when they drafted Texas A&M's Stephen McGee in the fourth round.
The Cowboys liked McGee because he looked the part, only they quickly learned -- but remained in denial for years -- that he could not play.
Even if the Cowboys hand Tony Romo a salary-cap saving contract extension, they have to select someone to try to groom as a replacement or at least provide competition.
Jerry wants people to feel uncomfortable at Valley Ranch, and it might be time Romo felt a little push from the guy behind him.
The rub is that this draft is not heavy on quarterbacks, and selecting a passer with the 18th pick would be a reach so big not even Jerry would do it.
Stay away from Oklahoma's Landry Jones.
Be enticed by USC's Matt Barkley.
3. Do not fall in love with the pistol quarterback.The last time the NFL fell in love with the running quarterback, Jerry was conned into believing a guy who was about to be benched at Georgia was this franchise's future.
If a guy can play, draft him.
If he is Quincy Carter, pass.
4. Find a safety.Gerald Sensabaugh has been with the Cowboys since 2009, and few defenders have started as many games over these past four years and contributed such an amazing number of nothing plays.
Since the early days of Roy Williams this franchise has not had a player at this position.
All of the good teams have a good safety.
5. Spray that deer antler junk all over Dez Bryant, Sean Lee, DeMarco Murray and Bruce Carter.So maybe this stuff from China is not exactly "legal" by NFL rules, but the Cowboys have to do something to keep four of their best players on the field for at least 14 games.
If these guys play, the Cowboys have a chance.
6. Cut Josh Brent and Jay Ratliff.This should not even be a discussion.
7. Slash ticket prices, and offer free beer.At least when our hope is killed by another 8-8 season we will have the lure of free alcohol to mask our pain.
Mac Engel, 817-390-7697Twitter: @MacEngelProf
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