In change election, Dallas Cowboys could use a change in poor decisions

In keeping with the theme of the presidential election where both candidates promised change:

What would you change about the decisions the Dallas Cowboys made coming into season?

It was certainly hard to argue the personnel moves owner/general manager Jerry Jones made in the off-season to improve this team, namely paying offensive coordinator Jason Garrett $3 million annually to shun a head coaching job in Baltimore and re-signing Terence Newman, Marion Barber, Flozell Adams, Terrell Owens and Ken Hamlin to contract extensions.

But with the Cowboys at 5-4 and now a long shot to make the playoffs after entering the season as Super Bowl favorites, even Stevie Wonder can see that some mistakes were indeed made.

The horrible and now inexcusable decision to stick with the Brad Johnson as the backup quarterback tops the list.

There were concerns about Johnson throughout the off-season. And there were plenty of other options available. Former Texas quarterback Chris Simms was talked about, but the Cowboys never pulled the trigger on a deal to get him from Tampa Bay. There was talk about the price being too high. But seriously, if someone told Jerry Jones it was a must-have, he would have moved heaven and earth to get it done.

Of course that decision looks even more criminal after Monday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Redskins, when Byron Leftwich came off the bench in the second half for an injured Ben Roethlisberger and led the Steelers to victory. Yes, that Leftwich, the former starter in Jacksonville, who still has a rocket arm and who has the experience to lead a playoff-bound team to victory.

Yes, the same Leftwich who was available and on the street this summer when the Cowboys chose to stick with Johnson.

Yes, the same Leftwich who might have made a difference for the Cowboys in the past three games with quarterback Tony Romo sidelined with a broken pinkie.

Jones can only rely on the information he is given from coaches and scouts. They failed him.

Of course, Jones is not without fault in the matter considering the time he spent pursuing a trade for Adam “Pacman” Jones. Maybe if he wouldn’t have been paying so much attention to Pacman before and after the trade with the baby sitting, he would have had more time to focus on the quarterback decision.

Pacman Jones’ presence has not helped the Cowboys, and it might hurt in terms of setting back the development of rookie top pick Mike Jenkins.

According to sources, Pacman was as tough to handle in the locker room as he was in the clubs and bars he frequented on a nightly basis. Letting him pull down secondary coach Dave Campo’s pants in training camp sent the wrong message from the outset that he could do what he wanted.

Say what you will about the departed Jacques Reeves, but he has two interceptions and an interception return for a touchdown this season with the Houston Texans and no incidents with the police that will keep him off the field.

Pacman Jones had no picks and no touchdowns before being suspended indefinitely three weeks ago for another violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Now the Cowboys have to wrestle with the decision on whether to bring him back into the locker room if (and that’s a big if) he gets reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell after the Washington Redskins game Nov. 16. If the Cowboys are losing, what’s the point? If the Cowboys are beginning a winning streak, why bring a potential distraction back into the mix? He certainly won’t be sharp and football ready to help them immediately.

Here’s another change for you. How about pulling the trigger on the Roy Williams trade sooner? I know the Cowboys say they tried to get him from Detroit before the season. But maybe they didn’t sweeten the pot enough. Heck, Jerry Jones almost didn’t get it done before the trade deadline three weeks ago because of haggles over draft picks.

The Cowboys long knew they needed help at wide receiver. If you are going to get Williams, get him before the season so he can get acclimated to the offense to ensure sudden impact. They made the move after the season started when their fears of needing help opposite Owens were realized. Sure, Detroit was the more willing trade partner at that time. But this was about the Cowboys doing whatever it took to ensure a Super Bowl run.