I must have been about five years old when I got hooked. I had my Emmitt jersey that I rotated with my throwback Novacek jersey. I don't know if it was just the magic of childhood, but those guys were my heroes. My middle school girlfriend (that I spoke probably 20 words to) got me a signed Deion Sanders picture for my birthday, and I would keep it close for good luck. Funnily enough, it was my mom who would scream and jump up and down when we did well. She was a die-hard fan. She grew up in Missouri and had gotten her fandom from her father, and she passed the passion down to me. I collected cards, comics, jerseys, hats, anything Cowboys was a slam dunk gift idea back then. I identified as a Cowboys fan.

My mom taught me the Cowboys lore way back then in the late 90's. She knew the problem. She expressed it to me in a way that went something like this: "Jerry has to be in charge, so he couldn't work with Jimmy (Johnson). He needs to have his fingers all over every part of the franchise because he's a proud man with an over-sized ego." She knew it then. I remember back when folks were throwing around the possibility of hiring Bill Cowher, and my mom told me Jerry would never hire a coach with his own strong coaching style. He wants yes-men. Folks who will abide by Jerry's laws.

So that idea sat in the back of my mind for decades -- the idea that the Cowboys have to overcome Jerry in order to be successful. We call it a "culture problem." We hear about the campus tours during practice. We all have seen that whether or not this team has talent, they will always show up to a big game mentally unprepared. I don't know Jerry's stance on cognitive therapy, but I imagine that aspect is much less important to him than getting guests on campus.

The thing I think that most of us fans have been missing is the fact that Jerry has seen these last twenty years as a massive success. If we win ten games and sneak into, then quickly out of the playoffs, we: stayed relevant all season, sold as many tickets as possible, and didn't have to splurge on anyone (well...), so we can retain that mediocrity through the next decade while the brand grows. "Oh, you all like Dak? Ok, here, I'll give him an exorbitant contract to keep the rabble pacified, and so that the blame lands on him when I 'can't' make any contract moves. All in."

He's been saying the same thing for years - because he's completely content with the state of the franchise. Well, until this year. Because everybody recognized it before the season, called him out on it, and everybody was right. It's too blatant for Jerry to use his standard "denial" strategy. Deny until we show signs of life and everyone moves on. I'm not moving on. The only thing this team has proven to me they can do consistently is lose big games. Not just lose, but arrive embarrassingly unprepared mentally and strategically. That will never change while Jerry is at the reigns.

And to all those wondering why us "former" fans couldn't care less whether or not we win, it's because Romo will show up and raise our hopes. Or Dak. Or Diggs. Or Micah. But, my friends and fellow fans, never forget: When you come to Dallas as a player or coach, you're starting at a disadvantage where you'll have to overcome the culture/owner as well as all the other teams in the league, most of whom are improving; while we tread water and rake in the money. Don't let Jerry fool you. We're not playing for championships. We're playing for relevancy on the world stage. Now that we're a laughingstock, Jerry's hand will be forced. But it won't be forced to improve the team...it will be forced to improve the optics of the team. We see you, Jerry. And we're done supporting your feckless ego-pacifying tactics.

-A former "lifelong" fan