NFL broadcaster explains the real truth about the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys may not truly be "America's Team," as they are billed, but there's no doubting the fact that people tune in when they see that iconic star on that silver helmet.

Many root for the Cowboys, but there's also a whole contingency of NFL fans who tune in just to root against them.

Either way, the idea here is that the Cowboys are good for business when it comes to the television ratings. And it doesn't matter if the team is good or bad. Future Hall of Fame broadcaster Cris Collinsworth explained it perfectly in a recent interview with Dan Patrick.

“Historically, it was they were really great for a decade and then they really weren’t for a long time,” Collinsworth explained, per Awful Announcing. “And yet, if NBC had their choice, we would do 17 Dallas Cowboys games. Right? I’m not kidding. It doesn’t matter what their record is.”

To Collinsworth's point, the early-to-mid 90s were great for Dallas. Led by superstars such as Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, the Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVII, XXVIII and Super Bowl XXX. For those who struggle with roman numerals, that's three Super Bowl wins in four years.

The Cowboys haven't made it back to the Super Bowl since that 1995 season, though. In fact, they haven't made it past the divisional round of the playoffs since then, either.

Still, because of the reasons mentioned above, people tune in when the Cowboys play. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're a draw. Said Collinsworth:

“They are an intriguing team. I think they always will be…Look at me, I can’t do this with any other team. You can kind of go off the top of your head and go, ‘Hey, Cowboys. I got ’em. I know what’s going on with ’em.’ It’s craziness, but the Cowboys continue to be America’s Team and that is no lie."