Cowboys exec Stephen Jones: 'I don't think you ever win the Super Bowl in the offseason'

The Dallas Cowboys began the new NFL year in March by trading star wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns and then losing individuals such as receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. and defensive end Randy Gregory in free agency. 

Earlier this month, Cowboys legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Michael Irvin remarked that his former employer is "not a better team talent-wise" than it was in January and that Dallas must overcome that reality with "will and togetherness." 

As Kevin Patra noted for the NFL's website, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones explained during a Tuesday appearance on Dallas' 105.3 The Fan that the club isn't "done yet in free agency." Jones added that no franchise earns the right to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy at this time of year. 

"I don't think you ever win the Super Bowl in the offseason," Jones said. "I think it's a full body of work that you put together over time. I think we'll be a better team and I think we can take the next step."

Jones also called managing the club's salary-cap situation this winter and spring a "challenge." 

"A lot that went into it mainly because of the unique situation of the last two years with the pandemic and how it affected the salary cap in terms of not having its natural, if you will, increase each year," Jones said. "You weren't able to project that. You knew that the cap was not going to be naturally going up as you normally build into your contracts. So, consequently, we had to really step back and be conservative, if you will, in terms of signing extensions to players. The other thing that played into that was a new coaching staff coming in." 

All of that may make sense, on paper, but it won't excuse the Cowboys' latest one-and-done playoff appearance or the fact they haven't won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season.