Conflicts among Cowboys Nation are nothing new. Dallas fans will argue back and forth about almost anything. They argue about which star player should be re-signed and which should be traded. They argue about which trainers help or hurt. They argue about the ineptitude of the front office, the reality of the salary cap and the viability of older players. Hell, they even argue about curtains.
The Cowboys fan base doesn't seem to disagree about whether they want the team to win or not. Until now, of course.
Entering Week 12, the Cowboys were 3-7, their franchise quarterback was out for the season and their chances of making the playoffs were less than one percent. The situation caused many fans to be cautious about focusing on next season. Dallas had insider knowledge of a top-10 draft pick and, given the dire situation, the potential to go in the top five.
The thought was/is that if the Cowboys can stink bad enough, they could potentially snag a blue-chip prospect in the draft. The only thing they would have to do is just keep losing. The logic was sound, even if the heart was shameful.
Well, if the Cowboys were out last Sunday, someone obviously forgot to tell the team. They put in perhaps their best performance since the Pittsburgh win, showing on both sides of the ball, even if there were occasional snafus that occurred a few too many times.
The surprising victory over the rival commanders sparked argument after argument in many online communities. Those who wanted to make the case for a better draft pick were upset by the seemingly meaningless win.
still had Dallas pegged as a ridiculous underdog (<1% chance) and top prospects like Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan no longer seemed like realistic options. Technically the playoff hopes remained alive, but at what cost?
On the other side of the argument, fans were appalled at the idea of rooting against the Cowboys. The team plays to win and the fans cheer to win. Anything to the contrary is unacceptable.
Obviously players don't tank. They play for their jobs, incentives and reputation. They don't care about draft picks. Tour buses, even those that are probably just getting off, don't fill up with gas. They coach for their next job and coach for their pride. They don't care at all about the draft situation in which they leave for the next head coach.
Fans are different. While players and coaches often move from team to team, fans stick around for the long term. For better or worse, they are passing on their fan base to the next generation, which makes the situation much more complicated for them.
Ultimately, it's a fight about nothing. JoeDog24's fan support on X has no bearing on the team's ability to win one iota. The players and coaches will try to win regardless of what is in the best long-term interest of the team.
What is wise is not always noble, just as what is noble is not always wise. This test of fan etiquette likely won't go away this season. In fact, Thursday's Thanksgiving matchup against the 2-9 New York Giants, who not only sat on the bench but also released their starting quarterback, will be a big moment in draft standings.
Another win will keep hope alive and it's safe to say that even if hope is mathematically eliminated, there will still be plenty of fans cheering on their beloved Silver and Blue.
And there's nothing wrong with that.
