Jerry Jones has lost his magic touch and bringing Mark Cuban on board won’t fix Dallas Cowboys

They laughed at Jerry Jones in 1989.

The Texan mogul, who made a fortune gambling on oil, made his biggest bet yet when he sent Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings.

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Despite receiving a haul in return, people thought the newly-anointed Dallas Cowboys owner had been taken for a ride.

Those claiming it was one of the most lop-sider trades in NFL history were eventually proved right — just in the wrong direction.

Walker never rushed for over 1,000 yards in Minnesota and had been released by 1992.

The lost picks set the franchise back for years, while the Cowboys added Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, and Darren Woodson.

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By the time Super Bowl XXX rolled around, Jones was the only person laughing as a three-time Super Bowl champion who had restored the glory days to America’s Team.

Fast-forward 30 years, and Jones sits at the head of the most valuable franchise in the history of sports with a ridiculous $13billion valuation on a team he bought for $140million.

His achievements cannot be understated.

Jerry Jones has built an empire

Jones has played a vital role in creating the behemoth that is today’s NFL and AT&T Stadium is a marvel — even if it is missing a giant set of curtains.

He would undoubtedly point at a star-studded team, stadium and world-class training facility at The Star as examples he is doing just fine.

But ask Cowboys fans and they might not share the same optimism after one playoff win in the last seven seasons.

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Mark Cuban wants in on Cowboys

Could Mark Cuban be the answer?

The billionaire bought the Dallas Mavericks for $285m in 2000 and turned a fairly mediocre organization into a title-winning team.

He has floated the idea of buying a piece of the Cowboys, and Jones seems receptive.

“If you’re me, you would be open to that is because of the man,” the 83-year-old told Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. “I have all the respect in the world for him and I know what he did for the Mavericks and what he’s done for basketball.

“He’s in additional to financial boatstreams of your team, you want to associate with the highest quality of [a person] who loves the game and then also at the same time wants to do something about it. Mark leads the way in that.”

Unfortunately, unless Cuban is planning to deliver some brutal home truths to his potential new partner, coming aboard isn’t going to move the needle if it ever happens.

The Cowboys have always been, and always will be, Jerry’s World while he is in the saddle.

Immediately after buying the team, he appointed himself as general manager and acted as if he knew something everybody else didn’t.

Not afraid to make unpopular moves, legendary coach Tom Landry was sent packing and Jimmy Johnson brought in — another move that went down like a rattlesnake in a bedroll.

Ultimately, Jones got to do a deserved victory lap over Johnson and Walker.

So when everybody slammed the decision to trade Micah Parsons, Jones was probably expecting more of the same.

While there’s a chance he may be proved right, a 7-9 record doesn’t inspire much confidence.

Jones still wants to prove he’s the smartest man in the room, but the room has changed — thanks in part to his own efforts.

While owners still have a massive say, there is a reason why 31 of 32 teams have a specialist GM.

It is the same reason why the Atlanta Falcons brought in Matt Ryan to oversee football operations, a group of talented minds will ultimately triumph over a lone wolf.

Cuban, like Jones, is a fantastic businessman. Cowboys fans need a football man or its curtains for their Super Bowl hopes.