Cowboys' Jerry Jones Blasted For Jersey Number 'Controversy'

FRISCO - Not to the insult "the casuals,'' but ... 

If you believe Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are in the wrong for not "retiring the jersey number'' of the iconic Tyron Smith?

You are - with all due respect - not that much of a Cowboys fan.

That's OK, but we find it to be hilarious that actual Cowboys websites are blasting Jones and the Cowboys for "disrespecting'' Tyron by having handed his old jersey No. 77 to newcomer journeyman Saahdiq Charles. ... arguing that No. 77 should immediately be a "retired number.''

Oh, the humanity!

Problems? A few.

The Cowboys, in a notable tradition started by Tex Schramm and continued on under Jones, do not retire anyone's jersey number.

If you didn't know that, and you're a fan? You are excused.

If you didn't know that, and you pride yourself on being a "Cowboys website''?

Blecchh.

What does Dallas do instead?

Troy Aikman's No. 8, Roger Staubach's No. 12 and Emmitt Smith's No. 22 simply go onto the shelf - those numbers haven't been worn since those players retired - and while the never go into the rafters, they do go into the Ring of Honor.

There is a flip-side tradition, as jersey No. 88 is now handed down from superstar-caliber receiver to receiver. So Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin, Dez Bryant and now CeeDee Lamb are in "The 88 Club.''

But otherwise? Some of this is about timing.

Some of it is about math.

Consider, for instance, Darren Woodson. He wore No. 28 ... brilliantly. And yet, five different Cowboys have worn it since. Disrespect?

What about Larry Allen, No. 73? OK, Tyler Smith is a young Pro Bowler who wears it now. But why did Joe Looney get to wear it? Disrespect?

What about No. 94? It was Charles Haley's. Then it was DeMarcus Ware's. A special tradition brewing when it was given to Randy Gregory? Oops. And now it's worn by Marshawn Kneeland. Disrespect?

What about Bob Lilly, "Mr. Cowboy''? He wore No. 74. And he's the only guy to ever wear it in a regular-season or playoff game. But ... others have worn that number in training camp and in preseason.

How? Why? Simple.

The mathematical fact is, Dallas (and I'm sure other franchises, in their fans' views) has employed too many great players to "retire'' all of their numbers.

If you sign an offensive lineman, you have to give him a number from 50 to 79. Wanna hold those numbers back? Then (stretching the point only a little), Sean Lee (50), Ken Norton (51), Mark Stepnoski (53), Chuck Howley and Randy White (54), Lee Roy Jordan (55), Nate Newton (61), Rayfield Wright and Zack Martin (70), Too Tall Jones and Travis Frederick (72), Larry Allen (73), Bob Lilly (74) Tyron Smith (77), and Harvey Martin and Erik Williams (79).

Two things about that list: 

One, read it again. Howley, Wright, Too Tall and Martin's numbers were given away!

Two, now do the math. Offensive linemen must wear numbers from 50 to 79. We just listed 12 numbers that could justifiably be moved to mothballs. That would leave you with just 18 numbers to assign.

There are 16 offensive linemen presently on the roster. There are also defensive linemen and linebackers wearing 50-to-79 numbers.

In the simplest terms, Dallas has to give away prized numbers ... or there would be guys on the 90-man roster who don't get a number at all.

That's one of the reasons that once No. 90 DeMarcus Lawrence walked out the door, No. 90 was handed to newcomer Solomon Thomas - another of the cases where those who don't understand flaunted their own ignorance.

Saahdiq Charles might or might not wear No. for the 2025 Dallas Cowboys. But to accuse Jerry and the Cowboys equipment staff of a "lack of thought'' toward Tyron?

We've told you for years about Tyron's warm relationship with the Jones family; you saw that in play here inside The Star at his retirement presser. We can also tell you that he's tight with the equipment guys, Mike McCord and Bucky Buchanan.

If you are "disgusted'' or "shocked,'' you haven't been paying attention. (And yes, former Cowboys DB Jourdan Lewis, who also took a poke at the team over this, that goes for you, too.)

Get educated on this, friends. ... so you don't sound like a "casual.''