The Dallas Cowboys appear to be at a crossroads with the franchise under Jerry Jones, which has resembled a circus for some.

From the lack of success since the early 90s to how Mike McCarthy was dealt with to now the list of head coaching candidates, which former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is the favorite, it all speaks to the Cowboys for some, being an unserious franchise.

However, with McCarthy out as head coach, owner Jerry Jones has a chance, with this coaching hire, to break out of what has made Dallas a stagnant football team over the last three decades.

Yes, the three straight 12-5 seasons are admirable, but fans don’t want regular season wins, they want Super Bowls.

Our own Mike Fisher has spoken at length about “#53Brands” which is in reference to the marketing side of the Cowboys which feels like Jerry’s only source of motivation and players want their slice of the marketing pie.

For most, the new head coach must get all his ducks in a row and do it his way.

Per Fish, there are four types of head coaches: “The Professor, The Buddy, The Uncle, and The Drill Sergeant.”

Which one does Dallas need?

Personally speaking, The Drill Sergeant. To get the franchise focused on the “main thing” and keep it the “main thing,” something that can’t be said over the last decade or so.

But more than that, the incoming head coach must be the only voice in the locker room’s ear, and there should be no circumventing the head coach to go to Jerry. Just take a back seat, Mr. Jones, for once.

Of course, we know that won’t likely be the case.

But we have arrived at a critical juncture for Jerry and his Cowboys.

If there ever was a time to try a new way of doing things, after 30 years, we’ve arrived at that time.

And Jerry has passed on two opportunities to do just that.

The Dallas News is pushing Jones to “make the biggest splash possible.” With all due respect, this organization has all the “splash” the audience can stomach.

What this organization needs is “seriousness.”

There is no indication that Dallas ever got serious about the ultimate Drill Sergeant in Bill Belichick, who seems to be sticking at the University of North Carolina.

And we know for a fact that Dallas (despite an errant report from a local news outlet) never got serious about Ben Johnson, who on Monday signed on to take over the Bears.

And those two “moves” – non-moves, really – create the impression of the Cowboys as an “unserious team.”

There can be intricate reasons for a “no” on Bill and a “no” on Ben. But … combined, that pair represents the greatest coach and the hottest coach.

And Jerry won’t even bend enough to truly explore them?

With no success in 30 years, surely Jerry wants his team “seriously” challenging for a Super Bowl, right? Well, after the last few years, one could make the case that winning isn’t at the top of his wishlist anymore.

Keeping Dallas “above the fold” is. And it is there that lies the problem.

With Jerry’s famous “You wouldn’t want to see the size of the check that I would write if it would for sure get the Dallas Cowboys a Super Bowl” quote still doing the rounds, we are about to see exactly how serious he is about winning.

Which head coach he and the organization hires will tell us all we need to know about where Mr. Jones’ priorities are when it comes to the Cowboys.

But it won’t be Bill. And it won’t be Ben.

That doesn’t mean the Cowboys will hire a crummy coach and it doesn’t mean that Dallas is doomed. But …

For those hoping to see some sweeping changes from Jerry – right at the opportune time to do so when the Cowboys need it most – we leave you with this thought to keep in mind …

To paraphrase Emmitt Smith, “82-year-old leopards don’t change their stripes.”