Where have all the Cowboys gone?

Let's face it, no one believed Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones when he told the world that this year's version of the Dallas Cowboys would win 10 games at the very worse.

Well, you didn't, did you?

Anyway, it looks like 'Boys will have trouble scoring 10 points per game, let alone getting 10 wins.

The 2001 Dallas Cowboys will look like the abomination that took the field in 1989 en route to a 1-15 season.

Jones, as most general managers and owners are telling us these days, is saying that the development of his team is being handcuffed by the dreaded salary cap, which squeezes the very life out of those franchises who put in too much at one point to live through an inevitable period of struggle down the line.

I like the salary cap excuse, because it helps to cover up the self-inflicted wounds that franchises bleed themselves with, and make their fans continue to follow them without even knowing they're being taken for a ride.

Like the team in the city I currently dwell, the San Francisco 49ers continue to use that excuse as if it were on an endless loop tape reel. The fans here truly believe the salary cap to be evil, because it made Jerry Rice a Raider, Joe Montana a Chief, and the 49ers a laughing stock.

It had nothing to do with the fact that an aging defense went sour at once, or the fact that the team was found guilty of cheating the system for years, acquiring players for million dollar contracts, while having sandwich money available in their cap space.

Another story for another time. Let's get back to America's team.

We can start at an odd place with the Cowboys -- the departure of Alvin Williams.

Williams was the Lynn Swann to Michael Irvin's John Stallworth. Williams could run past corners for a TD, and jump over them for the same six-point reward. Williams felt he needed the opportunity to become a Batman, and not stay the sidekick, so he went to Tampa for that chance.

Outside of some slight flashes of brilliance from Raghib Ismail, Williams has been missed since he left.

Super Bowl MVP cornerback Larry Brown might've been another brick that fell out of the wall. Brown was exposed in Oakland as a product of the defensive system in Dallas, losing the limited skills he had when he had the star on the side of his helmet. At least he still has his MVP trophy.

The Cowboys used to have amazing depth on their defensive line, and suddenly some of those guys came to realize that they would have an opportunity to play every down on other teams, and get paid handsomely for it.

Suddenly, there wasn't a rotation that saved the energies of the D-line, it was just four guys and legitimate backups. Soon enough, those backups had to play, and quarterbacks had time to read the Sunday paper, and pick on the secondary that was young and devoid of talented guys like Darren Woodson and Brock Marion.

A Moose's bad neck made things tough too, as Daryl "Moose" Johnston spent most of two years walking around as a civilian than a football player. Then, once he realized that after football, health might be important, he announced his retirement.

The aforementioned Irvin suffered a spinal injury that cut his career short, and sent him into the world to bigger struggles.

After eight concussions in two years, (which equals 2,184 in dog concussion years), quarterback Troy Aikman finally succumbed to retirement as well after last season.

The biggest loss to the Cowboys came from the decimation of the offensive line. Lovable, chubby, Nate Newton was a mountain of a man, who was not in shape, but did well in his guard position. Finally his lack of conditioning did him in, and he was free to terrorize fast-food joints around the country as he pleased.

While Larry Allen was developing into the best, and meanest, offensive lineman in football, he was stealing the title away from Erik Williams, who was the baddest man this side of Steve Wisnewski. Angry and mean, Williams would dominate all who would try to conquer him, and make them look bad in the process. Suddenly, lack of conditioning leading to injuries did the bad man in, and sent him off into the world, leaving Allen to fend for himself.

Let's not forget Jerry Jones himself. If there's one reason why the Cowboys sit in mediocrity today, look no further than the coach and "general manager" who has made all the personnel decisions since Jimmy Johnson said "no mas" to Big D.

Jones' ego rivals that of a late '80s-early '90s version of Raiders owner Al Davis, whose personnel choices had writers and colleagues wondering if the man in the jumpsuit had lost his mind. Those thoughts are still being entertained to this day.

Jones makes all the choices for the Cowboys, and his coaches are just puppets there to do Jerrypetto's bidding.

Before you turn into 49er fans and start to blame your whole sorry existence on the salary cap Cowboy fans, remember how cheaply you had the good talent that wore the Dallas uniforms, and think about how well they jelled together for three Super Bowl championships.

The salary cap is a good band-aid, but it's just a temporary cover until the wound shows itself again. And I'm not talking about Jerry Jones' recent facelift.