Cowboys EXCLUSIVE: Where Are Jerry & Stephen Jones? SXSW? Bahamas Vacation? Spring Break on Yacht?

Cowboys EXCLUSIVE: Where In The World Are Jerry & Stephen Jones? Skipping Free Agency for SXSW? Bahamas Vacation? Spring Break on Yacht?

FRISCO - Years ago, we started bringing you annual reports on the whereabouts of the Jones family as NFL free agency - and Spring Break from school - launched. 

In 2017, for instance, the whole gang dressed in white and posed for a vacation photo (accompanied, inexplicably, by players Tony Romo and Jason Witten!) ... and we wrote critically of that.

In 2018, we did it again, learning that grandpa Jerry Jones had taken the family to the Bahamas for a stay at the exclusive "Kamalame Cay,'' a private island. And we wrote critically of that.

And this year? The Dallas Cowboys are being ripped once again by critics who are saying that "Stephen Jones is on a yacht somewhere,'' which we assume is a guess based on our annual reporting on the actual whereabouts of the family.

But on Monday, as NFL free agency launched, COO Stephen was not "on a yacht.'' He was in fact in Austin, Texas ... at South By Southwest, the annual music festival that has now grown into being a business and entertainment convention.

And hosted by Sportico and SXSW is the lineup for the SXSW Sports Track, headlined by a conversation between Stephen and Charlotte Jones, executives of the Cowboys ... along with speeches by Stephen A. Smith, Blake Griffin, Damar Hamlin, Bijan Robinson and Lisa Leslie.

Ir's not football. But it's not a yacht.

P.S.: This doesn't mean that Jerry isn't relaxing on a beach somewhere; we're asking.

P.S.S.: The "Grandpa Jerry'' concept is - separate from football - a lovely thing. Grandkids on Spring Break from school, all together. Nice. But ... if you're a billionaire, can't you "create a Spring Break'' some other time? Oh, and ... NFL free agency, you know!?

As expected, the Cowboys were not players on Day 1 of the NFL's legal tampering period despite Jerry's " all-in" comments. We now think that Jerry's comments might have been about getting contracts signed, sealed, and delivered with existing stars instead of whipping out the credit card without worry about future years' cap.

Of course, the Cowboys' inability to get Dak Prescott's contract situation sorted out lingers. And CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons extensions are barely spoken of. So there is "inaction'' in that area, too.

On Day 2 of free agency, the Cowboys signed long-snapper Trent Sieg, signaling that the franchise finally got on board.

But that is little consolation as the realization of what is unfolding for Cowboys fans hits home. It will again be an offseason where the franchise isn't interested in being players in free agency, despite having the means (with that credit card) to do so - which is likely to frustrate the fanbase with the lack of dealings.

Let's not forget that last season, the Cowboys weren't big players in free agency and still managed a 12-5 season. Still, Dallas is putting itself behind the 8-ball with this philosophy ... though maybe this philosophy is the plan.

Snooze Button vs. Panic Button: Cowboys 'All Out'?

What if 2024's "all in'' is about the targeting of a 2025 rebuild - about essentially "blowing it up'' after this season?

The Cowboys front office clearly has a plan. This isn't an accident. And the Stephen Jones and company aren't stupid. In fact, Stephen Jones on Monday to open free agency wasn't really vacationing. He was actually working.

He just wasn't working on improving the Dallas Cowboys roster.