In 1960, Dallas was awarded a National Football League (NFL) franchise. Now 50 mostly successful years later America’s Team has been given a disastrous birthday gift, mediocrity and disappointment.

Currently, the Dallas Cowboys sit at 1-6 and are in line to gain the third pick in the NFL Draft in April. Now for many this is a shock, this was a team that was supposed to compete in a Super Bowl in their billion dollar home stadium and roll over the competition with 4 losses being the maximum.

Sadly, that fourth loss came two weeks ago.

Now, being a fan of the Cowboys I will admit I could have been biased by saying they were the best team in not just the NFC but the entire NFL as well. But, on paper there is no reason they could not have been successful.

They had the second most pro bowlers last season, all of which were returning; had a winning record in December and won a playoff game for the first time in 15 seasons. It looked as if the ‘Boys had turned the corner and became a prominent team once again.

Then the 2010 season began and mistakes have riddled the Cowboys. From a holding call that erased a game winning touchdown in the first game (a loss to hated rival Washington), to an excessive celebration penalty against Tennessee that led to the game winning touchdown the Cowboys have often shot themselves in the foot. But, then came the death blow for the season.

On Monday Night Football on Oct. 25 the Cowboys took on the hated Giants in a must win game. Pro-Bowl quarterback Tony Romo was in the game and had the Cowboys holding on to a 13-7 lead, then disaster struck.

On a pass play, Cowboys rookie fullback Chris Gronkowski missed an assignment on blitzing linebaker Micheal Boleyn and the result, Romo was drilled into the turf breaking his clavicle and thus ending his season.

All I could muster was the thought “How Fitting!”

How fitting it was to have a team that had the third ranked defense and fourth ranked offense lose their franchise player on a mistake. Because that was what has killed the Cowboys all this season… mistakes.

A team with such high rankings should be the best team in the league. But, in looking at the stats one can see the Cowboys missteps. The Cowboys have the fourth highest penalties per game average with 6.9 and the eighth highest penalty yards per game with 66 per game.

These are things that cannot happen if you wish to contend. These are things the worst teams in the league do, no ones that want to win championships.

Now, to me the problem is a lack of leadership. This is something that can be solved by starting over. Owner Jerry Jones needs to realize that this team deserves better coaching than what it has now. This team has lacked focus, intensity and discipline and last time I checked this can all be attributed to the coach.

So, Mr. Jones: do us Cowboys fans a favor and stop serving us mediocre birthday cakes year after year when we deserve more. Because if you don’t the Cowboys might not make it another prominent anniversary as a distinguished franchise