Legendary Ex-Cowboys Star Emmitt Smith Criticizes Jerry Jones’ Cost-Cutting Plans While Allowing a Serious $40 Million Payroll Waste

Arlington, Texas – December 11, 2025

In a rare and blistering public critique, Dallas Cowboys legend and Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith has taken direct aim at team owner Jerry Jones, calling his latest push to reduce payroll “contradictory” and “irresponsible” — especially while the franchise continues to carry what Smith described as “a $40 million waste sitting right there on the books.”

The NFL’s all-time rushing leader voiced his frustration during an appearance on ESPN Radio, where he spoke with unusual sharpness about the direction of the franchise.

“You can’t ask fans to accept cost-cutting while you’re paying huge money to players who aren’t contributing,” Smith said. “That’s not smart business. That’s just poor roster management.”

Smith’s comments come amid reports that Jones wants to trim the team’s payroll entering the 2026 season, despite the Cowboys sitting near the top of the league in revenue once again. Yet according to Smith, the real issue is where the money is already going — specifically to aging or underperforming veterans whose contracts continue to weigh heavily on the cap.

While Smith avoided naming players outright, insiders had little difficulty identifying the culprits: a declining veteran offensive lineman earning over $20 million despite missing extensive time this season, and a big-name defensive signing whose $18 million cap hit has produced little more than inconsistent play and long injury stretches.

“What message are you sending,” Smith asked, “when you nickel-and-dime young talent but have forty million dollars tied up in guys who can’t stay healthy or impact the game?”

The Cowboys have already let several role players walk in the name of “flexibility,” while simultaneously asking emerging stars to be patient on extensions. Smith believes the philosophy does not align with Dallas’ championship ambitions — especially with the team relying heavily on young contributors around Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons’ departure still very fresh in fans’ minds.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones quickly responded, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to “efficient spending and long-term stability,” but his remarks did little to calm a fanbase growing increasingly impatient after years of playoff disappointment.

Smith, now 56, ended his critique with a message that resonated deeply across Cowboys Nation:

“The Dallas Cowboys don’t exist to survive the cap. They exist to win championships. And you don’t win championships by cutting the wrong corners while burning money on the wrong players.”

As pressure mounts in Arlington and questions swirl about Dallas’ offseason priorities, Smith’s words — coming from one of the most respected figures in franchise history — may be impossible for Jerry Jones to ignore.