Jerry Jones not ready to admit Dallas Cowboys are rebuilding

The Dallas Cowboys and rebuilding in the same sentence is enough to send fans of “America’s Team” into a frenzy, but that’s what happened earlier this month when the team released the franchise’s sack leader and let DeMarcus Ware leave after failing to come to terms on a restructured contract.

The departure of Ware, Jason Hatcher and a much lesser extend Miles Austin has led some to question if the Cowboys are in rebuilding mode after a third straight 8-8 season. Just don’t count Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones in that group.

“Not at all,” Jones told reporters Tuesday at the NFL Annual Meeting, via The Dallas Morning News. “You don’t rebuild with Tony Romo. The firepower we have on offense and where we are with our running backs, and our receivers … you don’t rebuild with an offense that’s got the capability we’ve got. We didn’t bring (Scott) Linehan in here to rebuild.”

The offense is sure to be explosive with Romo, but the defense was dreadful last season and the addition of Henry Melton is not likely to be enough to offset the league’s worst defense a year ago. A healthy Sean Lee will surely help, but can it help to the extend to make it a top-15 unit and get Dallas into the postseason?

A fourth straight season without a winning record will bring a ton of changes, including a new coaching staff one would have to assume, and at that point, Jones may be willing to admit the team is in rebuild mode.

Playoffs or bust for the Cowboys in 2014.