Jerry Jones skeptical that 1 move will help Cowboys defense - ESPN

DENVER — Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was not pleased with Sunday's result, a 44-24 loss to the Denver Broncos, but the outcome will not shape how he looks to improve the defense before next week's trade deadline.

«If I saw a proposition for us to help this team, no matter what this score was today, then I would look at it on the merits of helping the team,» Jones said. «I would completely look at the merits for both next week or the weeks after (and the longer term). No, today would not affect a decision on trading for a player.»

The Cowboys have gauged interest from teams in potential targets, according to multiple sources, but have not found a middle ground to get a trade agreed upon.

And Jones doesn't see the Cowboys' defense as one player away from being competitive.

On Sunday, the Cowboys gave up their most points in a game since a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 5 last year. It was the second time this season they allowed more than 40 points. It was the fourth time they allowed more than 400 yards (426). It was the fourth time an opponent had at least four 25 first downs, and the second time the Cowboys allowed four touchdown passes.

The Broncos had 179 yards rushing, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. It was the fifth time the Cowboys allowed more than 6.2 yards per carry and the fifth time they gave up more than 144 rushing yards.

«I don't know what's realistic,» Jones said. «Could one better player — if we didn't pay too big a price to have a better player on defense to possibly help? I'm not trying to be cute, but that's why you'd go get him because you think that you could go help your defense. Are we one player away on defense? I think we're not. I think we're more than that away,