Make no mistake: the next six weeks are quite possibly the most important in the history of the franchise for the Dallas Cowboys.

While the Cowboys have, mercifully, stayed out of the free agent donnybrook around the league (Paging Al Davis, your head will be waiting for you up your behind. Al Davis, head up your behind), they should realize that there is still some work to be done before trophy number six comes to Valley Ranch.

For weeks, many of the experts, of whom I am but one, have insisted that the Dallas roster is one of the most talented in the NFL. That may be true, but the fact is that this team hasn’t won a playoff game in 12 years. Think of it like this: we could’ve fought two wars in Iraq during this time and still had a few years left over.

Something needs to change.

Division titles are nice but not enough. In Dallas, playoff wins are all that matter.

13 wins? Nice.

13 Pro Bowlers? That must be a record or something.

Zero playoff wins? Now we have a problem.

While the team sifts through the remaining free agents (which must be like diggin’ through the bargain bin at an Oklahoma Wal-Mart at 3 in the morning), contemplates trading for Chad Johnson, Anquan Boldin, or Adam Jones, and prepares for the draft, Kaiser Jerry and his coaches must realize what a crucial time this is for the franchise.

As ludicrous as it seems, unrest is rapidly spreading among the team’s fan base. The December collapse (again), the immediate bounce from the postseason (again), the garish PSL fees at JerryWorld, and the seemingly pending acquisition of a man who is such a criminal even Ray Lewis won’t hang out with him.

Without at least a conference championship game-run this year, Jerry could be facing a revolt as he prepares to occupy his new palace next to The Ballpark in Arlington.

Conversely, if the Cowboys draft well, have a good summer, and get to the Super Bowl, the franchise has a chance to secure top billing among the area sports teams for many years to come. I know, the Cowboys are already the preeminent team in the Metroplex. However, their struggles, with the Mavs’ teams of the century, and a few people who remember that Hull’s skate wasn’t that much in the crease in ‘99, have closed the gap. Heck, even the Rangers get a few inches per day in the paper for a week of two.

But, the Mavericks the Mavericks lost the NBA Finals, got walloped by Golden State, and now are tumbling out of the playoffs faster than Hillary’s chances at winning the nomination. The Stars started poorly, became the best team in hockey, and now are barely breathing heading into likely another first-round exit. While baseball season is beginning next week, it doesn’t seem too likely now that the team’s employees will get that many chances to answer the phones, “First-place Texas Rangers,” like in 2004.

Dallas professional sports are in a state of crisis. With an impact draft, maybe a major trade–OR NOT MAKING THE MOST OBTUSE TRADE EVER PROPOSED IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD–the Cowboys have a chance to dominate the local papers and radio shows from April to the start of the season. Even when winning Super Bowls was simply protocol, the team never had exclusive coverage on the sports page.

As the Rangers, Mavericks, and Stars continue to be deficient, the Cowboys have a chance to monopolize the market. Get these six weeks right, and the team will dominate the area.

Get them wrong, though, and the fans will have Jerry waiting with Al Davis at the lost-and-found for his mentally weak quarterback and his $50,000 PSLs.