The Dallas Cowboys have a new offseason catchphrase and it’s brought to you by the same guy who couldn’t stop using ‘air quotes’ at Brian Schottenheimer’s opening press conference. Speaking at the NFL’s annual combine, Stephen Jones described the team’s free agent philosophy as being “selectively aggressive” this year.

This moniker replaces last offseason’s “all-in” declaration from Jerry Jones, which felt like it was misconstrued throughout the football world. The Cowboys were never “all-in”, and Stephen Jones’ comments are leading to speculation about the organization being more proactive in finding outside free agents. After last offseason, Cowboys fans are meeting the declaration with skepticism, but they’ll have to wait and see if the younger Jones is all talk.

Much like his dad’s proclamation last year, “selectively aggressive” is up for interpretation.

If it means the Cowboys will be more involved in the open market after sitting out last season’s free agency period, it would be a start in the right direction. It would be better if being aggressive actually meant trying to sign some of the better players in free agency, but that’s something Dallas hasn’t done in the last 13 years.

If Jones means the Cowboys will be only re-signing their own players and adding bargain basement options after the first and second wave of free agency like they’ve become accustomed to, then his phrase means nothing.

Jones said the right things, but savvy Cowboys fans are taking a wait and see approach.

The hope is the Cowboys will be more aggressive in finding quality players to improve the team. Jones spoke about looking at what went wrong last year and finding ways to learn from it, but that doesn’t mean the team will go back to their spending ways in the early days on free agency. And the truth is they don’t need to; all the Cowboys need to do is not sit out the entirety of the open market where the best players are scooped up while they do nothing. The front office doesn’t need to sign the best, most expensive free agents, but the Cowboys do need to be proactive in finding good players instead of the cheapest options.

If that’s what Jones means by “selectively aggressive,” they’ll have an opportunity to win back some of the fans they lost. The Executive Vice President mentioned how apathy isn’t what the Cowboys’ front office wants from their fans, but it’s exactly what last year’s philosophy brought. Being any type of aggressive this offseason would be a step in the right direction in getting them back.

Jones also said the right things about bringing back some of their core free agents. Talks have already opened with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, as well as defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, which is much further ahead than the team was last year with impending free agents.

It’s early in the offseason, but Jones is setting things up to go in one of two directions. Right now, he’s providing some hope that this offseason will be different than last year’s disaster.

Or, he’s setting himself up to be the bad guy once again if nothing changes. If that happens, expect the masses to make fun of the Cowboys and those in charge of the circus.

The Joneses love to talk a good game, but when it comes to doing what they say, they usually fall short. All there is to go on right now is Stephen Jones’ initial comments, which paint a more positive picture for the offseason.

However, “selectively aggressive” could quickly turn into “all-in,” becoming another joke for the storied franchise.