There's a price for having principles. It's called being second best.

Aware of that, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones surrendered some of his team's integrity to better pursue a Super Bowl trophy when he swung a deal last week for suspended Titans cornerback Pacman Jones.

There is no guarantee Jones will even play for the Cowboys next season. He's still under suspension by the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct rules and must be reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell.

If Pacman is cleared, he joins a team where character is already in question.

For instance, the Cowboys already have malcontent wide receiver Terrell Owens and gun-wielding defensive lineman Tank Johnson.

So who's next? Maybe Chris Henry, the former Bengals wide receiver who has endured an NFL-levied suspension after four arrests and was released by the team earlier this month following another arrest.

That will not happen, but frustrated fans have to believe the worst is coming these days.

That brings their loyalty into question.

Obviously, Jerry Jones believes true Cowboys fans won't sway or stray or he wouldn't have made a move that will test their allegiance. For now, they are willing to stand by him.

But for how long?

Diehard fans claim to be loyal until their death, never wavering through good times or bad. Cowboys fans who cheered Staubach and Dorsett weathered the low of a 1-15 season and were rewarded with three Super Bowl titles in '90s.

They maintained their loyalty because there were signs of hope, not signs of trouble.

It's not as easy to stay true when ethics, not effort, are in question.

How would Cardinals fans have reacted if the Redbirds signed Barry Bonds like manager Tony La Russa wanted? No doubt, there would have been an uproar and a loss of some ticket sales, but Cardinal Nation wouldn't have declined much.

The Cowboys fan base won't suffer much, either.

But what if it did? What if fans took a stand and refused to support a team with a win-at-all-costs attitude? What if ticket sales fell, concession stand revenue dropped and merchandising declined?

Would the message get through?

Owners have to take a hit in the pocketbook for change to occur, and the culture in today's professional sports realm is the name on the back of the jersey is more important than the name on the front.

That fact makes it tougher to root for the home team or your favorite team. People make mistakes and deserve second chances, but getting paid millions to play on Sunday and have devoted fans cheer your every move is a privilege.

With that comes the responsibility to be respectful.

The Cowboys aren't respecting the loyalty of their fans. They're taking it for granted. Unless that changes, a few diehard fans will find a new team to call their own.

Even if that team is second best.

-- mschuckman@whig.com/221-3366