

"Disloyalty ... I couldn't handle the disloyalty. Whether it was right or not, by every measurement you can go, I had paid so many times a higher price to get to be there than he had paid."

- Jerry Jones (Speaking about Jimmy Johnson)

That is all you need to know when trying to evaluate the credentials of Jerry Jones as a general manager of a football team. This one statement has come to define the man's entire tenure as Owner/GM of the Dallas Cowboys. The idea being conveyed here is essentially, he is willing to sacrifice greatness, success, adoration, respect, revenue, and even entire careers of people brought into the organization for the simple acknowledgment that he is the man in charge.

It was not enough to be the owner of the most popular sports franchise in the nation. He had to be the face of it. He had to stand on the sidelines during games. He has to give post game interviews. He has to have a say in free agency and the draft. The only other organization in the NFL that operated the way the Cowboys attempt to was Al Davis' Raiders. The main difference though, Al Davis knew football. He was a successful coach, commissioner of the AFL, and earned an AFL title along with three super bowls before the game out paced him. Jerry Jones is not and will never be anything close to what he was, no matter how much he would like to be. First, he doesn't have the football IQ. Second, and most importantly, his ego will never allow him to concede the authorities needed to build a sustainable, successful franchise.

Most will say the days of ten to 20 year dynasties are gone due to the salary cap. The cap has made it more difficult but it is still possible. The Patriots' organization is living, thriving proof of this. No one knows what will happen once the Belichick era comes to an end. However, the concepts which have brought them six Lombardi Trophies over the past 19 years are the same concepts the Steelers of the '70s and 49ers of the '80s and '90s used: adaptation and culture. Teams that impose "their style" have good, even great seasons. But that type of football is not sustainable. The best organizations are the ones who adapt week to week, season to season, player to player, as well as coach to coach. The NFL is an ever changing sport. What worked ten years ago doesn't work today. What worked 20 years ago could work extremely well today if executed for the modern game. What worked last week might not work the next. It is the ultimate game of adapt and overcome. This is why Matt Cassel was able to lead the Patriots to an 11-5 season in 2008. It is also why Trent Dilfer got a super bowl ring with the Ravens in 2000. If anything, the salary cap has made it possible for any organization, with the right leadership, to be successful.

There are so many moving parts to an NFL franchise. It involves multiple people within a hierarchy making many decisions. The general manager, scouting department, coaches, players, medical staff, all the way to the stadium maintenance crews make choices that effect the organization in one way or another. Building a cohesive culture, not to mention a winning culture, around all of these people is extremely difficult and takes time. It all starts at the top and trickles down. The head coach and general manager are supposed to work in tandem in building this culture. When one undermines the other it shows a lack of trust, creates dissension, accountability suffers, and so on. Generally speaking, when management and the coaches don't see eye to eye, the team suffers and people get fired. Or at least that is how most organizations operate.

Then we get to the Cowboys. Anyone who has paid attention to America's Team over the past decade knows the only reason Jason Garrett is still the head coach is because he is a "Yes" man. Anytime Jerry Jones has had disagreements or issues with a coach, they do not last long. Either they leave on their own or Jones gets rid of them. Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells can attest to this. As fans we do not know what goes on behind closed doors most of the time. However, between interviews, press conferences, and other bits of info that has popped over the years, it has become pretty clear as to why respectable coaches do not last long under Jerry Jones. Jerry wants things done his way so he can garner the credit for potential success. Once again, we do not know what goes on behind closed doors. But it is pretty obvious Jason Garrett is not one to challenge Jones or go against his wishes. Multiple times during his tenure, too many to count, Garrett has said one thing while Jones says another. These contradictions are the main indicator as to the relationship between Jones and Garrett. Jerry Jones has this need to be totally involved in whatever the Cowboys are doing and when Garrett does or says something without consulting him first, it is obvious. Look no further than the kicker ordeal at the end of November of this year. Garrett says they are going to look at kickers, then Jones says they are not. Apparently three kickers were looked at but nothing came of it. Since we are not privy to the conversations management and coaches have regarding players we do not know who ultimately made the decision regarding a potential replacement for Brett Maher. It does however, reek of Jones' meddling.

For a while it seemed as if Jerry was taking a bit of step back when it came to organizational decisions as his son Stephen Jones gradually became more of a voice within the managerial aspects. Though anyone who has followed this team even halfheartedly since the '90s knows that Jerry Jones is going to be Jerry Jones until the day he dies. Yes, Jason Garrett has proved time and time again he does not have what it takes to coach the Dallas Cowboys to a super bowl victory. That being said, with current management, does anyone have what it takes? Jimmy Johnson did. Although that was before Jerry decided he deserved credit for the those '90s championships. Any respectable coach, or any new coach for that matter, is going to want to change the culture, to change the fundamentals within the organization. There is simply no way a new coach can come in, have success, and not receive 99 percent of the credit. Everyone knows Jerry is holding this team back. Everyone knows if someone new comes in and builds a successful, sustainable franchise, the new person is going to be the reason. Everyone knows this, including Jerry Jones. Given his track record, there is absolutely no way he will stand for that. This is his team. He will be responsible for the next Lombardi, or he will die trying.

So bring in Urban Meyer or Lincoln Riley or Riverboat Ron. It does not matter. Maybe when Stephen takes over he will bring in an actual general manager. Who knows? The ugly truth is, and has been since 1993, as long as Jerry Jones is alive, his ego will always keep this team from realizing their true potential.

Source - https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2019/02/25/from-weird-to-cringeworthy-the-25-greatest-quotes-from-dallas-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones/