In Awe of the Master
by 5Blings on Nov 22, 2010 2:01 PM CST
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PrintBefore the Season began, I wrote a post that outlined what I thought would be the central theme in the upcoming Dallas Cowboys campaign. In it, I outlined why I thought this year would be the ‘Season of Jerry’.
Ten games later, I am sure that this is not how Jerry Jones envisioned the 2010 Season. The notion of being the first team to play the role of Super Bowl host is all but a pipe dream now. The Dallas Cowboys are no longer in the conversation when it comes to postseason hopefuls in the NFL for this year. In fact, this may be the earliest, at least since the Dave Campo era, that the Mock Draft posts have shown up on BTB. That sends a cold shiver down the spine of any Cowboys devotee.
As someone who has read many of the big name business books on management, leadership and how to be successful against a backdrop of corporate ladder-climbing and capitalism at its best and worst, I think I know how this stuff works. And yet, I am constantly in awe of the way Jerry Jones masterfully waives his magic wand at the NFL, the sports publications and web sites, the cable TV networks and, most importantly, the casual, everyday fan. That’s right boys and girls, not only are Dallas Cowboys fans hinging on every word about the Cowboys, but so are fans of the Raiders, the Patriots, the Jets and the Chargers. Fans of every NFL team from every part of the country will grab the remote and raise the volume on the TV when they see Jerry on there talking about his 3-7 franchise.
For a team that has no business being the lead story on ESPN Sportscenter and NFL Network Total Access, there they are…again!
How does he do it?!? Quite simply, he has a visceral understanding of human nature in a way most of us can only imagine.
Consider the firing of Wade Phillips at midseason. Jerry had never made a coaching change at midseason before (although there are times he really should have). He could have hired or promoted ANYONE to take the job of Head Coach. So this time it’s Jason Garrett putting his best foot forward in an 8-game interview for the permanent job. But it’s not about Jason. This is not about anyone other than the big boss. Just like Freddy Krueger, he won’t let you sleep without thinking about him and his football franchise. The Cowboys may be dead as far as a playoff run is concerned, but Jerry Krueger is in the heads of anyone and everyone who watches and cares about football. People go on living their lives outside of Elm Street, but Jerry always finds a way to make himself notable.
Jerry, like Michelangelo, conjures up the most dramatic and cinematically appealing backdrop on which to depict Dallas’ successes and failures. Regardless of how important OR impotent they are to the playoff picture in any given year, the Cowboys are omnipresent and remain relevant (if not paramount) to any NFL conversation.
It’s in the way his injured starting QB is always sporting the latest Cowboys outerwear on the sideline. It’s in Garrett’s mock turtleneck. I want me one of those for when I go snowboarding. It’s in the way he maintains relationships with guys like Gruden, Cowher and others to stoke the fires of who might be the head coach if it turns out that it isn’t Jason Garrett. It’s in the signing and subsequent cutting of T.O. Tank and Pac. It’s in the way he can hire pole dancers for his palatial sports venue and juxtapose that kind of artistic endeavor with more traditional fine modern art.
Who else do you know that can pull that off? Nobody. He’s it.
For all of his rumbling, bumbling and stumbling when it comes to building a winning football organization and a sound infrastructure, Jerry is still the best when it comes to how to manipulate public opinion. He leads the league in controlling perception among his team’s fans and non-fans alike. As a result, he is the dominant voice in any caucus of NFL owners and every other owner wants to be Jerry. He is the NFL’s premier marketer. He is the Master.
In what has truly been the Season of Jerry…
GO COWBOYS!!!
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Master and Disaster
As an NFL team owner, JJ is the best in the business. He has made the Cowboys into America’s team and always keeps them (for better and for worst) in high media attention. He is the master marketer and a savvy business man. And he will open up his pocketbook to make his franchise a global phenomena and to keep them prevelant and competitive. He has only one real flaw as an owner…he won’t fire his GM.
While a master amongst the NFL owners, it is easily debated that he is a disaster as GM.
Nice post though. It’s good to see someone talking about the Dr. Jekyll to JJ’s Mr. Hyde.
"Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."
"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." - Tom Landry
M&D
I agree with the dichotomy of Master Owner and the Disaster GM. He is truly an amazing guy, and frustrating at the same time.
However, I disagree with your assertion that Jerry made the Cowboys into Americas’ Team. I believe one of the reasons he bought the Dallas Cowboys is because the Organization’s brand as America’s Team has already been well established when be bought the franchise and he understood then, as he does now, that the brand has precious few equals in the entire sporting world.
by Cowboy.Louie on Nov 22, 2010 2:54 PM CST up reply actions
I think you will see Jerry change his operating model this offseason...
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
I agree
I think that the Cowboys will emerge from the lockout with the following structure:
Owner and CEO: Jerry Jones
Director of Football Operations and GM: Stephen Jones
Head Coach: That’s the million dollar question.
by Cowboy.Louie on Nov 22, 2010 7:26 PM CST up reply actions
Not so Sure
I think we already have that structure but Jones sticks his big nose into the grocery buying business . . . I expect to see this:
Owner and CEO: Jerry Jones
Director of Football Operations: Stephen Jones
GM: ten milliion dollar question, over three years.
Head Coach: Jason Garrett
Me Too
Me thinks Jerry will have a Tuna II moment. I expect a GM sort of like what is going on in Cleveland. One of these Big Name Coaches like a terminated or resigned Fisher or a Gruden will take big money to come and consult with Jerry as a GM and personnel manager . . . I think Garret is smart enough to know he has his hands full as the HC without the responsibility as GM personnel manager; not to say Jason can’t dial up and say, hey give me an H Back or a true full back or a real safety who can hit and cover
Jerry would never let the coach call the personnel shots
That just isn’t in his DNA.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Did you know it’s pronounced, Jeek-el, not Jeck-el?
The author of the book was pretty adamant about it being pronounced correctly, the first movie that was based on the book actually managed to do so but all of the movies after didn’t and those are the ones that stuck. Fun fact, back to the Cowboys discussion.
I didn't know that
…good information for my Delta flights where I have to play in-flight trivia!
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Too much for my own good
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
"He has made the Cowboys into America’s team"
WTF???
Seriously, WTF?
by RisingSunCowboy on Nov 24, 2010 12:46 AM CST up reply actions
More accurately:
the franchise has endured as America’s team despite Jones the GM’s folley for fifteen years (and counting) . . . in the meantime, the Steelers and Patriots have taken our lunch money and relegated Dallas to the back of the bus with respect to long term dynasty and championship production.
America's Team
The name came before JJ, that is true. The history of the franchise was cemented before he arrived. BUT, I was using it more in the business/franchise analysis. The Dallas Cowboys are now the most valued sports franchise in all of the US (higher than the Yankees!) and surpassed by only Manchester United when looking at ALL sports teams around the world. That was all Jerry. The Cowboys had the name and pedigree, but let’s face it, it was JJ that handled the 90’s dynasty and made the money. (I believe) The franchise now makes more in a year than what JJ bought them for.
"Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."
"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." - Tom Landry
I understand what you are saying. Great points about jerry's business acumen. The guy has been revolutionary in that respect
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
I agree that he is a good businessman.
And has been a great owner in that respect.
by RisingSunCowboy on Nov 24, 2010 6:50 PM CST up reply actions
Which Begs The Question:
. . . why is he such a poor GM that could go 15 years without sniffing a championship?
There is a difference between building a business and building a team.
There are probably a bunch of good GM and HC’s that would run a business into bankruptcy.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Nov 25, 2010 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
That is True . . .
but being smart is knowing what you don’t know; recognizing your limitations . . . great Presidents are remembered and all had great help at key spots in their administrations. That is the part that is unfathomable to me; how Jerry can’t realize and then know he is a bonehead at GM
I think his real failure as a GM has been the draft
I think the team has been a poor drafting team since Jimmy left.
Other than that, they’ve managed the cap, brought in some valued FA’s and continued to keep butts in seats.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
It is the Draft, sure . . .
but I find fault with a more over arching talent acquisition strategy. Obviously Dallas got caught short and with their pants down this year at oline and at safety. Sensy has been perhaps average and Ball is a failed project at safety. Dallas has no depth at oline and few prospects for quality backups. Dallas could have signed a free agent center two seasons ago; they could have drafted one in any of the last two seasons. Just one example, but I see a failure in using all means of acquiring talent and fitting this into a complete roster. I think Jerry buys his own baloney when it comes to the roster – probably thinking his stars like Roy Receiver and MBIII and Sensybaugh and Spencer will pull the Balls and Marty Bs along
I put alot of that on more people than just Jerry as well.
Lets face it, Bill’s FA acquistions for the most part were poor as well as were some of Wade’s.
Sensi, Ball, and the defensive guys, I’m quite positive Wade had a huge saying on.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
Good point
It has come out in various reports that Wade did order up people and Jerry listend to these requests.
But the masses are starting to catch on
Wilbon stated very early in the season, the Cowboys were the Notre Dame of the NFL – vastly overrated and overexposed. Commentators were calling DAL, ‘the most talked about 1-7 team in NFL history.’ And not in a good way. DET attendance was 2nd lowest in 13 games played so far at Cowboys Stadium.
JJ will never stop pointing out the sizzle, now matter how unpalatable the steak is. It is and always will be a commercial calculation. The problem, is, that’s not always the best football calculation. And to think otherwise is naivete bordering on willful ignorance.
Which may finally prove unsustainable over the long run – money and time will be the ultimate factors of change
We live life forwards and understand it backwards
The Rest of the NFL . . .
. . . hopes Jerry lives to be 140 years old and that he retains his GM role. Fans are fans; we love our team . . . that is the nature of the beast. However, in these leaner economic times, even Jerry is gonna feel the cold rush of diminished cash flow if continues to flounder as a GM – especially given Jerry World
Asute....
Both you guys on this site and JJ as a businessman.
5Blings: well-written, insightful, humorous article; bang on.
Kegbearer: other than the America’s team assertion (believe you simply mis-spoke; Louie’s right), you nailed it.
Cowboy.Louie: your amazing/frustrating expression defines the dichotomy of many fans’ evalution/feelings of the man; classic. JJ’s an amazingly frustrating guy.
tdships: nailed the danger to the brand and if there’s one thing JJ understands it’s brand.
So good to read what other fans think and know you aren’t alone. Thanks, guys.
Now, to be in JJ’s position back in ‘89, anteing up your worth to buy the team of your heart’s desire…. (could’ve been the Chargers earlier, apparently)
Can’t say I would make similar mistakes and would just hope I was capable of similar successes.
Good Read Blings
Jerry can be frustrating as hell. He is willing to open the wallet to build the team, but sometimes the investments go south on him and put him in cap trouble. Makes for a roller coaster ride. It’s usually fun though.
Dallas is in a remarkably good cap position next year
I think they paid money they didn’t need to, but in the world of capology, they’re in great shape to pursue big money FA’s if they so desire.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Interested in Your Take
on free agency and the bargaining agreement. My understanding is the draft goes forward a usual. I also understand the free agency period will open as usual and will be open before a lockout. So, for example, someone could sign Vick to big money deal before the lockout. This if true would seem to open the door to teams and owners with money that are willing to spend to have a bit of an opportunity to get a leg up since more frugal teams will be reluctant to spend if lockout is likely . . . and, would we have an “extra” free agency period if the lockout ends a new agreement is in place . . . boy my mind is going crazy, we could use a couple of linemen and a safety and a corner. . .
I believe there would be some kind of modification to what we know as the Free Agency signing period
…if and when a new deal is struck.
But that is purely conjecture on my part.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
First rec from here....
Great stuff.
I always find it strange how the media says, “The Cowboys are overrated every year” and yet its like “ummm you are the guys doing it”.
Dallas is probably the only team in the NFL that can be in the spotlight no matter what.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
Thanks IF
Yes, I don’t think anyone cared what was going on in Pittsburgh when Tommy Maddox was there.
Nobody cares about the Niners now. You never hear about them.
But even at 1-7, Dallas takes center stage…amazing.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
I despise the man & it is not a love/hate thing.
I follow the Cowboys because of Landry/Staubach/Schramm/Brandt/Murchison & the people associated with that team. For 2+ decades, the product they put on the field & the manner in which they did it made me proud to support this organization. The Cowboys were followed natoinwide & even internationally well before jj came to town. They were America’s team because of those guys, not jj.
He is an egomaniac. He disgusts me. His first real move was to fire Landry & he did it in what has become all-too-familiar dumbass jj fashion. He was hated by the fans of the Cowboys for the way he did that.
I loved Jimmy for what he did for the organization from a football standpoint. And Jimmy was pretty classy. When he had had enough of jj, he left. I hate that it happened, but knowing jj the way I do now, I cannot really fault jimmy for it.
jj is a promoter, a marketer. And what he loves promoting more than anything else is jj. If that were not true, he would not be GM. He has failed the organization badly for years going on decades. I love the Cowboys. I despise jj.
"You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a 2x4." -- Dan Birdwell, Oakland Raiders
Hmmm
And Jimmy was pretty classy.
I have a lot of respect for Jimmy’s talents. However, I don’t think “classy” is a word I would have associated with him when he was coach of the Cowboys.
Landry is another story altogether.
The fact is, we FIND reasons to love a winner. Jimmy was a winner and that’s the beginning and end of it.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Well...
That statement was in relation to the one that followed it about the breakup & jj. But you & I maybe can agree to disagree on Jimmy’s class. No one had Landry’s class, not many have jj’s crass either.
jj is considered a winner by many. I FIND no reasons to love him. People consider Switzer a winner. I find no reasons to love him.
My post was about jj, not Jimmy.
"You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a 2x4." -- Dan Birdwell, Oakland Raiders
Did you read 'Boys will be Boys'?
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Is it required?
"You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a 2x4." -- Dan Birdwell, Oakland Raiders
Absolutely!!!
It will impact how you see Jimmy.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Totally agree.
It’s a good look on his strengths and his weaknesses as a coach.
As good of a coach as Jimmy did, the fact that he struck gold on so many draft picks was just amazing.
I think his biggest quality was able to manage so many different personalities.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
At some point, his personality was the biggest of them all
He was the anti-Walsh.
In that moment where Jimmy’s players were pushing and shoving the 49ers prior to the NFC Championship game, I knew this team had taken on a swagger and confidence level bordering on cockyness that allowed them to “bully” the stoic, finesse 49ers.
His personna had become the true face of the Dallas Cowboys and it was manifested in the way the entire organization behaved on the field, off the field and in the war room.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
A couple of points
When Bum Bright sold the team, he knew the new owners would let Landry go. I do not fault Jerry for that move.
On class, I was a valet when I was in college and had a chance to meet Landry, Johnson, and Jones.
Landry was down to earth, even seemed to enjoy talking to us while he waited on his wife to finish her goodbyes.
Johnson liked to party but wisely did not drive himself home on either occasion I met him. Outgoing and a good tipper.
Jerry was nice enough but got the impression he was a glad hander. Last time I parked his car, he reached into his pocket to pull out nothing. Sorry, he said, catch you next time.
I like Jerry as an owner but wish he let Stephen take the football reins. Jerry can be head cheerleader. We can put him up on one of the Miller Lite poles!
Wow, that's pretty cool that you interacted with all of them...
I’m not sure if your insight is deep enough to know the true character of these men, but I really value your input because you DID have a chance to make a comparison of sorts.
I think Jimmy was a real SOB and his way of getting the team to circle the wagons was to make himself a scarier, more ominous presence than any opponent the team faced. Personally, I think his character and temperament was the right one for such a young and impressionable team.
But he was what he was. I don’t think the same way of doing business worked as well with a largely veteran team in Miami.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Nothing beats...
first-hand experience. Thanks for sharing your impressions. Agree with 5Blings on the depth of insight point, but I think those kind of first-hand interactions can be extremely telling nonetheless. You get a feeling for the person, so to speak. Hard to express and can only rely on a quote:
“Judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”
Man, Landry. Envy ya that.
It's why you play the game.
"Sorry, he said, catch you next time."
Man, I can’t stand cheap-skates. I just lost some more of what little respect I have of Jerrah.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Nov 24, 2010 2:24 PM CST up reply actions
Yes, about Bum Bright.
In fact, the new film about Landry pointed out that Bright took a lesser offer from Jones specifically because he said he was bringing in his own coach.
"We'll see." --Bill Parcells
True
. . . I agree with your statements except I still love Jerry the Owner and Jerry the Marketer even as I hate and want to strangle Jerry the GM.
It seems that Jerry has always believed
himself to be a good judge of football talent. I am surprised that as a business person he hasn’t surrounded himself with a better advisory group of football people to assist him in the important personel matters. Millions of dollars are at stake as well as the growth of the team. Ego maybe. Business men can usually get past that when the bottom line is at stake.
He watched Tuna VERY closely...
I personally think Jerry believes he can replicate the same kinds of results in terms of talent evaluation with Cisky as his primary source of info.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Jerry Believes
but evidence proves Jerry sucks at putting together a championship roster (anyone could have done it after the Herschel trade and with Aikman already in the refrigerator) . . . since then, Jerry gets a D -. If he were a college student, he would have been sent home a long time ago for failure to maintain a minimum GPA – as a GM. Worse, he makes the same mistakes . . . trading high picks for over rated receivers, relying upon retreads at ILB, reaching for talent no one else rates that high YUK on Jerry the GM
Would you have given him the same grade when we had beaten Philly last year in the wild card round?
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Didn't Jerrah say something like "there are 500 guys who can coach this team"
when Jimmy left? That right there tells me what kind of ego Jerrah has. It makes me sick to think that Jerrah will be the GM of the Cowboys until I die. (even though Jerrah is older than me)
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Nov 23, 2010 1:59 PM CST up reply actions
He was right though...
500 guys CAN coach this team.
He didn’t say they could win a bling. He just said they could coach.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
He said that when he brought in Switzer and he absolutely meant they could win bling.
In other words, he was saying “I am so great and I put together such a great team that I don’t need Jimmy Johnson. There are 500 guys who can coach this great team that I put together and win the super bowl.”
By saying that he also implied that he is so great that he would continue to put together great teams, year after year, without needing a good coach.
His ego makes me sick.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Nov 24, 2010 2:30 PM CST up reply actions
His ego had a lot to do with building value in his property
…which then provided the cash flow to sign guys like Deion when Kevin Smith went down with an achilles injury…which then led to our 5th bling.
Things have a way of being connected even though we may not see those connections on the surface.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Yeah, I know.
I just think his ego has done more harm than good. 6 years and 3 SB’s versus 15 years and 2 playoff wins. (with one of those wins being the year after our last SB)
His ego is great for the Cowboys business and brand but in my opinion, not for the team.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Nov 25, 2010 11:18 AM CST up reply actions
An owner of lesser ego might have kept Landry in place and tried to make tweaks to help the team
Ego is a funny thing. It can be a weakness or a strength. It just depends on the situation.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Yeah, he probably does believe that, but the results don't exactly bear it out.
Seems like Parcells is looking around for something to do. What do you think are the chances of Jerry bringing Big Bill back as a consultant?
"We'll see." --Bill Parcells
I think they had their falling out just as he and Jimmy did
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
jj loves jj more than he loves anything, including the Cowboys.
Decades without a whiff of a SB don’t seem to have tempered that. It is crushing the organization.
Stephen needs to buy him a Tom Benson umbrella & send him out to pasture, preferably in Europe.
"You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a 2x4." -- Dan Birdwell, Oakland Raiders
I disagree
He is the primary shareholder (he’s the ONLY shareholder) and has created tremendous value over his 2 decades.
I’m a critic of the GM but I’m a fan of the work he has done as owner (Landry debacle notwithstanding).
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
I disagree with your disagreement
He has created zero SB’s without jimmy.
And the ‘value’ you cite is really just bs. What good is it without championships?
It’s similar to the ‘value’ he created before this year convincing everyone we were a SB contender. It’s an empty shell without championships. It’s the clown car without the circus.
"You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a 2x4." -- Dan Birdwell, Oakland Raiders
What good is it?
Jerry has 1.8 BILLION reasons to say it’s GOOD.
:-)
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Great. You are right and that is actually my point.
Jerry is a great BUSINESS man. If I wanted to root for a business, I would go cheer for microsoft.
I prefer to root for the Dallas Cowboys football team. You said:
I’m a critic of the GM but I’m a fan of the work he has done as owner (Landry debacle notwithstanding).This is where we disagree. I am a critic of the GM too, but I am also a critic of the owner for not firing the GM.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Nov 25, 2010 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
How many GM's in this league do you know that have EVER resigned?
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Most people hate getting paid well...
oh wait…
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
Look, if Matt Millen wouldn't quit...nobody will
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
That is my point. The worst thing Jerrah did was make himself the GM in the first year.
He will never quit and will never fire himself. We are doomed until he dies.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Nov 29, 2010 2:44 PM CST up reply actions
jj loves jj more than he loves anything, including the Cowboys.
jj loves jj more than he loves anything, including the Cowboys, save and except money.
Jerry's ego is in play now
He’s too old to worry about the money.
It’s his legacy that is at issue and building a winner is at the very top of his list. Nothing subjugates that goal.
That’s why I think things will change this offseason.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
I agree.
I do think that Jerry loves the Cowboys intensely. I just think that he feels like its his toy so he should be able to play with it how he likes.
I think this is going to go to a Tuna like draft the next few years.
I’ll say this, and I don’t blame this all on Jerry, some of it can go on Wade, but NO MORE PROJECT PLAYERS.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
So my hopes of drafting the next Isaiah Stanback are low?
How about Woody Dantzler?
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
btw
Loved your “Jerry’s ego” point. If you’re right and it is, it could be the decisive factor.
It's why you play the game.
I think it's the ONLY thing that will move Jerry
Stephen may have to help him see it, but like I said, there’s no other lever here.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Agree 100%
You hit the nail on the head. My “if you’re right” is about it being in play.
It's why you play the game.
I’ve got a couple of projects we had on the team. Tony Romo and Miles Austin. Maybe we can temper down on projects but all in all when they work they work well. And when they don’t we have Ball at starting safety and Williams cut from the team.
That's a good point
…but I find myself asking the question (again)…
How good IS Tony Romo?
I wonder if this offense is better off knowing that their QB can’t extend the play for an extra 3-4 seconds on his own.
I wonder if this offense is better when the QB drops back 5 steps and just delivers the ball (hit or miss) rather than trying to do too much to make a play.
I wonder if Kitna has more of a leadership presence than Romo.
I wonder…
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
That's fine but the class of 2012 looks pretty cruddy as far as can't miss blue chippers go.
What I really wonder is how much McGee is soaking up in case he ever challenges for the throne.
Haha
how can you evaluate the class of 2012 this year?
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
Educated guess.
Of course I always leave the possibility open that I’m wrong and there’s a guy there at pick 32 worth selecting. I’m also assuming that Luck comes out in this upcoming draft.
I'm just saying...
that you have QBs that will get better or haven’t even started yet.
Luck will come out this year, but you’ll have Matt Barkley who will end up being a top 10 pick more than likely.
QB’s emerge all the time, so its hard to say.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
Luck will come out unless he believes there will be a lockout
…but you don’t know who the “new” Andrew Luck’s and Jake Locker’s will be in 2012.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
UDFA projects...
are a little different than drafting them in the 4th and 3rd round(Jason Williams)
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
Excellent point
Draft picks, especially given our GLARING needs, need to be low risk. We need solid picks on the O-line and at Safety.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Yep
Rounds 5-7 you can play around… but 1st through 4th should be safer.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
Unfortunatly...
I think that O-line will have to wait until 2nd round unless Dallas can trade down.
This really isn’t the year for a top 10 pick in an offensive lineman.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
No, but there's a safety at my alma mater (UCLA) that would look good with a star on his helmet
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
You think he's a top 10 pick though?
I think he’s a first rounder, but I don’t know if he’s a top 10 pick.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
I think he stands out on an underachieving team
He’s better than Nate Allen. He’s going to make a huge impact if he gets into the right situation.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
umm........
I have NO problem with the projects:
McCann, Austin, Romo
I would love me some more projects
Again...
They were low risk players. Dallas didn’t invest much into them. I guess I should have referred to the higher picks on this team.
Was 5Blings the only person who got whom and what I was referring too?
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
With the mention of Stanback & Dantzler I believe I understood the gist of your post
And I agree. We’re in a critical and fleeting spot in time where 2 or 3 players could make the difference between awesome & this season.
All teams need project players, you might find a Romo or Austin or McCann here and there, but you don’t sell out multiple drafts to trade down & down so you can draft more projects.
Spend the time to draft who you need, rather than continue quoting the mantra “the best value on the board at our pick slot” (paraphrase).
I think the thing to really take from this post & comments is how well will RHG (I believe he would have to piss in JJ’s desk chair to lose the HC job next year) and Stephen can ‘manage’ JJ.
I’ve had to ‘manage’ my senior leadership all too many times in my career. But if you do it right, you can let them think it was their genius to draft here or trade there and we can fill the really bad spots with 2 or 3 good draft/FA acquisitions.
We MUST have a RG next year and we need a RT although I think Colombo can make it maybe one more year if he has support inside and a TE or RB chipping off his hip. And we need a real FS!
When in doubt, empty your magazine
I'm smart like that
:-)
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
LOL - not quite, PC could actually run a route & catch a ball ;-)
When in doubt, empty your magazine
Stanback just kept getting hurt, I.I.R.C. – but he still hasn’t developed into any player of note so I will concede that.
My main thing is it was a project player in the same mold of 1 that was highly successful for us already.
7th rounder
Difference between a 7th and a 4th, do you not agree?
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
I'm guessing it has something to do with a "3"
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
He wasn't much when he WAS healthy
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
If you mean the same PC who got traded for a 7th round pick?
…the same guy who most people will remember mostly for his drop in the playoff against the Giants.?
Yeah, just like him.
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
Undrafted(or close enough) guys who stuck.
Huge difference. Every team has camp bodies. So kudos to Jerry and company for seeing the potential in these UNDRAFTED guys and allowing them to develop but that doesn’t excuse drafting hybrids in the 4th round and expecting them to develop into the next great deep threat receiver.
Also even if Martellus does someday start for this team the whole little philosophy of having to blow multiple 2nd-round picks for the dagblasted 2nd tight end just right for THIS system just wasn’t very practical at all. Having a versatile 2nd tight end who can block and catch and line up as a lead blocker just isn’t as valuable if your interior O-line is a bunch of slobs and nitwits.
But Martellus can block like a O-Line!!!!!
AND so can ROY WIlliams!!!!! LOL
"Of all the things I have lost , I miss my mind the most-Mark Twain
"There is a fine line between Genius and Insanity"-Oscar Levant
I’m not taking anything for granted until I’m sure they’re dead. Dallas is like Freddy Krueger
by Tracer Bullet on Nov 14, 2010 5:02 PM EST
by I draft the Cowboys!!!! on Nov 26, 2010 10:57 AM CST up reply actions
Absolutely. How many 2nd round O-linemen has this team not taken a flyer on because of a flawed drafting strategy?
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
- John Wooden (God rest his soul)
For those that Jerry frustrates
Recalled two comments. From rabblerousr’s On Jerry Jones and Cultural Change: What’s a Cowboy Fan To Do? (recommended read for those that haven’t)
fivetwos:
Screw Jerry. I was here first. This is MY team. I’ll out live him if that’s what it takes.
rabblerouser:
This team has been in my blood for a long time—too long, certainly, for me to shift allegiances. So, I’ll have to wait it out. I’m sure most of you will adopt the same strategy.
rabblerousr classed fivetwos comment an “instant classic”. Agreed, instant I read’em.
For me, they both told me I was in the right place.
It's why you play the game.
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