The answer begins with a story Johnson told to a table of Dallas staff alumni, including Arizona Cardinal assistant general manager Bob Ackles, Chicago Bear coach Dave Wannstedt, Washington Commander coach Norv Turner and their spouses, at a party during the NFL meetings in Orlando on March 21. In the midst of Johnson's narrative, Jones approached the group, drink in hand, to offer a toast.
Johnson's story was this: The day before the 1992 NFL draft, the Dallas brain-trust—Johnson, Jones and Ackles—formulated a trade to offer the Cleveland Browns. Late that day, after Jones had left the office, Cleveland coach Bill Belichick called back to say he would do the deal, and the Cowboys announced it. On draft day Jones came to the office upset that he hadn't been called when the deal was confirmed, and he asked to see Johnson. Their meeting droned on until, with only five minutes left before the start of the draft, Jones told Johnson, "You know the ESPN camera is in the draft room today. So whenever we're about to make a pick, you look at me, like we're talking about it." In other words, Make me look as if I'm a big player here, even though we all know I'm not making the picks.