CouchCoach
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I have one question for you regarding this owner/GM connection. What is the primary job of the owner?I hear you and sympathize with some of your frustrations about Jerry the GM.
i too have my concerns about the job he’s done as GM. There have been many decisions that I disagree with.
But, as an owner, the man is incredible. One of the greatest to ever be part of the NFL. A true innovator when it comes to revenue generation and building franchise value. He was the prime mover of the NFL going to Fox which vaulted the league’s status to the richest in sport. His ad marketing strategies set the blueprint for other owners and the league. He, more than anyone, has shown his fellow owners how to make money and elevate the NFL to the level of media, cultural and financial domination that we see today.
What he has done as an owner is going to be legendary when the book is closed. He could likely go down a the greatest owner in NFL history
When it comes to his actions with the Cowboys as owner of the team, that’s also pretty incredible don’t you think? What do we ask of owners? Number one is spend money. Spend lots of it. Jerry has never shirked from sinking hundreds of millions into the team. The stadium, the Star, training camp. No expense is too high and quality is always excellent. Only the absolute best will do for our players, coaches and football people.
The one area where his owner responsibilities could be questioned would be head coaching decisions. That line is really blurred here as to whether that’s on the GM or Owner side of things. Typically coaching hires and fires are done by the GM but with the owners buy-in and approval.
Personally, I never had a problem with the firing of Landry. It had to happen. I also felt that the Jimmy/Jerry split had plenty of blame for both of them. Letting Garrett hang around as long as he did was a mistake so if that’s an owner failing, then I’m ok with that.
Anyway, knock him for his work as a GM. Much of that criticism is well deserved. But, if you are able to separate your feelings about the two roles, I think you might see things a bit differently about the ownership side of things
Is it not to hire the GM and let him run the football operation side of it? Has this owner done that? He didn't even hire a full time GM, he's doesn't do the heavy lifting the other GM's have to do. He just walks around shooting off his mouth.
You ask what do we ask of owners? Number one is spend money? No, it is not. Number one is to run the team properly.
Years back, he was asked why he didn't hire a GM and the answer was the most revealing thing he's ever said. He said another GM might be too fearful of his job to take the risks he's willing to take. Think about that thinking. It is about doing what he wants to do, wildcatting with a NFL team and playing big shot. It has nothing to do with buidling a winning team.
That stadium and the Star and all the rest of that glitzy crap exists for one reason. He made the right hire and got the hell out of the football operation and let someone far more qualified to build a team do so. That 180'd his team from the red to the black and he was able to exploit the history of a proud franchise into billions. If not for that, he sells the team and is out of the NFL.
He's a crappy owner because of who he hired as the GM. He gives new pathetic meaning to family owned and operated.