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He lauded the efforts of vice president Stephen Jones, assistant director of player personnel Will McClay and the coaching staff, led by coach Jason Garrett, for the personnel moves that paved the way for the Cowboys’ 12-4 record, NFC East title and a playoff win for the first time since 2009.
“What really came to play this year as much as anytime, was standing on the shoulders of Stephen, standing on the shoulders of Will, standing on the shoulders of a great staff of not just personnel, but also a real inclusive, led by Jason, group of coaches to help us evaluate and make decisions,” a proud yet magnanimous Jerry Jones said.
“And it was a good experience. And it was one that we had some success in it. And so I know this is an old cliche, but that recognition really is for this organization.”
More and more with the Cowboys these days, the decisions and direction of the organization are about team leaders more than the elder Jones, age 72.
And the others are clearly led by Stephen Jones, also the director of player personnel, who has emerged as the most powerful voice on the Cowboys.
Consider the events of Tuesday and Wednesday at the Senior Bowl when Jones was asked if maligned cornerback Morris Claiborne had shown him enough to justify the club picking up the fifth option on his rookie contract
“Yes,” Jerry Jones said quickly and unequivocally on Tuesday. “Yes, I do.”
The Cowboys have until May 3 to exercise the fifth-year option, triggering an $11 million salary for Claiborne in 2016. The salary is fully guaranteed for injury.
Keep in mind that Claiborne has yet to live up to expectations since being taken with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft and is considered a bust by all accounts.
He lost his starting job in 2013 and suffered a season-ending torn patella tendon in 2014.
Claiborne has a disappointing 29 career starts, 15 pass deflections and three interceptions.
What’s more concerning is it’s not even a guarantee that he will be healthy to start the 2015 season.
So the idea that he’s shown enough to justify an $11 million salary for 2016 that is fully guaranteed for injury is ludicrous.
Stephen Jones provided the voice of reason when asked a similar question at the Senior Bowl on Wednesday.
“It’s something that we still have to look at,” Stephen Jones said. “When we sit down and take a look at what we have to do underneath our salary cap that plays into it. So we have to look at his health. We have to really measure everything.”
Some in the Cowboys organization believe Jerry Jones didn’t understand the original question. Stephen Jones dismissed it as his father showing support for a draft pick.
“You know, Jerry is always going to compliment our players; I think he thinks more of our guys than anybody,” Stephen Jones said.
The bottom line is that no decision has been made.
“That’s still to be determined,” Stephen Jones said. “We’ve got to see how he recovers, how his rehab goes, how his progress is. We’ll make those types of decisions accordingly. We think a lot of Mo. We’re still believers that if Mo had a fully healthy off season and a fully healthy season that he would play up to our expectations. But you know that’s just something we have to manage in terms of the money.”
When it comes to managing the money as well as the decisions on players, Stephen Jones has the heaviest hand on the Cowboys.
Jerry Jones told a story last week about when he signed Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders to a then-record-setting signing bonus of $12.9 million in 1995. He said Stephen Jones pushed him up against a door with his elbow on his neck trying to change his mind about spending that kind of money.
Of course, Jerry Jones won that bout.
Much has changed in 20 years. Stephen Jones, 50, is the heavyweight decision-maker on the Cowboys now.
You got the first inkling when he convinced his dad to cut disruptive receiver Terrell Owens following the 2008 season.
It was Stephen Jones who spearheaded the cap-managing, offseason moves that won Jerry Jones the 2014 Executive of the Year Award, including the release of defensive end DeMarcus Ware and letting defensive tackle Jason Hatcher walk in free agency.
It was Stephen Jones who prevented owner Jerry Jones from selecting Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft, choosing guard Zack Martin, who was named first-team All-Pro as a rookie.
Stephen Jones will be the one deciding the final numbers on potential free-agent contracts for receiver Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray.
And he is the one who will has the clear and unencumbered view on whether the Cowboys have seen enough to pick up the fifth-year option on Claiborne.
The notion that it hasn’t been decided means that it’s already been decided.
The Cowboys have until May 3, and Claiborne won’t be healthy at that time.
There is no way you can answer the Claiborne question with a yes.
Stephen Jones didn’t.
Clarence Hill covers the Cowboys for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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