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Latest Cowboys headlines: Jerry Jones did it his way, and the NFL came to like it; Social media celebrates Jerry Jones; more.
Jerry Jones did it his way, and the NFL came to like it - Cedric Golden, American-Statesman
The Cowboys owner is without a doubt a deserving Hall of Famer.
Remember when our parents and grandparents erupted after Jones fired the beloved Tom Landry as coach and replaced him with the brazen rookie NFL coach Jimmy Johnson? It was the worst first impression imaginable.
NFL owners bristled, too, when Jones made side deals with major companies. The league had agreements with Coke and Visa, but Jerry brokered ones with Pepsi and American Express. The league sued him for $350 million for not following its long-standing procedures. Jerry countersued for twice that amount. The league backed down, and now Jones’ business acumen is the gold standard by which all others are measured.
Remember chuckling when he plunked down $1.3 billion to build a spaceship disguised as a football stadium? Yep, that worked out, too. AT&T Stadium has become the most sought-after facility in the state, home to everything from Super Bowls to NBA All-Star games to George Strait concerts.
That said, the ultimate maverick owner went from being viewed as a hayseed who figured to become one constant nightmare for the other 31 owners to being one of the most respected businessmen on the planet. While other owners had billions before they bought NFL teams, Jones made most of his billions with the Cowboys.
Jerry Jones' legacy is secure, but Cowboys owner not done thinking big - Todd Archer ESPN
He's now enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but Jerry Jones won't be truly content until his Cowboys win a fourth Super Bowl in his tenure.
In reality, whether he had a bust in Canton or not, the league’s history could not be written without Jones, but Saturday’s ceremony was the final confirmation of Jones’ move from ultimate outsider to the insider’s insider.
There is one thing left for Jones which would spend any amount of money: the franchise’s sixth Super Bowl and fourth of his ownership run.
“We need to win,” Jones said last week after a training-camp practice. “We need to continue to build this foundation we have right now. The No. 1 thing from this point forward is to win a Super Bowl. We can’t rest on our laurels as a team. I sure can’t rest on any laurels in my position. When I look at opportunities ahead for the future, I see a brighter future ahead for the team as well as the NFL. I see more opportunities than I did 29 years ago. I want to be a part of it. I’m going to be very active.”
“I’m doing the best I’ve done, right now, relative to the league. I really do,” Jones said recently. “... I’ve really got a lot of energy, spent a lot of time. This is the most ground I’ve covered since I’ve owned the team, in terms of activity.”
Jerry Jones' Full Hall Of Fame Induction Speech - Dallas Cowboys
In case you missed it, here's Jerry Jones giving his speech during his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
It was a great speech. Watch Jerry crush it if you haven't already.
Jerry Jones throws bouquets at Jimmy Johnson during Hall speech – Charean Williams, ProFootballTalk
Williams, who got a mention herself in Jerry's Hall speech, writes about how Jimmy Johnson had a prominent role in Jerry's speech.
For those wondering whether Jerry Jones would mention Jimmy Johnson on Saturday, they didn’t have long to wait. It was only four minutes into the Cowboys owner’s rousing 36-minute Hall of Fame speech that he brought up Johnson’s name.
Jones then talked about Johnson twice more – mentioning Johnson’s hiring and then his departure from the Cowboys after five seasons.
Johnson, on stage as Jason Taylor’s presenter, gave Jones a thumbs-up before clapping his hands together in thanks.
Hall of Fame: Social media celebrates the induction of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones - Michael Sisemore, Blogging The Boys
Sisemore provides a comprehensive run-down of the social media reaction to last night enshrinement ceremony. Well worth checking out.
Jerry Jones throws wild Hall of Fame party that reportedly costs $16 million - John Breech, CBSSports.com
Jerry Jones sure knows how to throw a party, and this article has a rundown of all the social media highlights from the Friday night event that included a Justin Timberlake concert, custom-printed napkins, and a tribute video featuring two former presidents.
None Of The Last 13 Winners Of The Hall Of Fame Game Won A Playoff Game That Year - Darrell Lincoln, Total Pro Sports
Well, that's one streak that's going to come to an end this year.
Hall of Fame game gets better ratings than most NBA and MLB playoff games - Frank Schwab, Yahoo
Hey, remember all those stories about the NFL's television ratings crisis? Fun times.
According to Sports Media Watch, 8.2 million people tuned in to watch the Hall of Fame game. Sports Media Watch put that number in perspective: The highest-rated game in the NBA playoffs, before the Finals, was 8.1 million. The Major League Baseball playoffs, with both the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians making gripping runs to the World Series, had only one game with better ratings than Thursday’s meaningless Hall of Fame game. When the Cubs clinched their first World Series berth since 1945 in the final game of the NLCS against the fellow big-market Los Angeles Dodgers, it had 9.7 million viewers. Every other MLB playoff game before the World Series had less than 8 million viewers, Sports Media Watch said.
Just remember this when the latest round of “NFL has a ratings crisis!” stories are written. Once the Hall of Fame game starts getting fewer viewers than a majority of basketball and baseball playoff games, then there might be room for a real discussion.
Will The Dallas Cowboys Make The Playoffs? Betting Odds Favor Postseason Appearance - Antony Riccobono, IBT
Vegas likes the Cowboys' chances this year.
Westgate Las Vegas Super Book gives Dallas -200 odds to reach the playoffs, putting their odds of missing the postseason at +175.
Only the New England Patriots are given a better chance to win Super Bowl LII. Dallas has 8-1 odds to win their first title in 21 years.
Cowboys’ Brice Butler finally earning some respect - RJ Ochoa, Blogging The Boys
Could this be the season that everything finally comes together for Butler? Ochoa thinks so.
All offseason long the narrative has been that Brice Butler is expendable, isn’t going to make this team, and isn’t really much of a whole lot in any sort of capacity. It’s time to let all of that go and respect this man.
Brice Butler is arguably the best in the NFL at what he is to the Cowboys - WR4. Find a fourth, arguably fifth considering Ryan Switzer, wide receiver on any NFL team that you would rather have over Brice Butler. It’s difficult to do because there isn’t an option that makes sense.
6’3”. 220 lbs.. This is the frame of a wide receiver that can do some damage in the NFL. There’s no question that Brice is gifted both physically and athletically, it seems like those traits are starting to translate themselves into production on the football field for the Cowboys.
Who else wants to board this ride? The only requirement is that you finally show some respect to Brice Butler, it’s long overdue.
Lewis Neal is fighting for his shot - Scott Rabalais, theadvocate.com
The Louisiana Advocate takes a look at a hometown boy on the Cowboys roster.
Lewis Neal got to play some significant minutes in reserve for the Cowboys. He wasn’t credited with a tackle, lamenting that he missed out on a sack that could have been one of those highlights that sticks in the minds of the Cowboys’ coaches and front office when roster cuts come.
“I feel I can keep doing better and keep making more strides,” Neal said. “The first preseason game is out of the way now. The jitters are out. Now it’s time to keep improving every day from this game.”
He has a real chance to make the team. Not as rock solid a role as La'el Collins has, mind you, but a real chance. Especially in the wake of suspensions to defensive linemen Damontre Moore and David Irving for two and four regular-season games, respectively. If Neal doesn’t land a permanent spot this season on the 53-man roster, his prospects for at least making the practice squad are improving.
“I’m just soaking it in,” Neal said. “This is my dream. I’m going to do what I can to get better.”
No rumor, Barry Switzer and Ryan Switzer are cousins - Clarence Hill, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Turns out the Switzers may be related after all.
"Yeah. It’s no rumor," Barry Switzer said while sitting in the audience at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction of owner Jerry Jones. "Our family tree, we go back to South Carolina. We’re out of South Carolina, Spartanburg, Orangeburg County, Spartanburg, there’s a town called Switzer in that county. It’s an old crossroads community. They got a Switzer Baptist Church. Switzer Cemetery. His people went north. Mine went down south to Mississippi and on over to Arkansas and Texas."
Why other Dallas Cowboys could benefit from standards once imposed on Dez Bryant - Jenny Carlson, The Oklahoman
Dez Bryant had his struggles once upon a time, but now he's become a voice of reason in the Cowboys' locker room, Carlson writes.
The former Oklahoma State standout had so many missteps and mistakes early in his NFL career that Jerry Jones and Co. took nearly unprecedented steps. They created "The Dez Rules". They wanted him home by midnight and cameras at his home to record all comings and goings. They mandated around-the-clock security/hand holding.
They've been rewarded with a superstar who seems to have matured. Seems to have grown up. Seems to have turned a huge corner.
Bryant didn't get to this point without getting help along the way. He likely still gets help. But at the end of the day, Dez Bryant had to decide how he was going to live his life.
He doesn't need "The Dez Rules" anymore.
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