What does letting Ireland leave for a job he'd rather have have to do with Wade?
According to you, Wade isn't going to have that much influence over personnel decisions. Jerry let a man go that was influential in making decisions around here to go to Miami, even though he could have challenged it. How is Wade not going to have influence, when Jerry is letting certain members of the scouting department go? There is obviously a vacuum that needs to be filled to a certain percentage with Wade.
If you look at it from a mathematical stand-point, Parcells is the one who took Ireland and another assitant head of scouting. Jerry said he wouldn't fill the role of Ireland, meaning there is more authority to distribute over less people, including Wade. It's obvious Jerry respects Wade's decisions.
What does Jerry extending Ratliff have to do with Wade? Jerry extended Crayton and Romo too. What's your point?
It has everything to do with Wade. Romo isn't even a valid analogy, because that was going to be done no matter what. They found their QB, and he was playing lights out. Everybody was talking about Romo and his contract was an issue in the media before Jerry even finalized one.
Ratliff, nobody expected it, and it happened suddenly. The only person talking him up all year long was Wade Phillips. Only when wade started talking, people started paying attention, and so did Jerry. Do you think he just signed him out of the blue, without the influence of Wade?
As for Crayton, that was a good deal as well based upon his performance over the long haul. And he kept returning punts, and was a solid possession receiver. Considering Wade kept him in starting as a punt returner throughout the season, I'm sure Wade also had an influence in that.
Carpenter looked to be a bust and I assume they wanted another pass rushing OLB.
A bust after one year? Maybe he looked to be a bust according to Wade, who didn't play him until the last game against the Commanders... and that is why Wade told Jerry to go get Spencer...