Those comments are just typical garbage from Stephen Jones. Marinelli can scream all he wants, but at the end of the day, people like McClay and Jones have the accountability factor. I do admire how he can say this, yet avoid all accountability.
I can still picture Stephen Jones after that draft when discussing Taco over Watt. He appeared to regret the decision already.
McClay wanted Watt and Marinelli wanted Taco.
Before Stephen took the reins, it was the opposite. Stephen promoted McClay to the top spot and pushed Ciscowski out.
The Joneses soured on Ciscowski because he didn't build relationships with coaches with regards to getting their input on the draft.
Stephen was determined to rectify that issue and went overboard in the other direction giving Marinelli far too much input on the draft.
The local sports talk radio guys say that McClay and Dan Quinn developed a great working relationship immediately.
We had already heard McClay talk about length repeated over the past several years.
- The Quinn comes in and amplifies that sentiment.
McClay made a statement on camera last year around draft time that could only be interpreted as McClay didn't like working with Marinelli.
- He spoke at length about how refreshing it was to have Quinn's input on the draft.
We do have to give Stephen credit for some decisions. Jerry would have re-signed Garrett, re-signed Witten until he was in a wheelchair, and never would have cut Jaylon Smith or Dez.