In a darkly sarcastic mood Johnson once said that his girlfriend, Rhonda Rook, knows as much about football as Jones does. Johnson said, "Sometimes she'll say, 'Why do you let him say what he does [to the media about his trade involvement]?'...I don't know. I've gone from angry and hostile to trying to be a good company man to trying to tell the truth to I really don't care. He owns the club. What can I do?"
But in the hours after the Bear game, Johnson could no longer contain himself, and the confrontation in Jones's suite could have set off a full-blown battle for authority. That it did not is a reflection of the man at whom the anger was directed. Through Johnson's three-week reign of terror, Jones was the one person in the organization who shrugged it off. The day after Johnson confronted him, Jones said he had seen Johnson at other times even more "puffed up" with anger. Had Jones's relentless optimism made him oblivious to the depths of Johnson's bitterness? Was he being a little naive?
No, said Jones. "Jimmy's smart enough not to push me too far. He knows I can be volatile too. I tried to explain to Jimmy that I respect the sanctity of the locker room and sidelines, but that there are certain things [such as entertaining Bandar and important sponsors] that just have to be done for the good of the club. Really, I have a better relationship with Jimmy than I've had with any partner I've ever had."
As the pressure built on Johnson's Cowboys last season, Jones constantly provided a bright-side balance and perspective.
