ESPNDallas: Reeves: Jones could make coach's job tougher

[WoodysGirl]

October 2, 2009, 11:49 AM

By: Tim MacMahon


Dan Reeves didn't spend enough time at Valley Ranch this spring to be certain, but he strongly suspects that Jerry Jones makes the head coach's job more difficult.

"I know that a lot of people go to Jerry," Reeves said during an interview for a story about Wade Phillips' development as a head coach ». "If you've got players going to Jerry instead of Wade, that's a difficult situation."

Reeves agreed to join the Cowboys' staff in an advisory role during the offseason, in part because of his relationship with Wade Phillips, who was Reeves' defensive coordinator in Denver and Atlanta. Reeves, a former Cowboys running back who joined Tom Landry's staff after retiring, lasted less than three days during this tenure with his old team. Jones tried to insert an hours clause in Reeves' contract, which led to the longtime coach's abrupt departure.

Reeves, who is working as a color commentator for Westwood One radio, didn't get the chance to discuss with Jones his concerns about owner-player relationships affecting the authority of the head coach.

"I know that the most successful organizations I've been with are where there's one guy in charge and everyone tries to please that guy," Reeves said. "It's important that the players have the respect and that the guy who is the head coach has the authority."

 

[Doomsday]

Wow, move on already Dan. No need to keep taking shot at Jerry.

 

[Cheap Shot Artist]

Wow, move on already Dan. No need to keep taking shot at Jerry.

1996.

 

[tunahelper]

Another thing to remember is Reeves had power struggle issues in Denver. Elway hated his guts and Bowlen listened to his complaints and chose to can Reeves.

 

[zrinkill]

1996.

How longs it been for Dan?

 

[khiladi]

Wade is his boy.

 

[Rampage]

How longs it been for Dan?

he retired from coaching after the 2003 season but won a playoff game in 2002.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

he retired from coaching after the 2003 season but won a playoff game in 2002.

Yeah, but we won a playoff game in 199... er...

 

[tyke1doe]

Wow, move on already Dan. No need to keep taking shot at Jerry.

He has moved on. He's a commentator. Apparently, someone asked him a question, and he answered it. That's what commentators do.

 

[tyke1doe]

Another thing to remember is Reeves had power struggle issues in Denver. Elway hated his guts and Bowlen listened to his complaints and chose to can Reeves.

What's your point?

Are you suggesting Reeves doesn't make a valid point?

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Reeves is right. I like Jerry as an Owner but I miss the days when we had a strong Head Coach.

 

[tunahelper]

What's your point?

Are you suggesting Reeves doesn't make a valid point?

Exactly. Every situation is different and his power was NOT all with him when he was with the Broncos. Bowlen was heavily involved with the organization and his power struggle cost him his job.

 

[tyke1doe]

Exactly. Every situation is different and his power was NOT all with him when he was with the Broncos. Bowlen was heavily involved with the organization and his power struggle cost him his job.

Fair enough.

 

[theogt]

How can any team function with a GM and a head coach? Gosh it must be so difficult.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Jerry Jones makes it too easy for the players to complain... He's involved too much in personnel decisions! I said this from the time Jimmy left, the Cowboys need a real GM.

 

[jay cee]

I know it's been a long time since they have had any real success. A lot of turnover in the organization.

At some point you have to look at the one constant within the organization.

 

[Bach]

Dan's right. We've had this problem most of the last 15 years since Jimmy left.
We had enough strong players and assistants the first couple years of Barry's tenure to still have success, but it ultimately became a problem. It was the main thing that undermined Gailey and led to his departure. Campo was just a disaster who was just happy to be a "HC" in the NFL, if you can call him that. But by that time the talent, or lack of it, that Jerry and Lacewell brought in was so bad and Jerry was so out of control and Campo so irrelevant that in led to the three 5-11 years. Parcells, with his clout was able to bring back some respectability and get us back in the right direction. But now with Wade, we have Jerry dominating again.

It's just really sickening to see how Jerry basically wasted 10 of the last 14 years due to his pathetic coaching hires and mismanagement.

 

[Bach]

How can any team function with a GM and a head coach? Gosh it must be so difficult.

It helps to have an actual GM, not an ego-driven owner playing GM.

 

[Doomsay]

I find it funny that anybody can support an 0-13 "GM".

 

[2much2soon]

Dan's right. We've had this problem most of the last 15 years since Jimmy left.
We had enough strong players and assistants the first couple years of Barry's tenure to still have success, but it ultimately became a problem. It was the main thing that undermined Gailey and led to his departure. Campo was just a disaster who was just happy to be a "HC" in the NFL, if you can call him that. But by that time the talent, or lack of it, that Jerry and Lacewell brought in was so bad and Jerry was so out of control and Campo so irrelevant that in led to the three 5-11 years. Parcells, with his clout was able to bring back some respectability and get us back in the right direction. But now with Wade, we have Jerry dominating again.

It's just really sickening to see how Jerry basically wasted 10 of the last 14 years due to his pathetic coaching hires and mismanagement.

You know whats most scary? Jerry has been involved in bringing in some very good talent through the draft and FA in recent years.

I hate to complain about that, and I am not really complaining about the players he has brought in, but it just fuels Jerry's ego in believing his authority of the whole show is not the problem.