I think Jerry Jones' "T.O. Exemption" was the deal-breaker for Dan Reeves

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I think Jerry Jones' "T.O. Exemption" was the deal-breaker for Dan Reeves. I believe it came down to Dan reeves or T.O.

It just had to have been that! And I speculate the last-minute provision that Jones added, that Reeves disagreed to, was the "T.O. Exception" (as I like to think of it) that said Reeves would consult on offensive roster moves, excluding whether or not T.O. goes, and if he stays, Reeves MUST work out a way to accommodate him.

I know, I know; this is all speculation, but many things that have been said by Reeves and the media as of late make this speculation a whole lot of sense.

First, Reeves was pretty vocal in the recent past, saying how he could work for Jerry, but that he would stand for what he believed and not compromise that. When he made that quote, Reeves also spoke strongly against "me" players poisoning the locker room. He was basically talking about T.O. without coming out and saying it. That was clearly apparent.

And the media knew about Reeves' "read between my lines" quotes about "me" players, and specifcally T.O., and that's probably why many in the media were saying that T.O. is all but gone. Since they knew Reeves was hired, they just assumed T.O. would be the next to go.

That is, until Jerry tried to sneak in the “T.O. Exception" into Reeves' contract, basically telling him "you can walk on water here Dan, except for my pet eggshell T.O.". So Reeves quit because that contradicted his standards; and I admired Reeves for it because he stood steadfast to his principles and backed up his words appropriately with actions.

If anything, Jerry Jones is the ignorant bride left standing at the altar, and rightfully so, for being the stupid "me-*****" that he is! So basically now, I suspect we're stuck with T.O. as Jerry has forced yet another great coach to quit on him.

Agree with me or disagree with me; this is what I believe, based on simply connecting the dots and seeing the hidden fire behind that smoking stench known as the Dallas Cowboys Organization.

 

[kristie]

who knows what happened. maybe reeves just didn't like what he saw overall, not just TO.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Further proff:

Cowboys not working with Reeves

Comment Email Print
By Chris Mortensen
and Ed Werder
ESPN.com

Veteran NFL coach Dan Reeves told ESPN on Wednesday that he believed he had successfully negotiated a multiyear contract with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that would have created a senior management position in Dallas. But the partnership dissolved when Reeves became uncomfortable with changes Jones insisted upon after Reeves rejected a job title that would have included him as a member of Wade Phillips' coaching staff. Reeves preferred an executive title with broader authority.


Reeves credited Phillips, his defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, with initiating the attempts to return Reeves to the organization with which he began his career. Although in attempting to hire Reeves it might seems the Cowboys acknowledged that Phillips might not be capable of doing the job alone, Reeves cautioned against that perception, saying, "Don't count Wade out."Reeves, 65, also declined to specifically identify the contractual issue that caused the deal to fall apart. He was working since Monday in the Cowboys facility, primarily meeting with the offensive coaching staff, learning the system and its terminology and breaking down videotape of personnel. But he exited the building at midday and arrived back in Atlanta late Wednesday night. Jones could not be reached for comment. "I thought the thing was done, and we finally agreed on what the title was going to be," Reeves said. "I didn't want to have a coaching title and not have authority coaching-wise. I wanted to work with him [Jones] and Wade and help in any way that I possibly could. We finally agreed the coaching thing wouldn't be in there, but then the contract changed and there were some things in there I couldn't see being in there, and they were important to him. He made a lot of concessions, but this was something that was important to him, and I just didn't feel like I could live with it. So it didn't make sense for us to go forward." Reeves indicated he would have been involved in some critical personnel decisions yet to be made, including the future of wide receiver Terrell Owens. Reeves had recently criticized Owens and his negative impact on team chemistry. "Honestly, I do feel strongly about team chemistry even though I played on a Cowboys team that won a Super Bowl with Duane Thomas," he said. "But there were so many other strong team leaders in that locker room. I'm not sure that's the case here. I was asked about [Owens] but when I previously spoke about, it was as an outsider. So I wanted more time as an insider before I could make an honest assessment." Asked if Jones had made a decision on Owens' future, Reeves said, "No, I really don't think one has been made yet. They have a lot of decisions to make and that's one of them because they understand they have to become a unified team. It's one of the things that needs to be addressed." Reeves, who spent his first 16 NFL seasons with the Cowboys as a player and an assistant coach under Tom Landry, did not conceal his disappointment. "My heart starts beating when I see that star on the helmet and the pictures of the players I started with in the game," Reeves said. "I just can't get those first 16 years of my career out of my system." With Phillips serving as his own defensive coordinator with the offseason firing of Brian Stewart, Reeves could have unburdened Phillips and offered the perspective of an experienced play-caller and game-planner while overseeing the offensive coaching staff headed by offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. The Cowboys' offensive numbers turned downward in Garrett's second season as an NFL play-caller.


Reeves seemed impressed with Garrett, whose performance was often criticized by Owens last season and also by quarterback Tony Romo following the team's 44-6 loss to Philadelphia that eliminated Dallas from making the playoffs the final week of the regular season. "Jason is someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for," Reeves said. "I was looking forward to working with him, but I'm still really excited about who he is, what he does and how he handles himself." In addition to helping Phillips and his coaching staff, Reeves also mentioned that Jones -- the Cowboys GM as well as owner -- is stretched to the limit as he attempts to make crucial personnel decisions, purge toxic elements from his underachieving team's locker room and simultaneously promote ticket sales and sell naming rights to the new $1.3 billion Arlington stadium that debuts next season. "I think Jerry has an awful lot on his plate with the stadium and the football team right now," Reeves said. The Cowboys issued a statement on Wednesday regarding the deal falling through. "We had two very good days of dialogue with Dan Reeves, and both the Cowboys and Dan had an interest in working together," Cowboys public relations director Rich Dalrymple said. "By Wednesday afternoon, we were unable to reach an agreement on all of the details of a contract, and both parties were comfortable with the fact that Dan would not be joining the organization." Last month, Reeves interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers about becoming offensive coordinator.


Reeves was a running back for the Cowboys from 1965 to '72, serving as a player-coach those last three seasons. After a year away, Reeves returned as an assistant coach for Tom Landry from 1974 to '80. "Jerry [Jones] holds Dan in the highest regard as a friend and a tremendous contributor to the history of the Cowboys and the NFL," Dalrymple said. After leaving the Cowboys, Reeves spent 23 seasons as a head coach for the Denver Broncos (1981-92), New York Giants (1993-96) and Atlanta Falcons (1997-2003). He had a 190-165-2 record. Reeves led the Broncos to three Super Bowls and went to one Super Bowl with Atlanta, but never won the championship game. Phillips succeeded him as head coach in Denver and Atlanta. Reeves' son-in-law, Joe DeCamillis, was hired last month as the Cowboys' special-teams coach. The Cowboys slipped to 9-7 last season after going 13-3 in 2007 and losing to the eventual champion Giants in the playoffs.
Chris Mortensen is a senior NFL analyst for ESPN. Ed Werder covers the NFL for ESPN. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report

 

[dallasfaniac]

So then what does this mean?

Asked if Jones had made a decision on Owens' future, Reeves said, "No, I really don't think one has been made yet. They have a lot of decisions to make and that's one of them because they understand they have to become a unified team. It's one of the things that needs to be addressed."

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

So then what does this mean?

Asked if Jones had made a decision on Owens' future, Reeves said, "No, I really don't think one has been made yet. They have a lot of decisions to make and that's one of them because they understand they have to become a unified team. It's one of the things that needs to be addressed."

That's part of my point. Reeves was meant to be part of all personnell decisions - so he thought - until Jones said "well, all but excluding T.O." A decision has not yet been made on T.O.'s future status, clearly, and I beieve Jones told Reeves -- and explicitly in his contract --- that when T.O.'s future comes up for consideration, Jerry Jones is the only one to make that fiinal decision, and that Reeves will ultimately have no say.

And although a final decision has not been made, we all know that Jerry Jones is warm to the idea of keeping T.O. For crying out loud, not even his own son can sway him away from that intoxication.

Understand, Reeves was meant to be direclty involved with the offense. But if he really does not want T.O., but believes he will be stuck with him, then that's enough for him to leave, knowing that with T.O. on the roster, team chemistry is doomed.

I thank you for posting that quote from Reeves; you probably did it thinking it would contradict my point. On the contrary, it further supports it, so thank you for helping me make my point.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I have never heard of a contract that specifically states that a certain player is to be evaluated differently than the rest of the team.

Contracts address personnel isssues and who has authority and such, I just have a hard time beleiving that Reeve's contract would actually have a stipulation that said "TO is off limits".

 

[Doomsday]

Reeves is a professional and loves the Cowboys in his heart, it is hard for me to believe he would let one personnel decision stop him from taking the job. It has to be something else.

 

[Bleu Star]

I have never heard of a contract that specifically states that a certain player is to be evaluated differently than the rest of the team.

Contracts address personnel isssues and who has authority and such, I just have a hard time beleiving that Reeve's contract would actually have a stipulation that said "TO is off limits".

I agree with you. It was much deeper than just a stipulation for one player. If the only case was TO this would have never made it to the point of Reeves moving in and occupying an office. That's pretty cut n dry. You don't progress to the move in stage if the owner doesn't accept your "TO stipulation". There was much more going on here.

 

[cowboyed]

There are also reports swirling that Jones wanted more of a time and or work commitment from Reeves and that was the sticking point. If so you can't blame Jerry for not pulling the trigger.

Reeves is 65 and has had heart problems so that may not be preposterous. On the other hand I don't know if it is true or not. It was from another poster in another forum referencing some news hounds email without being detailed.

Again it could be speculation as well. I am disappointed that Reeves wasn't retained either but reserve judgment or acting out displeasure until something is substantiated.

Negatively speculating on anything is a mindless self indulgence and only furthers an ego based agenda.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Dont get it twisted. As big as TO is he is not big enough to kill this deal.


Jerry killed the deal. It was over power and decision-making.

I would bet on it.




But..... back to our regularly scheduled program - "TO did it"

:laugh2:

 

[dbair1967]

There are also reports swirling that Jones wanted more of a time and or work commitment from Reeves and that was the sticking point. If so you can't blame Jerry for not pulling the trigger.

.

The only reason I am not buying that is because he was going to be an OC in SF, and by his own admission he wanted to be a HC again if possible. Nothing would take up more time than those spots.

Sounds like a Dallas front office spin on why Reeves walked away.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Again Folks, all you have to do is go listen to Dan Reeves' interview he did on the radio recently.

When asked if he could work with Jerry Jones, Dan Reeves stated that some "things" would have to change before that would happen.

Some "things" didn't chance and Dan Reeves held true to his principles and left.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Somehow, someway it had to be T.O's fault! This is getting old, I am ok with cutting the guy, but not everything that goes wrong with this team can be attributed to Owens.

 

[EagleHarry]

Although I highly doubt one player was the deal breaker, my bet is that Reeves demanded a certain amount of authority and control that Jerry was unwilling to relinquish. I'm not talking GM control, but Reeves is a discipline guy in part and I'm sure he wanted the authority to make changes as he saw fit to create a more disciplined team (maybe getting rid of Owens was part of that) and Jerry just wasn't willing to do it. You know money was not a factor here.

 

[CowboyWay]

I have a hard time believing that when dan and jerry were talking, the issue of TO was already brought up and dan stated what he wanted to cut him. It had to be the white elephant in the room and I would believe that prior to dan taking the job, whatever was going to happen, TO stays or goes, was already in place.

 

[zrinkill]

Somehow, someway it had to be T.O's fault! This is getting old, I am ok with cutting the guy, but not everything that goes wrong with this team can be attributed to Owens.

Yup ..... simple minds come to simple conclusions.

 

[thechosen1n2]

That's part of my point. Reeves was meant to be part of all personnell decisions - so he thought - until Jones said "well, all but excluding T.O." A decision has not yet been made on T.O.'s future status, clearly, and I beieve Jones told Reeves -- and explicitly in his contract --- that when T.O.'s future comes up for consideration, Jerry Jones is the only one to make that fiinal decision, and that Reeves will ultimately have no say.

And although a final decision has not been made, we all know that Jerry Jones is warm to the idea of keeping T.O. For crying out loud, not even his own son can sway him away from that intoxication.

Understand, Reeves was meant to be direclty involved with the offense. But if he really does not want T.O., but believes he will be stuck with him, then that's enough for him to leave, knowing that with T.O. on the roster, team chemistry is doomed.

I thank you for posting that quote from Reeves; you probably did it thinking it would contradict my point. On the contrary, it further supports it, so thank you for helping me make my point.

why wasnt team chemistry a problem when we were winning last year, or we could not score when he was injured....people are sick in the head blaming TO for this year.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

why wasnt team chemistry a problem when we were winning last year, or we could not score when he was injured....people are sick in the head blaming TO for this year.

Because people tend to show their "true" personality when things are going horribly wrong.

 

[zrinkill]

Because people tend to show their "true" personality when things are going horribly wrong.

Yes ..... but that goes for people on this forum as well.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Yes ..... but that goes for people on this forum as well.

True, but the way the folks act on this board has no effect on the Dallas Cowboys.