I've never been a big fan of his, and after seeing him in "Hard Knocks" my opinion was unchanged. Seemed like an old money, silver spoon kinda guy to me. But it's pretty apparent he was a main reason T.O. was cut. That being said, it still wasn't enough to sway me. However over the last year or so I've seen LOTS of comments on this board by fans more knowledgeable than me that the guy knows the business. But after reading Galloway's article this morning (yeah, alot of you hate him but you hate Werder too and hate doesn't equate to incompetence in my mind) I'm convinced I was wrong about this guy. I get a whole new appreciation for Stephen's influence on this team:
Stephen Jones is waiting in the wings to take over the Dallas Cowboys
By RANDY GALLOWAY
Just when we think Jerry Jones is hopelessly lost in his own football world, listening only to the voices in his head, along comes a jolt that suggests that change is slowly, real slowly, coming to Valley Ranch.
Last week’s "jolt" was the sudden departure of Eldorado Owens, something that shocked even Eldo.
But Jerry was "listening."
Listening to 44-year-old Stephen Jones, who within the Dallas Cowboys’ organization carries the titles of chief operating officer, executive vice president and director of player personnel.
But don’t think nepotism.
"I said it when he was 25-26 years old, and nothing has changed," noted former head coach Jimmy Johnson a couple of weeks ago. "Stephen is a good one. A real good one."
Or as Larry Lacewell, the team’s former personnel director once told me, "Stephen Jones is brilliant."
There will come a time when Stephen takes over the Cowboys. He will be the next Jerry. But for now, as Jerry seeks opinions from within the organization, and throughout the NFL (no matter what you think, Jerry does ample homework on all decisions), the common doubt is while he listens a lot, does he really hear what is being said?
In the case of Stephen, the answer is yes. Jerry hears Stephen. That doesn’t mean, of course, he always agrees, or follows up on what he hears.
All evidence suggests, however, that Stephen was the driving force in bringing his father around to the thought that it was time for the Cowboys to move on without the Owens’ locker room influence.
Since Jerry hates "Valley Ranch sources," I will quote "someone who knows," as telling me Friday, "There is nothing Jerry hates worse than giving up on one of his projects. We saw that with Pacman [Jones] when he got into trouble and Jerry still brought him back. Terrell Owens, of course, was Jerry’s biggest project.
"What made Jerry such a financial success in his oil business days was he wouldn’t give up on a project. He’d keep on drilling. I thought he would keep on drilling with Owens."
What changed his mind?
"Jerry listened to the opinion of Stephen," added Mr. Someone Who Knows. "Stephen never comes off as half-cocked or emotional. When Stephen feels strongly about something, you can bet it’s a well-presented case."
There were media reports in February that No. 1 son was campaigning his father to dump Owens. Jerry would later deny there was a difference of opinions. But that could be word games. Jerry might have been on the fence about what to do, but two different voices have told me Stephen privately pushed his father to dump Owens.
There is a tendency, at least for me, to sometimes think of Stephen as the outgoing youngster who is fiercely loyal to his father (I’ve heard the wrath more than once after an unfavorable column). But Stephen now has 19 years in nothing but the football business. This is no kid.
"The joke is that Jerry was an outsider who wants to be a football guy," said another former Valley Ranch employee. "But Stephen IS a football guy. He grew up in the business of running the Cowboys. What he does within the organization, how many hats he wears, is incredible. He is the port in the storm for the front office. Just a real nice and smart young man who gets it. He really gets it."
Asking around last week, I wanted to hear how Stephen differs from Jerry, personality-wise, on a day-to-day basis at Valley Ranch. A few comments follow:
"Stephen knows Jerry really enjoys being the face of the team, and he’s happy for his father. Jerry has his ego, good and bad. But if Stephen has an ego, I’ve never seen it surface. He’s very well-grounded."
"Stephen realizes his dad’s weak points, but he also understands his dad’s strengths. And more than anything, he worships Jerry."
"Jerry can be hardheaded, to say the least. Stephen is much more open-minded."
"Jerry can handle confrontation, but he’s more of a negotiator. Now, Stephen, you don’t push him. I remember one day when Big Bill [Parcells] was on one of his hell-on-wheels tears. He was telling some staff members to stay out of the training room. When Stephen walked in, Bill told him, 'I don’t want you in the training room, either.’
"Stephen looked hard at him, and said, 'As long as we own this team, I’ll come in here any damn time I please.’ It was the end of that discussion."
The day will come when Jerry retires. That’s when Stephen will take over. Until then, the son’s influence is a growing positive at Valley Ranch.:starspin*****The comment by Jimmy Johnson was especially interesting IMO**********
I could imagine Tuna's face.
