Is Stephen Jones a "Football Guy?"

[THUMPER]

Hell yes.

What he said. Stephen has been in football longer than he was out of it (25 - 23 years) and has been intimately involved with so many of the inner workings of the game.

Now that is not to say he could be a coach or something but a GM? Oh yeah! Most definitely!!!

 

[Yeagermeister]

No, he's part of the Dallas Cowboys so he can't be a football guy

 

[casmith07]

Football guys are probably leaders that generate chemistry, because of all of their intangibles.

Stephen Jones got his degree in chemical engineering, so he's got no problem generating it.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Stephen Jones got his degree in chemical engineering, so he's got no problem generating it.

Well I still believe Jerry comes at this position more from a fan/player prospective, whereas Steven comes at it more from a GM prospective. This maybe cause Steven was born and raised in this environment whereas Jerry really was the one that made the money elsewhere and choose football cause he had the money and power to do what he wanted to do instead of what he had to do to make a living.

As a chemical engineer myself from his same school, I don't doubt Steven's ability to solve problems and work the numbers. He probably won't have the relationship and closing ability with the players that Jerry does, and probably never will, but he probably will always be more level headed and for lack of a better term 'cold and calculated' with his decision making.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Do you consider Stephen Jones what some describe as a "football guy"?

Absolutely no question about it.

 

[BIGDen]

It's been his entire life. If he doesn't know football, he doesn't know anything.

This. I mean how much more time could a person spend involved in football during his life? He has been around some great football minds and obviously has great knowledge of the inner workings of an NFL team. He has been around Jimmy, Norv, Wade, Parcells, etc. I know that they are not all of the same caliber but those guys have had a great deal of success as head coaches or coordinators. One can certainly learn something from each of those coaches as well as the numerous scouts and other coaches/football people he has been around. He has seen what works and what doesn't work. He was involved with teams that have won multiple SBs and teams that have had terrible seasons. He is heavily involved with personnel and cap management. I'm not sure what the actual definition of a "football guy" is, but he certainly qualifies as a football guy IMO.

I just want to add that I like the fact that he stood firm on that trade during the draft and didn't throw in another pick. More often than not it seemed like Jerry would give up too much. Stephen does not come off as a showman/salesman like his dad and seems to be more grounded. After years of watching Jerry make some major mistakes (Galloway and RW trades, Quincy, etc.) and give away more than he should for players/picks, it's refreshing to see a guy make a solid trade where we actually got the better end of the trade (value chart-wise).

 

[perrykemp]

Does being a "football guy" equate to being a good NFL GM? I don't know...

He definitely a different type that the Scott Pioli / Ted Thompsons of the NFL who worked their way the college / pro scouting --eventually becoming Director of Personnel, etc -- both of which are constantly on the road still evaluating prospects in person.

On the other hand, I don't think you have to have that kind of background either to be successful if you have an eye for good scouts, etc

Like anything else, there are a lot of ways to skin a cat

 

[casmith07]

Well I still believe Jerry comes at this position more from a fan/player prospective, whereas Steven comes at it more from a GM prospective. This maybe cause Steven was born and raised in this environment whereas Jerry really was the one that made the money elsewhere and choose football cause he had the money and power to do what he wanted to do instead of what he had to do to make a living.

As a chemical engineer myself from his same school, I don't doubt Steven's ability to solve problems and work the numbers. He probably won't have the relationship and closing ability with the players that Jerry does, and probably never will, but he probably will always be more level headed and for lack of a better term 'cold and calculated' with his decision making.

I think that's where his cap prowess comes in - the mathematics around the cap probably come as natural to him as breathing.

 

[newlander]

He's a football guy in the sense that he was brought into the league by his dad, has remained in the league because of his dad and no other team in the league would hire him to be so much as a regional scout.

.......it depends on your definition. Born into it with a silver spoon: doesn't mean in any way, shape or form he's shown success at it. Jury is still out: not looking too good for him currently. Again to all the apologists: are you happy with the last 15 years?

 

[Lonestar94]

I'm a football guy so I'm sure the VP of the Cowboys is too

 

[Wood]

This thread gave me the inspiration for this topic. I thought we'd dial in more on this particular issue.

Do you consider Stephen Jones what some describe as a "football guy"?

Some believe he is not because he was brought into the organization by his daddy.


I believe he is a football guy.

He has been in the NFL business since he was 23 years old. He's now 48. That is 25 years of NFL experience.

To me, I'd find it rather insulting if say, someone graduated from law school and got hired by their dad's practice, then 25 years later someone said they aren't a "law guy" because of nepotism.

My father has been in the car business for thirty-five years. If I graduated from college and joined his business, would people not consider me a "car guy" twenty years from now?

Stephen was most recently on Talkin' Cowboys and something he said really made me think. He said he was glad he went to school for Engineering because it made him good with numbers, and therefore he found the salary cap easy. He also said that "everyone in the NFL learned together" when the cap was implemented. In other words he was part of the NFL when the cap was put in place, and therefore on level footing with the rest of the league. If he wasn't a football guy then, he probably is after that, because he was in the same boat as everyone else. He also said it would be different for someone new to come in now, because everyone else already knows how the cap works.

Stephen Jones... finds the cap easy... hmmm... I'm looking at you, Adam.

Also, Risen Star need not respond. We know your answer. But you may if you wish.

the question really is....would Stephan Jones be running an NFL team without his Dad? does his talents level match his job title/description. The same could be said in your situation - would you be where you are at in car business if your dad instead sold insurance policy?

It doesn't mean people can't be successful if things are handed down to them as often they are successful as their predecessor (their father) already took on the most difficult part of the process of getting a viable money making business started. Once a business has received enough public support (thru sales) then keeping the business running should not be as difficult.

To bring this full circle: Would NFL owners hire Stephan Jones as GM? The number one job of GM is to evaluate talent. Its hard to say because Stephen has sacrificed his own path to be apart of his dads. Stephan does not have experience as a scout. So it would be difficult for him to present his case to NFL owners that he has a eye for talent. I think Stephen is more known for this math skills than player evaluation skills and this has allowed him to be one of better salary cap guru in league. Ideally, you would want Stephen to run day-to-day operations (which he is probably already doing). Hire a GM (with proven track record) and go from there.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Yes.

My dad is a pretty good example of this, very similar to what Stephen went thru.

My dad graduated from St. Lawrence University, a pretty good school located in NY, just south of the Canadian border. He first went into teaching and then worked for H&R Block for a few years. Finally, he decided to get to work for a power company that his father and uncles worked for as linemen for years and years.

Now this was back when company's used to do it the right way...it didn't matter who you were or how smart you were, you had to start at the bottom (janitorial work, washing trucks), then if you wanted to and did the work, you could move up the company ladder and do it rather quickly. And if you didn't want to move up further, you didn't have to. That's why my grandfather and great uncles were linemen, it required them to become more educated (my grandfather only had a 7th grade education) and they didn't have the desire to get a college degree and lived a rather comfortable life outside of the stresses of the job.

My dad continued to move up the chain. In fear of nepotism, my grandfather made my dad show up 1-hour early and leave 1-hour late and didn't allow him to take a coffee break. My grandfather would drive bye to make sure that wasn't happening or had my dad's uncles keep an eye on him.

33 years later my dad retired from that power company. He became a guru of power knowledge and management, including doing speeches at conferences across the country. After retiring, he took another job in Georgia for a power company and just wanted an easy safety training job to keep himself busy. Within a year of working there, they forced him to move up to take over an entire division and to clean it up.

As far as knowledge and expertise of an area, my dad has more of it when it comes to power companies than just about anybody I've ever met in any other field. And he originally got the job because his dad and uncles worked at that company. If Stephen Jones isn't a 'football guy', then my dad is not a 'power company guy', which is completely and utterly preposterous.







YR

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I think that's where his cap prowess comes in - the mathematics around the cap probably come as natural to him as breathing.

Yeah, well the math is a basis and part of it, but really if you ask any engineer what getting an engineering degree is all about, and most will tell you its about problem solving and analytical thinking.

What will be natural for him is if there is a problem, solving the problem will come naturally instead of just pointing out the problems like most people, he will look for the most efficient and effective solution without all the emotional things that come into play with other people's decisions.

 

[mmillman]

no,

a football guy to me is one who played the game and moved up the coaching or scouting ranks. Not nepotism because your daddy owns the company.

 

[Hostile]

no,

a football guy to me is one who played the game and moved up the coaching or scouting ranks. Not nepotism because your daddy owns the company.

Stephen was a 3 year HS starter as an all state QB, and played 4 years of college football.

How then is that no?

 

[Bullet22]

Jerry played and started on Arkansas only national championship team. and Stephen played at Arkansas, so both would be considered football guys.....

 

[noshame]

I suppose it really comes down to how many high caliber "football guys" he's been exposed to over the years. Most importantly, his ability to filter out the bad advice from the good.

That said, I like him.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

He's as much of a "football guy" as his dad is, which is to say that he should not in any way be considered a "football guy".

 

[Hostile]

Keeping up with the Jones' has reached epic levels of jealousy. It is really hilarious.

 

[cowboy_ron]

no,

a football guy to me is one who played the game and moved up the coaching or scouting ranks. Not nepotism because your daddy owns the company.

:bang2: