Is Stephen Jones a "Football Guy?"

[JoseyWales]

Three things, an owner who was willing to take risks. The thing I liked best about Jimmy was he had guts. His guts worked in Dallas. Not so much with the Dolphins.

Jerry's a risk taker, I'll give you that. Sometimes to the detriment of the team. But it is nice to see you agreed with my first two.

But if you think he was involved in building that team the first few years, you're fooling yourself. Dallas was in such a financial nightmare, that was Jerry's focus. Both he and Jimmy have said as much in interviews.

I'm not one to jump on Jerry just for the heck of it. He's made some good moves, he's made some bad moves. It's when he tries to get creative taking those huge risks that bite us in the butt more often than not. The Galloway trade. The Williams trade. The Carter trade down/up. Granted, he's done things that have worked out too. I freely admit that. But those three examples were crippling.

 

[Hostile]

Jabar Gaffney is there. Doesn't that thrill you, Hos? Gaffney with a star.

I wasn't going to respond, but since I am being asked direct questions I guess I will answer.

No, Jabar Gaffney does not excite me. What exactly has he done in his 10 year NFL career that should excite me? He's a journeyman WR at best who I think only twice in his career has had more than 2 TDs in a season. Whoop dee freaking doo.

I can deal with the offensive line as it is.

You're a better man than I am Gunga Din. This is the area of the team that still worries me and I will be worried until I actually see them plowing running lanes and keeping Tony upright.

But we definitely overpaid for Spencer. As it stands, we kept the wrong guy.

I'd rather have Spencer than Robinson.

Ya feel me here, Hos? They kept the guys that could not supplant Robinson and now are telling me, the consumer, they made the right choice because they had a chat with Otree and Radaway was just about to be put on the 53 last year.

Really?

No sir, I don't feel you. I liked Laurent Robinson, but at the price he commanded, no way. He was a journeyman WR who had one good year. I wish we had kept him, but not at all costs. I happen to think we made the right move keeping Spencer until such time as we lock him up or we find a suitable replacement. You see, for me to feel ya I'd have to believe we had a suitable replacement at that crucial STARTING position before I would keep a guy who was looking to be the 4th receiving option.

What it boils down to is the team had to make business decisions and do you know who made them? Jason Garrett. Know who executed them? Jerry Jones. I do not for one minute believe that Robinson would have gone anywhere if the Jaguars price hadn't been that crazy. I don't for a minute believe keeping Spencer meant he had to go. I have read Adam's explanations of the cap room and had we wanted both it could have happened. But we were not going to do it any price regardless, it had to fit within the parameters that made fiscal sense.

I have no issue with that. Rob Ryan wanted Spencer back. You think a good GM would have told him to shove it? I don't. I can't even fathom that mentality.

The blueprint for the Dallas Cowboys belongs on the shoulders of the Head Coach. I believe we're looking at good plans. Fretting over Jerry Jones just doesn't even factor into my thinking. I guess you could say my give a damn's busted.

 

[Hostile]

Jerry's a risk taker, I'll give you that. Sometimes to the detriment of the team. But it is nice to see you agreed with my first two.

But if you think he was involved in building that team the first few years, you're fooling yourself. Dallas was in such a financial nightmare, that was Jerry's focus. Both he and Jimmy have said as much in interviews.

I'm not one to jump on Jerry just for the heck of it. He's made some good moves, he's made some bad moves. It's when he tries to get creative taking those huge risks that bite us in the butt more often than not. The Galloway trade. The Williams trade. The Carter trade down/up. Granted, he's done things that have worked out too. I freely admit that. But those three examples were crippling.

I believe every person in the organization is involved in the building of a team. I'm funny that way. I give credit to scouts. I give credit to assistant coaches. I give credit to any guy who speaks his mind during the evaluation process because I have always put this as a team thing. I don't see Jerry picks or Wade picks. I see Cowboys picks. For you to tell me Jerry is all intrusive and then to turn around and say he has no input is rather humorous to me.

I have never given Jerry Jones credit as a talent evaluator. Not once. I do however give him credit for being a part of the process we use to arrive at decisions. I have never erased him, the scouts, or the assistant coaches from those equations.

What I have done, and what many here object to, is I have placed the success of the football team squarely upon the shoulders of the Head Coach and his staff and the scouting director and his staff. I don't believe there is anything wrong with this. I don't believe it is any different anywhere in the NFL, and I think it is quite obvious that this is where the truth lies.

Otherwise you need to tell me why we seem to draft better when we have good Head Coaches and worse when we have bad ones. Seems like a really strange coincidence to me.

 

[JoseyWales]

I believe every person in the organization is involved in the building of a team. I'm funny that way. I give credit to scouts. I give credit to assistant coaches. I give credit to any guy who speaks his mind during the evaluation process because I have always put this as a team thing. I don't see Jerry picks or Wade picks. I see Cowboys picks. For you to tell me Jerry is all intrusive and then to turn around and say he has no input is rather humorous to me.

I have never given Jerry Jones credit as a talent evaluator. Not once. I do however give him credit for being a part of the process we use to arrive at decisions. I have never erased him, the scouts, or the assistant coaches from those equations.

What I have done, and what many here object to, is I have placed the success of the football team squarely upon the shoulders of the Head Coach and his staff and the scouting director and his staff. I don't believe there is anything wrong with this. I don't believe it is any different anywhere in the NFL, and I think it is quite obvious that this is where the truth lies.

Otherwise you need to tell me why we seem to draft better when we have good Head Coaches and worse when we have bad ones. Seems like a really strange coincidence to me.

What are you talking about? When did I tell you Jerry was all intrusive then turn around and say he has no input?

All I was talking about was Jimmy in Dallas/Miami. And that Jerry's focus after buying the team was fixing the financial mess it was in. And during that time Jimmy, the scouts, coaches, and Herschel Walker proceeded to build a dynasty. When the ledger was in the black, that's when Jerry wanted to get more involved in the football side. This has been reported and commented on numerous times by both of the J's. Not sure why you are denying that fact.

As for the rest of your stuff, I have no idea what you're talking about. I have not commented on any of it, and I'm not sure why you're mentioning it to me here. Maybe you've mistaken me for somebody else you were discussing it with earlier.

 

[5Stars]

I believe every person in the organization is involved in the building of a team. I'm funny that way. I give credit to scouts. I give credit to assistant coaches. I give credit to any guy who speaks his mind during the evaluation process because I have always put this as a team thing. I don't see Jerry picks or Wade picks. I see Cowboys picks. For you to tell me Jerry is all intrusive and then to turn around and say he has no input is rather humorous to me.

I have never given Jerry Jones credit as a talent evaluator. Not once. I do however give him credit for being a part of the process we use to arrive at decisions. I have never erased him, the scouts, or the assistant coaches from those equations.

What I have done, and what many here object to, is I have placed the success of the football team squarely upon the shoulders of the Head Coach and his staff and the scouting director and his staff. I don't believe there is anything wrong with this. I don't believe it is any different anywhere in the NFL, and I think it is quite obvious that this is where the truth lies.

Otherwise you need to tell me why we seem to draft better when we have good Head Coaches and worse when we have bad ones. Seems like a really strange coincidence to me.

The team is gong in the right direction...watch and see. I have not been this excited about a team going forward like this in a long time.



In my mind, it's like night and day from even last season. Young, smart players...and coaches that will teach them how to win in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboy way.

 

[Hostile]

What are you talking about? When did I tell you Jerry was all intrusive

Right here...

"Jerry's a risk taker, I'll give you that. Sometimes to the detriment of the team."

...then turn around and say he has no input?

Same post, right here...

"But if you think he was involved in building that team the first few years, you're fooling yourself."

 

[JoseyWales]

Right here...

"Jerry's a risk taker, I'll give you that. Sometimes to the detriment of the team." Same post, right here...

"But if you think he was involved in building that team the first few years, you're fooling yourself."

Wow. Seriously?

You are reaching WAAAY out there to try spin something out of nothing. I said he wasn't involved in the day to day team building in the beginning. You somehow turn that into me saying he HAS no input? Has, as in today. Unreal.

And 'all intrusive' is fabricated from me saying he sometimes takes risks that are detrimental to the team? I also said he's made moves and took risks that payed off. But you left that out. Why? Because it didn't fit with the angle you were constructing? No point in discussing anyting with you if you are going to be this dishonest and just blatantly make stuff up to try further some point you're arguing with other people.

And I noticed you've yet again ignored the fact that both Jerry and Jimmy have said it in interviews. That Jerry's main focus was fixing the finances.

 

[AKATheRake]

Stephen Jones is an executive "football guy".

He understands executive level personnel, structure and development.

He is highly qualified to hire and manage personnel at that level.

The departmental management, i.e Director of Scouting and General Manager are examples of "football guys" that would work under his level of management.

Basically, he's a President, CEO, Owner level of "football guy".

That's a different type of "football guy" from Bill Belichick and even Jason Garrett.

Different than a "football guy" like Scott Pioli or Mike Holmgren.

To me, he's a contrast of a Bob Kraft (Owner, Patriots) and Ted Thompson (GM, Packers) without the Ron Wolf (Every bit from player personnel to executive GM level manager, but not owner).

Stephen Jones belongs/is a big part in football. He is a "football guy" at the executive level.

 

[baj1dallas]

Uh, yeah dude. He has his current position because he's the owner's son. He never paid any dues and worked his way up to anything.

You know this for a fact?

 

[junk]

You know this for a fact?

Common sense. How many people 1 year out of college get hired as VP of a professional football team?

 

[AKATheRake]

Common sense. How many people 1 year out of college get hired as VP of a professional football team?

Ones coming out of college with an engeneering degree?

Only 1.

 

[casmith07]

You know this for a fact?

Common sense. How many people 1 year out of college get hired as VP of a professional football team?

Translation: No, I don't.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I believe he is a football guy.

I, too, believe what you believe.

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?

Depends what you mean. A car guy who manufactures? Sells? Finances? Does a fleet business?
Also, as far as a "football guy" does Stephen also evaluate talent (GMs and GMettes always do this despite the scouts and draft genuses on board.)
Does Stephen know merchandising? (When will the Stadium rights be sold??) Do Stephen know the ancillory thangs?

This is what ah believe: He do. And he is a "football guy," god bless the little sucker.

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

What?

Also, Risen Star need not respond.

This is the only post I've seen in which a poster is not invited to respond. But i am glad you did not name me cause this is a gud post. And I wanted to contribute.

 

[Idgit]

"Football guy" isn't a term that means anything, really. It can be a nice way to draw a pretend distinction between people who've worked from the ground up, and people who've bought in somewhere along the line. Or, as I said earlier in the thread, it can just apply to people who work enough time in the league in a professional capacity.

People are reluctant to give a guy like Stephen Jones the title because they resent the silver spoon in his mouth. As long as the guy does a good job, I can't see how it matters. I'm sure Stephen doesn't mind the perception, one way or another.

As for Stephen's work, I don't think anybody serious has ever had anything bad to say about the guy. I know Parcels thought highly of him. And I've heard numerous comments from other personnel people around the league for years about the good work SJ does.

Like it or not, since they came on the scene in 1989, the Jones family has transformed the NFL more than any other ownership group in the league. They're a big part of what National Football League means today. If that doesn't make them football guys in the minds of some, so be it, but I'm pretty proud of the job they've done for both the Cowboys and the NFL over the last 25 years.

 

[junk]

Translation: No, I don't.

OK, give me an example of another guy 1 year out of college becoming a VP of an NFL team.

What qualifications did Jones have to get hired other than being Jerry's son?

Answer your PM by the way.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Stephen Jones is a football guy because he's been hanging around and working for Jerry Jones his whole life. That's the unbiased truth.

(My apologies to all the Jerry haters whose heads just exploded from reading that).

 

[arglebargle]

Stephen Jones is an executive "football guy".

He understands executive level personnel, structure and development.

He is highly qualified to hire and manage personnel at that level.

The departmental management, i.e Director of Scouting and General Manager are examples of "football guys" that would work under his level of management.

Basically, he's a President, CEO, Owner level of "football guy".

That's a different type of "football guy" from Bill Belichick and even Jason Garrett.

Different than a "football guy" like Scott Pioli or Mike Holmgren.

To me, he's a contrast of a Bob Kraft (Owner, Patriots) and Ted Thompson (GM, Packers) without the Ron Wolf (Every bit from player personnel to executive GM level manager, but not owner).

Stephen Jones belongs/is a big part in football. He is a "football guy" at the executive level.

Very nice analysis!

 

[casmith07]

"Football guy" isn't a term that means anything, really. It can be a nice way to draw a pretend distinction between people who've worked from the ground up, and people who've bought in somewhere along the line. Or, as I said earlier in the thread, it can just apply to people who work enough time in the league in a professional capacity.

People are reluctant to give a guy like Stephen Jones the title because they resent the silver spoon in his mouth. As long as the guy does a good job, I can't see how it matters. I'm sure Stephen doesn't mind the perception, one way or another.

As for Stephen's work, I don't think anybody serious has ever had anything bad to say about the guy. I know Parcels thought highly of him. And I've heard numerous comments from other personnel people around the league for years about the good work SJ does.

Like it or not, since they came on the scene in 1989, the Jones family has transformed the NFL more than any other ownership group in the league. They're a big part of what National Football League means today. If that doesn't make them football guys in the minds of some, so be it, but I'm pretty proud of the job they've done for both the Cowboys and the NFL over the last 25 years.

Great post, Idg.

 

[AsthmaField]

I remember Jimmy Johnson talking about Stephen Jones in terms of "football guy" once. Johnson went on and on about how smart Stephen was and that he was indeed a football guy. He said he grew up around it and spent tons of time around the team and in the locker room. He said Stephen definitely had a football pedigree.

Jimmy went on to say that the team would be in very good hands once Stephen got control of the organization. Seemed like Johnson loved what Stephen is all about.

I looked around trying to either find a video or an article of Jimmy saying that, to no avail.

I'm hoping that someone here will remember it and confirm it for me.

 

[jnday]

Stephen may or may not be a football guy, but the fuzzy-headed grandboy is a sure thing.