Jerry's biggest folly

[Chief]

I used to think Jerry's biggest folly was the incredible three-month run in 2000 when he promoted Dave Campo to head coach, traded two No. 1's for Joey Galloway and then executed the Goodrich-Larrimore draft.

But I think it actually happened the moment he hired Larry Lacewell in 1992. That decision trumps 'em all.

The reason I bring Lacewell up four years after he supposedly retired, is because of the quotes attributed to this man in Mosely's current column at espn.com.

Lacewell tells the story of how Dallas ended up with Charles Haley. Somehow, a message from the 49ers ended up on his desk:

"I'd honestly never heard of the guy," said Lacewell. "I think the note sat on my desk for three or four days before I finally walked it down to Jerry's office. When I told him what it was, he nearly dove over the desk."

OK, I know Lacewell had only been on the job for a short time and his supposed "expertise" was college scouting.

But how does any person involved at all in the profession of football not know who Charles Haley is in 1992? He had already been to three Pro Bowls, was an All-Pro and had two Super Bowl rings.

That's one indictment.

The other is it's unbelievable that this man let a note like that from another team sit on his desk for "three or four days." Jerry should have fired him on the spot.

Four years later, Little Larry had grown into an expert on defensive ends. Look at this quote from 1996 right after the team drafted Kavika Pittman. Larry was telling the media why the team took another DE.

“I'm glad we have Shante Carver, I'll tell you. And now we have another."

Larry's obsession with his beloved SEC also took control and he repeatedly zoned in on underachieving headcases from that conference -- guys like Kendell Watkins, Sherman Williams, Quincy Carter, Tony Dixon, Dwayne Goodrich ...

I usually turn to some dark humor when posting about stuff like this, but seeing this 1992 quote for the first time really pissed me off. Not only did Lacewell help pilot the Cowboys into a downward spiral from the time Jimmy left until Parcells arrived, he also nearly hijacked the early portion of the 1990s. Another team could have easily made a deal for Haley while that "note sat on my desk for three or four days."

I don't even blame Lacewell, whose honesty is startling.

I blame Jerry, whose combination of arrogance and ignorance was just as startling.

I'm a history buff and I tend to look backwards a lot, I know, but I've always felt we can learn from history. Sorry, I just had to vent.

 

[LucaBrasi]

Great post. I could not believe the quote on Haley when I read it. If you even watched a little football from 1986-1991, you would have known who Haley was. The Niners were on every week and won 2 SB's with him as a catalyst on defense.

 

[Bach]

Lacewell tells the story of how Dallas ended up with Charles Haley. Somehow, a message from the 49ers ended up on his desk:

"I'd honestly never heard of the guy," said Lacewell. "I think the note sat on my desk for three or four days before I finally walked it down to Jerry's office. When I told him what it was, he nearly dove over the desk."

Wow. Just wow.


Lacewell was definitely a joke, but I'd put him at #2 on the list, behind Jerry's decision to make himself the GM.

 

[ologan]

I know that Jones and Johnson were teammates at UA,but wasn't Barry Switzer also in that mix? Didn't Barry canoodle around with Lacewell's wife in the past,and was the prime cause of their divorce? Put on your tin foil hat,cause maybe,just maybe,Lacewell exacted his revenge the only way he knew how,by screwing Barry thru his "friends",and if the Cowboys and their fans were hurt by it,so what.

 

[Seven]

Wow. Just wow.

Great read Chief. Thanks for the share.



Hey Larry. That's YOUR dog that keeps crappin' in your yard.............Sped.

 

[zrinkill]

Jimmy was just as responsible for Lacewell being here as Jerry.

Lacewell gave Jimmy his first coaching job at wichita state and Jimmy was the best man at Larry's wedding.

Jimmy and Lacewell were closer than Jerry and Lacewell.

 

[THUMPER]

The bottom line is that Jerry is both the owner and the GM and he is ultimately responsible for any moves, good or bad, that the team makes.

Hiring Lacewell, Switzer, Gailey, Campo, etc. are all his responsibility as were the horrible drafts we have had in his time here.

On the other hand, he is to be credited with hiring Jimmy, Parcells, & Phillips and the outstanding personnel moves over the years.

I guess if I sat down and made a comparison of his "pro" & "con" moves over the years it might come out even in the end.

 

[Bach]

Jimmy was just as responsible for Lacewell being here as Jerry.

Lacewell gave Jimmy his first coaching job at wichita state and Jimmy was the best man at Larry's wedding.

Jimmy and Lacewell were closer than Jerry and Lacewell.

Jerry kept him here for nearly a decade, bad draft, after bad draft once Jimmy left.

But, I guess that's Jimmy's fault.

 

[zrinkill]

Jerry kept him here for nearly a decade, bad draft, after bad draft once Jimmy left.

But, I guess that's Jimmy's fault.

Thats not what the original post was about. It was about hiring Lacewell.

Jimmy must have thought Lacewell was good at his job at one point.

Jimmy was not very good at his a few years after he left here either.

 

[zrinkill]

The bottom line is that Jerry is both the owner and the GM and he is ultimately responsible for any moves, good or bad, that the team makes.

Hiring Lacewell, Switzer, Gailey, Campo, etc. are all his responsibility as were the horrible drafts we have had in his time here.

On the other hand, he is to be credited with hiring Jimmy, Parcells, & Phillips and the outstanding personnel moves over the years.

I guess if I sat down and made a comparison of his "pro" & "con" moves over the years it might come out even in the end.

I agree ..... was just clarifying for the people who Hate Jerry and Worship Jimmy that Jimmy wanted Lace here as much as JJ did.

 

[Bach]

Thats not what the original post was about. It was about hiring Lacewell.

Jimmy must have thought Lacewell was good at his job at one point.

Jimmy was not very good at his a few years after he left here either.

I don't care who hire him. Once it was seen he was an idiot I don't know why anyone would keep him around as the lead personnel man for a decade.

Also, once Jimmy left, I don't recall running his team into the ground going 5-11 multiple years.

 

[Hostile]

Nice job Chief. Hope it doesn't get sidetracked.

The Haley comment blows my mind. I had not heard that before. Makes me wonder if guys get comfortable with what they do know and don't prepare.

I was at least encouraged that Jerry apparently not only knew who he was but about had an accident trying to react to the news.

I'm not sure what I feel was Jerry's biggest folly, but I believe I would probably go with "any of 500 guys could coach the Dallas Cowboys." That really did not sit well with me and never has. I've moved past it and long since let it go, but the memory still burns. I knew the team would begin a downward spiral once Switzer was brought in. Had a brief hope in Chan Gailey, no hope in Campo, and unrealized expectations under Tuna.

In between all of that I've come to really respect Jerry Jones, flaws and all.

 

[zrinkill]

I don't care who hire him. Once it was seen he was an idiot I don't know why anyone would keep him around as the lead personnel man for a decade.

Also, once Jimmy left, I don't recall running his team into the ground going 5-11 multiple years.

No he just retired in shame after 4 years because he could not repeat the success he had with the Cowboys without the people who helped him reach that success.

If Jimmy had stayed with the Cowboys ..... I believe we would have stayed dominate for a few more years ..... would then Lacewell and Jerry be considered by you to be good?

They broke up the band and none of them could ever get back to were they wanted to go.

 

[THUMPER]

I agree ..... was just clarifying for the people who Hate Jerry and Worship Jimmy that Jimmy wanted Lace here as much as JJ did.

I wasn't replying specifically to your post but to the thread in general.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Chief, my old friend. Just one question please.

Can you name the players Lacewell was instrumental in bringing to the Cowboys?

That seems to be a better indicator of his ability, or lack thereof.

The real issue for me is that we judge people on their worst or best moments and ignore the other stuff that might be great or not great at all.

But then you knew I would take this position.

Good to see you again.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

The Haley comment is astounding. I can't believe I've read that.

Still...to me his biggest mistake was letting his ego get in the way (Along with Jimmy's) and letting Jimmy leave the team.

 

[superpunk]

Mistakes have been made.

 

[Chief]

Chief, my old friend. Just one question please.

Can you name the players Lacewell was instrumental in bringing to the Cowboys?

That seems to be a better indicator of his ability, or lack thereof.

The real issue for me is that we judge people on their worst or best moments and ignore the other stuff that might be great or not great at all.

But then you knew I would take this position.

Good to see you again.

Good to see you, too, big guy.

You're right about us focusing on the best or worst moments. That's natural, I guess.

None of us know the specific players each member of the front office was instrumental in bringing in (one scout protested Quincy Carter because of the character issue ... I wish I knew which scout it was).

But I can look at those drafts between Jimmy and Parcells and make a pretty solid conclusion that Larry was in over his head.

That quote about Charles Haley blew me away, and I just had to vent a little.

And, I'm sure Jimmy had a hand in bringing Lacewell to Dallas, but Jerry calls the final shots and should have done something about at some point.

 

[Hostile]

Chief, my old friend. Just one question please.

Can you name the players Lacewell was instrumental in bringing to the Cowboys?

That seems to be a better indicator of his ability, or lack thereof.

The real issue for me is that we judge people on their worst or best moments and ignore the other stuff that might be great or not great at all.

But then you knew I would take this position.

Good to see you again.

Hey, hey the gang's all here. Except booze I guess. Nothing I can do about that though. Honestly wish I could.

I've noticed that in a lot of ways we tend to focus on the negatives. We yell when our kids spill the milk, but do we ever say anything when they drink it without spilling 20 times in a row?

Nice to see you here too Ishmael.

 

[STSINAZ]

now we know why we sucked for so long....lacewell and jerry