PFT: Reeves: “Coaches Never Punch A Clock”

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by Aaron Wilson on April 12, 2009, 10:42 a.m.

Dan Reeves remains mystified that his prospective consultant job with the Dallas Cowboys fell apart over team owner Jerry Jones’ insistence on a contractual clause that required Reeves to work a certain amount of hours, according to Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

“Coaches never punch a clock,” Reeves said.

Months later, Reeves is still surprised that the deal unraveled at the eleventh hour.

“Although I respected Jerry’s decision, I didn’t understand it, and it wasn’t something that was even negotiable,” Reeves said. “I just couldn’t sign something that, in my opinion, would mean I’d be working day-to-day.

“But for some reason, Jerry felt like he had to [have in writing] that I work as many, or more, hours as the head coach [Wade Phillips] and offensive coordinator [Jason Garrett]. That meant, at any time, [Jones] could say, ‘You didn’t work as many hours as Wade did yesterday, therefore, you’ve voided your contract.’”

Reeves had turned down the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator offer prior to nearly landing in Dallas.

Reeves recalled that Jones was the one who first acknowledged that the punch-the-clock issue was a deal-breaker.

“If I feel it’s important and you feel it’s something you can’t live with, why don’t we just part ways?” Reeves said. “Maybe it was a case of Jerry changing his mind [about me], and this was the way to get out of it. I don’t know.”

 

[theogt]

What a turd. I really wanted him here, but this is just stupid. I'm sure his pay would have been $1 million plus. Oh heaven forbid he actually be contractually obligated to work to earn that money.

 

[Vintage]

Its done and over with. Why does he feel the need to talk about it?

 

[arglebargle]

What a stupid clause. If you don't think he's going to do the job, don't hire him. But a nebulous clause that makes his every move dependent on other people's timings is kinda dumb. I just don't see the benefit of such a clause, much less the fact that it was, apparantly, a deal breaker.

'Hey, you did a great job, but you did it in fewer hours than Joe there, so we'll have to let you go.'

 

[SDogo]

I see no problem with Jerry wanting to make sure the people he is paying are putting in the required time to get the job done. In the real world it's the way things are done. These guys have lost touch with reality.

 

[CowboyMike]

Jerry said that the same type of clause is in every contract he does.

This looks like the same ol dan reeves. Remember this is the same guy that tried to run John Elway out of Denver and replace him with tommy maddox.

 

[NeonNinja]

Stop the whining Reeves, this is ridiculous.

 

[arglebargle]

I doubt that very many Cowboys staffers have clauses that tie their work hours to those of the head coach.

Though Reeves did show an inability to use well one of the greatest QBs of the modern era.

 

[Ren]

:laugh1 people saying it was over TO

 

[Chocolate Lab]

What a stupid clause. If you don't think he's going to do the job, don't hire him. But a nebulous clause that makes his every move dependent on other people's timings is kinda dumb. I just don't see the benefit of such a clause, much less the fact that it was, apparantly, a deal breaker.

Dead on.

Like Reeves said at the end here, Jerry changed his mind for some reason and he threw this monkey wrench in the deal on purpose.

This is my one regret of this offseason. Everything else has been pretty much perfect, but I really wish we'd gotten Reeves here.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

It sounds like Reeves wanted to come and go as he pleased and still get paid. If your intention is to work hard to achieve a common goal, more than likely you will work the same hours as the coaches, if not more. Surely as SF's OC, he would've worked just as many hours, so what difference does it make if the clause exists or not? Maybe Reeves' heart isn't really into at this point.

 

[CF74]

“Maybe it was a case of Jerry changing his mind [about me], and this was the way to get out of it. I don’t know.”

That was the 1st thing that came to my mind. Jerry probably plucked his brain and then said meh, I'll just save me a few $mill....

 

[Big Country]

Its done and over with. Why does he feel the need to talk about it?

Dan Reeves remains mystified

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Was it a literal clock or a figurative one?

 

[CF74]

And why would you require a "Consultant" to work the same amount of hours as the coaches? Doesn't make sense, Jerry changed his mind and this was how to get out of it...

 

[Sarge]

It was a very strange an unnecessary request by Jerry.

 

[BigDFan5]

Was it a literal clock or a figurative one?

Figurative

this shows me he was not gonna put the time into it

Reeves said. “I just couldn’t sign something that, in my opinion, would mean I’d be working day-to-day.

 

[Bluefin]

Dead on.

Like Reeves said at the end here, Jerry changed his mind for some reason and he threw this monkey wrench in the deal on purpose.

This is my one regret of this offseason. Everything else has been pretty much perfect, but I really wish we'd gotten Reeves here.

I wanted Dan Reeves on the staff as well.

I thought he'd a be a valuable addition everyone would benefit from.

Reeves didn't make it this long by not being a good coach or putting in the necessary hours to do the job.

Jerry Jones simply changed his mind, IMO.

 

[arglebargle]

I actually disagreed with a lot of Reeves's actions as coach, but I don't think anyone has ever thought he was a slacker. As a player he came back from an achilles tendon rupture back when no one did so successfully, mostly through very difficult rehab.

I do think it is a weird issue to have something like this deal founder on.

 

[koolaid]

I'm glad we didn't hire Reeves. If you can't handle a being obligated by your contract to a minimum hours standard on a million dollar salary then you don't deserve seven figures.