Jimmy would have dealt with the Cowboys salary cap and free agency much better than Jones because he knew who was dispensable and indispensable.
Jimmy would never sign Deion to the kind of contract that forced the mass exodus of a half dozen other players.
Jimmy wasn't sentimental, he wouldn't have written contracts based on previous achievements.
It is difficult to keep teams together but why should that be the focus? You want the team to continue winning.
Those that want to undervalue Jimmy's contribution and abilities to build a team always want to point to the time he spent with the Dolphins. They want to forget that Jimmy was greatly handicapped by having to wait a year before taking over the team because Shula didn't want to retire.
In addition, he wanted to replace Marino but the owner refused to allow it. Therefore, Jimmy had to wait before he could begin to develop his own QB while enduring Marino's cap hit at age 36 to 38.
That picture misses the number of misses on players and team strength in numbers of player brought in to water roster growths. The number of acquired personnel to over come the large number of failures is relevant.
Troy Aikman almost never was the cornerstone he was because that same Jimmy Johnson first worked pro-active Jimmy loyalty under him before just talent. He did that with coaches and with players.
Not just indicating non-sentimental is not the full motive. He was fully invested in his own empowerment, and that was political in nature as was the team effects.
There can be little doubt as his coaching ability to observe game movements and momentums. Also, he was able to mold the team into his own view of desired directions and response to his directed scheme. As to end results, he was very successful with what Jerry was able to get him. That was an era when money bought a roster and Jerry was able to do just that.
When cap and free agency entered the picture, change of franchises did also. One had to blow entire rosters for change, or slowly do that through the draft.
Jerry was committed to the concept to attempting to win each and every season. The transition in cap management and wisely attacking the scouting departments were slowly improved and that contribution has become a strength.
Jimmy's direct knowledge of talent coming from college ranks lasted only about four seasons...then he again became dependent upon internal resources for evaluations. Player evaluations in the NFL have improved quite a bit over the past ten years. There are still many gambles that present problems. Here, Dallas at present is very good.
Without that very top level imput of multiple developmental numbers, that is more the cause for a lower achievement level once in Miami.
As to development under a coach...the current status of McCarthy shows a strong ability there as well. Here and now, and with two previous 12 win seasons...very very few other teams can support that level of what is currently 3rd that level of success.
As to Deion and even Haley, they came when the money was available and before the trial and error phase of cap management into the current picture. Deion was very needed as to team strength and worth the cost in the era was dominant in.
Is one going to be a 'toughie' as was applied to Jimmy's description and write him off now as being too expensive? I doubt very seriously that is even on the table for consideration on team stability and projection. Oh, there is much development at work, here and now...
Obviously you did not read any of my other posts.
