The Reality About Jerry Jones - He Wins

[Hostile]

I bolded something below that caught my eye.

Buck Harvey

The winner of Michael Irvin's reality show comes to San Antonio in July.

Then he will slam into 300-pound men and listen to Wade Phillips.

There is no word yet on how the losers will be punished.

It won't be easy selecting appropriate contestants. Ideally, they should lazily jog through practice and be overly talented. Being late for the team plane would be a plus, too.

But Irvin already has considered the kind of contestants he wants. “Like if a guy who had a brother who was shot,” Irvin said, “and he had to give up the game to take care of his brother's kids.”

You know. Someone whose brother had been hanging around Pacman.

So there's a natural follow question, given the dead-brother profile, and it's this: Will Irvin be looking for real NFL players to compete on his show, or simply those who would make for good theater?

Irvin answered the way Jerry Jones would, and why Jones wins now even as he appears to be losing.

Both, Irvin said.

It's not a crime. It's a business decision. The “E” in ESPN stands for “entertainment,” and the “S” in Spike TV stands for “something.”
As in, the network needs “something” to program.

This isn't new, either. The Cowboys always have understood the power of marketing, with Tex Schramm embracing the title of “America's Team.”

Still, Schramm worked his side of the business, and Tom Landry worked his. Jones works, as Irvin would say, both.

That is Jones' flaw, of course. He builds drama better than he builds football teams, and perhaps never has he felt more of the sting for that imbalance than now. The Cardinals represent the NFC.

This should have been Dallas' year, and the stories flood in daily now, telling everyone why it was not. The Cowboys come across as disorganized, clueless and petty, and it begins with Phillips.

Now Mr. Fix It has pledged to become Mr. Tough Guy, something even the players laugh about.

Because of players being tardy, the Cowboys' charter was reportedly delayed last season almost as often as regular airlines were. Tony Romo has been criticized for not working in practice, and now he is thinking about trying harder next season — but only after Troy Aikman said a few things about him.

As for the usual soap: Romo hasn't said much about Terrell Owens, who is cool with that and who has been hanging with Paris Hilton, and that begs yet another question.

Where has Jessica Simpson been keeping herself?

Now, as the Super Bowl teams arrive in Tampa, Roger Goodell should consider a gag order on Cowboys stories for a week. The Steelers and Cardinals should have a chance to say something.

But Jones would find a way to circumvent even that. He liked Simpson being around the season before, and he's the one in the organization who is most reluctant to cut Owens.

He's also the one who welcomed HBO's “Hard Knocks” to training camp last year. And given the circus of the last few months, he's OK with more clowns coming to South Texas next summer.

“Nothing sells itself,” Jones once said.

Jones would like to sell a winner, and he wasn't that far away this past season. The Cowboys took the Cardinals to overtime and led the Steelers by 10 late in the fourth quarter in Pittsburgh.

There was a time, too, when they thought they could survive both losses. During the Cowboys' final win of the season, Romo shook off a back bruise and threw two touchdowns to beat the defending champion Giants.

Jones would prefer to sell that. But he knows he can't count on wins, so he works every cheap, talk-show angle. He wants exposure, and he wants fans to say something, anything.

Today they are. This is how Jones will fill his new stadium next season.

After the Giants game, Romo smiled about a week of craziness created by Owens. “There's no tension around here,” he said, tongue in cheek.

Then Romo paused. “Football is as big as it is because it's almost like a reality show.”

Almost?

Next summer, in San Antonio, Jones gets both.

bharvey@express-news.net

 

[Bach]

He's also the one who welcomed HBO's “Hard Knocks” to training camp last year. And given the circus of the last few months, he's OK with more clowns coming to South Texas next summer.

“Nothing sells itself,” Jones once said.

And on it goes. The ultimate snakeoil salesman parading around as a football man but in the end more interested in selling than winning.

 

[lcharles]

I bolded something below that caught my eye.

Buck Harvey

The winner of Michael Irvin's reality show comes to San Antonio in July.

Then he will slam into 300-pound men and listen to Wade Phillips.

There is no word yet on how the losers will be punished.

It won't be easy selecting appropriate contestants. Ideally, they should lazily jog through practice and be overly talented. Being late for the team plane would be a plus, too.

But Irvin already has considered the kind of contestants he wants. “Like if a guy who had a brother who was shot,” Irvin said, “and he had to give up the game to take care of his brother's kids.”

You know. Someone whose brother had been hanging around Pacman.

So there's a natural follow question, given the dead-brother profile, and it's this: Will Irvin be looking for real NFL players to compete on his show, or simply those who would make for good theater?

Irvin answered the way Jerry Jones would, and why Jones wins now even as he appears to be losing.

Both, Irvin said.

It's not a crime. It's a business decision. The “E” in ESPN stands for “entertainment,” and the “S” in Spike TV stands for “something.”
As in, the network needs “something” to program.

This isn't new, either. The Cowboys always have understood the power of marketing, with Tex Schramm embracing the title of “America's Team.”

Still, Schramm worked his side of the business, and Tom Landry worked his. Jones works, as Irvin would say, both.

That is Jones' flaw, of course. He builds drama better than he builds football teams, and perhaps never has he felt more of the sting for that imbalance than now. The Cardinals represent the NFC.

This should have been Dallas' year, and the stories flood in daily now, telling everyone why it was not. The Cowboys come across as disorganized, clueless and petty, and it begins with Phillips.

Now Mr. Fix It has pledged to become Mr. Tough Guy, something even the players laugh about.

Because of players being tardy, the Cowboys' charter was reportedly delayed last season almost as often as regular airlines were. Tony Romo has been criticized for not working in practice, and now he is thinking about trying harder next season — but only after Troy Aikman said a few things about him.

As for the usual soap: Romo hasn't said much about Terrell Owens, who is cool with that and who has been hanging with Paris Hilton, and that begs yet another question.

Where has Jessica Simpson been keeping herself?

Now, as the Super Bowl teams arrive in Tampa, Roger Goodell should consider a gag order on Cowboys stories for a week. The Steelers and Cardinals should have a chance to say something.

But Jones would find a way to circumvent even that. He liked Simpson being around the season before, and he's the one in the organization who is most reluctant to cut Owens.

He's also the one who welcomed HBO's “Hard Knocks” to training camp last year. And given the circus of the last few months, he's OK with more clowns coming to South Texas next summer.

“Nothing sells itself,” Jones once said.

Jones would like to sell a winner, and he wasn't that far away this past season. The Cowboys took the Cardinals to overtime and led the Steelers by 10 late in the fourth quarter in Pittsburgh.

There was a time, too, when they thought they could survive both losses. During the Cowboys' final win of the season, Romo shook off a back bruise and threw two touchdowns to beat the defending champion Giants.

Jones would prefer to sell that. But he knows he can't count on wins, so he works every cheap, talk-show angle. He wants exposure, and he wants fans to say something, anything.

Today they are. This is how Jones will fill his new stadium next season.

After the Giants game, Romo smiled about a week of craziness created by Owens. “There's no tension around here,” he said, tongue in cheek.

Then Romo paused. “Football is as big as it is because it's almost like a reality show.”

Almost?

Next summer, in San Antonio, Jones gets both.

bharvey@express-news.net

So the winner has to slam into 300 pound men and listen to 300 pound men talk?

 

[jterrell]

And on it goes. The ultimate snakeoil salesman parading around as a football man but in the end more interested in selling than winning.

And yet he has won as much as anyone outside New England where they wouldn't dream of adding a team wrecking WR or having a QB who dates starlets....

 

[zrinkill]

And yet he has won as much as anyone outside New England where they wouldn't dream of adding a team wrecking WR or having a QB who dates starlets....

 

[Bach]

And yet he has won as much as anyone outside New England where they wouldn't dream of adding a team wrecking WR or having a QB who dates starlets....

Yet he hasn't won squat since he started calling all the shots in Dallas. So what's your point? We already know Jimmy was a great HC and talent evaluator in Dallas.

 

[jterrell]

Yet he hasn't won squat since he started calling all the shots in Dallas. So what's your point? We already know Jimmy was a great HC and talent evaluator in Dallas.

Actually he has called all the shots since he bought the team. Last time I checked he signed the checks Jimmy cashed and also all those Mike, Emmitt and Troy cashed.

Jimmy won before the players union had a zillion rules and before free agency too. Jerry's checkbook dictated a lot of what we did even under Jimmy. We drafted guys based on their cost. Jimmy was a great coach and motivator but he had advantages no one does today.

 

[Bach]

Actually he has called all the shots since he bought the team. Last time I checked he signed the checks Jimmy cashed and also all those Mike, Emmitt and Troy cashed.

Jimmy won before the players union had a zillion rules and before free agency too. Jerry's checkbook dictated a lot of what we did even under Jimmy. We drafted guys based on their cost. Jimmy was a great coach and motivator but he had advantages no one does today.

Owners sign checks, that's what they do.

Jimmy drafted those players though, and made the trades, and hired his own staff. And Jerry himself was quoted as saying that there were only one or two times in that time that he overruled Jimmy.

Do you know how many decisions were made in regards to signing players and drafting players from 1989-1993? And yet Jerry only overruled Jimmy twice.

Since that time Jerry's not only had the final say but he's been making those decisions, and we have 13 years without a playoff win to show for it.

Good job Jerry.

 

[5Countem5]

Owners sign checks, that's what they do.

Jimmy drafted those players though, and made the trades, and hired his own staff. And Jerry himself was quoted as saying that there were only one or two times in that time that he overruled Jimmy.

Do you know how many decisions were made in regards to signing players and drafting players from 1989-1993? And yet Jerry only overruled Jimmy twice.

Since that time Jerry's not only had the final say but he's been making those decisions, and we have 13 years without a playoff win to show for it.

Good job Jerry.

Don't forget Jerry "ran off" Jimmy

 

[LucaBrasi]

Jerry wins - just not much lately at least in the last 12 years.

 

[Bach]

Don't forget Jerry "ran off" Jimmy

I'm not sure what's so funny. That's the worst thing that happened to this franchise.

 

[theebs]

Actually he has called all the shots since he bought the team. Last time I checked he signed the checks Jimmy cashed and also all those Mike, Emmitt and Troy cashed.

Jimmy won before the players union had a zillion rules and before free agency too. Jerry's checkbook dictated a lot of what we did even under Jimmy. We drafted guys based on their cost. Jimmy was a great coach and motivator but he had advantages no one does today.

Go read the great robert wilonsky article bach put up yesterday.

Jerry hired jimmy, he was a friend he knew him. THey had the first pick, they lucked out with aikman.

When Jerry has had to go out and evaluate football coaches and then evalutate football players he has failed almost every time. He stepped out of the way for parcells, parcells totally reshaped the coaching staff, the front office, the offseason program, the structure of practice etc etc etc.....We started winning again.

Two years later we are back on the Jerry track to the nfl basement.

Jerry Has not been able to put top tier talent on the field without jimmy or bill here. That is all you need to know. We needed a quarterback desperately, but Jerry is not a talent evaluator and yet he was picking qb's. We have been chasing a number 1 wr in the draft since Jerry got here, he has never drafted one. It goes on and one.

Jerry has been given a ton of credit for drafting the fill in positions, without jimmy and bill here he has not drafted one player at one of the key positions. Only Flozell adams at left tackle fits the bill and without parcells showing up, who knows where his career was headed.

Its blasphemy to defend jones. His work speaks for itself. He is not an nfl talent evaluator. HIs ego wont allow him to hire these people to run his organization. He had one in JImmy and when jimmy became a household name and got all the credit, jerry ran him out of town. He hired one in bill and when we didnt win the superbowl off of a rookie class in 05, jerry panicked and brought in the biggest idiot in the league and made the season a complete circus.

Its not going to change. As fans we just have to hope we get lucky and the players can overcome the nonsense. But so far none of the teams have been able to. Especially not this group. But instead of removing the nonsense, he just keeps adding to it.

 

[ddh33]

How do the mistakes and untruths get repeated in other spots' columns? Do they guys do any work, or do they just spew each other's crap as a way to cover their tracks...

 

[jterrell]

Owners sign checks, that's what they do.

Jimmy drafted those players though, and made the trades, and hired his own staff. And Jerry himself was quoted as saying that there were only one or two times in that time that he overruled Jimmy.

Do you know how many decisions were made in regards to signing players and drafting players from 1989-1993? And yet Jerry only overruled Jimmy twice.

Since that time Jerry's not only had the final say but he's been making those decisions, and we have 13 years without a playoff win to show for it.

Good job Jerry.

That would be fine except it isn't true.

We traded Herschel Walker because he wanted "QB" money. Jerry told Jimmy to find a trade for him. He went down to the field and told Jimmy there was no way he was meeting those salary demands. Jimmy of course found one of the best trades in NFL history.

We drafted a lot of first rounders based on money, including Troy Aikman. Troy was drafted to sell jerseys and because everyone but Jimmy thought him the best QB in the draft. Jimmy's comment: He wasn't a winner so Jimmy went and drafted Steve Walsh in the supplemental draft. Irvin was already here and then the next year Jimmy wanted to draft a LB from Baylor but he came off the board so we traded down. We had coaches(Joe Brodsky standing on a table screaming in the war room) freaking out about Emmitt so traded up for him but he wasn't ever a Jimmy target at all. When Jimmy drafted Larry Brown he did so because the team didn't have to fly him in, they just went with a local kid because he had no shot of making the team....



And Jimmy didn't hire Norv Turner so much as Jerry brought him in. Zampese was an adviser to Jones and thus he found out about Norv. Jimmy didn't even know who he was.

Jimmy did a masterful job here but he was not a 1 man team or even close to it. There are tons of books out there and it seems like you might want to read them considering how inaccurately you are relating what actually happened.

We had guys on the clock in the draft waiting to sign contracts before we drafted them. That was 100% Jerry.

Jimmy coached the team well and he ruled over them with aplomb. They didn't circumvent him or challenge him. He was excellent but he was hardly in it alone. Jerry has never and will never allow that.

 

[jterrell]

Go read the great robert wilonsky article bach put up yesterday.

Jerry hired jimmy, he was a friend he knew him. THey had the first pick, they lucked out with aikman.

When Jerry has had to go out and evaluate football coaches and then evalutate football players he has failed almost every time. He stepped out of the way for parcells, parcells totally reshaped the coaching staff, the front office, the offseason program, the structure of practice etc etc etc.....We started winning again.

Two years later we are back on the Jerry track to the nfl basement.

Jerry Has not been able to put top tier talent on the field without jimmy or bill here. That is all you need to know. We needed a quarterback desperately, but Jerry is not a talent evaluator and yet he was picking qb's. We have been chasing a number 1 wr in the draft since Jerry got here, he has never drafted one. It goes on and one.

Jerry has been given a ton of credit for drafting the fill in positions, without jimmy and bill here he has not drafted one player at one of the key positions. Only Flozell adams at left tackle fits the bill and without parcells showing up, who knows where his career was headed.

Its blasphemy to defend jones. His work speaks for itself. He is not an nfl talent evaluator. HIs ego wont allow him to hire these people to run his organization. He had one in JImmy and when jimmy became a household name and got all the credit, jerry ran him out of town. He hired one in bill and when we didnt win the superbowl off of a rookie class in 05, jerry panicked and brought in the biggest idiot in the league and made the season a complete circus.

Its not going to change. As fans we just have to hope we get lucky and the players can overcome the nonsense. But so far none of the teams have been able to. Especially not this group. But instead of removing the nonsense, he just keeps adding to it.

theebs... Jimmy didn't want Troy Aikman. He wanted to draft Tony Mandarich. Steve Walsh was Jimmy's QB.

We got Aikman because of Ackles, and Jerry. Jerry wanted that pretty boy to sell jerseys. He bought the team saying he'd give Aikman number 12 if he wanted it.

Irvin was already here and they got lucky on Emmitt because they traded down and he fell.

Jimmy Johnson has never drafted another decent QB. EVER. He drafted DEFENSE. He may be the best evaluator ever of defensive talent but he sucked at drafting skill positions.

When Jerry relied on Larry Lacewell as talent evaluator we were screwed. With him out of the way we have been more than fine. This past draft, sans BP and all his cronies, was excellent.

What was the last star player BP or Jimmy drafted at the "skill" positions???????

 

[Bach]

Its blasphemy to defend jones. His work speaks for itself. He is not an nfl talent evaluator. HIs ego wont allow him to hire these people to run his organization. He had one in JImmy and when jimmy became a household name and got all the credit, jerry ran him out of town. He hired one in bill and when we didnt win the superbowl off of a rookie class in 05, jerry panicked and brought in the biggest idiot in the league and made the season a complete circus.

Its not going to change. As fans we just have to hope we get lucky and the players can overcome the nonsense. But so far none of the teams have been able to. Especially not this group. But instead of removing the nonsense, he just keeps adding to it.

Well said. How any actual Cowboys fan can still defend the man is simply amazing. I really question who or what they are a fan of.

 

[jterrell]

Well said. How any actual Cowboys fan can still defend the man is simply amazing. I really question who or what they are a fan of.

I willingly defend any member of the Cowboys organization from outright lies and untruth.

Where they are legitimately at fault I am fine with the criticism but I don't suffer fools the ability to pile on fake criticisms.

Jerry hired and employed the worst personnel man in football for a decade in Larry Lacewell. He has undercut every coach he has hired since Jimmy Johnson including BP. He has been guilty of a rash of violations worthy of inciting the masses, but he was still an integral part of the 3 Super Bowls.

What it true is true.

 

[Bach]

When Jerry relied on Larry Lacewell as talent evaluator we were screwed. With him out of the way we have been more than fine. This past draft, sans BP and all his cronies, was excellent.

I agree that Jerry relied and Lacewell. Just like he relied on Jimmy and then BP/Ireland. That's the point, Jerry isn't a 'football man', he just gave himself a title. And when he goes out and makes decisions, especially in FA or with trades, he often overpays and passes it off as him being a risktaker. It's all B.S.

With personnel the one hope we do have is that Lacewell has been gone. Last years draft was very good, but I wouldn't exactly call it "sans BP and all his cronies" since Ireland didn't leave til after the season and the college players were already evaluated by him prior to him leaving.

That said, I have hope for Ciskowski and if Jerry listens to the football men in the organization then we should be fine when it comes to the draft.

Unfortunately even with better personnel, Jerry sabotages and poisons it by hiring weaker coaches, undermining him and controlling the staff and bringing the circus to town. Jerry having to be the face of the organization and keep them in the headlines only hinders the team. Until that changes, if it ever does, then we'll likely to continue coming up short. And if by chance the talent starts to dwindle then any chance we have goes out the window.

 

[theebs]

theebs... Jimmy didn't want Troy Aikman. He wanted to draft Tony Mandarich. Steve Walsh was Jimmy's QB.

We got Aikman because of Ackles, and Jerry. Jerry wanted that pretty boy to sell jerseys. He bought the team saying he'd give Aikman number 12 if he wanted it.

Irvin was already here and they got lucky on Emmitt because they traded down and he fell.

Jimmy Johnson has never drafted another decent QB. EVER. He drafted DEFENSE. He may be the best evaluator ever of defensive talent but he sucked at drafting skill positions.

When Jerry relied on Larry Lacewell as talent evaluator we were screwed. With him out of the way we have been more than fine. This past draft, sans BP and all his cronies, was excellent.

What was the last star player BP or Jimmy drafted at the "skill" positions???????

Umm the last star bp or jimmy drafted. Do you really have to ask that?

Howbout Demarcus ware, jason witten, t-new, marion barber, Tony Romo. Those are the skill positions. WIth parcells here they were replenished. Before parcells Jerry traded up to draft quincy carter and made horrendous defensive end picks in the first round.

And I said we lucked into aikman. Jerry has never drafted another qb. He has never drafted a wr. HIs tight end he chose flamed out and was out of the league in lafleur.

If you really want to have this conversation, thats fine. But I mean jerry's work speaks for itself. He is horrendous. Throw in his risk taking on players, constant yapping on the radio, undermining the coaching staff and marketing the team like he is running a soda company...He really is a menace as a gm.

As an owner he wants to win and he pays players who work hard here and is willing to spend more to bring in more talent. Unfortanetly he has final say in who comes and goes and that is the problem. You would think he would learn when it hasnt worked for so long and when guys like arthur blank bring in young gm's, young coaches and trust their people and get good results.

I know it wont change, but since it is the offseason I dont mind talking about how poor he is. Once we get closer to the draft I wont talk about this or the owens issue if he is still here, they are just a road to a dead end.

I just dont get why fans dont realize that pretty much every longtime nfl player, coach or media member all feel the same way about Jerry, yet somehow they are viewed as wrong?

 

[WoodysGirl]

Well said. How any actual Cowboys fan can still defend the man is simply amazing. I really question who or what they are a fan of.

I question folks who question people's fandom. Just because a person doesn't agree with you doesn't make them any less of a fan than you.

Fans want what is best for the team, but it's ok to disagree about what it would take.