FOX NFL SUNDAY NOTES – 11/14/10
Jerry Jones Sits Down Exclusively with FOX NFL SUNDAY’s Pam Oliver
Oliver to Jones: Does Your Ego Get in the Way of Your Decision to Not Give Up GM Responsibilities?
Johnson: Jerry Jones Did Not Drive Me Out of Dallas, I Was Ready to Move On
Glazer Reports that Garrett Needs to Win Five Games to Coach the Cowboys Next Season
Bradshaw to Jones: Fire Yourself as General Manager
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In an exclusive interview, FOX NFL SUNDAY reporter Pam Oliver sat down with Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones to discuss the firing of Wade Phillips, his role in the organization, mistakes he’s made in the past and to assess what’s been an overwhelmingly disappointing season for the NFL’s most vocal owner:
Jones: “If you wear all the shoes that I do then you’re particularly disappointed for our fans and feel a big responsibility there. I did not see this coming.”
Oliver: “Jerry, people are laughing at the Cowboys. Pointing, laughing and doing cartwheels over this whole mess. Is some of it of your own creation?”
Jones: “There are high expectations. I helped that along. When you don’t meet those expectations, then you can expect some tough criticism. There was no honeymoon when I first got involved with the Dallas Cowboys so I got used to having that blind faith.”
Oliver: “Are you embarrassed?”
Jones: “I’m very disappointed, very disappointed. It is very difficult within me to be embarrassed about getting to be with the Dallas Cowboys. As much as I want us to do better as a team, as much as I want to do better to help this team, I have a tough time getting embarrassed. It hurts like nobody’s business to get criticized and laughed at. All that does is fire you up.”
Oliver: “Let me ask you about a topic that has been much discussed and that is you as general manager. How great of a general manager do you feel you are?”
Jones: “I deserve the criticism that I’m getting because the decision does stop here. It always has stopped right here.”
Oliver: “So you will not give up those duties, ever?”
Jones: “No. If you bring in a manager and if you bring a new coach in under our system, you can do more damage changing, especially changing multiple parts.”
Oliver: “I know you to be a strong man, a prideful man and a man with a pretty hefty ego. Are any of those things getting in the way with your decision to not give up those duties?”
Jones: “Let me say this…I think that many of those human qualities can be human frailties. Frankly, some of the best things people do come from some of their frailties.”
Oliver: “What’s your biggest mistake as the owner, president, general manager of the Dallas Cowboys?”
Jones: “I would’ve liked to have talked Jimmy Johnson into coaching longer. If you look at a great coach like him, or a great coach like Bill Parcells, they move. They are successful but they move for whatever reason. When you look at what you could do to mitigate some of that movement, then I could call that a shortcoming on my part.”
Oliver: “Did they move or did you drive them out of here?”
Jones: “Well, I don’t know. You’d have to ask them.”
Oliver: “Other than Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells, you seem to hire coaches that don’t have strong personalities who seem to be ‘yes Jerry, yes Jerry, OK Jerry.’ Do you want somebody who can go toe to toe with you?”
Jones: “Well I would take exception to that other than Jimmy and Bill. Barry Switzer threw a plate of food at me. I’m very confident that I know how to take input.”
Oliver: “How does losing cost you?”
Jones: “The way that I structured the Cowboys, we need to win ball games. When we don’t win, it can be very costly in many, many ways. I can keep upbeat because I know how in down times with our games and with sports, it’s served me so well to be a big believer to keep truckin’ and we’re going to keep truckin’ with the Dallas Cowboys.”
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Analyst Jimmy Johnson recounts how the Cowboys were run when he coached the team under Jerry Jones: “When I was head coach of the Cowboys, it was written into my contract that I had complete control over football operations and personnel. Because it caused conflict, Jerry eventually regretted that decision. After I left, it became the front office that would make those decisions. It was Jerry and his family and more of a group decision. But because Jerry writes the checks, he’s eventually making the final decision. That’s how it’s structured now and that structure will not change.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson on how winning directly affects the money the Cowboys make: “I remember one day Jerry called me into his office, it was the fourth year after we won the first Super Bowl, and he said ‘Jimmy, I’m free and clear. I’ve paid off the loan so everything from now on is profit.’ He’s put a lot of money into that new stadium and he needs to have success to pay it off.”
Analyst Michael Strahan talks about why he thinks former teammate Jason Garrett can succeed in Dallas: “Jason Garrett is phenomenal. There are two guys that I played with that always makes me go “wow” and one is Jason Garrett and the other is Kurt Warner. They get players, they get people. Jason is a guy you can talk to and confide in. He will motivate you and he will motivate the Cowboys.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson on what kind of coach can succeed under Jerry Jones: “When you have a strong personality, players listen to that head coach. When Bill Parcells was there, even though he didn’t have complete control of the operations, the players listened. You need a strong personality because Jerry has a lot of ideas and sometimes a head coach has to say no.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson on why he left Dallas: “Jerry did not drive me out. I was ready to move to South Florida and like Jerry said, I’m part gypsy anyway. We had won back-to-back titles and I was ready to move on.”
Analyst Howie Long on how you measure Garrett’s success as interim head coach: “With Tony Romo out, I don’t think you can put a number of wins on it. I think it’s how they play. The question is will Jason Garrett be put into a position to limit distractions and coach this football team?”
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FOX NFL SUNDAY Insider Jay Glazer reported on Jason Garrett’s chances of securing the job of head coach of the Dallas Cowboys: “I’m told that Jason Garrett needs to win five games to keep the head coaching job in Dallas. However this is different than any other year and the reason is a looming lockout. Garrett already knows his personnel so to go out and try to hire a new coach that doesn’t know the personnel and may not coach for months is a factor.”
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Analyst Jimmy Johnson on reports that Vikings head coach Brad Childress isn’t liked by his players: “I’ve never seen a coach so disliked and given so little respect. What happened? Somebody polarized that locker room against the head coach. The only thing I’d say about those players is to shut up, start playing and don’t disrespect the position of head coach.”
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Analyst Michael Strahan reacts to Terrell Owens’ impressive play on the Bengals this season: “How well Terrell Owens is playing compared to Chad Ochocinco is a surprise to me. The rift between the two doesn’t.”
Analyst Howie Long added: “You don’t have to be Nostradamus to see that one coming.”
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In this week’s ‘Fired Up’ segment, co-host Terry Bradshaw tells Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones to fire himself: “I consider Jerry Jones a friend and a smart business man but Jerry’s beloved Cowboy fans are screaming and hollering. He says that his Cowboys were super well instead of being 7-1, they’re 1-7 and that is unacceptable. Jerry fired Wade Phillips and now everyone is asking who the next head coach will be. Is it going to be Cowher, Gruden…take your pick! Kansas City hired Scott Pioli away from Bill Belichick and Scott’s guidance has allowed another first time head coach Todd Haley, the guy Pioli picked to simply coach. Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome picked a great young coach in John Harbaugh. The Steelers and the Giants have operated the same way for decades. The general managers find the talent and the coaches coach. Combined the Steelers and Giants have nine Super Bowl victories. Jerry, you need an unbiased general manager to run your franchise and to pick your next coach. You know the solution. Fire yourself as GM. It’ll be the best football move you ever make.”
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