Jerry Jones needs to listen to what Commanders' ownership just said following playoff win and learn from it
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones likes to do things his way. In his early days in football, that meant taking big swings and risking it all for the sake of winning. "Win is the name of the game," Jones infamously said in the 1990s before building a dynasty that would go on to win three Super […]
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones likes to do things his way. In his early days in football, that meant taking big swings and risking it all for the sake of winning.
"Win is the name of the game," Jones infamously said in the 1990s before building a dynasty that would go on to win three Super Bowls in his first seven years of owning the team.
Now, Jones' approach has significantly changed and most of the time, criticisms from both fans and media members center around how conservative the front office has become. Many would agree one of the biggest problems in Dallas is the lack of a true general manager, which Jones stubbornly insists of keeping as a job title to complement his "owner" title.
That's why the comments from the Washington Commanders' ownership following the NFL's Wild Card weekend, in which Dan Quinn's team secured its first ticket to the Divisional Round since 2005, stood out to Cowboys fans.
"You said what does it take?," Magic Johnson told reporters postgame. "New vision, new owner with a strategy, picking the right people, coach Quinn, (GM Adam Peters), and then, we all step out of the way and let them do their job."
"Talent, culture, people," fellow owner Josh Harris added.
"That's it, don't make this about us!," concluded Johnson.
Compare that to Jerry's stance on his general manager title, which he was confronted about following Week 18 by being asked if he would consider hiring a general manager.
"No, I bought the team," Jones said. "I think the first thing that came out of my mouth, somebody asked, 'Did you buy this for your kids?' and I said, 'Hell no, I bought it for me.' And I didn’t buy an investment; I bought an occupation, and I bought something that I was going to do. I was 46. I bought something I was going to do for the rest of my life, and that’s what I’m doing."
Jones went on to add that if he was going to call the shots anyway, why have a middleman?
"Since I have to decide where the money is spent, then you might as well cut all the [expletive] out," Jones said. "That’s who’s making the call anyway."
And yet, 31 out of 32 NFL teams have a general manager that isn't the owner. Sure, owners might need to sign off on big paydays here and there. It's their money at the end of the day. But successful owners around the league have succeeded by listening to their general manager's opinions and assessments. They get recommendations and then they make the corresponding move.
Jones has some of those people in place. Will McClay runs the NFL Draft for Dallas. Stephen Jones, for better or worse, has a lot to do with the decision-making of the team. But it sure as heck would help the Cowboys having a true general manager running the show, having a full vision for the team and making it all work together.
Now granted, the Commanders have won just a playoff game so it's not like they're the excellency of the NFL. But Josh Harris' and Magic Johnson's ownership group bought the Commanders in 2023, they're under two years into the job, and it feels like there's already something for the Cowboys to learn from them.
