'You'll never be great' – Stephen Jones reveals more details about infamous scrap with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones
One of the Dallas Cowboys' most infamous stories is over a decade old and new details are emerging about it: The night Jerry and Stephen Jones—on the clock to make the 16th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft—went at it over the possibility of picking quarterback Johnny Manziel. Many fans know the anecdote. Story has it, […]
One of the Dallas Cowboys' most infamous stories is over a decade old and new details are emerging about it: The night Jerry and Stephen Jones—on the clock to make the 16th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft—went at it over the possibility of picking quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Many fans know the anecdote. Story has it, Stephen had to snatch the draft card with Manziel's name off of Jerry's hands. The Cowboys went on to pick Zack Martin, who became a seven-time First-Team All-Pro.
To this day, the draft story is remembered by fans and media members alike. Speaking on a Sports Business Journal event in September 2024 for which video just became available in July 2025, Stephen Jones gave a never-before heard aspect of the story: His dad telling him he'll never be great.
"Well, sure enough, Johnny Manziel falls to us," Stephen Jones said after explaining Jerry turned down his attempts of going through the scenario of Manziel being there.
According to Jones, former head coach Jason Garrett refused to weigh and instead stared at the floor. So did longtime Cowboys scouting director Larry Lacewell. He went into detail telling the story:
And I go, "Dad, this is a hard thing because everybody knows you want Johnny." But I go, "As you heard some of the things… I don't think he's the right guy for us."
"And so, roll the clock forward—we end up picking Zack Martin. And boy, it is tense. Usually after every pick, we’re all clapping, high-fiving—[saying] 'Boy, isn't that a great pick.' Well, after we pick Zack Martin, an offensive guard from Notre Dame, Jerry looks over at me, slaps me on the leg, and he goes:
'Son, I didn't get to buy the Dallas Cowboys… we're not sitting here 'cause you do down-the-middle-of-the-road things.' He goes, 'What you just did is down the middle. You'll never be great.'
The "down -the-middle-of-the road" part isn't new information but the "you'll never be great" part had never been shared by Stephen. He added Jerry walked back into the room with a different attitude minutes later to celebrate the pick.
Obviously, going with Martin was the right decision for the Cowboys. Manziel's career in the NFL didn't pan out because of the way he carried himself, which he has opened about in recent years. Last year, Manziel admitted in an interview he didn't think he would be alive had he been drafted by Dallas.
It remains one of the biggest draft stories ever in Cowboys history. Son and dad pitted against one another. The general manager being overruled in a scenario that wasn't even discussed until the team was on the clock. It's a wild franchise, not necessarily in a good way even if the anecdotes are fun.
