Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones admits that his performance as the team’s GM has merited a firing.
Jones made his comments during an interview with NBC Sports’ Bob Costas that aired before the Cowboys played the Atlanta Falcons on “Sunday Night Football.”
Asked by Costas for a self-critique of his work as GM, Jones responded, “I think [the criticism is] valid. We’ve had four division titles since we’ve won our last Super Bowl. We’ve had six losing seasons since we won our last Super Bowl. That’s not acceptable.
When asked if he would have fired himself, Jones said yes.
“Well I think so, because he was there to dismiss,” said Jones. “I’ve always worked for myself, and you can’t do that. You basically have to straighten that guy out in the mirror when you work for yourself. I’ve done it with coaches, and I certainly would have changed general managers.
“The truth is, in the NFL, if you’re active and involved as an owner, that’s the final thing. That’s the way it works.
“Let’s don’t kid ourselves: When it gets down to the real, heavy, hard decisions, you have owners make those decisions — that’s as it should be,” he told Costas.
Though Jones says he probably would have fired a GM who fared how he has, he thinks he can fix things.
“I do believe that I have a better chance of changing what’s in the mirror and basically influencing what’s in the mirror, than I do with the traditional structure of the GM and then the head coach.”
Jones made many other notable comments during the interview. He said he believes the team’s personnel is good enough to win the Super Bowl (of course he does — he’s the guy who put together the roster!). He also expressed his support for head coach Jason Garrett and quarterback Tony Romo.
“When I look at the overall picture, I like what we’ve got in Jason, I like what we’ve got relative to our defensive coordinator in Rob Ryan, and I like our personnel,” Jones said of the team.
He offered further support of Garrett.
“This is a long-term thing with me. We know this is a short-term game. … On the other hand, I have to also look at the long-term and yes, that’s what I like about the potential growth with Jason. I like the way the players respond for Jason. He gets a lot of effort out of these players. They have a lot of respect for him.
“I like what I’m seeing. I don’t like that we’re 3-4, but I like what we’re seeing.”
Though Romo is often criticized, Jones says the three-time Pro Bowler is their man at quarterback.
“Tony has won 60 percent of the games he has started for the Dallas Cowboys. He’s got the fifth-highest quarterback percentage in the history of the NFL. Yes, he does make exceptional plays. And in doing so, he’s had turnovers. But in general, I like the way he drives the bus when he needs to drive the bus, but gives us the chance to make the great play when blocking breaks down.
“Tony Romo is our quarterback, and the way we’re going to go is the way Romo goes.”
Jones seems to be tying himself to Garrett and Romo, so even if he brought in a separate GM, they wouldn’t have a whole lot of room to maneuver. But you have to wonder why Jones won’t remove himself as the team’s GM if he says another person performing that way would have been fired. It’s probably a pride thing for the man who has such an enormous ego.
