Cowboys owner Jones on coaches' influence on player evaluation: 'If it got down to it

[Cr122]

Rainer Sabin / Reporter

rsabin@dallasnews.com | Bio







On Friday, Jerry Jones expressed satisfaction with the results of their aggressive campaign to fortify their roster through free agency.
"I don't know when we have ever had more success when executing our plan," Jones said Friday.
Some attributed the positive outcome to the influence Jason Garrett now wields over the organization after in his 16th month as the team's head coach. Garrett, after all, is measured and methodical -- adjectives that could also be used to described the strategy the Cowboys executed earlier this month when they acquired seven veteran newcomers.

But Jones disputed the notion that Garrett has any more control over personnel decisions than any previous coach who has worked under the Cowboys' owner.

"As head coach, I would look to him for an overall perspective and lean to him very much if we were talking about an offensive player since that's the side of the ball he's spent the most time," Jones said. "But I would look a lot at the defensive coaches from that side. If it got down to it a tie, I'd trump them with scouts.
"I have always trumped anything we do with coaches with what we do back in our scouting department. Our pro scouting and our college scouting live with this 12 months a year and our coaches only get in it for a few weeks. So, you certainly want their input. But scouting - pro and college - are the ones that get my attention. I want their input. "

​

 

[dbair1967]

If only he would adhere to that 24/7/365 and for the entire time after Jimmy left.

There wasnt a scout or coach in that room in 2001 that said "take Quincy Carter here" in round two. He did that on his own.

I think he probably does defer to others now, but that wasnt thecase from 94-01

 

[Cr122]

He may defer with others, but he definitely takes the prospect he wants. That's the problem.

 

[dbair1967]

He may defer with others, but he definitely takes the prospect he wants. That's the problem.

I dont think thats the case anymore CR.

Definitely was in the past, but not sicne he hired Parcells

 

[Cr122]

I dont think thats the case anymore CR.

Definitely was in the past, but not sicne he hired Parcells

He may have changed a smidge. It's been over 17 years of hell since Jimmy has departed.

Parcells try to change the culture a bit but seemed to run out of gas doing it. Now it's back to the way it was.

 

[VA Cowboy]

If Jerry gets infatuated with a player then he's going to try and get him come hell or high water. Just look at QC.

Jimmy basically ran the show when he was here. Jerry wanted to get credit by saying he "signed off" on all the player decisions. Typical boss trying to take credit for employees work. After Jimmy left Jerry started doing more than just rubber-stamping someone else's decisions. Over these last 17 years there's been a combination of Jerry taking guys over scouts objections and Jerry signing off on scouts/coaches decisions.

 

[dbair1967]

Example of a player drafted since 2003 that has "I'm Jerry and I'm doing this regardless of what anyone else says"

?

 

[Everlastingxxx]

"I have always trumped anything we do with coaches with what we do back in our scouting department. Our pro scouting and our college scouting live with this 12 months a year and our coaches only get in it for a few weeks. So, you certainly want their input. But scouting - pro and college - are the ones that get my attention. I want their input. "

Always? Scouts obviously have access to more inside info but clearly a coaches perspective and opinion could be more important at times. To draft Witten, Parcells have to convince Jerry that he was right over the scouts. I am not sure any other coaches after him have been able to do that.

 

[Jon88]

Jerry Jones. Personell genius. At least, that's what he pretends to be.

 

[Cr122]

Example of a player drafted since 2003 that has "I'm Jerry and I'm doing this regardless of what anyone else says"

?

We don't need to provide an example, we already know.

 

[dbair1967]

We don't need to provide an example, we already know.

Thats what I thought, thanks for confirming what I believed.

 

[Sheik]

lol

Cr, you could have just gave him the ole, "if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you."

I would say Terrance Newman is one of those examples. I think Drew Henson was Jerry's doing. Terrell Owens. Pacman Jones. Tank Johnson. Roy Williams. Joey Galloway.

Half of those are free agents, a few were not drafted by the Cowboys, but might as well have been. Picks were traded to acquire them.

Newman was the only halfway decent player in the bunch. I mean, Owens was awesome, but his mouth/attitude was enough to cancel out his production.

 

[Sheik]

Reading again, I realize you said drafted, and since 2003, but my point is still the same.

Outside of deciding if he wants to spend x amount of dollars, Jerry should have ZERO say over what players are signed/drafted.

He shouldn't trump any coach or scout. He's a dumbfuck hick that found some oil and got rich.

That in no way makes him qualified to make decisions on NFL personnel.

 

[dbair1967]

lol

Cr, you could have just gave him the ole, "if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you."

I would say Terrance Newman is one of those examples. I think Drew Henson was Jerry's doing. Terrell Owens. Pacman Jones. Tank Johnson. Roy Williams. Joey Galloway.

Half of those are free agents, a few were not drafted by the Cowboys, but might as well have been. Picks were traded to acquire them.

Newman was the only halfway decent player in the bunch. I mean, Owens was awesome, but his mouth/attitude was enough to cancel out his production.

Newman was rated the #1 player on alot of draft boards, I hardly see how taking him at 5 is an example of a GM or owner overruling people with a stupid decision.

Pretty well documented our scouts liked Henson, but so did alot of other scouts.

Owens wasnt drafted. Tank Johnson wasnt drafted. Pac Trash wasnt drafted. Galloway was 2000

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I still don't trust him. I mean, who knows if he gets all the scouts and coaches in the same room when he decides to cancel out the coachs' suggestions to go with the scouts'? Or if he just "relates" to the coaches one at a time in a secluded spot away from the scouts, that that's what the scouts are suggesting? If you catch my drift.

And who the hell is Jerry Jones to arbitrate and decide whose opinion on prospects is more valid?

Also, whoever heard of scouts acquiring a team's roster?

Fucking wacko. I hope to hell that we have the NFL's greatest scouts then. Or that there are no ties.

 

[Sheik]

And who the hell is Jerry Jones to arbitrate and decides who's opinion on prospects is more valid?

Exactly the problem. That's where a real GM should step in and make the best decision for the team. Not some old white man that won the oil lottery.

 

[Cr122]

Thats what I thought, thanks for confirming what I believed.

You're welcome, anytime buddy.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Exactly the problem. That's where a real GM should step in and make the best decision for the team. Not some old white man that won the oil lottery.

And certainly not scouts just because that's what their title is.

If we were banging out impressive drafts, stockpiling good youth and depth throughout the roster, then I could see Jerry's point. Hardly, but at least there would be some validity to it.

 

[Sheik]

And certainly not scouts just because that's what their title is.

If we were banging out impressive drafts, stockpiling good youth and depth throughout the roster, then I could see Jerry's point. Hardly, but at least there would be some validity to it.

Right.

There has to be someone at the top that is qualified to break a tie in the event that there is one.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Right.

There has to be someone at the top that is qualified to break a tie in the event that there is one.

Of course Jerry writes it up so that ultimately it falls on his shoulders.

I thought Parcells changed him? Dbair?