12/22/24
February 21, 2009
Jerry Jones Slaps Muzzle on Head Coach: Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips is under orders not to discuss football matters with the media. When reporters approached Phillips on Thursday at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, he responded, "Can't talk. Against the rules." Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw's take: "to plug some of the leaks at Valley Ranch, Jones continues to emasculate his head coach."
I'm sure it just makes possible future choices for head coach (read: Cowher) want the job even more.
What a joke.
posted by justgary at 05:14 PM on February 21, 2009
Does Jerry Jones realize that he's turning the Cowboys into the Oakland Raiders? Every athlete up for free agency includes Dallas on his short list. They all want to play for an owner who overpays and lets the players run the show.
posted by rcade at 06:59 PM on February 21, 2009
It is possible that Phillips has a big mouth, or he has said something to Jones that warrants the gag order. Not likely, but possible.
Exactly what is it that occurs to NFL franchise owners in the later years that causes them to get all weirdo about everything?
posted by BoKnows at 12:16 AM on February 22, 2009
Jerry Jones is an idiot when it comes to owning a football team. Phillips is just another puppet for Jerry to munipulate.The team is so screwed up,Jerry don't know what to do.He could probably screw up a glass of ice water.He deserves all the bad things that happen to him.
posted by Doehead at 08:20 AM on February 22, 2009
As an Eagles' fan, I say: way to go, Jerry! Make your team so neurotic they'll earn a top draft pick in 2010.
posted by jjzucal at 09:40 PM on February 22, 2009
Parcells could have stepped away from the sideline, stayed in Dallas as an exec, and named Sparano head coach.
Instead, those two walk away from the talented Dallas roster in tag team fashion after becoming enchanted with the irresistible allure of the 1-15 Dolphins. A team with a possible impending change of majority ownership! That gives some idea of what the odor at Cowboys HQ might be like.
Jones' stupidity is not due to advancing age. It's been there a long while. I remember some years ago when it was time to give Emmitt his first big pay raise. Jones damn near screwed that deal up royally.
And that's just one example. Plenty more where that came from.
Jones is living proof that you can be smart and clueless at the same time.
Parcells is living proof that if you're smart and dastardly, you can consistently leave a trail of wreckage in your wake.
1) Ray Handley named as his "hand-picked" successor with the Giants. 2) His palace war with Bob Kraft, and the resulting loss to the Packers in a Super Bowl the Pats could have won. 3) His defection to the Jets, while the Pats named Pete Carroll his successor 4) Belichick's meltdown and resignation when appointed his successor at the Jets 5) Anger and disillusionment in Tampa Bay when he suddenly turns down the Bucs job. The Bucs then way overpay for the rights to Gruden. 6) His departure from Dallas, with Phillips chosen as his successor.
Clearly, this is a guy who knows how to fuck up a franchise.
posted by beaverboard at 11:40 PM on February 22, 2009
Sorry beav, but Parcells isn't the problem with the Cowboys.
Jerry Jones is a nut case, I don't know how they ever had good teams under his guidance in past years. No support for those who should be running the team, yet he backs guys like Owens and Romo.
Poor Wade Phillips having to deal with that group of overpaid disfunctional losers. I read a comment last year from Romo after he completely sucked in the playoff loss (again) that it was the coaching staff's fault. I'll bet you could put ol' Wade behind center and he wouldn't cough up the ball as much as Romo does in big games.
Time for those collecting the big paychecks to pull their heads out of their asses and play.
posted by cixelsyd at 09:58 AM on February 23, 2009
A muzzle on Wade Phillips......interesting visual.
posted by dbt302 at 12:08 PM on February 23, 2009
Jerry Jones is an idiot when it comes to owning a football team.
Considering his team already won 3 Super Bowls, I don't see how the man can be an 'idiot'. Sure, his decisions have come under scrutiny lately but I'm more than sure that Jerry has something hidden up his sleeve. Let's just hope it's not an extension on Wade Phillips' contract.
posted by BornIcon at 01:02 PM on February 23, 2009
BI,
Thanks for pointing out the obvious. Sometimes people can have a very short term memory.
That said, former greatness does not guarantee future sucess. He may have lost the edge. Personally, I do think that he deserves a little more time to prove that he is still a great owner.
posted by brainofdtrain at 02:17 PM on February 23, 2009
Jimmy Johnson put together those Super Bowl teams. Jerry Jones is just not a good GM. His hiring and treatment of coaches is becoming joke-worthy just like Al Davis.
posted by bperk at 02:30 PM on February 23, 2009
Jimmy Johnson put together those Super Bowl teams.
Excuse you? Jimmy Johnson did no such thing!! Jerry Jones made those moves to bring in the players he had in the 90's that won those Super Bowls. Jimmy Johnson deserves all the credit in the world for coaching those players but it was Jerry Jones that brought them in.
posted by BornIcon at 02:33 PM on February 23, 2009
Jimmy Johnson put together those Super Bowl teams.
And none of Johnson's decisions were done without the final approval of Jerry. Furthermore, who hired Johnson? He may not be a good GM, but at the end of the day he has to get a lot of credit for those teams.
posted by brainofdtrain at 02:35 PM on February 23, 2009
And none of Johnson's decisions were done without the final approval of Jerry
Exactly! Maybe Jimmy nudged Jerry to bring in some of those players but Jerry Jones is the one with the final say...and his final say won them 3 Super Bowls.
posted by BornIcon at 02:58 PM on February 23, 2009
Jimmy Johnson deserves all the credit in the world for coaching those players but it was Jerry Jones that brought them in.
Johnson was granted complete control of player decisions when he was coaching the cowboys.
And none of Johnson's decisions were done without the final approval of Jerry. Furthermore, who hired Johnson?
Yep, that's why they won those super bowls. Jones hired a the right guy and then got the hell out of the way and approved his decisions. Without either one of those, the cowboys don't win 3 super bowls.
For those that have forgotten history and are just looking at the 3 super bowls from 14 years ago as proof Jones isn't a disaster as an owner here's what happened.
- Jones bought the cowboys and brought in Johnson, giving him complete control over personnel decisions. They won two super bowls. Jones hated the credit Johnson was given and started making idiotic comments that anyone could coach the team. Johnson quit.
- Jones brought in Barry Switzer who one a super bowl which was nothing more than a last hurrah for Jimmy Johnson's team.
- Since then Jones has taken over complete control of the team, a team that hasn't won a playoff game in 12 years, haven't won a single playoff game that didn't include Aikman, Irvin, and Smith on the roster.
No, Jones isn't an idiot; he's delusional. He's deluded into thinking that he can run a football team successfully. His only hope is to spend so much money he wins with pure talent. As already pointed, out, he's turning the team into a joke. In other words, into the Raiders.
The defense of Jones given in a few comments is comical. I must be on crazy pills.
posted by justgary at 03:04 PM on February 23, 2009
Gary, How many other owners can match the success of Jones in the last two decades? Maybe a couple, but that is it. I am not arguing that he is the best owner now. This is what I posted earlier: That said, former greatness does not guarantee future sucess. He may have lost the edge. Personally, I do think that he deserves a little more time to prove that he is still a great owner. No doubt that he has fallen off his rocker in recent history, but i think that it is amazing that Jones, who owns the team, signs every check, and is ultimately responsible for how his team does can get no credit for their greatness in the 90's, but all of the blame when things are rough now. That to me is comical. Also, the Raider's comparison is a bit of a stretch to say the least. One team has been the worst in the entire league the last ten years, the other an above .500 team who has made the playoffs. Lastly, I am not a Cowboys fan, just a fan of more nuanced opinions.
posted by brainofdtrain at 03:39 PM on February 23, 2009
Gary, How many other owners can match the success of Jones in the last two decades?
How many years can Jones coast on the early '90s achievements he shared with Jimmy Johnson? The Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since 1996. The 13-year drought is the longest period without postseason success in the history of the franchise.
The "he deserves more time" argument is funny, considering how long head coaches and GMs are given in the NFL. There isn't a chance in hell a top NFL exec could go 13 years without a playoff victory and still have a job.
Because his ego was bruised, Jones drove Johnson out of Dallas to prove that the team's back-to-back Super Bowl wins were a joint effort.
So much for that. I'm a Dallas fan, but I don't see them getting close to another bowl while Jones is running everything. He's a disaster.
Also, the Raider's comparison is a bit of a stretch to say the least. One team has been the worst in the entire league the last ten years, the other an above .500 team who has made the playoffs.
If you're going back 10 years, the Raiders have won four playoff games and reached a Super Bowl during that period.
posted by rcade at 04:27 PM on February 23, 2009
I don't care how many odd things Jones says in public or how many apparent nutcases play for the squad, I still worry anytime a team I like plays them. They are always dangerous. Well, except for the playoffs recently.
My theory is that Jones lost his edge when he got the plastic surgery.
posted by THX-1138 at 07:10 PM on February 23, 2009
There isn't a chance in hell a top NFL exec could go 13 years without a playoff victory and still have a job.
Insert Matt Millen joke here.
posted by cjets at 09:11 PM on February 23, 2009
Gary, How many other owners can match the success of Jones in the last two decades?
Again, you're pointing out his success without any context whatsoever.
And Jones does get credit. I never said he didn't. Credit for hiring Johnson and staying out of the way. Since Johnson left, and Jones now not only doesn't stay out of the way, he is the ONLY way, the Cowboys have won a single playoff game, and that was a Johnson team.
And speaking for myself, it's not necessarily the playoff drought, luck can play a big part in that, but the joke the team has become; mostly centered around an owner that can't stay out of the spotlight.
Also, the Raider's comparison is a bit of a stretch to say the least.
i didn't say the Cowboys were the Raiders. I said they were turning into the Raiders. I don't think that's a stretch; in fact, I'd say it's a little scary how similar a path the Cowboys are on. A megalomaniac owner that took success to mean he could do no wrong and turned the team into his own fantasy league team. If he gets worse as he gets older, he'll be the new Al Davis.
posted by justgary at 09:50 PM on February 23, 2009
Let's face facts... Jerry Jones was/is/and will always be...a Raging egomaniac (a successfull one I will grant you!)...but...Let's say he hires Bill Cowher...How long do you really think it will be before Mr. Jone's decides HE knows so much better than a REASONABLY sucessfull coach...One, Two seasons? And to Justgary...The Cowboys won the their last Super Bowl how long ago?....I'm thinking the end of the 1995 season....Now, I'm not a math major but I'm fairly sure that works out to somewhere in the area of 13 seasons!
posted by R_A_Mason at 11:18 PM on February 23, 2009
There isn't a chance in hell a top NFL exec could go 13 years without a playoff victory and still have a job.
Insert Matt Millen joke here.
I agree on Jerry Jones, though. The man has some world-class hubris to think that he can bring in some of the players (and personalities) he has, undermine his coach's authority, and expect the level of success they had 15 years ago.
posted by bender at 09:25 AM on February 24, 2009
There is no way on earth that Bill Cowher will ever coach for a Jerry Jones owned team. Ever.
Having said that, expect Cowher to lead the Cowboys onto the field for the 2009-2010 season.
posted by THX-1138 at 04:17 PM on February 24, 2009
THX-1138,
Don't think it happens this year! Mr. Cowher looks pretty comfortable and relaxed at this point! I'm putting even money on next year!
posted by R_A_Mason at 11:08 PM on February 24, 2009
Cowher + T.O.= Perfection.
Einstein don't have better equations than that.
posted by THX-1138 at 11:24 AM on February 25, 2009
I really felt when the Cowboys hired Phillips in the first place it was a disaster waiting to happen. The guy is a horrible head coach, isn't able to control any locker room, and the team now has what amounts to a bunch of talented football players with no leadership or discipline. Jones shutting up Phillips is basically telling the world, "I completely screwed up this team and have no way out of this mess that won't cost me millions." Wade as coach, no decision on T.O., overpayed big-time for Roy Williams (the WR), tough division. Things don't look great in Dallas for next season at this particular point.