Jerry Jones said the quiet part out loud on Tuesday.
In his standard appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jerry Jones was asked about the Dallas Cowboys not paying “top dollar” for NFL coaches. This was specifically discussed around the head coach role, obviously.
Jerry said that there is “zero” correlation between that data point and success.
Citing correlation is literally fair from Jerry, but it is a little misleading.
Coaches with more success require more in terms of payment because of said success. So you don’t make the big bucks, generally speaking here, until you have something to justify you asking for them. In that sense Jerry’s correlation part is fair and accurate.
But you also have to be willing to pony up to lure coaches who you think can provide that breakthrough. Just consider where ringless coaches on the following list are.
The top four spots here are filled with coaches who all have titles to their name. Right after them are three more who have been to Super Bowls or at least an NFC Championship Game.
Ultimately the part of this conversation that actually applies to the Cowboys is after the top 10. Kevin O’Connell, Ben Johnson, and Aaron Glenn were thought of highly when they were hired (Glenn has lost some luster, clearly). Those organizations paid what they did to acquire them because they believed a breakthrough was possible. Outside of the New York Jets, they appear to have invested wisely.
Beyond the semantics of it all, this is just a tone deaf thing for Jerry to say out loud (I recognize who we are talking about here). You cannot on one hand claim that you would do anything and everything possible to bring the Cowboys and then on the other pound your chest about how something like paying a coach – a matter where Jerry could weaponize the wealth/brand/stature/etc. of the Dallas Cowboys – is no big deal. It doesn’t work both ways like that.
What’s more is that, and I recognize he isn’t too popular these days, this is a pretty weak way to paint your actual head coach and that Jerry did it on purpose makes it all the more ridiculous. This makes Brian Schottenheimer look like someone who was willing to not drive a bargain or ask for more when he was negotiating with the team to be their head coach. It makes it look like Jerry is proudly lifting Brian up as the champion of settlement in that regard.
As is always the case, losing compounds everything happening around the organization. Quotes and statements like these slide right off if the team is 7-1, but with a 3-5 record everything is amplified.
And it is showing no sign of slowing down any time soon, unfortunately.
