Fiscal responsibility and football decisions.
They’re not sexy, and around Valley Ranch they’re pretty rare. But don’t look now, Jerry Jones is acting like a real NFL general manager by, yep, relinquishing some power to his son, Stephen.
Something’s different this off-season and I think I smell Stephen’s more pragmatic philosophy starting to nudge out his dad’s circus atmosphere. I’m not saying Jerry has ceded control of America’s Team. But with the savvy decisions this off-season to open the door for DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher and to sign Henry Melton to a friendly, incentive-laden contract, the Cowboys are spending and saving and acting like a team desperate for change while simultaneously operating within a budget.
I know, what a concept.
While the dad loves publicity and popularity, the son - clearly the heir to the throne - is more a no nonsense manager. If it was totally Jerry’s call I say no way Ware would have been released. The owner is notorious for being loyal to a fault. But it was the right move, and one that has Stephen’s fingerprints all over it.
Stephen Jones isn’t about to hold press conferences in the post-game locker room or wrestle the draft-day phone from pops in the war room. But if you sense a switch in philosophies at Valley Ranch this off-season I believe you’re on to something.
The changing of the guard at the top of the Cowboys’ flow chart won’t happen overnight. But with substance suddenly trumping style, it has clearly commenced.
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A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
