FRISCO — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones understands the frustration that stemmed from fans after a recent Wall Street Journal story was published, featuring a quote from him.
“There’s $100 billion present value with gas out there,” Jones said in the story about a potential gas breakthrough in east Texas. “That’s why I’m talking to you on the telephone rather than trying to fix our defense with the Dallas Cowboys.”
That stung some Cowboys fans, considering the state of the 31st-ranked Cowboys defense, in terms of points allowed, and the fact that the trade deadline is this coming Tuesday.
While he understood the frustration, Jones also wanted to let those same fans know that they shouldn’t be worried about his focus or effort in the team. Jones addressed the comment and the response in an interview with 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) on Friday.
Cowboys
“I understand that perspective, we all get it,” Jones said. “Let’s just say what’s going on here is we’re not winning, we’re not playing the way we want to be, the way I want to be, the way any of us want to be.
“It’s no secret at all that ever since I’ve been involved (with the Cowboys), my days are involved, in a manner of speaking, in many areas. I frankly don’t know many people in football that don’t have their days involved in different areas. To the degree is, of course, debatable. This is called professional football to make a point. That means it takes money to make it all go. Money.”
Related
Jones continued: “You have to have juice to make it go. So I’ve always combined and never been unabashed about it since the day I walked in. Every day, every time I can, I’m looking for ways to give advantages to the Dallas Cowboys. Anybody that says I don’t focus on the Cowboys is just living in the moment of frustration, and I get that, and I’m frustrated, too.”
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, in light of Jones’ Wall Street Journal comment, also defended Jones’ commitment to the Cowboys on Friday.
“Jerry’s the owner and Jerry can say what he wants to say,” Schottenheimer said. “We have had some of the best communication the last couple weeks. There’s been a consistent Monday meeting where we spend an hour and a half talking about the last game, and he has amazing questions, and we’re able to sit there — myself and the coordinators — and just talk about the game, and what happened, and these are the things we need to improve. Then we do it again on Fridays, when we’re getting ready for the next opponent. At the end of the day, no one wants to win more than Jerry. And so the communication is constant and it never ends. We’re always on the phone with Stephen [Jones], and Jerry and Will McClay.
“He is a busy man, like us all.”
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray’s status for Monday vs. Cowboys still up in the airDallas Cowboys taking advantage of ‘bonus day’ ahead of MNF matchup vs. Arizona
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.