Jerry Jones did his best to put the pressure on his Dallas Cowboys this offseason. Several assistant coaches were sent packing, including the head coach’s brother — although John Garrett’s departure to Tampa Bay was postured as a “career opportunity.”
He turned over the entire defensive philosophy, shifting the Cowboys from a 3-4 to a 4-3 cover 2 and hired the guru of the formation, Monte Kiffin, to install it. As a bonus, he hired Kiffin’s top lieutenant, defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, when the Chicago Bears purged their staff.
He committed to Tony Romo long term and handed the polarizing passer a $108 million contract extension. He even drafted Romo four new toys, including three offensive skill players, a move some say was at the expense of further shoring up the offensive and defensive lines.
The last two seasons have been unacceptable for Jerry Jones, whose self-professed standard is Super Bowls, not mediocrity.
There’s even the question of who will call plays in 2013; the perception is that Jones is pushing Jason Garrett to give up those duties to offensive coordinator Bill Callahan.
These are moves that an NFL general manager makes when the status quo is unacceptable. That’s what the last two seasons have been for Jones, whose self-professed standard is Super Bowls, not mediocrity. The Cowboys have gone 8-8 the past two seasons and squandered chances to reach the postseason with week 17 losses that stuck in Jones’ craw like a crunchy piece of cheese.
Jones even told the NFL Network on May 22 that the Cowboys have been disappointing the past two seasons and that “8-8 won’t get it.” These are the moves an NFL general manager makes when the head coach’s job is on the line. And yet in the same interview …
“Well, no, no he’s not … to the last question: Is Jason coaching for his job? No,” Jones said.
So much for applying pressure to the head coach.
All NFL head coaches have a shelf life. Under Jones that shelf life is about four years. Given his history, it’s a miracle Jimmy Johnson lasted five years.
Garrett is one of Jones’ longest-tenured coaches, assistant or head coach. This will be his seventh year with the team.
He enters his third full season as head coach. Before you point out that Garrett has one more year on his contract, remember that Jones has fired a head coach in this situation before. Chan Gailey lasted two years as head coach. His sin was not lifting an aging dynasty back to a Super Bowl. Gailey’s Cowboys were just two games over .500 and didn’t win a playoff game in two attempts.
Garrett is two games over .500 as a head coach and hasn’t been to the playoffs yet.
These Cowboys aren’t an aging dynasty, but their window to reach the postseason with players like Romo, Jason Witten and DeMarcus Ware is closing fast. Jones pointed that out last year.
These offseason moves were designed to improve the Cowboys’ chances of reaching the playoffs. They were also designed to send a not-so-subtle message to Garrett that this status quo has to go.
Jones wants to win as desperately as he wants Garrett to succeed. Garrett is his pet project. If the Cowboys can win with Garrett as head coach and with Jones calling the shots, it validates Jones’ ego in a way that no Super Bowl ring ever could.
Jones has a history of contradicting himself, so his comments may mean nothing. He’s the team owner and general manager. His prerogative is to change his mind.
But this is one situation in which Jones should keep the pressure on Garrett and his entire team, not turn the release valve.
Jason Garrett's staff has been completely remade during the offseason.
