Jerry Jones is always good for a golden quote or two.
And not per season either; it’s every week, whether he’s on local radio appearances, talking with reporters, or airing grievances after the latest Dallas Cowboys loss. Whether he realizes it or not, he’s the biggest problem with the Cowboys. Whether threatening radio hosts or touting his tours that players see as distractions, Jones loves publicity in any shape, size, or form.
The Cowboys’ ever-vocal owner, president, and general manager was back in the spotlight on Friday. This time, he was responding to an ESPN.com article by Kalyn Kahler that reignited the debate about whether Jones’ popular fan tours at the team’s training facility hinder the Cowboys’ championship aspirations.
The issue of fan access has been a recurring theme, especially during the team’s struggles. It reached a boiling point last offseason when former tight end Dalton Schultz compared the Cowboys facility to a “zoo” because fans tapped on the weight room windows to distract players during workouts.
Kahler spoke to current and former Dallas Cowboys players; this quote sticks out in particular.
“You’re walking by the tour guide, and they’re pulling [the fans] to the side, and you hear them say, ‘Oh that’s CeeDee Lamb, that’s CeeDee!'” says former Dallas safety Jayron Kearse, starter on the three straight 12-win teams. “Like Dalton said, it’s kind of like you’re in a zoo, and kids are going to see a lion. That’s not a reason why we didn’t get over that hump. But I just don’t think that really equates to winning. That has nothing to do with us winning the game.”
Jones dismissed the concerns, telling Kahler that he had never heard any complaints from staff members or players about the tours.
“Not one time,” he says, “but the most important thing is it wouldn’t make any difference. Period. Because overall, they’re swimming against the stream.”
According to Jones, what makes a difference is the publicity the ESPN article will generate for tours.
Seriously.
In fact, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota, Jones said he was happy to see the story from the Worldwide Leader — you know, the story that he’s quoted in. The 82-year-old Jones said that not only was he thrilled about the story regarding fans’ tours at The Star and the overall culture of the Cowboys, but that publicity from the article “will increase our tours significantly.”
Perhaps that can help the Cowboys owner actually push for free agents in the 2025 offseason.
“It’s ridiculous to think that it impacts the play of the players,” Jones said.
Nobody relishes the spotlight quite like Jones.
[ESPN, The Athletic]
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.