NEED TO KNOW
- Jerry Jones referenced recent political events while discussing the Dallas Cowboys’ future
- “Trump just said it. I’m running Venezuela,” Jones told reporters about his search for a new defensive coordinator and his aspirations to win more Super Bowls
- The Cowboys, who finished the season 7-9-1, last won a championship 30 years ago this month
While speaking about the Dallas Cowboys’ next steps following another disappointing season, owner Jerry Jones made a reference to the team’s future that went south — literally.
“Trump just said it. I’m running Venezuela,” Jones, 83, said in a news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 7, to laughter in the press corps.
Jones’ political analogy was in response to a question about whether Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer would be involved in a search for a new defensive coordinator, after the team parted ways with Matt Eberflus earlier this week.
After a 7-9-1 season that saw the Cowboys struggle on defense despite an above-par performance from quarterback Dak Prescott, Jones — who is also president and general manager — alluded to the franchise spending more this offseason, in light of the flexibility the team has now that they’re no longer paying former Cowboys star Micah Parsons’ hefty contract.
“Bottom line is this [offseason] is, yes, very important,” Jones said. “They’re right. We want to, while Dak is playing the game and got it down the way he’s got it, we want to get out here and basically do better than what we did this year. So, combination of those things gives us the incentive to, dare I say it, bust the budget to try to get something done now. Yes. Yes. We’ll do some dramatic things.”
As Dallas fans contemplate another long offseason, Jones remains optimistic about the near-future.
“Every team has holes,” Jones said. “You have to. Just the way it works. But I see six teams that weren’t in the playoffs last year that are in the playoffs this year. I know it can happen. I know how close it is. And I think we can get in here and get the defense in shape quicker than it might look.”
And considering this month marks the 30-year anniversary of the team’s last championship in Super Bowl XXX, Jones knows his work is cut out for him.
“My goal in life is to retire as the owner that won the most Super Bowls,” the three-time Super Bowl winning owner said. “That’s my goal. To be retired in the NFL as the owner that won the most Super Bowls. We’ve got three. How many more do I have to go as a single owner? [New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft] has got how many? Six? So, I got work to do. Got work to do. But at least I’m up to the second rung in the ladder.”
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