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Jerry Jones: ‘I don’t think that we do have a country club atmosphere around here’
By Jon Machota / Special Contributor
jmachota@dallasnews.com
3:51 pm on May 1, 2013 |
Critics have said that one of the reasons why the Dallas Cowboys have missed the postseason four of the last five years is because of the country club atmosphere and lack of leadership around Valley Ranch.
Well, if you feel that way, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones disagrees with you.
During an hour-long conference call with season ticket holders on Wednesday, Jones denied that an unmotivated locker room is to blame for his team finishing 8-8 the last two seasons.
“I don’t think that we do have a country club atmosphere around here,” Jones said. “There’s too much competition. These players recognize how fortunate they are to be in the NFL, to have these opportunities. We’ve got as good or better leadership than my experience in 24 years with the Cowboys has seen.
“I think the stage is set with the attitude, the personnel, what Jason Garrett is doing relative to his leadership. All of those things will come to bare. We just need to win a couple of games that we didn’t win, let’s say each of the last two years, get in the tournament and go from there.
“Baltimore and the Giants are really encouraging. It’s hard for me to say, but we know how the Giants got there and won the world championship, we know how Baltimore [did it]. A lot of that is where the NFL is today.”
In November, former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson mentioned the “country club” culture at Valley Ranch during a radio interview.
“The No. 1 motivator [in the NFL] is fear,” Johnson said. “Fear of maybe letting down your teammates or being embarrassed or chastised or fear of losing your job. Where is the fear in Dallas? There is no fear in Dallas. It’s a country club where everybody is buddies.”
By Jon Machota / Special Contributor
jmachota@dallasnews.com
3:51 pm on May 1, 2013 |
Critics have said that one of the reasons why the Dallas Cowboys have missed the postseason four of the last five years is because of the country club atmosphere and lack of leadership around Valley Ranch.
Well, if you feel that way, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones disagrees with you.
During an hour-long conference call with season ticket holders on Wednesday, Jones denied that an unmotivated locker room is to blame for his team finishing 8-8 the last two seasons.
“I don’t think that we do have a country club atmosphere around here,” Jones said. “There’s too much competition. These players recognize how fortunate they are to be in the NFL, to have these opportunities. We’ve got as good or better leadership than my experience in 24 years with the Cowboys has seen.
“I think the stage is set with the attitude, the personnel, what Jason Garrett is doing relative to his leadership. All of those things will come to bare. We just need to win a couple of games that we didn’t win, let’s say each of the last two years, get in the tournament and go from there.
“Baltimore and the Giants are really encouraging. It’s hard for me to say, but we know how the Giants got there and won the world championship, we know how Baltimore [did it]. A lot of that is where the NFL is today.”
In November, former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson mentioned the “country club” culture at Valley Ranch during a radio interview.
“The No. 1 motivator [in the NFL] is fear,” Johnson said. “Fear of maybe letting down your teammates or being embarrassed or chastised or fear of losing your job. Where is the fear in Dallas? There is no fear in Dallas. It’s a country club where everybody is buddies.”