You would think that a 40-0 blowout road win over a divisional rival on national television would ensure a great week ahead, right?
Not unless your name is Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys.
In a week where he should be walking on Cloud Nine after the Cowboys dismantled the Giants, it took Jones all of 48 hours to hit rock bottom.
Jones Calls Prescott ‘Best Leader' He's Ever Seen
Jones' fall from grace began where nearly all of his troubles begin. He opened his mouth and spoke.
Appearing on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday morning to discuss the Cowboys' big win, Jones dropped this nugget: “He's (Dak Prescott) the best leader that I've ever seen at that position.”
One wishes that one was a fly on the walls of whatever rooms both Troy Aikman and Tony Romo were in when they heard that.
Jones has owned the team for a little over 34 years now. He saw Aikman and Romo over the length of their entire careers.
Jones did say that both Aikman and Romo were “outstanding” but stuck to his guns ranking Prescott above them. He surely knows better.
Clearly Jones' hyperbole is standard fare coming off the win, one where Prescott and the offense did not turn over the football.
But it was just one game out of 17. We have a long way to go to see if Prescott and the Cowboys have really taken that next step or not.
For now, during Jones' ownership era of 1989 to present day, we'll ride with Troy Aikman as the Cowboys' best leader at quarterback.
A certain player that wore the number 12, Roger Staubach, is the best leader ever in franchise history.
Not so good, Jerry. But wait, it gets worse.
Jones, Bills Owner Named In Suit
Jim Trotter – a journalist who used to work for NFL Media – has filed a lawsuit accusing the NFL of refusing to address “long-standing institutional discrimination.”
Trotter also claimed in the filing that his contract was not renewed. He claims it is because he voiced concerns regarding equity and racial injustice several times.
Trotter claims that Jones and Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula made racially insensitive comments.
Trotter said he went to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the alleged comments by Jones and Pegula. He also claims he raised the issue of the lack of diversity among NFL Media employees.
Those concerns, Trotter says in the filing, were ignored. He says he was not renewed as an employee at NFL Media when his contract ran out.
The NFL, Jones, and Pegula all issued separate statements denying Trotter's claims.
Regarding Jones' part in the matter, Trotter refers to a conversation between himself and Jones in 2020.
The topic was regarding the lack of Black professionals in decision-making positions across the NFL.
Trotter claims Jones' response was:
“If Blacks feel some kind of way, they should buy their own team and hire who they want to hire.”
Trotter claims he was then ordered by his superiors not to mention Jones' comments. Jones' statement addressed Trotter's claim.
“Diversity and inclusion are extremely important to me personally and to the NFL,” the statement read. “The representation made by Jim Trotter of a conversation that occurred over three years ago with myself and our VP of Player Personnel Will McClay is simply not accurate.”
Social Media Recalls Infamous Photo
Jones' involvement in the suit was fodder on social media.
Several posters on X (Twitter) happily brought up the now infamous 1957 photo of Jones outside of a North Little Rock high school.
Jones has stated he was just a curious kid seeing what was going on and not an active participant.
His position in the photo shows he isn't on the front lines. He does not appear to be directly involved in the confrontation.
But, anything that dredges up that image of Jones — even just standing in the background — is not good news.
Who actually said what to whom is a matter for the court and a jury to sort out. But after a great start Jones is having a not so good, very bad week.
