ATLANTA — Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones holding court with the media outside of the team’s locker room is part of the routine … at AT&T Stadium. However, on the road — win or lose — Jones typically doesn’t speak to reporters after the game.
After the 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons dropped the Cowboys to 3-5, Jones spoke for nearly 10 minutes.
“I really regret it to be having the season we’re having for our fans,” Jones said when asked why it was so emotional for him in the present moment. “I have seen too many times, though, when this thing gets to look dark, I’ve seen the positives jump up there, and go from there. … That room is full of guys that can get it done. I believe in them, coaches and all.”
Jones described his message to the team after the game as a “very emotional message.”
“I spoke to the team about having my butt kicked a few times, been around men who have had their butt kicked,” Jones said. “I’ve seen them come back and hold the trophy up. There (are) times for all things. We all know we’ve got to play better than we played tonight, or we’re not going anywhere.”
Jones also spoke about his plans for Tuesday’s trade deadline, confidence in head coach Mike McCarthy and if he’s still “all in” for the 2024 season.
Dak Prescott left the game Sunday with a hamstring injury after throwing for 133 yards and a touchdown. (Brett Davis / Imagn Images)
‘We’ll go for it’
Jones’ public tone on Tuesday’s trade deadline has evolved in the past few weeks — even in the past day. When the Cowboys entered the bye week at 3-3, Jones said, “We have great personnel. I’m proud of our personnel.” He said the Cowboys were “not thinking that,” in terms of making moves prior to the deadline.
During his Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jones seemed more open to the idea, saying, “We look for all the meat on the bone that can improve our team.” In his radio interview before the game Sunday, Jones said, “This can be a really busy time, if it fits.” Speaking after the game, Jones teased the possibilities ahead.
“Personally, I’m a long way from being dismayed about our team, about this year,” Jones said. “Not dismayed. I’m concerned. We should be concerned. We’ll probably do a couple of things this week, of note, if things work out the way we’d like for them to. Bottom line is, if you knew exactly what to do, this wouldn’t be the game it is in the NFL. … It takes two to tango but we’ve got some things. … Men, ladies, we’re going to do everything we can, at all times, to improve this team. And if in our judgment, if what you have to give up helps improve it, we’ll do it. I know everybody understands, I don’t think I have to say it, but we’ll go for it.”
Later, Jones was reminded that his last “bold” trade at the deadline was trading for Amari Cooper in 2018.
“Don’t look for that,” Jones said. “Don’t look for those kinds of things, OK? … We’ve got a shot, we think, to improve our roster.”
Some of the Cowboys’ biggest moves have come when they were least expected, so it can’t be ruled out completely, but it sounds like even if the Cowboys do make moves at the deadline, it won’t feature any big splashes.
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Still all in
Nothing Jones and the Cowboys have done since the start of this past offseason would indicate the team is truly all in, at least in the way most people would interpret it. However, it’s been a self-imposed mantra for the front office. Now, the Cowboys are 3-5 and staring at the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans and Washington Commanders over the next three weeks. They’re also staring at a potential time period without starting quarterback Dak Prescott, while their top four defensive ends remain out and arguably their best cornerback suffered a setback in his recovery and has yet to play this season.
Is Jones still all in on 2024?
“I am,” Jones said. “I am. You’d say, boy, this thing is looking pretty bleak right here. Candidly, I’ve seen situations that look bleak (and) turn around. We’ve got a daunting schedule ahead of us. This was a game against a good Atlanta team but a winnable game for us. Very disappointed for our fans and our players and everybody involved.”
Given the trajectory of DaRon Bland’s recovery from his training camp foot injury, it would be foolish to try and nail down a return date for him. Jones said Parsons is getting closer, though he didn’t practice at all this past week and had no real chance at playing in Atlanta.
Jones can maintain his stance of being all in, but his action at the trade deadline, or lack thereof, will speak louder if that truly is the case — and more so, if this 2024 iteration of the Cowboys is even worthy of being all in for.
‘I’m good with Mike’
There have been issues creeping up for the Cowboys that many would place on McCarthy, either as the head coach or the play caller. The discipline has been lacking with a ridiculous amount of pre-snap penalties Sunday. The Cowboys were unable to gain one yard in two tries on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 to extend an early drive. There was a curious decision for a fake punt at the start of the third quarter when the Cowboys were down by four points and on their own 38-yard-line.
Still, Jones expressed his confidence in McCarthy being the man to help turn things around this season.
“I’m good with Mike,” Jones said. “I know how hard he works. I like his football mind. I know how good he works. He’s got, in my mind, an outstanding coaching record. He’s really good with the players. They think highly of him. He’s got a lot of fire in his belly. … I’ve had experience of having times when you were questioning and maybe thinking about doing it differently. But I’ve had good experiences of staying with it.”
(Top photo of Mike McCarthy: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
