That’s not to mention the undrafted Tony Romo in 2003, which Jones refused to part with when ex-assistant Sean Payton tried to acquire him for his move to New Orleans in 2006.
Not only has he drafted well, but Jones has proven himself to be a top-notch negotiator. He has often signed stars and top targets early into their success, as a means to avoid paying top dollar for his own players when they hit free agency. Recent examples include Tony Romo, Marion Barber III, and Chris Canty.
While he is not shy about handing out a big contract, he did not become such a successful businessman by throwing away money. Cowboy fans are reminded of this currently with the Terry Glenn standoff.
Glenn is upset that the team (Jerry) is requiring him to sign an injury waiver that would reduce his yearly salary from about $1.75 million to $500,000, if he were to get hurt again.
On the surface, it seems odd that Jones would haggle over $1.2 million after spending so much money this offseason, especially when wide receiver seems to be one of the team’s few soft spots going into training camp.
It is the principle for Jerry more than anything else. Glenn opted (or was convinced by the team, depending on who you ask) to bypass season-ending knee surgery last year to try and return for the playoffs. He did but was a non-factor.
Jones was not shy when defending his reason for the injury wavier, “I paid him $5 million last year and we got four plays,” he said last month when the situation became public. He seems to be sending a clear message to his aging receiver.
Jones also realizes that a less-than-healthy Terry Glenn will have a hard time finding a better situation than the one in Dallas. So why not give yourself a little insurance on an injury plagued 34-year-old receiver?
So as the Cowboys look forward to a season in which the expectations are as high as they have been since the ‘Big Three,’ Jones has once again positioned his team to contend for an NFL-record sixth Super Bowl.
The next time you see Jones patrolling the sidelines and trying to coerce an injured player back onto the field, just remember; there is a method to his madness.
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