It’s Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend in Canton, Ohio. Does Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones remind us of another member?
On Friday evening in Canton, Ohio, seven new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame get something new when it comes to their wardrobe. Given to them by their presenters, each new enshrinee gets a gold jacket.
The head count when it comes to the Hall now stands at 310 men. It’s quite a prestigious honor for each of those players and/or contributors. So we’ve been doing our own version of the “Match Game” when it comes to the Class of 2017. How ‘bout Dallas Cowboys’ leader Jerry Jones and who he reminds us of?
Jerry Jones/Al Davis
The word “maverick” was often applied to the late and great Al Davis, the longtime figurehead of the Oakland Raiders. He took his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. This despite his battles and lawsuits with the league. You will recall in a mid-1980s trial, the Silver and Black’s leader testified against the NFL in favor of the USFL.
Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry-of-all-trades Jerry Jones purchased the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and made quite the unpopular decision right from the get-go. Tom Landry was the team’s original head coach in 1960 and had quite the 29-year run. But Jones dismissed him and brought in Jimmy Johnson. It took a couple of years but the Cowboys would re-establish themselves as a power and win Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII and XXX — a total of three titles in four years.
Of course, that third title was with Barry Switzer as the head coach. Unfortunately, Jones has gone through sideline leaders like some of us go through chicken wings. It may surprise some to know that current boss Jason Garrett is the longest tenured head coach of the Jones Era.
There’s also little doubt that Jones enjoys the spotlight. Then again, his business acumen and foresight has been very beneficial to the league. He’s orchestrated a lot of movement in all facets. Some would say he’s been a better businessman than a football evaluator. Yes, he still has the title of general manager although his son Stephen Jones is very active in decision making.
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We don’t begrudge anyone who is elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and we won’t start here. And it’s certainly understanding when you see other NFL executive such as Pat Bowlen and Art Modell, who have made amazing contributions to the league, still waiting their turn when it comes to enshrinement. But there’s little doubt that Jerry Jones has certainly made his mark in professional football in a variety of ways.