ITP #016: AMERICA'S TEAM PART 2 - THERE WILL BE BLOOD
By Simon Carroll
The Collapsing Pocket Podcast has been a staple part of many a UK NFL fan’s life since late 2016. Chewing the fat on all things football and many more subjects besides, it takes a distinctly lighthearted approach to the sport we love.
In the offseason, Si, Rob and Sam get serious and bring you a series of podcasts called ‘Inside The Pocket’ (ITP), where they look back at iconic people, events and moments in NFL history that have helped shape the game and make it what it is today. In this ITP the guys pick up where they left off last time, continuing their foray into the history of the Dallas Cowboys.
No owner has had an impact on the NFL quite like Jerry Jones. From a baptism of fire, to early success, followed by two decades of mediocrity; the maverick oil man from Arkansas has always done things his own way. But can the business structure that has proven so successful off the field still be a sporting success on it?
ITP #016: America's Team Part 2 - There Will Be Blood
Please note, despite the three of them being raised well and growing up with very attentive mothers, the Collapsing Pocket Podcast is hosted by three working class northerners and is very much ‘not safe for work’. Whilst the ITP series is a much safer podcast to listen to with your kids in the room, there will still be instances where explicit language is used.
The Rise of Jerry Jones
I think it’s fair to say Jerry Jones is no shrinking violet, and his early years definitely helped shape the man we know and love/hate today. But did you know that on his way to becoming the owner of the Cowboys he nearly bought a dfferent franchise? Or that he used mafia money to fund a string of failed pizza parlours? Or that he was close to bankruptcy before striking oil and becoming a multi millionaire overnight? Much like his tenure in Dallas, the story of Jerral Wayne Jones prior to him becoming a household name is a rollercoaster ride.
Achieving His Dream
We left our last ITP with the final days of Tom Landry, one of the most successful head coaches in NFL history. His departure from Dallas coincided with the arrival of Jones, and the manner in which the new owner handled the exit of The Cowboys legend has never been forgiven by some fans. But the hiring of Jimmy Johnson as his successor resulted in almost immediate success for Jerry. The first footballing example of Jones’ penchant for taking massive, atttention-grabbing gambles, it certainly wouldn’t be his last. For the first few years of his reign, Jones’ ‘tolerance for ambiguity’ paid off massively – both on the field and off it.
Two Decades Of Mediocrity
Jerry Jones makes no apology for his unique way of running a football franchise; he’s a huge fan at heart and wants to be a part of it. But after those early years, how has this business model affected the success of the team?
Jones has removed successful coaches for no reason other than his demand for respect and recognition. Yet for the most part, he remains respected – even loved – by those he has worked with. The lack of success for the last twenty years may have caught the ire of Cowboys fans, yet the team brings in the most fan based revenue out of any sporting franchise in the world. And Jones remains at the heart of it all. Listen to the podcast and decide for yourself if Jones’ incessant desire for another ring is hampered by his insistence to make decisions that directly affect the product on the field. Enjoy!
