Jerry Jones, the owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, has a long history of engaging directly with his players regarding contract negotiations. This past June, he had a notable on-field discussion with linebacker Micah Parsons during a mandatory minicamp practice, signifying the ongoing importance of personal relationships in contract discussions. Jones remains adamant that he got Parsons a very profitable contract extension deal during the month of March, reportedly somewhere in the neighborhood of $150 million. Today, he stresses his dedication to creating a deeply personal bond with his players.
Jones’s confrontational negotiation style has deep roots. He perfected it while sitting knee-to-knee with then-head coach Bill Parcells and quarterback Tony Romo in a “little phone booth” that was Texas Stadium’s old locker room. This small and intimate setting was the perfect backdrop for deep discussions. The objective, of course, was to convince Romo to sign an incentive-laden contract that would guarantee his place as the team’s starting quarterback. It was during these moments that Jones cultivated relationships that would last for years, as he recalled Parcells’s affirmation after Romo signed: “We’ve got us a quarterback.”
One major difference between Jones and his players may be the open door policy in terms of communication and that personal touch. In the course of his tenure, he has built personal relationships with the right players. Notable names are Tony Romo, Jason Witten, DeMarcus Ware, and Zack Martin. Last week, he signed left guard Tyler Smith to a four-year extension. When officially signed, this deal, valued at $96 million, will make Smith the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in football. This decision illustrates Jones’s style of waiting until the last possible moment to make a deal. This strategy almost always forces the franchise to pay a premium, as we learned with Parsons, Dak Prescott, and CeeDee Lamb.
Jones was adamant that, “I can’t just play defense. Looking ahead to his first NFL season, he touted his desire to remain hands on with his players. This sentiment is echoed by Stephen Jones, who noted, “We do have players that come in and we’ve totally respected that [when they] say, ‘I don’t feel comfortable talking about my contract. I’d like you to go through my agent.’”
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons has said the same about wanting to avoid contentious contract negotiations. And while he has faith that he’s hiring someone honest to work on his behalf in these negotiations, Mr. “It’s like, if you’re going to court, you’re not saying you trust yourself to fight for yourself, right?” Parsons explained. “I’m not going to go into a room with an owner and fight for myself because we don’t know everything.” His deep perspective is one that countless players should immediately recognize. Yet, while they may want agents to take care of contractual issues, artists still greatly appreciate personal relationships.
As the landscape of player contracts moves towards longer-term contracts, the role that agents play in contract negotiations has drastically increased. Yet, Jones is committed to holding honest, ongoing dialogue with his athletes. This strategy has placed them in a position to maximize the team atmosphere, despite the challenges it faces with such a large contract extension landscape. Unlike other franchises that foster an environment of transactional negotiations, the Cowboys’ emphasis has always been on the relationships. To do this, they prioritize creating continuity on their team.
Dak Prescott’s experiences exemplify this philosophy. He was reluctant to call out exact figures during the contract negotiations. Yes, he still threw around some crucial conversations with the Jones familia that earned him the mega-deal just signed. “There was definitely some talks… particularly with Stephen,” Prescott stated. He praised these dialogues as key to arriving at a settlement that seemed fair to both parties.
We know contract negotiations can be fraught and unpredictable. What Jones adds is warmth and approachability that builds rapport and inspires respect among players. Even getting deals finalized late in the season can provide a considerable head start. Take Prescott’s negotiation as one recent example, which was finalized on the literal eve of their season opening. The ability for players to feel connected to their owner may lead them to prioritize staying with the Cowboys over pursuing opportunities elsewhere.
As discussions continue regarding Parsons’s potential contract extension and other key players like Prescott and Lamb, it is evident that Jerry Jones’s methods have shaped the landscape of player contracts within the franchise. While we can’t agree on his travel spending, his emphasis on relationship building while threading the needle on financial conversations is key to the Cowboys’ future success.
Leave a Reply