He must delegate
Aaron Wilson
Baltimore Sun
The myth that Jerry Jones tries to perpetuate goes like this: Former Arkansas guard, self-made billionaire and boss of "America's Team" actually has it all figured out. Well, not so fast.
Bill Parcells acquired a lot of talent still on the roster, and Jones still has plenty of competent, low-key football people advising him behind the scenes.
Can the Cowboys keep climbing with Jones running the show? Yes and no.
It all depends on how he delegates when cameras aren't watching. So much of what Jones is about is hype and glitz. The real heavy lifting? Done by real football guys. The rich guy, Jones, hogs the credit, blame and always the spotlight. Jerry's a superstar, just ask him.
He's not the problem
Omar Kelly
Sun Sentinel
Jerry Jones has been exercising his right to run the Cowboys like an NFL fantasy team, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with his approach when he's winning. So there shouldn't be an issue now that Dallas is losing.
He didn't get Demarco Murray hurt. He isn't throwing interceptions, Tony Romo is. Jones isn't being outcoached most Sundays. That's Jason Garrett.
Nobody complained when Jones drafted Dez Bryant in the 2010 draft. Now all of a sudden Jones is the problem because Bryant is struggling?
Finding someone else to run the team, pick the players and the head coach isn't the issue. The issue is getting better players and a better coach. There's a long list of teams with those same needs.
Team is risk averse
Sam Farmer
Los Angeles Times
Jerry Jones has his strengths, but when he has too much of an influence on what happens on the field, we can never tell if it's Jerry as football man or Jerry as P.T. Barnum.
Jerry was spoiled by Troy Aikman, and the Cowboys spent the subsequent years trying to get lucky with quarterback dice rolls — so when Tony Romo had some success, they were skittish about making a change and have been since.
They are risk averse, the antithesis of what Jerry is as a businessman. With a real GM, the Cowboys could rebuild the elite franchise they had through the '70s and '80s. But Jerry isn't going anywhere, and he'll continue to chase the success he had in his first years of ownership.
Jones can make it work
Dan Pompei
Jerry Jones may not be the NFL executive of the year, but he isn't anybody's idiot. He made a fortune drilling for natural gas, and now is one of the richest men in the world. He has turned the Cowboys into the most valuable property in American sports.
Under Jones' watch, the Cowboys found Tony Romo as an undrafted free agent. They chose DeMarcus Ware with the 11th pick in the draft. He had the foresight to hire Jimmy Johnson. He subjugated his ego when he named Bill Parcells head coach. And he built the stadium that is the envy of every team in the NFL.
He is a smart enough businessman to make things work, even if they aren't working very well at the moment.