Jerry Jones has inserted himself into the public spotlight the past few weeks.
It all began when his Dallas Cowboys fell in the playoffs, calling Mike McCarthy’s job security into question.
Sean Payton then stepped down in New Orleans, fueling even more conversation about potential changes in Dallas.
But Jones came out Friday and said all the speculation was part of a plan to keep Dan Quinn around as the defensive coordinator.
Jerry Jones is trying to say that he never definitively said Mike McCarthy would be back for another season as Cowboys head coach last week because it was all part of his plan to keep Dan Quinn on staff
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) January 28, 2022
So either Jones truly was playing mind games, or he tried to land Payton without success.
Either way the Cowboys may return in 2022 with the entire coaching staff intact.
That all depends on if Kellen Moore finds a head coaching job or not.
This revelation from Jones has the entire NFL world talking Friday and reacting in a bunch of different ways.
Is this like that time that Jerry Jones believed Mike McCarthy when said he studied every single snap from the previous season before being hired? https://t.co/DaskkgrRmh
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) January 28, 2022
NFL World Reacts To Jerry Jones
The Cowboys owner is in a tough spot.
He held onto Jason Garrett for far too long, and is trying to be patient with McCarthy after only two seasons.
Yet it remains a mystery why he had to play mind games to sign Quinn to a new extension.
Jerry Jones can say Dan Quinn will be the DC for "years to come," all he wants. In reality, it could be for just one year because if the defense succeeds, Quinn will go through all of this again.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 28, 2022
Also Jerry Jones: “Bright sun is good for your eyes.”
— MediaMan666 (@MediaMan666) January 28, 2022
Does this mean Sean Payton has a defensive coordinator he knows well when he arrives next year?!?! #cowboysnation #cowboys #jerryjones #friday https://t.co/xuSnxRLvUN
— Trey Houser (@KeithHouser5) January 28, 2022
Cowboys fans just want to win at this point.
Clock management, which has doomed McCarthy in the past, led to a painful playoff loss for the Cowboys.
So plenty of fans are hoping Jones is just saying the right things, with bigger plans in mind in case the head coach has a rough start in 2022.
This is why Jerry Jones gets portrayed as a clown in the media.. He goes on the radio last week and rips Mike McCarthy (justifiably).. Now that McCarthy is returning next year, he walks it back.. Pathetic and incompetent @JosephTommasi @JTR2951 https://t.co/tP6BWioYxJ
— Anthony Picarelli (@anthonypic22) January 28, 2022
Jerry Jones denies speaking with Sean Payton about taking over the Cowboys, in an interview with the @dallasnews pic.twitter.com/7zDpEEQYcH
— Michael Board (@MikeBoard1200) January 28, 2022
If Jerry Jones said anything else, there would be tampering allegations. He really can’t come out and say, yes Sean Payton is who I want coaching this team. https://t.co/sQ0dgNTTis
— Rohit Puri (@RohPuri) January 28, 2022
Jones doing radio interviews in the first place is odd and means he may say something off-handedly that becomes a much bigger story.
That appears to be the case once again as the Cowboys continue to have unnecessary drama surround the organization.
NEXT: Jerry Jones Revealed His Master Plan For The Cowboys