Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has never been known for rushing into big-money deals. Over the years, his reluctance to hand out early extensions has frustrated players and fans alike, while also earning him a reputation as one of the league’s toughest negotiators.
Now, Jones is finally explaining why he prefers to wait before locking in his stars with long-term contracts.
In a conversation on Michael Irvin‘s podcast, Jones pulled back the curtain on his strategy, stressing that patience often protects the Cowboys from costly mistakes.
“I would like to list right beside that the ones that I paid early that I wish I hadn’t paid early, relatively speaking,” Jones said.
“The ones that I have paid as early as what we’re talking about here that I shouldn’t have paid early, that we should have seen a few more things come down the pike.”
For Jones, the issue is not about undervaluing talent but about guarding against the risks that come with long-term commitments.
The injury factor and guaranteed money
One of the biggest reasons Jones resists paying early is the physical toll of the NFL. Injuries, he explained, can derail careers and cripple rosters. “People get hurt playing this game,” Jerry noted.
He expanded on the point, noting the long-term impact of losing a star player to injury.
“One time, if they get hurt playing this game, and it was one time they got hurt, it had an impact on the team for the next several years at the kinds of salaries that you’re paying,” Jones said.
“Let’s say the top 10 or 12% of the players in the league today, when those guys aren’t available to play. That’s a major hit on the rest of the team or the team’s opportunity to go forward.”
That risk, Jones argued, makes massive guaranteed contracts dangerous business. “So you better be real careful when you’re laying things like plus a hundred million dollar worth of guarantee on a player and not be aware of this game,” he said.
He continued with a blunt assessment of how fragile those investments can be. “There’s a chance that you could pay that money and not be around to help you win the championship or help you play the season. That risk alone puts in perspective having that much at stake on my one player.”
Balancing stars with depth
Beyond injuries, Jones also pointed to the importance of building a balanced roster under the league’s salary cap. Some critics argue that paying one superstar limits resources for other positions, but Jones insists that the Cowboys can manage both.
“Well, the answer is, we’ll get both, have that player plus those three players,” he said.
To Jones, the NFL’s rules are designed to enforce parity, preventing dynasties built solely on financial might. “That’s where competitively the rules keep us all within the range of competing for the Super Bowl; parity,” he added.
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