56 AMERICANWAY
NOVEMBER 1 2008
N F L OWN E R S
ers are there todecide howbest to improve
professional football. The hotel has a goal
of generating $1,600 each day from every
room.And thatgoal ispartlyachieved in the
hotel’sTapestryBar,whereaCuba libreand
aBailey’s on the rocks costs$39 (before the
tip) and thealcohol in each ismore careful-
lymeasured thananything the loose-lipped
patronmight saywhile enjoyingone.
One late evening at the Tapestry Bar
finds Jones at a tablewith familymembers
and select employees, includinghead coach
Wade Phillips. Grinning in a way that he
describes asmaking him appear as though
he has a coat hanger lodged in his mouth,
Jones explains that by being both theCow-
boys owner and general manager, he’s free
to accept the risky proposition otherwise
known as Adam Jones. Dallas acquired
Jones in a tradewith theTennesseeTitans;
itwas thefirst time aplayer inNFLhistory
was traded while under suspension, the
penalty for beingarrested six times in three
years.
Jerry Jones says he can make decisions
with impunity because he does not an-
swer to a higher authority and therefore is
not risking his job if the whole thing ends
badly, asmost others in his positionmight
fear. “That’s right,” Jones says. “The owner
and the general manager of the Cowboys
have gone over this real good. Real good!
We have both decided that this can be a
real positive for theCowboys.”At thispoint,
Jonesbreaks intothatwide,midnightsmile.
LookingdirectlyatPhillips, he says: “And if
not, thenwe’ve both already decided tofire
thehead coach.”
ALL OF THIS MERELY PROVES
that NFL owners are often just like every-
one else — only richer and therefore pre-
sumably happier. Their business meetings
are the same as those of big corporations,
It is understood that you
are not allowed to beat
[huizenga] at his club.
You go to the final green
with a chance to win, look
at your partner, and he’s
shaking his head at you.
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