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Here are 10 things to know about John Stephen Jones, the Cowboys' chief operating officer, executive vice president and director of player personnel, who was born June 21, 1964, in Little Rock, Ark., and has four kids with his wife, Karen (Jessica, Jordan, Caroline and John Stephen).
1. The deal with Deion
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones likes to tell the story of how Stephen threw him against a wall at the Mansion 20 years ago when the club was about to sign cornerback Deion Sanders. Stephen thought the seven-year, $35 million contract was excessive and would create problems with Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. When Jerry said he was going into the next room to tell Sanders' agent that they had a deal Stephen grabbed his father by the arm and pushed him. "What are you going to do, hit me?'' Jerry asked. "I'm not going to hit you, but let's talk a little more,'' Stephen said. The Cowboys did sign Sanders, but Jerry went to Aikman, Irvin and Smith first to secure buy-in. -- From a story by The Dallas Morning News' David Moore that was published on Sept. 12, 2015
2. No backing down
When Bill Parcells was being wooed as the Cowboys coach near the end of the '02 season he wanted to bring in Mike Tannenbaum as general manager. Jerry told him that wouldn't work, that he and Stephen handled those duties. Parcells met with Stephen and decided to proceed. The two got along really well. That doesn't mean they didn't have their moments. One day Parcells began to yell at Todd Williams, now the team's director of football administration, telling him to stay out of the training room. The coach then caught Stephen out of the corner of his eye. "You keep your ass out of there too,'' Parcells said. "Just so we're clear, Todd is going to be in the training room,'' Stephen shot back. "He's there when I can't be and will be as long as we own the team. And as long as we own this team, I'll go anywhere I want.'' -- From a story by The Dallas Morning News' David Moore that was published on Sept. 12, 2015
3. Zack Martin over Johnny Manziel in the 2014 draft
The owner's fascination with Manziel in the '14 draft was no secret, but he felt that Manziel would be gone when the Cowboys were on the clock at No. 16. "Let's not assume that Dad," Stephen said. Stephen thought there was a chance linebacker Anthony Barr, defensive tackle Aaron Donald or linebacker Ryan Shazier would be on the board. He then made a case for offensive lineman Zack Martin and detailed his reasons again why he wouldn't take Manziel. Barr went No. 9 to Minnesota. Donald went No. 13 to St. Louis. Shazier went the pick ahead of the Cowboys to Pittsburgh. Martin was the top-rated player on the Cowboys board. Stephen knew everyone in the room loved him. Will McClay, the senior director of college/pro personnel spoke up and said Martin. Head coach Jason Garrett said he believed the team should take Martin. Jerry said, "Let's go over this quarterback thing one more time." "We need to take Martin," Stephen said. "OK, I guess that's what we'll do," Jerry announced to the room. -- From a story by The Dallas Morning News' David Moore that was published on Sept. 12, 2015
4. More tough calls
One month before the Cowboys took Martin over Manziel the club released DeMarcus Ware, a Pro Bowl fixture during his career, because of his salary and made no attempt to retain defensive tackle Jason Hatcher in free agency. That was an overt sign of Stephen's growing influence. That was followed by the decision six months ago to allow Murray, the NFL's rushing champion, to leave in free agency. "That was a tough one,'' Stephen said. Larry Lacewell, who spent 13 years as the team's director of college and pro scouting, wasn't in the draft room the night the Cowboys passed on Manziel. He wasn't part of the discussion on Ware or Murray or the other personnel moves that have been made of late. He didn't have to be there to know what's taking place. "When push comes to shove, Jerry listens to Stephen,'' Lacewell said. -- From a story by The Dallas Morning News' David Moore that was published on Sept. 12, 2015
5. Following dad to UA
An All-State quarterback, who ranked in the top 10 percent of his class academically, Stephen Jones' choice of colleges came down to Princeton or Arkansas. His father leaned toward the Ivy League, but Stephen wanted to fulfill a boyhood ambition to play for the Razorbacks. Recruited as a quarterback by Lou Holtz, he switched to safety after Holtz left for Minnesota and the new coach advanced a running-oriented offense. "I was not a wishbone quarterback, I was more of a throwing quarterback," Stephen Jones says. His only start came in the 1987 Orange Bowl game - ironically, it was against Barry Switzer's Oklahoma University. Arkansas lost 42-8. Jones played four years on Arkansas teams that went to four consecutive bowl games.
6. His son won a state title playing QB for Highland Park
Stephen Jones' son also plays quarterback in high school. In fact, John Stephen Jones led Highland Park to a state title in 2016, scoring both of the Scots' touchdowns in a 16-7 win over Temple. He was named MVP of the game. "This is absolutely the best," Stephen said. "We've had a lot of great things happen to us in sports, but to be a part of my son quarterbacking a state championship team is the very best."
7. Here son, you give it a try
Having gone through a difficult, sometimes venomous public battle trying to sign Emmitt Smith in 1993 (Smith held out for two regular-season games before signing and helping the Cowboys win another Super Bowl), Jerry Jones left the negotiations on another deal for Smith up to Stephen. "I told Stephen that no matter what else he does, his legacy will depend on what happens with Emmitt," Jerry said. "Maybe I didn't say it clear enough. If Stephen doesn't get him signed, I'm running him off." But Stephen did get Emmitt signed to a $48 million deal. -- From a Dallas Morning News story by David Tarrant on Sept. 1, 1996
7. Dad was right
Stephen Jones had been out of school 1 1/2 years working with his father's oil and gas company when the Cowboys were offered for sale. Jerry Jones dispatched his son and his accountant to check out the financially beleaguered football club. "It was not a pretty picture from a financial standpoint," Stephen Jones says. "I was green and my assessment was, 'It's a disaster. We wouldn't want to touch that.' Well, that's what you learn in business - that where it's at now is not necessarily where it can be." -- From a Dallas Morning News story by David Tarrant on Sept. 1, 1996
8. Near disaster
Stephen Jones wasn't a mischievous child, his father says. But he did occasionally get into trouble. "He was out in a wooded area that was surrounded with expensive homes. He went out to play with matches, and it got away from him," Jerry Jones recalls. The fire department rushed to the scene to contain the blaze, which threatened to destroy the homes. Another time, Stephen Jones was suspended from school for three days after getting caught drinking beer in the eighth grade. Jerry Jones drove his son to the University of Arkansas campus and took him to the school's football stadium. "I stood him out there beside the field and explained to him: `If you plan on playing football, you can't do that and associate in any way with alcohol.' " -- From a Dallas Morning News story by David Tarrant on Sept. 1, 1996
9. Honey, I gotta take this
Stephen Jones spends the better part of the day with a telephone in his ear. He talks to football agents, the league office, Cowboys coaching staff, other franchises, scouts. He carried a phone right into the hospital when he and his wife, Karen, had their first child, Jessica, on Aug. 24, 1992. "Stephen is wheeling me out of the hospital and talking on the phone. He was right in the middle of these negotiations. He was never so stressed," Mrs. Jones says. Their second daughter, Jordan, was born on Oct. 8, 1993, under much calmer circumstances. She was the coup de grace to a championship season. "We conceived her at the first Super Bowl," Mrs. Jones says. -- From a Dallas Morning News story by David Tarrant on Sept. 1, 1996
10. Superstitions and Super Bowl rings
Stephen Jones is a bit superstitions. "If you're riding in a car and a black cat crosses the road, he'll stop and turn around. He won't cross that path no matter what," Karen Jones says. He adheres to an elaborate routine during Cowboys games, always taking the same lucky items to the stadium. "He'll take a cross in his pocket that his high school priest gave him. And his Super Bowl rings - he'll put these on at different times during the games. Last year, he wore the same blue sports jacket to every game." -- From a Dallas Morning News story by David Tarrant on Sept. 1, 1996
Here are 10 things to know about John Stephen Jones, the Cowboys' chief operating officer, executive vice president and director of player personnel, who was born June 21, 1964, in Little Rock, Ark., and has four kids with his wife, Karen (Jessica, Jordan, Caroline and John Stephen).
1. The deal with Deion
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones likes to tell the story of how Stephen threw him against a wall at the Mansion 20 years ago when the club was about to sign cornerback Deion Sanders. Stephen thought the seven-year, $35 million contract was excessive and would create problems with Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. When Jerry said he was going into the next room to tell Sanders' agent that they had a deal Stephen grabbed his father by the arm and pushed him. "What are you going to do, hit me?'' Jerry asked. "I'm not going to hit you, but let's talk a little more,'' Stephen said. The Cowboys did sign Sanders, but Jerry went to Aikman, Irvin and Smith first to secure buy-in. -- From a story by The Dallas Morning News' David Moore that was published on Sept. 12, 2015
2. No backing down
When Bill Parcells was being wooed as the Cowboys coach near the end of the '02 season he wanted to bring in Mike Tannenbaum as general manager. Jerry told him that wouldn't work, that he and Stephen handled those duties. Parcells met with Stephen and decided to proceed. The two got along really well. That doesn't mean they didn't have their moments. One day Parcells began to yell at Todd Williams, now the team's director of football administration, telling him to stay out of the training room. The coach then caught Stephen out of the corner of his eye. "You keep your ass out of there too,'' Parcells said. "Just so we're clear, Todd is going to be in the training room,'' Stephen shot back. "He's there when I can't be and will be as long as we own the team. And as long as we own this team, I'll go anywhere I want.'' -- From a story by The Dallas Morning News' David Moore that was published on Sept. 12, 2015
3. Zack Martin over Johnny Manziel in the 2014 draft
The owner's fascination with Manziel in the '14 draft was no secret, but he felt that Manziel would be gone when the Cowboys were on the clock at No. 16. "Let's not assume that Dad," Stephen said. Stephen thought there was a chance linebacker Anthony Barr, defensive tackle Aaron Donald or linebacker Ryan Shazier would be on the board. He then made a case for offensive lineman Zack Martin and detailed his reasons again why he wouldn't take Manziel. Barr went No. 9 to Minnesota. Donald went No. 13 to St. Louis. Shazier went the pick ahead of the Cowboys to Pittsburgh. Martin was the top-rated player on the Cowboys board. Stephen knew everyone in the room loved him. Will McClay, the senior director of college/pro personnel spoke up and said Martin. Head coach Jason Garrett said he believed the team should take Martin. Jerry said, "Let's go over this quarterback thing one more time." "We need to take Martin," Stephen said. "OK, I guess that's what we'll do," Jerry announced to the room. -- From a story by The Dallas Morning News' David Moore that was published on Sept. 12, 2015
4. More tough calls
One month before the Cowboys took Martin over Manziel the club released DeMarcus Ware, a Pro Bowl fixture during his career, because of his salary and made no attempt to retain defensive tackle Jason Hatcher in free agency. That was an overt sign of Stephen's growing influence. That was followed by the decision six months ago to allow Murray, the NFL's rushing champion, to leave in free agency. "That was a tough one,'' Stephen said. Larry Lacewell, who spent 13 years as the team's director of college and pro scouting, wasn't in the draft room the night the Cowboys passed on Manziel. He wasn't part of the discussion on Ware or Murray or the other personnel moves that have been made of late. He didn't have to be there to know what's taking place. "When push comes to shove, Jerry listens to Stephen,'' Lacewell said. -- From a story by The Dallas Morning News' David Moore that was published on Sept. 12, 2015
5. Following dad to UA
An All-State quarterback, who ranked in the top 10 percent of his class academically, Stephen Jones' choice of colleges came down to Princeton or Arkansas. His father leaned toward the Ivy League, but Stephen wanted to fulfill a boyhood ambition to play for the Razorbacks. Recruited as a quarterback by Lou Holtz, he switched to safety after Holtz left for Minnesota and the new coach advanced a running-oriented offense. "I was not a wishbone quarterback, I was more of a throwing quarterback," Stephen Jones says. His only start came in the 1987 Orange Bowl game - ironically, it was against Barry Switzer's Oklahoma University. Arkansas lost 42-8. Jones played four years on Arkansas teams that went to four consecutive bowl games.
6. His son won a state title playing QB for Highland Park
Stephen Jones' son also plays quarterback in high school. In fact, John Stephen Jones led Highland Park to a state title in 2016, scoring both of the Scots' touchdowns in a 16-7 win over Temple. He was named MVP of the game. "This is absolutely the best," Stephen said. "We've had a lot of great things happen to us in sports, but to be a part of my son quarterbacking a state championship team is the very best."
7. Here son, you give it a try
Having gone through a difficult, sometimes venomous public battle trying to sign Emmitt Smith in 1993 (Smith held out for two regular-season games before signing and helping the Cowboys win another Super Bowl), Jerry Jones left the negotiations on another deal for Smith up to Stephen. "I told Stephen that no matter what else he does, his legacy will depend on what happens with Emmitt," Jerry said. "Maybe I didn't say it clear enough. If Stephen doesn't get him signed, I'm running him off." But Stephen did get Emmitt signed to a $48 million deal. -- From a Dallas Morning News story by David Tarrant on Sept. 1, 1996
7. Dad was right
Stephen Jones had been out of school 1 1/2 years working with his father's oil and gas company when the Cowboys were offered for sale. Jerry Jones dispatched his son and his accountant to check out the financially beleaguered football club. "It was not a pretty picture from a financial standpoint," Stephen Jones says. "I was green and my assessment was, 'It's a disaster. We wouldn't want to touch that.' Well, that's what you learn in business - that where it's at now is not necessarily where it can be." -- From a Dallas Morning News story by David Tarrant on Sept. 1, 1996
8. Near disaster
Stephen Jones wasn't a mischievous child, his father says. But he did occasionally get into trouble. "He was out in a wooded area that was surrounded with expensive homes. He went out to play with matches, and it got away from him," Jerry Jones recalls. The fire department rushed to the scene to contain the blaze, which threatened to destroy the homes. Another time, Stephen Jones was suspended from school for three days after getting caught drinking beer in the eighth grade. Jerry Jones drove his son to the University of Arkansas campus and took him to the school's football stadium. "I stood him out there beside the field and explained to him: `If you plan on playing football, you can't do that and associate in any way with alcohol.' " -- From a Dallas Morning News story by David Tarrant on Sept. 1, 1996
9. Honey, I gotta take this
Stephen Jones spends the better part of the day with a telephone in his ear. He talks to football agents, the league office, Cowboys coaching staff, other franchises, scouts. He carried a phone right into the hospital when he and his wife, Karen, had their first child, Jessica, on Aug. 24, 1992. "Stephen is wheeling me out of the hospital and talking on the phone. He was right in the middle of these negotiations. He was never so stressed," Mrs. Jones says. Their second daughter, Jordan, was born on Oct. 8, 1993, under much calmer circumstances. She was the coup de grace to a championship season. "We conceived her at the first Super Bowl," Mrs. Jones says. -- From a Dallas Morning News story by David Tarrant on Sept. 1, 1996
10. Superstitions and Super Bowl rings
Stephen Jones is a bit superstitions. "If you're riding in a car and a black cat crosses the road, he'll stop and turn around. He won't cross that path no matter what," Karen Jones says. He adheres to an elaborate routine during Cowboys games, always taking the same lucky items to the stadium. "He'll take a cross in his pocket that his high school priest gave him. And his Super Bowl rings - he'll put these on at different times during the games. Last year, he wore the same blue sports jacket to every game." -- From a Dallas Morning News story by David Tarrant on Sept. 1, 1996
Thats the kind of shit you do when you know you're outmatched or don't know what you're doing.