Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are no strangers to controversy, but their 2024 season has taken a grim turn that even ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith can’t bring himself to mock. The Cowboys faced a crushing 34-10 defeat at the hands of the Houston Texans, bringing Smith to worry about the franchise’s 82-year-old owner and general manager.
Stephen A. Smith Pulling Punches With Jerry Jones Criticism
Smith has always had it for “America’s Team,” but the sad state of affairs the Cowboys are in has the sports analyst expressing concern over Jones’ leadership, comparing his public appearances to those of President Joe Biden before he withdrew from reelection.
“I’m not joking when I say this,” Smith said. “I’m getting very, very worried about Jerry Jones. The only thing worse than the team’s play is his press conferences… I find myself thinking about, you know, Joe Biden, before he backed out of running for reelection, and he’s only — listen he’s only one month, I think Jerry is one month older than President Joe Biden, for crying out loud.”
Stephen A. Smith "I'm getting very very worried about Jerry Jones… I find myself thinking about Joe Biden before he backed out of running for reelection. I think Jerry's one month older than President Joe Biden for crying out loud… where the hell are his family members?" pic.twitter.com/8YMpffSMX8
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 19, 2024
This comes amid mounting criticism of Jones’ handling of the team. Questions have been asked aplenty whether it’s time for him to step back from his role as general manager.
The Cowboys’ struggles on the field mirror the chaos off of it.
The loss to Houston extended Dallas’ losing streak to five games. They’ve already lost QB1 Dak Prescott for the season. Although it wasn’t like Prescott was putting up MVP-level performances, a franchise QB is a franchise QB, no matter what.
Talking to the Athletic, Jones said, “I worry a lot about execution. I worry a lot about communication in the line. I worry a lot about having two people in the same spot on routes. I worry a lot about all that stuff. But guys giving the effort out? No, you don’t need to worry about anybody in that locker room giving everything they got and more.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones: “I worry a lot about execution. I worry a lot about communication in the (offensive) line. I worry a lot about having two people in the same spot on routes. I worry a lot about all that stuff. But guys giving the effort out? (No.) You don’t need to… pic.twitter.com/JWNGsAj1ii
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 19, 2024
The whole thrust of Prescott’s absence has piled up on backup Cooper Rush. However, the Cowboys owner believes that Rush is the team’s best chance at stability. Yet, head coach Mike McCarthy admitted he regretted not giving Trey Lance a shot.
Currently, the only direction the Cowboys are moving is downward. If Smith’s opinion is to be taken, he’ll be joining countless others who want the Cowboys to start afresh without Jones in the picture.
Cowboys faithful can already see the season’s conclusion, currently at 3-7. However, the debate rages on: Is Jerry Jones still the right man to lead America’s Team as things in Dallas hit rock bottom?