Jerry Jones Rejects Link Between Coaching Pay and Cowboys Wins
On November 3, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defended his coaching-pay strategy as Dallas entered Week 9 at 3-5 after losing to Arizona.
Jones said on a Dallas radio show that he sees no connection between coaching salaries or the size of a staff and winning in the NFL. His defense came as head coach Brian Schottenheimer faced scrutiny after the Cowboys let a fourth-quarter lead slip in a 33-30 defeat to the Cardinals on Sunday. Dallas is 3-5, and Schottenheimer’s record with the team stands at 10-14-1.
Schottenheimer earns $4.5 million a year, compared with about $12 million for Jacksonville coach Liam Coen and $13 million for Chicago coach Ben Johnson. Both Coen and Johnson reached the postseason in their first seasons as head coaches and have winning records this year. Jones said he has hired coaches with varied backgrounds and acknowledged that people regularly remind him of his record.
Defensive coordinator Christian Parker has also drawn criticism after another second-half collapse. On Monday, executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team would not dismiss Parker simply to make a statement, but would consider a change if it could improve the Cowboys over time. Dallas is set to play the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, and the team is not expected to make major changes before then.