Toward the end of his press conference Saturday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked by a reporter whether it was proper to say that it was a “win-or-else” season for head coach Jason Garrett, who has two years left on his contract and has yet to lead Dallas to the postseason.
Jones responded with an endorsement of his head coach, one that throws a little cold water on some of the discussion of Garrett’s job security for at least for the time being.
“It’s a mistake,” Jones said of any sentiment the Cowboys needed to win in 2013 for Garrett to be around beyond this season. “That’s not right.”
Jones went on to praise Garrett’s work with quarterback Tony Romo as well as the head coach’s attitude during “unsatisfactory times” for the organization.
“His safety net presence for what we’re doing, not only as a team, but on offense, is a big part of the plan, and it gives us a real advantage,” Jones said.
Notably, Jones said when he thinks of Garrett, he’s focused on the head coach’s tenure beyond this season.
“I look to the future with Jason, and not just through his contract that we’re sitting here with right now,” Jones said.
Of any feeling that Garrett facing an “Armageddon” season in 2013 in terms of his job security, Jones said: “It is not that with me.”
No owner publicly expresses his views more than Jones. At times, he’s panned for this. But his endorsement of Garrett on Saturday is the upside of this approach. It’s not going to stop speculation about Garrett’s long-term future, but it counters it, and that’s not a bad thing as Dallas begins camp.