NYT bestselling author highlights why Bill Belichick and Jerry Jones are incompatible
Ian O'Connor gave his take on why former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick would not be a good fit for the Dallas Cowboys led by Jerry Jones. New York Times bestselling author appeared with Colin Cowherd on "The Volume Sports" podcast to give his take.
He said that his hunch is informed by Bill Parcells, under whom Belichick worked with the New York Jets before becoming the New England head coach. The legendary New York Giants manager also had a stint with the Cowboys and knows Jones well too.
O'Connor acknowledged that the Cowboys owner and the former Patriots coach have a good relationship. But Jones likes to hold his own press conferences after games right outside the locker room and it could conflict with what the coach is saying to the press in the interview room. The author said:
"Belichick could work with Jerry Jones. I know they have a good relationship. But Parcells told me that it was a problem when he was there. He liked Jerry Jones, didn't have a major problem with him overall, but after games, Jerry Jones holds a press conference right outside the locker room.
"I've been in five, six or seven of them and the coaches down the hall in the interview room, and those messages could conflict."
O'Connor said it was tough to think that such a situation would be tenable for Bill Belichick. He also said that it was unlikely that the Cowboys' owner habits would suddenly change, commenting:
"And Parcells said that was tough to deal with. Can you imagine Belichick down the hall saying nothing and Jerry saying everything outside the locker room? Now maybe Bill can convince him not to do that anymore. But Jerry has been doing that for a long time. And he puts on a show he'll talk about anything after a game."
Jerry Jones and Bill Belichick's common anachronism
In the modern NFL, owners, general managers and head coaches are distinct individuals. However, that is not the case for Bill Belichick and Jerry Jones. The Patriots head coach wanted full control over personnel in New England and was, therefore, also the general manager there. Similarly, the Cowboys owner wants to control the players' facet of his organization as well and is the general manager in Dallas.
The fact above seems to support O'Connor's assertion that the two together might be incompatible. And podcast host Cowherd anyhow thinks that the Buffalo Bills might be a more likely destination for the former coach.