1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,639 Speaker 1: Stephen Jones on the line with us Steven. Good afternoon 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: to you, sir, Good afternoon, gazz and Happy New Year's, 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: Happy New Years to you too. As we look to 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: this week, Stephen, this Dallas Cowboys football team, now at 5 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: six and nine has an opportunity to somewhat control its 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: fate on Sunday, need a little bit of help from 7 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: the Washington football team against the Philadelphia Eagles. But as 8 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: you look back on this season getting to this point now, Stephen, 9 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: how would you use one word to describe this season 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: and why would you use that word to describe what 11 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: the Cowboys have been through this year? I just think 12 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: it's been a season full of challenges and you know, 13 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: something to get go. You know, you have a new 14 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,239 Speaker 1: coaching staff, and you have, you know, the challenges that 15 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: came with the virus and not really being able to 16 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: have a lot of hands on contact with your team 17 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: up until August, and so you know that's difficult period, 18 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,639 Speaker 1: but even more difficult when you're new coaching staff. And 19 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: then of course as we moved forward, we uh, you know, 20 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: had the injury challenges that you know a lot of 21 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: teams have, but you know, probably this year we had 22 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: more than I can remember in terms of not only numbers, 23 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: but also key guys in terms of you know, a 24 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: big percentage if you count all the games that we missed, uh, 25 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: you know, starters missed and cap dollars missed. You know, 26 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: I think we're in you know that forty percent range. 27 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: Certainly a huge combination of offensive line combinations. Obviously, you miss, 28 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: uh you know, anytime you miss your starting quarterback, especially 29 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: when the quality of back, you know you're gonna have challenges. 30 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 1: And then, of course, on top of all that, I 31 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: just heard yell as I was getting on you mentioned 32 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: how the turnover battle is going our way now and 33 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: certainly are making a difference in us winning games. We 34 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: were on the wrong end of that, especially for the 35 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: first half of the season. So you know, uh, you 36 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: know that's a mouthful, but certainly, uh, you know that 37 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: can happen. No one feels sorry for you, and I 38 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: know many teams in this league have had the same challenges, 39 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: and uh, certainly at times, uh, you know, especially down 40 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: the stretch here, we've done a good job uh you know, 41 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: working through those, but at times we could have done better. 42 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: So we'll just continue to work. We've had a great 43 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: week of practice here. As you said, we need to 44 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: go take care of our business to start with and 45 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: play a Giant's team who's in the same shape we are. 46 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: They win the game, then they have a chance to 47 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: get in as well, so they're motivated. Uh, you know, 48 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: got some good group of guys there. But I'm sure 49 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: going to be ready to play when we roll up 50 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: to New York and Stephen, you know, the league flex 51 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: the game. You know that you need. You know, you're 52 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: going to take care of your own business, like you said, 53 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: but they flex that game to the night and and 54 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: you and your father are such league men, you know, 55 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,239 Speaker 1: and you know what's good for the league. But deep 56 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: down inside, do you wish that game was being played 57 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: at the same time. No, I don't have a problem 58 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: with it at all, Brian. We got to go take 59 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: care of our business. At the end of the day, 60 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: we got to go to work, and we don't need 61 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 1: to worry about what's going on anywhere else, because if 62 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: we don't win the game, it doesn't matter. And I'm 63 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: glad we're focused on our task at hand. And then 64 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: if you know, we take care of our business and 65 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,119 Speaker 1: certainly we'll get to see what happens with the Redskins. 66 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: But you know, our network partners are a big part 67 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: of what we're all about in the NFL. They certainly 68 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: get the content out to our fandom if you feel 69 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: out there. For we're all thirty two, and we certainly 70 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: need to work with them on what draws interest and 71 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: certainly understand why this game is where it is and 72 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: we've got to go to work, as I said, and 73 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: we got to take care of our business. Has Andy 74 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: Dalton exceeded maybe expectation and he's a veteran quarterback in 75 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: the league, He's won a lot of games, but you know, 76 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: has he really exceeded though the leadership role and the 77 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: way he's taken the offense and you guys that are 78 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,039 Speaker 1: on this winning streak and with the possibility of winning 79 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: this division with him as a as a backup quarterback. Yeah, 80 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: I mean, he's he's a unique guy. You know. Certainly, 81 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: uh stepped in and you know, had some bumps early, 82 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: did a great job against the Giants or fixing the 83 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: play to finish that game and help us get a 84 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: DEBI out of that one. And then of course you 85 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: know had had a little bad, bad run there with 86 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: the injury followed by the COVID issue that we had 87 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: with him, and you know we had to work through 88 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: a three game stretch there. But since he's been back, 89 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 1: you know, he's a pro's pro. He's a class act 90 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: off the field, he's a leader. As I said, he 91 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 1: reminds me a lot of our guy Da, just an 92 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: older version, but he had and we're so fortunate to 93 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: have him, and certainly he's given us every opportunity here 94 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: to compete for the East in a very challenging year 95 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: as Stephen, you know, and Randy Gregory is what a 96 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: success story, you know, is coming back and all that 97 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: can you can you walk us through? You and your 98 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: father have had so much faith in his ability and 99 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: what he could be and as a man and stuff 100 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: like that. What at times when he looked the darkest, 101 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: why did you guys keep pushing on? First of all, 102 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: Randy's just a very special young man. And you know, 103 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: the first thing you worry about to you know, when 104 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,919 Speaker 1: men had challenges like he had, like others have, you know, 105 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: you want them to certainly meet those challenges first, which 106 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: had nothing to do with football. And I don't think 107 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: anyone's ever doubted you know, We certainly knew that when 108 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: it came out doubted his football skills his ability to 109 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: be a great player in the NFL. We also understood 110 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,239 Speaker 1: completely that I challenges off the field that would certainly 111 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 1: make it a challenge to have success in the NFL. 112 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: And my hat's off to him. I mean, he he 113 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: just gets better. He's certainly which happens, uh, you know, 114 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: with an illness like he's challenged with. You're gonna have 115 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: your ups and downs, and you know you're gonna have 116 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: challenges that uh you know, you think you're getting them 117 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 1: behind you and then the top up again. So my 118 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 1: hat's off to him for the job that he's done. 119 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: I actually, uh, Dre and I we were listening to 120 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: his interview the other day after the game, and you know, 121 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: he's just so well spoken, suppressed, verbalizes everything so well, 122 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: and uh, I just think, you know, he's everybody in 123 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: our organization roots for him. He's just a good man 124 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: that certainly has things that he has to work on 125 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: every day, but he certainly got the skill set to 126 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: be a great player in our league. Stephen, you talk 127 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: about the injuries and the offensive line is has not 128 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: been really whole. The whole year, but you guys kept 129 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 1: preaching continuity, continuity, and I don't know if we were 130 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: all really buying it. But is it really that simple 131 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: that continuity is what's made this offensive line better during 132 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: this last month of the season. I certainly believe that. 133 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: I mean, you talk to great offensive line coaches. We've 134 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: been lucky to have everybody from Hudson House to Bill 135 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: Callahan certainly to philbin Now we've had a lot of 136 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: great offensive line coach Tony weisse Bot them through here, 137 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: and they'll they'll preach that. I mean, that group of 138 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: five of there's not unlike a basketball team. They got 139 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: to play well together. They certainly got to have great 140 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: communication together, and they got to work together. And when 141 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: you have all the different combinations that we've had this year, 142 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: challenge seems to be the word here this afternoon that 143 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: it certainly presents its challenges. And even though it's not 144 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: our top group, the fact that they're playing together now 145 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 1: for I guess four games change. Now they're you know, 146 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: working together as your unit and U you know, getting 147 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: more production and we're seeing where we need to help 148 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: and what we need to do to give this group 149 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: a chance to have success. Stephen Jones joining us on 150 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: the Buyers bear Ken's hotline right here on one or 151 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: five through the fan on the gvag Nation. Stephen, when 152 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: you look at this team and how you've evaluated this 153 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: team throughout the season, going into week seventeen with an 154 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: opportunity to possibly win this division, how has your evaluation 155 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: process changed or has it changed given the success that 156 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: this team is starting to see relative to what you 157 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: saw earlier in this season for this football team. You know, 158 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: I just think the great thing about this as we 159 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: head into you know, another uncertain times in the future 160 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: because of the ramifications of the virus and the lack 161 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: of you know, certainly the revenue things that have come 162 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: into play here, we're going to have a you know, 163 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: a salary cap situation that's unknown right now. I'm one 164 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: of the great things about eating these young guys is to, 165 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: you know, since these guys can be players, and you know, 166 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: one of the biggest things, you know, young players look for, 167 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 1: especially late round picks, college free agents, his opportunity, and 168 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: certainly our guys have gotten that this year. Young guys 169 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: look for opportunity. Sometimes you have to wait for that opportunity, 170 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: even when you're a higher pick. But you know, the 171 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: great thing we've been able to do is evaluate some 172 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: young players that you hopefully will help our cap situation 173 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,559 Speaker 1: next year to where we you know, don't have as 174 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: many holes to fill in terms of the back end 175 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: of the roster because guys have stepped up this year 176 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: and done a better job. You know, we obviously got 177 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 1: a good group of guys. Are and I are right 178 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: now that we expect to make full recoveries next year. 179 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: That should make us a lot better football team. When 180 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: you talk about you, you know, how two tackles Lyle 181 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:54,959 Speaker 1: and Tyring, you talk about your quarterback, you talk about, 182 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: you know, two of our better defensive tackles. Uh, you 183 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: know in Tristan and McCoy. He just uh, you know, 184 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: there's there's some opportunities out there that are you know, 185 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: going to return to us that should be a big 186 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: help to us. So you know, there's a silver lining 187 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: sometimes in all of this, and certainly the fact that 188 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: a lot of guys, a guy like a Gallimore was 189 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: probably on track to you know, developed along, not unlike 190 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:25,079 Speaker 1: Tristan did his first year, but now he's been thrown 191 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: in the mix and he's going to be a better 192 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: player for this Well, with a silver lining, there could 193 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: be a division championship on the horizon. Granted there's a 194 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: little bit of help and the Cowboys take care of 195 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: their business on Sunday against the New York Football Giants. Steven, 196 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:39,439 Speaker 1: thank you so much for the time. Happy New Year 197 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: to you and your family, and we look forward to 198 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 1: seeing the Cows on the field on Sunday against the 199 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: New York Football Giants. Well, thank you guys, Happy New 200 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: Year's to you, and hopefully we'll get our job done 201 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 1: and then hopefully we'll get a little help. Sounds good. 202 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Tea for the time. We really 203 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: appreciate it.