It’s been a tough week for Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and things only escalated further on Tuesday. After watching his team get dismantled by the Detroit Lions in a 47-9 blowout at home on Sunday, Jones found himself embroiled in controversy during a weekly interview on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan.
The longtime owner grew visibly irritated with the line of questioning about the Cowboys’ recent struggles, eventually becoming so frustrated that he appeared to threaten the jobs of the radio hosts.
The tense exchange quickly made headlines, drawing renewed attention to Jones’ fiery temper and leadership style. Among those who didn’t shy away from criticizing Jones’ behavior was ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe, who launched into a passionate rant on Undisputed. Sharpe condemned the Cowboys’ owner for his apparent abuse of power during the interview, making it clear that he finds Jones’ approach unacceptable.
“He put a man in fear for his job,” Sharpe said, addressing the way Jones handled the situation. “I hate, I detest, I despise someone that will prey on the weak. And because Jerry Jones is in an advantageous situation—because he has the power—he would actually say that publicly. That tells me a lot about a man. That tells me a lot about a man that has power and would abuse that power to tell that man, ‘I will get someone in here to ask me favorable questions.’”
Sharpe didn’t stop there. He continued to take aim at Jones, accusing him of wanting all the credit when things are going well, but none of the blame when the team falters. “Jerry wants all the credit when things go well but none of the blame,” Sharpe said. “He told us how many times, ‘The buck stops with me. Any deal that’s ever happened, I either signed off on it or I got notified of it.’ Now you’re getting trounced. You’re getting run through like Sherman went through Atlanta during the Civil War, and now you don’t want any part of it when they ask you about it.”
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Sharpe’s fiery monologue culminated in a bold statement about his feelings toward Jones’ tenure as owner of the Cowboys. “I don’t take this lightly: If the Cowboys don’t win another playoff game or another game as long as Jerry Jones is the owner, I’ll be the happiest man in the world,” he said emphatically.
Sharpe’s takedown of Jones left no room for ambiguity—he made it clear that he sees Jones as part of the Cowboys’ ongoing struggles.
As the fallout from Jones’ heated exchange with the radio hosts continues to unfold, Sharpe’s words reflect a growing sentiment among critics who are increasingly frustrated with the Cowboys’ lack of success under Jones’ leadership.
At 3-3, the Cowboys find themselves at a pivotal point in the season, with a tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers looming on Sunday Night Football. With tensions high both on the field and off, it seems the drama surrounding Jones and the Cowboys is far from over.
If they don’t turn things around soon, it’s likely Jones will face even more scrutiny, and Sharpe won’t be the only one reveling in the team’s misfortune.
