Cowboys Owner JERRY JONES was elected to the Pro Football HOF on Saturday, and while six Cowboys players from the '90s are in Canton, Jones will go in for "what he did off the field for the NFL," according to a front-page piece by Rick Gosselin of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Jones "changed the way the NFL does business." Jones was one of two candidates "nominated as contributors," along with former NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE. Tagliabue was "subject of the longest discussion of the day at one hour, and Jones was next at 33 minutes, 45 seconds." Jones changed the "financial dynamic of the NFL in his 27 years of franchise ownership." It was Jones who "stonewalled the proposed financial rebates to the television networks" in '92 when CBS and NBC "pleaded poverty." Jones got Fox involved and instead of returning $238M to the networks through rebates, the "next TV contract scored" a $790M increase. His Texas Stadium sponsorships with American Express, Nike and Pepsi "created stadium revenue streams that all NFL teams needed to generate, which triggered a boom in stadium construction" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/5).
JERRY'S WORLD: In Ft. Worth, Clarence Hill Jr. noted Jones when he got the word Saturday was "shedding tears in a room full of family members." Jones: "The Cowboys lifted me to anything I could ever be." Hill wrote there is "no overlooking the impact he has had on the league in sales, marketing and television." Hill: "Jones has changed the game. He has grown the game. And he has helped make the NFL a billion-dollar industry." Jones’ induction into the HOF "was earned and warranted." But it "brings him 180 degrees from his rebellious beginning" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELGRAM, 2/5). Also in Ft. Worth, Gil LeBreton wrote, "Because Jones, the owner, refused to separate his identity from Jones, the general manager, it was reasonable to think that some Hall of Fame voters might dock Jerry for his lack of playoff success over the past two decades." Jones "taught the NFL how to make money -- really make money," boosting the "league’s TV contracts" to a combined $4.4B. He also "convinced the league -- through a lawsuit -- that franchises should be allowed to sign sponsorship deals on their own behalf" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/5). In Dallas, Tim Cowlishaw wrote Jones is being "inducted as a 'contributor' which has much more to do with his influence on how the NFL conducts its business (read: makes billions) than the Cowboys' won-loss record." Cowlishaw: "And I have said on that front he's far more deserving than EDDIE DEBARTOLO, the former 49ers owner who was inducted a year ago" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/5).
MAYBE NEXT TIME: In Houston, John McClain noted Tagliabue was "nominated by the contributors committee." Contributors and senior nominees "require a yes-or-no vote after their presentations and, unlike modern-era finalists, aren't part of the reduction from 15 to 10 and, finally, to five." Jones said, "I know what Paul meant to our league during his tenure. ... He showed tremendous leadership during tremendous change in the NFL" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/5). Jones: "Surprised is not my answer. What I will say is how deserving Paul is. We went head to head a lot, in the right way. What I am is disappointed. He should be recognized as a Hall of Fame person" (CANTONREP.com, 2/4). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Darin Gantt noted Tagliabue "becomes the first contributor candidate to fail to reach the Hall," and it is the second time he has reached an 80% yes-no vote and "failed to make it." Tagliabue "might not get another chance, after his candidacy was discussed for over an hour early in the process" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 2/4). THE MMQB's Peter King writes Tagliabue "could not overcome the impression that has dogged him since he left office: that he wasn’t serious enough and proactive enough about getting to the bottom of the effects of head trauma on players." But King notes a man who is commissioner for 17 years "without a labor stoppage, in a period when there were three NHL strikes, two baseball strikes and one NBA strike, is significant." King had "never seen a debate on a candidate last this long: 61 minutes" (MMQB.SI.com, 2/6). The MMQB's Jenny Vrentas wrote some around the league wondered how Jones "could gain admission" to the HOF before Tagliabue, who "grew the NFL to become the most popular sport in America" (MMQB.SI.com, 2/5).
