One is considerate, methodical, and articulate.
The other is erratic, egotistical, and often maniacal.
One of them is Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters. The other is Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones.
And the tale of two contract standoffs just proved why Peters is everything that Jones refuses to be.
There was a major topic on everyone's mind when Peters sat down to speak with the media alongside head coach Dan Quinn before training camp. Terry McLaurin's contract extension, or lack thereof, came up almost immediately. It was a possible powder keg waiting to go off if the front-office leader didn't navigate the questions effectively.
Peters handled it impeccably. He was professional, putting across the situation comprehensively while also finding the balance of not giving too much away. He was respectful to McLaurin and made no secret of the common goal they still share despite the wideout's unhappiness.
That, of course, is to get a long-term deal worked out at the earliest possible opportunity.
Compare this to how Jones handled his media commitments the day before. The Cowboys are playing hardball with All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons on his deal that will inevitably make him the highest-paid defender in NFL history. Adam Schefter from ESPN revealed that no offer had been made as yet, and the billionaire's arrogance came across in no uncertain terms when discussing the situation.
Jones was on a gaslighting mission, highlighting Parsons' injury problems and the fact that he could even get hit by a car after signing the extension that has yet to arrive. If that wasn't enough, he brought up quarterback Dak Prescott's megabucks extension and the injury that followed. Throwing All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs under the bus was the icing on the cake.
This riled up almost everybody. Jones doesn't care; he does what he likes and truly believes he is the most powerful man in the entire league. The Cowboys move in a certain type of way under his leadership. It always costs him more in the long run, but it always keeps Dallas in the national headlines.
That is equally, if not more, important to Jones. And looking at the Cowboys' on-field fortunes over the last two decades, it's not exactly a recipe for success.
Peters does things differently. He's composed and purposeful, always taking the team's reputation and the player's feelings into account when discussing delicate matters. And the Commanders' surge into immediate contention under his leadership speaks for itself.
McLaurin's deal hasn't been done yet, but it's coming. And it's a good bet that the agreement will be confirmed long before Parsons wrestles what he deserves from Jones' grasp.
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