Jerry Jones is a bit of a movie buff, at least to the extent that he loves to draw parallels between his favorite Dallas Cowboys legends and his favorite Hollywood icons.
His prism in this way spans the decades, from John Wayne to Tom Cruise.
His Cruise comparison? He will tell you that the way Tony Romo played quarterback here channeled Cruise's "Maverick'' in "Top Gun,'' the charismatic leather-jacketed scalawag with the instincts to be a risk-taking fighter pilot doing it his way.
His Wayne comparison? He will tell you that the way Jason Witten played tight end here channeled "The Duke'' in every way, the square-jawed, big-bodied winner both graceful and bullish in his movements, doing most everything in an "America-first'' way.
Romo has his "Top Gun'' job, making $20 million a year as CBS Sports' lead voice.
But Witten? He has job aspirations - as a coach. So it should be no surprise that Jerry-watchers can easily imagine that somehow, some day, Witten will again be employed by Jones' Cowboys - maybe even as the head coach
(Sidebar: This has nothing to do with the job security of present coach Mike McCarthy; Jones' thoughts on Witten as a "leader of men'' greatly predates McCarthy's successful run here.)
Citing a Dallas Morning News story in which Jones said he saw similarities between Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Witten (who used to be backed up by the Texas native Campbell on the Dallas roster), long-time colleague Ed Werder of ESPN suggested that story as a hint of a future to come.
That quote: "The type of thing that we see in Dan is so football-appropriate for the game,'' Jones said. :Every time that I look at him, I see Jason Witten, really.”
Werder's take: “The Jerry Jones quote at the end of this piece suggests to me that he has Jason Witten on his mind as a eventual Cowboys head coach.
We can tell you, point-blank, that Werder is not wrong. In our conversations with Witten, he doesn't hide lofty aspirations as a coach. He is building his resume now, as after officially retiring as a Cowboy in 2021, he's been in charge of the football program at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, a stone's throw from team headquarters at The Star.
And while coaching his two sons, his Warriors went undefeated this past season, racking up 14 wins and capturing the TAPPS Division II state title. It marked the first championship for the school since 2007.
"Maverick,'' of course, wasn't real. Nor was "The Duke.'' But Jason Witten someday coaching the Dallas Cowboys? There is a chance that is something more than film fiction.
More must-reads: