Jerry Jones just gave us another classic Jerry moment, and honestly, we should have seen this coming from a mile away. The Cowboys owner, never one to shy away from making headlines or stirring the pot, recently revealed that he actually called the New York Jets this offseason about trading Micah Parsons for Quinnen Williams.
During an appearance on “The Saturday Huddle” with Gary Myers on ESPN New York, Jones dropped this little bombshell with the casual confidence of a man who’s been making questionable football decisions for decades. “As it would turn out, I initiated that,” Jones told Myers, probably while adjusting his sunglasses indoors.
Here’s where things get really spicy. Myers, clearly sensing the absurdity of the situation, pressed Jones about what exactly he was asking for. Was it Williams plus a first-rounder? Maybe two? “Yes, you are,” Jones confirmed, apparently oblivious to how ridiculous that sounds.
Let me get this straight – Jerry wanted the Jets to give up their defensive cornerstone AND draft capital for a player who, while excellent, was clearly on the trading block? That’s like asking someone to pay you extra for taking their leftovers. The sheer audacity is almost impressive.
Jones explained his reasoning with typical Jerry flair: “A prerequisite to the entire trade was that we had to have right now a really frankly significantly dominant inside defensive player.” Translation: “We needed someone to stop teams from running all over us, and we thought the Jets would be dumb enough to help us solve our problems while creating their own.”
The Jets, showing rare wisdom in their decision-making process, basically told Jerry “thanks, but no thanks” faster than you can say “Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles.” They didn’t have the resources to entertain such a lopsided conversation, which is corporate speak for “are you out of your mind?”
This wasn’t some elaborate negotiation that went on for weeks. Jones confirmed they had exactly one conversation about the potential trade. Smart move by New York – imagine trading away Williams and then watching him anchor a defense in Dallas. Jets didn’t need Parsons as they have plenty of pass rushing depth.
While Jones was busy playing telephone with AFC teams, the Green Bay Packers swooped in and actually got Parsons in exchange for Kenny Clark and two future first-round picks. The Packers didn’t need Jerry Jones to call them – they saw an opportunity and seized it like adults making a reasonable business transaction. The Packers are now Super Bowl contenders as a result while the Cowboys will still get mocked for the trade value although Dallas had no choice.
This whole situation perfectly encapsulates everything we’ve come to expect from Jerry Jones. The man has never met a microphone he didn’t like or a controversial statement he couldn’t make. He initiated trade talks, couldn’t get what he wanted, and then went on radio to tell everyone about his failed negotiations like it was some badge of honor.
The Cowboys ended up getting their run-stuffing defensive tackle in Kenny Clark, so mission accomplished, I guess. But the fact that Jerry thought he could fleece the Jets out of Williams and picks shows either tremendous confidence or complete detachment from reality. Knowing Jerry, it’s probably both times 2.
So what is the moral of the story? Sometimes the best deals happen when you don’t try to rob your trading partner blind. Jerry Jones might want to write that down for next time.
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