Wednesday, October 23, 1996

Jerry and Jimmy Speak No Evil
By DENNE H. FREEMAN
AP Sports Writer
(Oct. 23, 1996)

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Whatever their feelings for each other may be, Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson weren't saying.

Jones, the Dallas Cowboys owner who hired and fired Johnson after five-year tenure that included two Super Bowl titles, said: "Our feelings make no difference how this game comes out."

Johnson, in a national conference call Tuesday, agreed: "My relationship with the owner and coach (Barry Switzer) have nothing to do with this game. Obviously, there's some emotional ties with a lot of players and assistant coaches I have a lot of feelings for. ... I vowed to myself I wasn't going to let my emotions enter into it."

Johnson, who took over the Dolphins this year from Don Shula, said he doesn't have to tell his players how he feels heading into Sunday's showdown between Dallas and Miami.

"Our players understand this is an emotional game for me," Johnson said. "What is important is we're 4-3 and trying to get back on the winning track and playoffs. That's what's important."

Jones praised Johnson, his former teammate at the University of Arkansas, although their divorce came because they couldn't get along.

"Jimmy inspired me, he brought out the best in me," Jones said at his weekly luncheon. "We have a competition this Sunday. I'm not about to tarnish what we did for five years. If I did that, I couldn't look in the mirror. Both teams have a lot at stake and you can't drum it up anymore than that."

Johnson said he still has a lot of respect for Jones despite their feud.

"I've always said he's the greatest businessman I've ever known in my life," Johnson said. "Jerry was always very good. He always relied on people who had expertise. We had no problems there."
Jones described his relationship with Johnson as "no relationship."

He said: "We worked together five years. We shared something special for five years, low times and exhilarating times. I have a lot of respect for him and I always have. I hired him because he was smart, energetic, and positive.

"I felt we could work together and we did. The facts are life has been good to both of us since Jimmy left."

Said Johnson: "I decided I wanted to part company and move to South Florida. I was pleased then and I'm pleased now."

Jones said all the hype around the game is enjoyable.

"This game is getting a lot of visibility and I like that," he said. "But we're behind the 8-ball at 4-3 and I don't like that."

Jones added: "I'm glad to have Jimmy back in the NFL. Nobody likes sizzle and entertainment like I do and Jimmy brings that to the NFL. Jimmy is a great football coach."

Switzer, who had a 5-3 record against Johnson in college games, said he had no special feelings about meeting Johnson in the professional ranks.

"A victory means more to me than who it's against," Switzer said. "Jerry and Jimmy aren't going to be out on the field playing and, thank God, I won't either. The players will either win or lose."

Switzer, whose Oklahoma teams were 5-0 against Johnson's Oklahoma State clubs, was 0-3 against Johnson after he moved to Miami.

"I had the better talent at Oklahoma when we played Jimmy and he had the better talent when he moved to Miami," Switzer said. "That's the way it was. As far as I'm concerned this is just the eighth game on our schedule. It will be two 4-3 teams who are struggling and needing to play well."

Johnson said Switzer had it right.

"He had a better hand when I was at Oklahoma State but at Miami we beat him three times for a national title and pretty well resolved that issue," Johnson said. "I've congratulated him on his Super Bowl victory."

Johnson, who once guaranteed an NFC championship victory over San Francisco and pulled it off, said he wouldn't try that for Sunday's game.

"It might be a good time to guarantee a win if I had that same team I had four or five years ago," Johnson said.

Cowboys Chatroom.....Dallas Cowboys.....Back to Reporter OnLine