Gary Myers has covered Jerry Jones longer than any pro football writer, so it seemed logical and natural to write a book about the owner of the most valuable franchise in the world.
"How 'Bout Them Cowboys?" (Grand Central Publishing) is an in-depth look at America's Team, still the most popular in the NFL even though it hasn't reached a Super Bowl in 23 years and isn't likely to this season.
Myers was with the Dallas Morning News when Jones bought the team in 1989 and cleaned house. Now a radio host at WFAN in New York, Myers remembers it well - and tells it entertainingly and informatively in his book.
"I was taken aback when he got weepy - real tears - when he started talking about how he put himself at risk financially to buy the Cowboys in 1989," Myers says. "He said he asked his doctor why recalling that period of his life made him so emotional and was told it was a traumatic experience for him. Even so, seeing this multi-billionaire in tears caught me by surprise, to say the least."
There's a lot in Myers' book that could catch readers by surprise. Such as:
Jones admits he's still bitter about the circumstances that led to his divorce with Jimmy Johnson, who coached the Cowboys to the 1992 and '93 NFL titles. And Myers reveals "Troy Aikman has still not forgiven Johnson for leaving him. A few years ago, they were having a beer together, when Aikman said to Johnson, 'We could have been Brady and Belichick.'"
The Hall of Fame party Jones threw for himself in Canton, Ohio, in 2017 cost $8 million and included a two-hour concert by Justin Timberlake. One of the invited guests was Roger Goodell.
"I have a picture in my book of Jones having a drink with Goodell and Jon Bon Jovi at the party," Myers said. "Five days later, Goodell called Jones to tell him he was suspending Ezekiel Elliott for six games. Jones is convinced Goodell showed up at the party knowing he was going to suspend Elliott (who was also at the party), but did not want to ruin Jones' weekend. Instead, he ruined his season."
Jones has said Goodell previously told him he would not suspend Elliott and to this day he feels betrayed. Goodell has emphatically said he did not tell Jones that.
There are dozens more such intriguing and often-unrevealed stories in "How 'Bout Them Cowboys?" Myers had five hours of one-on-one interviews with Jones and, he jokes, actually got in at least seven questions.
III
The Philadelphia Eagles will be wearing their home green jerseys today at New Orleans. What's that all about?
A bet.
In March, coaches Doug Pederson of the Super Bowl champion Eagles and Sean Payton of the Saints made the wager, which was revealed during the summer for the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe, Nev.
Pederson has a much better golf game than Payton and finished 32nd at the tournament, while Payton was 77th. Pederson had offered strokes or points in the Modified Stableford scoring format, but Payton turned them down.
Payton made a $5,000 donation to Autism Challenge in Philadelphia as part of the bet.
"Well, it is our home jersey. It is our home color," Pederson said. "And so we are excited to wear that. We've done it a lot this year on the road, wearing our home greens on the road. So you know it's something that our guys enjoy."
When Pederson made that bet, did Payton say the Saints would go with their color rush, or a white jersey?
"He didn't say one way or the other," Pederson adds. "I would imagine it would be the whites, but he did not say."