PALM BEACH, Fla. — Jerry Jones works feverishly to get people to pay attention to the Dallas Cowboys.
He knows that cuts both ways.
Nearly six weeks after a long-closeted $2.4 million settlement came to light involving the iconic Cowboys cheerleaders and one of the club’s most visible executives, Jones gave his most expansive answers to date on the episode and how it was handled by the club.
The Cowboys owner took a different tact when asked about 25-year-old congressional aide Alexandra Davis, who claims Jones is her biological father, a suit that is scheduled to be heard later this week.
“That is personal,’’ Jones said, just hours before filing to have the Davis case thrown out. “That is personal.’’
Jones took a break from the NFL Annual Meeting to meet with a cluster of local reporters covering the event. Sitting in a restaurant overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the lavish Breakers Hotel, Jones set aside roughly 40 minutes. He spoke about the trade of Amari Cooper, the loss of Randy Gregory and the upcoming draft.
But, it was the settlement paid to four cheerleaders in May of 2016 over accusations of voyeurism that dominated the early part of the interview. Without addressing specifics, Jones gave a philosophical framework for what went into the resolution. He expressed pride in the organization’s workplace culture and praise for the contributions of Rich Dalrymple, the recently-retired vice president of public relations at the center of the settlement.
Jones said he took all of the Cowboys’ internal and external constituencies into consideration before entering into the non-disclosure agreement. He said it wasn’t “an effort to adjudicate guilt or innocence” or about trying to keep someone silent.
“That settlement was in the best interests of everyone involved, including our fans,’’ Jones said.
How was it in the best interests of the team’s fanbase?
“Just that,’’ Jones said. “Just the best interest.
“It’s kinda like my decision relative to who gets in the Ring of Honor or who we pick in the draft. It has a lot of factors involved. And a lot of times, right before I make them I don’t know I’m going to make them that way until the last minute comes.’’
What ESPN first reported in February, and The News has corroborated, is this: Dalrymple used his security key card to gain entry through the back door to the cheerleaders dressing area during the Cowboys Kickoff Luncheon on Sept. 2, 2015. Four women were changing clothes when one said she saw a person she recognized as Dalrymple with his iPhone extended toward them.
Jones stressed he approves, OKs or acquiesces on every organizational decision. He evoked “The buck stops here,’’ a phrase associated with former President Harry Truman, to describe his approach and added he’s done that from the moment he purchased the club.
“It’s instinctive,’’ Jones said. “I’ve made a lot of bad calls in my life, legal pads full of them.
“But, I’ve made a few good ones.’’
“No,’’ he said. “I’m very proud of our workplace culture. I’m extraordinarily proud. We have great systems, we have great [Human Resources], we have a high sensitivity.
“I’m proud of all our ratios that we have, a lot of the social aspects of our workplace. Extraordinarily proud of it.
“As an executive of the Cowboys, I have a good feel for other organizations and business cultures,’’ Jones continued. “In my mind, we’re really good. Do we have room for improvement? Yes, but that’s ongoing.
“You can have bad times and you can have good times as far as your grade might go. But, we’re always striving to get the best grade.’’
ESPN also reported that five months before the Kickoff Luncheon, a Cowboys fan in Shreveport, La., named Randy Horton saw what he believed was Dalrymple using his cell phone to position under the dress of executive vice president Charlotte Jones to take a photo. Horton, who later signed a three-page affidavit, said he witnessed the alleged incident during a livestream of the NFL draft on the team’s website.
It strains credulity to believe that Jerry Jones would have allowed Dalrymple to continue to be a valued part of the organization if he thought there was any substance to Horton’s observation.
“I wouldn’t comment on that other than she is my daughter,’’ Jones said. “I am proud of her. She is my daughter.
“Your assumptions are just as pure and right as they can possibly be.’’
Dalrymple spent 32 years with the organization. He announced his retirement two weeks before the ESPN story on the $2.4 million settlement broke.
Jones was somewhat guarded in his comments regarding his friend and former employee, but stated on two occasions that Dalrymple, “left on his own terms.’’ He said Dalrymple’s contributions to the team’s success are memorable and added, “I hope our paths cross,’’ in the future.
Despite the serious nature of the questions, Jones didn’t come across as defensive. When he arrived at the table before the session began, he chatted about the quality of the clam chowder at the restaurant, admitting “the more cream the better’' as far as he’s concerned.
When a member of the Cowboys’ PR department, more than 13 minutes deep into questioning about the settlement, let reporters know his boss only had 15 minutes before he had to leave for another meeting, Jones gently responded, “This is a fair conversation because we haven’t talked yet.’’
The $2.4 million settlement. The suit filed by Davis, who works for Texas congressman Ronny Jackson, claiming that Jones is her biological father. The death of Marylyn Love, the owner’s executive assistant for nearly 43 years. It’s been a lot.
In some ways, that’s when Jones believes he’s at his best.
“Bring it on,’’ Jones said, flashing a disarming smile. “Fill the tub up. I want to get it all out of the way by the time I’m 80, which is in a few months, because I’ve got work to do and I don’t want to mess with that for the next 10-15 years.’’
