ATLANTA – Were you being serious?

Jerry Jones, the outgoing owner of the Dallas Cowboys, did not shy away from recent disputes as he spoke briefly before departing the NFL owners meeting on Tuesday evening. He stirred up a controversy after a heated discussion on his regular radio show on the Cowboys’ main station, 105.3 The Fan, culminating in a moment where he appeared to threaten to replace the show’s hosts.

Seriously?

“I don’t know,” Jones remarked while waiting for his SUV. “I’ll tell you what: (Dale) Hansen and Brad (Sham) had to take a break when they went too far, one way or another.”

Hansen and Sham, famous figures in the Dallas sports media scene, hosted the Cowboys’ beloved radio show for many years, except for a pause during the 1990s triggered by Jones’ anger at their criticism of his team.

Now facing intensifying criticism for both himself and the team – largely due to performance – it’s hard for Jones to escape the tough questions.

Jones is fully aware, though he may not openly admit it. When he took part in his usual Tuesday morning call two days after the Cowboys faced another humiliating defeat at home, losing 47-9 to the Detroit Lions, he found himself under more scrutiny than coach Mike McCarthy, star quarterback Dak Prescott, or any other prominent team members.

It’s important to remember that the accountability ultimately lies with the team owner, in multiple ways.

“But they’re my own folks,” Jones stated of the show hosts, Shan Shariff, R.J. Choppy, and Bobby Belt. “That’s like Brad and Dale directing it at us during a game.”

This controversy, whether intended or not, has certainly increased the visibility of the radio station and its team – who can take pride in being compared to Hansen and Sham. Plus, the Cowboys are generating buzz even during a bye week thanks to this incident, which Jones likely hopes diverts some attention from his struggling team.

Perhaps this situation will settle down, allowing the hosts to continue their work, with the drama generating intrigue for the upcoming show. After all, the last segment made for compelling listening.

At one point, Jones retorted at Shariff, “What’s your damn counter?”

The 28-minute segment started off on a light note as Jones drove to the airport for his trip to Atlanta. He expressed feeling “sick” about Sunday’s debacle, which notably happened on his 82nd birthday and involved the Lions outsmarting the Cowboys with an array of trick plays – joking it was the ideal time to escape the chaos.

However, the tone shifted, and Jones’ responses became more defensive after about 12 minutes into the conversation. For a while, he seemed on the defensive when the hosts started asking about the Cowboys’ lack of offseason activity, criticisms from fans, and related matters.

“I don’t want to belittle or undermine their credibility, but we were kind of set up for a rough ride,” Jones expressed to YSL News Sports. “And I wasn’t prepared for that. I was willing to discuss the topics they had in mind, but I didn’t want it to feel like a trial.”

“They’re not the ones,” Jones continued regarding the hosts. “The real critics are the listeners, my ticket holders and fans.”

This situation highlights the expectations that sports franchises (and similarly, leagues and colleges) have concerning media partners who pay rights fees. It’s quite surprising that Jones wouldn’t realize that the radio hosts represent the voices of his fan base.

There’s no doubt he is the NFL’s most accessible owner, with a spot in the Hall of Fame largely due to his business prowess and the league-wide influence that stems from his ability to market his extremely popular franchise better than others.

However, even for someone who has claimed there’s no such thing as bad publicity, he might be risking more to his image by engaging in a feud that arises from an interview. Sure, if the Cowboys excel this season and become champions, their vast fan base would likely be forgiving. But what’s the likelihood of that happening for the first time in decades?

No matter the situation, even if his emotions were influenced by the team’s performance on the field – and frustration is not a valid reason – Jones lost credibility when he made his remarks personal. Indeed, he demeaned the hosts, calling them “yay-hoos” and asserting it wasn’t their “job” to ask particular types of questions.

“I’ll find someone else,” he stated during the discussion. “I’m serious.”

Personally, I found the questions to be reasonable – especially considering the Cowboys haven’t reached an NFC title game in almost 30 years – even if they made for some uncomfortable exchanges. The hosts were simply asking questions that fans would be thinking. Right, Jerry?

“Not really,” he responded. “The fans I interact with have more of a right to criticize than those I’m paying to produce a show.”

“You and I both know I could face backlash for saying that,” Jones acknowledged.

Backlash for what, attempting to stifle free speech?

“That’s never been us,” he insisted. “We’re free as a breeze here.”

This is why the entire situation is so strange. Jones has shown remarkable resilience since acquiring the franchise in 1989 and facing unjust criticism for firing the legendary Tom Landry. Throughout numerous crises for Jones and his team, on-field and off, he has never hesitated to stand up and explain his decisions.

“I go with the flow when it comes to the media,” he stated.

Yet this time, the usually friendly Jones shifted out of character on his own program. Maybe his ego got in the way. Or perhaps a combination of both. While reflecting on the incident, he mentioned the three consecutive seasons with 12 wins over the past three years.

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He recognized the substantial playoff defeats. He was aware of the common suggestions for him to step down as the team’s general manager and defended his role – something he has done for 5, 10, 20, 25 years and more.

Within the Cowboys’ organization, Jerry’s son, Stephen, who serves as the chief operating officer, along with Will McClay, the vice president of player personnel, are significant voices influencing the GM’s decisions.

“I’ve witnessed many general managers come and go,” Jones reflected, referring to the ever-changing NFL landscape. “However, considering our situation, I am the most qualified to make the ultimate decisions. I’m the one footing the bills.”

This is why he should be at the forefront of taking responsibility.