It was a double whammy for Stephen Jones over the weekend.
Jones, a former football player at the University of Arkansas and current COO/executive vice president/director of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, saw both of his football teams lose in consecutive days. Arkansas lost 27-14 at Alabama on Saturday, while the Cowboys fell 30-6 on Sunday at home to the New England Patriots.
"It's a tough deal to come in here to talk about football after two tough losses," Jones told the crowd at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Monday at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock.
While Jones touched on his childhood in Little Rock and attending Little Rock Catholic in the early 1980s, his main focus turned back to the Cowboys, the defending NFC East champions who have started 2-3 this season.
Dallas is without quarterback Tony Romo (collarbone) and wide receiver Dez Bryant (foot), and lost running back Lance Dunbar on Oct. 3 to a torn ACL and MCL. Since Romo got hurt on Sept. 20 at Philadelphia, the Cowboys are 0-3 with Brandon Weeden starting at quarterback. Weeden completed 26 of 39 passes for 188 yards and no touchdowns as Dallas only scored two field goals Sunday.
When asked if Matt Cassel, whom the Cowboys signed last month after he was released by the Minnesota Vikings, could start when the team returns from their bye Oct. 25 against the New York Giants on the road, Jones said it's a possibility.
"We're trying to figure out ways to move the football," Jones said. "We brought Matt in here as an option. Obviously, we struggled yesterday moving the football.
"During a bye week, you have to look at all your options. We'll do that."
Dallas signed defensive end Greg Hardy earlier this year despite domestic violence allegations against him in 2014. Hardy was found guilty of assaulting an ex-girlfriend in May 2014 and was sentenced to 18 months of probation in July 2014, but those charges were dropped after the victim failed to appear in court to testify.
The NFL suspended Hardy, then with the Carolina Panthers, for the final 15 games of the 2014 season. A month after the Cowboys signed Hardy, the NFL suspended him 10 games, but it was eventually reduced to four games. The former Ole Miss star made his Cowboys debut Sunday, recording 2 sacks, 5 tackles and 1 forced fumble.
Jones said the Cowboys understand the criticism toward the signing of Hardy, but are attempting to work with him to become a better person.
"Do players get a chance sometimes because they're better than the next guy? We all know how that works," Jones said. "Hopefully, we as the Dallas Cowboys have some things in place that will make Greg be a better person. We can educate him. We have the infrastructure in place to continue to work with him."
Jones said he enjoys working with his father, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and the rest of his family with the Cowboys and is focused on the present.
"The last thing I worry about is following in his footsteps," Jones said. "What I do worry about is not being able to work with him. We have something special."
Other highlights from Stephen Jones' speech at the Touchdown Club:
• On the Razorbacks possibly not playing at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock after the 2018 season: "It's hard for me to get my hands around not having the Razorbacks at War Memorial. But I know the people at the university do a great job of doing what's in the best interest for the University of Arkansas. I know at the end of the day, you have to support whatever end they come down on that."
• On what Bill Parcells, who coached the Cowboys in 2003-2006, would tell Jerry Jones about the Cowboys' 2-3 start: "I bet Jerry's not planning a parade route for the Super Bowl right about now."
• On his sister Charlotte Jones Anderson, who is an executive vice president and chief brand officer with the Cowboys and was a speaker at the Touchdown Club in 2014: "She's prettier, smarter and a better speaker."
Sports on 10/13/2015