In order to fulfill his dream of owning an NFL franchise, which would ultimately be the Cowboys, Jerry Jones had to take a lot of risks.
The story of how he did that and the team's run of success in the 1990s will be told in the upcoming Netflix series "America's Team: The Gambler and his Cowboys."
On Monday night, Netflix hosted the Jones family, Cowboys legends like Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, plus more to the premiere of the series in Hollywood. Jerry Jones spoke to reporters about the series and how it detailed his ascension to the forefront of the organization.
"I looked at the finish product and looked at some of how we got here, and it wasn't as pretty or it wasn't as thought as I remember," Jones told reporters on Monday night. "There was some down times here, but I was so proud to get to be a part, and I was so gunned up that first of all I really risked more than anybody should have to get in."
Shortly after buying the team, the show and Jones recounted one of the most shocking moves in NFL history: The Herschel Walker trade.
The trade, which gave the Cowboys six future draft picks that would turn into the likes of players such as Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland and Darren Woodson in exchange for sending Walker to the Vikings, was the epitome of the risk Jones has often referenced when running the Cowboys.
"That Herschel Walker trade was the biggest miracle that's ever come down the pipe because it gave us the ability to cut and shoot," Jones said. "I took two of those picks, traded two [picks] for Alonzo Highsmith and he never ran a down. It caused you to have a going to Las Vegas throw the dice attitude, which you kind of need some of if you're building a team."
And by cutting and shooting, Jones was able to surround his team with elite players across his roster, which would ultimately result in three Super Bowls for the Cowboys in the last decade of the 20th century. Watching Netflix' recount of the story brought back the remembrance of good times for Jones.
"It refreshed the memory, I appreciated guys like Michael, Jimmy, Troy, Charles Haley, Deion, all those guys, and I can't wait for you to see all of the stuff about Deion," Jones said. "It's really impressive. For me, really to end up with a story we've had of our success, it was a close call. No matter how you make it, it was really close all the way through."
Since the Cowboys won their last Super Bowl in the 1995/96 season, they have yet to return to the NFC Championship game or the Super Bowl itself.
Does reliving all the memories of 30 years ago make Jones long to see those times of prosperity return by taking big risks? Of course he wants to get back there, but it doesn't necessarily change his line of thinking regarding how to build back towards that.
"I do always look and see if you're taking that risk, actual risk," Jones said. "There's a chance that when you really get accomplished in something, that you may have shortened your risk toleration. And so if I've ever learned anything over the last few years, it's are we taking enough risks?
Maybe the biggest decision laying in front of Jones and the Cowboys is whether or not to extend All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, or fulfill his request to be traded from the organization. That begs the question, which of the two options would be a bigger risk?
"All of it's risk." Jones said.
