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Jerry Jones finally speaks to media, discusses fans at Cowboys' stadium, standing for anthem, Dak Prescott's contract

The NFL doesn’t keep official records on such things, but it seems like this is as long as Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has gone without speaking to the media.

On Wednesday, Jones broke a silence that dated to the NFL draft. Jones usually speaks whenever there’s a microphone nearby, so Cowboys media had a lot to ask him. Especially in this crazy offseason.

Jones did a video conference call with coach Mike McCarthy and team COO Stephen Jones, and had plenty to say. As usual.

Jerry Jones on games in fall, anthem protests

There were two league-wide issues that took center stage through the offseason: how teams are dealing with coronavirus issues and renewed anthem protests to bring attention to national social justice issues.

On the issue of playing games and having fans in the stadium, Jones had a predictable response. He says playing NFL games is important — he said football is important individually and for the country — and he wants fans in the stands (via Jon Machota of The Athletic).

How the capacity shakes out is unknown, but it’s easy to predict that however many fans Jones can safely have in the stadium, he will have. He said because AT&T Stadium is so large, he can have “pods” of 5-15 people in areas.

Jones’ insistence on fans in the stands came hours after the Washington Football Team, Dallas’ NFC East rivals, said they’d have no fans in the stadium for the 2020 season.

On the issue of players kneeling for the national anthem, Jones was against it in 2016 when it started with Colin Kaepernick and others. His outspokenness against kneeling for the anthem then led some to wonder if he was being silent for months this offseason as his own statement on the issue. He was asked about it Wednesday and said no final decision was made but it will have “grace.”

Jerry Jones talks on a cable TV news set.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke to the media for the first time since the draft. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Why didn’t Dak Prescott get a long-term deal?

The Cowboys-centric story of the offseason was Dak Prescott and his contract. Prescott and the team couldn’t come to an agreement on a long-term deal so Prescott will play on the franchise tag. That leads to another offseason of Prescott contract stories next year.

It’s unusual for Jones to not pay a player, but he said this odd offseason contributed to that.

Now that Jones is talking again, it’s unlikely it’ll be months until we hear from him again. He’ll still have plenty left over to talk about.

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