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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has strayed away from the mainstream at times over the past several years. It’s part of why he’s become larger-than-life in Big D. Obviously, some of this has to do with the longtime owner’s politics.
With his Cowboys set to prepare for the 2021 NFL season, Jones seems to have broken away from this to an extent.
During his weekly radio interview on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, Jerry Jones made it clear that he’s pro-vaccine and called it part of the “common good” in helping defeat COVID-19.
“Everyone has a right to make their own decisions regarding their health and their body,” the Pro Football Hall of Famer said. “I believe in that completely—until your decision as to yourself impacts negatively many others. Then the common good takes over.”
To put this into context, the Cowboys have five members of their organization currently in COVID-19 protocols. That includes first-year defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Continued issues in this regard could put the Cowboys at a competitive disadvantage once Week 1 comes calling against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Whether that’s part of Jerry Jones’ thought process remains to be seen. However, he talked about this within the context of a more societal lens, too.
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“I’m arm-waving here, but that has everything to do with the way I look at our team, the Cowboys, or the way I look at our society,” Jones said. “We have got to check ‘I’ at the door and go forward with ‘we’. Your Dallas Cowboys are doing that.”
Jerry Jones’ comments and the NFL COVID-19 issues
Most recently, former NFL MVP Cam Newton was placed in the COVID-19 protocols after what seems to be some miscommunication between the quarterback and the league.
While the New England Patriots star did not test positive for COVID-19, his status as an unvaccinated player has forced him from practice thus far this week. That could potentially open the door for rookie first-round pick Mac Jones to earn New England’s starting quarterback job.
This is just the latest example of how COVID is playing a role around the football world for the second consecutive year.
From Dallas’ perspective, 93% of its coaches and players are vaccinated. Those who aren’t could impact the team in a big way. Remember, it was just recently that the NFL announced it wold force teams into forfeits if postponements became part of the game due to outbreaks among those who are not vaccinated.