Jerry Jones wants the Cowboys to finish strong, not tank for a draft pick; more NFL on
ESPN report says Raiders want to bring back Jon Gruden
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t hesitate when asked if winning today’s season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles and finishing 9-7 is important even it costs the Dallas Cowboys a better draft pick.
Jones said finishing the season with a good taste in their mouth and feeling good trumped an 8-8 record and a higher pick in the 2018 NFL draft, which will be held at AT&T in Arlington.
“I think 9-7 is important to us,” Jones said on his radio show on 105.3 The Fan. “I mean that. And the draft position between 9-7 and 8-8 is not going to make that kind of difference in my mind relative to everyone feeling good and the performance that we have up there. So, I think that answers your question. The premium will be on each individual and each coach doing the job that we liked to have done all year long. We are going to go up and compete.”
It will be a role reversal for the two teams that were in opposite positions in the season finale a year ago with the Cowboys heading to the playoffs with the league’s best record and the Eagles playing out the string.
It’s a situation that’s not lost on Jones.
“Everything we are doing we want to leave as good a taste in our mouths as we can against this Philadelphia team, one that should be quite a contender in the playoffs,” Jones said. “They have got the spot we’d love to have had. So, we want to go in there and feel good individually, each player, each coach feel good that we left with a good taste in our mouth this year.”
GRUDEN REUNION? The Oakland Raiders are prepared to make a serious offer to Jon Gruden in hopes that he would return as head coach of the Raiders, according to an ESPN report.
Gruden, according to ESPN, has even been an offered an ownership stake in the team as an enticement.
“I don’t want to sit here and speculate,” Gruden, who has a career record of 100-85, told the network. “There is no news to report. I can’t say I haven’t taken any phone calls. I take a lot of phone calls from coaches, some others … yeah, sometimes owners. Guys want to bounce ideas off me. I’m here to help people.”
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio was given an extension following the 2016 after a 12-4 season that was believed to pay him at least $5 million per season over the next four seasons.
The year prior, the Raiders also gave general manager Reggie McKenzie an extension, and it’s not known how Gruden’s hiring would affect the general manager in terms of the draft and free agency.
Gruden was hired by Al Davis to coach the Raiders from 1998 through 2001, posting records of 8-8, 8-8, 12-4 and 11-5. Following a loss to New England in the tuck rule game following the 2001 season, Gruden was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two first-round draft picks, two second-round draft picks and $8 million in cash.
Gruden has been reluctant to return to the NFL in part because of a high-paying job with ESPN as the Monday Night Football analyst, and because he has been vocal in his distaste for NFLPA mandated restrictions on practice and training time in the offseason.
QB AUDITIONS: The Kansas City Chiefs are taking the bubble wrap off rookie QB Patrick Mahomes II in their regular-season finale. The Broncos are taking another look at Paxton Lynch , who’s in danger of being their most disappointing first-round pick since Marcus Nash in 1998.
Mahomes, chosen 10th overall in the 2017 draft out of Texas Tech, spent all season watching and waiting while Alex Smith led the league with a 104.7 rating and topped 4,000 yards passing for the first time in his 13th NFL season — and likely his last in Kansas City.
Having clinched the middling AFC West again, the Chiefs (9-6) have the luxury of sneaking a peek at their future QB while resting other starters and treating the game as a bye before the playoffs begin next week.
“We’re in a position where we can do that,” coach Andy Reid said. “It gives the kid some experience, that’s the reason.”
Denver’s defense is ranked second, behind only Minnesota’s.
■ A loss in Pittsburgh by 0-15 Cleveland, where the Browns haven’t won since Oct. 5, 2003, would be viewed as inevitable if the Steelers (12-3) were to play all of their starters. But with a first-round postseason bye locked up, they’ll likely rest quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who’s 21-2 as a starter against the Browns, running back Le’Veon Bell and other key players. Steelers backup and Artesia High alumnus Landry Jones played coy this week when asked about his potential role today.
■ Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams are providing the same opportunity for quarterback Sean Mannion. With a playoff game coming up next week, quarterback Jared Goff is among the players coach Sean McVay has decided to rest and keep out of harm’s way.
The Rams clinched the NFC West and improved to 11-4 with a victory last week at Tennessee.
Games to watch
PANTHERS AT FALCONS: This might be the day’s best and most competitive game.
CARDINALS AT SEAHAWKS: Is this the end of the Seahawks as we’ve come to know them?
BENGALS AT RAVENS: Do the Bengals have enough pride to summon an inspired performance in what could be Marvin Lewis’s final game as their coach? And do they have enough disdain for the Ravens to knock them from the playoffs?
JAGUARS AT TITANS: Marcus Mariota has taken a step backward this season, and the Titans’ so-called playoff push has consisted of three straight losses,
JETS AT PATRIOTS: New England will be looking to lock up the top seed in the AFC postseason and will be meeting an unseasoned QB in Bryce Petty. It will be fun watching him operate in below-zero wind chill on the road.
Games to miss
PACKERS AT LIONS: Last season, these teams played on a Sunday night in Week 17 for the NFC North title. This season, not so much. And are there even enough healthy guys on the Packers to fill the starting lineup?
TEXANS AT COLTS: Apparently, NFL rules require that this game actually be played as scheduled. Houston was reduced to playing its fourthstring QB last week before he suffered a concussion. He had replaced the thirdstring guy, who also had a concussion.
REDSKINS AT GIANTS: Is it Eli Manning’s final game with the Giants? Is it Kirk Cousins’s farewell to the Redskins? Is that enough for anyone to pay attention? Maybe Washington fans will be excited about the prospect of their team finishing with a .500 record. If so, enjoy the moment.