Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 29, 1994 TAG: 9403290051
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: IRVING, TEXAS LENGTH: Medium
"Nothing has been resolved," Johnson said. "We'll be back again tomorrow to discuss where we go from here. We basically talked about the last five years and were candid about our feelings."
But when asked specifically if he is still coach, Johnson said, "Jerry will talk to you later."
Minutes later, Jones also refused to answer the question.
The meeting between football's version of the Hatfields and McCoys began about 3 p.m. at the team's headquarters at Valley Ranch, and Johnson emerged about 5:30 p.m. Johnson, and then Jones, talked briefly with reporters.
"Jimmy and I had an extensive visit," Jones said. "It was a real opportunity to discuss the last 5 1/2 years. He was very thorough, but nothing was resolved at all.
"We discussed the positive and the negatives of the past and how we had worked together. We will talk about the future tomorrow, and that's all I've got to say."
Jones was then asked the same question Johnson was asked earlier, whether Johnson is still the coach. He declined to answer.
Jones said he and Johnson probably will meet this morning.
It was their first face-to-face meeting since their high-profile battle escalated early last week during an NFL meeting in Orlando, Fla.
But those close to the men declined to predict Johnson's future with the Super Bowl champions.
Quarterback Troy Aikman, who met with Jones and Johnson earlier in the day, said: "I have no sense of the way it's going to go. All I know is that by tomorrow at this time we should have some answers."
Aikman said he was called into Jones' office after he, on his own initiative, visited Johnson.
"I don't think they know for sure yet what's going to take place. These are two intelligent adults and they can solve their own problems," said Aikman. "But both of them are very volatile. I try not to be shocked by anything that happens around here."
Aikman, who guided the team to its consecutive Super Bowl win, said Saturday he might not have signed his eight-year, $50 million contract last December if he had known Johnson's future with the team was uncertain.
The latest battle in the rocky relationship between the former college roommates erupted last week at the NFL's annual spring meetings when Jones discussed firing Johnson during a late-evening conversation over drinks.
Johnson said he was infuriated that Jones went so far as to mention former University of Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer as a possible successor.
Jones has told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram he has a "mental list" of possible replacements although he hasn't put it on paper.
League sources told the newspaper the list includes Switzer, Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz and Cowboys assistant coach Butch Davis.
Though the feud has dominated the headlines since, Aikman said there was much more to it than Orlando.
"It would be easy to say what happened in Orlando was an isolated situation. But you have to realize that is not the case. It goes way beyond Coach Johnson's coaching ability."
Among the options reportedly being mulled were Johnson signing an agreement to stay through this season and Jones buying out Johnson's contract.
Johnson, who makes $1 million annually, has five years left on his 10-year contract.
Johnson, who was in Florida vacationing until Sunday, arrived at Valley Ranch about 7:30 a.m.
"It's Monday," he said. "I'm back at work."
Jones arrived about an hour and a half later.
Nearly 100 reporters, some left over from the NCAA Midwest Regional basketball tournament that was played at Reunion Arena last weekend, hawked the team office hallways Monday awaiting word from the two main players in the Cowboys back-to-back Super Bowl championships.
Also watching were the players and coaching staff.
"We don't know what's happening," said Davis. "Jimmy said he will tell us something as soon as he knows something."
The Star-Telegram reported Monday that the Fox network was ready to offer Johnson a job broadcasting NFL games.
"He's already like a Howard Cosell because you either love Jimmy or you hate him, but everyone knows him," Fox executive producer Ed Goren told the newspaper. "He's got carte blanche to come over to Fox."
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB