Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones chatted on the Cowboys Stadium field Sunday with former Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren. They are longtime friends and always talk when they see each other, according to Jones.
But this conversation before the Cowboys' 23-20 victory over the Brown attracted extra attention because multiple reports have surfaced the past 10 days stating that Holmgren would be interested in coaching the Cowboys if Jones fired current coach Jason Garrett.
Holmgren has denied any interest, and Jones has said that Garrett is his guy.
Some probably believe that Jones and Holmgren should have avoided any pregame interaction on Sunday because of the recent rumors. Jones said he thought about that but decided there was nothing wrong with having their usual conversation.
"What would've been wrong is to not have done it," Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM], "because anybody that really wanted to weigh-in on it would say, 'Those guys always talk. They're good friends. And anytime he comes anywhere near, they huddle up and talk.' For us to be avoiding each other at that particular time would've been noticeable. Plus, that's not the way you do it. You don't just see each other every day, so you sit down and talk.
"He's a really good friend, and I have all the respect and appreciation about what he does in football and what he does as an individual.
"By the way, I thought about that, and I'm sure he thought about it, too. But that would've been inordinate for him to be standing over there and be on the other sideline and not say something. You should've said, 'Hey, what's up?' There's nothing up."
Jones added: "Let me just say it, nothing's up, and we were having the kind of visit that we would always have as friends."
It was announced last month that Holmgren, who has coached the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers, would no longer be the Browns president but would remain with the team until the end of the season.
Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
