Jerry Jones is determined to shine a light on the Dallas Cowboys’ woes.
A primetime afternoon game against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving will have the eyes of the world on it.
As CeeDee Lamb found earlier this season, the sun can wreak havoc when it streams through the windows of the $1.2billion AT&T Stadium in early kickoffs.
The forecast for Arlington is intervals of clouds and sun.
Many have called for Jones to put up curtains to ensure the elements do not affect the spectacle on the field.
But this is Jerry’s World and he says “let there be light.”
It was confirmed on Live Gameday Morning that there will be no efforts to block the afternoon sun for the Cowboys traditional Thanksgiving spot in the schedule.
It is not a surprising decision – Jones’ mantra is just to get on with it.
But judging by Travis Kelce‘s comments on his New Heights Podcast, a few players may be frustrated ahead of kickoff.
“That f****** glare coming through that end zone in the afternoon is f****** ridiculous,” the Kansas City Chiefs tight end declared.
“Absolutely ridiculous. It’s like the glass makes it f****** like spread more. It’s like the sun is bigger and brighter than it’s ever f****** been.”
After Lamb’s missed TD catch stirred up a national storm, Jones threw shade at his critics.
“By the way, we know where the sun is going to be when we decide to flip the coin or not. We do know where the damn sun is going to be in our own stadium,” Jones said, via The Athletic.
“Well let’s tear the damn stadium down and build another one? Are you kidding me?
“Everybody has got the same thing. Every team that comes in here has the same issues.
“I’m saying, the world knows where the sun is. You get to know that almost a year in advance. Someone asked me about the sun. What about the sun? Where’s the moon?”
Jones does, of course, have a point.
Former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and then-football operations director Bruce Mays had an obsession with the sun that would make the Maya proud.
“He would come into my office and say, ‘Hey, at 3:25 when we go, here is where the sun is going to be, and then 3:45 and 4,’” Garrett told Pro Football Talk.
“And it wasn’t only what happened last week, but last year, and understanding we are playing on November 11, so this is where the sun is going to be.”
Garrett’s strategy was to defer at the coin toss so that he could choose the direction he played.
“But the trickiest part of this thing is, everyone says, ‘Oh, you want to make sure your receivers aren’t looking into the sun,’” he added.
“You understand your receivers are the most important people to not look into the sun. But then your quarterback is looking into the sun.”
“You don’t want the sun in your eyes, as far as your receivers, if it’s the fourth quarter, because you may have to throw the ball,” former Washington head coach Ron Rivera told ESPN.
“That’s always something that you would think about.” So if you get to make that choice, this is the direction we want to kick.”
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