Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones sat together at a podium Saturday, fielding questions from a group of reporters at the Dallas Cowboys' summer home in Oxnard, Calif. Training camp had arrived. Hope was in the air.
Garrett looked fit and refreshed, excited about the promise of a new season. Jones also looked well, sporting a pair of Aviators worth more than two of your car payments. After about 25 minutes, Garrett excused himself to tend to other matters.
The timing was fortunate for the coach. Before Garrett was even out of earshot, Jones' next question was about the coach's job security and whether it was fair to believe Garrett's future in the organization was dependent on the results of the 2013 season.
"Well, I wouldn't use the word fair. It's a mistake, that's not right," Jones said. "One of the real opportunities we got here ... (Garrett's) been directly involved in the coaching of (Tony) Romo for six years. When he got here, Romo had never had the same guy two years in a row. We're going to take advantage of that."
Jones' answer delved deeper into the importance of Romo's relationship with Garrett, with Jones calling the coach a "safety net." Jones then turned his focus back to Garrett's job security.
"If you're in close here, you see how Jason is responding to obviously unsatisfactory times." Jones said. "And I can tell you firsthand that's impressive. So I like that as far as looking ahead at the future. It is very good. And so that everything I'm thinking about is not only about how to beat the Giants when we open up but also about what our future is in a positive way with Jason. And I look to the future with Jason and not just through his contract that we're sitting here with right now.
"But it is not what is implied when you say, 'Well, this is an armageddon year,'Â " Jones added. "Well, it is not that with me."
It's obviously a love fest right now, which comes with the territory at the start of camp. We're just not so sure Jones will feel the same way if the Cowboys miss the playoffs again.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
