Steve Brownlee

Something got me to thinking when I heard ESPN play a recording of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during a weekly radio interview on Tuesday with a local station, when he said things like “I can get somebody else to ask these questions” and other bizarre statements attacking show hosts who were apparently asking innocuous questions.

Geez, who does he sound like? Somebody, but who? Oh yeah! Al Davis.

Remember the Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland (in that order) Raiders owner late in his life about 15 to 20 years ago and some of the strange things he pulled while still running his NFL franchise?

He drafted quarterback JaMarcus Russell as the overall No. 1 draft pick in 2007, a player nobody had on their radar for anywhere near the top of the draft. And those pundits were proven right as Russell turned into one of the biggest — and quickest — busts ever in the draft.

And there was placekicker Sebastian Janikowski, who was taken No. 17 in the first round in 2000 when it was uncommon for kickers and punters to be taken anywhere in the first five rounds, if at all, something that still holds true to this day. Janikowski wasn’t a bust, but he was a wasted first-round pick who could’ve been taken three, four or even more rounds later.

Those are just the ones that come to mind most quickly.

Looking more at Davis, I see that he died at age 82 on Oct. 8, 2011. Guess what? Jones just turned 82 on Sunday.

Now of course, some people start losing their abilities in their 60s or even earlier — I know, I’m 62 soon to be 63 — and others are chugging along just fine at age 100 or even 105.

But lots of us get more eccentric — I read it as “I just don’t care what you think” — as we get older, and I wonder if Jones has got a case of either not caring or not realizing as no one apparently dares say “no” to “ol’ Jair” as he’s part way through his 36th year owning the Cowboys.

He still is the general manager of the team, and more noticed by us, public spokesman for his franchise.

This Dallas team already seemed to be going downhill even before the Detroit Lions put a 47-9 spanking on them in Texas on Sunday afternoon. The whupping just brought more focus and more attention to this fact.

Now I wouldn’t want to see Jones forced out, and he doesn’t need to step away from the team.

But heck, you’re cruising into your mid-80s Jerry. Why not be the owner who sits on high and still signs off on the team’s big decisions, just like most owners — I’m sure some who are half your age — do.

Just a suggestion.

OK, now onto this week’s games, with two teams on the bye. And I swear, I didn’t discover this until I got to this point of writing this piece, but one of the teams off this week is Dallas, with the other being Chicago:

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Today, 8:15 p.m.

Denver at New Orleans — I see this is a pick’em game by the oddsmakers. But this is also the return of Sean Payton after he left New Orleans a few years ago, and I like his rookie QB, Bo Nix, more than I like the Saints signal caller, Spencer Rattler, with New Orleans starter Derek Carr still out. Give me the Broncos, 27-25.

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Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

New England vs. Jacksonville, at London — They say that the Jaguars are London’s team, as Jacksonville has played a whole bunch more games there than just about any other NFL team. Same will be true this year, with the Jags having played — and got whipped by — Chicago last Sunday morning.

Unlike the Patriots, the Jacksonville Beefeaters (wouldn’t that be a British-sounding mascot?) shouldn’t have to get acclimated to all the changes of being over in London — you know, like driving on the left side of the road. OK, so that’s probably not high on their list, but I still like the Jaguars, 23-19.

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Sunday, 1 p.m.

Seattle at Atlanta — The Seahawks have been gashed for about 40 points a game the last two weeks, even if it is to two of the better offenses in Detroit and San Francisco. But Atlanta has weapons, too, and gets to be at home against a team traveling cross country and playing at 10 a.m. their time. Falcons, 35-29.

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Tennessee at Buffalo — OK, sure, Buffalo is playing on a short week (they played Monday night) and were on the road. But they won against the Jets, and besides, QB Josh Allen seems to be the only player on offense that does any of the heavy lifting, and he’s still young — well, relatively young by NFL standards.

Besides, I can’t find anything that says that Will Levis will NOT be Tennessee’s QB this week. Oops. Bills, 31-24.

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Cincinnati at Cleveland — Two teams given up for dead not so long ago. The difference? Cincy seems to have resurrected itself, while the Browns keep tripping on that wooden stake and it keeps driving back into their hearts. Oooh, I wouldn’t use such a gruesome example, but Halloween is only two weeks off. Bengals, 33-21.

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Houston at Green Bay — Two of the darlings of the NFL with young QBs everybody likes to tout — Jordan Love with the Packers and C.J. Stroud with Houston.

I see the Texans have a second defensive tackle suspended — Mario Edwards Jr., who had taken the place of the an earlier suspended Denico Autry. Autry is supposed to be able to come back this week, but this will be his first game of the season.

Meanwhile, Green Bay just signed another kicker, Brandon McManus, and let go of Brayden Narveson. Seems like an upgrade. That plus this game being played at Lambeau Field, so give me the Packers, 33-30.

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Miami at Indianapolis — For crying out loud, do the Colts ever have to play anyone who’s any good? They just got done sneaking past Tennessee, 20-17, and now they get the wounded Dolphins, who are still stuck starting Tyler “Snoop” Huntley as their signal caller. But Indy QB Anthony Richardson and top back Jonathan Taylor are officially questionable, though I see one “wise guy” who thinks the Colts are better with veteran Joe Flacco starting as QB.

This one just has my head spinning — since it’s Halloween season, just think of Regan from “The Exorcist” when she does that in her bed. Considering Regan’s skin tone is closest to Miami’s aqua green, give me the Dolphins, 23-19.

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Detroit at Minnesota — Another toughie, but for much better reasons. I don’t like seeing Detroit without top pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, as I suspect Minnesota QB Sam Darnold is susceptible to that kind of pressure, just like the Lions’ Jared Goff. I’m hearing that the pass rush is a strength of Minnesota’s, and it may not be at least for the time being for Detroit. So I have to take the Vikings, 28-23.

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Philadelphia at New York Giants — It seems it will take a divisional game like this to get the Eagles focused, with the added benefit of the opposition possibly being the least talented team in the NFC. While I still expect Philly to go in a downward spiral the longer the season goes on, for this week, I’ll take the Eagles, 20-16.

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Sunday, 4 p.m.

Las Vegas at Los Angeles Rams — Even though he hadn’t played in a couple weeks, the Raiders must be reading the writing on the wall when they gave away Davante Adams for a second- or third-round draft pick this week. This L.A. team is coming off the bye and playing at home. Rams, 27-20.

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Carolina at Washington — One has a hotshot rookie QB, the other has the Red Rifle, which is still better than a purple pop gun. How much better, I’m not sure. Hmmm. Commanders, 31-26.

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Kansas City at San Francisco — Though KC keeps getting more and more nicked up, San Fran is the one that keeps playing that way. Though this feels like a trap game as the 49ers should have a lot more to prove from February’s Super Bowl, I’ll still take, in a squeaker, the Chiefs, 31-30.

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Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

New York Jets at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh’s defense is still good enough that it can frustrate Aaron Rodgers and his cast of Minions, even if the Jets are able to trot out newly acquired Davante Adams this quickly. Steelers, 23-17.

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Monday, 8:15 p.m.

Baltimore at Tampa Bay — This might be the better of Monday’s two matchups. Then again, who can keep up with Baltimore’s offense? Ravens, 37-27.

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Monday, 9 p.m.

Los Angeles Chargers at Arizona — Just a short excursion into the desert from the L.A. team’s seaside resort. Chargers, 26-22.

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Last week — 10-4, 71 percent. Season — 54-38, 59 percent.

Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 552. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.