Reeves: Coaches Don't Punch a Clock

It seemed like the perfect way for him to finally get back into the league, the deal was almost completed, but in the end things didn’t work out for Reeves.

It all boils down to a contractual technicality, which blew up a multiyear deal that appeared to be in place for the 65-year-old former Cowboys running back/assistant coach to become a consultant for his old team.

The bug-a-boo for Reeves, was a piece of "hours spent working" language that owner Jerry Jones wanted to have in the contract.

"Although I respected Jerry’s decision, I didn’t understand it, and it wasn’t something that was even negotiable," Reeves recalled from his home in Atlanta. "I just couldn’t sign something that, in my opinion, would mean I’d be working day-to-day."

Reeves had another offer on the table, to be the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, but had to turn it down because he was so sure he had a better deal in Dallas. A job which Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn't want to complete until after the Super Bowl.

It was during that delay that Jones included the "punch clock" clause which to him was essential to the deal.

In Reeves' view, coaches "never punch a clock", so why should he?