Jerry Jones: Cowboys wanted 'soft landing' in Garrett departure

After a multi-decade relationship between franchise and family, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted former head coach Jason Garrett's exit to be as dignified as possible.

"Of the 30 years I've been with the Cowboys, I've written a check to the Garretts ... all but two years," Jones said Wednesday during Mike McCarthy's introductory press conference as Garrett's successor, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "All but two. Counting his dad (longtime Cowboys scout Jim Garrett), and counting him, his brothers. All of 'em. ... I will tell you that I've had a great 30 years around the Garrett family and it's wonderful, it's a good feeling and it is one of the best parts of my life."

Jones and Garrett met multiple times last week while other teams began their head coaching searches. Though Dallas' slow-moving process was widely viewed as frustrating and confusing by those outside the organization, Jones said he was working on his own timetable and didn't care about other teams making hirings.

"I do, not only respect what he brought to help what we're sitting in, help what we're doing - their family has been a part of that in their own way," Jones said. "As we all know, not the way - it took too many people, too many former players, coaches, and everybody involved to get to be sitting here today - but I felt strongly about that.

"We all wanted this to have a very nice, if possible under the circumstances, soft landing."

Jones also defended Garrett's nearly 10-year tenure with the Cowboys, which produced just two playoff wins.

"Most of what you criticize about Jason, you should criticize me for," Jones said.

The unconventional process ultimately didn't cost the Cowboys, who landed on McCarthy less than 24 hours after confirming Garrett's departure.