Dallas Cowboys radio analyst Dale Hansen, who has had a rocky relationship with owner Jerry Jones and coach Barry Switzer since the start of the 1994 season, said Tuesday he believes he will be fired when this season ends.
Sources said Hansen has angered Jones with comments made the past two games. Jones is unhappy, the sources said, because Hansen ripped Switzer for his infamous fourth-and-one decision against Philadelphia and said the New York Giants were "robbed" when a late fourth-quarter touchdown was called back by a penalty."This time, he may have gone too far," a source said.
Jones, however, said Tuesday that Hansen is "doing a good job." He called Hansen's removal after this season "news to me."
Hansen, who is working under a one-year agreement, said that he would like to return in 1996 for a 12th season, but he said he isn't optimistic.
"I have been hearing that (he will be dismissed) for awhile now, but nobody has said anything directly to me," Hansen said. "I love doing the Cowboys' broadcast, but if I'm not wanted there anymore, I will still go to Channel 8 and pick up a pretty nice paycheck.
"I'm not a Cowboys cheerleader. I have a bigger deal at Channel 8. Jerry Jones knows that. And he also knows that he can't tell me what or what not to say during the broadcast.
Hansen's partner for the first 10 years, Brad Sham, quit after last season. Sham publicly backed Hansen after the analyst and Switzer began a feud during the preseason. Sham eventually joined the Texas Rangers' broadcast team.