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Jones, 82, also is the team’s general manager and was unhappy about being asked about the 3-3 club’s offseason moves, a topic that has been discussed near and far for weeks.

“This is not your job,� he curtly told the two hosts and a contributor. “Your job isn’t to let me go over all the reasons that I did something and I’m sorry that I did it. That’s not your job. I’ll get somebody else to ask these questions. I’m not kidding.�

Jones, who has been appearing on the station for a decade and a half, also referred to them on the air as “yahoos,� then later told The Athletic: “(The) facts are that if I’m going to be grilled by the tribunal, I don’t need it to be by the guys I’m paying.�

That led to a wave of criticism of Jones in the national sports media, and the hosts stuck up for themselves.

“For (expletive) sure it’s a fact that I don’t get paid or compensated by Jerry Jones,� Shan Shariff said.

But things were much calmer Tuesday, when and touched on the controversy at the outset — but did not apologize.

“I don’t have anything to say about last week,� Jones said. “I’m surprised that last week got the attention it got.�

One of the main points of contention for those who have criticized the Cowboys’ offseason moves is the fact they didn’t sign running back Derrick Henry, who was a free agent and had expressed interest in playing for them.

Henry has led the NFL in rushing twice and is at the top so far this season, his first with Baltimore. Included is a 151-yard, two-touchdown outing in a victory over Dallas on Sept. 22. Meanwhile, the ’Boys are last in the league in rushing — averaging 77.2 yards per game.

“I’ve obviously been asked that Derrick Henry question almost every day since we started training camp,� Jones said in the interview this week. “And so that’s a get-in-your-(expletive)-type question.�

But he did address the topic.

“We, in my mind, we’re not playing very good football right now, at all,� he said. “It’s beyond whether or not we have Derrick Henry or not. Derrick Henry is having a career year. I don’t know if he’d be having that career year in our situation.�

The Cowboys have a pass-happy approach, and Jones indicated Henry would not be having near as many carries had he signed with them.

“He certainly probably wouldn’t have attained the level of impact that he’s having,� Jones said. “And then he’s a real good complement to the type of offense that they (the Ravens) run. We don’t run that type of offense at all.�

He also moved into financial issues.

“Derrick Henry didn’t fit because principally of managing the (salary) cap,� Jones said, “and in anticipation of the players that we were going to sign weeks later or in anticipation of the players we’re going to be signing in the future.�

MU vs. Illinois

Missouri and Illinois unfortunately haven’t met on a football field since 2010, the finale of four consecutive season-opening matchups in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. But they will be going head to head Saturday, albeit in the national television spotlight and not on the gridiron.

Both are 6-1 this season and have marquee matchups that will be played in the showcase 2:30 p.m. time block.

No. 20 Illinois is at No. 1 Oregon in a game to be shown by CBS (KMOV, Channel 4 locally). It will be the Illini’s second consecutive appearance in the network’s feature slot, as they were there last week for their 21-7 victory at home over Michigan. CBS’ top broadcast crew again draws the assignment — Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (commentary) and Jenny Dell (reporter).

No. 21 Mizzou heads to No. 15 Alabama, and ABC (KDNL, Channel 30) shows that one with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analysis) and Katie George (reporter) having the broadcasting duties.

It’s the middle game on a marquee day of college football telecasts on that network. At 11 a.m., it has No. 12 Notre Dame at No. 24 Navy, then after MU-’Bama, it shows No. 8 Louisiana State at No. 14 Texas A&M.

Last week, the Illini also were in the 2:30 p.m. CBS slot, and their 21-7 victory over Michigan was seen in 2.5% of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ market, according to viewership-tracking firm Nielsen. That’s less than half the rating (5.3) Mizzou drew that day for its wild 21-17 victory over Auburn that was engineered by quarterback Brady Cook’s storybook return from a hospital to lead two drives that ended with fourth-quarter touchdowns.

MU out-rated the Illini despite its contest beginning at a less advantageous time (11 a.m.) and being shown on a cable network (ESPN) that is seen in fewer homes than is KMOV.