As just lately because the morning of Jan. 13, it appeared to be a “safe assumption” that Dallas Cowboys proprietor and basic supervisor Jerry Jones would signal head coach Mike McCarthy to a brand new contract after McCarthy labored the complete 2024 marketing campaign within the last 12 months of his deal. Nonetheless, the Cowboys confirmed later that very same day that they and McCarthy have been parting methods after 5 seasons collectively.
Per a bit produced by NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated that was up to date early Monday morning, it seems Jones and McCarthy weren’t as near placing pen to paper on an settlement final week as outsiders believed.
“As I’ve heard it for just a few months,” Breer defined, “the best way [the contract saga] was dealt with didn’t sit nicely with McCarthy or the members of his workers trying forward at their personal unsure futures. Then, within the days main as much as the Jan. 14 expiration of McCarthy’s contract, my understanding is that whereas there was dialogue, there was no actual negotiation.”
Jones working it again with McCarthy for no less than yet another 12 months made sense earlier this month. The 61-year-old guided Dallas to 12-5 records every season from 2021-23, saved his workforce combating by a noteworthy damage disaster this previous fall till it was eradicated from postseason rivalry in Week 16 and had assist from locker-room leaders similar to pass-rusher Micah Parsons and quarterback Dak Prescott. Regardless of all of that, Jones saved McCarthy within the last marketing campaign of his contract till the coach became available to talk with golf equipment such because the Chicago Bears.
“That McCarthy has solely interviewed with the Bears has gotten my consideration,” Breer added in Monday’s article. “Some are taking it as a sign on the place he’d prefer to land.”
The Athletic’s Hannah Vanbiber famous this previous Friday that DraftKings Sportsbook had Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as the favourite to earn the Dallas head-coaching job forward of the weekend. Moore previously served as Prescott’s OC from 2019-22, and the 2 loved a positive working relationship.
Per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the scenario modified Monday morning when DraftKings Sportsbook listed present Cowboys OC Brian Schottenheimer as the favourite to interchange McCarthy in Dallas. Schottenheimer was Dallas’ OC for the previous two seasons however has never been a head coach at a top-tier degree.
“Prescott desires continuity,” Florio mentioned. “He doesn’t wish to study a brand new offense. If, because it seems, coach Mike McCarthy is gone just because he and proprietor/G.M. Jerry Jones couldn’t agree on the size of a brand new deal, why not bump Schottenheimer up and preserve it going?”
Breer wrote that he was “not precisely certain” Jones started Dallas’ offseason with a plan regarding the membership’s head-coaching place. Jones hiring Schottenheimer this winter doubtless would do little to silence such takes.
