Cowboys' coaching search put on hold
Tom Orsborn
Express-News
MIAMI — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday that he won't decide on a coach to replace Bill Parcells until after the Super Bowl.
"We've got a good football team, and I've got to get this right," Jones told reporters in Irving. "We've got to make a good decision when we select the next coach. We're going to have the opportunity and a plan in place that will allow us to do that.
"I feel very comfortable with where we are. But if I can, I don't want to leave any stone unturned here."
But that may not be the real reason why the Cowboys will wait until next week to name the seventh coach in franchise history.
ESPN reported San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner remains the leading candidate to become the Cowboys' coach, but that he wants the power to choose his assistants.
Turner, ESPN said, is eyeing the Chicago Bears' Ron Rivera as his defensive coordinator.
Chicago, which faces Indianapolis on Sunday in Super Bowl XLI, is expected to allow Rivera's contract to expire after the Super Bowl, paving the way for him to jump to Dallas, ESPN reported.
Rivera said Tuesday at Super Bowl Media Day he would like to talk to Jones about becoming the Cowboys coach. League rules prohibit teams from talking to coaches on Super Bowl teams until after the game.
Only two of the five coaches Jones has hired — Jimmy Johnson and Parcells — had the power to hire and fire assistants.
Jones has already interviewed eight candidates for head coach. He said he might add to the list, an indication Rivera may get an interview.
"I am not the first coach this has ever happened to," Rivera said Tuesday of having to wait until after the Super Bowl to interview. "(Former New England coordinators) Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel went through it. They were great coaches who were on great teams that every year kept getting passed over and eventually they got their shot (with Notre Dame and the Cleveland Browns, respectively).
"So eventually I know I will get my opportunity. But until then, the fact that we are winning and playing good defense, I am more than happy to be a part of this."
Jones could also interview Indianapolis Colts quarterback coach Jim Caldwell after the Super Bowl.
Asked if the possibility of more interviews meant he would talk to Rivera or Caldwell, Jones said, "Not necessarily."
On Tuesday, Jones interviewed Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, the assistant head coach for the 49ers. Other candidates include San Diego defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and former Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach Jason Garrett, who was hired last week for an unspecified role on the coaching staff.
Garrett, who was Troy Aikman's backup for much of the 1990s, likely would become offensive coordinator if Turner is hired as coach.
New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs and three Dallas assistants also interviewed, including secondary coach Todd Bowles, who reportedly is also up for the defensive coordinator's job that became vacant when Mike Zimmer joined Atlanta.
Cowboys safety Roy Williams told reporters in Miami that he wants Bowles to run the team's defense.
"A lot of the players relate to him and that's just not the defensive backs," Williams said at a news conference to promote the Pro Bowl. "He can take over the defensive coordinator's job easy.
"We should go in the direction of the offense for head coach and have an offensive coordinator take over the team."
Jones is scheduled to fly to Miami today and return to Dallas on Sunday night. The Dallas Morning News reported that Turner flew to Miami on Wednesday. His brother, Ron, is Chicago's offensive coordinator.
Express-News
MIAMI — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday that he won't decide on a coach to replace Bill Parcells until after the Super Bowl.
"We've got a good football team, and I've got to get this right," Jones told reporters in Irving. "We've got to make a good decision when we select the next coach. We're going to have the opportunity and a plan in place that will allow us to do that.
"I feel very comfortable with where we are. But if I can, I don't want to leave any stone unturned here."
But that may not be the real reason why the Cowboys will wait until next week to name the seventh coach in franchise history.
ESPN reported San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner remains the leading candidate to become the Cowboys' coach, but that he wants the power to choose his assistants.
Turner, ESPN said, is eyeing the Chicago Bears' Ron Rivera as his defensive coordinator.
Chicago, which faces Indianapolis on Sunday in Super Bowl XLI, is expected to allow Rivera's contract to expire after the Super Bowl, paving the way for him to jump to Dallas, ESPN reported.
Rivera said Tuesday at Super Bowl Media Day he would like to talk to Jones about becoming the Cowboys coach. League rules prohibit teams from talking to coaches on Super Bowl teams until after the game.
Only two of the five coaches Jones has hired — Jimmy Johnson and Parcells — had the power to hire and fire assistants.
Jones has already interviewed eight candidates for head coach. He said he might add to the list, an indication Rivera may get an interview.
"I am not the first coach this has ever happened to," Rivera said Tuesday of having to wait until after the Super Bowl to interview. "(Former New England coordinators) Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel went through it. They were great coaches who were on great teams that every year kept getting passed over and eventually they got their shot (with Notre Dame and the Cleveland Browns, respectively).
"So eventually I know I will get my opportunity. But until then, the fact that we are winning and playing good defense, I am more than happy to be a part of this."
Jones could also interview Indianapolis Colts quarterback coach Jim Caldwell after the Super Bowl.
Asked if the possibility of more interviews meant he would talk to Rivera or Caldwell, Jones said, "Not necessarily."
On Tuesday, Jones interviewed Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, the assistant head coach for the 49ers. Other candidates include San Diego defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and former Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach Jason Garrett, who was hired last week for an unspecified role on the coaching staff.
Garrett, who was Troy Aikman's backup for much of the 1990s, likely would become offensive coordinator if Turner is hired as coach.
New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs and three Dallas assistants also interviewed, including secondary coach Todd Bowles, who reportedly is also up for the defensive coordinator's job that became vacant when Mike Zimmer joined Atlanta.
Cowboys safety Roy Williams told reporters in Miami that he wants Bowles to run the team's defense.
"A lot of the players relate to him and that's just not the defensive backs," Williams said at a news conference to promote the Pro Bowl. "He can take over the defensive coordinator's job easy.
"We should go in the direction of the offense for head coach and have an offensive coordinator take over the team."
Jones is scheduled to fly to Miami today and return to Dallas on Sunday night. The Dallas Morning News reported that Turner flew to Miami on Wednesday. His brother, Ron, is Chicago's offensive coordinator.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:55 PM
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