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Garrett For Hire
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA - Quiet offseason? Never for the Cowboys and certainly not this year.
Yes, the offseason is finally among us after this season has mercifully come to an end. But if the few hours leading up to Sunday's finale here at Lincoln Financial Field were any indication, the offseason was underway long before kickoff of Sunday's game and well before the Cowboys were able to escape with a 14-13 win over an Eagles team that was certainly looking ahead to next week's playoffs.
With a head coach to hire, decisions to make on many key veteran players, not to mention a possible lockout which will affect free agency and possibly the strategy of the NFL draft, this will be anything but a quiet offseason.
The first order of business has to be the coaching decision. Jerry Jones said both before and after Sunday's game here in Philly that he plans on moving fast. And if the decision is to keep Garrett, then Jerry really doesn't have a choice. He can't drag his feet on this. Because once the final second went off the clock Sunday, Garrett is no longer the interim head coach. Once again, Garrett is the team's assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.
You might think that's a matter of semantics, but it's rather important when it comes to other available jobs. If Garrett is back to being just an assistant like he is, then teams looking for head coaches can go ahead and request interviews for Garrett. Jerry has no choice but to grant the request - unless of course it's understood that Garrett will become the head coach here in Dallas. If that is to happen, I would bet Jerry lets those inquiring teams know when they make the call.
Still, I've said all along that this is Jason's job to lose. And through eight games - and his 5-3 record - he hasn't just not lost it, but he's won it.
And therefore, I still believe Garrett is the frontrunner to be the official head coach here in Dallas. And I've got plenty of reasons. Let's go 1-5 and start with the most important.
--
1. It's Jerry's Guy - We saw this four years ago when the Cowboys were trying to replace Bill Parcells as head coach. But the hot name on the coaching market was Jason Garrett. While Jerry did interview him for the head-coaching vacancy, Garrett was eventually named offensive coordinator before Wade Phillips became head coach.
It was clear then and there how highly Jerry viewed Garrett. It hasn't changed now.
Jason Garrett was the coach Jerry Jones hand-picked to one day become head coach. While none of us knew how it would all shake out, the opportunity has now arrived. Garrett is still here, with an offense that has been very good when the main pieces are healthy. And Garrett has at least showed some positive things while he's gotten this eight-game interim opportunity.
We all know Jerry Jones wants to win. But he simply prefers to win it his way. Hiring Jason Garrett would certainly be the Jerry Jones way.
2. He's Earned It - I know a 5-3 record doesn't exactly warrant you to get a head-coaching job. But under these circumstances - considering the situation when Garrett took over and the way this team has lost some of these games in the final two months - then Garrett really has done a fine job.
Think about it. The Cowboys had quit on Wade Phillips. Wade had simply lost that team. And as corny as it might sound, Garrett found this team.
Sure, when things are 1-7, it's hard not to improve on the situation. Wins and losses aside, the Cowboys were a much more competitive football team under Garrett. Now, you can make the argument that maybe they perked up a little bit when they saw how their horrible play on the field lost someone his job.
For whatever the reason, the Cowboys simply played better under Garrett - and they did it with a backup quarterback and on Sunday, even a third quarterback.
While it's good to want an experienced coach, at least Garrett has eight games and was rather successful, too. Call it On-The-Job Training if you'd like. Either way, Garrett passed the test.
3. Bad Timing - All along, Jerry Jones has made it clear this isn't an ideal season to make changes. That's probably why he waited as long as he did to let Wade Phillips go.
With a possible lockout on the horizon, the last thing Jerry really wants to do is hire some big-name coach and then pay him not to coach for a few months.
Let's not forget about Garrett's contract. To get another coach means you'd probably have to fire Garrett. I doubt he would stick around as the offensive coordinator for someone else. So that's $3 million a season for Garrett to be gone, and then who knows how much for the next guy to come in here. All that kind of money when you're not sure when (or even if) a season might begin.
The best thing to do, and the easiest, would be to hire Garrett. At least the system is already in place.
4. Payton, Sparano, Haley - How many other coaches are going to come through here without Jerry Jones hiring them as the head coach? Sure, the timing was not right to keep Sean Payton, who went to New Orleans and has them back in the playoffs this year to defend their Super Bowl title. When Payton got hired to the Saints, Bill Parcells was still the head coach and there was no way Jerry Jones would've fired him to hire Payton. Still, I'm sure it makes him cringe to see how successful Payton has been, and knowing he was right here for three years.
As for guys like Todd Haley and Tony Sparano - two coaches who actually interviewed for the head coaching job in 2007 when Phillips was hired - it's just two more examples of quality coaches who are coaching other teams and has had both of them in the playoffs. Of course, Sparano's future in Miami doesn't look too hot - that's how it goes.
But the combination of those other young coaches, coupled with the No. 1 reason about Garrett being Jerry's guy all along, it doesn't make sense to let him go.
5. Long-Term Potential - One thing about hiring a big-name coach who has won a Super Bowl, you never know how long you may have him. Guys like Bill Cowher left his gig in Pittsburgh to be with his family. While he still is a great coach, you're not sure how long he wants to do it. Jon Gruden was fired in Tampa Bay but he sure hasn't been in a hurry to get back into coaching. He's probably waiting for the right job and I'm sure the Cowboys' job would fall under that category.
What the Cowboys need is a little consistency at the position. In fact, all teams need that. They just need an owner that can live with a down season or two. Jeff Fisher hasn't been winning every year. Bill Cowher didn't win every year. Even Bill Belichick and his Patriots missed the playoffs in between winning three Super Bowls.
My point is, the Cowboys need a coach they can be patient with. That doesn't mean Jerry doesn't want to win right now. And it doesn't mean he doesn't expect to win right now.
Whoever is hired, it will be someone that Jerry Jones believes can and will be successful right now. But at the same time, the Cowboys need a coach that can be here for a while.
--
To me, those five reasons are why Jerry Jones will hire Jason Garrett as head coach. If that's not enough and you need a sixth reason, then how about Jerry's answer after the game Sunday in Philly when asked if the new coach would be able to hire his own staff.
Jerry responded by saying he thought "Jason should be able to have some input in that."
Sounds like a done deal to me.
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA - Quiet offseason? Never for the Cowboys and certainly not this year.
Yes, the offseason is finally among us after this season has mercifully come to an end. But if the few hours leading up to Sunday's finale here at Lincoln Financial Field were any indication, the offseason was underway long before kickoff of Sunday's game and well before the Cowboys were able to escape with a 14-13 win over an Eagles team that was certainly looking ahead to next week's playoffs.
With a head coach to hire, decisions to make on many key veteran players, not to mention a possible lockout which will affect free agency and possibly the strategy of the NFL draft, this will be anything but a quiet offseason.
The first order of business has to be the coaching decision. Jerry Jones said both before and after Sunday's game here in Philly that he plans on moving fast. And if the decision is to keep Garrett, then Jerry really doesn't have a choice. He can't drag his feet on this. Because once the final second went off the clock Sunday, Garrett is no longer the interim head coach. Once again, Garrett is the team's assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.
You might think that's a matter of semantics, but it's rather important when it comes to other available jobs. If Garrett is back to being just an assistant like he is, then teams looking for head coaches can go ahead and request interviews for Garrett. Jerry has no choice but to grant the request - unless of course it's understood that Garrett will become the head coach here in Dallas. If that is to happen, I would bet Jerry lets those inquiring teams know when they make the call.
Still, I've said all along that this is Jason's job to lose. And through eight games - and his 5-3 record - he hasn't just not lost it, but he's won it.
And therefore, I still believe Garrett is the frontrunner to be the official head coach here in Dallas. And I've got plenty of reasons. Let's go 1-5 and start with the most important.
--
1. It's Jerry's Guy - We saw this four years ago when the Cowboys were trying to replace Bill Parcells as head coach. But the hot name on the coaching market was Jason Garrett. While Jerry did interview him for the head-coaching vacancy, Garrett was eventually named offensive coordinator before Wade Phillips became head coach.
It was clear then and there how highly Jerry viewed Garrett. It hasn't changed now.
Jason Garrett was the coach Jerry Jones hand-picked to one day become head coach. While none of us knew how it would all shake out, the opportunity has now arrived. Garrett is still here, with an offense that has been very good when the main pieces are healthy. And Garrett has at least showed some positive things while he's gotten this eight-game interim opportunity.
We all know Jerry Jones wants to win. But he simply prefers to win it his way. Hiring Jason Garrett would certainly be the Jerry Jones way.
2. He's Earned It - I know a 5-3 record doesn't exactly warrant you to get a head-coaching job. But under these circumstances - considering the situation when Garrett took over and the way this team has lost some of these games in the final two months - then Garrett really has done a fine job.
Think about it. The Cowboys had quit on Wade Phillips. Wade had simply lost that team. And as corny as it might sound, Garrett found this team.
Sure, when things are 1-7, it's hard not to improve on the situation. Wins and losses aside, the Cowboys were a much more competitive football team under Garrett. Now, you can make the argument that maybe they perked up a little bit when they saw how their horrible play on the field lost someone his job.
For whatever the reason, the Cowboys simply played better under Garrett - and they did it with a backup quarterback and on Sunday, even a third quarterback.
While it's good to want an experienced coach, at least Garrett has eight games and was rather successful, too. Call it On-The-Job Training if you'd like. Either way, Garrett passed the test.
3. Bad Timing - All along, Jerry Jones has made it clear this isn't an ideal season to make changes. That's probably why he waited as long as he did to let Wade Phillips go.
With a possible lockout on the horizon, the last thing Jerry really wants to do is hire some big-name coach and then pay him not to coach for a few months.
Let's not forget about Garrett's contract. To get another coach means you'd probably have to fire Garrett. I doubt he would stick around as the offensive coordinator for someone else. So that's $3 million a season for Garrett to be gone, and then who knows how much for the next guy to come in here. All that kind of money when you're not sure when (or even if) a season might begin.
The best thing to do, and the easiest, would be to hire Garrett. At least the system is already in place.
4. Payton, Sparano, Haley - How many other coaches are going to come through here without Jerry Jones hiring them as the head coach? Sure, the timing was not right to keep Sean Payton, who went to New Orleans and has them back in the playoffs this year to defend their Super Bowl title. When Payton got hired to the Saints, Bill Parcells was still the head coach and there was no way Jerry Jones would've fired him to hire Payton. Still, I'm sure it makes him cringe to see how successful Payton has been, and knowing he was right here for three years.
As for guys like Todd Haley and Tony Sparano - two coaches who actually interviewed for the head coaching job in 2007 when Phillips was hired - it's just two more examples of quality coaches who are coaching other teams and has had both of them in the playoffs. Of course, Sparano's future in Miami doesn't look too hot - that's how it goes.
But the combination of those other young coaches, coupled with the No. 1 reason about Garrett being Jerry's guy all along, it doesn't make sense to let him go.
5. Long-Term Potential - One thing about hiring a big-name coach who has won a Super Bowl, you never know how long you may have him. Guys like Bill Cowher left his gig in Pittsburgh to be with his family. While he still is a great coach, you're not sure how long he wants to do it. Jon Gruden was fired in Tampa Bay but he sure hasn't been in a hurry to get back into coaching. He's probably waiting for the right job and I'm sure the Cowboys' job would fall under that category.
What the Cowboys need is a little consistency at the position. In fact, all teams need that. They just need an owner that can live with a down season or two. Jeff Fisher hasn't been winning every year. Bill Cowher didn't win every year. Even Bill Belichick and his Patriots missed the playoffs in between winning three Super Bowls.
My point is, the Cowboys need a coach they can be patient with. That doesn't mean Jerry doesn't want to win right now. And it doesn't mean he doesn't expect to win right now.
Whoever is hired, it will be someone that Jerry Jones believes can and will be successful right now. But at the same time, the Cowboys need a coach that can be here for a while.
--
To me, those five reasons are why Jerry Jones will hire Jason Garrett as head coach. If that's not enough and you need a sixth reason, then how about Jerry's answer after the game Sunday in Philly when asked if the new coach would be able to hire his own staff.
Jerry responded by saying he thought "Jason should be able to have some input in that."
Sounds like a done deal to me.
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