Sherrington: If Jerry Jones lets Jason Garrett go, it may haunt him

[Bonecrusher#31]

Sherrington: If Jerry Jones lets Jason Garrett go, it may haunt him

01:25 AM CST on Wednesday, December 29, 2010
COLUMN By KEVIN SHERRINGTON ksherrington@dallasnews.com

If we are to believe Jerry Jones – and frankly, you should put more stock in Santa – he's about to embark on the Cowboys' seventh coaching search since his shock and awe acquisition in 1989.


Column by KEVIN SHERRINGTON / The Dallas Morning News | ksherrington@dallasnews.com

Kevin Sherrington
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As you might expect from a man of his impulses, Jerry's been all over the map.

He's come equipped with a coach (Jimmy Johnson) and crowned one (Barry Switzer). In 1998, he interviewed five guys who, for the most part, no one's wanted since.

He's gone from interviewing Dave Campo and Joe Avezzano in 2000 to Bill Parcells and Dennis Green in 2003.

But nothing's come close to 2007's 10-man revue, a spectacle he says he won't repeat but bears reviewing just the same, if for no other reason than to see if, at some point, at least he had a good head coach in mind.

Jerry addressed the subject at an impromptu news conference Monday. And by the way, it was about as impromptu as Pearl Harbor . With his supposed Super Bowl contender in shambles, Jerry knows he needs to get out front again, which is how he ended up Christmas Day on the NFL Network, taking questions from panelists who acted like they understood the answers.

Anyway, Jerry joked Monday that his group of candidates from four seasons ago is "falling like flies." It was only a slight exaggeration.

Of the 10, six started out this season as head coaches. Two (Wade Phillips and Mike Singletary) will not finish in the same capacity, and another (Norv Turner) just got the dreaded vote of confidence from his owner.

The other head coaches from the '07 list include the people's candidate, Tony Sparano, who's just 7-8 this year and 25-22 overall in Miami; Jim Caldwell , who inherited a nice gig in Indianapolis ; and Todd Haley, who's directed a resurgence in Kansas City.

Otherwise, Jerry interviewed Gary Gibbs , Todd Bowles and Ron Rivera, assistants in Kansas City, Miami and San Diego, respectively, as well as a fellow named Jason Garrett.

Looking back on those 10, which would make you slap your forehead and say, "I can't believe Jerry missed on him!"

Maybe two. Caldwell went 14-2 in his rookie season as a head coach and led Indianapolis to the Super Bowl. But the Colts have struggled to a 9-6 record this season despite the benefit of a quarterback who pretty much runs half the team.

Haley didn't get the same advantage in Kansas City, where a 4-12 record his first season was the club average. But this season's Chiefs are 10-5, making Haley a favorite for Coach of the Year.

Anyone who recalls Haley's dealings with T.O. at Valley Ranch will understand reports that he doesn't favor a light touch.

"Guys wanted to do their own thing," Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali recently told the Los Angeles Times. "[Haley] came in here and changed the way we go about our business, gave us a sense of urgency. It was, 'If you don't want to do it, then you don't want to be here.' "

Sound like a sentiment that might have gone over big with Cowboys fans, doesn't it?

Critics will note that Kansas City's 10 wins have come over teams that are 55-78. But as the Cowboys failed to demonstrate in Glendale the other day, you have to beat the bad teams, too.

In any event, it's all moot. Haley wasn't a finalist for the Cowboys job. Phillips and Turner were. Garrett was breathing down the necks of both.

Jerry just may have the right man yet in Garrett. He's done what Haley did in Kansas City, giving the Cowboys a sense of urgency, and he's won as many games as an interim as Haley did in a full first season.

If Garrett doesn't get the job full-time, he's sure to be a candidate for others. He won't pass them up this time. His boss knows it.

Nothing would eat at Jerry more than to watch Garrett succeed someplace else. He'd rather see him fail here than win big in Carolina or San Francisco or Cleveland. He thinks he finally has the right man, and he knows he'd better be right.

Jerry can posture all he wants about national searches, but it says here that he's made up his mind. The rest is just for show. These days, the Cowboys could use one.

• • •

 

[sbk92]

If Garrett goes somewhere else and has huge success that doesn't mean he would have done that here.

You have to understand this isn't a sane environment for an NFL head coach. We have a lunatic owner who doesn't respect a head coach's authority.

 

[dbair1967]

If Garrett goes somewhere else and has huge success that doesn't mean he would have done that here.

You have to understand this isn't a sane environment for an NFL head coach. We have a lunatic owner who doesn't respect a head coach's authority.

Seemed to respect Parcells' authority just fine. And it appears he let Wade run things the way he wanted and signed alot of people Wade wanted him to get. (Doesnt matter if either was good or bad in this discussion, only matters that it appears he gave Wade what he wanted)

Before Parcells, you'd be right.

 

[sbk92]

Wade Phillips has no backbone. He lets his players run the team. That's why he was hired. The lunatic owner wanted a pushover head coach.

Only a Spagnola like homer would think a Wade Phillips hire was a continuation of the Parcells era.

 

[Midswat]

If Jerry Jones replaces Jason Garrett and he goes to another team, I'm probably done with the Cowboys.

Yes . . . I'm serious.

I'll focus my fandom on the Tennessee Volunteers, and you can find me at http://www.volnation.com/forum/

I'll be just a passive Cowboys fan until Jerry dies.

 

[dbair1967]

Wade Phillips has no backbone. He lets his players run the team. That's why he was hired. The lunatic owner wanted a pushover head coach.

Only a Spagnola like homer would think a Wade Phillips hire was a continuation of the Parcells era.

I gotta give you credit, at least your consistent. Even if its consistently being a dipshit.

 

[dbair1967]

If Jerry Jones replaces Jason Garrett and he goes to another team, I'm probably done with the Cowboys.

Yes . . . I'm serious.

I'll focus my fandom on the Tennessee Volunteers, and you can find me at http://www.volnation.com/forum/

Why couldnt you guys have just talked Lane Kiffin into staying in Knoxville?

As a UGA fan, do you know how much in pains me to see the offspring of Vince in Orange?

 

[sbk92]

I gotta give you credit, at least your consistent. Even if its consistently being a dipshit.

Yes.

Now tell us how hiring Wade Phillips was a continuation of the Parcells tenure. I'd love to hear this.

 

[dbair1967]

Yes.

Now tell us how hiring Wade Phillips was a continuation of the Parcells tenure. I'd love to hear this.

Never said it was, if you'd get your head out of your rear you'd see what I was saying.

 

[sbk92]

Never said it was, if you'd get your head out of your rear you'd see what I was saying.

Okay, then explain what you said. Quit dancing around hoping your won't have to explain youself.

I already know you're wrong. I just want you to dig your own hole.

 

[Midswat]

Why couldnt you guys have just talked Lane Kiffin into staying in Knoxville?

As a UGA fan, do you know how much in pains me to see the offspring of Vince in Orange?

Dooley has us going in the right direction. I think UT is in good hands.

I wish death on Kiffin.

 

[sbk92]

The Wade Phillips hire was just like the Dave Campo hire. No difference what. so. ever.

 

[dbair1967]

Okay, then explain what you said. Quit dancing around hoping your won't have to explain youself.

I already know you're wrong. I just want you to dig your own hole.

You said Jones didnt respect the head coaches authority, and I pointed out he clearly respected Parcells authority (and Parcells ran everything here) and even with Wade, Jerry has let Wade coach the way he wanted. Doesnt mean Wade coached the right way or was an equal to a previous coach. He also gave Wade pretty much eveyrthing he wanted in terms of personnel, and Wade had quite a bit of input on who we drafted or signed as free agents.

Switzer was a buffoon, Gailey and Campo were puppet hires after sham HC searches. But after those three 5-11 seasons I think Jones saw some of the light.

Parcells was the right move at the time, and I understand why he picked Wade. I never understood any rationale for hiring Switzer, Gailey or Campo.

 

[sbk92]

You said Jones didnt respect the head coaches authority, and I pointed out he clearly respected Parcells authority (and Parcells ran everything here) and even with Wade, Jerry has let Wade coach the way he wanted. Doesnt mean Wade coached the right way or was an equal to a previous coach. He also gave Wade pretty much eveyrthing he wanted in terms of personnel, and Wade had quite a bit of input on who we drafted or signed as free agents.

Switzer was a buffoon, Gailey and Campo were puppet hires after sham HC searches. But after those three 5-11 seasons I think Jones saw some of the light.

Parcells was the right move at the time, and I understand why he picked Wade. I never understood any rationale for hiring Switzer, Gailey or Campo.

He picked Wade because he knew Wade would allow him to run roughshod over the team. You don't hire Wade Phillips if you think a head coach should instill discipline into the team. You hire him if you don't respect your head coach's role and want to micromanage the team yourself.

This team has been run the last 4 years exactly like it was run before Parcells. The only difference is you have a good core of players on the roster right now. But if this current path doesn't change, that core will disappear and we'll be right back to being one of the worst teams in football on a yearly basis.