Failed negotiations open the search for a coach

FRISCO, Texas – Surely it seemed so easy when the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season ended at 7-10 and out of the playoffs, all at the same time as head coach Mike McCarthy completed his five-year contract.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones continued to praise McCarthy during this difficult, injury-plagued season for the work he did to tape this team together, as well as his three consecutive 12-5 seasons, including the first three consecutive playoff appearances by a Cowboy -Heads long-time coach with Barry Switzer from 1994-96 and Jimmy Johnson from 1991-93.

A mere blip on the historical radar of Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry, his NFL-record 20 straight winning seasons from 1966 to 1985, including eight seasons from 1966 to 1973 and nine seasons from 1975 to 1983 in the Late season. Another NFL era.

And McCarthy, who had a 49-35 regular-season record over the last five seasons and went 1-3 in the playoffs, said he “absolutely” wants to return to essentially finish the job. for which he was hired. And that should improve the franchise’s chances of winning in the postseason, to the point of adding a second Super Bowl appearance to the one he had already won in Green Bay during the 2010 season.

But by midday Monday, when negotiating rights over the Cowboys’ exclusive contract with McCarthy ended at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the two sides parted ways and negotiations over an extension came to nothing. Jones issued a statement at 2:34 p.m. on Monday in which, among other things, he noted that “it became clear to both sides that it would be better for each of us to move in a different direction,” whereas previously it was for both It seemed obvious to both sides that they would stay together.

Well, the contract negotiations apparently made this mutually acceptable path too difficult.

Jerry probably wasn’t willing to pay guaranteed money over the five-year period that new head coaches signed last year, which McCarthy’s agent Don Yee was certainly hoping for. And as was mentioned last week, when someone asked what on earth could be the reason for the negotiation deadlock, my answer was simple:

Keep in mind that newly hired Denver head coach Sean Payton signed a contract averaging $18 million per year. The Chargers’ newly hired head coach, Jim Harbaugh, received a contract averaging $16 million per year. Heck, Lions head coach Dan Campbell is paying $11 million.

In this ranking of head coach salaries, McCarthy’s average ranking of $4 million was 15th^Th. In any case, he wanted a raise knowing he had lost quarterback Dak Prescott in his only two losing seasons that year. And remember, as was emphasized Friday, the lack of a healthy and reputable franchise quarterback has been the common thread in every losing season for the Cowboys since the 6-10 1997 season, when Troy Aikman started each of the 16 games stood.

So average, length and guarantees became stumbling blocks that overwhelmed the initial desires of both sides. Perhaps the Joneses also wanted to know if McCarthy would be willing to serve as walk-around head coach again with a new offensive coordinator, which Mike may not have liked.

Here’s the other twist: While teams had to ask the Cowboys for permission to contact McCarthy for interviews until the Cowboys’ exclusive negotiating rights ended at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, that certainly didn’t stop his agent from doing his homework in other areas to attract potential interest from teams. Hey, why else do you think the Chicago Bears, who have cast a huge head coaching net, asked permission to talk to Mike about their opening?

His side wanted the Cowboys to know that McCarthy might have options. And don’t rule out the Saints being interested, too, as McCarthy worked as offensive coordinator for general manager Mickey Loomis in New Orleans from 2000-2004.

So here we go: The Cowboys begin their search for the franchise’s 10th head coach. And don’t think for a moment that any of this surprised Jerry Jones. We’re talking about Mr. Negotiator. Don’t you think so? Ask anyone who has negotiated deals with Jones. The Cowboys certainly have their list of top candidates in their back pocket. Maybe they did their own backdoor reconnaissance.

But now consider that the Cowboys not only need to hire a head coach, they also need to replace the man running the offense by calling the plays McCarthy made the last two seasons after deciding that he would take over this responsibility from Kellen Moore. The young offensive coordinator is now with the Eagles.

And don’t just assume that the new head coach must also be the offensive coordinator. Maybe Jones just wants a “head coach” and not a coordinator who has never been a head coach before. But then that candidate will have a better idea of ​​who to hire to run the offense, possibly even the defense, and who knows, special teams as well, as the Cowboys assistant coach’s contracts are also expiring.

The Cowboys are now one of six teams looking for a head coach, along with the Bears, Saints, Jets, Raiders and Jaguars. At least the Cowboys have their proven franchise quarterback in Dak Prescott. Chicago hopes they have their own with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb Williams. The rest? Well, not so much, and it’s probably the main reason they’re looking for the next boss.

As was emphasized Friday, you can’t fake the quarterback position.

So this job with the Cowboys would be quite desirable, barring a restrictive salary cap. And since the contracts of all assistant coaches are expiring, the new one can structure his staff himself. Make no mistake, rods are an important component. And you can’t cherry-pick. You have to be available.

Again, the low season is never “off” in these areas. And with a completely different meaning that has nothing to do with the upcoming Snap Count…