GRIZZ: Cowboys close in on Jason Garrett, but for what role?

[DBoys]

As has been noted in various comments, Jason Garrett is expected to be hired in some capacity by tomorrow, and is a candidate for the head coaching job.

According to knowledgeable sources, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has decided to hire Jason Garrett at least to be Dallas' offensive coordinator -- and possibly to be the successor to retired head coach Bill Parcells.

A source told ESPN's Ed Werder on Wednesday night that Jones considers Garrett -- a former backup to quarterback Troy Aikman -- to be one of the most promising offensive coaches in the league and was so determined to bring him back to the Cowboys organization that he would have been added to Parcells' staff had Parcells decided to coach the final year of his contract.

The Cowboys could appoint Garrett offensive coordinator to secure his services while eliminating the Dolphins from the equation. Then Jones could deliberate whether to appoint him as the head coach later after interviews with other head-coaching candidates, primarily San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips or San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

Well, this is all happening pretty quickly, which tells me Jones had a plan in place for a while. Garrett looks to be coming on board, but we'll have to wait and see in what capacity he ends up.

Ultimately, Jones must decide whether he's willing to sign a veteran coach to a three- or four-year contract to allow Garrett to gain experience as a play-caller before eventually promoting him to the top job. Or, Jones may decide he's willing to endure the risk of immediately putting a talented Cowboys team in Garrett's hands now.

The DFW S-T delves more into the Jason Garrett story, but also has some Wade Phillips news.

San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said the Cowboys have asked and received permission to talk to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

It's unknown when Phillips would come to Dallas and interview with the Cowboys. He was in Mobile, Ala., at the Senior Bowl with the Chargers on Wednesday and had a flight scheduled to return to San Diego early Thursday morning.

Phillips is one of the NFL's premier defensive coaches and the architect of the Chargers' 3-4 scheme, the same scheme used by the Cowboys.

"I am out of clothes so I plan on making the flight home, but I am hoping to get back to Dallas," Phillips said Wednesday night.

The Cowboys interest in Phillips coincides with their interest in Garrett, who was interviewed Wednesday for the offensive coordinator and head coaching positions.

Guess who helped interview Jason Garrett?

Although he retired Monday, Parcells is still at the team's headquarters where he is serving as a sounding board and advisor to Jones for rest of the week. According to a source, he had a lengthy closed-door meeting with Garrett.

Garrett went back into a closed-door session with Jones about 4:30 p.m. and was there well into the night.

While Garrett, 41, seems like an out-of-the-blue candidate, consider that the trend in the NFL is to hire young, energetic coaches. Look no further than the recent hires in Oakland (Lane Kiffin, age 31), Miami (Cam Cameron, 45) and Pittsburgh (Mike Tomlin, 34) so far this off-season. New Orleans (Sean Payton) and the New York Jets (Eric Mangini) made the playoffs last season with young coaches.

 

[Danny White]

I don't see why we'd still be jerking around Phillips if we were really going to make Garrett the head coach.

I think it's obvious that Garrett will be brought in as an OC, probably with an "Assistant Head Coach" label, while an experienced guy like Phillips is made the Head Coach.

 

[DBoys]

I don't see why we'd still be jerking around Phillips if we were really going to make Garrett the head coach.

I think it's obvious that Garrett will be brought in as an OC, probably with an "Assistant Head Coach" label, while an experienced guy like Phillips is made the Head Coach.

Totally agree and it makes the most sense. If we have the OC guy D becomes critical especially after the collapse last year.

Knowing Jerry he will sign them both tomorrow and have a 2 fer 1 press conference.

 

[speedkilz88]

Jerry more than likely has had previous conversations with Phillips on the possibility of he and Jason replacing Parcells. He just can't come out and say that. The contract with Phillips may be why Jerry would hedge a little on what Jason's role is for sure or not.

 

[JackMagist]

I don't see why we'd still be jerking around Phillips if we were really going to make Garrett the head coach.

I think it's obvious that Garrett will be brought in as an OC, probably with an "Assistant Head Coach" label, while an experienced guy like Phillips is made the Head Coach.

It makes no sense at all to me to bring in a proven loser as a HC like Phillips to stunt the growth of a young team and an up and coming young coach. Just turn it over to Garrett and let him run with it...if we get Phillips please let it be as nothing more than a Asst. HC / DC.

 

[Danny White]

It makes no sense at all to me to bring in a proven loser as a HC like Phillips to stunt the growth of a young team and an up and coming young coach. Just turn it over to Garrett and let him run with it...if we get Phillips please let it be as nothing more than a Asst. HC / DC.

I think you're being a little hard on Phillips.

He's no Vince Lombardi, but he has a winning recored as a head coach, doesn't he?

Some people just need the right situation.

 

[silverbear]

It makes no sense at all to me to bring in a proven loser as a HC like Phillips

In 5 years as a head coach, Phillips' record is 45-35, a .563 winning percentage...

I don't know that I'm excited at the prospect of him coming to the Cowboys, but calling him a "proven loser" is ASININE... or at the very least, it's an indication that you really don't know a whole lot about the guy...

Perhaps you should do some research before you attempt to trash him further... you know, get a few FACTS to back up your curious opinions...

 

[JackMagist]

I think you're being a little hard on Phillips.

He's no Vince Lombardi, but he has a winning recored as a head coach, doesn't he?

Some people just need the right situation.

I think Phillips was a little hard on the teams he coached (and their fans). It looked like a pretty good situation that he had in Denver and he couldn't get it done. And he botched things up at every turn in Buffalo. I've seen his act...didn't like it...DC fine...HC no way.

 

[JackMagist]

In 5 years as a head coach, Phillips' record is 45-35, a .563 winning percentage...

I don't know that I'm excited at the prospect of him coming to the Cowboys, but calling him a "proven loser" is ASININE... or at the very least, it's an indication that you really don't know a whole lot about the guy...

Perhaps you should do some research before you attempt to trash him further... you know, get a few FACTS to back up your curious opinions...

The facts are that he took over two relatively successful programs and they both went down hill with him at the helm...hence his having been twice fired.

But my biggest knock on him is he replaced the quarterback that he had been WINNING with all year (Flutie) Going Into the PLAYOFFS with his "QB of the future" (Rob Johnson...who still sucks). That still ranks as the absolute most bone headed coaching decision I have ever seen.

 

[The Fonz]

I don't see why we'd still be jerking around Phillips if we were really going to make Garrett the head coach.

I think it's obvious that Garrett will be brought in as an OC, probably with an "Assistant Head Coach" label, while an experienced guy like Phillips is made the Head Coach.

At this stage Phillips will not mind it.The problem is how will the players react to him knowing that J.Garrett will be the real coach soon.

 

[silverbear]

The facts are that he took over two relatively successful programs

Uhhh, the Bills were 6-10 in 1997, the year before Phillips became their head coach... in the 3 years before he came on board, their aggregate record was 26-22... in his 3 years there, they went 10-6, 11-5 and 8-8, making the playoffs twice...

Then in the years AFTER he left, they went 3-13, 8-8 and 6-10...

So to sum up, the Bills went 26-22 in the 3 years before Phillips, 17-31 in the 3 years after him, and 29-19 in his 3 years there...

Still think he took over a relatively successful program and watched it go downhill under him??

Denver was 8-8 the year before he took over their program, 8-8 the year after he left, and 16-16 in his 2 years there... again, that doesn't quite square with your assertion that he took a successful team and ran it into the ground, does it??

 

[newlander]

I'm with the majority here: it's going to be Phillips and Garrett and it WILL be announced today. I'm ok with that because Fisher, Cowher, etc...aren't available until next year. This is a pretty good backup plan. BTW: I really think T.O. will be cut. Parcells couldn't deal with his BS, you think Jerrah will expect Garret and Wade to put up with it. I saw on the NFL Network last night that it will save us approx. 7 mil on the cap next season to cut him. Ironically, he would have been back if he would have JUST kept his mouth shut. But as Keyshawn recently said, he's incapable of that.