BREAKING: Dallas Cowboys NOT Firing Mike McCarthy - NOT Even Looking at These 5 'Better' Coaches
Another year, another playoff disappointment for the Dallas Cowboys as they fell 48-32 to the Green Bay Packers in a game where they were the favorite. In many ways, Sunday was a continuation of the past 28 years, especially the last three, all of which saw the Cowboys enjoy a 12-win regular season before "choking" in the playoffs.
It was the type of butt-whooping that will make the team look in the mirror like they did after the Week 5 demolition they suffered at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Except this time, the Cowboys don't get a chance to respond on the field; rather, they have to do so off the field in the form of tough decisions.
Our Mike Fisher haas been hinting that Dallas seemed to be laying the groundwork to justify retaining coach Mike McCarthy? We say Dallas is avoiding one of those "tough decisions.''
And now ESPN is reporting that McCarthy is staying.
Dallas Cowboys team owner/general manager Jerry Jones (left) and current coach Mike McCarthy (right).
Clutchpoints
We use the phrase "better coach,'' because there is no way of knowing that.
Despite totaling three straight 12-win seasons and becoming the first coach in Cowboys history to achieve that feature, it seems coach McCarthy should've been on a hot seat. With just one year left on his contract and just one playoff win in four tries, it certainly isn't good enough for a franchise intent on winning Super Bowls.
And yet ... it apparently is good enough.
At 81 years old, time is ticking on Jones to help his franchise capture its sixth Lombardi Trophy. If Jones's actions are going to match his words, then his looming decision surrounding McCarthy's job security should've be simple.
At least look around.
Many can argue that with as talented of a roster as the Cowboys have had over the last three years, not making it to at least the NFC Championship game is frankly a failure. But as with all coaching changes, there is always the question of whether anyone out there is better to replace the incumbent.
Bill Belichick is the trendy name surrounding the Cowboys at the moment, and while his resume is certainly better than McCarthy's, with six Super Bowls compared to just one, it is hard to overlook what they have done recently.
As mentioned earlier, McCarthy's stumbling block has been postseason success. Meanwhile, Belichick has struggled to even make the playoffs without having Tom Brady as his quarterback.
Since the departure of Brady, Belichick has only made the postseason once, and that was a one-and-done appearance as the New England Patriots fell 47-17 to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card.
What about other candidates? Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Houston Texans' Bobby Slowik are hot up-and-coming names in the coaching world. Still, with no prior head coaching experience, replacing McCarthy with one of them could be risky.
How about Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, you ask? After the Dallas defense gave up 48 points in an embarrassing loss to the Packers in the biggest game of the year, his candidacy appears to be a tough sell for some, though Fish reports he's still likely leaving.
Which leaves one other hot name ... Jim Harbaugh. Despite just winning his first national championship as a coach, the current Michigan Wolverines coach still has his eyes set on getting back to the NFL after his time with the 49ers.
If there is one thing you can say about the brother of current Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, he is a winner. Harbaugh has won everywhere he's been, from his first major coaching job in college with Stanford to his sole stint in the NFL with the Niners and now Michigan.
The last time the Cowboys hired a coach from the college ranks who had Jim in their name, it certainly paid off in the form of two Super Bowls.
Are those five "better coaches''? It doesn't matter now. Mike McCarthy is staying. Because the Cowboys didn't even look.
