NFL Rumor: Fired Bill Belichick to Be Hired by Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones? 5 Truths
FRISCO - Can we connect enough dots to create a scenario in which the Dallas Cowboys coach in 2024 is none other than Bill Belichick?
To us, that would require a lot of dots, most of them rather blurry ... and a lot of creativity. But ...
"If Bill Belichick is out in NE after the season and Robert Kraft looks to trade him (he's under contract)," Gary Myers wrote this week in a lengthy Twitter post, "don't count out the Cowboys."
We've known and respected Myers for decades. He's a Hall of Fame voter, the author of best-selling books on the league, possesses 55 years of experience covering the NFL and has a history of insight into matters relating to Belichick and to the Cowboys. So all of this is worthy of at least gossipy discussion.
But we're going to need every one of those dots, along with some unlikely dominoes. To wit, Myers' thoughts followed by our five "truth'' responses ...
1 - Myers suggests the next landing spot for Bill Belichick will be with Jerry Jones. That concept starts with the iconic coach - who is 27-32 and without a playoff win since Tom Brady left Foxboro as he faces reports he could be fired if the Pats lose Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany - being dumped by New England.
OUR TRUTH: Here's a rumor to pile on: We do here that Belichick wouldn't mind breaking up his partnership with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, but that he very specifically does not want to be traded, because that would strip his new team of draft picks.
So the coach, if he's going to leave New England, would actually prefer to get canned.
2 - Myers notes that both the Cowboys and Belichick are desperate to win now, as he is 71 and needs 18 more victories to pass Don Shula for the NFL's all-time record. Dallas hasn't won a Super Bowl since 1996, and Jones just turned 81 last month.
OUR TRUTH: The mortality of those involved might be a consideration. But a greater one: Belichick has been for 24 years in New England all-powerful; he's his own GM. He's almost his own boss. (Unless, of course, his actually boss fires him.)
Meanwhile, Jerry has been for 34 years in Dallas all-powerful. Jones is a great listener and COO Stephen Jones, personnel boss Will McClay and coach Mike McCarthy have lots of power inside The Star.
But a Jones/Belichick marriage means one of them concedes power to the other. That would mark a massive change in the way each man views his way to winning.
3 - Myers' evaluation includes a rip job of present coach Mike McCarthy. "Jerry ... must be running out of patience," Myers said. "I think Jones will realize what everybody else seems to know about McCarthy: He's just an average coach who won just one Super Bowl in Green Bay despite two years with Brett Favre and 11 with Aaron Rodgers."
OUR TRUTH: Myers has earned the right to his opinion. But "McCarthy as a failure'' is not factual and has no real place in a news story. Nor is it the present view of the Jones family, though Dallas' playoff fate could obviously change that, as with any owner regarding any coach.
And in that event, whenever it arrives? The list of candidates to be the next head coach in Dallas will be longer than one name, and will include present defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, among others.
4 - Myers sees this as "Bill Parcells 2.0.'' It was 20 year ago when Jones hired Bill Parcells, who "happens to be Belichick's close friend and primary sounding board.''
Is that meaningful here? "Parcells loved his four years working for Jones and regrets his emotional decision to quit shortly after Tony Romo dropped the snap on the game-winning FG attempt in the wild-card game in Seattle following the '06 season," Myers wrote.
The thinking: If Belichick asks Parcells about working for Jones, he'll get a positive review. (P.S.: the New York-based Myers once covered Parcells' Giants, and has relationships there still, causing one to wonder if some of this noise is more than "accidental speculation.'')
OUR TRUTH: Myers' notes include the factoid that had Jerry and Belichick bumping into one another in Colorado while on a family ski vacation. This is one of Jones' favorite stories to tell; it has a "Forrest Gump Experiences Everything'' flavor to it.
But an accidental meeting in 1995 has nothing to do with today, and while Jones surely greatly respects Belichick - after the Cowboys' recent pummeling of the Patriots, Jones labeled New England's fall from grace "surreal'' - they are not "buddies'' and they are not "close.''
5 - Myers cites Jerry's marketing-mindedness. "Jones is a marketing genius and no doubt if Belichick passes Shula on the list while he's the Cowboys coach, he will find a way to pay Belichick's salary times two.''
OUR TRUTH: Viable. But does "a creative marketing angle'' trump winning? In the last four seasons, "The Patriots Way'' has produced a crummy 27-32 record; presently New England is 2-7 and Belichick is overseeing the worst team in football. ... all of which leads to a question that Belichick supporters do not dare ask ...
Even if Bill Belichick is available, should the Dallas Cowboys really want him?
