Jan 3rd 2009 9:00PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Broncos, Cowboys, NFL Fans, NFL CoachingI’m guessing there’s virtually no chance Jerry Jones convinces newly unemployed Mike Shanahan to coach up the Cowboys in 2009. Partly because Jones has sworn up and down that Wade Phillips will be back in that capacity next season, but also because Shanahan says he plans to take two weeks off before making any decisions about his NFL coaching future, and seems to be leaning towards taking a year off before getting back in the mix. Who knows.

In the meantime, Mort’s sources are talking. Jones has been committed to a third season with Phillips as head coach and Jason Garrett as offensive coordinator. Sources say the owner was particularly pleased with Phillips’ work with the defense and doesn’t want to interrupt that progress. The chance Jones could hire Shanahan and convince Phillips to remain as defensive coordinator is very remote, a source said. Shanahan replaced Phillips as head coach when he was hired in Denver.

If Garrett should land one of the head coaching jobs available now, it could influence Jones to reconsider his plans and approach Shanahan about joining the Cowboys for the 2009 season because of the offensive void left by Garrett’s departure, a source said. Garrett’s not quite the rising star he was a year ago, so he may not have the same head-coaching opportunities this offseason. His job prospects aside, though, why would Phillips take a demotion? Who is he, Romeo Crennel?Continue Reading