Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones created a stir when he wouldn't confirm that he would bring back Mike McCarthy as his head coach next season after the coach led the team to its third straight postseason berth and second NFC East title in his four seasons at the helm in Dallas.
"We'll see how each game goes in the playoffs," Jones said Sunday when asked directly by Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram if McCarthy would be back next season.
Jones was asked if he wanted to clarify those comments when he joined Shan, RJ and Bobby Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan.
“I was a little surprised (by the reaction his comments got). I don't know how I could be any clearer. Coach McCarthy is under contract for next year. So, that's not an issue," Jones said. "Secondly, I couldn’t be more pleased with what he’s done, and how he's coached. … I certainly haven't sat down here right in the middle of the playoffs and started talking to him about a contract. Why would you do that? And by the way, he's the busiest cat in all of Texas. …So, the last thing that I want to do is spend any time talking with him about these kinds of things, on agreements, extension of agreements, especially when I’ve got one. So, that’s it.”
Jones was then pressed further about his postgame comments and how the media interpreted them as him saying that McCarthy may not return pending the team's performance in the playoffs.
"Well, I'm so sorry that media might interpret what I say differently. That's rare. I don't have that happen very often," Jones said tongue in cheek. "Ya'll really think I'm going to discuss this? Damn, press conference."
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Saturday that McCarthy's future in Dallas will be determined by the team's playoff performance.
"If the Cowboys play well in the postseason, McCarthy would have an excellent chance to keep his job," Schefter wrote. "But if they struggle and end the season with an embarrassing loss, as has happened in each of the past two years, then some say that change could come to Dallas."
Dallas arguably has its best opportunity to make its first NFC Championship Game since 1996, as it opens the playoffs at home on Sunday as the No. 2 seed in the conference. Should Dallas beat the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round, they would be assured to host the Divisional Round at AT&T Stadium and the NFC title game should they win and the San Francisco 49ers falter.