SHANAHAN TO DALLAS?

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is getting “angrier by the minute” in the wake of his team’s season-ending thumping at Philly on December 28. And Mort suggests that Jones could ultimately go back on his vow not to fire coach Wade Phillips. By hiring former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. Mort says that Jones has been thinking about pursuing Shanahan, more than Jones ever thought about chasing Bill Cowher or Mike Holmgren. One big factor weighing in Shanahan’s favor is that he won’t need a huge contract over the next three years, since he’s guaranteed to receive a total of $21 million from the Broncos. Don’t underestimate the financial aspect of the situation. We’ve got a feeling that Jones is getting stretched pretty thin as he prepares to enter a $1.1 billion stadium in a bad economy that has featured the disappearance of much wealth, especially among those who are very wealthy. The last thing he wants to do is hire a guy like Cowher, who’ll want upwards of $10 million per year. Mort says that some view Shanahan as an ideal fit for quarterback Tony Romo, who has shown flashes of brilliance but who tends to gag at inopportune moments. It’s possible that, if Shanahan comes to Dallas, Phillips could stay as the defensive coordinator. The urgency to chase Shanahan could increase, if current offensive coordinator Jason Garrett lands a head coaching job with another team. Shanahan is also regarded as a candidate for vacancies in Cleveland, and with the Jets.